Civility In Politics Or Lack Thereof

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Editor’s Note: The following featured article was written by Lauren Cohen from Florida, USA.

Throughout the history of the United States, there have been periods of greater social cohesion and cooperation, and other periods 0f intense polarization and division. The pendulum has swung dramatically, such that we are now in a period of increased social hostility and intolerance. This is a symptom of a more fundamental problem that has arisen due to a convergence of economic, sociological, and technological changes that have continued to accelerate. Consequently, the intense polarization that exists within the United States is not necessarily the cause of the problem but rather a manifestation of bigger issues that are affecting not just Americans, but people worldwide.

Economic, sociological, environmental, and technological factors each play a significant role in the societal disunity. The American economic system has changed rapidly since World War II. During the immediate post-war era, America was at its peak of industrial production and workers were able to achieve a high standard of living working in factories. Since that time, there have been major advances in technology which have led to greater automation, reduced need for human labor, and the income that middle-class Americans could earn. As a result, higher levels of education was necessary for people to qualify the types of jobs that remain. This, in turn, led to greater economic and social division between those Americans who were highly educated and able to obtain jobs, and those that were falling behind. Currently, the middle class has shrunk to the point that people are either doing well financially or living just above the poverty level. A downward drift has occurred as children are no longer to maintain the financial security that their parents had. This economic division has amplified feelings of resentment among individuals who are struggling to make ends meet.

Sociological and economic change have mirrored one another. Many people either do not have the resources or capacity to attain levels of higher education needed for existing jobs. The consequence of this is greater cultural disparity based on educational and economic inequality. Geographical factors play a significant role, as the social and cultural characteristics of people living in urban versus rural areas have become more distinct. Major changes in communication and mass media have contributed to accelerating these sociological differences. Over the last decade, remarkable technological advances have occurred which have greatly benefited humanity but with costs. People are able to communicate and acquire information at rates that were never before possible. As a result, people are bombarded with massive amounts of information on a continual basis. This makes it difficult to determine if the information is accurate or not. The amount of disinformation broadcasted throughout the media has grown exponentially. As noted by the eminent media scientist, Newton Lee, “Information is power. Disinformation is an abuse of power.” In this regard, technology has outpaced the ability of media sources to ensure the security of its information. Hacking is now rampant, feeding into the disinformation problem. These technological developments have even impacted the nature of American commerce, as companies like Amazon have led to the closing of local retailers and the breakdown of communities.

These economic, social, and technological changes have combined to produce a number of adverse effects on our society. Economic disparities have resulted not only in feelings of resentment towards others, but also contributes to the perception that other groups are getting ahead at their expense. Scapegoating and racial prejudice are products of this resentment. Sociologically, rural and urban cultures have been increasingly have diverged, such that it often feels like two different worlds. During the early years of radio and television, Americans largely had the same sources of news and entertainment. Today, people select media that conforms with their worldview and provides validation for their perspective, even if it is based on false information. Many people begin to feel increasingly alienated from mainstream society, as they live in their own information bubble. Tribalism is intensified as well, as there is a greater feeling of “us and them”. In an effort to appeal to their constituents, politicians have increasingly directed their messages to fit with their cultural identity rather than the country as a whole. This has directly resulted in increased polarization and political division. Rather than voting entirely based on self or national interest, many Americans find themselves voting based on their allegiance to a political party. Unquestionably, American society has become increasingly polarized and its political rhetoric, vitriolic to the point of hostility being directed at those who have alternative viewpoints. However, it seems likely that this polarization contributes to but is not necessarily the cause of our current social problems. Rather, they are a byproduct of the economic, sociological, and technological factors that have been discussed. Are these changes unique to this era? Historical analysis suggests that it is not. Polarization and vitriolic rhetoric were likely even greater during the period leading up to the Civil War. Following World War I, the American public shifted from the idea of globalism to isolationism and there was intense fear of foreign ideas such as communism altering the nature of American society. During World War II, despite the tragic loss of life, the country unified in its effort to defeat the enemy. However, following the war, there again a shift towards isolationism and the belief that communists had infiltrated and perverted all areas of American society and government. In the 1960s, the pendulum swung in the opposite direction, as the dominant theme was one of love, peace, and tolerance. Yet even during this period, there were strong strains resisting this perspective. Beginning in the 1980s the pendulum again shifted away from liberalism and progressive ideas, towards a return to “normalcy” and the perceived values of the past. This viewpoint is exemplified by the words of Phyllis Schlafly, a reactionary from that period: “Women have babies and men provide support. If you don’t like the way we’re made you’ve got to take it up with God.” Since 1980, with the exception of a few short periods, the pendulum has largely remained in this direction.

Due to the economic, sociological, and technological problems that have been outlined earlier, this shift has been magnified by another essential factor; the ongoing acceleration and the rate of change of these factors. Most people cannot keep pace with this rate of change. The people with the greatest capacity for adaption are able to do this successfully. A large segment of the American population feels that the world that they once knew no longer exists. Given that this rate of acceleration has no likelihood of slowing down, the pressures that have led to current polarization are likely to persist for some time to come. This could lead to a rather pessimistic view that polarization, alienation, and tribalism will only worsen in the future. While currently, it may feel that there are no resolutions to these problems, there are several reasons why this trend may not persist. The public and its politicians are becoming increasingly cognizant of the polarization that exists and the dangers it presents. Eventually, legislation may be enacted that may counteract some of these effects. For example, changes in the electoral college, filibuster rules, and Supreme Court term limitations would serve to reduce the amount of ideological rigidity in the system. A second possibility based on historical precedent is that external events will occur that force people to cooperate as they did after World War II and 9/11. Unfortunately, the events of 9/11 led to short term unification but it did not persist. Eventually, people may be forced to cooperate to overcome something such as the catastrophic effects of climate change or the mass epidemic of gun violence within America. The intense polarization that currently exists within the United States is not necessarily the cause of the problem but rather a manifestation of larger economic, sociological, and technological issues.