Democracy and Division Lab
The Democracy and Division Lab is an interdisciplinary research lab based at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. We explore how dynamics of identity, civic trust, and political institutions interact to sustain or erode democratic resilience. Our work pushes the boundaries of conventional research to better understand the challenges that may obstruct democratic participation and legitimacy. Through innovative scholarship, evidence-based analysis, and public-facing collaborative initiatives, we aim to identify pathways toward a broader, more inclusive democratic coalition.
OUR MISSION
The work of the Democracy and Division Lab is grounded in the SNF Agora Institute’s mission to strengthen the foundations of global democracy. Our lab builds on the collaborative work of Dr. Lilliana Mason and Scott Warren, whose academic expertise explores the attitudinal and institutional dimensions of democratic decline and renewal in the United States. Combining Dr. Mason’s research on identity and political violence with Warren’s focus on pro-democracy organizing within conservative communities, the lab connects theory to practice to address the most pertinent challenges facing democracy today.
OUR APPROACH
At the Democracy and Division Lab, we work at the intersection of academic research and applied practice to understand the foundations of democracy in the United States. Our methodology integrates large-scale quantitative research, qualitative inquiry, and scholarly collaboration to capture both the structural and psychological dimensions of democratic life.
CENTRAL COMPONENTS OF OUR WORK
National Surveys on Identity and Elections
We develop and distribute national surveys to derive insight into how Americans perceive political belonging, legitimacy, and trust. In addition to studying inter-party divisions (polarization), we also examine intra-party divisions. To root this quantitative work, we conduct qualitative research including focus groups and interviews to capture deeper attitudes and experiences that shape democratic engagement, and to motivate new research questions. These findings are shared widely through a variety of media outlets, such as press briefings, op-eds, and peer-reviewed journal publications to inform both academic and public discourse.
Data Analysis and Visualization
We apply computational methods to analyze social and political data in order to uncover patterns and test hypotheses related to democratic attitudes and behaviors. Through statistical modeling, text analysis, and data visualization, we work to translate complex findings into accessible insights.
Teaching and Mentorship
We offer students hands-on research experience and opportunities to publish their own original work. Engaging postdoctoral students, graduate students, and undergraduate students, we provide opportunities for leadership, mentorship, instruction, collaborative dialogue, and professional development.
OUR RESEARCH
Our research portfolio examines the social and structural forces that both threaten and sustain democracy, with a particular focus on elections, institutional trust, political violence, and identity-based polarization – key areas that underpin democratic resilience.
- We are currently leading projects aimed at identifying and supporting “bigger-tent” democratic coalitions, including individuals and groups willing to defect against authoritarian leanings within their own political parties.
- We are also working to develop a Democracy Dashboard – an innovative data tool that identifies and measures common threats to pluralistic democracy over time, and tracks shifts in political identity, institutional trust, and democratic attitudes on an ongoing basis. This tool will serve as a resource for those seeking to better understand and respond to the evolving dynamics of American democracy.
This work is being conducted in addition to the individual research projects being undertaken by our students researchers. To learn more about their work, please visit Our Work page.
