Julie M. Mazzei is an associate professor of political science and faculty affiliate with the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at 91ֿ. When it comes to taking a political stance, she wants Americans to understand how to get the right facts to make informed decisions.
Cleveland.com recently published Mazzei’s opinion piece on separating fact from fiction in politics. Mazzei examined the insurrection at the U.S. capitol on Jan. 6 and the role citizens play in protecting American democracy from manipulation.
“January 6th was a startling reminder of how fragile democracy is, and that ultimately its durability lies with us, the citizens,” Mazzei wrote. “Public inability (or unwillingness) to distinguish between fact and fiction leaves us vulnerable to manipulation and anti-democratic forces.”
Mazzei wrote in her op-ed that American society needs to support a system that teaches how to question, search, critique and identify evidence when taking a side on political issues.
“Many have developed political positions based on fiction, and left their safety and freedom - and ours - vulnerable to a cause that is simply not real,” Mazzei wrote. “We must arm ourselves with tools to differentiate between fact and fiction and use fact as a foundation for our policy preferences.”
To read Mazzei’s full op-ed, go to