Maybe the underlying reason is that there is no more common interest between groups that fight each other? That is, no more "society" as something common, most importantly, right-wing electorate can't benefit from what can benefit left-wing electorate, and vice versa? Indeed, the discourse has become quite ugly, but maybe the reason is not the form, but the substance: that it's no longer about arguing about what's better for society as a whole, but winning over the other side to achieve what's good for "us", by defeating the interest of "them".
I believe this is the case, and core reason is that we are increasingly in the slow-growth world. Most people will not benefit greatly from overall progress of economy in their lifetime, just because it is now too slow. It's more and more about taking over something for "us" from "them" as opposed to "making the pie bigger".
Same is the reason for rise of dictatorship. In a slow-growth world, there is no way a democratic government or leader can achieve any tangible goals in one electoral cycle. So they have to resort to bullshit of one sort or the other - nothing which is not a deliberate lie, can be attractive enough to their voters. Only a lifelong dictatorship can hope to get things done.
One hope is that once the renewable energy takes over from the fossil fuels and we start seeing our worldwide energy base grow exponentially again the way it did through mid-1970s, quicker growth will return and things will gradually fix themselves.
I believe this is the case, and core reason is that we are increasingly in the slow-growth world. Most people will not benefit greatly from overall progress of economy in their lifetime, just because it is now too slow. It's more and more about taking over something for "us" from "them" as opposed to "making the pie bigger".
Same is the reason for rise of dictatorship. In a slow-growth world, there is no way a democratic government or leader can achieve any tangible goals in one electoral cycle. So they have to resort to bullshit of one sort or the other - nothing which is not a deliberate lie, can be attractive enough to their voters. Only a lifelong dictatorship can hope to get things done.
One hope is that once the renewable energy takes over from the fossil fuels and we start seeing our worldwide energy base grow exponentially again the way it did through mid-1970s, quicker growth will return and things will gradually fix themselves.