The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

What today's GOP demonstrates about the dangers of partisan conformity

  • Written by Robert B. Talisse, W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University

Directly following the 2020 election, Republicans seemed to be through with Donald Trump. Party leaders[1] stopped speaking to him and voters began abandoning the GOP[2], apparently in reaction to Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Recently, things have changed. Republicans are once again aligning with Trump[3], even to the point of alienating GOP members[4] who criticize Trump for lying about the election[5].

The party’s reuniting with Trump may seem puzzling. A one-term and twice-impeached president with a consistently low approval rating[6] ordinarily would be a liability. Yet the GOP’s return to Trump is not really a surprise, because of the psychological forces known as belief polarization[7] and the black sheep effect[8].

Though these forces explain why the GOP is sticking with Trump, they also spell trouble.

To be politically successful, coalitions need to be unified. But unity can go only so far. As pressures to unify mount among group members, groups tend to factionalize, splinter and shrink.

And as a coalition shrinks, it becomes less effective in the political arena. This dynamic teaches an important lesson about democracy: To avoid splintering, partisans need to take steps to welcome dissent within their groups.

What today's GOP demonstrates about the dangers of partisan conformity Former U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the North Carolina GOP state convention on June 5, 2021, in Greenville, North Carolina. Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images[9]

From unity to extremism

Belief polarization[10] is a strikingly common[11] phenomenon. When people interact only with like-minded others, they transform into more extreme versions of themselves: They come to adopt more radical versions of their beliefs and grow more confident of the truth of those beliefs.

In shifting toward more extreme beliefs, people also come to see those with whom they disagree as irrational, corrupt and depraved[12].

Yet, as I document in my forthcoming book, “Sustaining Democracy[13],” our more extreme selves are also more conformist[14]. Belief polarization leads group members to become both more extreme and more alike[15]. As members grow more uniform, they also become increasingly resolute in enforcing conformity. Thus, the group becomes less tolerant of dissension within its ranks and more prone to expel deviating members.

As pressure to conform intensifies, the group also comes to define itself more strictly in terms of its animosity toward other groups[16].

Eventually group membership[17] expands[18] into an entire lifestyle[19] set in opposition to rivals. Belief-polarized groups thus insulate themselves from contact with outsiders.

This goes a long way toward explaining the divide between “red” and “blue” states. Even within diverse American cities there tend to be distinct “liberal” and “conservative”[20] districts[21].

With this insularity comes increasing reliance on central leaders to establish the standards for authentic group membership. This makes the group internally hierarchical and increasingly fixated on consensus and purity. Belief-polarized groups are also highly susceptible to the black sheep effect[22], the tendency to dislike lapsed or deviant members of one’s own group more intensely than one dislikes members of rival groups.

Thus, as belief polarization takes effect, true believers seek to punish and purge anyone appearing to be halfhearted, inauthentic or disloyal. The result is that belief-polarized groups tend to splinter and expel members until only the most extreme and devoted remain.

GOP polarization

From my perspective as a political philosopher[23], I believe this is where the GOP finds itself.

Belief polarization has become well entrenched within the party after at least four years of defining itself as pro-Trump and in opposition to the Democratic Party[24], leaving it in need of central leadership that can corral the membership and set the agenda.

This partly explains why Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from her leadership position in the GOP despite her being more conservative[25] than the average Republican House member and having a record of reliably voting[26] for Trump’s legislative agenda.

To the GOP rank and file, Cheney’s relentless criticism of Trump shows a lack of fidelity to the Republican Party.

Belief polarization also makes sense of why Rep. Elise Stefanik was chosen as Cheney’s successor[27] in the House GOP leadership. Although Stefanik is less conservative[28] than Cheney, she is a Trump loyalist who, in accepting her new leadership role, pledged to forge “unity”[29] within the GOP.

As the context of her remarks made clear, by “unity” Stefanik meant uniformity in the party’s public stance. She was sure to indicate that the party would be “unified” in working with Trump, whom she thanked as a “crucial part of our Republican team.”

Belief polarization shows that there’s a price to pay for that kind of unity. Whatever short-term gains there may be in sticking together, eventually conformist groups fragment.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, heckled as a “traitor” at a recent conference for conservatives.

Be careful what you wish for

Consequently, further turmoil within the GOP should be expected. With escalating pressure to conform to Trump’s vision of the party, more members will likely be shunned and disciplined as “RINOs”[30] – “Republicans In Name Only” – or worse, including former Vice President Mike Pence[31].

The current state of the GOP offers a broad lesson for democratic politics. In a democracy, anyone who wants an effective political voice needs to join a choir of similar voices. Political coalitions are thus an indispensable feature of a democratic society.

However, such alliances expose people to forces that push them to more extreme beliefs and drive them to insist upon conformity among allies.

