All tagged Extremism

Understanding Terror: Terrorists, Their Motives, Their Rise, and Their Targets

Understanding Terror: Terrorists, Their Motives, Their Rise, and Their Targets

Jordan Armando Navarro
Political Theory

Terrorism is a monster the United States, along with the rest of the world, has been battling for decades. The United States declared its “War on Terror” in 2001, with the government investing heavily in counterterrorism programs. To this day, in multiple places around the world, the aches and scars of terrorism continue to linger. While this is a heavy topic, it is essential to understand terrorism and how it proliferates. From here, we will establish an understanding of terrorism, what drives people to align themselves with extremist and terrorist groups, a terrorist target audience, and what message they want to send.

Polarization: Causes and Conflict in an Increasingly Divided Nation

Polarization: Causes and Conflict in an Increasingly Divided Nation

Julianna Hess
Political Theory, Political Process

If you live in the United States, polarization is a term you may have heard often regarding American politics. In politics, polarization refers to the large divide between American voters that puts them on opposite ends of the political spectrum. This divide reflects voters’ values and affects how voters perceive the opposing party, as well as how they are represented in Congress (Fiorina, Abrams, 2008). With the rift between Democrats and Republicans being bigger than it’s ever been, it can be difficult for democracy in the United States to function correctly, bringing consequences to policymakers and the American people. Polarization is a reality in American society today, that is caused by internal and external factors influencing Congressional decisions and American voting habits. These factors include characteristics of Congressional and political processes, the pressure to conform to partisan demands from both voters and legislatures, media presence, monetary support, and economic inequalities that hinder policymaking, social cohesion, and the accurate representation of American voters in Congress. Despite the many causes of polarization and the resulting hindrance to democracy, polarization can be diminished through the recognition of harmful partisan attitudes, and corrective action through governmental processes that encourage cooperation and compromise between parties.