Bridging Divides: Searching for Common Ground across Pittsburgh’s Polarized Socio-Political Landscape
Assignment #2: Mapping Stakeholder Relationships
Carnegie Mellon University, Transition Design Seminar 2024
Team Co-Evolution: Jen Brown, Jiyu Kwag, Brian Mathews, Revati Naniwadekar, Zoe So
Polarization in Pittsburgh not only reflects a broader national trend but also bears distinct characteristics informed by the city’s unique history, culture, and demographics. This division transcends simple disagreements, delving into profound conflicts and power disparities among the city’s diverse groups. Each stakeholder group brings its own set of hopes, dreams, fears, and concerns, signifying a community facing pivotal decisions.
Addressing such polarization requires acknowledging it as a “wicked problem” — complex, multifaceted issues that defy easy solutions and are interwoven with social, technical, economic, environmental, and political factors (Kossoff & Irwin, 2021). Understanding the various perspectives of different stakeholders is crucial for effective transitions. By grasping how these issues are perceived and experienced by each group, we can begin to uncover common ground. This approach is essential for fostering dialogue, building empathy, and ultimately, devising more effective and inclusive strategies for addressing the underlying problems and recognizing the potential for mutually beneficial change.
Our Mapping Process
In our initial project, we delved into the various factors contributing to social-political polarization in Pittsburgh, broadening our understanding of the issue and highlighting its complex web of interconnections and dependencies.
Building on this foundation, our second assignment aimed to map the impact of polarization on different stakeholder communities within the city, assessing their unique experiences. Through our discussions, we examined a wide range of perspectives, finding it particularly insightful to consider how different groups are affected by polarization in terms of power dynamics (Joy, 2019). This exploration allowed us to identify not only those who might benefit from such divisions but also the key stakeholders capable of addressing them. Furthermore, we discussed individuals and groups who, due to privilege, insulation, or indifference, might overlook the issue, as well as those severely harmed by polarization yet lacking the resources to effect change.
During our stakeholder identification process, we broadened our scope to consider the various groups affected by, contributing to, or otherwise engaged with socio-political polarization, directly or indirectly.
Our exploration covered a wide array of stakeholders, from immigrants, refugees, and marginalized racial, ethnic, and religious minorities to economic elites pursuing an affluent lifestyle, and individuals resistant to change, preferring the status quo. We also delved into the lives of stay-at-home parents who consider themselves apolitical, focusing on their immediate social circles, alongside small business owners and low-income families striving for economic stability. Urban developers external to Pittsburgh, driven by profit and indifferent to the societal, political, or environmental ramifications, were examined as well (Wiggan, 2023).
The influence of both local and national media, including news-entertainment channels like Fox News, bubbled up constantly in our conversations. We assessed the roles of online trolls, radical extremists, conspiracy theorists, lobbyists, political action committees, and online influencers in the socio-political-cultural arena. The discussion extended to the profitability for social media platforms and web-based media deriving revenue from polarizing content that boosts clicks, views, and engagement, alongside complicit algorithms and advertising models that exploit these dynamics.
Finally, we considered the efforts of educators, nonprofit leaders, community activists, and religious figures aiming to foster positive change but perhaps limited by a narrow focus on specific aspects of this complex issue. Local politicians, caught in a balancing act of addressing citizen needs while seeking to retain broad electoral support, were also evaluated for their role and challenges in navigating the polarization landscape.
One particularly intriguing stakeholder scenario we explored was the differing experiences and perspectives of a Palestinian refugee or a Muslim college student from the Middle East, in contrast with a highly educated Jewish resident engaged in a professional career. Considering Pittsburgh’s significant and well-established Jewish community, we found these two identities to be relevant, timely, and insightful for examination in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict (Aiken, 2023). Although we ultimately chose to focus on broader stakeholder groups for our project, these two identities would be crucial to include in community workshops aimed at addressing polarization in Pittsburgh. Engaging these groups would enrich the dialogue and offer diverse viewpoints.
Our objective was to identify three distinct groups that exerted a dynamic interplay of influence upon each other, embodying a triangulation or push-pull dynamic. We envisioned organizing a series of workshops and determining which representatives from diverse yet interconnected perspectives we would invite to the table. After careful consideration, we decided on the following three groups:
- Extreme Right-Wing Media Influencers
- White Middle-Class Blue-Collar Workers
- Immigrants Working in the Technology Sector
These selections reflect our commitment to exploring the complex web of socio-political polarization through the lens of varied yet interconnected societal roles.
