The Dangerous Divide: Why Political Polarization Threatens Democracy

Washington’s Warning

George Washington once warned our young nation about the dangers of political parties, cautioning that “the spirit of party” would create division, weaken government, and distract leaders from serving the people. More than two centuries later, his words ring truer than ever. Today, the United States is more politically polarized than at any point in recent history, and the cost of this polarization is visible in the governance of our country, our communities, and even our safety.

       Political polarization has grown so extreme that it no longer represents healthy debate, but inflexible division. According to the Carnegie Corporation, polarization is a problem not only because it divides us, but because it “erodes trust in government, undermines compromise, and leaves urgent issues unresolved.” What was once meant to be a system of balancing ideas has instead hardened into hostile camps.

When Politics Turns Violent

This division has even fueled political violence. As one of our recent articles by Krystal Ma addressed, “The Umbrella of Violence: Political Assassination, Gun Laws, and America’s Crossroads,” polarization creates an environment where disagreements escalate into threats and even acts of violence. Recent years have shown frighteningly well that elected officials have faced assassination attempts, violent rhetoric has surged, and Americans increasingly see the “other side” not as fellow citizens but as enemies. Polarization when left unchecked becomes a breeding ground for violence.

     Violence is only one symptom of polarization—another is how both parties have transformed ideologically.

     Another driver of polarization is the dramatic shift of both major parties to ideological extremes. This shift is so stark that past leaders of the same parties would barely recognize them today! President Ronald Reagan once spoke about immigration in a way that would shock many in today’s Republican primary field.

He argued that immigrants should be welcomed, allowed to work, and contribute taxes, even stating “You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany, but you cannot become a German. You can go to live in Japan or Turkey, and you cannot become Japanese or Turkish. But anyone, from any corner of the world, can come to live in the United States and become an American”.

     This vision of inclusion contrasts drastically with today’s harsh rhetoric and exclusionary policies highlighting just how much polarization has reshaped political discourse.

Technology and the Echo Chamber

Technology has also amplified division. Research from the Brookings Institution shows how social media platforms fuel polarization by promoting the most extreme voices and rewarding outrage over compromise. Algorithms push users deeper into echo chambers making moderation invisible and extremism more appealing. As Matt Grossmann at the Niskanen Center notes, voters often say they dislike polarizing politicians, but the system from primaries to online platforms rewards them anyway.

Voices of Unity

Despite this troubling landscape there is hope. Some leaders are pushing back against polarization, calling for a return to politics centered on people not parties.

James Talarico, a Christian Democrat running for the U.S. senate in Texas recently said, “I’m tired of being pitted against my neighbor. I’m tired of being told to hate my neighbor. People across the political spectrum are hungry for a new kind of politics.”

     His words practically echo Washington’s centuries old warning, but also point toward a more united future.

       Our founding fathers envisioned a government that worked for the common good of all people, not just for the fortunate few. If we want to preserve democracy we must move beyond polarization, not by pretending differences don’t exist, but by refusing to let them define us. Our politics should be rooted not in hatred or fear, but in shared purpose and mutual respect.

     The divide in America is wide, but it does not have to be permanent. We can choose to step back from such divides, rebuild trust, and remember that the true purpose of politics is not to win for one side, but to serve the greater good of all.