Trust in a Polarized Age

Vallier provides a detailed contribution to normative political theory by extending and modifying the public reason account of political justification, but he also provides a more positive account of the operation of politics in which the interplay between political institutions and social trust determines social outcomes. * Alan Hamlin, University of Manchester *
The overall trend of the last several years toward distrust and polarization is undeniable, and Vallier offers a compelling explanation of why it is happening. [...] Trust in a Polarized Age makes a substantial contribution to the discussion [... and is] a valuable tool to build the foundation for any substantive discussion on how both policymakers and commentators can contribute to a more unified, trusting future. * Erraticus *
[Kevin Vallier] is a leading advocate of public reason liberalism and his latest book is a distinguished contribution to that school of thought.... Vallier has written a book fully worthy of his eminent mentor Gerald Gaus. * David Gordon, Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics *
A survey of a political and social landscape in which trust, a key element of democracy, is absent. . . . An empirically grounded work of interest to political scientists and policymakers as much as social philosophers. * Kirkus Reviews *
Social trust in the US had been declining for decades as political polarization has surged. A coincidence? Kevin Vallier says no.' He makes a compelling case that distrust and political conflict are enmeshed in an insidious feedback loop. But Vallier offers a way out. His solution is to reinvigorate the central institutions of political liberalism: rights of association, markets, and the welfare state. These institutions offer a way to increase trust 'for the right reason' and help break the cycles of political dysfunction. * Nolan McCarty, Susan Dod Brown Professor of Politics and Public Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University *
In the avalanche of books about democracy's current dysfunctions, Kevin Vallier's Trust in a Polarized Age really stands out. Vallier argues that troubling levels of polarization, partisanship, and incivility have their source in an underlying breakdown of social and political trust. Wielding empirical, conceptual, and normative tools with precision and nuance, Vallier defends the thesis that liberal democracy remains our best hope for a peaceful, just, and free society. He shows that, in the end, the question lies with us: do we want such a society, or would we prefer that politics be a kind of war? * Robert Talisse, W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University *
Kevin Vallier has written a fantastic and timely book.Trust in a Polarized Age shows that Americans have less trust in each other and their government than in any time in recent memory.This comes at a great cost of eroding fundamental social institutions and aggravating partisan divisions. Using the latest empirical research, Vallier masterfully shows that all is not lost.Certain liberal rights and practices, such as freedom of association, private property, welfare programs, and voting, produce trust in the real world. This book will be a touchstone for anyone in philosophy, political science, or economics working on these issues. * Christie Hartley, Professor of Philosophy, Georgia State University *