We discuss a general form of the exchange energy for a homogeneous system of
interacting electrons in two spatial dimensions which is particularly suited in
the presence of a generic spin-orbit interaction. The theory is best formulated
in terms of a generalized fractional electronic polarization. Remarkably we
find that a net generalized polarization does not necessarily translate into an
increase in the magnitude of the exchange energy, a fact that in turn favors
unpolarized states. Our results account qualitatively for the findings of
recent experimental investigations