  Polarization is often a clich{\'e}, its conceptualization remains approximate
and no consensus has been reached so far. Often simply seen as an inevitable
result of the use of social networks, polarization nevertheless remains a
complex social phenomenon that must be placed in a wider context. To contribute
to a better understanding of polarization, we approach it as an evolving
process, drawing on a dual expertise in political and data sciences. We compare
the polarization process between one mature debate (COVID-19 vaccine) and one
emerging debate (Ukraine conflict) at the time of data collection. Both debates
are studied on Twitter users, a highly politicized population, and on the
French population to provide key elements beyond the traditional US context.
This unprecedented analysis confirms that polarization varies over time,
through a succession of specific periods, whose existence and duration depend
on the maturity of the debate. Importantly, we highlight that polarization is
paced by context-related events. Bearing this in mind, we pave the way for a
new generation of personalized depolarization strategies, adapted to the
context and maturity of debates.
