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Poli­ti­cal polarization

TagLast edit: May 8, 2025, 3:50 PM by Dane Valerie

Political polarization refers to the increasing ideological and emotional division between political groups. While polarization can occur in many countries, most discussion on the EA Forum has focused on the United States, where partisan hostility has intensified since the 1990s. This trend may affect longtermist cause areas, undermine epistemic integrity, and constrain institutional effectiveness.

From an effective altruist perspective, political polarization may increase s-risk factors such as malevolent leadership, value lock-in, and societal breakdown. It may also restrict research and advocacy on politically sensitive topics such as AI alignment, animal welfare, and global health policy.

Despite being most acute in the U.S., polarization is not globally uniform: some countries have seen stable or declining polarization. Understanding which dynamics are context-specific can help shape robust responses.

Interventions and proposals

Further reading

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