One of the hallmarks of a collapsing society is that "everything becomes a political statement". The newspaper you read is a political choice, as does the sneakers you wear, and where you eat for lunch.
What is this based on?
Athenian democracy and Roman republicanism each thrived in hyper-political cultures. The early America was heavily political.
Politicisation of culture doesn’t mean rise or decline. It means there big decisions need to be made. Big decisions need big buy-in.