Breaking the Bubble – The Determinants and Effects of Political Deliberations

Social networks are a key component of political processes and political participation. However, recent evidence from Brazil, the context of the researchers' study, demonstrates that social networks have become increasingly politically segregated. In this project, the researchers run a series of field experiments in collaboration with nonprofits and media outlets that expose 10,000+ partisans to a political deliberation with a member of an opposing political group. First, the researchers test whether such contact impacts partisans’ political participation, voting choices in municipal elections, discrimination towards opposing political groups, and support for democracy. Second, the researchers test what factors determine partisans’ demand for such political deliberations and how to increase demand for future deliberations.