Divide and Rule: How Politicians Exploit Polarisation to Avoid Accountability
In the modern political arena, the ancient strategy of divide et impera—divide and rule—is alive and well. Politicians across the globe have perfected this tactic, using polarisation not as a means of fostering debate, but as a way to distract the electorate from the real issues. The technique is simple, but devastatingly effective: stir up as much emotional division as possible, create a spectacle, and avoid answering the hard questions.
The Power of Polarisation
At its core, polarisation isn’t just about disagreement. It’s about turning two sides against each other, creating a social environment so emotionally charged that rational thought and civil discourse become impossible. In such an atmosphere, politicians don’t need to provide thoughtful solutions or policy plans. They simply need to make their supporters angrier than their opponents. By feeding on the fear and frustration of the electorate, politicians can avoid scrutiny of their own actions, policies, or lack thereof.
Instead of addressing issues such as healthcare, education, or the economy—issues that would require careful analysis and, more importantly, accountability—politicians resort to mudslinging. They spit vitriol at their opponents to deflect attention from themselves. The message is clear: "Don't look at me, don't examine my performance or promises—look over there!"
Outrage as a Distraction
One of the most damaging aspects of this strategy is the focus on irrelevant controversies. Instead of focusing on policies that impact the daily lives of citizens, attention is diverted to trivialities. The public becomes engrossed in debates about JD Vance’s relationships with couches or whether Kamala Harris’s ethnic makeup matters. These topics may spark heated discussions and passionate online exchanges, but they distract from the core issues that actually affect people's lives.
Once polarisation takes hold, both political parties can sit back and let the electorate do their dirty work. The two poles of society rip into each other with ever-increasing intensity, driven by anger that’s amplified by social media algorithms. Meanwhile, the politicians who stirred the pot remain free from the grunt work of addressing the real problems facing their constituents. The focus on insults and outrage ensures that no one bothers to ask: “What will you actually do if elected?”
The Role of Social Media
Social media platforms have become the battleground where polarisation thrives. Memes, TikToks, and viral posts fuel the fire, with each side striving to outdo the other in the race to produce the most biting, clever, or insulting content. In this digital arms race, the actual policies that will shape the future of a country are nowhere to be found.
In a world where a viral meme can influence political discourse more than a well-reasoned argument, it’s easy for politicians to exploit this system. All they need is a steady stream of inflammatory content, and their supporters will do the rest. Thought and analysis are replaced with outrage and reaction, and the electorate becomes increasingly divided. The goal is not to solve problems, but to keep the conversation away from the politician’s own failures or lack of concrete plans.
A Win for Politicians, A Loss for the Electorate
For politicians, this strategy is a win. By stoking division, they avoid making any meaningful promises that they would later be held accountable for. They can shift attention away from the challenges that actually need to be addressed—be it income inequality, environmental degradation, or crumbling infrastructure—while keeping their supporters firmly in their corner. They remain insulated from hard questions and protected from having to explain how they would deal with real-world issues.
For the electorate, however, it’s a significant loss. Instead of being engaged in a thoughtful discussion about the future, people are drawn into a never-ending cycle of outrage. Polarisation doesn’t just divide society; it prevents citizens from holding their leaders accountable. When people are consumed with fury over trivial matters, they lose sight of the bigger picture. Real issues go unaddressed, and the electorate is left with politicians who are more concerned with winning the next outrage cycle than with governing effectively.
The Long-Term Consequences
The long-term effects of this political strategy are troubling. By exploiting polarisation, politicians are eroding the foundation of democratic discourse. Instead of fostering healthy debate and collaboration, they encourage division and hostility. This, in turn, weakens the ability of society to come together and solve its problems.
When the focus is on winning arguments rather than finding solutions, progress stalls. Complex issues like climate change, healthcare reform, or economic inequality require cooperation, thoughtful analysis, and long-term planning. However, in a polarised environment, these challenges are overshadowed by the latest scandal or outrage. Politicians have no incentive to fix what’s broken, because keeping people angry and divided ensures their continued grip on power.
Moving Beyond Polarisation
For democracy to function effectively, citizens need to demand more from their leaders. It’s not enough for politicians to simply make their supporters angrier than their opponents. They must be held accountable for their promises and, more importantly, their lack of action. As long as polarisation remains the dominant political strategy, the electorate will continue to suffer the consequences of inaction and division.
To move beyond polarisation, the public must focus on real issues that impact their daily lives. It’s time to shift the conversation away from the manufactured outrage and toward the policies that will shape the future. Politicians who thrive on division must be challenged, not celebrated, and voters must refuse to be distracted by irrelevant controversies.
In the end, divide et impera may benefit politicians in the short term, but it leaves society fractured and weakened. The electorate deserves better than to be pawns in a political game where anger and division replace thought and accountability. It’s time for a new approach—one that prioritises real solutions over empty outrage.
