The SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University & ReD Associates: “This report is for practitioners, funders, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders who are interested in rebuilding the fabric of American public and political life. Specifically, we aim to explore how conservative Americans relate to democracy in the present moment, and understand why some have become open to political actions that others might perceive as deviating from longstanding democratic norms. This research builds on findings in the report “Understanding Evolving Republican Attitudes Toward Democracy,” published by the SNF Agora Institute and Public Agenda, exploring attitudes towards democratic institutions among conservative populations in the US. Existing accounts of this phenomenon tend to frame these conservatives as expressly anti-democratic. But that framing often lacks grounding in conservatives’ first-person perspectives, creating a gap between existing accounts and lived experience. To address that gap, this study provides empirical insight into how conservatives themselves perceive, understand, and navigate politics and civic life today, including how they relate to democracy in general, as well as specific, democratic institutions, and norms. It is also worth stating explicitly that we do not believe that openness or support for what we will refer to as ‘democratic norm deviation’ throughout this report is unique to conservatives, and we encourage similar inquiry into these dynamics across the broader political spectrum. The goal of this report is not to learn how to persuade conservatives to relate differently to democracy, or to drive an alternative agenda within conservative communities. We aim to offer and inspire practical implications for actors seeking to bridge political divides and engage Americans across the political spectrum on their own terms, improve and build trust in public institutions, and support pro-social civic engagement across contemporary America.”