Psychology
Political Polarization and Its Effects on Democratic Governance
Quick fact
In highly polarized democracies, legislative gridlock becomes more frequent, and public trust in institutions drops. For instance, studies show that affective polarization—animosity toward out-partisans—can lead citizens to disregard democratic norms, such as accepting election results.
Why this is interesting
You’ve probably noticed that political debates feel more heated than ever—but is that just a feeling, or is something structural happening? What does growing political distance between parties mean for the way democracy actually works?