Americans Say Democracy Needs Civility
Surveys show Americans crave political civility
It can be hard today to refresh Twitter or a newsfeed without confronting incivility, often fueled by intense partisan disagreement and polarization.
Former special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony on Wednesday stoked hours of cable news mudslinging. In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has called his Democratic challengers “sleepy,” “crazy” and “angry.” They have returned with “phony” and “liar.” Some from both parties have called him a “racist.”
Such incivility can make bipartisan cooperation seem idealistic and nearly impossible. Yet, Americans say that civility is important to democracy now more than ever.
The 9th installment of Civility in America by Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate, based on a national survey conducted by KRC Research, found that the overwhelming majority of U.S. adults agree that civility is important to our democracy (89 percent) and civility among our elected officials at all levels is especially important (92 percent).
Most recognize the current state of civility is deplorable: 93 percent believe the current general tone and level of civility is a problem — and 74 percent say it is worse today than a few years ago. Most also believe this is damaging our democracy: 71 percent believe it is leading to less political involvement and 61 percent believe it is causing fewer people to run for public office.
Moreover, the survey shows that incivility is an impediment to solving the nation’s biggest challenges, causing political gridlock and leading people, regardless of political affiliation, to avoid certain issues out of fear it will turn hostile. Overall, 44 percent said they avoid discussing politics for fear it will lead to incivility.
In the past year alone, 50 percent of Democrats, 38 percent of Republicans, and 35 percent of independents have stopped talking to someone due to differing political views.
While Americans understand the value of civility, and recognize with the problems associated with a toxic political climate, they do not believe this toxicity is inevitable: the large majority disagrees that people must be uncivil sometimes in order for their preferred political candidates to win elections (72 percent) or to ensure government officials pass or defeat legislation they don’t like (67 percent).
“Civil discourse is a key to a healthy democracy. The public has identified our civility problem, and it is up to all of us to encourage the solutions that will make our government and society work better.”
— Pam Jenkins, President, Global Public Affairs, Weber Shandwick
Americans believe we can have a civil political culture. Most believe it is possible for people to disagree in a civil way (86 percent) and to protest and practice civil disobedience in a civil way (83 percent).
A recent USA Today op-ed put the possibility of civility in focus, highlighting the unlikely alliance between Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in supporting legislation that would bar former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. This alliance is a meaningful reprieve from the too-familiar spectacle of fiery political party conflict; further, the article argues that the United States cannot function unless its leaders can find common ground.
The future of civility is in all of our hands. The contentious presidential campaigns will advance. The stakes will get higher as election day nears. Civility and its implications for societal norms and culture will continue to be tested. But, as Michael Gerson wrote this week in The Washington Post: “Democratic ills must be healed by democratic means. When politics is contaminated by hatred and cruelty, our ritual of renewal is a national election with a decisive result. And that means the savior is us.”
Contributors include: John Files, Colleen Learch, Anastasia Moszkowski and Emily Vander Weele & Edited by: Helen McCarthy & Lexi Mondot.
For the PDF of our Civility in America report, please see here. For the full presentation with infographics, please see the Slideshare below.
Want to work with KRC Research or Weber Shandwick? Please contact Ellen DeMunter at EDeMunter@webershandwick.com
About the Research
Annually since 2010, Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate, in partnership with KRC Research, have released Civility in America: A Nationwide Survey. KRC Research conducted this wave of the Civility in America survey from February 13 to February 19, 2019, among a sample of 1,230 U.S. adults 18 years and older, drawn from a national online consumer panel. All percentages in our analysis, except those for Gen Z and 16–17 year olds, are drawn from our sample of adults 18 years and older. This year, we added a separate sample of 100 16–17 year olds and analyzed a separate Gen Z sample (16–21) to gain a snapshot of the youngest generation. Percentages in our analysis for Gen Z and 16–17 year olds are drawn from this separate sample. The survey was conducted in both English and Spanish, as determined by the respondent’s preference. KRC established demographic quotas and weighted data based on U.S. Census data (age, gender, education, income, race/ethnicity and region). Civility is defined in the survey as follows: “By civility we mean polite and respectful conduct and expression.”About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications and marketing solutions firm in 79 cities with a network extending to 129 cities around the world. The firm’s diverse team of strategists, analysts, producers, designers, developers and campaign activators has won the most prestigious awards in the world for innovative, creative approaches and impactful work.
The firm deploys deep expertise across sectors and specialty areas, including consumer marketing, corporate reputation, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, employee engagement, social impact, financial communications and crisis management, using proprietary social, digital and analytics methodologies. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit www.webershandwick.com.
About KRC Research
KRC Research is a global nonpartisan research consultancy. A unit of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), KRC Research offers the quality and custom service of a small firm with the reach of a global organization. For over 30 years, KRC Research has worked on behalf of corporations, governments, not-for-profits and the communications firms that represent them.
Staffed with multidisciplinary research professionals, KRC combines sophisticated research tools with real-world communications experience. For more information, visit www.krcresearch.com.
