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Joseph Conrad’s representation of polarization beginning to happen in 1902 when the novella Heart of Darkness was originally published seems pretty accurate to what is continuing to happen today. As was discussed in class we were reminded of the recent impact that “rising inequality and social polarization posted two of the biggest risks to the global economy in 2017 and could result in the rolling back of globalization” (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jan/16/worlds-eight-richest-people-have-same-wealth-as-poorest-50). This is relevant to the novella because Conrad was talking about the risks of what could happen if we continue to allow for polarization to happen. By this I mean within Heart of Darkness there are people who are from England going into Africa to create a trading industry. One of the main characters Kuntz is trading ivory with the Russians to make himself and England rich, while the African’s are being pushed aside and forced to pretty much work as slaves for him. He even threatens them because he has their skulls on sticks around his house, sometimes even killing them off, and they are starving to death from working too hard for him. This is a clear example of polarization because it is the distinction between two contrasting groups for example between the rich and poor which is happening here. This is continuing to happen today while American people become richer and other countries such as China and India are continuing to suffer. Conrad was hinting that things needed to change from an economic stand point to prevent this from getting worse and wrecking our world essentially and well we are still talking about this to this day where it is said that a “fundamental change [needs to happen] to ensure that economies [work] for everyone not just a ‘privileged few’”.

Examining the OED’s definition of “polarization” from a globalist standpoint, we are told that it is “the accentuation of a difference between two things or groups; a division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of beliefs or opinions” (http://www.oed.com.cat1.lib.trentu.ca:8080/view/Entry/146757?redirectedFrom=polarization#eid|). Lindsey has spoken about the difference in economic growth between America and countries which we classify as “third-world” or undeveloped. However, I think it is equally important to analyze the polarization that is present in the United States currently, and President Trump’s attempt to eradicate the elite’s overbearing financial advantages that a small group share. He states in his Inauguration speech “for too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth” (http://www.infowars.com/trump-declares-war-on-ruling-elite/). Having these words come from the newly sworn-in President of the United States, after many, many, months of his promise to expose the “ruling elites” polarized attitude towards the wealthy and the poor of America can almost seem promising in a way. Much of what President Trump’s campaign was centered on reshaping America, and escaping the Democratic realm. Hopefully most of us can all agree that polarization was indeed present during Democratic reign, perhaps the new Republican Party will offer some insight on how to eliminate this severe divide among the American people, before it is pushed to the extreme limits.