Talking Politics in Contentious Political Climates: The Opening and Closing of Political Conversation During the Wisconsin Recall Elections of 2012

• In Event: Political Talk and Deliberation

Abstract

For several weeks in early 2011, tens of thousands of protesters cycled in and out of the Wisconsin state capitol in response to far-reaching policy initiatives from its governor. Since then, Wisconsin has experienced the throes of the most contentious of politics, including efforts to recall several public officials. This paper explores how political contention influences the experience and practice of discursive politics by citizens. Observing that political talk has been recognized as essential to civic learning and democratic discourse, we examine how talk is affected by recent contentious politics. By asking respondents whether they stopped talking about politics during this time, or whether they attempted to persuade others, we are able to show that significant closing of political talk took place in Wisconsin, especially among particular segments of the public. We discuss the consequences of these findings for our understanding of political talk and citizen discourse in contentious times.

Authors

• Christopher Wells, U of Wisconsin

• German Alvarez, U of Wisconsin

• Leticia Bode, Georgetown U

• Stephanie Edgerly, Northwestern University

• Lewis A. Friedland, U of Wisconsin

• Dhavan Shah, U of Wisconsin

• Itay Gabay, Bowling Green State University