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This might be true in the US, but it's not true in coalition/consensus democracies where you always need multiple parties to form a majority. There will still

by fleddr 5y ago

This might be true in the US, but it's not true in coalition/consensus democracies where you always need multiple parties to form a majority. There will still be some populists, but it's not mainstream. Populists will usually not rule, their points of view cannot be merged into a coalition agenda. I think most people in the US are completely unfamiliar with this type of politics. It's a type of politics where extremists do not win, and where centrism is the norm.

zozbot234 5y ago
You need multiple parties (for a rather different notion of "party"!) in the U.S. too. The Republicans and Democrats are "big tents" that aggregate many independent factions. If you can't enlist broad enough support, your policy initiatives will fail. With recent filibuster politics in the U.S. Senate, you might well need a super-majority in many cases for even mildly controversial things.
- fleddr 5y ago
  I get what you're saying, but I still think there's meaningful differences. The country I'm in currently has a coalition of 4 parties, which still only barely gives a majority. During campaigns, none of these parties can carry out the extremely aggressive politics as seen in the US where you smear the other at any and all cost. Because if you do, you won't be part of the coming coalition. This dynamic means that campaigning largely means telling the story of your party, instead of mud slinging other parties. Blocking other parties for the sake of blocking the other party ("owning" them) in the senate or otherwise will be remembered. If you're unreasonable and childish, you won't be considered for the next coalition. Getting a majority and then intentionally undoing the progress from the previous coalition is also frowned upon. It's another red flag for a future coalition. So politics is building bridges and finding consensus amidst all players.
spaniard89277 5y ago
I'm from Spain, where there's a multi party parliament with coalitions.

by fleddr 5y ago

zozbot234 5y ago

You need multiple parties (for a rather different notion of "party"!) in the U.S. too. The Republicans and Democrats are "big tents" that aggregate many independent factions. If you can't enlist broad enough support, your policy initiatives will fail. With recent filibuster politics in the U.S. Senate, you might well need a super-majority in many cases for even mildly controversial things.

fleddr 5y ago
I get what you're saying, but I still think there's meaningful differences. The country I'm in currently has a coalition of 4 parties, which still only barely gives a majority. During campaigns, none of these parties can carry out the extremely aggressive politics as seen in the US where you smear the other at any and all cost. Because if you do, you won't be part of the coming coalition. This dynamic means that campaigning largely means telling the story of your party, instead of mud slinging other parties. Blocking other parties for the sake of blocking the other party ("owning" them) in the senate or otherwise will be remembered. If you're unreasonable and childish, you won't be considered for the next coalition. Getting a majority and then intentionally undoing the progress from the previous coalition is also frowned upon. It's another red flag for a future coalition. So politics is building bridges and finding consensus amidst all players.

spaniard89277 5y ago

I'm from Spain, where there's a multi party parliament with coalitions.