In our analysis of Extreme Right-Wing Media Influencers, we considered the impact of national figures like Sean Hannity and Ben Shapiro. However, our attention was particularly captured by Wendy Bell, a conservative radio host and influencer based in Pittsburgh. This stakeholder group has a lot of power and Wendy Bell works to exacerbate the problem (Lee, 2020).
Recognizing the challenges of engaging high-profile media personalities in community dialogues, a real-world strategy might shift towards understanding their motivations and practices from a closer, yet practical perspective. We considered the possibility that individuals within their professional circles — such as audio/visual editors, programming or advertising assistants, and those involved in content creation, like writers, editors, designers, and researchers — might be more accessible and open to conversations. This approach aims to gain insights into the operational dynamics and influences of such media figures. Additionally, engaging with low-level micro-influencers emerged as a valuable strategy to obtain diverse perspectives and insights into the broader ecosystem of media influence.
Pittsburgh, often celebrated as the “Steel City,” embodies an industrial heritage that shapes its identity. This historical context led us to select White Middle-Class Blue-Collar Workers as a key group in our stakeholder map. Representing a substantial segment of the regional demographic, they are emblematic of the city’s manufacturing legacy and its evolution towards modern industries. Their perspectives would be vital for understanding Pittsburgh’s socio-political landscape. This stakeholder group is disenfranchised, having little or no voice due to social power dynamics.
As Pittsburgh moves from its industrial roots to more technology, healthcare, and education-focused economies, blue-collar workers face the realities of industrial decline, job displacement, and the necessity of navigating a transforming employment landscape. Our discussions delved into the issues of economic insecurity, the struggle for identity, and the psychological impact of transformative change.
Immigration is a contentious and ever-present issue throughout the United States. We considered different ways to represent this theme, including international students, refugees, and laborers. Ultimately, our focus centered on Immigrants Working within the Technology Sector. Our aim was to position the immigrant group in an industry with more socioeconomic power than the working class group. This way, we could more directly attribute stakeholder relations and power dynamics to immigration status and race. This stakeholder group is most adversely affected by the polarization and because of their immigration status, has very little power to do anything about it.
Media portrayals often cast immigrants in a negative and threatening manner. Considering the evolving economy and demographics in Western Pennsylvania, alongside our other selected stakeholder groups, we sought to delve into issues such as racism, discrimination, voicelessness, and vulnerability. Furthermore, we engaged with the concept of the “model minority” myth, examining how it perpetuates prejudice and imposes unfair, unrealistic pressures and expectations on immigrant communities (Chow, 2020).
After identifying our key stakeholders, we mapped their distinct connections to the issue of polarization. Utilizing our research findings, seminar readings, right-wing YouTube and podcast episodes, and our personal experiences, we speculated on how each group was affected by polarization, engaging in deep discussions about their fears, concerns, as well as their hopes and dreams. To better understand and convey their experiences, we drafted first-person narrative statements, which serve as a tool to empathize with them and to embody their perspectives.
With a wide array of notes, we interconnected them across our map, aiming to visually represent the intricate dynamics among the three stakeholder groups. We used red lines to signify conflicts or opposing agendas, green lines to highlight agreements or similar objectives, and gray lines to denote relationships that were complex or ambiguous. To further differentiate the nature of these connections, we used dotted lines to represent weaker or less direct relationships and solid lines to indicate stronger or more significant impacts. This visual coding system allowed us to effectively illustrate the nuanced interplay of consensus, contention, and complexity within the context of polarization, providing a clearer understanding of the multifaceted interactions at play.
Finally, we categorized each note on our map into different levels of scope, encompassing Individual, Household, Community, and National/Policy levels. This stratification allowed us to systematically analyze the issue of polarization across different scales of impact.
Summary of findings
Right-Wing Media Influencers
The right-wing media personalities derive their influence and power from the platforms that they have to disseminate their ideals. Their aim is to continuously propagate their ideas and views with an ever growing audience and following, heavily relying on sponsor funding to keep their channel or station going. Viewers/followers and sponsors are closely intertwined and a dip in viewership may be negatively viewed by their sponsors. To maintain an engaged following, they need to write compelling headlines and tackle subjects with high sensational value, as greater sensationalism tends to attract more attention.
