Michael Lewis’s Who Is Government? emerges during a period of historically low trust in US governmental institutions. According to the Pew Research Center, only about one in five US citizens (23%) say they trust the federal government to do what is right “just about always” or “most of the time” as of 2024; this represents a dramatic decline from earlier eras: Trust in government began eroding in the 1960s and has remained consistently low for more than 15 years, never exceeding 30% since 2007 (“Public Trust in Government: 1958-2024.” Pew Research Center, 24 June 2024).

Alongside declining institutional trust, the US has experienced accelerating political polarization. This polarization manifests in two key ways: ideological polarization (the gap between the policy positions of Democrats and Republicans has widened significantly) and affective polarization (citizens increasingly view not just the opposing party but also its members in highly negative terms).

Studies suggest that the US has experienced a greater surge in polarization than comparable democracies. As partisan antipathy deepens, citizens are increasingly likely to see the opposing party’s policies as threats to the nation’s well-being. This polarization extends beyond politics into personal life, and many citizens prefer communities, friendships, and even family relationships that reflect their political values.