Political Polarization Essay Sample

A house divided against itself cannot stand -Abraham Lincoln

Protests. Riots. Elections. Trials. We watch these events through the lenses of our silver screens, sitting at home as bystanders to justice and injustices, the right and the wrong. Over the years these events have become more controversial, and opinions have become difficult to communicate. I have seen this firsthand. Family divided by opinions, and friendships broken by ideas. This left me searching for answers to how the political climate in the country became so volatile. Through my research, I found that this volatility in politics comes from political polarization.

Political polarization is the process of political parties and people becoming more separated and extreme in their ideas. In other words, the “Democratic Party has moved more to the ‘left,’ while the Republican Party has moved more to the ‘right’”(Explainer: Political Polarization). We see political polarization all over the country as people change their ideas to fit with their associated political party, causing people to move closer to the extreme ends of the political spectrum and widening the gap in the middle. 

This widened gap is dangerous because as people become more extreme in their ideas, less can be done in politics. There are laws that have support from the majority percentage of Americans but have not been passed in congress. For example, 89% of both Republicans and Democrats agree that mentally ill people should not be able to buy or possess firearms, but yet it has not been passed into federal law, and many states still allow the mentally ill to do so (Gun Policy). The issue of gun control is one of many issues that both parties could find common ground on but don’t, due to the divides put in place by this widened gap of polarization in our politics. Problems like healthcare, abortion, immigration, and many others could be aided by compromise in our government, but this progress is impeded by 

Another harsh effect of this political polarization is the effect it has on interpersonal relationships. Due to the drastic polarization of today’s politics, the opinions of others of the opposite party have shifted. According to a study done by PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute), “in 1960, 4% of Republicans and 4% of Democrats said they would be displeased if their son or daughter married someone of the opposite party”. However “in 2019, 45% of Democrats said they would be unhappy if their child married a Republican and 35% of Republicans say they would be unhappy if their child married a Democrat”(qtd. in Explainer: Political Polarization). Disapproving of your son or daughter-in-law is only for their political ideology is only a small fraction of the hate building up among people over politics. People are holding serious fear of the opposing political parties as well. In a YouGov survey, it was found that “sixty percent of Democrats regard the opposing party as ‘a serious threat to the United States.’ For Republicans, that figure approaches seventy percent”(qtd. in Kolbert). Another survey done by Pew research found that “more than half of all Republicans and nearly half of all Democrats believe their political opponents to be ‘immoral’”(qtd. in Kolbert). This intense and irrational fear and attitude towards the other political party is a terrible result of political polarization, as people with this dislike or disapproval of others of an opposing political view can become violent in some instances. 

The rise in extremism is partly due to the political polarization in this country. The explanation is simple, as more people lean farther right and left, the far-right and the far-left rise. This rise in extremism is shown by the rise in extremist attacks, especially on the far-right. Data shows that extremist attacks are at the highest they have been in the past quarter-century ( Ba Tran). In addition to a rise in extremist attacks, there has additionally been a rise in hate crimes. The FBI reports that hate crimes this past year were the highest seen in the past 12 years (Hernandez). The horror that unfolds when people go beyond the average limits of a political ideology is scary, and the fear that follows each attack further plays into the division we experience in the country. This is the worst effect of political polarization, as it ends with the lives of innocents being taken.

Despite all of the devastating consequences of politician polarization, many critics argue that it is not an issue or not very prevalent in the country. Political scientist Sean J. Westwood along with many other political scientists argue that “claims by sociologists and political science of a growing threat of political violence are exaggerated” ( qtd. in Edsall). They claim that political polarization does not have a large impact on rising rates of political violence and that political violence will continue to grow regardless of polarization. They are correct in saying that political violence may not cease due to a decrease in polarization, however studies show that with less polarization, political tensions and violence will decrease as well (Political Polarization).

As the effects of political polarization are brought to light, the question of how politics became so polarized arises. In David French’s Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation, he proposes that a lack of unifying force is to blame for this polarization. He writes “there is not a single important cultural, religious, political or social force that is pulling Americans together more than it is pushing us apart”(French 5). This can be proven across history, as a common cause or creed has united people and encouraged working with one another. In the today’s day, we do not see cause like that in which a country can universally support. 

One other reason for political polarization is the media. Digital algorithms present you often with products you like or show you advertisements for movies you like, and they use the same algorithms presenting you with news sources. This gives people little exposure to opposing opinions, as their media feed is programmed to give them new sources and political commentators that fit their liking. 

In addition, another major reason for political polarization is given by Ezra Klein in his book Why we are polarized. He argues that the country is “already split vertically, between sections, races, and ethnic groups”, and that danger comes when splitting “horizontally too between liberals and conservatives”(Klein 13).  He argues that we already live in a divided society among divided people. People have fought for thousands of years over religion and ethnicity. In addition, race is a huge issue in the United States and it has been since 1776. These preexisting divisions only further divide Americans when it comes to politics, and add to political polarization. Klein also argues that the way people express their political identity is also a reason for this divide.He argues that“when you vote for a candidate you’re not just voting for him or her. You are voting for, well, everything...You’re voting for your side to beat the other side. You’re voting to express your identity….You’re voting so those smug jerks you fight with in comment sections don’t win, so that aunt or uncle you argue with at Thanksgiving can’t lord it over you. You’re voting to say your group is right and worthy and the other group is wrong and unworthy. That’s bigger than any one candidate for president”(Klein 68). Having politics change from a policy focused system that’s purpose is to better the country switch to a popularity contest is a reason for polarization, as many look at politics as joining one team or another and hoping for them to win. In practice, the political spectrum should be a spectrum. It shouldn’t be about one side or another, it should be a range of different opinions and stances that affect how you vote and support politicians. 

Now that the causes and effects of political polarization have been identified, we can take action against it. Or can we? Political polarization is a process that affects most of the nation, and is largely based on individual ways of thinking. This makes political polarization tough to stand against, since there is little that you can do to change the thinking of millions. So the way to start standing up against political polarization is to take a stand against yourself. Challenge your own views with opposing beliefs. If you are more left-wing, try listening to some right-wing news or commentators. If you are right-wing, try doing the same with left-wing news. To further fight against polarization, try to look more closely at policies than politicians or parties. Read into what laws you would like to get passed and see who you should vote for based on your personal opinions. Freeing yourself from political polarization is the first step in reversing the process across the country. 

In conclusion, political polarization is a process that continues to worsen each day throughout the country, turning the citizens against each other and furthering already existing divides. For the future we can only hope that our country will overcome this plight, so that one day we will set aside our differences, and make a change. But for now, all there is to hope is that the country will continue to stand as its houses grow ever apart.