Mapping the "Bridging Field"

Political polarization, especially in the United States, has reached a toxic level that may lead to violence. Many organizations and initiatives have emerged in recent years to fight polarization, together forming the “bridging field”—a social domain where diverse actors share the common goal of promoting political cohesiveness in society and interact strategically. This paper analyzes the formation and development of the bridging field in the United States. From nonprofit civic organizations practicing public deliberation to news organizations practicing alternative journalism, major depolarization initiatives are discussed. The paper offers a typology of civic organizations and journalism projects involved in depolarization work and maps out the field, contributing to theory building in media sociology and politics.