The Crossroads of American Politics and the Political Sciences

Today, American politics finds itself at a critical crossroads between two opposing political and philosophical ideals; one that espouses the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and another that stands to centralize. The political dichotomy of the contemporary United States can best be described as the struggle for liberty juxtaposed with the struggle against it, best exemplified by the growth of an ever-increasing power-elite as described by C. Wright Mills, as well as the foundations of American democracy and political culture as described by Alexis de Tocqueville, and finally as seen in the structural soundness of American political life despite radicalization as described in the New Yorker article. 

First, to talk about the dichotomy of American politics effectively, it must first be observed the powerful side of the struggle, what could most eloquently be described as the centralization of American power structures. The so-called ‘Power Elite’ in the United States of America who act with the greatest of intentions to have the greatest amount of power between them and their more recently ever-wealthier friends (The Power Elite).  This in contemporary American politics can be best shown objectively through ever decreasing social mobility of lower and middle classes in the economy, best described by populist progressive and conservative leaders. Whilst the goals of the Power Elite as described by C. Wright Mills are not unified by the concept of ideological grounding (a socially Progressive Socialist may want a high economic centralization and lower military or political centralization), ultimately, the Power Elite in America are the foundation for the lobbying and, most likely, the tendency in the middle class to be disaffected and/or radicalized by modern political structures. Centralization without an effective opponent to it gradually, excessively, and largely unintentionally excludes middle- and lower-class Americans from power in politics. 

To effectively talk about the core of American politics, Political Scientists must of course describe accurately all sides of the American political dichotomy. Alexis de Tocqueville in the early 19th Century described as what he called the foundation of American democracy “[American Colonists] were more conversant with the notions of right, and the principles of true freedom then part of their European contemporaries'' which is to say that America, ultimately, is a nation that was and is conceived in the liberal notions of the rights of man, as opposed to European aristocratic and inefficient rule (Democracy in America). According to de Tocqueville then, American democracy is the foundation of democracy. The opposition of aristocracy and centralization is baked into America's fundamental identity. Whilst in modern times Americans see great radicalization and division, especially with the Dobbs decisions the increasing and ever- encroaching cronies of the State, America is still a (mostly) liberal democracy. 

Despite contradictions in the Constitution as described by men vastly more intelligent than most as seen in the New Yorker Article, the fundamentals of democracy in America still stand strong. Despite insurrection, division, and radicalization, the ideals of the Framers still ultimately stand domestically strong, despite the ever-increasing conflict between the Power Elite and Liberty, the overall trend shows they have and will continue to cooperate. 

This article began life as a summer essay for an AP Government & US Politics taken in the writers' Junior year of high school; because of these extra-ordinary circumstances it is feasible that the writing does not meet all of our publishing standards.