Is political polarization worse than it's been in the past?

Whether political polarization is "worse" than in the past depends heavily on how you measure it and which era of the past you are comparing it to.

If you compare today to the last 50 to 60 years, yes, political polarization is at its worst in living memory. However, if you look at the broader arc of American history, the nation has survived periods of equal or even more destructive division.

1. Today vs. Living Memory (The Post-WWII Era)

By almost every metric, the United States is more politically divided today than at any point since the mid-20th century. Political scientists divide this polarization into two categories:

•Ideological Polarization (What we believe): In the mid-20th century, both political parties were "big tents." There were conservative Southern Democrats and liberal Northeastern Republicans. Today, that overlap has virtually vanished. According to vote-tracking data (such as DW-NOMINATE scores), the average Democrat and average Republican in Congress are further apart ideologically than at any time in the past 50 years.

•Affective Polarization (How we feel): This is the measure of animosity—how much partisans actively dislike and distrust the other side. Studies show that affective polarization has skyrocketed. For example, Pew Research polling shows that the share of partisans who view the opposing party as "immoral" has nearly doubled over the past decade. Furthermore, research indicates that the rise of affective polarization in the U.S. has been significantly faster and more severe than in other major Western democracies.

A study by the University of Cambridge’s Political Psychology Lab tracked polarization from the end of the Reagan era through the mid-2020s. The researchers found that divisions on social and political issues increased by 64% after 1988, with almost all of that rise occurring after the pivotal year of 2008.

2. Today vs. the Deep Past (U.S. History)

While today’s division feels unprecedented to those living through it, American history contains several eras of intense, sometimes violent, polarization.

•The Civil War Era (1850s–1860s): This remains the ultimate peak of American polarization. During this era, polarization was not just rhetorical; it led to the literal collapse of the political system, the secession of 11 states, and a civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Today’s divisions, while deep, have not resulted in a comparable systemic collapse.

•The Reconstruction & Gilded Age (1870s–1890s): Following the Civil War, the U.S. entered an era characterized by intense partisan tribalism, extreme income inequality, and widespread political violence. Parties used the trauma of the Civil War to whip up voters (a tactic known as "waving the bloody shirt"), and election-related violence was common. Political scientists note that the level of congressional gridlock and polarization today is roughly comparable to this late-19th-century peak.

•The 1960s: The 1960s featured massive social upheavals, including the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, political assassinations, and riots in major cities. However, the partisan system was actually less polarized than it is today. Because both parties still had internal ideological diversity, bipartisanship in Congress was still highly common, even amidst massive societal chaos.

3. What Makes Today’s Polarization Feel Unique?

Although we are not in a civil war, today's polarization has distinct modern characteristics that make it uniquely difficult to navigate:

•Perfect "Sorting": In the past, political divisions did not perfectly align with other social identities. Today, political parties have become "mega-identities." Geography (urban vs. rural), race, religion, education, and cultural tastes now align almost perfectly with party lines. When political disagreement is tied to your cultural identity, compromise feels like a betrayal of who you are.

•The Media and Social Media Echo Chamber: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, partisan newspapers were common, but the reach and speed of modern technology is entirely new. Algorithmic social media platforms, partisan cable news, and highly segmented online spaces are financially incentivized to maximize outrage, constantly exposing people to the most extreme viewpoints of the opposing side.

•The "Perception Gap": Interestingly, research shows that while political elites (politicians, media figures, and activists) are highly polarized, the average American is actually much closer to the center than they realize. However, because the loudest and most extreme voices dominate the media, ordinary citizens suffer from "false polarization"—they assume the average member of the other party is far more extreme and hostile than they actually are, creating a feedback loop of defensive animosity.

Summary

If you compare today to the post-World War II era, political polarization is indeed worse than it has been in several generations. But if you look at the entirety of American history, we have experienced similar—and sometimes far more destructive—periods of polarization. The primary difference today is that our ideological divisions have perfectly sorted into our cultural and media ecosystems, making the division feel omnipresent in daily life.

Citations (13)

1wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Whether political polarization is "worse" than in the past depends heavily on how you measure it and which era of the past you are comparing it to.”
2pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
pewresearch.org
Backs: “If you compare today to the last 50 to 60 years, yes, political polarization is at its worst in living memory.”
3usc.eduAcademic
usc.edu
Backs: “However, if you look at the broader arc of American history, the nation has survived periods of equal or even more destructive division.”
4brookings.eduNonprofits and think tanks
brookings.edu
Backs: “Ideological Polarization (What we believe): In the mid-20th century, both political parties were "big tents." There were conservative Southern Democrats and liberal Northeastern Republicans.”
5brookings.eduNonprofits and think tanks
brookings.edu
Backs: “Today, that overlap has virtually vanished.”
6brown.eduAcademic
brown.edu
Backs: “Affective Polarization (How we feel): This is the measure of animosity—how much partisans actively dislike and distrust the other side. Studies show that affective polarization has skyrocketed.”
7syr.eduAcademic
syr.edu
Backs: “For example, Pew Research polling shows that the share of partisans who view the opposing party as "immoral" has nearly doubled over the past decade. Furthermore, research indicates that the rise of affective polarization in the U.S.”
8cam.ac.ukAcademic
cam.ac.uk
Backs: “A study by the University of Cambridge’s Political Psychology Lab tracked polarization from the end of the Reagan era through the mid-2020s. The researchers found that divisions on social and political issues increased by 64% after 1988, with almost all of that rise occurring after the pivotal year of 2008.”
9democracyproject.orgNonprofits and think tanks
democracyproject.org
Backs: “the Deep Past (U.S. History). While today’s division feels unprecedented to those living through it, American history contains several eras of intense, sometimes violent, polarization. The Civil War Era (1850s–1860s): This remains the ultimate peak of American polarization.”
10wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “The Reconstruction & Gilded Age (1870s–1890s): Following the Civil War, the U.S. entered an era characterized by intense partisan tribalism, extreme income inequality, and widespread political violence. Parties used the trauma of the Civil War to whip up voters (a tactic known as "waving the bloody shirt"), and…”
11oup.comAcademic
oup.com
Backs: “The Reconstruction & Gilded Age (1870s–1890s): Following the Civil War, the U.S. entered an era characterized by intense partisan tribalism, extreme income inequality, and widespread political violence. Parties used the trauma of the Civil War to whip up voters (a tactic known as "waving the bloody shirt"), and…”
12cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “The Reconstruction & Gilded Age (1870s–1890s): Following the Civil War, the U.S. entered an era characterized by intense partisan tribalism, extreme income inequality, and widespread political violence. Parties used the trauma of the Civil War to whip up voters (a tactic known as "waving the bloody shirt"), and…”
13cam.ac.ukAcademic
cam.ac.uk
Backs: “rural), race, religion, education, and cultural tastes now align almost perfectly with party lines. When political disagreement is tied to your cultural identity, compromise feels like a betrayal of who you are.”