The L-word. Liberalism. It’s a word that gets tossed around a lot these days, but when used in its right context, it’s also something very specific and powerful. This week marks the centenary of the Russian revolution, and while there are a number of important historical events taking place this year, one in particular piqued my interest: the centennial of the publication of George Orwell’s dystopian novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” I had never read “1984” before this past summer — neither had many people I know — but I was immediately struck by its similarities to our current political moment. The parallels between then and now are so striking that some might even say it predicted our current state of affairs more than 40 years ago. That’s why last week when I heard some friends talk about how much they disliked last night’s presidential debate, I was surprised and intrigued to learn they hadn’t read any fiction at all. Joe many liberals reading this probably don’t remember it (and if you did read it as a kid, chances are you don’t remember much), but “1984” might just be the perfect pop culture foreshadowing of what conservatives have been complaining about for decades: political polarization, fake news, identity politics and other issues that led to Donald Trump winning the 2016 election. In other words: those things are still going
What was the Last Time we Saw Such a Polarized Political Climate?
In the 1920s and ’30s, many Americans were optimistic about the direction of our country. Urban organizers and suffragists had created a massive women’s suffrage movement, and a vocal and active Congress was working to enfranchise more Americans. Unfortunately, the Great Depression and the onset of World War II made these goals seem very distant. Then, in the years between the two world wars, political scientists began to study the rise of conservative politics in the United States. What they found was that while there were large pockets of Progressives and socialists in both parties, the GOP was the more conservative party in most places. When the Democrats won control of the federal government in the 1944 election, most Americans were happy — especially those who supported Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. However, things soon got tough for the left. The “Red scare” that followed the Red’sTank affair (1928) and the ensuing labor unrest made many joe many liberals members of Congress nervous. Knowing they might not be able to enact the kinds of social programs that had helped make the Depression a thing of the past, many liberal congressmen began to support the Republican Party. The Republicans, meanwhile, saw the Democrats as obstructionists who were keeping them from getting their message of job security, prosperity and limited government across to the public. After the 1952 election, when Dwight Eisenhower became president, things in the United States changed forever.
Why has Political Polarization Increased in the United States over the Last Few Decades?
There are a few things to take into consideration here. The first is that the American population has become more racially and ethnically diverse. This has led to a more divided and partisan United States, and political polarization has followed suit. Another big factor is the breakdown of traditional coalitions in American politics. Traditionally, Democrats and Republicans have worked together in government to pass laws, influence other countries and make big international deals. But as the Democrats have grown increasingly irrelevant in American politics, the Republicans have grown increasingly ethnocidal. This, in combination with growing (though still very low) levels of political knowledge among large segments of the American population, has led to an increase in political polarization.
How can People — Especially Liberals — Help Reduce their Own Personal Alienation from Politics?
First, understand that politics is not a “ left vs right ” issue. It’s a people problem. You can be a political liberal and support social programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. You can also be a political conservative and lean toward free market policies and be opposed to social programs. In either case, you’re likely to be personally alienated by the current state of politics.
The Final Word: Is it too Late to Save our Politics from Themselves?
We’ve known for decades that it’s incredibly difficult to change longstanding political habits. But what’s even more alarming is the prospect of losing our ability joe many liberals to change our own minds. As political scientists have observed for decades, when people get used to one political party or the other controlling the government, it’s very difficult for them to warm up to another party or candidate. The same goes for the broader public: When people are used to one political party controlling everything, it’s very difficult for them to change their minds and support a different party. If we want to see a long-term shift in public attitudes, we must work on ourselves rather than depend on others to change their minds.
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