A defining characteristic of American politics over the past generation has been the growing ideological divide between the nation's two major parties. Measuring this polarization is straightforward, using roll call records from Congress where every vote is a conscience vote. Asking how Australian parties compare is complicated, because divisions within the party room disappear on the floor. This preliminary work begins to chart comparative political polarization, based on what Australian politicians say in interviews, on the Australian Candidate Survey, on Twitter, and in their maiden speeches.

Thad Kousser is serving as the 2015 Fulbright Flinders University Distinguished Chair in American Political Science. He has authored, co-authored, or edited the books The Power of American Governors (Cambridge University Press, 2012), The Logic of American Politics, 7th Edition (CQ Press, forthcoming), Politics in the American States, 10th Edition (CQ Press, 2012), The New Political Geography of California (Berkeley Public Policy Press, 2008), Term Limits and the Dismantling of State Legislative Professionalism (Cambridge University Press, 2005), and Adapting to Term Limits: Recent Experiences and New Directions (Public Policy Institute of California, 2004).  His work has also been published in journals such as the American Political Science Review, the Revue Francaise de Science Politique, the Journal of Politics, Political Analysis, Legislative Studies Quarterly, and State Politics and Policy Quarterly. He is a recipient of the UCSD Academic Senate's Distinguished Teaching Award, the Faculty Mentor of the Year Award, served as co-editor of the journal State Politics and Policy Quarterly, and has worked as a staff assistant in the California, New Mexico, and United States Senates. Kousser also competed on the faculty team in the UCSD Alumni Surf Contest.

Lunch will be provided at the seminar after the Q&A session.