"All Links" Newsletter Topical Archive

This page provides a comprehensive archive of all BI Colleague, News, and Opinion Links organized by the general topic areas used in the "tagline" accompanying each link (and sorted from most recent to least recent). Because this list is somewhat cumbersome to create, we initially plan to generate only it about once a month. For more recent links see the latest links newsletters posted on Substack, Bi's Newsletter page, or the main Links "landing page."

We are still in the process of adding search capabilities to the new BI site. At the moment, the best way to search our collection of New and Opinion Links is simply by using this very long page and your browser's find function (generally Control-F or Command-F).

This listing was created on August 14, 2025. For the most recent links, see the list of the most recent Links newsletters.

Link Topics

The Hyper-Polarization Threat

Polarisation: The ‘Hyper-Problem’ Transitional Justice Can No Longer Ignore — As a ‘hyper-problem’ that makes political and social challenges harder to resolve, polarisation is both a barrier to addressing a violent past and a leading indicator of future risks of conflict and violence.
Polarisation: The ‘Hyper-Problem’ Transitional Justice Can No Longer Ignore — As a ‘hyper-problem’ that makes political and social challenges harder to resolve, polarisation is both a barrier to addressing a violative past and a leading indicator of future risks of conflict and violence.
Threat Minimizes Compassion — Exploring the limited public response to the pain of government workers … and drug users.
Has "Polarization" Become Polarized? — The word "polarization" is apparently a bad word that has been flagged for removal by the Trump administration. We need new ways to think and talk about what divides us.
"Overthreat" and "Undertrust" Should Replace the Term Polarization — Overthreat refers to an outsized perception of threat posed by people of another political party, and undertrust refers to a lack of trust of people of different political parties due to an underestimation of factors that support trust.
Polarization was the word of the year. It's highly problematic and we can do better. — Polarization has too many different definitions to be meaningful without highly specific modifiers. Additionally, its most obvious interpretation of ideological differences among the general public is less pervasive than typically believed.
South Korean democracy is grappling with political polarisation — Political polarisation is gripping South Korean democracy and slowly making it dysfunctional, with increasingly less leeway to address the needs of its citizens.
The Brain on Authoritarianism — Better understanding the brain's response to fear, toxic othering, and threats to social identity will help pro-democracy organizers to confront the authoritarian playbook.
4 Myths About America's Toxic Polarization Problem — You can think, "My political opponents are worse," and still help depolarization. Learn how to respond when someone objects to reducing political toxicity. Read this piece and share it when you see the opportunity
The problem with blind allegiance to a party. — Sharon McMahon, Movement Partner and "America's Government Teacher," appeared on the podcast Armchair Expert.
Researchers to quantify political polarization — An announcement of Dartmouth University's new Polarization Research Lab -- an effort to move beyond anecdotal evidence and quantify the nature and magnitude of the hyper-polarization problem.
Once things get out of hand, there is no handling things — With respect to the ongoing crisis in Great Britain, an essay exploring the uncontrollable nature of runaway escalation and hyperpolarized conflict.
Warlike "one side will win" framings of our divides — An exploration of what follows from the assumption that today's big political conflict will ultimately be resolved with a decisive victory for one side and corresponding defeat for the other.
The new polarization that explains our politics — An article explaining a different kind polarization -- one that divides politically active citizens from those who are too busy or too disillusioned to get involved.
You're Thinking About Polarization All Wrong — Another look at the problem of hyper-polarization -- one that argues that partisan blocs are less rigid than it might appear.
Polarization and Political Violence: Rachel Kleinfeld — Rachel Kleinfeld says people talking across differences isn't enough to end polarization-- there needs to be institutional change and politicians who come together to defend democratic norms.
Toxic polarization fractures our relationships --- even with our political peers — The contempt arising from toxic polarization makes us less able to do the basic work of politics. There is an urgent need to see value in engaging in civil, respectful ways, even with people we see as wrong.
Through a distorted lens: How perceptions of the "other side" drive toxic division — Toxic polarization is a large, complex problem with many factors. But one thing we can all do to reduce it is examine our role in the equation. Making our culture less toxic starts with us.
The Law of Group Polarization — A more academic and scientific exploration of the dynamics that drive polarization -- dynamics that we have to find better ways of limiting.
An Antidote to the Polarization Poison — A fresh look at the threat posed by polarization along with proposals for better protecting ourselves.
Chaos at the End of History — From a broad historical perspective, a look at the origins of today's ever present hyper-polarization..
A 'National and Global Maelstrom' Is Pulling Us Under — From Thomas Edsall, a quick look (with lots of links) into what some of our most prominent social theorists think about society's deepening difficulties.
Why we split the world into good and evil --- and make decisions we regret — From Amanda Ripley, reflections on the many pitfalls associated with viewing the world primarily as a battle between good and evil.
The Perils of Affective Polarization — The valuable primer on what everyone ought to know about affective polarization or what we call hyper-polarization.
Gut-level Hatred' Is Consuming Our Political Life — A review, with lots of links, of what the latest political science research is telling us about the nature and depth of our hyper-polarized politics.
8 Signs of Polarization in Your Context — From Essential Partners, an article explaining how polarization jumps from politics to all realms of our lives: homes, workplaces, faith communities, and schools. And what to do about it.
Polarization and political violence: Rachel Kleinfeld. — Ppeople talking across differences isn't enough to end polarization, even if it can create goodwill.:Tthere needs to be institutional change and politicians who come together to defend democratic norms.
Why those concerned about worst-case Trump scenarios should see depolarization as important — Helping Americans get along better doesn't mean us all liking each other. It means us disagreeing better; disagreeing in healthier, less toxic, less hateful ways so we can all move forward to what we want.
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.
Polarization Past and Present: What's Changed? What's Possible? — Join the Network for Responsible Public Policy on Thurs Aug 25 at 7:30 pm EDT for a discussion of what can be done to bridge todays gaping divides.
We're Staring at Our Phones, Full of Rage for 'the Other Side' — A summary of the latest social science research on the intersection between social media use and hyper-polarization.
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Runaway Escalation

What if American polarization gets a lot worse? — What if our enemies are doing horrible, unforgivable things? What then?
Live with Outrage Overload - What does "Rock Bottom" Look Like? — Overcoming toxic polarization through crisis, collective pain, and 3.5% of committed citizens igniting national transformation.
What We Get Wrong About Each Other: Collateral Contempt — Collateral Contempt occurs when traditionally non-partisan communities and institutions are caught in the crossfire of partisan animosity. Who is affected by this phenomenon, and what should we do about it?
When toxic polarization becomes a civil war -- and what we can do about it — International peacebuilder, mediator and scholar John Paul Lederach offers practical wisdom for resisting cycles of division and violence before it's too late.
Government Keeps Going Too Far — An exceptionally good essay describing what hyper-polarization means in actual practice -- political parties that chronically go too far in the pursuit of once laudable objectives.
When Intent Stops Mattering - A Political Parable — A very perceptive exploration of what happens when the motivations behind individual actions are no longer considered relevant when assessing those actions.
Something must change: Or something will break very badly — A provocative essay that reflects on the nature of contempt and the dramatic ways in which it alters interpersonal and societal relationships.
How does our anger at "them" create the things we're angry about? — An insightful essay on positive feedback systems (in which "positive" does not mean good, but rather ever-escalating) and what we call "the backlash effect" which creates a self-fulfilling destructive prophecy.
What Lies Beneath: Understanding the Roots of Division — An essay that outlines the "four truths of conflict" and then applies those truths to the contemporary political moment.
The Law of Group Polarization — Going back to basics -- one of the foundational articles outlining the nature of polarization dynamics.
When We Think The Other Side is Bad, We Act Badly — When we overestimate the opposition's inclination to play foul, we risk delivering a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Making mistakes about our opponents' hostile intent — Zach Elwood reflects on a book on the causes of war, and wonders how many of those mistakes apply to the U.S. hyper-polarized society as well.
Outrage Overload: A Fresh Perspective — A conservative take on outrage and polarization with Michel Anderson
How polarization will destroy itself — Political polarization and extremism are much more fragile than we realize, as long as we maintain freedom of speech, rule of law, market competition, and free and fair elections.
How Divided Are We? — This article confirms some of the findings that Americans are less divided than we think, but on some issues, such as the Second Amendment, divisions are still stark.
The Most Engaged Are The Most Partisan. Now What? — The most educated, most engaged citizens are the most partisan. Today's biggest threat to democracy is a poisonous cocktail of othering, aversion and moralization.
The Country's Already Been Destroyed' — An especially well-informed and thorough analysis of Israel's ongoing difficulties and look at how quickly complex societal conflicts can spin out of control.
Anti-Fascist. Armed to the Teeth — Disturbing news that the escalation spiral is starting to produce significant, armed militias on the left as well as the right.
The Polarization Spiral -- How the right's monomania and the left's Great Awokening feed each other — "For every action, there is a disproportionate reaction" -- a look at the way in which the hyperpolarization spiral is being driven by the extremes of the left and the right.
When Partisans Cry Wolf — An exceptionally clear explanation of how democracy is actually being undermined by the many ways in which the left and the right frame their political opponents as existential threats to democracy.
Bridging Divides Initiative Report: Election 2020 Political Violence Data and Trends — A report on the events leading up to and following Jan. 6 show that patterns of behavior exhibited that day were established long before that date.
Don't Buy the Mitt Romney Martyr Theory — An examination of how the Republican Party that nominated Mitt Romney came to embrace Donald Trump in the style of politics we now call Trumpism.
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Political Dysfunction

America’s Air Traffic Fiasco — A case study of one of the bigger (and scarier) examples of why the public has lost trust in its governmental institutions (and why those institutions have failed to deliver on their core missions).
Is Europe Becoming Ungovernable? — An article highlighting the many ways in which hyper-polarization has made Europe so dysfunctional.
We're All Soviets Now — A thought-provoking comparison between the contemporary United States and the Soviet Union just before its collapse.
How America Got Into This Omnishambles — An analysis of the factors underlying the ongoing collapse of Democratic prospects with important lessons for the future.
Who rules the UK, parliament or the mob? Intimidation over Gaza threatens British democracy — More information about how threats of physical violence against Members of the British Parliament are influencing national policy (something that is starting to happen in the US).
Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts — An article for those wondering why our institutions never seem to function as intended and why the rebellion against the "administrative state" is so widespread.
We're Entering an Era of 'Total Politics' — Another reminder of the dysfunctional nature of our hyper-polarized, us-vs-them politics and the importance of efforts to address the problem.
The New Truth -- When the moral imperative trumps the rational evidence, there's no arguing — A provocative essay exploring the conflict over whether the truth is an end in itself or whether it must be adjusted to meet some higher purpose.
'Live free and die?' The sad state of U.S. life expectancy — Yet another very persuasive reason for trying to really understand our society's many problems and pursue realistic solutions.
How to Stop 2024 From Looking Like 2016 — An explanation of an important, but often neglected, strategy for preventing extreme candidates (like President Trump) from winning their party's nomination.
How Meltdowns Brought Progressive Groups to a Standstill — An in-depth look at the many costs associated with an inability to constructively handle intractable conflicts over deep-rooted moral and distributional issues.
Congress is polarized. Fear of being 'primaried' is one reason. — Unite America's Richard Barton writes about his research on incumbents, primary challengers, and how congressional gridlock is often the outcome.
Cacophonocracy — Important new word: cacophonocracy --what happens when the possibility of consensus among the governed deteriorates to unmanageable extremes.
America's Democratic Backsliding Is Not Universal — For those clinging to the belief that the United States is still the most successful democracy, evidence that others are doing better (and that maybe we can learn from them).
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Domination and Oppression

Might Unmakes Right — From Foreign Affairs, a report on the ongoing and catastrophic collapse of norms against the use of force.
Niall Ferguson: The Treason of the Intellectuals — Anyone who has a naive belief in the power of higher education to instill morality has not studied the history of German universities in the Third Reich.
The Struggle Continues: On Vincent Bevins's "If We Burn" — The review and summary of an important new book examining the many popular uprisings against oppressive regimes that have occurred in recent years (plus an assessment of their effectiveness).
Another Ethnic Cleansing Could Be Underway --- and We're Not Paying Attention — A reminder that efforts to prevent "ethnic cleansing" and genocidal violence require constant vigilance and an ability to act in low-profile cases that escape global attention.
Let the Tragedy in My Homeland Be a Lesson — For a time in which it is common to characterize one's political opponents in extreme terms, a look at the plight of the Uyghurs shows what extreme political violence and cultural genocide actually looks like.
The Resurgence of the 'Oldest Hatred': The Effort to Combat Antisemitism — A panel discussion held at the Aspen, Institute with Katie Couric, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Eric Ward and Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall talking about how to combat rising anti-semitism.
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Authoritarianism

