Final answer:
The dualism in American politics has led to increased polarization and difficulties in governance due to the historical division between major political parties, contributory factors like gerrymandering, and the convergence towards centrist policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dualist nature of politics in the United States has led to significant polarization within American political life. This polarization is evident in the increasing difficulty for elected officials to achieve their policy goals due to the divided nature of government and internally divided political parties. Historically, this division can be traced back to the early days of the republic with the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans holding opposing views on government roles. In current times, issues such as partisanship, sorting, and gerrymandering have aggravated these divisions, making governance challenging and often leading to a convergence of political parties towards moderate policy stances to appeal to the widest range of voters.
Throughout American history, the push and pull between these political factions have led to different visions of America. The strong dualist nature has facilitated the development of the two-party system and a generally centrist political culture when compared to the global spectrum of politics. However, such polarization has resulted in negative short-term consequences, contributing to a gridlocked political system where comprehensive policy-making is often difficult to achieve.