Polarization: Mark Lilla on ‘Identity and Citizenship’

Mark Lilla, an American political scientist, journalist and professor at Columbia University discusses the national conversation his book sparked by his most recent book, “The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics.” The discussion concerns the need to turn from the divisive identity politics to develop a vision of an American future centered around ideas of common citizenship.

About the speaker

Mark Lilla is professor of humanities at Columbia University and a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books and other publications worldwide. His books include “The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics” (2017), “The Shipwrecked Mind: On Political Reaction” (2016), “The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics and the Modern West” (2007) and “The Reckless Mind: Intellectuals in Politics” (2001).

About the series

The polarized and compartmentalized intellectual climate on American campuses both mirrors and contributes to similar maladies in American civic life.

To examine the problem and begin to discuss possible solutions both at the level of the campus and society, Arizona State University’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, together with its partners in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, is hosting a lecture series and conference, “Polarization and Civil Disagreement: Confronting America’s Civic Crisis.” You can also watch discussions and join the conversation on Facebook.

WATCH: See the full list of episodes of “Polarization: A Civic Crisis”