Trump Triples Down on Lawfare — A comparison of the lawfare campaigns Democrats used against President Trump and the vastly more ruthless and successful campaigns that President Trump is using against Democrats.
Domination and Reputation Management — An exploration of the complex, but critically important, process through which successful liberation and social justice movements are transformed into oppressive regimes.
Skewing the Overton Window — An insightful essay on the ways in which the Overton Window of realistic possibilities is being expanding in ways that may make communist movements politically viable.
This 19th-Century Novel Is a Playbook for Surviving Autocracy — Over the centuries, those unfortunate enough to live in autocratic societies have devised numerous strategies for constraining the power of the autocrat. For our difficult times, a reminder about what has worked in the past.
Understanding Authoritarianism: Resources to Defend Democracy — This resource library is a curated collection of articles, essays, tools, and analyses designed to help you understand the roots, tactics, and impacts of authoritarian movements, and ways to challenge them.
The Anti-Autocracy Handbook — From The Commons: Social Change Library a Scholars' Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding. It is a call to action, resilience, and collective defense of democracy, truth, and academic freedom in the face of mounting authoritarianism.
Authoritarianism Resource Library — This resource library is a curated collection of articles, essays, tools, and analyses designed to help readers understand the roots, tactics, and impacts of authoritarian movements.
The Real Lesson of the Iran-Israel War — A hopeful thing that we have learned from the Israeli / Iranian war -- the mutual support bond between authoritarian actors is nowhere near as strong as we might have thought.
Don’t Fight Authoritarianism. “Drain” It. — Start by correcting the faulty, overblown threats people perceive from others across politics. If the threat perceptions can be reduced and right-sized, the activation of authoritarianism and censorship should also decline.
The Most Corrupt Presidency in American History — Insights into Trump administration corruption from one of the world's leading experts on authoritarianism
Donald Trump’s Cruel and Unusual Innovations — After acknowledging that the President has the right to deport people who are in the United States illegally, this article summarizes arguments against doing this in ways that violate due process rights.
Beyond Seeing Ghosts: Recognizing the Early Shadows of Authoritarianism — When fear reshapes freedom, the ghost may already be real, argues David Beckemeyer referencing a recent article on seeing ghosts by Isaac Saul.
How Does a Stymied Autocrat Deal With Defeat? — Speculation about how President Trump might respond if effective resistance to his various initiatives materializes.
‘This Is What We Were Always Scared of’: DOGE Is Building a Surveillance State — More information about the ways in which DOGE's activities are going beyond its cost-cutting mandate and laying the groundwork for a massive surveillance state.
The rise of end times fascism — A rare peak into the extreme and sometimes crazy aspirations of the super wealthy (and the limited obligations that they feel toward the societies that made them wealthy).
The authoritarian takeover attempt is here — An especially well-documented explanation of why so many people are so deeply alarmed by the way in which Kilmar Abrego Garcia was imprisoned in El Salvador.
The Faithful Fight Toolkit: When authoritarians take power, faithful leaders fight back — Throughout history religious leaders and communities have played a crucial role in protecting people and pushing back against authoritarian systems. This toolkit series shows how to do that.
The Faithful Fight: Toolkits for countering authoritarianism — American values and institutions are under threat. Religious communities can play a pivotal role in protecting our neighbors and building a stronger democracy. The Faithful Fight toolkits offer strategies to bring us together, and help us act.
When Authoritarianism Creeps In: Lessons from History, Warnings for Today — What do we do when democratic norms begin to erode---not through a single coup or law, but by a thousand smaller cuts? David Beckemeyer talks with Bruce Neuburger about his grandfather's fight against Hitler, and how it applies today.
Pluralism cannot exist under authoritarianism — Will foundations get picked off one by one as law firms have? Do we need collective security for pro-democracy organizations? There's no pluralism under authoritarianism. What does that mean for the pluralism field?
Europe Turns a Blind Eye to Erdogan's Crackdown Because It Needs Turkey — Evidence that, as we enter a new Cold War, democracies may again feel geopolitical pressure to embrace authoritarians.
America's Future Is Hungary — From Anne Applebaum, an effort to help Americans better understand their own society by looking at what has been happening in Hungary.
If and when you live in a dictatorship, how will you know? — As we continue to agonize over whether or not we are becoming an authoritarian society, the timely essay that helps us understand what dictatorship really looks like.
One Word of Truth Shall Outweigh the Whole World — From Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, one of history's great voices against authoritarianism, an urgent message for contemporary audiences.
Fighting Authoritarianism Beyond Left vs. Right — Scot Nakagawa, co-doucer of the 22nd Century Initiative argues that we need a non-partisan, people-powered resistance working together to build the future we want, not just fight against the present we fear.
'Reboot' Revealed: Elon Musk's CEO-Dictator Playbook — A critical look at the many parallels that exist between DOGE's actions and the kinds of things that aspiring dictators frequently do.
One Word Describes Trump — An examination of the meaning, history, and significance of patrimonial systems of governance and an argument that this is what Donald Trump is trying to build.
There's a Term for What Trump and Musk Are Doing -- How regime change happens in America — From Anne Applebaum, an expert on authoritarianism and, especially, it's new 21st-century variant, an analysis of how Trump is radically reshaping our society.
I Ran U.S.A.I.D. Killing It Is a Win for Autocrats Everywhere. — From Samantha Power, President Biden's director of USAID, a defense of that institution.
Things Worth Remembering: 'We Fell Morally Ill' — A retrospective (but highly relevant in today's context) look at the ways in which Václav Havel helped restore his country's government and the people's faith in that government.
So You're Worried About Autocracy — Eve Sneider and Jonathan Stray reflect on what we should do now if we are worried about autocracy. You can fight a politician but not your fellow citizens, they say.
The New Rasputins — An update on the insidious new ways that established and aspiring autocrats are using 21st-century information technologies to advance and solidify their positions.
It Was a Bad Year for the World's Autocrats — For those who might think that autocracies' ascendance is inevitable, welcome news that they too can have bad years.
'The fall of any dictator reflects badly on all autocracies' — Journalist and author Anne Applebaum joins Trevor Phillips to discuss the network of authoritarian states and the challenges they pose for the West.
Fear, Grievance, and the Other — How Authoritarian Populist Politics Thrive in Contemporary Democracies --- Key concepts to understand politics beyond the left-right paradigm.
Tyranny Is Not What It Used to Be — A report on Anne Applebaum's new book, "Autocracy, Inc." -- an examination of the crucial differences between 21st-century autocracies and those that plagued the 20th century.
Tracking Putin's Most Feared Secret Agency---From Inside a Russian Prison and Beyond — For those who might think that there's no real difference between the power elites who rule Western democracies and those that rule autocracies, an inside look at the way Russia keeps its people in line.
Authoritarianism, explained — Drawing from experts on authoritarianism and case studies of democratic backsliding around the world, The Authoritarian Playbook defines seven tactics that tend to differentiate would-be authoritarian leaders from the regular jockeying of democratic politics.
The Syrian Regime Collapsed Gradually---And Then Suddenly — A must read article that places Syria's collapse in the context of the larger struggle against the kind of brutal authoritarianism that characterized the Asad regime.
We've Just Had a Glimpse of the World to Come — An essay exploring the possibility that the recent meeting of the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China might offer a preview of what a much more authoritarian world order might look like.
It isn't just about '1984': Orwell's essays powerfully resonate today — A reminder of the many ways in which our future is imperiled by neglecting George Orwell's many insights.
Von der Leyen's authoritarian plot National democracies will be subordinate to her Commission — A reminder that power grabs that exhibit authoritarian tendencies are not confined to populist movements and unstable societies. This surprising article looks at the issue with respect to the European Union.
The Global Struggle: Democracies vs. Dictatorships — Thought-provoking reflections on the intensifying conflict between democratic and authoritarian societies -- a conflict that may soon frame most everything else.
These Four Things Are Behind The Totalitarianism We Are Witnessing — For those on the left worried about totalitarianism from the right, and interview explaining why many of those on the right fear that the left is a totalitarian force.
America's First True Dictator — From Anne Applebaum, a profile of Louisiana Governor Huey Long -- a man that she argues figured out how to bring dictatorship to US democracy.
The Taliban Have Reached a New Low. How Can the World Respond? — A reminder of the enormous human costs that have accompanied, in the wake of US withdrawal, the rise of the Taliban.
Combatting Authoritarianism: The Skills and Infrastructure Needed to Organize Across Difference — This 2022 article, by Maria Stephan and Julia Roig, is part of a series from leading experts with practical solutions to democratic backsliding, polarization, and political violence.
How To Spot Authoritarianism --- and Choose Democracy | Ian Bassin | TED — Detailing the seven steps of the authoritarian playbook, Bassin invites us all to put aside our differences and rethink our role in the fight for freedom, revealing the hope and power behind every choice we make.
Is Political Forgiveness an Antidote to Authoritarianism? — Authoritarian movements take hold because of the choices we make. While we can also make choices that that will reverse these trends, we have to recognize what is happening first.
The Americans Who Yearn for Anti-American Propaganda — An attempt to understand the motivations behind those who seek out information that deceptively demonizes Western democracies.
The Return of History: Liberal Values and Global Realities — A must-read essay that raises a critically important question, does human society naturally gravitate toward power-with, egalitarian democracy or power-over authoritarianism?
The West's Next Challenge Is the Rising Axis of Autocracies — The dynamics of hyper-polarization are also playing out on a global scale with autocracies increasingly forming alliances to help them more effectively challenge Western democracies.
The Red Scare Was No Moral Panic — In the context of hybrid warfare, bad-faith actors, and ongoing geopolitical intrigue -- a look back at the "red scare" of the 1950s.
America's Political Chaos Is Enviable When You Live in an Autocracy — Before complaining too much about living in the land of political turmoil and omnipresent politics, consider living in country where that none of that is legal or possible.
Understanding Youth Perceptions Towards Authoritarianism — Are young people part of the democratic problem or part of a potential solution? This report from SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins and International Republican Institute examines that question.
The Imperial Presidency Unleashed — From Foreign Affairs, an argument that the recent Supreme Court decision in the Trump immunity case dangerously increases the power of the President.
Trump-Hitler — In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, a chance to reflect on some of the things that the left has done to demonize the Republican candidate.
The coming attacks on nonprofits — Rachel Kleinfeld argues that the far right and far left want to eliminate organizations that challenge them.
The Cause That Turned Idealists Into Authoritarian Zealots — In the context of the history of the Communist Movement, an examination of how idealistic campaigns can turn into authoritarian movements.
Trump's Plan to Expand Executive Power — In the wake of President Biden's many efforts to claim an expansive view of presidential power, a look at Republican plans to do something similar, should they win the next election.
Is this Russia's 4-Step long-game to destabilize the U.S.A.? — An extremely important article that explains a long-standing Russian strategy for destabilizing its adversaries and many ways in which the West is now falling victim to that strategy.
The Rise of Digital Authoritarianism — From Freedom House, a report on the intersection between old-fashioned authoritarianism and the new, 21st-century digital information systems.
Xi Jinping's Recipe for Total Control: An Army of Eyes and Ears — A report on what 21st-century authoritarianism looks like in today's China.
What My Soviet Life Taught Me About Censorship — From someone who lived through a life of censorship in the former Soviet Union, reflections on the kind of censorship now being promoted in Western democracies.
The Authoritarians Have the Momentum — A must-read analysis explaining why authoritarians are enjoying so much success in their struggle against liberal democracies (and what might be done about it).
The Taliban Have Restored Barbarism to Afghanistan — An update on what life in Afghanistan is like, now that the Taliban have returned and US efforts to transform the country have failed (and a reminder of how bad things can get).
The Long, Twisted History of Russia and ISIS — For those trying to understand the back story behind the ISIS attack on Moscow, this is a good place to start.
Seeking Authority Rather Than Authoritarians — From Francis Fukuyama, an exploration of the complex relationship between the ability to act decisively and with authority and the struggle against authoritarianism.
American Autocracy Threat Tracker — A Comprehensive Catalog Based on Donald Trump and His Associates' Plans, Promises, and Propositions
American Autocracy Threat Tracker — A comprehensive catalog based on Donald Trump and his associates' plans, Promises, and propositions based on Heritage Foundation's 2025 Presidential Transition Project (Project 2025) and Trump's own words.
Why Authoritarians Like Saddam Hussein Confound U.S. Presidents — Based in part on detailed recordings now available of Saddam Hussein's decision-making process --- a look at why the United States has so much trouble dealing with dictators.
On Putin's Reign Of Terror — For a time when increasing numbers of people are starting to view Putin's Russia in more favorable ways, the short history of his increasingly brutal brand of authoritarianism.
Alarming' surveillance: Feds asked banks to search private transactions for terms like 'MAGA,' 'Trump' — From the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, documentation of the ways in which the federal government is circumventing unreasonable search protections (something that would incense Democrats if Trump did it).
What We Keep Fighting — For the Martin Luther King weekend, reflections on King, Rustin, Moynihan, and the continuing struggle to defend America and the pursuit of its ideals from its authoritarian enemies.
How the Russian Government Silences Wartime Dissent — A look into what Russia is doing to suppress opposition to its war in Ukraine and a window into how brutal, authoritarian regimes can make it impossible to effectively challenge folly and corruption.
The Age of the Elected Despot Is Here — An explanation of how electoral processes can be manipulated by authoritarian wannabes (with lots of must-learn lessons).
Trump Isn't Merely Unhinged — For those contemplating a second Trump Presidency, a critical look at his latest thinking (with lots of reasons to worry).
I Watched a Democracy Die. I Don't Want to Do It Again. — From Chile, a retrospective and agonizing account of what happens when democracies do, in fact, fail and authoritarians take over.
Young People in China Can't Find Work, and Xi Jinping Has Only One Response — A profile of the crisis arising from China's inability to put its young, educated workforce to work (and its authoritarian response).
The Russian Mutiny and the Inherent Instability of Autocracies — Important reminders about the limits and instability of autocratic power
The Corruption of Lindsey Graham — A lengthy and very detailed analysis of the incremental changes that led to Donald Trump's transformation of the Republican Party and its increasing embrace of authoritarianism.
What Makes Putin and the World's Autocrats So Resilient? — As we think about ways of building a more resilient democracy, it's worth paying attention to what makes autocracy resilient and why it's so important that we let it get established.
My Country Was a Dictatorship Before. This Feels Worse. — A sad story from Tunisia, the one place where we had hoped that the Arab Spring had succeeded.
Military coups in Africa: A disturbing trend — Future hopes lie in civilian governments effectively governing upon return to power and the rise of promising civil movements in Africa. The West can still play a role, but needs to respect Africa's self-determination.
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.
America needs a cross-national approach to counter authoritarianism — An article describing how the authoritarianism can be countered by promoting free, fair and trusted elections, combating mis- and dis-information, and cultivating informed and engaged voters.
Toward a People-Powered Democracy — Organizers of the 22nd Century Conference: Forging a People-Powered Democracy reflect on ways to repel the authoritarian tide and create a resilient, inclusive multiracial, feminist, and pluralistic democracy.
Fighting back against authoritarianism — Bridging organizations that bring together people with conflicting opinions should also partner with civic organizations in their area to forge stronger relationships between groups.
Kristina Becvar's Bridge Alliance Weekly Update from July 17 — Kristina's reflection on the relationship between calls for "civility" and standing up against authoritarianism. How do these two mesh?
Why Putin's repression is worse than what I endured under the Soviets — A reminder that the terrible tyrannies of the past are not necessarily in the past. If we are not careful, the present can be just as bad -- if not worse.
Putin Has Assembled an Axis of Autocrats Against Ukraine — A reminder that, even in a multi-polar world, coalition building dynamics can lead to dangerous polarization and, conceivably, a major confrontation between the authoritarianism and democracy.
When Was the Last Successful Revolution? — At a time of widespread protest in China, Iran, and (perhaps, under the surface) Russia, a sobering look at how rarely revolutionary uprising actually succeed (and why authoritarianism must be avoided).
The Omnipotence of China's Xi Jinping — An in-depth profile of Xi Jinping with important insights into the threat posed by 21st-century authoritarianism.
Xi Jinping Has Fallen Into the Dictator Trap — While there is plenty of reason to fear the rise of authoritarian leaders like Xi and Putin, there is also reason to believe that they may be sowing the seeds of their own (and their country's) destruction.
Both Left and Right Are Converging on Authoritarianism — A different and thought-provoking argument that hyper-polarization isn't the big problem. Rather it's a symptom of a bigger problem -- illiberalism on both the left and the right.
How Hitler's Enablers Undid Democracy in Germany — An article to help us fill in a critically important gap in our understanding of what, exactly, allowed the Nazis to come to power. We need to understand this history to avoid repeating it.
We exist but it is not a life': Afghan women face bleak prospects under Taliban — A look at the terrible consequences that result when efforts to make power-with democratic societies fail and authoritarians take over.
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Violence

