Political Tolerance Scale

The Political Tolerance Scale measures willingness to permit unpopular groups to exercise civil liberties and political rights, including free speech, assembly, and voting rights even for groups the respondent strongly opposes. Pioneered by Stouffer (1955) measuring tolerance of communists during McCarthyism and extended by Gibson (1989) and Sullivan, Piereson, and Marcus (1982), the scale assesses fundamental democratic commitment—that pluralism and minority rights supersede majoritarian preference. It addresses the paradox: can democracy survive if majorities vote to restrict minority rights? Tolerance is essential for democratic stability, particularly as polarization increases.