Journalism for Social Change Project: Polarisation, myself and I
This year saw the launch of GO Justice’s Journalism for Social Change Project. The initiative was designed to support students interested in social justice to develop their journalistic writing skills and create a finished piece of writing for publication.
A small group of students were selected to work with award-winning freelance journalist Eve Livingston, to learn writing techniques and develop story ideas before working on a draft for publication.
We are delighted to publish here the finished four articles from our participating students. Our first piece of writing is by student Lily Frame on the subject of polarisation and what we might do to better combat isolation in our communities.
Polarisation, myself and I
By Lily Frame
An oath, an address — and a divided society. When Donald Trump was sworn in as US President in January, his inauguration sparked conversations about America’s increasingly polarised communities. Brooke, a former international student at the University of Glasgow, told me the atmosphere was “strange” in her home state of Philadelphia, which swung from Democrat to Republican. “I feel the presence of polarisation as I drive through my own town,” she said. “I am still surprised to see people living so close to me express such radically different views.”
But thousands of miles away and across the Atlantic Ocean, it was conversations outside of lecture halls and study rooms at Glasgow University that caused me to wonder: is polarisation a uniquely American phenomenon?
Discussions of polarisation have increased in recent years, with the term often used to describe a widening gap between people and groups from the political right and left. We often think of it as a phenomenon unique to democracies like the UK, US and Germany which have experienced the rise of extremist parties, populism and culture wars. But it’s not just political systems where polarisation is felt: individuals and communities bear the burden of increasingly divided societies too.
One recent UK survey found that one in ten adults reported having no close friends, a figure which rose amongst the unemployed. In the US, another survey found those with high school diplomas spend less time in public places and community groups than those with a college degree.
Historically, the relationship between people and their communities might have included regular church congregations, local youth groups and plentiful public spaces which encouraged deep conversation, connection, compromise and acceptance. As Dr Joanna Szostek, senior lecturer in political communication at the University of Glasgow, told me, “community groups are important for teaching people behaviours like reciprocity, compromise and negotiation which are beneficial to the functioning of democracy.”
But now it’s easier than ever to order a flat white or a weekly food shop without facing any social interaction, and it has become normal to indulge in a night in alone, accompanied not by a friend but by a tailored algorithm. This shift to online living might be both a consequence and a cause of further polarisation.
“If people are spending more time alone, on their phone, they may be spending less time learning to get along with people who are different from themselves,” Dr Szostek said. “People can be much less civil when communicating online [and they] encounter a wider range of opinion online than they would in person. As a result, people may become more entrenched in their opinions after encountering ideas they disagree with online.”
This theory is supported by a recent survey by Pew Research Centre which found that just over half of all American adults say they get news from social media at least sometimes. In the UK, Ofcom report that 71% of 16-24 years olds consume news this way.
And what about students specifically? Many of us arrive for university with expectations of freedom, meeting lifelong friends, trying new things and experiencing new places - but that might not be the reality anymore, with a recent survey conducted by the UK Government finding nearly all students had experienced loneliness at least once during the last academic year. In my experience, the rise of social media, online modules and the recovery from the pandemic are just a few of many reasons which might explain this.
But across the University of Glasgow’s campus, there are groups working to combat isolation and polarisation at their roots by bringing students together in person.
A friend and I headed along to ‘Pints and Politics’, an event run by the Politics society which aims to facilitate conversation and friendly debate about political topics. That night, the discussion focused on the recent German election which saw the far-right party Alternative for Germany secure a record number of votes
At first, the event felt strange - I’ve always been taught not to talk politics in new company even though I’m happy to do so online. Suddenly, I had eyes staring back at mine when I spoke. I saw the faces behind opinions, heard laughter, and spotted the odd raised eyebrow: all things usually lost in the translation from type to send. I left with more insight, a deeper connection to my fellow students, and an empty pint glass.
It was refreshing to exchange views across a table and not in a comments section. And the experience showed me that we can all make choices which help us to connect with each other: by meeting with friends, talking to strangers, ordering that flat white at the counter and visiting our local supermarkets, we can begin to open ourselves back up to our communities.
Conversations about polarisation might have been sparked by the US election, but really it was not a surprise but a reality check. We are more connected than ever, but isolation is still at large. We can only challenge it by bringing the focus back to people and communities.
