Editing Political polarization (section)

===Benefits of polarization===
Several political scientists have argued that most types of political polarization are beneficial to democracy, as well as a natural feature. The simplifying features of polarization can help [[democratization]]. Strategies which depend on [[Opposition (politics)|opposition]] and [[Social exclusion|exclusion]] are present in all forms of observed politics.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Schattschneider|first=E. E. (Elmer Eric)|url=https://catalyst.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_5918589|title=The semisovereign people: a realist's view of democracy in America|date=1975|publisher=Wadsworth Cengage Learning|isbn=978-0030133664|location=Boston, MA|access-date=2019-10-26|archive-date=2023-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406025447/https://catalyst.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_5918589|url-status=dead}}</ref> Political polarization can help transform or disrupt the [[status quo]], sometimes addressing [[injustice]]s or imbalances in a [[Populism|popular]] vs. [[Oligarchy|oligarchic]] [[Class conflict|struggle]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stavrakakis|first=Yannis|date=January 2018|title=Paradoxes of Polarization: Democracy's Inherent Division and the (Anti-) Populist Challenge|journal=American Behavioral Scientist|volume=62|issue=1|pages=43–58|doi=10.1177/0002764218756924|issn=0002-7642|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Slater|first=Dan|date=2013|editor-last=Diamond|editor-first=Larry|editor2-last=Kapstein|editor2-first=Ethan B.|editor3-last=Converse|editor3-first=Nathan|editor4-last=Mattlin|editor4-first=Mikael|editor5-last=Phongpaichit|editor5-first=Pasuk|editor6-last=Baker|editor6-first=Chris|title=Democratic Careening|journal=World Politics|volume=65|issue=4|pages=729–763|doi=10.1017/S0043887113000233|issn=0043-8871|jstor=42002228|s2cid=201767801}}</ref>

Political polarization can serve to unify, invigorate, or mobilize potential [[Alliance|allies]] at the elite and mass levels. It can also help to divide, weaken, or pacify competitors. Even the most celebrated [[social movement]]s can be described as a "group of people involved in a conflict with clearly defined opponents having a conflictual orientation toward an opponent and a common identity."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kriesi|first=Hanspeter|title=Comparative Politics|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2017|isbn=978-0191851018|editor-last=Caramani|editor-first=Daniele|edition=4th|chapter=16. Social movements|doi=10.1093/hepl/9780198737421.003.0018|doi-broken-date=14 November 2024 |chapter-url=https://www.oxfordpoliticstrove.com/view/10.1093/hepl/9780198737421.001.0001/hepl-9780198737421-chapter-16|access-date=2019-10-26|archive-date=2019-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026233348/https://www.oxfordpoliticstrove.com/view/10.1093/hepl/9780198737421.001.0001/hepl-9780198737421-chapter-16|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Political polarization can also provide voting [[heuristic]]s to help voters choose among [[candidate]]s, enabling political parties to mobilize supporters and provide programmatic choices.<ref name="Polarized">{{Cite book|last1=Campbell|first1=James E.|url=https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691172163/polarized|title=Polarized|date=2016|publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0691172163}}</ref> Polarizing politics can also help to overcome internal differences and frame a common identity, based in part on a common opposition to those resisting [[reform]]s. Still, polarization can be a risky political tool even when intended as an instrument of democratization, as it risks turning pernicious and self-propagating.<ref name=":4" />