Mapping a Wicked Problem: Sociopolitical Polarization in Pittsburgh, PA

by Jennifer Brown, Jiyu Kwag, Brian Mathews, Revati Naniwadekar, Zoe So

Carnegie Mellon University, School of Design, Transition Design Seminar 2024

Social and political polarization is escalating globally, as daily news headlines, reports, and social media highlight the growing divide. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the United States, where Republicans and Democrats face significant challenges in engaging in productive debate and making effective decisions. This complex issue presents a “wicked problem” due to its multifaceted nature and deep-rooted causes.

In our semester-long project for the Transition Design Seminar at Carnegie Mellon University, Team Co-Evolution will delve into the issue of polarization within the context of Pittsburgh. We believe Pittsburgh serves as a microcosm of the broader national issue, encapsulating the intricate dynamics and challenges of dealing with changing economies in a region historically dominated by the working class.

Our initial step is to map the current state of polarization in Pittsburgh. To achieve this, we have adopted a unifying framework to guide our exploration of polarization: understanding its causes and impacts and examining it across various scales and systems. This approach is grounded in the recognition that humanity is confronting numerous significant challenges, from climate change to pandemics, healthcare crises, economic shifts, demographic changes, and escalating inequities. These complex systemic changes are inevitable, and conflict arises from the diverse perspectives that different groups, communities, and stakeholders have towards these issues. Their varied opinions, fears, and solutions contribute to the escalation of extreme polarization. As these issues continue to intensify, the urgency to address them grows. Without timely action, the complexity and severity of these problems will only worsen.

To gain a deeper understanding of how polarization manifests in Pittsburgh, we will analyze it through the STEEP lens, a framework which covers Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, and Political dimensions to map interdependencies between sectors. Here are some key insights we aim to explore within these dimensions:

Social

To investigate the social impact of rising polarization, we looked into how citizens of Pittsburgh are thinking and behaving with respect to major socio-political events. As this section dealt with more intangible aspects like human psychology we broadened our scope in certain cases and studied the phenomenon on a national level as well.

• Political leaders are viewing their “opponents” as their “enemies” and their supporters are following suit: In 1996 when Bob Dole lost the presidential election to Bill Clinton he mentioned that he views Clinton as his opponent not enemy. During the 2016 elections, republican candidate Donald Trump called democrats enemies of the nation. The psychological effects of this change can be seen manifested in American society. People on either side of the political spectrum distrust the other more and more to the point that 49% republicans and 33% democrats say they will be displeased with their child marrying outside of the political party.
• Online as well as offline, people are living in eco chambers: Citizens of Pittsburgh used to go to the church closest to their home. Today, they go to the one that preaches the political orientations they are in agreement with. Social media algorithms create ecochambers by constantly showing content the viewer aligns with. As a result, polarization is increasing, promoting the groupthink and us vs. them mentality.=
• The upper class that runs the nation is out of touch with its population: The wealthy live in isolated, expensive neighborhoods secluded from the lower classes. Their children, the future influential citizens, grow up in these homogenous communities never having to interact with the working classes. The impacts of their policies can be seen as increased wealth inequality and discrimination.
• People are unwilling to have open conversations about controversial issues: Americans are entering political conversations with the aim of proving the other person wrong rather than learning something new. People on both sides feel unheard, becoming more aggressive and assertive. As a result of this hostility they are starting to avoid these conversations which widens the gap further.

In conclusion, the American society is more divided today than ever before. Unless the leaders come together and find a middle ground the impacts of this polarization can be devastating.

Infrastructure, Technology, and Science

The intersection of infrastructure, science, and technology with sociopolitical polarization extends beyond the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI), encompassing broader societal challenges. These issues collectively shape the societal landscape, influencing public opinion, economic opportunities, and access to information. Beyond AI, infrastructure, science, and technology play pivotal roles in societal dynamics, affecting everything from workforce development to public discourse.

• Workforce and Economic Shifts: Innovations in technology demand a workforce skilled in science and technology, necessitating changes in education and job training.
• Infrastructure Development: The growth of the innovation economy requires investments in both physical and digital infrastructures to support new industries.
• Social Media’s Influence on Political Perception: Varying social media platforms contribute to political polarization by shaping how information is consumed and discussed.
• Economic Polarization: The technology-driven economy widens the gap between the skilled and unskilled, exacerbating socio-political divides.
• Public Discourse Fragmentation: Disparities in information access and media consumption patterns lead to fragmented public discourse.
• Social Cohesion Erosion: Inequities in infrastructure and technology access contribute to social fragmentation, undermining community ties and civic engagement.

