Elizabeth Suhay

Elizabeth Suhay, associate professor of government at American University and author of Debating the American Dream, explores how beliefs about meritocracy and causes of inequality split Americans along party lines. She examines historical roots, changing mobility, how people learn about economic reality, and the partisan consequences of endorsing meritocratic versus structural explanations.

Elizabeth Suhay, associate professor at American University who studies public opinion and political psychology, discusses belief in the American Dream and its ties to political identity. She explores partisan divides over causes of inequality, how people learn about economic reality, changing mobility trends, and why Democrats and Republicans interpret meritocracy so differently.

Elizabeth Suhay, a political scientist and professor at American University, delves into how beliefs about the American Dream have become polarized along political lines. She reveals that skepticism about the Dream is mainly found among Democrats, while Republicans largely maintain their faith in it. Suhay discusses how party identity shapes perceptions of inequality and highlights demographic factors like race and education in optimism levels. She also explores how narratives about fairness differ between parties and the impact of Trump's messaging on these beliefs.