Our Current Conflict

Politics in America has often been characterized by challenge and clashes. But in the past decade, political polarization has grown to levels not matched in most observers’ memory. The current, deeply imbedded hostility among warring political factions in the United States is not limited to Congress and the White House. Ideological conflict extends into leadership circles of powerful sectors of society such as the environmental movement versus industry; social liberals, media, and civil libertarians against conservatives and religious groups; and groups polarized around immigration. Although the conflict intensified during the George W. Bush presidency, a list of titles and dates of books on the standoff makes it clear that the rift did not begin with the current administration (Table 1.1).