Political polarization in the US has been an increasing phenomenon affecting each and every single citizen in this country. We see in our everyday lives the void created by politics that disconnects every single person from each other. Looking at the two major parties, Democratic and Republican, their differences have been major since the onset of their existence. Since the beginning, there has been only disagreement between these two political parties and the divide becomes increasingly more apparent. This research paper would follow the differences between the two major political parties over the years and examine how this has affected relationships between citizens that identify themselves with these political parties.
The divide between people created by politics has become far too great to go unnoticed by the masses. Through this research, I hope to bring awareness to this severance of relationships with others around us. With political divide sweeping the country, it’s important to recognize the effect it can have on citizens. The influence of political leaders has been so vast that children begin to associate themselves with a party and their ideologies. There wouldn’t be any need for recognition of this if issues were spoken about in a calm manner, however serious conflicts have risen due to this polarization. If people become aware of this divide being caused by extreme views of politics, discord can be relieved through conversation and compromise. This would lead to more stable societies, where people can work together towards common goals, instead of distrust between each other.
Through the Narrative Medicine class, much of the content speaks of the effect something may have on a person, with one specifically from the writing of Ian Hacking This topic of political polarization affecting citizens, reflects on specific ideas seen in Ian Hacking’s Kinds of People: Moving Targets. Hacking introduces the idea of the looping effect, the concept of where people are given a certain type of classification that is closely related to a stereotype based on their own characteristics, and they begin to identify and associate themselves with that characteristic. This effect can vividly be seen within the problem of how citizens are affected by political polarization with how many people associate themselves with either the Democratic party or the Republican party. Stereotypes about yourself are created when you associate yourself with one of these parties based on your own identity, and eventually you begin to accept that classification as reality, conforming to the looping effect.
Hacking, Ian. Kinds of People: Moving Targets. British Academy Lecture, 2007
Ian Hacking’s lectures shed light on many important ideas that have been shown in society. His main purpose is to explain his theories on classifications of people, how they’ve evolved, and what effect they’ve had on individuals. He explores the effects of these classifications and how they relate to the different life parameters set for humans by society that are meant to be conformed to.
Hacking explains classifications and stereotypes can lead to the looping effect, how many aspects of society can be connected to the looping effect without it being consciously known. The concept of people eventually identifying with a certain classification based on their own characteristics has been occurring since the Persian Empire and even before that. This piece of literature can serve as a lens to look through when exploring how certain ideals and concepts can affect people.
Hacking’s points about the looping effect can be a vital source of reflection when looking at how political polarization affects citizens and their relationships with each other. It would be able to provide insight as to how people eventually end up taking these political identities and explain the reasoning as to how it happens.
Lee, Amber Hye-Yon. Social Trust in Polarized Times: How Perceptions of Political Polarization Affect Americans’ Trust in Each Other. Springer, 2022
This peer-reviewed article by Amber Lee investigates the implications of distrust Americans have with each other and how society works together to pass these implications for the greater good. Amber Lee is able to recognize the opinions of many Americans and how it may impact their views on politics and how those opinions cause distrust in each other.
Amber Lee notices that many Americans perceive political polarization to be increasing and think there are extreme differences between each other, causing them to think they cannot work towards the greater good of society. She finds that political polarization has a direct link to the decrease of trust between American citizens, showing her concern for this issue.
Lee’s points about this issue directly correlate to the topic being researched, as it attests to how political polarization is affecting US citizens severely. Her points would be able to provide more credible information towards this subject, while supporting the main points that are being researched with this topic.
