Newsletter #146 — August 13, 2023
Colleague Activities
Highlighting things that our conflict and peacebuilding colleagues are doing that contribute to efforts to address the hyper-polarization problem.
- Developing a Unifying Vision
New Pluralists — The new pluralists are committed to healing our divisions by helping Americans recognize our shared humanity, embrace our differences, and solve challenges together. - Society-Wide Conflict
Conflict Analysis: A Tutorial — An excellent primer on how to do a comprehensive conflict analysis for people working in complex conflict situations, journalists reporting on complex conflicts, or anyone wanting to understand a conflict better. - Authoritarianism
The Antidote to Authoritarianism — Ordinary people, organized effectively, have the power to drive social change upwards to create the conditions for justice, equity, and freedom. 27 leaders reflect on how to do this now. - System Thinking Strategies
The Case for Expanding the Landscape of Democracy Work — A long-term, holistic vision of how democracy could evolve in the US and the role that organizers could play in that work. - The Hyper-Polarization Threat
First Principles: The Need for Greater Consensus on the Fundamentals of Polarisation — A discussion of the definition of polarization, why it is so important, and how it might be addressed, including, perhaps by creating an academic "field" of polarization. - Saving Democracy
Defending and Strengthening Diverse Democracies — Report of an extensive literature review and interviews highlighting drivers of democratic regression and opportunities to strengthen democracy in Brazil, India, South Africa and the U.S. - Authoritarianism
America needs a cross-national approach to counter authoritarianism — An article describing how authoritarianism can be countered by promoting free, fair and trusted elections, combating mis- and dis-information, and cultivating informed and engaged voters.
Beyond Intractability in Context
From around the web, more insight into the nature of our conflict problems, limits of business-as-usual thinking, and things people are doing to try to make things better.
- Large-Scale Violence
India Is on the Brink — From India, a story about how hyper-polarized politics has inflamed social tensions to the point where true authoritarian rule and large-scale violence are imminent. (This is what we are trying to prevent and reverse). - Cancel Culture
The Culture of Transgression — An informed and thoughtful critique of the progressive, Democratic elite that does much to explain the intensity and strength of the populist opposition. Something everyone ought to read. - Race / Anti-Racism
Ditching Diversity Myths — For a time in which "diversity" enjoys so much social (and legal) prominence, a thought-provoking essay about what the term means and the degree to which it ought to be cultivated. - Left / Right Conflict
Let’s Have a Face-Off on Trump’s Indictment — A readable analysis (with lots of links) of the legal and political complexities of President Trump's upcoming trial. - Psychological Complexity
Hey, America, Grow Up! — A retrospective look at how social psychological changes that have occurred in Western societies over the last several decades have made our problems so much more intractable. - Effective Problem-Solving
A fiscal crisis awaits. Here’s a provocative idea for heading it off. — A realistic strategy, with a proven track record, for grappling with the kind of tough public policy problems that require substantial public sacrifice. - Interstate War
Ukraine’s Sea Drones Alter Balance of Power in Black Sea — In times of war, military technology advances very quickly with profound implications for the strategic balance. Ukraine is no exception. - Constructive Communication
The Seven Social-Media Commandments — Constructive steps that we can all take to limit the adverse impacts that the various social media platforms so often have on our lives. - Interstate War
Slow counteroffensive darkens mood in Ukraine — News that the dream of a decisive victory in Ukraine is fading and that we may be entering into a protracted "hurting stalemate" (a period where prospects for a negotiated end of the fighting increase). - Psychological Complexity
Populism thrives because people are mad, and also because they’re sad — A report on a new analysis of the complex sociopolitical factors underlying right-leaning populism in the US. - Developing a Unifying Vision
A Path to Civic Pluralism — An insightful summary of the philosophic foundation of pluralistic democracy – an essential component of any effort to build a diverse society that really works. - Left / Right Conflict
The myth of asymmetric polarization — A challenge to the comforting illusion that our hyper-polarization crisis is being driven solely by right-wing populists and that those on the left are merely innocent victims. - Left / Right Conflict
Democrats and Republicans aren’t divided by gender, they’re divided by marriage — Stunning and surprising statistics about the decisive role that unmarried women play in the Democratic coalition. (All other marital groups tilt toward Republicans!) - Race / Anti-Racism
One Sentence Does Not Define a Curriculum — An attempt to get beyond the inflammatory focus on a single passage and understand more completely how the Florida curriculum would actually cover slavery.
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