Political divisions in the U.S. and many democracies are no longer just about policy differences; they are increasingly rooted in affective polarization—mutual dislike and suspicion between groups. Polarization is now directly linked to institutional dysfunction. Yet depolarization research is showing that interventions such as structured dialogue, narrative exchange, and media literacy can counter these dynamics.
The 2026 DeLTA Summit: Emerging Scholarship on Polarization will showcase pieces of a needed toolkit for addressing polarization that is finally robust enough to warrant coordinated, cross-disciplinary action. The DeLTA Summit offers a forum for students at all levels to present research related to political polarization and interventions to an audience of their peers as well as a panel of conflict resolution faculty around the DC area.
Present Your Research
Presentations should reflect an idea or study related—directly or indirectly—to the issue of political polarization.
–Either class assignments with original ideas or new applications of existing research.
–Early stage concepts to completed projects
–Focus on theoretical development, empirical or other research studies, and all combinations thereof.
Presentations are around 10 minutes, and will be followed by Q&A with faculty. Presentations can be virtual or in person.
Learn more here.
Come to the Summit
The 2026 DeLTA Summit: Emerging Scholarship on Polarization is timely because the polarization has intensified, the consequences are clearer, and—critically—the toolkit for addressing polarization is finally robust enough to warrant coordinated, cross-disciplinary action. Learn about emerging scholarship that will make a difference.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
10 am – 2 pm
Mason Square, Van Metre Hall
3351 Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA
Register here.
Questions? Contact Randy Lioz at [email protected].
Learn about last year’s summit here.The Summit is sponsored by the PiVot Peace Lab, a space for students, scholar-practitioners, academic researchers to dive deeply into polarization and violent conflict from multiple perspectives. Lab members examine why it has surged, and how to transform conflicts by mitigating and possibly reversing the damage these trends have caused. Learn more (and join) here.