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

[1][2][3][4]Yes, by multiple key measures—especially in the United States—political polarization is worse than it has been for much of the past century (and in some cases longer), though comparisons to extreme historical periods like the Civil War era require nuance. It is not entirely unprecedented in American history, and the nature of today’s divides differs from past ones. Data primarily come from congressional voting records, public opinion surveys, and academic studies; trends are clearest in the U.S. two-party system, which amplifies them relative to multiparty democracies.[5]

Elite/Congressional Polarization

This is one of the clearest and most objective measures. Using DW-NOMINATE scores (which place legislators on a liberal-conservative scale based on roll-call votes), the average ideological distance between Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate has grown steadily since the 1970s.

This contrasts sharply with the mid-20th century “era of bipartisanship,” when conservative Southern Democrats and liberal Northern Republicans created overlapping coalitions.

Public Opinion and Ideological Polarization

Among the public, the picture is more mixed but still shows clear increases:

Public polarization is often less extreme than elite polarization—many Americans still hold mixed views and there is residual overlap—but sorting and consistency have risen, making politics feel more tribal.

Affective Polarization (Emotional Hostility)

This has risen dramatically and may feel the most acute:

Pew and other surveys consistently show Americans see little common ground, disagree even on basic facts, and view politics with exhaustion or dread. Local officials increasingly report national polarization spilling into communities.[9]

Historical Context and Caveats

In short, yes—polarization (especially elite and affective) is worse than for most of living memory and at or near historic peaks on key metrics since the late 1800s. It contributes to gridlock, eroded trust, and social friction, though America has endured deep divisions before and recovered. The two-party structure, media environment, and sorting make the current version particularly sticky and felt in everyday life. Global comparisons show U.S.-style dynamics spreading somewhat, but the U.S. remains an outlier in intensity.