Polarization and power; or the decay of democracy in a two-party system

Former 45th president of the United states and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, in the most recent CNN presidential debate referred to his opponent and fellow presidential candidate Biden as “a very bad Palestinian and a weak one” and that even the Palestinian public does not like him, when asked to comment on the ongoing humanitarian crisis happening on the Gaza Strip and continued by saying if he was in the position of power he not only could have stopped the crisis but also somehow avoided the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the subsequent war — although upon further questioning he failed to explain on how exactly he would go about doing that— which led to quite an amusing public reaction.

The two-party system in the United States is often described as a structure that is evolving, with some suggesting it may not be able to effectively address the diverse needs of its population. This perception is partly due to the system’s historical reliance on financial support from wealthy donors, which can influence political agendas. Recent public opinion surveys indicate a growing dissatisfaction with both major political parties, which has implications for the health of democracy.

A recent survey from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) not only illustrates this growing discontent but also gives us a more grassroot level view of the public opinion. As of early 2024, 55 percent of Californians have an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party, while a staggering 75 percent view the Republican Party unfavorably.

Perhaps more strikingly, 72 percent  of the public believes the country needs a third party. This sentiment is mirrored nationwide, where 28 percent of the public holds unfavorable views of both parties— which is without a doubt the highest in more than three decades.

Another Gallup poll further reinforces this sentiment, it goes on to highlight a significant decline in public faith in not only the economy but also because of the advanced age of these political figures, primarily driven by high inflation and other economic concerns.

Biden’s recent fumble and somewhat incoherent performance during the NATO press conference — the highlight of which was him drawing an audible reaction from the audience when he referred to his fellow party member Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” in his first non-scripted session— only reinforces these struggles.

There have also been reports of quite a few donors suspending their contributions to institutions that are aligned with Biden’s campaign— who by the way has spent a little more than US$170 million for campaigning this cycle— and are insisting that the candidate must be replaced. The dissatisfaction with both parties is not only prevalent but also deep-seated, indicating a systemic issue within the American political landscape which also creates a False dichotomy of choice.

We can also see a Parallel Struggle in both Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The former’s political system, while slightly different in structure, faces much the same challenges. The country operates primarily under a two-party system, dominated by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP). Over the years, public dissatisfaction has grown due to perceived corruption and economic mismanagement. General opinion also seems to indicate that both the parties and their failure to address key social issues has not helped them gain any new support. 

While in a different context, Zimbabwe presents the same underlying issues. The political landscape has been dominated by ZANU-PF for decades, with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) providing the primary opposition. Public dissatisfaction here primarily stems from economic hardships and political repression. With further discontent stemming from the widespread corruption within these systems.

These demands for a more representative and effective political system are strong, reflecting similar sentiments in the U.S. and Jamaica and have led to calls for greater political diversity and the rise of third-party movements.

This also has quite a few broader implications for the great American political landscape, the dissatisfaction with the two-party system in these countries underscores a critical issue: the need for political reform and facilities to better represent and attract the interest of the population that it aims to serve. In the U.S., the call for a third party is gaining traction as voters feel increasingly alienated by the existing political options.

From this we may conclude, the decay of the democratic process under the two-party system is not a phenomenon isolated to the U.S. It is a widespread issue that calls for a re-evaluation and study of how political systems can be more inclusive and representative. Here the only question that remains is not “is the public is dissatisfied with the system?” but “will the system rise up to challenge and reform with the rapidly changing political needs and demands of the public?”.