Barbarism Yesterday and Today — An historical look at the nature of barbaric violence and how, over time, it has become increasingly taboo (with thoughts on the worrying possibility that these taboos are eroding).
Are There More Nazis Than Before? — Sofia Scarlat and Jonathan Stray of Better Conflict Bulletin says "no," but it is easy to see why people think there are more. "Most people are persuadable, not irredeemable," the say. So most political problems require communication, not denunciation.
The Most Nihilistic Conflict on Earth — For those who want to know what catastrophic social breakdown looks like in the 21st-century -- Hobb's vision of life that is "nasty, brutish, and short."
80 years since Hiroshima. How much longer can the world’s luck hold? — On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, alarm about increasing prospects for nuclear war and a call to do something about it.
The Stakes: How Political Rhetoric Breeds Violence — From the Kettering Foundation, a video with Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed and UMass professor Alexander Theodoridis about the accelerating trend of politically motivated violence in America and its threat to US democracy.
Mitigating Threats Against School Board Officials: Mixed Methods Research to Understand and Respond to Rising Hostility — This report from the Bridging Divides Initiative reveals that school board officials across the country are facing high levels of hostility, undermining their ability to serve their communities effectively and safely
Local Officials Seek Increased Safety Support Amid Heightened Threat Environment, Survey Results Show — A new BDI-CivicPulse survey indicate that local elected officials are looking for additional resources to mitigate the risk of threats and harassment, including enhanced privacy protections, personal security, and tools to manage conflict during public meetings.
As Christians Are Slaughtered, the World Looks Away — Yet another example of the gross inconsistencies in the way that the world looks at and responds to violent atrocities.
How to Prevent Political Violence — An Amanda Ripley article on violence targeting political officials and how to stop it.
Is Rioting Acceptable? If So, How Much? — As frustrations mount and more people seem willing to consider (or at least condone) acts of limited violence, thoughts about the complex moral questions involved.
Tyler Cowen: Which Countries Won’t Exist in the 22nd Century? — A terrifying look at the number of places which are no longer subject to the control of any kind of government -- the kind of anarchy that produces lives that are "nasty, brutish, and short."
Explainer: How Did the Trump Administration’s First 100 Days Impact Political Violence Risk? — This explainer from the Bridging Divides Initiative answers frequently asked questions about the trajectory of current political violence trends and highlights positive steps local leaders are taking to keep their communities safe.
Gov. Josh Shapiro: Finding Moral Clarity After an Arsonist’s Attack — From Pennsylvania's Jewish Governor, reflections on anti-Semitism, political violence, and what it's like to survive in an assassination attempt.
Survey on Threats and Harassment: Fourth Quarter 2024 — Threats and harassment continue to have a chilling effect on the functions of local government, with officials less willing to work on controversial topics or post on social media.
An Astonishing Level of Dehumanization — Reflections on the alarming degree to which violence against society's "oppressive" elites is now seen as justifiable.
Political Violence Happens Because We Let It — An argument the political violence doesn't just happen -- that happens because we fail to nurture the norms and institutions which prevent it.
Spread the word: Americans do not want political violence — An article by James Coan of More Like US, arguing that Americans dramatically overestimate the share of people in the other political party who support politically motivated violence.
Violence Prevention: Understanding the Quiet but Critical Role of 'Civic Diplomats' — This short guidance note highlights the importance of secret and confidential actions and initiatives in preventing political violence and overcoming situations of conflict and crisis.
A Masked Mob Outside a Lawmaker's Home — An argument that the way in which masked, anti-Israel protesters are attempting to intimidate a Jewish member of Congress is similar to the way the Ku Klux Klan tried to intimidate its opponents.
Toolkit for Repsonding to Violent Conflicts — From the Canadian Friends Service Committee, a toolkit of responses to small scale and large scale violence.
The Surprising Reality of Political Violence in America — A somewhat reassuring update on what we really know about US trends with respect to political violence.
Don't Blame Political Violence on Political Rhetoric — A thoughtful essay exploring the complex relationship between the violent language we often employ and the way in which we actually behave.
Many are overstating Americans' support for political violence --- and it's frustrating — Are we overstating the problem of political violence in the United States? And, could this become a self-fulfilling prophecy?
The Bitter Fight Over the Meaning of 'Genocide' — Genocide is one of those words that is now used in so many different (and often misleading) ways that it has become hard to distinguish genuine genocidal violence from self-serving propaganda.
The Machiavellian cause of Britain's disorder — The ongoing civil unrest in Great Britain is a warning about where hyper-polarized politics in the US (and other countries) could take us. We ought to pay attention.
What's Behind the Violent U.K. Riots — A first-rate article on the ongoing violence in Great Britain that we found to be especially illuminating (and worrying).
Stemming the Tide of Political Violence — For anyone who's feeling discouraged or dealing with difficult times, the answer isn't to become despondent, but to recognize that we're all Americans, and to incorporate a kinder, gentler mindset toward one another.
How to Prevent a Spiral of Political Violence in America — From Foreign Affairs, a report on new research on strategies for limiting the threat posed by political violence in the US.
200 miles from where Trump was shot, ordinary citizens combat political violence — While Trump's attempted assassination grabbed the headlines, ordinary citizens have been taking concrete steps to reduce the level of political violence (and threats of violence) in their communities.
"We should not allow violence to be our answer" — More in Common surveyed Americans after Trump was shot. They found Americans were concerned about future violence, yet fears may be based on skewed perceptions of their fellow Americans' support for political violence.
To understand unreasonable reactions to Trump's shooting, imagine Biden being shot — A "turnabout test" can help us see emotional biases in our thinking -- our colleague Zach Ellwood got this op-ed in Newsweek.
How Cycles of Political Violence End — As the taboos against political violence in the United States continue to erode, a timely analysis of where we are likely to be headed (and how we might reverse that trend).
Who Normalized Political Violence in America? — As modern societies slide ever closer to the abyss of large-scale political violence, thoughts about who is contributing to the problem and how.
An Expert on Political Violence Sees a Way Out of America's Crisis — An interview with Rachel Kleinfeld outlining her concrete suggestions for limiting political violence.
Small drones will soon lose combat advantage, French Army chief says — With respect to drones, an important reminder that, in war, military technology advances very rapidly -- often in ways that can quickly alter the balance of power.
Rachel Kleinfeld on the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump and the Rise of Political Violence in America — In this emergency podcast, Yascha Mounk and Rachel Kleinfeld discuss how to prevent a spiral of violence.
Violent campus protests are not about freedom — An opinion piece in the Fulcrum asking where the adults are on college campuses pointing out the errors in student protester's beliefs and behavior. "Clearly," they say, "the kids are not alright. But neither are the adults."
1 in 5 Americans think violence may solve U.S. divisions, poll finds — Sobering news about the increasing number of Americans who are starting to embrace violence as an alternative to our dysfunctional political system.
The Government Isn't Ready for the Violence Trump Might Unleash — An argument for engaging in worse case (or near worse case) contingency planning as the US heads into uncharted political territory.
"Civil War" Movie Reactions: "Can That Really Happen in America?" — The movie Civil War depicts a civil war in America taking place in the not-so-distant future. The movie has people talking about how likely such a terrifying scenario actually is.
Joint Campus-Law Enforcement Preparation for Campus Demonstrations and Hate Incidents amid Violence in the Middle East — An extensively annotated checklist based on input from current and former campus security. city police chiefs and mediators who have worked large-scale crowd events and hate incidents.
Will Political Hatred Spill Into the Streets? — Reflections on past instances in which political divisions boiled over into large-scale violence and the possibility that this could happen again as this year's political campaigns heat up.
Political Violence & US Democracy — The Violence and Democracy Impact Tracker (VDIT) --- a resource from Protect Democracy and the SNF Agora Institute --- calculates the impact of political violence on eight distinct pillars of democracy in the United States.
Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence: Peace Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association — This division encourages psychological and multidisciplinary research, education and training on peace, nonviolent conflict resolution, reconciliation, and the causes, consequences and prevention of violence and destructive conflict.
The Day After Violence, The World Needs You. — Shamil Idriss is visiting Israel and reporting on the work that Search for Common Ground teams are doing in the West Bank and Gaza.
Ten Take-Aways on Russia's War and Five Ideas for the Future of Ukraine and Beyond — To end suffering and destruction, it is necessary to think about pathways to peace. Here are the ten key results of the war and five ideas for a possible way out.
Iraq's Twenty Years of Carnage — As we agonize over the human costs of the war in Gaza, a timely reflection on the human costs of the US invasion of Iraq.
Putin Is Making His Plans Brutally Clear — An update on the evolving nature of Vladimir Putin's aggressive brand of violent authoritarianism -- something that it seems like we no longer want to bother opposing.
A World at War -- What Is Behind the Global Explosion of Violent Conflict? — A thoughtful exploration of the many ways in which global efforts to limit large-scale violence are eroding.
What a Ground Campaign in Gaza Will Look Like — From a military perspective, an especially detailed and honest assessment of the unfathomable horrors likely to accompany Israel's invasion of Gaza and an explanation of why some better method of defeating Hamas is so badly needed.
I Might Have Once Favored a Cease-Fire With Hamas, but Not Now — From longtime peace negotiator, Dennis Ross, a description of what he sees as the most promising path toward a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Terrorism — From Our World in Data, statistics that look at the threat of terrorism from a more informed perspective.
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).
Anger and radicalization': rising number of Americans say political violence is justified — Yet another poll indicating that the United States is precariously close to crossing the taboo line that normally prevents our hardball politics from crossing the line into outright violence.
In France, Nihilistic Protest Is Becoming the Norm — From France, the story about a new kind of political upheaval -- one in which large numbers of people have become so alienated from the rest of society that they just want to tear it apart.
With civil war dangerously close, seven leading Israeli activists and thinkers have an idea ... — In Israel, where the process of hyper-polarization has brought the country to the brink of civil war, creative ideas for diffusing the crisis.
The Age of Mass Protests: Understanding an Escalating Global Trend — The fact that mass protests seem to be increasing worldwide suggests that there are deeper dynamics at play -- it's not just local politics.
The Fury in France---and Across the West — An essay that helps explain large-scale civil unrest that has been sweeping France and how it is different from the United States' superficially similar George Floyd protests.
The United States Needs a Moonshot to Prevent Extremism from Metastasizing — From the RAND Corporation (and the military-industrial complex), an overview of the latest thinking on strategies for combating extremism.
Nagorno-Karabakh at a Crossroad — This issue of the Uppsala University Newsletter focuses on the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as reviewing trends in organized violence in September 2023.
What Peace in Northern Ireland Looks Like Now — After a quarter century, an update on one of the most successful (though still struggling) efforts to bring peace to a war-torn society.
America's Terrifying Cycle of Extremist Violence — A detailed look at the most dangerous and violent aspect of today's hyper-polarized politics.
Take Threats of 'National Divorce' Seriously — For those thinking in terms of victory over, rather than accommodation with, the other side of the political divide, a warning about where this is taking us.
Go See What Happened to My City, Then You'll Know How I Am — From Syria (before the earthquake) a heart wrenching story about the kind of dystopia that authoritarianism and civil war can produce (and another argument for fixing our politics).
Do 'Ordinary' People Commit War Crimes? — Evidence that, under sufficiently terrible circumstances, normal people can commit unspeakable atrocities and another reason why we have to prevent such circumstances.
The Rise of Political Violence in the United States — An exhaustive analysis of recent trends in political violence in the United States -- violence that, thankfully, is still far below what the US experienced in the 1960s and early 1970s.
The New Era of Political Violence Is Here — A look at a possible next step in the escalation of our social and political conflicts --- a step that will start crossing the taboo line that separates violent from nonviolent conflict.
How Civil Wars Start,' a Warning About the State of the Union — One key to avoiding war is to take the threat seriously and not fall into the "it could never happen here" trap.
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Terror

My Summer with Jihadis — An example of a genuinely positive bit of journalism -- writing that actually lets us spend some time inside a community that we have little contact with or understanding of.
When Women Are Radicalised — A challenge to the widespread assumption that radical political beliefs are the product of toxic masculinity and something that only men believe in.
As Bangladesh Reinvents Itself, Islamist Hard-Liners See an Opening — From Bangladesh, report on the increasing influence of "Islamic hardliners" -- groups that have, in other contexts, been at the center of so many conflicts.
Islamophobia is making a dangerous comeback. — Controversial, but important, reflections on the distinction between the irrational and unfounded Islamophobia and legitimate concerns about Islamic terrorism.
America, Afghanistan and the Price of Self-Delusion — As the world slides ever closer to another series of military confrontations, an appeal for the United States to look honestly at what it did in Afghanistan and why the mission ended in failure.
Behind Afghanistan's Fall, U.S.-Backed Militias Worse Than the Taliban — Based on the US experience in Afghanistan, a cautionary tale for those trying to figure out how to free oppressed societies from the rule of brutal tyrants.
When a Terror Group's Brutality Backfires — A hopeful argument that terrorism, as a political strategy, is ineffective and counterproductive (at least over the long run).
The Distance between September and October is Far More than a Month — Important reflections on the differing ways in which the world has responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11 and October 7
How the War on Terror Warped the American Left — A thought-provoking exploration ways in which the war on terror influenced the thinking of those on the political left.
The Normalization of Terrorism in the West — Reflections on the very different way in which Western societies have responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11 and October 7.
The Terrorism Warning Lights Are Blinking Red Again — News that the US counterterrorism establishment is growing increasingly alarmed about the possibility that tensions swirling around Gaza will lead to renewed terrorist attacks in the West.
Power to the People: How Open Technological Innovation Is Arming Tomorrow's Terrorists — Something more to worry about, the many ways in which new technologies could be used by terrorists to mount more destructive and disruptive attacks.
When Terrorists Talk, They Listen — A profile of the Middle East Media Research Institute, an organization focused on providing a global audience with direct (but translated) access to articles on current issues intended for Mid-East audiences.
Aiding Terror: How Terrorists Exploit Humanitarian Organizations — A timely and important look at the at the ways in which terrorist organizations have been able to exploit humanitarian aid providers (and fund the continuing cycle of violence).
How to Stay Sane in Brutalizing Times — Thoughts on how to better cope with the turbulent and increasingly violent era in which we find ourselves from people who have struggled through vastly more dangerous times.
Don't Believe the Generals — Also, for 9/11 another view on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- one that provides an important counterpoint to the views of the leadership.
Petraeus: Our Lack of Commitment in Afghanistan — For 9/11, a time to reflect on what we should have learned from the war on terror and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. How can we minimize such tragedies in the future?
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Interstate War

