ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the challenges of developing and implementing public policies that address fundamental problems in an era characterized by growing political polarization, as evidenced by populist "protest" political movements in numerous countries in North America and Western Europe. It aims to determine the extent to which ideological polarization might inhibit policy formulation and implementation, and the mechanisms by which it occurs. In order to accomplish this task, the book offers a brief overview of the literature on polarization in the US, which has been frequently cited as an example of a highly polarized political system. It explores key topics in the study of the relationship between polarization and public policy and administration in greater depth. The book develops potential solutions to polarized policymaking, ranging from institutional design to pedagogies and financing in higher education.
