Department of Political Science

This experimental study explores the relationship between exposure to CRT and political dispositions among white college students. It aims to address the gap in current academic literature regarding the intersection of CRT and political attitudes, particularly in relation to progressive race-based policies (PRBPs). Data were collected through interviews with white students at UCLA (N=8); from the data, mixed methods research was employed to illuminate how exposure to CRT may influence participants' levels of Interracial Empathy and dispositions toward PRBPs. Initially, this study hypothesized that exposure to CRT increases support for PRBPs through fostering Interracial Empathy. However, evidence from the study challenges this hypothesis, indicating that CRT, as operationalized in this study, did not significantly alter policy attitudes. This study aims to provide a more evidence-based foundation for understanding the impact of CRT on political beliefs and inform debates on its integration in educational settings.