Kinetic War vs. Cyber War: The Potential Battlefields Ahead — More information about radical changes now underway in military technology -- changes that are profoundly altering the balance of power and undermining our ability to prevent (or, at least, limit) war.
More conflict in 2024 ‘than any year since Second World War’ — Hard data supporting that which should be self-evident to any observer of current events, the forces taking us away from a peaceful world are stronger now than they have been at any time since the world wars of the 20th century.
‘Basically impossible to get them back’: Russia’s mass abduction of Ukrainian children is a war crime, say experts — Yet another heartbreaking look at the unfathomable cruelty associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine (and another reason why this kind of aggression can't be allowed to succeed).
How Chinese drones could defeat America — In the wake of Ukraine's surprise attack on the Russian Air Force, worrisome speculation about how China could attack the United States in much the same way.
Ukraine just rewrote the rules of war — An analysis of yet another way in which the Ukraine war is dramatically changing the nature of warfare and highlighting weaknesses in national defenses.
A New Normal in India-Pakistan Relations: in the Age of Cross-border Terrorism — A summary of the terror events of April 2025 in Kashmir, the Indian response and recommendations for both India and Pakistan to work towards normalising bilateral relationships with help from international actors.
A Russia-NATO War Would Look Nothing Like Ukraine — As Tolstoy famously said, "you may not be interested in war but war is interested in you." If we want to prevent war, we had better pay attention to the ways in which it might happen.
The India-Pakistan Crisis Needs Steady Diplomacy — An explanation of the extraordinary dangers associated with the India Pakistan crisis and the kind of diplomacy that will be required to avert a nuclear catastrophe
How Trump Could Make ‘Muscular Mediation’ Work in Ukraine — The description of the promises, pitfalls, and intricacies of the "muscular mediation" strategy that the Trump administration is apparently trying to use in Ukraine.
The Age of Forever Wars — From Foreign Affairs, a carefully considered analysis of why efforts to end wars so often ended in failure.
How to Agree an Armistice in Ukraine: Lessons from Korea — The armistice agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953 has been mentioned as a possible model for how to end the fighting in Ukraine. This makes sense, but it doesn't seem to be Trump's plan.
The war in Ukraine has changed --- and it's deadlier than ever. — An update on the many ways in which cheap, high-tech weapons are making the war in Ukraine ever more deadly (while also changing the nature of war).
The Future of Warfare is Remote Controlled — The description of how cheap drones are radically altering the nature of war and the global military balance in ways that are extremely dangerous and hard to predict.
Why War? A Reflection on Richard Overy's Insights — A book review from CoPeSe (Conflict-Peace-Security) on British historian Richard Overy's thought-provoking analysis of why we can't seem to avoid war.
What Can Stop the Cycle of Escalation in Ukraine? — As the war in Ukraine slowly escalates, thoughts about what might be done to reverse this dangerous trend.
T-Mobile Hacked in Massive Chinese Breach of Telecom Networks — Another peek at the scale of the ongoing "hybrid" war between the US and China.
Chuck Hagel: Why I'm Worried About Our Military — From a former Secretary of Defense, thoughtful reflections on on the dangers facing the military and the country (and advice for our incoming president).
The U.S. Marines' biggest fight right now is internal — An important reminder that what the military spends its money on is as important as how much it spends. Our security really does depend on the wisdom of the choices now being made.
War and peace, and the political (dis-)order — A podcast on political strategy through the ages from Clausewitz to Fukuyama from Conflict Transformation, Peacebuilding and Security.
From Terror Tunnels to Suicide Drones — An examination of some of the ways in which the ongoing wars in the Middle East are driving a rapid cycle of both offensive and defensive innovation -- a cycle that is transforming the nature of war for everyone.
Biological warfare is a real threat. How can we deter it? — A reminder that biological warfare deserves a prominent place at the top of our mega-worry list -- a worry that really ought to be getting a lot more attention.
Why America Became the Great Satan — A the evolution of Iran's antipathy toward the United States and Israel and an examination of the failure of diplomatic efforts to build a more positive relationship.
Why America Stopped Winning Wars — For an era in which so many wars never seem end, a controversial and provocative argument for taking the steps needed to truly win.
War & Genocide in Modern Times — A long and thought-provoking essay that provides a valuable framework for thinking through the complex tensions that exist between war and peace.
Four Ways Ukraine's Drone Innovations Are Changing Warfare — We live in a time when extraordinarily rapid innovation is ever present. This article offers a case study of how the war in Ukraine is accelerating this process.
U.S. Shrugs as World War III Approaches — A quick summary of the report of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy -- a politically neglected, but critically important, warning about the West's declining ability to deter war and defend itself.
Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines, say sources — A hopeful report suggesting that a "ripe" moment for negotiating an end of the war in Ukraine may be approaching.
Do We Still Understand How Wars Are Won? — Reflections on the fact that, since World War II, the United States is not been in war that had absolutely, positively had to win -- a war like the one Ukrainians are now fighting.
What Do I Owe the Dead of My Generation's Mismanaged Wars? — For Memorial Day, thoughts about how to remember those lost in ill-conceived and mismanaged conflicts and how to remember the wars in which they heroically fought.
Russian trolls target U.S. support for Ukraine, Kremlin documents show — News from another, often neglected, front in the Ukrainian war -- the clandestine information battle being fought in the West,'s complex media environment.
Meet Necessities Like Necessities — Despite its somewhat confusing title, this essay makes critically important points about the importance of making the sacrifices necessary to combat true threats.
War and Peace Data — An extensive compilation of data on the full range of war and peace issues.
In Defence of the EU — As the world slides toward increasing global tensions and the rising risk of war, it is worth reflecting on the EU's success in bringing peace to war-torn Europe.
Nuclear War Impacts on Distant, Non-Combatant Countries — An investigation on the multiple impacts New Zealand might face if nuclear weapons are used elsewhere. Though the risks are substantial, New Zealand and other noncombatants can make changes now to become less vulnerable.
Search for Common Ground & United Nations Announce an Innovative Partnership for Humanitarian Diplomacy — This partnership will enable the UN and Search to save lives and address the conflict drivers that create crises in the first place. The hope is this partnership will serve as a model for other such efforts.
Sweden is joining Nato, but it's hopelessly unprepared for war — A profile of Sweden -- a country that took peace and security for granted and is now waking up to the very real threats which are now emerging.
The World May Be Entering a Much Bloodier Era — News that our gut level impression that the world is rapidly spinning out of control is, unfortunately, backed up by solid data.
Thinking the Unthinkable — For a time when we prefer not to even think about the possibility of a global military conflagration, tough questions that, like it or not, demand consideration.
As if We Didn't Have Enough to Frighten Us ... — A worrying argument that we may have to add another flashpoint (nuclear-armed North Korea) to our list of global conflicts that may be emerging as the power and influence of the US and its allies declines.
How an "Endless War" Begins — As wars continue to proliferate across the planet, an assessment of the reasons why some wars never seem to end and why the killing goes on and on.
China's Weapons of Mass Destruction — A report on China's rapidly growing nuclear arsenal and the emerging 21st-century nuclear standoff -- something that, because of rapidly advancing technology, is likely to be even more dangerous.
Beware the False Prophets of War — For anyone who thinks that we understand war and can reliably predict its outcome, a review of failed predictions (and an argument for not trying to "ride the tiger").
Reinvigorating Peace: A Critical Look at the UN's New Agenda for Peace — Boutros Boutros Ghali's 1992 "Agenda for Peace" taught us the word peacebuilding. This article looks at the United Nations' recent update of this important document.
Why U.S. Presidents Really Go to War — A review and summary of a new book that examines the complex forces that have led to the United States' wars -- forces that are not as rational, dispassionate, and honorable as we would like to believe.
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.
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).
The Risks of One of the Most Severe Tools in America's Foreign Policy Arsenal — We tend to think of economic sanctions as an effective and generally nonviolent way of confronting geopolitical rivals. Is that true? What are the upsides and the downsides?
Should Ukraine Negotiate With Russia? — In the context of the war in Ukraine, an examination of the tough choices that would-be peacemakers have to make.
Here's why supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions would be a terrible mistake — In the context of Ukraine, an assessment of the complex issues surrounding attempts to ban weapons of war that cause death and destruction long after the fighting ends.
What the U.S. Military Still Hasn't Learned From Iraq — Key to not repeating the mistakes of the past is an ability to learn from those mistakes -- something that the United States is not doing very well as it looks back on the war on terror.
World War III Will Be Fought With Viruses — Yet another reason why we should not assume that catastrophic world wars are a thing of the past. The time has come to give war prevention the additional attention it deserves.
Orders of Disorder: Who Disbanded Iraq's Army and De-Baathified Its Bureaucracy? — A detailed look at exactly how two of the most consequential and catastrophic decisions of the Iraqi war were made (and an example of exactly how the course of history gets determined).
Why Force Fails -- The Dismal Track Record of U.S. Military Interventions — A follow-up on our newsletter on the power strategy mix and the limited utility of force. This article on US military failures over the last 75 years
Sometimes, Consensus Can Be Ruinous — As we, with the benefit of hindsight, reflect on the 20th anniversary of the war in Iraq, a cautionary argument about how consensus can lead us astray.
How Estonia Is Planning for the Worst — For small countries seeking ways to defend themselves from larger and more powerful rivals, lessons from Estonia's efforts to strengthen its defenses.
This War May Be Heading for a Cease-Fire — As the death and destruction in Ukraine continues, and as the risks of an even more major super-power confrontation loom, a creative idea for bringing an end to the violence from the Korean War.
We are already at war with Russia — A critically important reminder of how dangerous the war in Ukraine has become. Somehow we have to find a way to prevent Russia's brutal invasion from succeeding, while also preventing a wider and much more catastrophic war.
Year Two of the Ukraine War Is Going to Get Scary — From the onset, it was clear that the Ukrainians, the Russians, and the West would almost anything to avoid losing. We are getting closer to the point where we find out what "almost anything" means.
What Really Took America to War in Iraq — As the war in Iraq slides further into history, we now have a chance to reflect on articles like this that offer a more detached and objective account of events (and lessons for the future).
Lessons for the Next War — The continuing horror and destruction in Ukraine is just the latest reminder of why developing and pursuing realistic strategies for avoiding war ought to be near the top of our priority list. As we think about this, here are some ideas to consider.
The End of the New Peace — One of history's great accomplishments has been the expansion of Boulding's regions of stable peace (places where nobody considers war a serious possibility). With Ukraine, that peace is now in jeopardy.
The Future of American Warfare Is Unfolding in Ukraine — Thoughtful reflections on the differences between US interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine and what this means for the future of war (and prospects for preventing war).
Hybrid Warfare: Fighting Back with Whole-of-Society tactics — This webinar reflected on the implications of this new type of warfare for liberal democracies. It highlights the need to build resilience and to increase collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The Sources of Russian Misconduct — From a defecting Russian diplomat, an explanation of how an environment in which dissent was not tolerated led to the tragedy in Ukraine (with important lessons for those suppressing dissent in the US).
Tactical Nukes: A Primer — An only slightly reassuring exploration of what everyone ought to know about the tactical nuclear weapons that now threaten to take us to the first nuclear war since 1945.
Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, and Midterm Candidates Peddle Russian Propaganda — Disturbing news for those who thought that the United States was united in its opposition to the kind of brutal aggression on display in Ukraine.
We Are Suddenly Taking On China and Russia at the Same Time — As it fights its internal battles over racial and cultural issues, the world is sliding toward the kind of major confrontation that could make United States' internal battle seem trivial.
Russia's Defeat in Ukraine Would Be America's Problem — An important appeal to the US and its allies -- think carefully about the lessons we learn from the war in Ukraine and don't make the mistake of thinking we are more powerful than we really are.
Ukraine's New Offensive Is Fueled by Captured Russian Weapons — A report on the war in Ukraine with stunning statistics revealing that Ukrainians have captured and are using more heavy equipment from the Russians than they have been receiving from the West.
Playing With Fire in Ukraine — A reminder that, while we've grown accustomed to (and started to tune out) the Ukrainian War, it still threatens to explode into something globally catastrophic.
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Positive Perspectives

Never Bet Against Democracy in the Long Run — An important and timely reminder that, despite its many problems, democracy has enormous advantages over other systems of social organization.
We Will Never Run Out of Resources — A reassuring update on Julian Simon's classic observation that human ingenuity is the "ultimate Resource" -- a resource capable of overcoming all material shortages.
Models of antiquity — For those tempted to discount the lessons of the past, a story about how earlier radicals in the "Age of Revolution" saw the classical world as a common inheritance that could aid their fight for liberty.
America's economic outperformance is a marvel to behold — A good news story that challenges the popular belief that the US economy (and the larger society) is collapsing and won't be able to meet the needs of its citizens.
America Is on the Right Track — One of the most encouraging and uplifting essays I've read in a long time. It asks us to put aside our worst-case cognitive biases and look at the bigger picture -- one that is far more positive.
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The Scale and Complexity Problem

Unreliable parts make a reliable whole — Food for thought for those looking for more realistic and sensible ways of thinking about the staggering complexity of contemporary society.
Adam Kucharski: The Uncertain Science of Certainty — Thoughts on how to navigate the inevitable uncertainties that characterize even the most trustworthy sources of information.
The Nobel Prize Winner Who Thinks We Have the Universe All Wrong — A reminder that everything we think we know is haunted by irreducible uncertainties -- uncertainties that may be resolved in surprising ways by rigorous science.
The Certainty of Uncertainty — For a world in which risk is everywhere and uncertainty is omnipresent, a retrospective look at the work of Frank Knight and his pioneering work on strategies for dealing with uncertainty.
Adapt: Hope in the Face of the Polycrisis — The second of four articles on "the polycrisis" This one looks at characteristics critical to adaptability: trust, civic capacity, accountable leadership, reliable information, functional infrastructure, and education, among others.
Probability and Subjective Certainty — For a world in which so many people are convinced that they know the "truth," an exploration of uncertainty and probability theory.
Evolving Strategy In Complexity — For organizations which are overwhelmed, over-processing, and still need a plan to win, 11 ideas of how to develop an approach that makes sense.
Governing in Complexity - Principles Paper — A rare and important paper that tries to think through one of today's most important challenges -- societal complexity.
From Spontaneous Order to Ordered Spontaneity — From Jonathan Rauch, thought-provoking reflections on how his view of the complex system that is modern democracy has evolved.
Future Population Growth — Eye-opening, often surprising, and extremely important charts showing where populations are exploding, stable, and contracting and by how much.
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The Nature of Complexity

A Syllabus for Generalists — For a society dominated by specialists who have trouble seeing the big picture, a syllabus for those who also want to be generalists. What would you add?
Cohesion as Murmuration — Another way of looking at systems and the complexity of social movements.
Co-Intelligence Institute Writing and Blog — Focusing on Intelligence, wholeness, systems, complexity, process and participation. Lots of stuff here!
Solutions Journalism Network February 1 Newsletter on Complexity — Complexity is actually a key to unlocking freedom --- and here are three examples of how and why that is true.
Change Makes Fools of Us All — In the complex and chaotic social environment in which we live, we have to recognize that irreducible uncertainties will, at times, make our most careful plans look foolish. Still, we need to do the best we can.
Keeping our options open -- Frantic human activity has reduced both cultural and biological diversity. Now we must protect the dwindling alternatives — A provocative essay on the nature of complex biological and social systems, the importance of diversity, and threats to that diversity.
There Has to Be a Better Way to Run the Government — A readable case study of the complexities of contemporary policymaking and an explanation of why we can't seem to fix much of anything.
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Psychological Complexity

