Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer are the authors of Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974.From their Q&A with Denise Valenti:
Why were the 1970s a pivotal point for polarization in American politics?Visit Kevin M. Kruse's website and Julian E. Zelizer's website.
We feel that during the 1970s many of the foundations of today’s country took form — the increasing polarization of the parties, the fragmentation of the media landscape, the rise of economic inequality, the origins of mass social movements that pulled the country in different directions. Although any one year would be an artificial starting point, the resignation of President Nixon in 1974 really proved to be a turning point that helped move us into this new era.
Why haven’t these strains on American political life and unity resolved themselves?
That’s a major theme in the book. First of all, these divisions are deeply rooted in our institutions and widespread in our society, and can’t be easily overcome. Second, as we note at several points, there have increasingly been incentives for different political actors not to resolve these issues — things like partisan news outlets which present viewers a worldview that discourages compromise, or gerrymandered congressional districts which lead politicians to push their politics to the extremes rather than reach across the aisle.
How have these divisions culminated in the presidency of Donald Trump?
We see President Trump as...[read on]
--Marshal Zeringue