Former President Barack Obama on Thursday denounced political polarization but praised the “power of pluralism” in the presidential election. remarks At the 2024 Democracy Forum in Chicago.
Mr. Obama, who has returned to the spotlight after losing out to Vice President Harris in the election, acknowledged that while pluralism may not be a word people use every day, it is still a familiar concept.
“The concept of pluralism is [be] The former Democratic president said, “It's actually familiar to all of us. It means that in a democracy, we all have to find ways to live with individuals and groups that are different from us. ” he said.
“Therefore, we work on systems of rules and customs that help us resolve conflicts peacefully, and we strive to cultivate habits that not only tolerate each other, but also sometimes engage in collective action.” '', he added.
But as President Obama touted his theory of pluralism, he suggested that there were practical aspects to the concept that needed to be addressed.
“The biggest reason why American pluralism seems to work so well has primarily had to do with who gets left behind. In fact, for most of our history, our democracy “It is built on a deeply entrenched caste system, both formal and informal, based on race, gender, class and sexual orientation,” he said. “A system that excludes or severely restricts large segments of the population from the corridors of power.”
Obama, who served in the U.S. Senate from 2005 to 2008, said when he was sworn into office that he was the only African American senator and the third since Reconstruction. As of 2024, there will only be 12 Black senators, but that number will likely increase next year after last month's election.
“When everyone in Washington looked the same, shared the same experiences, and was on the men's side of the Senate gym, the righteous women had their own remodeled closets and cut deals and got along. “I would say it was difficult. It's much simpler,” he said.
The former president went on to condemn polarization and talk about how he sees the media's role in amplifying it.
“The policy is almost complete, and the parties are becoming more unified in their beliefs and less tolerant of dissent,” Obama told the audience. “Media companies have realized that they can make money by doing extreme things.”
“Politicians, party leaders and interest groups are incentivized to take maximalist positions on almost every issue because it is what attracts attention,” he added.
Despite the challenges, President Obama expressed optimism about “the idea of pluralism.”
“Does the idea of pluralism work at this point? For that matter, is the concept worth preserving? I believe the answer is yes,” he said.
“I am convinced that if we want democracy as we understand it to survive, we all need to work towards a renewed commitment to the principles of pluralism,” former president added.
