Finding A Middle Ground

Is Society Becoming More Divided?

H. R. Richards

IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, YOU MAY HAVE STUMBLED UPON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL ‘JUBILEE’ during your search across the seemingly endless abyss that is YouTube.

One of their shows, Middle Ground, explores whether two different groups of people, opposed in their beliefs, can come together empathetically and find a middle ground. The show tackles a number of pressing issues and topics of debate, ranging from abortion, religion and transgenderism, but whatever the topic of conversation is, this middle ground is seldom found, and I think this is reflective of society itself becoming increasingly divided. This article, therefore, will attempt to get to the bottom of why this is – in order to uncover whether a middle ground is truly able to be achieved in our current society.

First, I will delve into the role of technology in creating this appearance (to me at least) of a more polarised society and second, in perpetuating it. Naturally, platforms like TikTok and Twitter (now X) are designed in a way that brings attention to controversial figures, i.e. the Andrew Tate’s of the internet: their provocative content fuels engagement, which plays into the algorithms of these apps and, in turn, thrusts these individuals – and the controversy that inextricably comes with them – into the forefront of these virtual spaces. Thus, this causes division between those who subscribe to these movements and opinions, and those who don’t. This polarised version of the internet creates the appearance of a polarised society, with, of course, so much of how we receive the world being through technology. Additionally, it validates extreme or controversial opinions, allowing individuals holding such views to express them with less hesitation, as they perceive these perspectives as more likely to be accepted and thus themselves less likely to be attacked online. In this sense, technology can play a role in perpetuating social and ideological divisions.

Divisions are also engendered by those in power. Take for example, Trump’s racist antics during his tenure as US president. He launched his 2016 presidential campaign with a speech in which he described Mexico as sending criminals to the border:

“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” 

Or when he was a leading proponent of a debunked conspiracy theory falsely claiming President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. 

Either way, Trump has undeniably fueled racist and xenophobic sentiment within the US, and by doing so, exacerbated existing social divisions. These actions are as much due to Trump’s personal beliefs as they are to the reality that playing on existing divisions or prejudices is often beneficial to political campaigns. Trump’s divisive rhetoric towards Mexican people is based on the same premise of Hitler’s bigotry towards the Jews: perpetuating social divisions is often favourable to one’s own agendas, political or not.

Another cause of division, I believe, is the increasing connectedness of different cultures, religions and the ideologies intrinsic to them. As these differences here inevitably clash, divisions emerge and often continue to exist – especially so when they are religious, due to their uncompromising and intimate nature. Take Islam or Christianity, for example. While we can try to mould them into our ever-progressing society, they are, in every sense, set in stone. In this sense, while our society is changing, the religions underpinning it are inherently unchanging, and therefore, there will always be a point of conflict between them. 

Now of course, I am not trying to bash religion, but merely pointing out that when so much of the population is subscribed to one, there are going to be conflicts. In conclusion, the clash of different cultures and ideologies intrinsic to them (especially religious) can contribute to enduring divisions in our ever-changing society. While not an indictment of religion itself, I think this highlights the inevitability of conflict, whether this be between different faiths or with those who choose to hold no religious beliefs entirely. 

So, back to my earlier question of whether a middle ground can be achieved in today’s society: I think yes, despite these aforementioned barriers, reaching one is no less achievable today than it was 100 years ago. Naturally, as discourses wander into more extreme and radical territory including abortion, sex change and topics that haven’t even been unearthed yet, there will be more pushback, but I don’t believe this means we are becoming more divided. Instead, we are more impassioned when it comes to these social matters. And this, I believe, is a good thing.