What's driving political violence in the United States? | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Political violence in the US
• Political polarization
• Erosion of trust in institutions
• Dehumanizing rhetoric
• Social media's role in fracturing reality
• Acceptance of violence for political change

Minnesota Attacks and Recent Incidents

• A man in Minnesota was arrested for the murder of state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attempted murder of state senator John Hoffman and his wife. The suspect's actions appear politically motivated, with a list of nearly 70 names found in his car, including lawmakers and community leaders.
• Other recent incidents include:
  • Arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence.
  • Shooting of Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania during the presidential campaign.
  • January 6th Capitol attack by Trump supporters.

Expert Analysis: Matt Dick, George Washington University

• Surprising? While horrific, the Minnesota attack is not surprising given the rise in politically inspired attacks since the Charlottesville riots in 2017.
• Endemic Culture: Political violence has become endemic to the culture, potentially mirroring the levels seen in the 1960s and early 1970s.
• Danger to Politicians: Statistically, the likelihood of being a victim of political violence is low, but the costs are significant.
  • Increased security needs for officials.
  • Removal of home addresses from public websites.
  • Concerns about attending public events.
  • Reluctance to run for or stay in office.
• Spillover Effect: Political violence affects all Americans, not just those directly targeted.

Drivers of Rising Violence

• Political Polarization: The country has been increasingly polarized, with the other side viewed as an enemy rather than a fellow American with different views.
• Social Media: Fractures reality and facilitates the spread of misinformation.
• Dehumanizing Rhetoric: Donald Trump's language, such as calling opponents "scum" and "vermin," contributes to the problem.
• Condone Violence: Trump's actions, like pardoning January 6th rioters, condone political violence.
• Loss of Trust in Institutions: Decades-long loss of faith and trust in government and institutions.
• Erosion of Restraints: Institutional and cultural restraints on political violence have been lifted.

Transformative Effects of Political Violence

• Lack of Unity: Acts of political violence do not unite the country; instead, they serve as further irritants, interpreted through partisan and ideological lenses.
• Emboldening Extremists: Violence emboldens extremists and extremism, creating room for conspiracy theories and inspiring copycat acts.
• Coarsening of Society: Contributes to a further coarsening of society, similar to patterns seen in the 1960s.
• Psychological Impact: Affects the lives of most Americans psychologically.
• Acceptance of Violence: Studies suggest a growing acceptance of violence as a means for political change on both sides of the spectrum.

Reversing the Trend

• Reduce Acceptance of Violence: Lower poll numbers indicating acceptance of violence.
• End Wars: Ending wars in the Middle East could help.
• Economic Stability: Resolving economic uncertainty and inflation.
• Trump's Influence: Donald Trump no longer being in office could help.
• Empower the Center: Empowering the center-right and center-left within the two-party system.
• Relegitimize Institutions: Empowering and relegitimizing institutions like the courts, public service, politics, nonprofits, and research scientists.
• Social Media Regulation: Regulating social media to make it harder to spread conspiracy theories.

Conclusion

The rise in political violence in the US is a complex issue driven by polarization, social media, dehumanizing rhetoric, and a loss of trust in institutions. It has significant consequences, including increased security risks for politicians, a coarsening of society, and a growing acceptance of violence as a means for political change. Reversing this trend requires addressing these underlying factors through various measures, including promoting economic stability, empowering the political center, and restoring faith in institutions. While the situation is perilous, there is hope for a reduction in political violence over the medium to long term.