Understanding the Problem
For over seven years, social polarization has been a deliberate strategy driven from the National Palace, fueling political conflict, discord, hatred, and damaging cordiality.
Daily, the ruling party fuels a harmful polarization to impose its thought as the only valid one. Those not aligned with the ruling party are labeled as traitors to the nation, subjected to degradation and insults towards critical opponents. Instead of listening, derogatory and sectarian language is used against critics, many of whom are labeled as “vendepatrias” or “PRIANs” by the president.
Impact on Democracy and Institutions
This phenomenon is not exclusive to a single country or ideology. It appears in democracies and authoritarian regimes, among left-wing and right-wing governments. The style may change, but the logic remains the same.
Authoritarian caudils and dictator wannabes have assumed power through elections, often dismantling institutions and mechanisms that helped them gain power, as seen in Mexico. These populist leaders are prone to militarization.
The Role of a Responsible Government
A responsible government committed to its country would work towards distending polarization, rather than provoking it. This involves easing tensions between groups and ceasing to fuel them, creating an atmosphere of dialogue, respect for minorities, and oppositions.
Strategies for Distension
Distending the political climate requires more than good intentions. In our case, a radical change is needed, such as altering the communication strategy of the National Palace and the ruling party to incorporate active listening, empathy, emotional intelligence, and technical skills.
- Recognize and respect diversity, oppositions, minorities, and critics without polarizing.
- Mention different viewpoints respectfully, avoiding caricatures.
- Appeal to shared values like justice, well-being, security, and dignity.
- Avoid divisive elements to rebuild and reduce confrontation.
- Employ emotionally intelligent language, avoiding aggressive or derogatory terms and demeaning remarks.
- Maintain tone and pace, avoiding shouts or sarcasm that could escalate tensions.
Moreover, it’s crucial to transition from rhetoric to action. Ignoring the fact that democracy is the rule of the majority, respecting minorities, especially when they constitute a significant portion of voters, as is the case today with millions of Mexicans representing 40% of voters, whose underrepresentation in the legislature by electoral authorities aligned with the ruling party is a clear oversight.
The nation requires a government that negotiates, debates, and listens to others with empathy, rather than taking the seemingly easy but dubiously legal path of imposition.
The Path Forward
This is an ongoing, civilized, and regulated struggle in a tolerant environment for differing opinions and criticism. It seems to be forgotten that building a culture of peace and concordance is only possible with positive generalization of dialogue in all social interaction spheres.
Dialogue and respect are the paths to distension that acknowledge truth, giving value to words.
About the Author
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X: @Phmergoldd
