partisan politics
Loyalty over policy
Partisan politics is political activity driven by loyalty to a party rather than broader principles or compromise.
The phrase usually carries a negative connotation, implying that tribalism has overtaken good-faith governance: Partisan politics has gridlocked Congress.
The adjective partisan alone can describe this loyalty, but the full phrase emphasizes politics as the arena where such divisions play out.
- electionOrganized public voting
- wedge issuesDeliberately divisive political topics
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- voting blocsCoordinated electoral groups
base voters · conservatism · checks and balances · filibuster · echo chambers · partisanship · factionalism · tribalism · culture war · culture wars · misinformation campaigns · media bias · mudslinging · primary elections · party loyalty · party line · legislation · talking points
partisan politicsbipartisanship
Cooperation between political rivals
nonpartisanship · political compromise · unity government · political unity · political cooperation