A Good
Read
Polarisation*
and Conflict – How Things Fall Apart
The
Economist, the world’s leading news magazine, in reviewing a new book just out,
“How Civil Wars Start” contained some of the following excerpts:
“It is
hard to overstate the danger Donald Trump poses to America and the world, but
Barbara Walter (author of the book) manages it. Mr* Trump scorns democratic
norms, stirs up racial division, propagates the big lie that he won re-election
in 2020, encouraged a coup attempt on January 6th 2021 – and might
win the presidency again in 2024. Ms* Walter…rightly decries these sins.
“Political
leaders who stir up fear of another group to win support from their own are
often especially dangerous.
“The most
effective grievance-mongers are creative liars.
“The most
disgruntled members of the aggrieved group may take up arms. At first they are
typically too small in number to pose a serious threat – but social media can
accelerate the descent into bloodshed.
“The
country is polarized, and cynical race-baiting politicians have made matters
worse. The most egregious culprits are on the right…
“America
has small but well-armed militia groups who talk of violent revolution and
occasionally kill people. If Mr Trump were to return to office, moreover, he
would surely degrade American democracy further. Arguably the most important
thing President Joe Biden and the Democrats can do for their country is to keep
hold of the White House.”
*This
is how the British-based publication spells “polarization,” and it does not put
periods after Mr and Ms.