Polarisation Between Distance and Proximity Ethics

In his latest book Spookkloven, Jan Willem Duyvendak (2025) warns
against “emotional polarization” based on phantom divides between
citizens. Emotionally, Dutch people feel polarised even though there is no
empirical ground for it, he argues. If you look at the classic demographic
factors like income, education, urban–rural life, age, gender, migration
background and religion, there is convergence rather than polarisation.
Yes, there are differences between groups at most, but no real divides.
Even ideological polarisation has been declining in recent decades. “Many
progressive values are even considered typically Dutch” (Duyvendak,
2025, p. 15). The majority has grown more tolerant of moral issues relating
to sexuality, life, and death and is moving in the same direction. Some
other Dutch researchers concur, such as Quita Muis (2024), Paul Dekker
(2022), or Tom Nijs (2025): the problem of polarisation is overrated, and
polarisation worry is a more serious problem than polarisation itself. So,
says Duyvendak, we shouldn’t be so emotionally polarised