Podcast #300: The Modular Mind — An interview with the author of new book on the complex psychology of human conflict, "Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind."
Can the People Themselves Still Amend the Constitution? — The American Promise coalition is determined to find out and, in the process, rein in the big money playing havoc with our politics.
Minds and Movements: A Brain Science Guide to Social Messaging — A report from Beyond Conflict and Humanity United merges neuroscience, social psychology and movement strategy to help change makers craft more effective, human-centered, and context-driven responses.
Jonathan Haidt on Why We Always Think We’re Right — A psychological perspective on one of the most important contributors to intractable conflict.
Why is Nobody Talking About This? — Bias does not just affect how something is covered, it determines what is and what is not covered.
You Need Conservatives. Here’s How to Engage Them in Your Mission. — Practical advice for how those committed to politically inclusive projects might actually be able to persuade conservatives to participate.
Fast Frames – Mindsets and Movements: Introduction — This video walks through four important features of cultural mindsets showing that the choices we make in how we say what we have to say shapes how we make sense of the world.
The Vibes to Conflict Pipeline — Perceptions can foment conflict, even when they’re not grounded in the underlying reality.
Why Good Conflict Management Is Essential for Psychosocial Safety — While organisations rush to implement wellness programs, leadership coaching, or team-building days, many overlook the engine room of psychosocial safety: how you manage conflict.
‘We Are the Most Rejected Generation’ — Reflections on the many implications of the intense competition that now exist between those who aspire to leadership roles with in our society.
Three Well-Tested Ways to Undermine an Autocrat — From Nicholas Kristof, a man who has spent a career covering the horrors of authoritarianism, reflections on the most effective strategies for combating these tyrants.
The Age of Not Knowing — Amid today's omnipresent uncertainties, the thought-provoking essay on the subject.
Your brain is biased to negativity. Here’s how to be more positive. — More insight into the astonishing complexity of the human mind and the ways in which evolution has taught us to be (at least by contemporary standards) overly cautious.
On The Death of Daydreaming — More insightful food for thought as we grapple with the ways in which the modern age is altering the way in which we think.
The Dark Side of Empathy — Valuable insights into the two principal meanings of the word "empathy" and an explanation of why one kind of empathy is likely to make things worse rather than better.
Outrage 63 – How Perceptions of Harm Drive Moral Outrage and Political Conflict – Sam Pratt — This episode of Outrage Overload explore the psychology underpinning morality and the stark divisions of political polarization,.
The Short-Circuiting of the American Mind — A thought-provoking essay exploring the complex relationship between our hyper-polarized politics and the ways in which we think.
The Neuroscience of Compliance and Control: Why We Follow Orders — An exploration of the neuroscience behind the complex psychological dynamics that bind society together in functioning social groups.
Schadenfreude and the American Soul — An ethical call to resist the temptation to revel in the suffering of our enemies.
Don't Let Anyone Tell You Who To Hate — Shocking data showing that many Americans now see Canada and the EU as an enemy leads Jonathan Stray and Eve Sneider to write about how we can conduct our own "meta-misperception intervention."
How Framing Distorts Journalism and Empowers Authoritarians — From neuropsychological perspective, an effort to explain how our frames affect the way we think and how they can be distorted by bad reporting and manipulated by unscrupulous political figures.
The "Everyone Is Biased" Bias — A thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of "bias" and an hypothesis that concern about bias has actually become a form of bias.
The "everyone is biased" bias — An argument that our efforts to eliminate bias may in fact be promoting a different kind of bias.
Can we find common ground without a shared reality? — A perceptive examination of the role that a shared vision of reality plays in crafting a broadly accepted political agenda.
The Human Need for Tangibility in a Polarized World — Tangible experiences -- listening to a vinyl record, or reading a physical book, -- demand patience and presence. They create space for reflection in a way that digital platforms, designed for engagement and outrage, do not.
How to feel bad and be wrong — A description of the meaning and importance the psychological concept, "attribute substitution" -- a seldom recognized bias that distorts our thinking.
The Zero-Sum Presidency — A provocative hypothesis that President Trump is primarily motivated by a zero-sum, win-lose psychology.
Is Trump Literal, Serious, or Both? — An especially good look at how the complex relationship between Israel and the Muslim world interacts with President Trump's still mysterious thought processes and especially his plans for Gaza.
The Six Principles of Stupidity — For a time when stupidity seems to be on the rise most everywhere, a review of what it is, what causes it, and how can it be limited.
Twenty Lessons On Tyranny — This might better be titled "Twenty Lessons on Preventing Tyranny."
Why Common Problems Are Often Worse Than We Realize — An article about an interesting cognitive bias that plays a big role in undermining our ability to protect ourselves -- the notion that familiarity breeds complacency.
How a German Thinker Explains MAGA Morality — More food for thought for those wishing to understand today's complex political reality. This article focuses on the important distinction between political and personal spheres of life.
Attention Is the Fuel of American Politics, and Trump Knows It — A look at the enormously important and little understood role that the ability to get people's "attention" plays in political and social life.
The Anti-Social Century — An article exploring the causes and effects of the long-term erosion of interpersonal social relationships.
What is the intention in your steps? — A reflection from colleague Anne Leslie on choosing joy over cynicism, despair, outrage, sadness and anger. A beautiful essay on how--and why--we should all choose joy.
Your Brain on Deliberation — A description of the National Civic League's "It's Your America" workshop designed to introduce communities to deliberation, while strengthening civic skills, fostering community, and having fun.
Healing Systems — How recognizing trauma in ourselves, other people, and the systems around us can open up new pathways to solving social problems.
A History of the End of the World — A somewhat lighthearted essay that puts today's "doom and gloom" thinking in a broader context. The challenge is to sensibly separate real from exaggerated fears.
How Shame Contributed To The Rise Of The Right — Arlie Rothschild investigated reasons voters chose Trump in a poor Kentucky county. it's not just about the economy, trans rights, or climate change, but about loss, shame, and ultimately pride.
Stop and think: An undervalued approach in a world that short-circuits thoughtful political judgment — Thought and reflection take time. Our current modes of politics allow for neither. And we are worse off because of that.
It's Going to Be Normal to Have Extreme Beliefs — Thought-provoking speculation about the ways in which ongoing changes in media and politics will be reflected in the things that people believe.
Unreasonable Rationality — An intriguing essay asking us to explore the important but seldom recognized distinction between reasonableness and rationality.
Implicit Bias: A Zombie Theory That Needs to Finally Die — A critical look at the theory and history behind the concept of implicit bias.
Why Mind Viruses Are Real — A look at the complex psychological and social dynamics that spread ideas (many of them bad) throughout society.
Why Us vs. Them Is Not Such a Bad Way to See the World — An exploration of the complex psychology behind in-group and out-group thinking with reflections on its advantages and disadvantages.
The spectre of insecurity — Security is one of Maslow's most fundamental human needs (and a cornerstone of the human needs approached to peacebuilding). This article explores what happens when it's missing.
A Revolution of the Soul — An article about one effort to craft a vision for adapting democracy to the challenges of the 21st-century.
From Contempt to Connection: How Curiosity Transforms Us — In the latest episode of "Debate Without Hate: Elections 2024," Scott Shigeoka, author of "Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World," talks about the power of genuine curiosity.
How the psychology of political division could lead us out of it — Further thoughts on the complex psychology driving (and, potentially, undermining) hyperpolarization.
Going All The Way: The loneliness of the long-distance thinker — Ashok Panikkar reflects on the "cognitive state" of the US citizenry, observing that it is "abysmal. " It "wouldn't be out of place in feudal and despotic societies where we would be proud serfs and well-behaved subjects."
The Distinctiveness of Human Aggression — A review and brief summary of the thought-provoking new book, "The Goodness Paradox -- The Strange Relationship between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution."
Our language, our world — An article exploring the complex psychological dynamics that determine how the language that we use influences how we think, and how we think influences the culture in which we live.
Timur Kuran on Why We Lie About Our Beliefs — As so many of us turn our attention to opinion polls offering the most recent gauge of public opinion, a look at why so many of us are reluctant to reveal our true beliefs to pollsters or anyone else.
The Hidden Grammatical Reason That 'Weird' Works — In the context of Democratic efforts to use the word "weird" to describe their Republican adversaries, an essay exploring the ways in which linguistic dynamics affect our thinking.
We Need Moral Direction — A thought-provoking essay that argues that we've forgotten the word morals and replaced it with boundaries.
the thin line — An exploration of the thin line that distinguishes efforts to support victimized groups from efforts to profit from their victimization.
Sensing Towards Personal & Cultural Transformation — Food for thought, for those thinking about how to think about the complex and turbulent time in which we live.
What Do We Mean by "Extremists" and "Moderates"? — Those terms relate more to conflict strategies than they do to conflict interests and positions.
Why do people believe true things? Ignorance and misperceptions are not puzzling. The challenge is to explain why some people see reality accurately. — A look at the complex psychology underlying the ability to distinguish truth from often more comforting falsehoods.
The Brain on Authoritarianism — Better understanding the brain's response to fear, toxic othering, and threats to social identity will help pro-democracy organizers to confront the authoritarian playbook.
Overcoming Ideological Inferences: Breaking Free from Snap Judgments — A conversation with Carson Sander on how we make snap judgments about people and how to avoid doing that to break down the prevailing political polarization.
Giving Up is Good for You — A provocative essay exploring an important and much neglected topic -- the importance of recognizing when a goal is out of reach and should be abandoned.
A new kind of political compass: The BridgeUSA Temperament Scale — This scale is a measurement of how willing someone across the political spectrum is to engage with those who believe differently.
The Photo-Negative Ideology — A perceptive analysis of the complex psychological process through which we shape the storylines that enable us to make sense of the world in which we live.
Political Scientists Want to Know Why We Hate One Another This Much — A compilation, with lots of links, of the things that the latest political science research is teaching us about hyper-polarization.
The New Cynicism Isn't Like the Old Cynicism — An argument that the cynicism that we are seeing today is much more cynical and dangerous than the cynicism of yesterday.
Our Strange Politics of Meaning Assignment — A thought-provoking essay that explores the fuzzy relationship between what people actually do and what other people think those actions mean.
What Does It Mean for Something to Be Socially Constructed? — There are obviously big differences between objective reality and the way in which societies interpret that reality. This article compares the various ways in which we try to understand these differences.
The Psychology Of Being In A Minority — From a thought-provoking conservative perspective, thoughts on what it's like to be a member of a minority group and the differing approaches taken by Obama and Biden.
I Was a Republican Partisan. It Altered the Way I Saw the World. — A personal account of the dangerous ways in which partisanship can cloud and distort one's view of the world and potential countermeasures.
Thoughts on Dopamine Culture — A thought-provoking exploration of both the utility and the downsides of humanity's shift toward shorter attention spans with ever quicker task switching and constant multitasking.
My First Amendment concerns with 'The Anxious Generation' — Greg Lukianoff's words of caution regarding Jonathan Haidt's calls for sharp controls on social media for young people.
The power of unconscious thought — From George Lakoff and a progressive perspective, critically important insights into subconscious aspects of political communication.
How Contempt Destroys Democracy — A new book by Zachary Elwood argues that democracy falls apart when people grow to hate and fear the "other side" so much that beating them takes precedence over everything else--just what we are doing now.
The Language of Politics: Arise, Ye Prisoners of Jargon! — A classic article exploring the complex relationship between language, politics, and the way we think. In a great many respects, the problems we face are not new and we can benefit from past insights.
End the Phone-based Childhood Now — From Jonathan Haidt, his recommendations for protecting children from the insidious effects of the "smart" phone culture.
Changing Mindsets — From Lamar Roth and Tom Klaus, an essay on how one changes what they call "mindsets," and what we'd call "frames" --beliefs that filter how we make sense of the world and ourselves.
Beliefs and Mindsets — Beliefs are called mindsets when they filter how we make sense of the world and ourselves. Mindsets act on our choice of goals and goal-pursuit behaviors, which significantly affect our lives.
The Psychology of Progressive Hostility — An examination of the complex psychological dynamics that have unified the left around their own set of political and social orthodoxies.
Confirmation Bias: A Bayesian Interpretation — More insight into the mechanisms that drive cognitive biases and undermine the accuracy of the images that we have of the social environment in which we live.
Why Children Need Risk, Fear, and Excitement in Play — Insight into better ways of teaching children how to cope with a dangerous and uncertain world in which things will often not go their way.
Metaphors make the world — A thought-provoking exploration of the role that metaphors play in helping us make sense of the world in which we live.
The Over-the-Top Epidemic — An examination of the tendency of so many people in so many different contexts to act in extreme ways.
Security- what is it? — Security is one of the fundamental human needs that has to be met for peacebuilding to be successful. This essay explores the concept.
The Founders' Guide to Happiness — Thought-provoking reflections on happiness from somebody who is spent a great deal of time trying to understand what the United States' "founding fathers" thought of the subject.
Collision with Reality: What Depth Psychology Can Tell us About Victimhood Culture — An exploration of the complex psychological issues that surround being victimized and thinking of oneself as a victim.
How to Save a Sad, Lonely, Angry and Mean Society — An eloquent plea for rediscovering the many ways in which immersing ourselves in art and culture can fill the big gaps that exist in so many lives.
Why the United States needs to stop being a nation of losers. — For a time in which politics is viewed in mostly win-lose (rather than win-win) terms, reflections on the fact that most of us tend to think they we are losing.
Learning, Unlearning, and Relearning — An insightful look at a strategy for living through turbulent and rapidly changing times.
Americans do talk about peace − just not the same way people do in other countries — A reminder that different societies with different cultural perspectives think about peace in different ways.
Why Fundamentalists Love Trump — With respect to Trump's strong support among evangelicals, a look at the three elements of fundamentalism: certainty, ferocity and solidarity (elements that also apply to Hamas and the secular left).
JD Haltigan: The Emotional Dysregulation Behind Progressive Authoritarianism — An important and controversial argument worth considering: the political left has its own authoritarian streak -- one that is not driven by the grandiose narcissism of Donald Trump, but rather something different -- vulnerable narcissism.
Talking Past Each Other: How Ideographs Hamper Mutual Understanding — More insight into the psychological complexity of human thought and communication. This article focuses on ideographs and how they influence our ability to understand one another.
Diseases of the Intellect — A provocative exploration of some of the psychological dynamics that prevent us from constructively responding when things go wrong.
The Zero Sum Idea Trap — An interesting look at how our economy has evolved from a positive- to a zero-sum orientation in recent decades and how that affects our politics.
Framing 101: Metaphors, moral systems and the politics of your brain — From George Lakoff and Framelab, an introduction to what we all want to know about the way in which the brain processes political information.
In Defense of the Human Brain — A reassuring argument that the human brain really does differ dramatically from the artificial brains that are causing so much concern.
Love Doesn't Belong Just to the Poets — An interesting examination of the neuropsychological complexities of the way that people think and relate to one another at the most intimate level.
Why Does Everyone Feel So Insecure All the Time? — A provocative exploration of a different kind of inequality. Unlike inequalities of wealth and income, this article focuses on the differences between the secure and the insecure.
How America Got Mean — An argument for strengthening the social fabric by restoring moral education to its rightful prominence.
Monomania Is Illiberal and Stupefying — An exploration of the causes and effects of a particularly dangerous cognitive bias, monomania, along with thoughts on what can be done to limit its effects.
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.
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.
How to Escape 'the Worst Possible Timeline' — An insightful examination of the complex psychology swirling around our pervasive sense pessimism plus thoughts on how to constructively grapple with our many problems without being consumed by them.
The A(braham) Bomb — A thought-provoking way of looking at the grand sweep of human history -- one that focuses on the long shadow of the Abrahamic faiths and the belief we can somehow perfect society.
How Trumpism Differs From Fascism — An argument that, unlike the first Trump administration, a second Trump administration might actually constituted new kind of fascism -- one that favors isolationism over expansionism.
Protest Porn -- The pleasure-seeking behind today's righteous causes — An analysis of the complex psychological reasons why people become involved in mass protests and why those protests are often viewed in such apocalyptic terms.
Politics is Designed to Alienate Most Americans — An important call for building a political system that better represents the 50+% percent of the electorate that rejects the hard partisanship of the left and the right.
Beyond the 'Matrix' Theory of the Mind — The thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between information technologies (past and future) and the human mind.
The psychological dangers of being in a silo — A look at the downsides of living inside a homogeneous information bubble.
What You See Is All There Is: The Menu Problem and Behavioral Science — A quick summary of an especially important cognitive bias -- one that continually threatens to get us into trouble.
Why AI Will Never Rival Human Creativity — A perceptive, and for us humans, hopeful analysis of the difficulties associated with building a truly creative artificial intelligence.
Certainty Is a Psychological Trap and It's Time to Escape — The willingness to actually listen to others and to display your ignorance is a bold move that now has a name -- intellectual humility. It's not only a developable skill, but it could just end the culture wars.
Exploring the Collaboration Cycle — Community change is not linear, but more of a cyclical process. This mirrors phases of development found in ecology.
Conflict Analysis: A Tutorial — An excellent primer on how to do a comprehensive conflict analysis for people working in complex conflict situation, journalists reporting on complex conflicts, or anyone wanting to understand a conflict better.
The Science of What Makes People Care — Five principles based in social science that will help organizations connect their work to what people care most about.
Trauma Healing — A short description of the costs of trauma, and approaches to trauma healing, together with annotated links to ten documents with more indepth information.
Defusing American Anger — A new, free online book by Zachary Elwood that shows how to better understand our fellow citizens and reduce our us-vs-them divides.
The Paradox of Transformation: Acceptance as a Precondition to Change — An insightful article from NetworkWeaver about Carl Rogers' paradox: The curious paradox is that when I accept myself, just as I am, then I can change.
"Entangled" Social Change: From Inter-action to "Intra-action" — An insightful look at how we are all part of the conflict system, and how simply observing it is also an intervention. So HOW we observe and interpret is key.
We'll never solve our many crises without this one ingredient — Important insight into the complex psychological effects of thinking too much about the world's big problems and not enough about its many wonders.
This element is critical to human flourishing --- yet missing from the news — An exploration of the dangers of focusing exclusively on the intractable nature of our problems. To get people to work to help solve those problems there has to be hope that the solutions will work.
You're Better Off Not Knowing — As we obsess about all of the things that are going wrong in the world, surprising advice that we ought to step back and focus more on what makes life so wonderful.
Actually, You Don't Know That Much — An exploration of what happens when we are so convinced that we are right that we think that anyone who disagrees with us is stupid and probably evil.
Our Age of Impunity — An exploration of why so many people in so many contexts have come to the conclusion that they can get away with most anything. And, a call for building the "countervailing power" needed to restore accountability.
Vertical communities — A thoughtful look at how technology is changing the nature of the communities in which we live our lives.
What the Longest Study on Human Happiness Found Is the Key to a Good Life — An update on a major effort to understand the factors that contribute to our most complex, important, and elusive social objective -- human happiness.
Mixed Feelings Can Be Worse Than Bad Ones — More insight into the incredible complexities of human psychology. This one looks at the nature of our internal conflicts and what happens when we can't decide what to believe and what to do.
America's Divided Mind — New insights from Beyond Conflict about how polarization is fueled by Americans' misperceptions about each other, and how we can start to reverse it.
Why are our debates about rights so toxic? — At a time when it seems like most everyone believes that their fundamental rights are being violated, look at one of the most insightful books on rights-based conflict.
The Rising Tide of Global Sadness — An overview of several major new studies that reveal a little recognized and largely unaddressed catastrophe--- stunning declines in the mysterious factors that make us happy.
Fortune favours the shrewd — More insight into the complexities of human psychology. This essay explores the surprisingly sophisticated nature of competition in evolutionary biology.
What is the Backfire Effect? — From Omni-Win, an exploration of the "backfire effect," a cognitive bias that leads us to misinterpret information that challenges our beliefs as, instead, reinforcing those beliefs.
San Francisco Schools Are Retiring 'Chief.' That's Not as Frivolous as It Seems. — A look at the extraordinary complexity of language and the many ways in which efforts to control its use can have surprising, unintended, and often detrimental consequences.
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Social / Economic Complexity

