If, like me, you’ve been watching US politics recently and wondering how it got to be the way it is, you might find my latest summary for Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein to be an enlightening read.

As usual, the key takeaways are below, and you can find the full summary by clicking the link above.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• America has polarized significantly over the past few decades:
  • Political polarization has increased.
  • Swing voters who are genuinely persuadable are going extinct.
  • Polarization by itself isn’t necessarily bad. But what is concerning is the rise in negative partisanship or hatred of the other side.
• How did this happen?
  • Political polarization was so low in the past in large part because of voter suppression of African Americans. This changed after the Civil Rights Act 1964.
  • America’s demographic shifts and Obama’s presidency have made certain groups (older, white, Christian voters) feel threatened.
• Polarization leads to more polarization:
  • People polarize more, and faster, as they become more politically engaged. The most politically engaged in turn polarize the rest of the population.
  • The Internet has increased polarization because outrage is more viral and motivating than policy discussions. The primary system also incentivizes candidates to appeal to the most polarized voters.
• The US political system was not designed to deal with national-level polarization:
  • When the Founding Fathers set up the system, they assumed people identified more with their state than as an “American” or other broad identity.
  • The US system has many undemocratic elements that allow—and incentivize—a minority to frustrate the majority’s will.
  • The Republican Party has been particularly vulnerable to forces of polarization because its base is more homogenous and its geographical advantage allows it to win elections without popular majorities.
• Klein offers several half-hearted suggestions:
  • At a structural level, we could remove tools that allow minorities to hold majorities hostage (e.g. filibuster, debt ceiling), incentivize parties to broaden their bases, and lower the stakes so that even losing parties still have a voice.
  • At a personal level, we should focus more on local and state politics, and be mindful of the way that politicians and others try to trigger our identities.

You can find the full detailed summary on the website. If you found this summary useful, consider forwarding to a friend you think might enjoy it.

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​To Summarise​