Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaften und öffentliche Angelegenheiten
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Political Polarization and Democratic Backsliding in America: How a Violence-Rich Nation Can Regulate it

Iuri Piovezan*

This paper explores democratic backsliding in the United States, focusing on the violence created due to an exacerbated wave of polarization in the system. Scholars have examined this trend over the past forty years, concluding that an increasing polarization poses serious challenges to the maintenance of American democracy. This study starts by examining the literature on polarization, political legitimacy, and proposed solutions to polarization. Then, using Robert B Talisse’s views on political polarization, it outlines how the United States is a polarized nation, showing two main acts of violence resulting from such division:

Lastly, this study analyzes the pre and post-2022 Brazilian presidential election to test Carothers and O’Donohue’s theory of a strong judiciary by mainly focusing on two specific events:

This study contributes to scholarship by expanding our understanding on managing polarization, utilizing a significant case study to help to comprehend the political scenario in the U.S. and its possible solutions.