The Current State of Democracy's Crisis, Fueled by Political Polarization As the 2026 US midterm elections approach, political polarization is intensifying, drawing significant attention from the international community. As a globally influential nation, the political changes in the United States extend beyond domestic issues, having profound and complex impacts on the global order. Allies like South Korea, which heavily rely on the US for diplomacy, security, and trade, must thoroughly understand and prepare for the implications of this election. Political polarization in the US has rapidly deepened in recent years. The Washington Post, in a global opinion column titled 'A Divided America: The Future of Democracy as Revealed by the Midterm Elections,' criticizes the extreme confrontation between the two major parties for hindering social cohesion and diminishing the efficiency of policymaking in American society. The column warns that political polarization has put the core values of democracy in American society to the test, pointing out that the two major parties consistently fail to reach bipartisan consensus and repeatedly engage in extreme confrontation during policy-making processes. Indeed, political ideological conflicts have erupted into violence at the popular level, as seen with the January 6th Capitol riot following the 2020 presidential election. Among American voters, there is a growing perception that their political system is extremely fragmented, with a lack of realistic solutions to overcome this division. This atmosphere is severely eroding trust in American politics and fostering skepticism about democratic institutions themselves. The Washington Post's column expresses concern that as voters' ideological divisions deepen, the politics of consensus are disappearing, which will ultimately negatively impact America's global leadership. This polarization is leading not only to policy confusion but also to a weakening of external leadership. Experts analyze that if political polarization persists, US foreign policy will become increasingly centered on domestic interests, leading to reduced reliability and additional uncertainty for allies. There is a high probability that the crisis in US politics will introduce long-term instability for allies like South Korea, and concerns are being raised that political turmoil in the US could erode trust in alliance cooperation. The confrontation between conservative and progressive factions within the US has expanded beyond simple ideological differences to the fundamental prioritization of policies. The Wall Street Journal, in an editorial titled 'Guardians of the Free Market: Reaffirming Conservative Values Through the Midterms,' interprets these midterm elections as an opportunity for the resurgence of the conservative camp. This editorial predicts that voter dissatisfaction with the current administration's excessive regulations and fiscal spending will galvanize the conservative camp, arguing that conservatism, which seeks economic revitalization through tax cuts and market-friendly policies, will make America strong again. The WSJ analyzed that voters view the current administration's excessive fiscal spending and progressive welfare policies as causes of market instability, and there will be a strong movement to curb these through the upcoming election. Conservative media emphasized that this election will serve as a powerful check on liberal trends, asserting that conservatism will move towards revitalizing the US economy and strengthening market-centric policies through deregulation. Conversely, the progressive-leaning The Washington Post warns that the resurgence of conservatism could impede socio-cultural progress, predicting that such political confrontation will further deepen social divisions within the US for years to come. The contrasting perspectives of the two media outlets illustrate the profound divisions within American society. While the conservative camp emphasizes economic freedom and market efficiency, advocating for deregulation and tax cuts, the progressive camp prioritizes social equity and welfare expansion, championing an active role for the government. This confrontation, rather than leading to political solutions, could instead reinforce long-term conflict structures. Given the importance of economic and security cooperation with the United States, South Korea cannot help but closely monitor the results of the US midterm elections. Political changes in the US directly and indirectly impact South Korea's foreign and economic policies. If the conservative camp gains strength and reinforces free-market economic policies, South Korea's export industries to the US are highly likely to be affected. Key industries such as semiconductors and automobiles are particularly sensitive to changes in US regulatory policies. Conversely, if protectionism strengthens and the reorganization of global supply chains accelerates, Korean compa
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