Political prejudice

Political repression is the act of a state entity controlling a citizenry by force for political reasons, particularly for the purpose of restricting or preventing the citizenry's ability to take part in the political life of a society, thereby reducing their standing among their fellow citizens. Repression tactics target the citizenry who are most likely to challenge the political ideology of the state in order for the government to remain in control. In autocracies, the use of political repression is to prevent anti-regime support and mobilization. It is often manifested through policies such as human rights violations, surveillance abuse, police brutality, imprisonment, involuntary settlement, stripping of citizen's rights, lustration, and violent action or terror such as the murder, summary executions, torture, forced disappearance, and other extrajudicial punishment of political activists, dissidents, or general population. Direct repression tactics are those targeting specific actors who become aware of the harm done to them while covert tactics rely on the threat of citizenry being caught (wiretapping and monitoring). The effectiveness of the tactics differ: covert repression tactics cause dissidents to use less detectable opposition tactics while direct repression allows citizenry to witness and react to the repression. Political repression can also be reinforced by means outside of written policy, such as by public and private media ownership and by self-censorship within the public. Where political repression is sanctioned and organised by the state, it may constitute state terrorism, genocide, politicide or crimes against humanity. Systemic and violent political repression is a typical feature of dictatorships, totalitarian states and similar regimes. While the use of political repression varies depending on the authoritarian regime, it is argued that repression is a defining feature and the foundation of autocracies by creating a power hierarchy between the leader and citizenry, contributing to the longevity of the regime. Repressive activities have also been found within democratic contexts as well. This can even include setting up situations where the death of the target of repression is the end result. If political repression is not carried out with the approval of the state, a section of government may still be responsible. Some examples are the FBI COINTELPRO operations from 1956 to 1971 and the Palmer Raids from 1919-1920. In some states, "repression" can be an official term used in legislation or the names of government institutions. The Soviet Union had a legal policy of repression of political opposition defined in its penal code and Cuba under Fulgencio Batista had a secret police agency officially named the Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities. According to Soviet and Communist studies scholar Stephen Wheatcroft, in the case of the Soviet Union terms such as "the terror", "the purges" and "repression" are used to refer to the same events. He believes the most neutral terms are repression and mass killings, although in Russian the broad concept of repression is commonly held to include mass killings and is sometimes assumed to be synonymous with it, which is not the case in other languages.

Political prejudice is a pervasive global issue that continues to divide societies and hinder progress. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, 57% of people in 27 countries have reported experiencing discrimination or harassment based on their political beliefs. In the United States alone, a survey by the American Psychological Association found that 42% of Americans have ended friendships over political disagreements. Additionally, a global survey conducted by Ipsos MORI revealed that 58% of people believe that their country is more divided than it was a decade ago due to political polarization. These staggering statistics highlight the urgent need to address and combat political prejudice on a global scale.

Political prejudice is a cancer that is eating away at the very fabric of our society, leading to division, hatred, and the erosion of democratic principles. This toxic mindset has permeated every aspect of our lives, from social interactions to policy decisions, creating an "us versus them" mentality that is tearing us apart. It stifles progress, prevents meaningful dialogue, and undermines the very foundation of a functioning democracy. If left unchecked, political prejudice will continue to widen the divide between individuals and groups, perpetuating a cycle of animosity and intolerance that threatens the stability and unity of our nation.

Political prejudice is not a significant issue because individuals are entitled to their own beliefs and opinions. It is natural for people to have different political leanings, and this diversity of thought is a fundamental aspect of democracy. While there may be instances of bias or discrimination based on political beliefs, these are isolated incidents and do not represent a widespread problem in society. In fact, healthy debate and differing viewpoints can lead to constructive conversations and better decision-making processes. It is important to acknowledge and respect differing opinions, rather than viewing political prejudice as a serious issue.