Both pressures are debilitating for political objectives. In a democracy, movements seek to expand coalitions and broaden alliances. Belief polarization presses in the opposite direction, leading toward greater intensity of conviction, but ultimately toward the dissolution of coalitions.

Americans hear a lot about the need for bipartisanship[32]. Surely “reaching across the aisle” is an important part of democracy.

But such efforts are futile unless partisans welcome rather than punish dissent within their ranks.

References

  1. ^ Party leaders (www.washingtonpost.com)
  2. ^ abandoning the GOP (www.usnews.com)
  3. ^ aligning with Trump (www.bloomberg.com)
  4. ^ alienating GOP members (www.nytimes.com)
  5. ^ lying about the election (www.huffpost.com)
  6. ^ low approval rating (fortune.com)
  7. ^ belief polarization (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ black sheep effect (dictionary.apa.org)
  9. ^ Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images (www.gettyimages.com)
  10. ^ Belief polarization (blogs.cardiff.ac.uk)
  11. ^ strikingly common (doi.org)
  12. ^ irrational, corrupt and depraved (www.pewresearch.org)
  13. ^ Sustaining Democracy (global.oup.com)
  14. ^ extreme selves are also more conformist (quillette.com)
  15. ^ more extreme and more alike (oro.open.ac.uk)
  16. ^ animosity toward other groups (doi.org)
  17. ^ group membership (pcl.stanford.edu)
  18. ^ expands (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  19. ^ lifestyle (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ there tend to be distinct “liberal” and “conservative” (theconversation.com)
  21. ^ districts (projects.fivethirtyeight.com)
  22. ^ black sheep effect (doi.org)
  23. ^ my perspective as a political philosopher (scholar.google.com)
  24. ^ pro-Trump and in opposition to the Democratic Party (www.npr.org)
  25. ^ more conservative (heritageaction.com)
  26. ^ reliably voting (www.washingtonpost.com)
  27. ^ Rep. Elise Stefanik was chosen as Cheney’s successor (www.npr.org)
  28. ^ less conservative (www.businessinsider.com)
  29. ^ forge “unity” (www.cnn.com)
  30. ^ “RINOs” (www.newsweek.com)
  31. ^ Mike Pence (thehill.com)
  32. ^ need for bipartisanship (www.washingtonpost.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/what-todays-gop-demonstrates-about-the-dangers-of-partisan-conformity-161401

The Times Features

Best Deals on Home Furniture Online

Key Highlights Discover the best deals on high-quality outdoor furniture online. Transform your outdoor space into a stylish and comfortable oasis. Explore a wide range of d...

Discover the Best Women's Jumpers for Every Season

Key Highlights Explore lightweight jumpers for spring and summer, ensuring breathability and ease. Wrap up warm with cozy wool jumpers for the chilly autumn and winter season...

Uncover the Elegance of Gorgeous Diamond Tennis Necklaces

Key Highlights Diamond tennis necklaces are a timeless piece of jewelry that exudes elegance and sophistication. They feature a continuous line of brilliant-cut diamonds, cre...

Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which Is Better for You?

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, two of the most common options are dental implants and dentures. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing between them ...

What Neck Pain Really Means (And Why It’s More Than Just Poor Posture)

Neck pain is often brushed off as something temporary — a tight spot after a long day at the desk or a poor night’s sleep. But when the discomfort keeps returning, it could be a ...

The Work of Gosha Rubchinskiy: Fashion, Culture, and Youth

From Designer to Cultural Architect Gosha Rubchinskiy is not just a fashion designer—he's a cultural force. Born in Moscow in 1984, Rubchinskiy began his career in fashion in t...

Times Magazine

The Essential Guide to Transforming Office Spaces for Maximum Efficiency

Why Office Fitouts MatterA well-designed office can make all the difference in productivity, employee satisfaction, and client impressions. Businesses of all sizes are investing in updated office spaces to create environments that foster collaborat...

The A/B Testing Revolution: How AI Optimized Landing Pages Without Human Input

A/B testing was always integral to the web-based marketing world. Was there a button that converted better? Marketing could pit one against the other and see which option worked better. This was always through human observation, and over time, as d...

Using Countdown Timers in Email: Do They Really Increase Conversions?

In a world that's always on, where marketers are attempting to entice a subscriber and get them to convert on the same screen with one email, the power of urgency is sometimes the essential element needed. One of the most popular ways to create urg...

Types of Software Consultants

In today's technology-driven world, businesses often seek the expertise of software consultants to navigate complex software needs. There are several types of software consultants, including solution architects, project managers, and user experienc...

CWU Assistive Tech Hub is Changing Lives: Win a Free Rollator Walker This Easter!

🌟 Mobility. Independence. Community. All in One. This Easter, the CWU Assistive Tech Hub is pleased to support the Banyule community by giving away a rollator walker. The giveaway will take place during the Macleod Village Easter Egg Hunt & Ma...

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

LayBy Shopping