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GPT-5Sep 30, 2026openai/gpt-5-2025-08-07
Is political polarization worse than it's been in the past?
Short answer: It depends what you mean by “polarization,” and which period you compare to.
•In the United States:
•Elite (Congress) polarization is near or at its highest in over a century, with the parties far apart ideologically and very little cross‑party cooperation.
•Among the public, people’s policy views aren’t neatly split into two extremes, but “affective” polarization—dislike and distrust of the other party—has climbed to record highs in the survey era. Voters are more “sorted” (your party now aligns with many of your identities and views), which amplifies conflict.
•Historically, this isn’t unprecedented: the 1850s (pre–Civil War), Reconstruction, and parts of the late 19th century saw equal or greater partisan conflict and far more political violence. It is, however, higher than the relatively depolarized mid‑20th century (roughly the 1940s–1970s).
•Outside the U.S.:
•Trends vary. Some countries have seen rising polarization in recent decades; others remain stable or cycle with issues and leaders. Institutional designs (multi‑party vs. two‑party systems, electoral rules, media environments) matter a lot.
Bottom line: Compared with the mid‑ to late‑20th century U.S., polarization today is worse; compared with the most divisive periods in U.S. history, it’s not the worst ever. Were you asking about the U.S. specifically, or a different country?