Political polarization is about feelings, not facts

posted by S. Abbas Raza in 3 Quarks Daily: Robert B. Talisse in The Conversation

Politicians and pundits from all quarters often lament democracy's polarized condition.

Similarly, citizens frustrated with polarized politics also demand greater flexibility from the other side.

Decrying polarization has become a way of impugning adversaries. Meanwhile, the political deadlock and resentment that polarization produces goes unaddressed. Ironic, right?

Commentators rarely say what they mean by polarization. But if Americans are to figure out how to combat it, they need to begin from a clear understanding of what polarization is.

My forthcoming book, “Overdoing Democracy,” argues that polarization isn’t about where you get your news or how politicians are divided – it’s about how a person’s political identity is wrapped up with almost everything they do.

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Hazel’s comment
Yes, this item is all about the USA but there are parrallels with the UK. I don’t know about Talisse’s book but this article uses a vocabulary I can understand. Not just the words but the words expressing ideas.

The internet, social media, and political polarisation

a column by Levi Boxell for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal

Abstract

The internet has received a substantial amount of blame for the recent increase in political polarisation. Using US data, this column argues that, in fact, the internet has played no significant role in a generally increasing trend of political polarisation that goes back at least to the 1970s. The results highlight the importance of looking beyond convenient narrative explanations, and the need for a deeper understanding of the drivers of political sentiment.

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