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The End of Neutrality
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The End of Neutrality

Society’s shared middle ground is quickly turning into a battlefield. What will that do to democracy?

David Greenberg
Politico Magazine, 2018
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Recommendation

Even if you are only a casual follower of American politics, you will know that the nation’s political discourse is bitterly divided. But where does this polarized hostility come from, and what are its implications? In this timely article for Politico Magazine, historian and media studies expert David Greenberg charts the rise and fall of Americans’ faith in institutional neutrality, and the effects of these shifts on the US political landscape. getAbstract recommends this essay to those looking for a historical perspective on America’s daily political battles.  

Summary

America’s bitterly polarized political discourse is a result of the erosion of trust in the neutrality of public institutions. In the past, the citizenry looked up to the courts as fair and balanced arbiters of disputes. Today, it considers them tools of either a conservative or liberal political agenda. Other institutions once considered apolitical, such as the intelligence services, have, likewise, become politicized. In journalism, even those outlets which remain committed to neutral reporting face accusations of bias. Conservatives have labeled the fact-checking websites PolitiFact and...

About the Author

David Greenberg is a professor of history and media studies at Rutgers University. 

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