Rotarian Dr. David Dulio is a valued member of the Club and serves as Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Oakland University. He teaches courses on campaigns and elections, Congress, political parties, interest groups, and American politics, and earned his Ph.D. from American University with a focus on U.S. campaigns and elections.

Dr. Dulio founded the Center for Civic Engagement nearly eight years ago after recognizing two deeply concerning trends: declining civic literacy and increasing incivility in American public life. In one introductory American politics class, he administered a simplified U.S. citizenship test and found that 40 percent of students could not pass it. He believes this reflects a broader failure to adequately prepare young people to understand how democratic institutions function. In his view, a lack of civic knowledge may contribute to heightened political hostility and polarization.

He described how Americans increasingly struggle to engage constructively with those who hold different political views. Citing data from Pew Research and Gallup, Dr. Dulio noted that large and growing percentages of both Democrats and Republicans view members of the opposing party as closed-minded, dishonest, immoral, or unintelligent. Over time, these negative perceptions have intensified. Research also shows that ideological overlap between the parties has diminished significantly since the 1990s, with fewer Americans identifying as moderates and more consistently aligning with liberal or conservative positions.

Dr. Dulio discussed several contributing factors to this polarization. Social media platforms reward attention-grabbing content, often amplifying outrage and division. Media outlets frequently emphasize conflict over cooperation, despite bipartisan work occurring regularly at both the state and federal levels. He observed that many Americans focus heavily on national politics, even though local government typically has a more direct and meaningful impact on daily life. Notably, public trust remains highest at the local level of government, where governance is often less overtly partisan and more focused on practical problem-solving.

The effects of incivility extend beyond politics. Dr. Dulio cited workplace research indicating that acts of incivility occur daily in many organizations, leading to chronic absenteeism, formal complaints, and high economic costs. Disagreements over political and social issues are among the leading sources of workplace conflict.

In response to these challenges, the Center for Civic Engagement recently received a $350,000 grant from the Davidson Foundation to expand its work in promoting civil discourse. Oakland University is partnering with Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson through the Great Lakes Civility Project to model respectful dialogue across political differences. Dr. Dulio also expressed interest in developing a civility credential that students and community members could earn, demonstrating skills in constructive engagement that are increasingly valuable in professional settings.

He concluded by emphasizing that while no single solution exists, progress begins at the individual level. Civility requires intentional effort—pausing before reacting, seeking understanding, and recognizing the shared humanity of those with differing views. Strengthening civic knowledge and recommitting to respectful discourse, he argued, are essential to preserving the democratic system entrusted to future generations.