Book Review: "Breakneck" — A major review and summary of the new book, Breakneck, that argues that the biggest difference between China and the US is that China is run by engineers and the US by lawyers.
Why American Society Is Incredibly Stable - Part 1 — The first of a series of essays exploring why the United States has historically done so well (despite widespread perceptions of imminent catastrophe).
The Tale of the Rent-Seeking Saw — The invisible hand adds value to the economy while the invisible fist of "rent seeking" attempts to claim value produced by others -- an example of what this looks like in practice.
A Nation of Lawyers Confronts China’s Engineering State — An argument that the United States has become a legalistic economy focused primarily on claiming value while China has evolved into an engineering economy focused on creating value.
Trump, the Working Class and Social Order — Is politics is downstream of the economy or culture? This article does an excellent job dispelling such simplistic views in ways that illuminate the real-world complexity of politics.
The Crucial Issue of the 21st Century — An important and widely cited article from David Brooks that does much to help us understand just how radically things are changing and why we must prioritize the building of a new, much more widely supported social order.
The only thing worse than sweatshops is no sweatshops — An exploration of complex trade-offs and a thought-provoking defense of the giant factories (with their often brutal working conditions) that globalization has brought to the developing world.
The Big Picture — To block authoritarian consolidation and build a robust democracy, we need to understand why we are where we are politically -- and that is a systems failure moment, disguised as a political crisis.
Why movements need to learn to fly like bees and thread like spiders — John Paul Lederach suggests that we take inspiration from nature for insights into how to build a broad-based pro-democracy movement.
The Choice Between Cheap Groceries and Everything Else — An insightful analysis of the contradictions inherent in Zohran Mamdani’sprogressive, socialist agenda.
America Won’t Exist If We Can’t Build Things — An examination of the conflict between the globalized interdependent economy and need to maintain the industrial base critical to national defense.
Free-market economics is working surprisingly well — A defense of the often maligned free-market and the power of Adam Smith's "invisible hand "-- something we need to protect even as we work to limit capitalism's "invisible fist."
Exploding U.S. indebtedness makes a fiscal crisis almost inevitable — As both parties resort to borrowing ever larger sums of money to avoid having to make hard choices over "who gets what," thoughts on the ultimate limits of this deficit-financed approach to conflict resolution.
"The Global Fertility Crisis is Worse than You Think" — Sustainability ultimately depends upon a community's ability to raise a succession of generations each willing and able to do their part to sustain and, hopefully, improve society.
Our Knowledge System Has Collapsed. Can We Survive Without It? — A thoughtful exploration of the complex ramifications of ongoing changes to the way in which our society accumulates, stores, and disseminates knowledge.
You Thought You Were Free, but History Found You — Pessimistic musings about what an honest graduation speech might say to a generation of students whose lives are likely to be diverted by any one of a number of unfolding crises.
Systems are crumbling – but daily life continues. The dissonance is real — An explanation of a useful new word, "hypernormalization" -- – the notion that we can normalize and adapt to increasingly serious levels of hyper-polarization and sociopolitical dysfunction.
Tracking the Policy Landscape for the Charitable Sector — Independent Sector and its partners provide three trackers to monitor Trump policy actions that could impact the charitable sector, including a tax and federal legislation tracker, a litigation tracker, and an executive action tracker.
Continental Divide: America is way richer than Europe now. — For those interested in comparative democracy and social welfare, startling information about just how rapidly the economic fortunes of the United States and Europe have been diverging.
Grappling With Systems Collapse: How Social Sector Leaders Can Respond — The social sector needs new models for understanding what it might be able to do when the systems that we all rely upon to fall apart.
Four Books Sound the Alarm About the Power of Private Equity — Almost 20 years after unrestrained financial innovations caused the great upheavals of the 2008 recession, new worries about similarly increasing economic vulnerabilities.
The Inequality Myth — Another one of those contrarian arguments that asks us to reconsider (or at least temper) the conventional wisdom. This one makes a hopeful argument that inequality is not as bad as we previously thought.
So why *did* U.S. wages stagnate for 20 years? — A useful exploration of the factors that have, in recent decades, been limiting economic opportunity and exacerbating social tensions.
Understanding America Across 15 Types of Communities (Part One) — A report outlining a major new effort to document the socio-cultural (not just racial) diversity of the United States.
Law ≠ Power — A critical, but informative, examination of the complex ways in which the critical legal studies movement has helped produce our current constitutional crises.
A perfect economic storm might be coming our way — More insight into the complex mega-worry surrounding the global economy that is currently brewing.
Globalization did not hollow out the American middle class — One of today's most important economic questions, which this article examines, focuses on the impact that globalization has had on middle-class communities in the developed world.
The ‘Significant Risk’ That Republicans Tank the Economy — For those looking for a new and realistic mega-worry, thoughts about the potential downsides of Trump administration policies.
Wall Street Is Watching This Shipping Data to Gauge Tariff Impact — Amid all of the uncertainty about whether or not the great trade war will ever materialize -- reason to believe (based on global shipping activity) that it will come very soon.
Experts and Elites Play Fundamentally Different Games — Thoughts on an important but seldom recognized conflict -- the one that divides subject matter experts from society's leaders.
Something Alarming Is Happening to the Job Market — Evidence that the transformative impact of AI technologies on employment opportunities for "knowledge workers" may be arriving much more quickly than previously thought.
The Myth of a Sorted Electorate — A chance to compare the beliefs that people have regarding the size of various identity groups with objective reality.
Hedging the New Uncertainty — Another indicator of the seriousness of the problems we face, financial planners are starting to think about how to protect their assets if the world financial system collapses.
There’s a Reason the World Is a Mess, and It’s Not Trump — An important look at the larger, and not yet successfully addressed, problems that created the socioeconomic environment that produced our hyper-polarized politics and the Trump administration.
The Coming Economic Nightmare — Amid the chaos and turmoil surrounding Trump's efforts to remake the global economy, a thoughtful attempt to forecast the economic problems that these efforts may produce.
A New Political Order Emerges — From the International Monetary Fund, one of the cornerstones of the old world order, thoughts about what the new political order might bring.
Globalization Is Collapsing. Brace Yourselves. — For those who both supported and oppose globalization, thoughts about what might happen when it collapses.
Six-Chart Sunday -- Predictable Unpredictability — In the context of the Trump administration's unfolding policies, a look at why events that are predictable still spawn so much uncertainty.
The New Control Society — A very long and quite comprehensive and thought provoking analysis of the ways in which information technology has transformed our lives and the society in which we live.
This cycle is ending — An intriguing argument that many of today's big problems are attributable to intergenerational dynamics that, over a period of about 50 years, reshaped society in relatively predictable ways.
Anyone Who Knows What's About to Happen Is Lying — An argument for embracing the high levels of unavoidable uncertainty that we all now face and for learning how to prepare ourselves for a variety of possible contingencies.
Here's How Government Spending Has Grown---and Where the Money Is Going — Amid the ongoing fight over what federal expenditures are and are not worth defending, a primer on where all the money is going.
How Progressives Broke the Government — From Marc Dunkelman (the author of "Why Nothing Works") a summary of his principal argument (which does much to explain the collapse of trust in governmental institutions).
We Live in Times of Multiple Entwined Crises -- But Our Policy Responses Aren't Keeping Up — Existing policies to tackle environmental challenges fail to take into account that biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution are intertwined crises and produce compounding and intensifying impacts.
What to do with sincere but unpopular beliefs? — Interesting reflections on the most constructive way of handling members of your political coalition who have deeply held, but widely unpopular, beliefs.
Revisiting the Thucydides Trap — A provocative essay asking an important but seldom asked question: Is it always in your best interest to strengthen your political power by aligning yourself with a coalition?
Coalitions are everywhere — From a game theory perspective, an examination of coalitions, the processes that create them, and their role in promoting polarization and hyper-polarization.
The World Is Getting Riskier. Americans Don't Want to Pay for It. — An essay focused around the observation that modern democratic governments have become "an insurance company with an army" for a citizens wanting cheap protection from life's risks.
Even This Year Is the Best Time Ever to Be Alive — Amid today's doom and gloom fears, an important reminder about the many ways in which the human condition is better than it has ever been.
The Age of Depopulation: Surviving a World Gone Gray — Collapsing birth rates worldwide have now reached to point where global population seems likely to start declining (for the first time since the Black Death of the 1300s). This article explores the many profound implications of this trend.
Why Liberals Struggle to Cope With Epochal Change — Reflections on the possibility that the global society in which we live is now in the midst of a period of radical change -- change that will seriously challenge the ways in which liberals think about the world.
Our World in Data — Our World in Data's mission is to publish the "research and data to make progress against the world's largest problems."
The New Yorker's Cavalcade of Ignorance — A critique of our widespread inability to think sensibly about complexities of the modern world (and our declining interest in even trying).
Healthcare Is Broken. Fixing It Is Virtually Impossible. — In the context of the healthcare industry, a look at how the industry's complexities have made its problems virtually insoluble.
The Disappearance of Literary Men Should Worry Everyone — Jaw-dropping statistics about how quickly men are disappearing from the ranks of those who write and read books.
Trump Has Put an End to an Era. The Future Is Up for Grabs. — A reminder that, while the recent election may have been a major break with the past, the future that it portends is fraught with uncertainty.
Trump Faces a Different World in Term Two — A look back at Trump's 1st term and reflections of how different things are today.
Life makes mistakes — A look at the complexities of biological and social evolution and the surprising role of mistakes.
Evolution Meets Foreign Policy — Chip Hauss reports on a workshop examining how evolutionary theory can help American foreign policy makers deal with seemingly intractable problems, such as climate change, mass migration, economic inequality, and more.
Newly-Minted Nobel Prize Winner James Robinson on How Societies Thrive — A thought-provoking interview in which Robinson explains his efforts to understand the staggering complexity of modern social and economic systems.
Reality bytes: Kids confuse the real world with the screen world — If we want to reduce screens' negative impact on our children's mental health, we need is a "hard reset" of their relationships with their "devices" to make sure that they are deeply aware of the difference between the real world and the screen world.
21st-Century Democracy: Building a Transnational Innovation Ecosystem — From the Stanford Social Innovation Review, an argument that pro-democracy actors and movements must move out of their silos and create strong cross-contextual connections.
The Wisdom of Cicadas — Those of us paying attention to various social movements for love, dignity, and justice should recognize the natural wisdom of a periodic convergence of broods.
Americans Are More Reliant Than Ever on Government Aid — Truly startling statistics about how, in recent decades, US citizens have become so dependent upon governmental financial assistance.
Economic Theory for the Real World — An overview of an important new book that offers a major upgrade to economic thinking -- an upgrade that promises to improve our ability to deal with the astonishing complexities of today's economy.
How Fascism Happens by Mark Jones — A review and summary of two important new books about the historical origins of fascism -- books with important insights about how we might be able to better protect ourselves.
The Hacking of Culture and the Creation of Socio-Technical Debt — A provocative essay exploring the intersection between technology and culture.
This sceptred isle. Reflections on the revolution in England. — As England struggles with what looks like a widespread rebellion against societal changes brought about by immigration, a thoughtful perspective on what is actually happening.
A data-driven case for productivity optimism — A hopeful argument that the economic productivity increases needed to "lift all boats" are actually happening.
Kissinger's Folly — A retrospective look at Henry Kissinger, realpolitik, and the applicability of that concept to contemporary geopolitics.
Future Trends - 6 August 2024 — From the Alliance for Peacebuilding & Institute of Economics and Peace, a summary of the week's major developments in global news, and where IEP and AfP think these developments are going.
A Dystopian Effort Is Underway in the Pacific Northwest to Pick Ecological Winners and Losers — The complexities of the biological world are, in many ways, similar to the complexity of human society. This essay explores the limits of trying to engineer such systems.
Learn This Term: 'Whole of Society' — The report on a new theory of change for political parties and social movements seeking to transform society (and a source of concern for those who oppose them).
The complexity of American polarization — This excerpt from Zachary Elwood's book Defusing American Anger, explores the complexity of our polarized society and why that complexity should make us question our certitude about the nature of our divides and our "enemies"
From Waves to Ecosystems: The Next Stage of Democratic Innovation — This white paper reviews the limitations of elections, the different waves of democratic innovation and efforts to connect them, and key challenges and strategies for building healthy ecosystems of democracy.
What's to blame for the CrowdStrike mess? Our drive for efficiency. — Lessons from the CrowdStrike fiasco for those interested in societal complexity and the vulnerabilities and downsides of our extremely efficient global economy.
Francis Fukuyama on Global Chaos (and Why You Don't Need to Despair About It) — Nutritious food for thought for anyone trying to make sense of our turbulent time.
No One Really Knows How Interest Rates Work — An important reminder about the complexity of the global economic system and the limitations of our ability to understand and manipulate that system.
On Relational Infrastructure — Relational infrastructure refers to the social connections, interactions, and collective intelligence that underpin a community, enabling them to work together effectively, pool their resources, and amplify their impact.
What Will Become of American Civilization? — An in-depth look at the complex societal trends swirling around Phoenix and what they have to tell us about the future of the United States.
Introduction to the Symbolic Economy — An exploration of what is, for us at least, a useful new word -- the symbolic economy.
The U.S. Economy Reaches Superstar Status — Surprising news about how spectacularly well the US economy is doing despite its destructive politics and widespread sense of pessimism. The invisible hand actually works!
Boredom at the End of History, Part I — From Francis Fukuyama, his thoughts about how well his "end of history" thesis has survived the test of time.
The Real "Deep State" — A revealing essay exploring the deep and largely hidden system through which private interests are able to influence public policy.
The Invisible Hand Strikes Back — The "invisible hand" creates opportunities for anyone who can figure out better ways of dealing with any problem (including conflict problems). This is how complex social systems learn.
The Case for Hope — From Nicholas Kristof, a timely reminder that, amidst all of our current difficulties, there are substantial reasons to be hopeful and optimistic.
The Seeds Had Been Planted. Trump Didn't Do It Himself.' — An examination of the longer-term origins of the authoritarian trend in US politics that President Trump now embodies.
The End of Magical Debt Thinking — For decades now, the US has been resolving "who gets what" distributional conflicts by running ever larger deficits. This article highlights the limits of this strategy.
The New Rules -- Exploring the policies, people, and ideas reshaping the global economy — A report on the dramatic shifts that are taking place in the complex legal, political, and economic environment that determines the way in which peoples and countries interact with one another.
The Prophets: Eric Hoffer — Given the prominent role that "true believers" are playing in contemporary politics, a timely reflection on the work of Eric Hoffer -- the man who coined the term.
A history (and defense) of left vs right — For a time when the battle between the Left and the Right is central to most everything, a refresher course on the origins and meanings of the terms.
The Prophets: Allan Bloom — Another case in which we received advance warning about one of today's big problems and failed to take the necessary preventative measures.
Whatever Happened to Teen Babysitters? — With respect to the disappearance of teenage babysitters, story about the process of cultural evolution.
Optimism in a Time of Doomsaying — A small dose of optimism amid today's ever present worries about the future.
Think capitalism is terrible? This economist says it's already dead. — The summary of an important new book outlining ways in which our capitalistic economic system is undergoing dramatic change.
Pluralism, Plurality, and the Generation of Collective Wisdom — Ideas about how the generation of collective wisdom can enhance the work of the New Pluralists and others interested in escaping the destructive hyper-polarization and stagnation.
Learnings and Insights from Stepping Into Systems — Introduction to a film series which invites viewers to get started on their systems-learning journey, covering fundamental systems change topics amd (re)awakeing a felt sense of knowing the world as systemic.
How political contempt helps blow up deals and amplifies gridlock — If we think our "enemies" like something, we'll be predisposed to not like it. And we disincentivize red/blue collaboration because we don't want to "help" our enemies. So we get gridlock.
Scientists get closer to solving chemical puzzle of the origin of life — For a time when most everyone seems bogged down in the immediate political crisis, a chance to reflect on one of life's really big questions -- how we came to be.
Three Decades Ago, America Lost Its Religion. Why? — An analysis of the ways in which the religious beliefs of US citizens have changed in recent decades and the political implications of those changes.
Ricardo Hausmann on How Economies Grow — Positive-sum conflicts (in which the "pie" is constantly expanding) are much less divisive. This essay examines the economic growth that creates such situations.
Weird Scenes from a Shrinking Planet (Part 1) — For those who want to look at the very big picture, deep reflections on the enormous implications of declining human fertility.
Economies of Scale, Part III: Power, Inequality, and Dependence — For a time in which big institutions are widely distrusted, a reminder of how much we depend upon the economies of scale that those institutions make possible.
Language and Traditions Are Considered Central to National Identity — A report on an extensive series of international polls that tries to help us understand what people think are the core elements of their national identity.
The Electric Grid Explained In 10 Charts — For those tempted to demonize big energy, charts explaining the complexity of the electric grid that we depend upon for our survival (and the difficulty of the green energy transition).
The World is Falling Apart. Blame the Flukes. — A complexity theory-based look at the origins of our rapidly accelerating cluster of world trouble spots.
How to Thrive in an Uncertain World — For those who have noted our tendency to highlight the complex and uncertain nature of so many ongoing conflicts, a welcome guide for those looking for a way to navigate our uncertain world.
The Welfare-Industrial Complex Is Booming — For those who thought that only the military had an "industrial complex" problem -- a look at how the welfare industry suffers from a similar affliction.
How the Nineties are haunting millennials — A revealing look back at the end of the Cold War and the many ways in which the events of the turbulent 1990s shaped today's world.
This Was a Terrible Year, and Also Maybe the Best One Yet for Humanity — A welcome reminder that, despite the many difficult problems we face, there are many ways in which the human condition continues to make important progress.
Income Inequality Has Been Transformed Globally — An update on changes that have occurred in global income inequality since publication of the original "elephant curve" analysis.
Fertility Free-Fall — An analysis of ongoing demographic changes that, for those concerned about social sustainability, are deeply worrying.
Where Does Religion Come From? — Amid the Mideast's ongoing collision over religious beliefs, thoughtful reflections on the origins of these beliefs.
Forget About Overpopulation, Soon There Will Be Too Few Humans — Food for thought for those thinking about complex relationship between social and environmental sustainability and demographic change.
Two Ways of Looking at the West's Population Dilemma — Reflections on the big demographic changes (including migration) that are going to shape our future and provide real opportunities, as well as a focal point for conflict.
The Tech That's Radically Reimagining the Public Sphere — A thoughtful analysis of what the advent of inexpensive, widely available, and accurate facial recognition is likely to due to society.
Destiny of Earth — For those times when you want to think really, really big, a review and summary of a provocative new book, "A Theory of Everyone."
The Missing Context — From Francis Fukuyama, an especially thoughtful and objective effort to explain the context surrounding Hamas' attack on Israel and the ensuing war.
Tyranny of the Minority — A review and critique of "Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point" -- yet another contribution to efforts to help us understand democracy's difficulties.
Inside the Decades-long Permit Process Holding Back 10,000 Energy Projects — A short video examining the vast web of regulatory processes that are undermining society's ability to get anything done -- including the transition to a carbon-free energy system.
Why America Has a Long-Term Labor Crisis, in Six Charts — Demography is the one social science that really can predict the future. Six charts predicting what is going to happen to the labor force and thoughts about how that will affect us.
Christian Strangeness: A Muslim's Faith and Friendships across Deep Differences — An essay that thoughtfully reflects on the multifaceted and complex role that religion plays in both Christian and Muslim societies.
Innovation and Its Discontents — A review and summary of an important new book examining the history of conflicts arising from technological innovation.
Republicans in Wyoming See Clearly What's Happening — A story about Wyoming's reaction to the nationalization of politics and political reporting and the way in which this impacts their ability to sensibly deal with local issues.
The U.S. Is the Most Troubled Nation, Except for All the Others — Complex social systems never function very well -- they continually muddle from crisis to crisis. While we need to work harder to address each crisis, we also need to put those crises in perspective.
Marine Traffic — A stunning online visualization tool that makes visible the vast network of global trade upon which we all depend.
America Is Often a Nation Divided — An informative look back at historical periods in which the US was as deeply divided as it is today. We got through those tough times and we can get through today's (if we work at it).
What Is a Minsky Moment? Definition, Causes, History, and Examples — From economics, a useful concept -- the Minsky Moment -- the point at which "things that can't go on like this, don't" (and catastrophe ensues).
The 6 Kinds of Republican Voters — A somewhat more nuanced view of the right-leaning electorate in the United States and a step toward breaking down overly simplistic stereotypes.
The Supreme Court Case That Exemplifies Our Culture War Blindness — Justice is a one-size-fits-all concept that must be applied equally to all. This essay explores the difficulties we have in living up to this principle.
The Right's Plot for a Moral Transformation — The Left tends to think that social problems are caused by economic factors while the Right emphasizes the role of culture. In this context, an explanation of a culture-based theory of social change.
The $1 billion gamble to ensure AI doesn't destroy humanity — A description of an expensive and bold initiative designed to help assure us that the coming AI revolution will provide us with information we can trust.
Talkin' 'Bout Our Generations: How They Shape Our Style, Our Vacations and Why We're Us — A great deal of conflict traces to the fact that different generations have dramatically different life experiences -- experiences that shape their beliefs and behaviors.
What Was the Fact? — An examination of the role that "facts" have played in the evolution of society and thoughts about the implications of their recent demise.
The Social Media Wars Are Here — A look at the complex forces that are about to radically transform our social media-based information system
It Turns Out That the Debt Matters After All — After years of resolving political disagreements by spending (and borrowing) ever more money, news that the economic rationalizations for limitless borrowing may be incorrect.
The Invention of Objectivity — For a world in which the search for objective truth is critically important and a focal point for conflict, thoughtful reflections on the origins of the concept.
Manufacturing Dissent — A look at the very long shadow cast by Noam Chomsky and the many others who have taught so many on the left and the right to look at the dark side of almost everything.
What Happens When a Cascade of Crises Collide? — A quick summary of the ideas behind an important new word -- the polycrisis.
Second Order Thinking — A lighthearted look at a lighthearted look at a very serious topic -- the importance of "downside" planning.
Is This the End of Recycling? — An explanation of the serious challenges now facing recycling programs and why we need to move beyond feel-good programs that don't really deliver on their promised benefits.
An Experiment Repeated 600 Times Finds Hints to Evolution's Secrets — For students of evolutionary dynamics, a report on an experiment that has tracked evolutionary processes for over 600 generations!
The force behind America's fast-growing nonprofit sector, and more! — Stunning statistics about the huge role that nonprofit organizations play in US society.
Constellation Model of Governance — A complexity-inspired framework designed to 'hold' collaborations within dynamic systems by balancing chaos and order, energy and structure.
Watch accomplished experts offer hope on the path to reconciliation — These speakers address what reconciliation means to them. By considering their perspectives, we can begin to understand the complexity of reconciliation. These videos are an excellent reminder to resist easy answers.
How Behavior Spreads: The Science of Complex Contagions — Damon Centola presents over a decade of original research examining how changes in societal behavior --- in voting, health, technology, and finance---occur and the ways social networks can be used to influence how they propagate.
The Costs of Brexit Are Undeniable Now — An update on what happens when legitimate populist grievances lead to policies that fail to achieve their desired real-world results.
No Labels May Re-Elect Donald Trump — An update on the difficulties and dangers associated with trying to mount a more moderate, compromise-oriented political candidacy.
AI, Technology, and Equality — From Francis Fukuyama, thought-provoking reflections on the complex way in which advancing information technologies (including AI) have been and are likely to influence society.
The Myth of the Myth of Neutrality — More ideas to consider as we struggle to balance our personal partisan beliefs with the desire to serve in neutral intermediary roles.
A Texas-Sized Energy Fiasco — It is a fundamental ecological principle that "you can't do only one thing." This essay applies this principle to the complexities that surround efforts to subsidize wind and solar.
This Jan. 6 case could make U.S. politics even worse — A look at legal basis of the charges being brought against many of the January 6 protesters and reflections on possibility that this strategy could be used to silence future critics of the government.
What Protects Fox News Also Protects Our Democracy — A thoughtful essay that asks us to consider the possibility that legal principles that we find convenient and virtuous today might someday be used against us.
Do You Live in a 'Tight' State or a 'Loose' One? Turns Out It Matters Quite a Bit. — Yet another way of thinking about the social and economic factors underlying our divisions.
The Global Transformation of Christianity Is Here — An eye-opening look at the global spread of Christianity and a reminder that our simplistic stereotypes about culture and cultural change are often wrong.
The Levin-Rothman Plan for Altering the Justice System: A Comprehensive Analysis and Proposal for Consideration — For those watching (or participating in) Israel's us-vs-them confrontation over "judicial reform," a link to an authoritative, balanced and detailed analysis of the issues as well as some suggested compromises.
Drowning in a sea of resentment and hate, it's far from clear that Israel can make it back to shore. — A perceptive look at the conflicts that are tearing apart Israel (which look a lot like those tearing apart the US). The future of democracy depends upon finding better ways of dealing with these tensions.
How U.S. Ambassador Tom Nides Became Israel's Arsonist-in-Chief — Another look at the complex political crisis engulfing Israel and a call for caution on the part of those in the US who want to get involved. We could easily make things worse rather than better.
Biden's Promises on Social Security and Medicare Have No Basis in Reality — Democracy is supposed to be a system for making wise and equitable decisions about how to allocate limited resources. Increasingly, it seems that we now view those resource limits as illusions.
Blankets, Food Banks, and Shuttered Pubs: Brexit Has Delivered a Broken Britain — An update on the increasingly sad plight of Great Britain three years after Brexit's implementation. And, a cautionary tale for those considering sudden and radical social and political changes.
Three Cheers For Gradualism -- The case for incremental change in a radical age. — For a time in which many people believe that radical social and political changes are the only way in which we can address our problems, a persuasive argument for a slower and more careful approach.
Five Rules for an Aging World — A look at a little recognized but, quite probably, major threat to human society -- the collapse of fertility rates.
Reverse Dominance Hierarchies — An eye-opening look at the evolutionary history of humanity and the processes that selected for egalitarianism.
Does the Textual Corpus for Large Language Models Have Enough Information to Train an AGI? — For those trying to understand where A.I. might be taking us, a look at the nature of "intelligence" and the potential of the new technologies.
In Search of Authority — A thought-provoking exploration of the nature of "authority," what determines whether it is trusted and trustworthy, and what happens to society's ability to work together for the common good when it collapses.
There Is No Right Side of History — A welcome critique of the overused claim that "history is on our side." History is not inevitable, it's what we make of it and, besides, there is no absolutely and universally right set of beliefs.
The Americanization of Religion — For a society plagued by culture wars and religious conflicts, an analysis of the changing character of religion in US society.
Vetocracy and Climate Adaptation — An account of one particularly important instance in which giving people too much power to block things that they don't like can threaten the welfare of society as a whole.
Are Local Politics Extinct? — A look at a less widely recognized threat to democracy -- the nationalization of politics and a corresponding deterioration in the ability of local communities to make their own decisions.
Brute Physical Facts and Social Construction — A provocative exploration of the different ways in which progressives and traditionalists see the world (and the relationship between the resulting worldviews and objective reality).
Slouching Towards Utopia — A review of an important new book, "Slouching Towards Utopia," that offers a complexity-oriented view of the chaotic forces that have produced widespread economic prosperity.
What Makes Life Meaningful? Views From 17 Advanced Economies — A statistical look at a critical dimension of cultural diversity -- differing assessments of what makes life meaningful.
Hillary Clinton Accepted Her Loss, but a Lot Has Changed Since 2016 — Based on the important new book "The Bitter End," an in-depth look at the process of "political calcification" that has made hyper-polarization such an intractable problem.
Three Theories That Explain This Strange Moment — An especially perceptive look at three theories that, together, do much to explain the continuing stability and intensity of the United States' hyper-polarized political standoff.
Why Is America Always Divided 50--50 — An analysis of the many reasons why the United States continues to be so evenly and so bitterly divided with important insights for bridge-building efforts.
How the 2022 Midterms Became a Squeaker — Based on more than 70 interviews, a detailed account of the strategic and tactical decisions that enabled Democratic candidates to do so much better than expected.
The Way Los Angeles Is Trying to Solve Homelessness Is 'Absolutely Insane' — A detailed account of how one well-funded and well-intentioned policy initiative is failing with valuable insights into the complex challenges that real-world problem-solving must meet.
Return to the List of Links Newsletter Topics

