The United States is one of the world’s oldest democracies, being originally founded in 1776. In contrast to nations that have existed for centuries, America is only 247 years old.  Since its founding, America held one idea very highly, which is the system of democracy. The country was founded on democratic practices that are written in the Constitution.  

American-style democracy is a form of government that many other nations have tried to replicate. In theory, democracy in America is a kind of government run by the people, for the people. Given the status of the country now, that statement might not be true. Recently democracy in America has looked different than what many would believe the founding fathers anticipated. There have been several factors leading to the backsliding of democracy in America including political elitism, nationalism, and a recent insurrection attempt. Looking at these events, one thing is common among them, political polarization. 

The United States is still a free nation with a long history of enforcing the law, strong civil liberties safeguards, and a dynamic political system. Nonetheless, American democracy has been severely compromised over the past 16 years as worldwide freedom has declined. In the ten years between 2010 and 2020, the US’s score on the Freedom in the World index decreased by 11 points, with an even quicker decline of 6 points under Donald Trump’s administration. The US’s Freedom House Score as of 2023 is 83. At first appearance, this number is not bad. It is important to recognize the trend of democracy in the United States which has declined over the past few years.  

While everything about Donald Trump’s presidency was strange, he excelled at divisiveness and activating his base. Trump frequently adopted a nationalist stance when discussing issues and disguised it as patriotism. He asserted that America is a great nation with no wrongs. He frequently stated “America First” during his presidency, which has a clear connection to nationalism. Misleading his base to believe that nationalism is synonymous with patriotism exhibits the danger associated in using nationalism as a weapon in the ways that Trump did. Trump’s nationalism has led to an extreme version of political polarization in this country. 

As defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, polarization is a “ division into two sharply distinct opposites. especially : a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes.” Political polarization is not something new in the United States, however, this brand of political polarization is extreme. This version of political polarization has led to a non-peaceful transition of power, the first of its kind in American History.  

When it became clear that he would not be reelected in 2020, former President Trump refused to accept defeat and instead attempted to disrupt the vote counting and certification procedure. Encouraged by President Trump, his supporters violently stormed the Capitol. Trump urged his followers to disrupt the vote-counting procedure on January 6 by organizing a march and rally. Trump said in one of the tweets, “Be there, will be wild!” A crowd of thousands, including members of paramilitary groups and other right-wing extremists, attended the gathering at a public park close to the White House. Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s attorney, and Trump’s sons Donald Jr. and Eric, among others, delivered speeches.  

Trump is not the sole perpetrator of democratic erosion in the United States. Over several years civil processes have helped contribute to the erosion of democracy within the country. Matters such as gerrymandering, court packing, and the erasure of bipartisan politics have all contributed to democratic backsliding. In the US, gerrymandering, lack of bipartisanship, and voting suppression are major factors contributing to the deterioration of democracy. These factors threaten cooperative governance, disenfranchise minority populations, and distort representation, all of which are democratic pillars that minimize public confidence in democratic institutions. The US can only improve its democratic endurance for future generations and reduce the negative effects of political polarization, gerrymandering, and voter suppression by defending democratic principles. 

In summary, political polarization in the US contributes to the decline of democracy by widening partisan gaps, eroding the public’s trust in democratic systems, and obstructing efficient government. Concerted efforts are required to improve democratic norms and institutions, encourage cross-party discourse, and promote political moderation to lessen this threat. By putting the common good ahead of party divisions, the US may mitigate the damaging consequences of polarization and preserve its democratic values for the coming generations.