The Politics of Individualism

Christopher F. Karpowitz is a professor of political science at Brigham Young University. He was director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at BYU. He is currently a co-editor of Political Behavior. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University.Kelly D. Patterson is a professor of political science at Brigham Young University. He has served as department chair, Director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at BYU, and as an associate dean in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University.

• 1: Individualism in American Politics2: Individualism and the Question of the Self3: Measuring Individualism as Moral Autonomy4: Moral Individualism and the Demands of a Pandemic5: Moral Individualism in the Public and Private Spheres6: Conclusion: Whither the Republic?

It is rare for scholars to define a significant new concept and demonstrate empirically that it explains prevalent and troubling aspects of politics. Karpowitz and Patterson have done exactly that with their new concept of "moral individualism," which must now become a focus for researchers and a concern of anyone who works to preserve the republic.