If you feel that having a conversation with someone who holds an opposing political view is futile, you should know that you are not alone. According to a recent survey, it is found out that most of the Indians staying in urban parts of the country are among the most politically divided people in the world, reported Scroll.in

Across the world, the survey conducted by Paris-based international market research company Ipsos conducted for BBC exhibit that around 24% of people believe that it is not worth to have a conversation with someone who happens to carry opposing political views. However, in India, the figure was found to be 35%. According to the survey, 35% of respondents agreed that would prefer not to have a conversation with someone having opposing political views.

The survey

The survey was conducted through online panels which included 20,000 adults in 27 countries, from November 26 through December 7, for this survey. The Indians who participated in this survey were mostly from urban areas. They were mostly educated and affluent than most said the organisation. The survey also found a similar likelihood among urban Indians which said that around 44% of the Indians who were surveyed “don’t care about people” who hold different political views. This is more than the global average of 31% who believe this. Another shocking revelation said that 43% of Indians believe that their political opposers don’t care about the country’s future, which was in stark contrast to that of 28% of respondents globally. India holds the second spot after Turkey which saw 46% of respondents agree with its statements.

Social media breaks the barrier

However, it is surprising to know that Indians similarly were more likely to engage with people holding divergent views than those elsewhere. Around 56% of people who were participants of the survey said that they make conversation with people having opposing political views at least once a week. Globally 35% of people do this. Undoubtedly, social media has been one of the important tool used by the citizens of this country to raise their voice. The survey found that 63% of Indian respondents said that social media is helping to break barriers between the public and people in power. When compared globally, the figure was clocked at 44%.

With the General election down the corner, it is quite expected that political polarisation will become more vibrant.

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