Addressing the broader socio-political challenges posed by infrastructure, science, and technology requires a multi-faceted approach that includes policy reform, investment in equitable infrastructure, and inclusive technological development. By tackling the educational disparities, digital divide, and environmental inequities, we can mitigate polarization and foster a more unified, informed, and resilient society.

Environmental

Assess the environmental challenges specific to Pittsburgh and how they intersect with polarization.

• Legacy of Industrialization: After the collapse of the steel and mining industries in Pittsburgh, the region was plagued with acid mine runoff and brownfields, posing significant threats to biodiversity and ecological balance. Aquatic species, such as fish and invertebrates, suffer from contaminated waterways, leading to population declines and habitat degradation. Terrestrial species face habitat loss and fragmentation due to contaminated soil and reduced vegetation cover, impacting food sources and nesting sites. People are divided on who is responsibility it is to clean up the problem, the new landowners, the government, or the now defunct mine or factory.
• Employment vs. Environment: Industrial jobs like coal and fracking hold weight among blue collar workers. These traditional working class jobs are pride among the region. However, these operations contribute to chemical runoff, groundwater contamination, and the release of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, contributing to habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Despite growing awareness, the coal industry continues to lobby for its economic importance, highlighting the ongoing tension between economic interests and environmental concerns.
• Political Divides on Science: There is a divide between political parties about scientists and their involvement in public policy. Democrats lean towards more involvement and placing more value on the views and facts from these parties. Republicans are less likely to implement the recommendations or to put these people in positions of power. These political divides lead to disagreement and gridlock, hindering environmental conservation efforts.
• Resource Mismanagement: Polarization can result in resource misallocation, as political decisions may prioritize short-term economic interests over long-term environmental sustainability. This can lead to overexploitation of natural resources, habitat destruction, and ecosystem degradation.

Economic and Business

In the analysis of the economic and business issues affecting the region and their role in exacerbating the wicked problem, the major ways in which sociopolitical polarization has manifested itself are closely linked to Pittsburgh’s economic transition from manufacturing to technological and financial services.

• Urban vs. Rural Divide: Pittsburgh and other metropolitan areas have disproportionately benefited from globalization while rural geographies have fallen behind.
• Unequal Access to High-Paying Jobs: Structural barriers such as social isolation from critical networks, historical economic exclusion, and present-day racist institutional practices have excluded African American residents from deriving the benefits of Pittsburgh’s economic transition.
• Economic Inequality: The differential access to high-paying jobs, particularly in Pittsburgh’s growing “innovation economy,” has contributed to the growing divide between high- and low-income residents.
• Disparities in Education: In Pittsburgh, educational attainment strongly correlates with income levels. Lower-income individuals face barriers to accessing quality education, limiting their job prospects and perpetuating economic inequality.

Ultimately, the unequal access to economic and business opportunities based on race, place, and class, have contributed to polarization across social and political lines.

Political and Legal

When examining polarization in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania through the lens of governance, politics, laws, and regulations, several key factors emerge:

• Ideological Divides: Transitioning from industrial to a tech, medical, and education center sparks class, urban-rural, and governance conflicts, highlighted by significant political endorsements shifting after decades.
• Election Integrity: Allegations of voter manipulation erode democratic trust, casting doubt on institutions from healthcare to academia.
• Partisan Gridlock: Political polarization leads to legislative stalemates as opposing parties prioritize ideological purity over compromise, resulting in deadlock on key policy initiatives and government dysfunction.

This local polarization reflects broader national trends, yet is uniquely shaped by its demographic, ideological, and political contours.

Conclusion

By adopting this comprehensive approach, we aim to uncover the nuanced and interconnected ways in which polarization affects Pittsburgh and, by extension, offers insights into the national issue. Although we organized the analysis by STEEP dimension, we acknowledge the inherent complexity and interconnectedness of sociopolitical polarization across sectors. For example, we found polarization over access to jobs and economic status to be an overarching theme across all sectors. Additionally, attitudes and beliefs around social issues and how they are exacerbated by echo chambers, distrust, and hatred seemed to emerge across the sectors.

We encountered a number of complexities as we began mapping this wicked problem. We engaged in multiple conversations to determine the appropriate framing and scope of the issue, contemplating the level of specificity we wanted to show on the map. We deliberated on whether to focus solely on political polarization given the election year or narrow down to local polarization surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. Ultimately, we chose to maintain a broader scope for this exercise to gain a holistic understanding of sociopolitical polarization in Pittsburgh. Our intention is to continue investigating the mapped issues more deeply over the coming weeks.