Question

How do the indicators of social fragmentation described by Eitzen contribute to the kind of political polarization in the United States today that Pew has reported? What role do you think media plays in this fragmentation and polarization? Both of these pieces are from before the 2016 election. What has that election meant for fragmentation and polarization?

Answer 1

In urban society the term social fragmentation is considered as the absence between the society and the groups of some people who have common interests in terms of nationality, culture, occupation, religion and other common things. The famous sociologist D. Stanley Eitzen searched about the problem of increasing social fregmentation. He mentioned four indicators to reduce this problem. These are-

• Excessive individualism
• Heightened personal isolation
• The widening income and wealth gap
• The deepening racial, ethnic, religious and sexuality divide.

The contribution of the indicators of social fregmentation is clearly visible in political polarization. According to Pew survey conducted in 2014, Americans are very steady about their political beliefs. According to researches it is believed that conversation is a main tool to reduce voters' opinions and prejudices about certain problems. But the people rarely communicate face to face. They like to spend their time online, have long working hours and no time for each other. This leads to isolation. One survey said that only thirty percent Americans interacted with their neighbours and relatives.

According to the study of Pew research center political opinions greatly affect the habits and traits that Americans would like to see in their neighbours. There was a survey conduted with 4,385 Americans in which 31% of Democrats and 27% of Republicans said that it is very difficult to get along with a new person if he belongs to another party. According to both Democrates and Republicans conversation with other party members is always frustrating and stressful.

Both states and regional borders have defined their party lines. Now a days liberals move towards urban areas and conservatives like to go towards rural areas and small towns. Both terms are reflected by the political beliefs of their parties. Poor, middle class voters have emerged as the new swing states from last few elections but from economic and technological point of view, they do not appear.

Role of media in fragmentation and polarization- We can describe the role of media in fragmentation and political polarization with the help of the following points-

• Individuals get many news at one place. They can choose their favourite party accordingly and can vote them. Increasing reach to cable connections and news resources plays an important role in political polarization.
• With the help of increasing media resources individuals are capable to put their own view rather than giving importance to any other's views blindly.
• The inequlity between rich and poor play an important role in political polarization but not more than media fragmentation.
• People can view the voters' numbers, economic conditions and campaign process in the certain areas. There is transparency in election process.

Role of fragmentation and polarization in the elections- According to the survey of Pew research center reported in June 2016, 55 % of Democrats and 49 % of Republicans accepted that they are afraid from other parties. Matthew Levendusky and Neil Malhotra studied about the role of media in political polarization. Both researchers focussed on newspapers with the variations of word polarization. Later they experimented by asking subjects to respond on the topics of policy problems. The affect of the media about polarization ensure the voters that the electorate is polarized. When voters felt that society is polarized, voters got ready to compromise. With the help of affective polarization voters were able to show their likes or dislikes towards the political parties. It helps voters to responds more clearly and to reject members of other parties on personal level. The discussion in media of political polarization increased since the 2000 U.S. Presidential elections.