Abstract
Political polarization is rising fast in democracies and is affecting institutions and public trust. This paper pulls together ideas from both research and real-world cases to explore why polarization happens, how it shows up, and what problems it causes. The U.S. and India are taken as examples. It looks at how political loyalty, tech, psychology, and institutions play a role. Toward the end, it suggests some ways this divide can be addressed—through reforms, changes in tech, and better communication between people.