How does Perlmutter's work explain political polarization?
My research suggests that heightened political polarization can be understood through the lens of ideological fragmentation and the erosion of shared societal narratives, particularly those that once served as 'social cement.' When dominant ideologies weaken or are actively contested, and power structures are perceived as illegitimate or unresponsive, societies can fracture. This creates fertile ground for the entrenchment of opposing viewpoints and a deepening divide.
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