Trigger Points: Inequality and Political Polarization in Contemporary Society

By Steffen Mau

Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

Today's political debates are fiercely polarized. But looking beyond the headlines, this book shows that ordinary citizens hold much more nuanced, less divided views.

Drawing on rich survey data and group discussions, this work maps four major areas of conflict: migration, climate change, diversity and economic justice.

Across these conflicts, most citizens take positions that are middle-of-the-road, contradictory or undecided. It is only certain "trigger points" - like gendered pronouns or refugee admissions - that predictably ignite tensions and deep disagreement.

Political entrepreneurs know this and weaponize trigger points for their agenda. Yet the real key to contemporary conflicts, the book argues, lies in social inequality.

This is a vital work that maps today's political landscape without sensationalism, offering a fresh lens on public debate.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1529254035
• ISBN13: 9781529254037
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Bristol University Press
• Length: 272 Pages