Their thematic focus revolves around politics, immigration and economy to pull in their audience. They challenge politicians, typically Democrats for exercising too much power. Advocating for reduced government intervention, they emphasize the freedoms to decide for themselves about guns, masks, and vaccines. Freedom of speech may be paramount as this helps them from being censored for their potentially extremist views. They prioritize “American ideals” and work ethic, expressing concern about a potential erosion of what they perceive as the American identity. There is apprehension that immigration may be taking jobs, housing and resources away from the American people, and put a strain on public resources. They may also be changing the culture and ideals of America, deviating from their familiar norms.
White, Middle-aged Blue Collar workers
The white, middle-aged blue-collar workers are a group of people who take great pride in their work, and have a family history they are proud of. Affectionately calling themselves “yinzers,” these individuals may or may not exhibit a distinctive Pittsburgh accent. Their occupation spans a range of sectors, including oil and gas, coal, factories, and manufacturing, often following in the vocational footsteps of their parents. Faced with industry changes and the fear of globalization, they harbor concerns about job outsourcing and potential displacement by immigrants, feeling like they are “true” Americans and deserve to have these jobs over the immigrants.
Perceiving a decline in the relevance of their way of life, they believe their ethic, and cultural identity as a Pittsburgher are not valued anymore in contemporary society. They don’t feel that the city respects their type of work and the tech industry moving into Pittsburgh is pushing the workers to the margins. Feeling the stereotypes as laborers rather than educated members of society, they turn to political figures for assurance that policies will prioritize the well-being of American workers, ensuring fair wages and job security while safeguarding their benefits (White Working Class, Williams 2016).
Family and religion play pivotal roles in this group. They want their children to have respectable, well-paying jobs just like they had, aligned with their own values of work, community, religion, and pride. Deviations from this plan are attributed to the changing cultural landscape and create apprehension about the future. Additionally, there is a fear of alterations to their religious practices, as they seek to preserve their traditional beliefs and resist perceived trends or “wokeness” that may challenge the familiarity of “the good old days.”
Immigrants Working in the Technology Sector
The immigrants in tech industries are looking for better job opportunities and a better life in the US. Their contribution to the tech sector involves valuable skills and fills a labor force gap that may not be easily met domestically. Their aspirations extend beyond employment and they look for recognition and appreciation as they contribute to this new society. They envision a community that celebrates diversity instead of marginalizing them.
This group has a complex relationship with politics and laws. They turn towards anti-discrimination laws for protection and rely on local law enforcement to enforce these regulations. Simultaneously, they navigate the intricacies of national immigration laws, subject to frequent changes that vary based on the political climate. This volatility creates fear and uncertainty for their future and commitment to the region.
This group often feels isolated from their society because of their beliefs and way of life. Being a minority in an area of primarily European descent, they have difficulties assimilating with people who have lived here their whole life. Cultural and linguistic disparities lead to discrimination and make them targets of hate attacks. Being in certain places is more risky for this group because of escalation of hate and violence towards people of color.
There is also unease that their children experience discrimination and hatred in educational and social settings. They want a better opportunity for their children to flourish and be accepted for who they are.
Interconnections: Interwoven Desires Across Diverse Rationales
One major connection revealed through the mapping process was between each group’s core values. The extreme right-wing media influencer is committed to upholding American values and ideals, ensuring that their nation “stays true to its founding principles” in the face of cultural shifts. Similarly, the white blue-collar worker wants to raise their children with the same proper American values they were brought up with. On the other hand, the immigrant tech worker expresses concern over their children being teased for their ethnicity. They want their children to fit in yet are troubled by the potential loss of their cultural roots in the process.
This situation reveals the complexity of the wicked problem of socio-political polarization in Pittsburgh. Despite each group having the same desire to uphold their personal, cultural, and familial values, the content and expression of those values differ significantly, leading to misunderstanding and conflict. Interestingly, the immigrant tech worker’s desire to maintain their values emerges as a fear, revealing a deeper concern rooted in feelings of not belonging in their community. This illustrates a profound dilemma: despite their drastically different backgrounds, their simultaneous wish for belonging highlights the wickedness of stakeholder relations in a rapidly changing socio-political landscape.
