Given the salient and troubling divisions in contemporary American society—among others—it is more important than ever to understand the social and psychological forces that make for social unity, and their potential to overcome such divisions. It is also important to understand the forces that oppose such unity.  The Social Unity Research Cluster (SURC) aims to pursue these related projects from an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on theories and data from philosophy, psychology, political science, history, sociology and other related fields.