Oxford Researcher Describes Western Politics as Age of 'Hyperpolitics' Marked by High Polarization and Institutional Paralysis

According to Oxford academic Anton Jäger, the Western world is entering a distinct political era he terms "hyperpolitics," marked by unprecedented polarization alongside institutional dysfunction. Jäger distinguishes this period from previous eras of political tension by noting that social media has fundamentally altered how citizens engage politically—enabling mass participation in debates while simultaneously bypassing traditional institutional channels like political parties and labor unions. This decoupling of political engagement from institutional structures creates what Jäger characterizes as a "mania" in contemporary politics: voter demands become increasingly easy to express and mobilize around, but lack the durable organizational support necessary for sustained attention or implementation. The result, according to Jäger's analysis, is a structural mismatch between the ease of expressing political demands and the capacity of parties and leaders to enact meaningful long-term change, generating widespread frustration among electorates.