Moreover, all three groups share a common desire to feel valued for their contributions. The right-wing media influencer seeks to expand their influence through the content they work on. Similarly, the white blue-collar worker desires respect and recognition for their role as a hardworking member of the working class, while the immigrant tech worker hopes to be respected and valued in their workplace without fear of discrimination. Although the tech and blue-collar workers seek respect in their workplaces for different reasons — the former facing discrimination based on race and the latter based on their career — and the influencer desires more support from their followers, ultimately, all groups aspire to feel respected and appreciated for the contributions they believe they offer to society.
Finally, all three groups share a common aspiration to secure better futures for their families and children. The tech worker hopes for equal opportunities for their children to be successful in their aspirations. The right-wing media influencer expresses fears about the quality of their children’s education. The blue-collar worker desires respectable, high-paying jobs for their children. Despite their divergent perspectives, their shared commitment to securing better lives for the next generation underscores a universal desire for the well-being and success of their families.
These interconnections demonstrate the complexity and wickedness of the socio-political polarization problem, highlighting the intense divergence of perspectives on politics, values, and visions for the future. However, despite these stark differences, a unifying thread emerges: at their core, all parties share common desires. They wish to uphold their values, they want to feel respected and heard among their community, and they wish for a better life for their children.. While their paths may diverge, their shared humanity underscores the potential for dialogue, empathy, and understanding amidst the disagreements, offering an opportunity to bridge the divide.
Synergistic Pathways: Leveraging Stakeholder Interdependencies for Collective Progress
Building upon the intricate web of interconnections revealed through the mapping of socio-political polarization in Pittsburgh, it becomes evident that these stakeholder groups are not only interconnected but also interdependent in several critical ways. This interdependency underscores the complexity of navigating the socio-political landscape and highlights potential pathways toward mitigating polarization through understanding and collaboration.
Firstly, the interdependency between preserving cultural values and integrating into a broader societal framework illustrates a shared struggle across all groups. The extreme right-wing media influencer, advocating for traditional American values, the white blue-collar worker’s emphasis on imparting these values to the next generation, and the immigrant tech worker’s challenge in balancing assimilation with cultural preservation, all reflect a common underlying quest for identity and belonging in a changing world. This shared quest suggests that efforts to address polarization must consider strategies that honor diverse cultural backgrounds while fostering a sense of unity and common purpose.
Secondly, the mutual need for recognition and respect across these groups points to an interdependency rooted in the human desire for dignity and acknowledgment. Whether it’s the media influencer seeking to widen their influence, the blue-collar worker yearning for acknowledgment of their hard work, or the immigrant tech worker aspiring for equality and respect in the workplace, all stakeholders are seeking affirmation of their worth. This interdependency highlights the importance of creating inclusive environments where everyone’s contributions are valued and respected, thereby reducing feelings of marginalization and resentment that fuel polarization.
Lastly, the shared aspiration for securing better futures for their families reveals an interdependency that transcends individual or group interests, uniting stakeholders in a common goal. Despite the diverse paths and perspectives of the right-wing influencer, the blue-collar worker, and the immigrant tech worker, their collective hope for their children’s success and well-being suggests that initiatives aimed at improving educational, economic, and social opportunities have the potential to bring these groups together. By focusing on this shared goal, it is possible to foster collaboration and dialogue, emphasizing shared interests over divisive issues.
These interdependencies offer a foundation for addressing the wicked problem of socio-political polarization by highlighting areas where collaborative efforts can lead to mutual benefits. Recognizing and leveraging these interdependencies can facilitate the development of policies and programs that not only address the specific concerns of each group but also foster a sense of shared community and common destiny. Through understanding and addressing these interdependencies, there is an opportunity to bridge divides, encourage empathy, and work toward a more unified and inclusive society.
Beyond Polarization: Charting the Course for Future Research
The exploration and analysis of socio-political polarization in Pittsburgh, particularly through the lens of extreme right-wing media influencers, immigrants in the tech sector, and white, middle-aged blue-collar workers, have laid a foundational understanding of the complex interplay between individual desires, cultural backgrounds, and societal pressures. This inquiry not only highlights the nuanced differences and shared aspirations among these groups but also opens avenues for future research aimed at deconstructing polarization and fostering inclusivity.
