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The Age of American Tribalism
The Evolution of Special Interests and Decline of the Two-Party System
The concept of tribalism has become central to understanding politics in America. It is commonly defined as a source of identity for Americans, often based on ethnic, religious, or gender characteristics. It is a group dynamic that forms around a sense of defensiveness or victimization related to a primary economic, social, or political issue. Not only are there an increasing number of political tribes in America, they are more aggressive and less compromising than political parties. And perhaps most importantly, the tribes of America are becoming more powerful than the Democratic and Republican parties with the potential to change the very nature of politics in the country.
Most observers see tribalism as a dark cloud over American society, corrupting long-standing traditions of civility, negotiation, and compromise in politics. At a minimum the rise of American tribalism has reignited old battles within the conscience of the country making everyone more anxious and defensive. At its worst it has created chasms between several distinct groups of Americans, each of which seems unbridgeable. The real fear however is that American tribalism will slowly erode the democratic systems that have kept the country strong since its founding. What is clear is that politics today has become less civil with…