Communication Complexity

Silence Isn’t Neutral — It Shapes Our Politics — The American founders believed that an educated and engaged public was essential for democracy's survival. Widespread avoidance of political issues would open the door to manipulation, extremism, and authoritarianism.
Was It Something I Said? — As those on the left grapple with the intensity of public opposition to so many of their policies, an essay exploring the role played by the often alienating language used to articulate progressive policies.
Amy Klobuchar: What I Didn’t Say About Sydney Sweeney — A story about one instance in which the brave new world of super realistic, AI-generated videos is ushering in a whole new age of political propaganda.
Until the Democrats Adapt to New Media, They Will Never Win — The information space in which society-wide political conflict plays out is continually changing. This article explains how Republicans have been more successful than Democrats in adapting to this changing environment.
The new dark age of censorship — An expose of how bad censorship has gotten in the U.S., but also how we can fight back.
Elon Musk Gives Antisemites a Chance to Rewrite History — With respect to Elon Musk and anti-Semitism, this article offers a more broadly applicable look into how those building the new AI platforms can rewrite our history to fit their own purposes.
The Entire Internet Is Reverting to Beta — An explanation of the many ways in which the Internet that we had become accustomed to is collapsing and the differing systems that are competing to take its place.
Deep Dive with Brad Porteus on Hard Conversations — Kelly Corrigan explores a radical new way to rate politicians with Brad Porteus, the Executive Director of Bridge Grades, who reveals that the most collaborative members of Congress are complete unknowns, while the divisive firebrands are celebrities.
How the Digital Age Changed Us — A thought-provoking essay that asked us to step back and look at the way in which the rapidly evolving digital age has transformed our society.
Rethinking the Social Media Hysteria — One of those contrarian arguments that forces us to think critically about the conventional wisdom. This one looks at the impact of social media.
Journalism at a Crossroads: Complicating the Narrative, Regenerating Democracy — Duncan Autry writes about how to create a civic media ecosystem that listens, belongs, and builds.
When Words Start Wars: Why Even “Everyone is Welcome” Sparks Controversy — Our polarization means we’ll often be filtering for offense. We’ll interpret our opponents’ slogans in pessimistic ways. And we’ll also be pessimistic in how we view their objections to our words.
Journalism in Jeopardy: From Corporate Consolidation to Coordinated Attacks — David Beckemeyer writes in Outrage Overload, about the ways media mergers and political attack are leading to the slow dismantling of the free press that we used to cherish.
We’re Back to the Actually Internet — After the failure of "fact checking" as a strategy for separating truth from falsehood on the Internet, this article looks at what might come next.
Enshittification — Important insight into the way in which the services offered by the big tech media platform are slowly eroding (now that their monopolies are firmly established).
A New Dark Age? — An examination of the many ways in which modern communications technologies are undermining the informed electorate upon which all democracies depend.
A Theory of Media That Explains 15 Years of Politics — An interview with CIA media analyst Martin Gurri in which he explains how he thinks the shift from scarce to abundant media sources has transformed modern society.
The Price of Mass Amusement — A review of some of the big theoretical ideas underpinning our understanding of the role that our complex high-tech communication system plays in shaping our lives.
Listeners' Rights in the Time of Propaganda: The Story of Lamont v. Postmaster General — We hear lots of passionate debate about the advantages and disadvantages of freedom of speech. This article looks at a different right -- our right to choose what we listen to.
TikTok Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale — From Jon Haidt, an explanation of the threat that TikTok poses to today's young people.
New Report: TikTok Brainwashed America's Youth — Another report on the threat posed by TicTok and another look at the complex ways in which social media is transforming our society.
The 'Mainstream Media' Has Already Lost — An examination of the many ways in which the influence of mainstream media has sharply declined as other media sources have risen to take their place.
The Media's Identity Crisis — Food for thought as we try to come to terms with the rapidly changing nature of the role that different kinds of media play in spreading information throughout our society.
Trump's Win Cemented It: New Media Is Leaving the Old Guard Behind — A reminder that we can't understand political conflict without understanding the constantly changing nature of the system that communicates political ideas.
Misinformation: A Flawed Concept — Insights into the extraordinarily complex problem of misinformation -- how to identify it, how to combat it, and how to keep it from becoming its own brand of misinformation.
In a huge year for global elections, internet freedom took another hit — A report on the many, often politically motivated, efforts to control the flow of information across the Internet (with reflections about which measures are and are not helpful).
Inside the Secretive $700 Million Ad-Testing Factory for Kamala Harris — A somewhat disturbing look at the sophisticated system behind Kamala Harris' effort to craft a persuasive political messages (and a look at what political "debate" looks like at the level of mass communication).
Many Americans Don't Trust Legacy Media — An episond of Starts With Us's "Debate without Hate: Elections 2024" in which Tara McGowan, a media entrepreneur talks about American's high level of distrust with traditional news media.
I'm Running Out of Ways to Explain How Bad This Is — An alarming look at rapid changes now taking place in the way in which young people learn about society and the diminishing influence of information sources that were prominent in just a few years ago.
Matti Friedman: When We Started to Lie — A look at how journalism evolved from a field devoted to truth telling to a field focused on supporting the "right way of looking at the world."
Why the Media Moves in Unison — An explanation of the complex dynamics that lead journalists and the news media to cluster their reporting around relatively homogeneous points of view.
Why Wokeism Ruined Journalism --- Everywhere — A critical, controversial, and thought-provoking look at the way in which increasing adherence to progressive orthodoxies as undermined the quality of journalism.
Deep Reading Will Save Your Soul — A critique of higher education and a strategy for learning the things that you should have learned in college.
Media gatekeepers are losing control over the conversation, and robust censorship is their only chance to regain power — A critical and doubtless controversial look at big media, it's diminishing influence on our collective consciousness, and its efforts to reassert itself through various censorship strategies.
It's the Internet, Dummy! — More thoughts on how, exactly, the Internet has transformed our collective consciousness.
My First Job, at the Stanford Internet Observatory — A first person account of the rise and fall of the Stanford Internet Observatory -- an effort to control online disinformation that has been accused of promoting its own brand of disinformation.
Do Americans Prefer a World Without TikTok? — A new report exploring Americans' attitudes and beliefs around the benefits of social media and support for various government regulations as well as how they compare to views in the UK, France, and Germany.
For Campus Protests (and Other Polarizing Issues), Do We Often See What We Expect To Find? — It is important to recognize the ease with which we can disagree, as well as to engage with others with empathy and compassion, even though such a request is often difficult when it comes to contentious and emotional topics.
Where the public stands on social media and smartphones in the United States and Europe (May 2024) — A More in Common survey on the impact of smartphones and social media on the lives of people in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany showed both pluses and minuses.
All Is Not Quiet In the Library Catalogs — News that progressive political ideas are being used to reshape and distort the way in which we catalog and access the collective knowledge of humanity.
Trump likes the Oxford comma? That's stunning, strange and disorienting. — A surprising window into the sophisticated way in which President Trump cultivates his unsophisticated image.
The End of Foreign-Language Education — Eye-opening news about recent AI advances in translation software and a tantalizing look at a world in which language barriers collapse.
If Journalists Don't Believe in Objectivity, What Do They Believe in? -- BCB #96 — Jonathan Stray observes that "Audiences are still into it, but three years of data shows that journalists mostly aren't."
Surprising New Findings on Civic Language Ft. Amy McIsaac — Amy McIsaac talks about new findings from PACE's long-term study surveying Americans on their perceptions of civic terms. Some terms, she says, are helping bring Americans together and spur them to action.
How Pseudo-Intellectualism Ruined Journalism — An essay exploring how working-class realism could save journalism from groupthink.
Is a US news 'nexit' underway, and how can we stop it? — Benjamin Klutsey, director of the Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange at George Mason University' writes in the Hill about how to be a more thoughtful consumer of the news.
Twelve Communication Traps Democrats and Progressives Must Avoid — From a democratic perspective, insightful look at the complexities of political psychology and communication.
The Prophets: Marshall McLuhan — For a time when new communication technologies are reshaping everything we thought we knew, a look back at the insights of Marshall McLuhan, the man who struggled with an earlier information revolution.
Google's Brave New Woke-AF World — A critical look at the very real possibility that a progressive political agenda will wind up driving the AI revolution that will remake how we know most everything about ourselves.
Political Corruption And Taxpayer Money Behind Google Disinformation And Censorship — From a more conservative perspective, more insight into the delicate balance between desirable efforts to limit destructive disinformation and undesirable efforts to suppress opposing political views.
Overcoming digital threats to democracy — A report outlining the ways in which the tools of deliberative democracy could be used to better govern information technologies and help protect the larger society.
A Simple Theory for Why the Internet Is So Conspiratorial — Food for thought for those trying to understand the role that the Internet is playing in promoting distrust and hatred.
Is Political Advertising Obsolete? — An examination of the complexities of political communication that asks hard questions about the efficacy of ubiquitous political ads and whether other forms of persuasion might be more effective.
Journalism's Ivory Towers — A look at the the many ways in which increased reliance on college trained journalists is altering the nature of news coverage and undermining media trust.
Can Anything Stop the News-Industry Meltdown? — Just as we were starting to come to terms with the much diminished state of contemporary journalism, news that things are about to get much worse.
The Rise of Technoauthoritarianism — Reasons why our instinct to be distrustful of the big information technology companies is well-founded.
The Apparent Conflict Between Universal and Particular Language — An examination of the hugely consequential conflict between two two visions for the kind of 21st-century society that we ought to be pursuing.
In 2024, the Tension Between Macroculture and Microculture Will Turn into War — Surprising new ideas about the significance of little recognized (but critically important) changes in the way in which we generate and share information about our world.
The Problem of Misinformation in an Era Without Trust — A provocative analysis of strategies for combating misinformation for a time when there are no widely accepted sources of reliable information.
How Social Media Is Turning Into Old-Fashioned Broadcast Media — Just when we were starting to think that we had social media figured out, important news that it is transforming itself (and its social impact) once again.
Is Anything Still True? On the Internet, No One Knows Anymore — An important exploration of the nature of truth (and knowable truth) in the contemporary Internet era.
Algorithms Hijacked My Generation. I Fear For Gen Alpha. — Reflections on the critically important role being played by the algorithms which determine what, exactly, we see through our Internet-based window to the world.
Google's Relationship With Facts Is Getting Wobblier — For a world in which Google has, in a wide range of settings, become the final arbiter with respect to wide range of factual disputes, alarming questions about its declining reliability.
Social Media Broke Up With News. So Did Readers. — An update on the continually changing way in which information flows through our society.
Sure, Twitter and Facebook have deepened polarization --- just not in the way you think — Provocative new insights into the ways in which the Internet and social media contribute to hyper-polarization (and another reason to question our simple explanations of complex realities).
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Communication Obstacles

