Pluralistic Intolerance in America: A Reconsideration

In this article I reconsider the concept “pluralistic intolerance,” which has recently been advanced by Sullivan, Piereson, and Marcus. I first consider the question of whether Americans prefer that political repression be directed at unpopular political minorities on either the left wing or the right wing, or whether people are willing to support political repression against both the left and the right. My analysis reveals that those who support repression against left-wing groups also support repression against right-wing groups. A number of other difficulties with the “least-liked” approach to political tolerance are identified, difficulties that argue in favor of alternative conceptual and measurement strategies. Finally, the implicit linkage model associated with pluralistic intolerance is reconsidered as well.