Prominent Republicans, including Trump, Pence, and DeSantis, have entered the 2024 presidential race, shaping the political landscape.
Study Reveals Potential for Bipartisan Commitments to Strengthen American Democracy Amid Political Polarization
Study Reveals Belief in Democratic Values Among Major Political Parties
The upcoming election is expected to narrow down the crowded field of popular conservatives to a single candidate who will likely face President Biden, as he has announced his intention to seek reelection. This follows a turbulent presidential race in 2020, marred by false information about election rigging, which further deepened the distrust between Republicans and Democrats.
According to a recent University of California Berkeley study on American voters’ attitudes, encouraging straightforward bipartisan commitments to real American democracy could help reduce polarization and promote favorable feelings between the parties.
Published on May 22 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, the research indicates that both major political parties hold a belief in democratic processes and values. However, dysfunction arises when voters on one side perceive their opponents as hostile to those very values.
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Anti-Democratic Politicians Eroding Political Rights
The study highlights how extremist political leaders can manipulate their followers into believing that their opponents are fundamentally opposed to democracy. Gabe Lenz, a professor at UC Berkeley and co-author of the study, states that they discovered a significant correlation in both groups: individuals who are most inclined to disregard democratic rules themselves are also the ones who harbor the greatest fear that the opposing party is violating norms.
While existing political science research points to rising inequality and stagnant incomes among individuals without college degrees as contributing factors to polarization, the study emphasizes that the ability of certain politicians to create conflict and foster misperceptions of the opposing party is often overlooked.
Lenz acknowledges that certain politicians possess a talent for generating conflict, cultivating a divisive us versus them mentality, and promoting misconceptions about the opposing party.
The study highlights a positive example of political discourse from 2020, featuring Republican gubernatorial candidate Spencer Cox and his Democratic opponent Chris Peterson. In a joint campaign ad, they pledged to conduct their campaigns civilly and respect the outcome of the November election.
According to the report, anti-democratic politicians around the world are convincing their people to vote away their political rights. Even though 78% of people worldwide say they want to live in a representative democracy, democracy is still deteriorating, with 70% of people living under autocratic governments.
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