Pernicious polarization is spreading like wildfire across democracies around the world. And the outlook for the world is, well, awful. The World Economic Forum ranks "Societal Polarization" third in its list of short-term risks - and ninth in long-term risks - in its 2024 Global Risk Report. Adding to the concern are the interactions between polarization and misinformation, worsening economic opportunities, and intrastate violence.

But what if depolarization is a real possibility? What if polarization itself is not wholly adverse or harmful? What can we learn from moments of deep polarization across time and space to inform the crisis of today?

Jennifer McCoy talks about different countries' experiences of polarization, how what's happening in the U.S. stands out from the rest of the world, and countries that have managed to walk back from the cliff's edge.

You can find more of Jenn's research here. I highly encourage you to read her report Reducing Pernicious Polarization: A Comparative Historical Analysis of Depolarization and Overcoming Polarization by her and her colleague, Murat Somer.