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Publications

More in Common took shape from work undertaken since 2016 to understand why so many societies were dividing around debates about their identity and belonging, and why people were being increasingly persuaded to see debates about immigration, refugees and diversity through the lens of ‘us-versus-them’. Since then, we have broadened our research agenda and incorporated several layers of social psychology research to provide a deeper analysis of the different factors contributing to polarization and social fracturing.

More in Common’s published studies of public attitudes in several European countries and the United States are already regarded as among the most insightful and actionable analyses of public opinion. Our team also published papers on polarization, social media and the psychology of political behavior.

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Navigating Uncertainty

Navigating Uncertainty

February 2022
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Navigating Uncertainty is a new six-country report exploring the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s lives, priorities and expectations. Conducted in the final weeks of 2021, it draws on surveys conducted among 12,000 respondents across France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK. The findings build on More in Common’s June 2020 report, The New Normal?, which examined dynamics in the first six months of the pandemic.
After Kabul: Veterans, America, and the End of the War in Afghanistan

After Kabul: Veterans, America, and the End of the War in Afghanistan

November 2021

In October 2021 we surveyed over 2,500 Americans, including 537 veterans, about the end of the war in Afghanistan. After Kabul: Veterans, America, and the End of the War in Afghanistan lays out the findings from this large-scale national survey. It shows a wide gulf between veterans and the broader society, with veterans — especially those who served in Afghanistan — processing a range of intense emotions while also feeling a sense of alienation from their fellow Americans. At the same time, the data show clear opportunities to help bridge this gulf, with an emphasis on working together to resettle Afghan allies and on creating opportunities for veterans and non-veterans to get to know each other and share stories.
Democratic Repair

Democratic Repair

October 2021
Democratic Repair

The past decade has been a time of turbulence and upheaval in British politics. ‘Democratic Repair: What Britons want from their democracy' explores public perceptions of the political system, based on polling and focus groups from across the country. It finds that while people the UK have faith in democratic principles, they are disillusioned by the failures of politics and politicians to work for them in practice.
Spheres of Convening

Spheres of Convening

September 2021
Spheres of Convening

For this publication, our German team investigated the everyday places where people with different backgrounds, values, and beliefs come together. We explored the factors that influence peoples’ receptiveness to civic outreach.
Imagining a Story of Tomorrow

Imagining a Story of Tomorrow

September 2021
The Endless Sea

The Endless Sea is a narrative project that aims to provide change-makers, thinkers and practitioners with elements of a blueprint for a widely shared new story for a better tomorrow. Author Giuliano Da Empoli explores the groups, individuals, and movements who have managed the ‘big switch’ from negative to positive, from small scale to wider recognition, without losing energy.
Dousing the Flames

Dousing the Flames

July 2021
Dousing the Flames

In the latest report from More in Common UK, we explore what people in Britain really think about the high-profile cultural debates, from footballers taking the knee, to replacing colonial-era statues. The report, based on focus group conversations with people from across Britain, as well as extensive polling and research, offers a roadmap for navigating cultural change successfully in the UK.
Attitudes toward Democracy

Attitudes toward Democracy

July 2021
Attitudes Towards Democracy

It's Complicated. People and their Democracy in Germany, France, Britain, Poland and the United States. This in-depth study explores how citizens in five countries feel about democracy, their frustrations, and their demands, with a particular focus on those with an ambivalent relationship with democracy.
Two Stories of Distrust in America

Two Stories of Distrust in America

May 2021

Drawing on multiple national surveys conducted from July 2020 through March 2021, More in Common explores the landscape of trust in America. At a time of low overall trust levels, we highlight two distinct stories of distrust: an ideological 'us versus them' distrust and a 'social distrust' that has to do more with experiences of belonging, dignity, and equality (or lack thereof).
Threads of Texas

Threads of Texas

April 2021
Threads of Texas

In our first state-level segmentation research study, More in Common examines the forces that are pulling Texans apart and the shared values that can bring Texans together as they navigate the future. Insights on how Texas, a state at the forefront of change, can chart a path toward a more cohesive society, can inform and contribute to efforts that foster unity in the country as a whole.
American Fabric: Identity and Belonging

American Fabric: Identity and Belonging

December 2020

In this first report of the American Fabric series, More in Common delves deeper into the complexity of American identity. We explore how associations, experiences, and norms of our shared identity differ across the political and demographic diversity of the United States. Conducted against the backdrop of a deeply contentious year, the study articulates where Americans continue to diverge and highlights places of meaningful commonality.