Ethnocentric concerns about the growing political power and social influence of immigrants, African Americans and Latinos are undermining Republicans' commitment to long-held democratic norms, according to new research by Vanderbilt University political science professor Larry Bartels. The findings, published Aug. 31 in the research article "Ethnic antagonism erodes Republicans' commitment to democracy," provide important context for today's political climate as partisan polarization and democratic "backsliding" are on the rise across the U.S. and other parts of the world.