Rachel Kleinfeld: US Systems Amplify Polarization—But They Don’t Have To

In a democracy, we resolve political disagreements through elections rather than through physical force. Political violence is a threat to democratic societies – but it can also be connected to a complex range of other political and social problems, including corruption, polarization, social division, and limitations on free speech. These are not easy problems to solve, but the United States can learn from international examples – both about what can go wrong in democracies, and also how structural reforms can help to discourage violence and other forms of extremism. Rachel Kleinfeld is a senior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program. She is an expert on how democracies can improve, particularly in countries facing polarization, violence, and corruption. She has written three books, contributes regularly to major media outlets, and often briefs the US government and allied democracies on issues at the intersection of democracy, security, and the rule of law. Kleinfeld serves on the boards of the National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, and States United Democracy Center, and on the advisory board of Protect Democracy. https://carnegieendowment.org/people/rachel-kleinfeld?lang=en https://www.ted.com/talks/rachel_kleinfeld_a_path_to_security_for_the_world_s_deadliest_countries/transcript?subtitle=en