Future research should delve deeper into the mechanisms through which these interconnections and interdependencies can be leveraged to promote dialogue and understanding across seemingly disparate groups. Investigating the role of community-based initiatives, education systems, and policy reforms in mitigating the effects of polarization could provide actionable insights. Additionally, comparative studies across different cities or regions could shed light on the universal versus localized aspects of socio-political polarization, offering a broader perspective on tackling these issues.
Exploring the impact of digital media and social networks on polarization and the potential for these platforms to serve as tools for unity rather than division is another critical area for future inquiry. Understanding the psychological underpinnings of fear, hope, and the desire for belonging could also enrich strategies designed to bridge divides.
The two assignments we’ve done so far have given us tremendous insights into the wicked problem. When working on an issue of such scale outside of the classroom setting we think these exercises would help us better prepare to take on field research through these key insights:
- Highlight need for qualitative research: When working on a complex wicked problem one might be tempted to focus on statistics to gauge the scale of the issue but mapping the problem using the transition design framework can help designers understand how nuanced the problem area is. The diagrams created could act as a strong case for qualitative research to understand the issues at the grassroots level.
- Build a shared language among researchers: These exercises can help bring all the researchers in the team on the same page before going out into the field. It is important that as a team all members have a shared language and understanding of the problem area, doing these exercises as homework before primary research can help teams build a shared vision.
- Build sensitivity towards stakeholder groups: Wicked problems often concern a web of diverse stakeholder groups that researchers like us may know nothing about. Participating in a stakeholder mapping exercise beforehand will certainly help empathize and build sensitivity towards these people.
Through the Looking Glass: Reflecting on Research Biases in the Study of Socio-Political Polarization
Throughout this study, a conscious effort was made to approach the investigation of socio-political polarization with an open mind, recognizing that our own perspectives and biases could shape the research process and interpretations. Reflecting on these biases, it is clear that every phase of the research, from selecting stakeholders to analyzing their interconnections and interdependencies, was influenced by our preconceptions and societal positions.
Acknowledging these biases has been an integral part of the study, prompting continuous self-reflection and efforts to ensure a balanced and inclusive approach. This reflection has underscored the importance of incorporating diverse viewpoints and methodologies in research, aiming to minimize the influence of personal biases on the findings.
Moreover, this process of reflection has highlighted the need for researchers to engage in ongoing dialogue with the communities and stakeholders they study. By doing so, researchers can gain deeper insights and challenge their assumptions, leading to more nuanced and empathetic understandings of complex social issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this exploration into socio-political polarization not only contributes to our understanding of the phenomenon but also emphasizes the importance of reflexivity in research. By acknowledging and reflecting on our biases, we pave the way for more inclusive, comprehensive, and impactful future research.
References
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Chow, Kat. April 19, 2017. “Model minority myth again used as a racial wedge between Asians and blacks.” NPR: Code Switch. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/04/19/524571669/model-minority-myth-again-used-as-a-racial-wedge-between-asians-and-blacks
Gaskell, Adi. November 20, 2020 “The Importance Of Immigrants For The Future Of Tech” Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2020/11/27/the-importance-of-immigrants-for-the-future-of-tech/?sh=1585c37f790e
Joy, Melanie. 2019. “Oppression, Systems of Power & Distortions of Power.” In Powerarchy: Understanding the Psychology of Oppression for Social Transformation. Berrett Koehler, (pp.9–23 & 43–71).
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Lee, Lauren. October 16, 2020. “Wendy Bell officially no longer with KDKA-Radio.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2020/10/16/Wendy-Bell-officially-no-longer-with-KDKA-Radio/stories/202010160182
Matza, Max. April 26, 2023 “Tucker Carlson breaks silence after Fox News exit“ BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65408073
Wiggan, Jamie. June 30, 2023. “No frick’n way: Neighbors oppose transforming former Irish Centre into high-end apartments. Pittsburgh City Paper. https://www.pghcitypaper.com/news/n-no-frickn-way-neighbors-oppose-transforming-former-irish-centre-into-high-end-apartments-24134781
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