Polarization Beyond Repair

A study published in PNAS uses a computer model to point out a particular danger of increasing political and cultural polarization--

the existence of a tipping point beyond which the activation of shared interests can no longer bring warring factions together, even in the face of a common threat.

Nicole Karlis quotes Boleslaw Szymanski:

If the external strong signal does not unite people, we are in danger of getting into this irreversible polarization. In a divided society, it's of course very difficult to maintain that democracy which requires agreements of all people and the people who win elections and lose elections.

It's almost the last call.