We have just celebrated 247 years of American independence — though it’s no secret that the United States has suffered an erosion of democratic norms and institutions in recent years.
This is reflected in rising political polarization, extremism, partisan pressure on the electoral process, and growing disparities in wealth, economic opportunity and political influence.
As a political science professor, I often discuss this topic with my students.
We discuss “Big Thoughts” on American democracy. We start at the foundation and ponder whether it’s worth saving and inevitably come to a consensus that it is, though perhaps with some disagreement on potential changes to the current governing structure.
A vast majority of Kansans seem to agree that democracy is valuable.
In exit polls conducted for Fox News during the 2022 election, 88 percent of Kansas voters indicated that the future of democracy was an important consideration in the election.
Forty-six percent said it was the single most important factor in determining their vote and 42 percent said it was an important factor but not necessarily the most important.
Usually at this point in the discussion, I guide my students to think about what can be done to preserve and rebuild American democracy.
Political civility always comes up… or as the current case may be, the increasing lack of civility.
Civility is a social norm based on widely shared beliefs about how individuals should behave. Examples of political civility include things like the ability of citizens to express differences of opinion during political discussions without losing respect for one another.
The primary struggle with civility is that determining it means judging one’s character and motives. But when it comes to people who disagree with us, humans are remarkably poor judges.
The 2022 exit polls portray this dilemma perfectly.
Let’s consider rhetoric that leads to violence as an extreme example of incivility.
Fifty-seven percent of Kansas voters said the way Democrats talk about politics is leading to an increase in acts of violence. Republicans? Also 57 percent.
While 24 percent of voters pointed to both Republican and Democratic rhetoric as being responsible for an increase in violence, another 33 percent said Democrats, but not Republicans, are responsible. A further 33 percent said Republicans, but not Democrats, are responsible.
People’s assessment of political behavior is heavily influenced by their partisan allegiances.
Political science research has found that people tend to approve of what their side does and disapprove of the actions of the other side. Even if both sides engage in the same objectionable political behavior.
Political civility is a two-way street, which is exactly what makes it so difficult.
Polling from the Pew Research Center has found people often perceive those with opposing political views to be untrustworthy, close-minded, dishonest, and unpatriotic.
In other words, our partisan divisions make it incredibly challenging to view our political rivals in a positive light.
This is even more burdensome when many of today’s political issues are so intertwined with questions of human rights.
Not every issue can or should be compromised on. Though what we are losing, it seems, is the ability to determine when we should employ civility over disruption.
Democracy is inherently messy, inefficient and conflict-ridden. Thus, it is imperative for citizens to be forced to wrestle with deep, values-based differences in opinion and to engage in negotiations that end in compromise, even though it may leave all parties slightly unsatisfied with the outcome.
Without these skills, we’re in big trouble.
Without political civility, we cannot overcome the polarization that is tearing our democracy apart.
Only through civility can people with different lived experiences come together and engage in the inclusive decision-making required for a robust and stable democracy.
Alexandra Middlewood, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University.