WHY AMERICA IS SO DIVIDED TODAY? (PART 1)

 

****Part 1: Introduction

Political polarization has become an increasingly defining feature of American politics in recent years, with both political parties becoming more ideologically extreme and less willing to compromise. This deepening divide has led to increased partisanship, gridlock, and even violence, as evidenced by the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The roots of this division are complex and multifaceted, and can be traced back to a number of historical, cultural, and political factors.

One key factor contributing to the current political polarization is the party switch that occurred in the 1960s. Prior to this time, the Democratic Party was the party of segregation and the Republican Party was the party of civil rights. However, with the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965, many white Democrats in the South began to switch to the Republican Party, which became increasingly conservative and anti-government in its ideology. This realignment of the parties led to a more ideologically homogeneous electorate, with liberals primarily supporting the Democratic Party and conservatives primarily supporting the Republican Party.

Another factor contributing to political polarization is the culture war that has been raging in the United States since the 1960s. This conflict is rooted in a number of social and cultural issues, including abortion, gay rights, gun control, and immigration. While these issues were once largely the domain of the culture and morality debates, they have increasingly become politicized and are now key issues in national elections. This has led to a deepening divide between liberals and conservatives, who hold vastly different views on these issues and are often unwilling to compromise.

A third factor contributing to political polarization is the rise of neoliberalism, which is a political and economic philosophy that emphasizes free markets, privatization, and individual responsibility. Neoliberalism gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, and has been embraced by both major political parties in the United States. However, it has also been blamed for exacerbating income inequality, eroding the social safety net, and creating a sense of insecurity among working-class Americans. This has led to a growing divide between the "haves" and the "have-nots," and has fueled populist movements on both the left and the right.

A fourth factor contributing to political polarization is the democratization of the media. With the rise of social media and the internet, individuals are increasingly able to choose the news sources they consume and the political beliefs they hold. This has led to a fragmentation of the media landscape, with individuals on the left and the right increasingly consuming different news sources and living in "echo chambers" that reinforce their pre-existing beliefs. This has led to a situation in which individuals are less likely to encounter alternative viewpoints and are more likely to become entrenched in their own ideological beliefs.

It is worth noting that these factors do not exist in isolation from one another and interact in complex ways to produce the current state of political polarization in the United States. The party switch and culture war were significant factors that led to the polarization of the electorate, with the two major parties becoming more ideologically distinct. Neoliberalism, with its emphasis on individualism and market solutions, has led to a decline in the role of government in social and economic affairs and contributed to the growth of income inequality. The democratization of media has also played a significant role in shaping public opinion and reinforcing partisan beliefs. These factors have created a self-reinforcing cycle of polarization, where individuals seek out media sources that confirm their existing beliefs, leading to more extreme views and less willingness to compromise.

In conclusion, the current political polarization in the United States is the result of a complex and multifaceted set of factors. These include the party switch that occurred in the 1960s, the culture war that has been raging since that time, the rise of neoliberalism, and the democratization of the media. Together, these factors have created a political environment in which compromise and cooperation have become increasingly difficult, and in which political extremism has become more prevalent.

In the following parts of this article, I will explore each factor and explain how they have an impact on the current American sociopolitical stance today.