In a time of intensifying global political tensions, new research shows that a country’s economic development strongly affects the division of its citizens. Although wealthy countries struggle with social values such as abortion and divorce, poor countries remain significantly polarized in terms of economic concerns and material needs.
The study, published on March 24 in a cross-cultural study by Dr Francesco Rigoli of University of London, St. Georgetown, analyses 40 years of global survey data to understand how modernization affects ideological polarization.
“The most striking observation is that ideological polarization seems to be higher in poor countries, but we also believe that wealthy countries are increasingly vulnerable to the issue of free choice,” explains Dr. Rigoli. “One compelling argument is that this vulnerability could account for the recent surge in cultural wars and political tensions observed by the West.”
The study covers data from a World Value Survey covering more than 100 countries over the past four decades and found that countries with economic development tend to experience deeper ideological divisions overall. But wealthy countries are particularly focused on issues such as personal freedom, including abortion, divorce and homosexuality.
This model reflects a fundamental shift in priorities for social modernization. When basic needs remain unmet, citizens will focus on material issues such as economic inequality, job security and resource allocation. Once economic stability is achieved, attention turns to identity and lifestyle choices.
The study sees education as a key factor driving polarization in various countries. In less wealthy countries, education creates a larger gap on economic issues, and well-educated citizens are more likely to support free market policies and inequality. Meanwhile, in wealthy countries, education creates deeper differences on social issues, and higher education is related to more progressive perspectives.
This distinction helps explain why political divisions manifest differently across the globe. From economic protests in developing countries to fierce debates about social issues in Western democracies, the study reveals how a country’s GDP stature shapes its political battlefield.
“In view of the increasing global political unrest, from economic protests in developing countries to fierce debates on social issues in Western democracies, it is more important than ever to understand the root causes of ideological polarization.”
This discovery challenges the popular idea that political polarization plays the same role among different countries. Instead, they argue that economic development fundamentally reshapes what issues make citizens divided and how these divisions manifest.
For policy makers seeking to address the growing political sector, the research provides important insights: Different strategies may be required depending on the stage of a country’s economic development. In developing countries where economic concerns dominate, the reasons for effective reduction of tensions in wealthy countries may be ineffective.
“These observations may help makers develop effective interventions to mitigate the harmful consequences of polarization and promote social cohesion,” Dr. Rigoli said. “They believe that interventions should take into account specific loopholes in a country, in part, depending on the level of modernization in that country.”
As the country develops economically, its political landscape changes in predictable ways. Understanding these patterns can help society better cope with the inevitable tensions in economic and social transition periods.
Research shows that as economies develop, ideological polarization is not just increasing or decreasing globally, but changing from material to identity to a problem of identity. This view looks at global political tensions more nuanced than the traditional narrative of rising extremism.
For citizens of wealthy countries wondering why debates about social issues have become so divided, the answer may lie in economic prosperity itself. Affluent societies transcend material struggles and now have luxury and burdens, with questions of identity, values and personal freedom.
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