Political polarization and violence in the United States of America
By: V-Dem Staff
Jan 17, 2023
The division of societies into “us versus them” political camps can be a serious threat to democracy. This week’s graph shows the increased levels of political polarization and violence in the USA since 2011. The country is one of the top autocratizers in V-Dem’s 2022 Democracy Report.
Polarization increased especially in the run-up to the 2016 Presidential elections, smeared by attacks and the demonization of political opponents. The Trump administration caused a deepened partisan divide, by means of polarizing rhetoric and sowing distrust for democratic institutions administration. The spread of disinformation also contributed to this development. Meanwhile, extremists and protesters turned to violence, which culminated in the January 6 storming of the Capitol.
Depolarizing between different political camps remains a key challenge for a durable democracy in the United States.
