REDIRECT was invited to present a paper at the University of Rome Tor Vergata as part of the Global Conversations series, exploring how political disagreement can move beyond the public sphere and become deeply personal. The paper, titled When Political Differences Become Personal: Affective Polarization and Democracy, highlighted the consequences of affective polarization for democratic life and representative politics.
Delivered by Elisabetta Mannoni (University of Siena), the paper examined the ways in which political divisions increasingly shape social relations, mutual perceptions, and democratic coexistence. By focusing on the personal and emotional dimensions of political conflict, the event offered an important contribution to current debates on polarization, democracy, and representation.
Overall, the discussion provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on one of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary democracies: not only disagreement over ideas and policies, but the growing tendency for politics to structure trust, distance, and social belonging in everyday life.
Date: 26 March 2026
Location: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Series: Global Conversations
Partner: University of Rome Tor Vergata
#AffectivePolarization #Democracy #RepresentativeDemocracy #PoliticalRepresentation #GlobalConversations #REDIRECT