Beyond Red and Blue - New Research Says There Are Now 9 Political Tribes in U.S.

Beyond Red and Blue - New Research Says There Are Now 9 Political Tribes in U.S.

A new report issued by Pew Research this week said that political divisions in the U.S. now go beyond just “red” vs “blue” states.

According to Pew, “intraparty disagreements present multiple challenges for both parties” — and a “new political typology provides a road map to today’s fractured political landscape.”

Pew segments the public into nine distinct groups, based on an analysis of their attitudes and values. 

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They are — from left to right: progressive left; establishment liberals; democratic mainstays; outsider left; stressed sideliners; ambivalent right; populist right; committed conservatives; and faith and flag conservatives. 

If you don’t at first blush know which group you gravitate towards?

You can take Pew’s “typology quiz" to find out. 

 

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“The four Democratic-oriented typology groups highlight the party’s racial and ethnic diversity, as well as the unwieldy nature of the current Democratic coalition,” writes Pew. 

The four Republican-oriented groups include three groups of conservatives, as well as the “ambivalent right,” with Pew says is the “youngest and least conservative GOP-aligned group, [which holds] conservative views about the size of government, the economic system and issues of race and gender.”

According to Pew, the main findings of its new political typology are as follows: racial injustice remains a dividing line in U.S. politics; Democrats prefer bigger government — but how big?; economic policy — including taxes — divides the GOP; Republicans’ complicated views of Trump; stark differences among typology groups on U.S. global standing; and is there a ‘middle’ in politics today. 

“These intraparty disagreements present multiple challenges for both parties: They complicate the already difficult task of governing in a divided nation,” writes Pew. “In addition, to succeed politically, the parties must maintain the loyalty of highly politically engaged, more ideological voters, while also attracting support among less engaged voters – many of them younger – with weaker partisan ties.”