USC Dornsife experts explain how growing polarization in political and religious beliefs have made traditional holiday gatherings a challenge for families to navigate, and how to avoid a big blowout. [4 ¼ min read]
Holiday dinners are an American tradition that draws together family and friends, but in recent years, some have found the experience falls very short of a Rockwellian scene or Hallmark holiday card. When they sit down for the Thanksgiving feast weeks after Election Day, they are elbow-to-elbow with, say, the aunt they argued with on Facebook or the brother-in-law who was offended when they bared their politics at the last gathering.
How did we get here, and is it getting worse?
“Historically, in times of great change, a backlash emerges,” says Robert Shrum, director of USC Dornsife’s Center for the Political Future, which aims to address the political divide through education, research and practice. “This sort of backlash leads to polarization, and people with different opinions then view one another not as political adversaries, but as evil.
“The election of President Barack Obama brought out some of the best, but also some of the worst, parts of American politics,” adds Shrum. “Under President Donald Trump, the backlash has been weaponized, and as progressives fight back, the result is that we are living through a political civil war in America.”
Disappearing family ties
Blood is thicker than water, the old adage goes, but Lisa Bitel, Dean’s Professor of Religion and professor of history, notes that family bonds are not determined by genes alone. Historically, they have been reinforced by another common thread — religion. Bitel notes that religious beliefs often overlap with political viewpoints. But public opinion surveys by the Pew Research Center have indicated that thread is fraying.
A growing number of Americans consider themselves religiously unaffiliated. Those include atheists and agnostics, as well as the so-called “nones” who have no particular religious affiliation. Nearly a quarter of American adults…
