especially: a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes
political polarization
… the relationship between partisan polarization and legislative gridlock is direct, with stalemate more frequent as the political center shrinks. Sarah A. Binder
The drift in our society now is not toward a grouping around the middle, but toward polarization. Richard Todd
… the venue where our most fractious … arguments over identity occur: the internet. These arguments do not play out on a democratized playing field where all identities are weighted equally; rather, they play out in a meticulously crafted environment where identities are microtargeted and polarization is amplified by algorithms. Emma Levy
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebSuch social polarization is not limited to individuals or to small groups alone.Scientific American, 1 July 2022 Among the factors fueling the trend, according to the report, were political polarization, deepening rifts over issues of race and gender, and the spread of misinformation through social media. Arian Campo-flores And Alicia A. Caldwell, WSJ, 29 June 2022 That polarization, the researchers found, is not only problematic politically, but is also bad for business. Nate Dicamillo, Quartz, 28 June 2022 The polarization of the global economy and labor market – in which the income gap between highly and minimally skilled workers is accelerating – is an unsustainable trend that everyone should be concerned about. Rebecca Henderson, Forbes, 2 June 2022 Keep in mind that polarization is not the same as UV protection. Mike Richard, Men's Health, 17 May 2022 But Ukraine isn’t the only topic that will be influenced by the rising political polarization taking place around the world. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 May 2022 The recent spike in book challenges has been amplified by growing political polarization, as conservative groups and politicians have focused on titles about race, gender and sexuality, and framed book banning as a matter of parental choice.New York Times, 1 May 2022 But as campus free speech has become roiled by political polarization and cancel culture, FIRE has become more active and aggressive. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2022 See More