2
I. Introduction
The discipline of political science has long regarded the study of political
tolerance as compelling. Indeed, scholars have frequently examined the questions
surrounding tolerance decision-making, arguing that “tolerance is the pivotal dilemma of
democracy in a pluralistic society.”
1
If American society successfully develops strong
individuals, nourishes varied group identities, and effectively includes many cultural
affiliations to form a heterogeneous society, the inevitable result is the development of
diverse perspectives. It is the free exchange of such complementing, even conflicting,
views that forms the cornerstone of American democracy.
Yet, in order for the free exchange of ideas to occur, citizens must be able to
engage in public speech, to associate with a group supportive of a particular view, and to
participate in a public demonstration. In order to assure these rights, individual citizens
must practice tolerance even when confronted with speech from another citizen that may
seem illogical, contradictory or even offensive to his or her own beliefs. In this way, the
concept of political tolerance measures the willingness of the citizenry to accept the
principle that a free society requires permission for all citizens, even those whose views
the majority would find repellent, to be able to speak, publish, demonstrate and associate.
This research project seeks to conduct a preliminary examination of the effect of
threatening information on levels of adherence to the ideals of political tolerance. Part II
of this paper consists of an exploration of the existing literature on political tolerance,
situating this project within the field. Part III presents a description of the research design
1
Marcus, George E., John L. Sullivan, Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, and Sandra L. Wood. 1995. With Malice
Toward Some. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 3.
Convention