The political climate in the US has changed dramatically due to the dramatic decrease of bipartisanship in the last few decades. This is due, in large part, to the fact that the two major political parties in the United States—the Democrats and the Republicans—are so powerful, as well as to the fact that the election system is complex and that social divisions are always widening.
There is a long history of bipartisanship in the American election system. A candidate who earns the majority in a state also wins all that state’s electoral votes, according to the “winner-takes-all” procedure employed by most states. Votes for third parties are discouraged under this system because they are considered “wasted” since they seldom lead to an election victory. Because votes for third parties do not impact a future decisive round, this dynamic, together with the absence of a second round in presidential elections, secures the two-party system, as pointed out by political scientist Lee Drutman.
This structure is further solidified by financial obstacles. Candidates have a tough time competing in primary elections since they need to collect a lot of money to run. Only long-standing parties with substantial donor networks can compete financially in elections.
This bipartisanship has a major effect on American politics. One consequence of the two-party system is the rise of “negative partisanship,” in which people choose a political candidate not because they support them but because they are opposed to them. The situation is made worse since both parties are required to maintain large coalitions of varied interests, which might be at odds with one another, but are united mainly in their antagonism to the other party.
American politics has been more divisive in the last few decades. As a result of racial, religious, geographical, and cultural divides, coalitions have become more ideologically homogenous. A vicious cycle of ever-increasing polarization between political tactics and institutional reactions has resulted from this segmentation, further dividing society.
There are serious threats to American democracy from the current trend of increasing division and decreasing bipartisanship. Partisan strife and the entrenched two-party system are the norm in today’s politics, thanks to structural and financial obstacles that have prevented any serious discussion of policy alternatives. It will be difficult for the nation to overcome its political divisions and engage in productive discourse while it deals with these forces.
Ultimately, there are many factors, including past practices, current voting systems, and population shifts, that contribute to the deterioration of bipartisanship in American politics. To solve these problems, we need to rethink the voting system, rally behind third-party candidates more, and work to heal the ideological rifts that characterize American politics today.
