political polarization as a threat to democracy
may, 2021||
In the recent months following the 2020 presidential election, conversations surrounding dangers to American democracy have become more present in the political arena. Analysts, political sources, and extensive research on these threats throughout both election cycles and day-to-day civic life have come to a similar conclusion about the most significant danger our democracy faces: political polarization. Political polarization — the widening gap between Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, or simply just the divide between ideologies — has become an identified danger forefront theme in both challenges and threats to democracy. Although this serves as an umbrella for the contemporary political divide that exists today in all contentious topics, the notion of political polarization as a leading danger truly does encapsulate the overarching themes of threats within and to our democracy.
The issue of political polarization as a means of endangering our democracy is not one whose blame is solely placed on one side of the political aisle; instead, it remains present bilaterally. However, the dangers of this are present mainly within our institutions, ultimately creating polarization within the people. Institutions and the political world, such as governmental systems, politicians, and campaigns, feed into polarization to gain unwavering support for one side without the opportunity for compromise. One avenue where political polarization is seen in this context is political careerism, explained in Jonathan Rauch’s article “The War on Professionalism.” Political “amateurs,” or politicians without the public good as their true intention, utilize this polarization to gain support and self-promote their causes (Rauch, National Affairs). The inherent threat of political careerism takes away from the purposes of democracy and instead directs it toward coalition building and advertising to specific demographics to gain support. Political polarization, manifesting this way, disadvantages politicians with intentions rooted in the public’s good and ultimately dilutes the democratic value of serving the common good.
Further, author Henry Farrell’s “History tells us there are four key threats to U.S. democracy” shares insight into how these more diminutive dangers towards American democracy exist within the overarching theme of political polarization. His interview with authors Suzanne Mettler and Robert C. Lieberman delves into four critical threats to democracy. While one of them is political polarization itself, the others– growing economic inequality, conflict over who belongs as a member of the political community, and excessive executive power– can also be explained by the growing divide and polarizing ideologies of both sides (Farrell, Washington Post). All of these other threats are rooted in a notion that, as Mettler and Lieberman explain, highlights the “Us v.s. Them” narrative: one that “others” those who disagree with the other side. Narratives such as these diminish any means of compromise and promote echo chambers both in and out of the political space that allow the divide to grow.
The threat of political polarization, while not overtly harmful, silently continues to promote one-sided thinking with little room for discourse or dialogue. In both political spaces and our everyday lives, political polarization translates into a lack of empathy, the inability to compromise, and ultimately, political gridlock that leads to little ability to work together with others. As author Tania Isreal shares in her book Beyond your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations that Work, “We might not end up agreeing on substantive policy or values, but we could humanize rather than demonize those with whom we disagree, we could exchange ideas respectfully, we could deepen our understanding of ourselves and each other” (Isreal, 16). Ultimately, political polarization affects both American democracy and democratic thinking. This significant danger is a threat that must not only be addressed but actively dismantled to ensure that the strength and resiliency of American democracy prevail.
Essay written for my American Politics final (May 2021)
