Cross-Cutting and Reinforcing Political Cleavages
Reinforcing cleavages, also called coinciding cleavages, occur when social divisions such as race, religion, region, and income line up on the same groups, so people who differ on one issue differ on most of them, which deepens conflict. Cross-cutting cleavages occur when those divisions overlap, so people who disagree on one issue agree on others, which tends to moderate conflict.
CLEP American Government, Chapter 34
Cross-cutting and reinforcing political cleavages
A political cleavage is a durable social division that organizes conflict, but several divisions can intersect in very different ways. The important question is whether their boundaries repeatedly coincide or cut across one another.
When income, religion, region, and race place nearly the same groups in opposing camps, the cleavages reinforce one another. When allies on one division separate on another, cross-cutting identities create cross-pressure and new reasons for coalition.
Neither structure determines every person's behavior. Establish the pattern across at least two divisions, compare alignments over time, and remember that changing party coalitions can rearrange the boundaries.
Ask whether group boundaries coincide or intersect. Intersecting boundaries are cross-cutting; cumulative boundaries are reinforcing. Cross-cutting cleavages do not erase group identity or party competition. Their expected effect is to weaken a single all-encompassing line of conflict, not to produce complete consensus.
Video lesson: Political Ideology: Crash Course Government and Politics #35
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