News in a Digital Age — A major report from the Rand Corporation exploring the many ways in which the high-tech information revolution has transformed the flow of information regarding political issues.
Can ChatGPT Boost Your Civic Engagement? — Here's a cautionary story about ChatGPT--it gets some things right, but surprisingly, seems to make other things up! (No surprise, actually, there are plenty of fake facts on the web for it to choose from.)
Report on the Censorship-Industrial Complex: The Top 50 Organizations to Know — A comprehensive look at what increasing numbers of people see as a terrifying assault on the freedom of expression that is so central to a successful democracy.
The Race for Clicks Was a Fool's Game — Reflections on the implications and costs of the kind of journalism that places so much emphasis on building an audience.
The Daily Me — Reflections on a media environment in which we all edit our own "newsfeeds" and the danger that we will edit out inconvenient truths on both the left of the right.
You Can't Define Woke — An exploration of how the complexities of language can make it vastly more difficult to work through the big issues that divide us.
How Stewart Made Tucker — A surprising and quite perceptive explanation of the role that Jon Stewart played in bringing about today's more divisive media environment.
We're not going away': Conservatives build their own media ecosystem to fight cancel culture — Further evidence that "cancel culture" sanctions and misinformation control measures are not going to resolve our conflicts. They will simply divide us into ever more isolated information bubbles.
How Social Media Destroys the Things That Matter Most — Thought-provoking reflections on how social media is undermining the way in which we think, communicate, and structure our social lives.
The Perception Gap from "More in Common" — A study exploring how Americans tend to have a distorted understanding of people on the other side of the aisle, what causes it, and why it matters.
How the Internet Became a Doom Loop — Much of hyperpolarization is attributable to vulnerabilities inherent in the structure of modern, Internet-based information systems which somehow need to be overcome.
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Theories of Change

Why Systems Change Stories Are Hard to Tell and What We Can Do About It — One of the paradoxes of systems change is that the deeper the impact, the harder it is to tell a clear and compelling story about it. Unlike traditional projects, systemic change doesn’t fit neatly into metrics or dashboards.
President melds a fractious coalition: The six factions of Trumpworld — An analysis of one of the most important elements of President Trump's power and success -- his ability to resolve conflicts that might split his coalition.
Why America Isn't Ready for a General Strike — There is a lot romanticized talk in liberal circles about the idea of nationwide general strikes in the U.S. in response to perceived grievances. David Beckemeyer doesn't think it can work in the U.S. as it has in other countries.
Winning Coalitions Have the Right Kinds of Differences — More insight into the one of the biggest areas in which collaboration and consensus building skills are widely applied -- coalition building.
Repolarize to Depolarize — What if progress in US politics won’t come from reducing polarization, but from polarizing differently? Jonathan Stray talks with Jennifer McCoy about the dynamics of toxic polarization and ways forward.
The Idea Fairies: When Help Hurts and Allyship Misses the Mark — Idea Fairies are often well-meaning. But they rarely come with the context, humility, or deep understanding required to engage in authentic collaboration.
The Decline and Fall of NGOs — Deeply disturbing news for those who either have (or planned) to make a career in one of nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations committed to making the world a better place (at least according to progressive standards).
The Value Proposition of Incubators and Accelerators: Fueling Impactful Innovation — Incubators and accelerators provide more than just funding; they offer mentorship, networking opportunities, and strategic resources that significantly enhance a startup’s chances of success.
Democracy Notes & Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement: Planting Seeds for Tomorrow’s Democracy — Across the nation, democracy advocates have long focused on urgent challenges, but there’s a growing recognition that protecting democracy also requires imagination and long-term vision.
The power of a single-issue group — For a time in which the political focus is on giant political coalitions, an argument for focusing, instead, on solving individual problems.
Gradual Change is F***ing Awesome—And Liberalism Knows It — For a time in which so many people are disillusioned with the current state of affairs and in favor of swift, radical change, a counteriargument for gradual evolutionary improvements.
Guiding Narrative Change: Considerations for the Philanthropic Field — From Frameworks, a helpful resource to understand narrative programming.
Should the Heterodox Academy Prioritize Fighting Trump's Authoritarian Assaults Over Wokeness on Campuses? A Conversation with Cathy Young — An account of one organization's efforts to balance efforts to oppose the excesses of the right with efforts to oppose the excesses of the left.
Word Jumble: When Nonprofits Talk Fancy, America Tunes Out — An argument for plain English political communication and against jargon and buzzword-related communication strategies (that undermine clear thinking).
We Need a Much Bigger Tent — On coalitions, discomfort, and the defense of democracy by L.A. Kauffman. In this he explains how everyday people can take effective action to promote freedom, dignity, and democracy amid rising authoritarianism.
‘We Have Power Together’: Three Social Change Leaders On Solidarity And What We Can Learn From History As We Build A More Equitable Future — An enlightening interview with three people who are actually making collective action work.
The Beautiful Movement @ The Horizons Project — A new substack from our colleagues at the Horizons Project telling stories of ordinary people standing up to authoritarianism around the world. Together, we are more powerful than we know!
Unpacking David Brooks 4/17 NYT Opinion Piece as it relates to a Thriving Together US Civic Uprising (or Not). What is the Optimal Generative Response to the Breaking? — "It’s time for a comprehensive national civic uprising. ...Trump is about power. The only way he’s going to be stopped is if he’s confronted by some movement that possesses rival power."
Why Liberals Must Not Give Up Hope — From Francis Fukuyama, an argument for recognizing the many ways in which the political and social landscape has changed (and an argument for recommitting oneself to building a better world).
Persuasive Beats Abrasive — A timely essay reminding us that persuasive power is a far more successful and sustainable way to pursue one's interests
Check In on the Authoritarians in Your Life — An argument for limiting support for authoritarianism by better drawing alienated individuals into our society and civic culture.
Bob Bordone and Joel Salinas: How to Deal With Conflict — A podcast With Bob Bordone and Joel Salinas MD on their new book Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement without Giving Up or Giving In
Loretta J. Ropss: Don't call people out -- call them in. — A toolkit for starting productive conversations instead of fights and strategies that help challenge wrongdoing while still creating space for growth, forgiveness and maybe even an unexpected friend.
A generation is slipping through our fingers. Here’s what we can do. — From Rahm Emanuel, an argument for using community service to bind the next generation to the society that they will inherit.
Why Activism Without Bridge Building Falls Flat — If we want to save democracy, we have to act like we live in one.
Spread Courage — An exploration of a critically important question, what can be done in these unsettling times to build morale and strengthen opposition to the President's excesses.
Does Protest Even Work? — Jonathan Stray and Eve Sneider argue that protests can be successful if they are big enough and nonviolent.
Trump’s Single Stroke of Brilliance — From David Brooks, a thought-provoking comparison of the Trump administration's transformative energy and the left's malaise.
8 Tips for Activists Who Want to Reduce Polarization — Zach Elwood offers eight tips for doing activism while trying to reduce toxicity.
What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not Normal. — From David Brooks, a thoughtful but passionate call for a massive uprising against President Trump's efforts to dismantle so many liberal democratic institutions (including many favored by conservatives).
Lessons on change from the immortal jellyfish. — Tips for organizations facing organizational change on how to manage that change and come out strong.
What is Systems Gardening? — An explanation of how those seeking the strengthen complex social systems could benefit from thinking about their work using organic (not mechanical) metaphors.
Learning to Overcome Conflict: Global Insights from Political Adversaries — Civic Genius spent two weeks with two exceptional South African leaders who offered a model for working across profound differences. While their challenges are by no means an exact analogue to ours, their experience can guide us forward.
The Promise of Co-Design — Co-design is a process that guides a group of people through various iterations of coming together to create something. This something might be a product, an activity, a project, or a service
A Matter of Survival — Both a roadmap and a rallying cry, this report from the Kairos Center reveals how survival organizing can transform into a powerful movement for systemic change.
Getting Small to Go Big: Lessons in Interdependence — An interesting and thought-provoking article that asks us to rethink our theories of change in ways that better account for the complex interactions of the societal ecosystem.
The Old Idea That Could Give New Life to Progressive Politics — An in-depth exploration of the concept of "solidarity" and the role that it could play in strengthening movements for positive social change.
Don't Escalate Doesn't Mean Don't Fight — An important explanation of why activism can be compatible with bridge-building.
Our Approach to Mediating Self-Determination Conflicts — Conciliation Resources published a collection of resources on mediating self-determination conflicts gleaned from its three-year partnership with Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
Civic Tech Field Guide — An introduction to the world's largest collection of projects using tech for the common good.
Philanthropy's Fork in the Road — The Trump Administration is hellbent on "deconstructing the administrative state" and consolidating power. This is blowing up the strategies of many big grant makers. How should they respond?
Joy as Reparative Rehumanization — Reparative rehumanization restores dignity and cultural identity through art, dance, and music, so we can reclaim our humanity and rebuild bonds that trauma has fractured.
How to Stop Fighting Each Other and Start Fighting the System with Denise Padín Collazo — A podcast on building a better world without tearing each other down, and how to approach conflicts constructively so that our energy stays focused on the bigger fight --- the systemic issues affecting our communities.
Defending Democracy with Humor and Dilemma Action Tactics — A YouTube video outlining a strategy for placing authoritarian regimes in a bind where any response they make will either backfire or highlight the absurdity of their oppression. By combining such tactics with humor, these movements can magnify their impact.
Regenerative Innovation Ecosystems — Regenerative Innovation Ecosystems focus on building coalitions of diverse organizations or departments to foster systemic innovation rooted in regenerative principles and practices.
2025 and Beyond: Why Reflection Is Key to Reducing Political Toxicity — From the Builders, an article on how we all play a role in reducing toxicity -- or increasing it. Which do you want to do?
Why protests work, even when not everybody likes them — From Waging Nonviolence, an article explaining that organizers must learn to embrace the polarizing nature of protest in order to use it effectively.
The Social Capital Atlas — Social capital -- the strength of our relationships and communities -- has been shown to play an important role in outcomes ranging from income to health. You can explore the social capital in your community here.
Obama and the Wrong Side of History — An essay that asks and all-important question, does the arc of history bendoward justice?
Politics Without Winners: Can Either Party Build a Majority Coalition? — A thought-provoking article the possibility of building a political coalition that gets beyond today's 50-50 split and actually earns the widespread support of the people.
Leading Systems Change from Within — Stepping into the work of changing systems is not just an additional set of activities and strategies; it is also a dramatic and intentional shift in how you show up in your own leadership.
Challenge-Led Innovation: Organising for Systems Innovation at Scale — To be alive in this moment is to be innovating by necessity. We need to organize many diverse innovations across institutions and geographies to address our most pressing challenges.
Responding Across the System — To tackle complex challenges, we know we need to go from disjointed isolated responses, to coordinated multi-point strategies -- or from confetti to spaghetti as Ingrid Burkett would say.
"There's Nothing Mystical About the Idea that Ideas Change History" — A Steven Pinker interview with important food for thought on one of the most important "theories of change" -- the ability of ideas to transform the society in which we live.
A Framework for Democracy Philanthropy — A framework developed by Daniel Stid to help would-be philanthropists decide where, when, and how to invest money to make the biggest difference in strengthening democracy.
Unpacking Massively Parallel Peacebuilding with Guy Burgess — A discussion Guy Burgess had with David Beckenmeyer with Outrage Overload about the threats to democracy and how massively parallel efforts can help address those threats. Though this was recorded 6 months ago, it was just released.
What's Really Wrong with the "Deep State" Part: I: Purging career civil servants will not make government more democratic. — The first part of a longer, in-depth exploration of the the ways in which the governmental bureaucracy is contributing to democracy's problems (as well as thoughts about possible remedies).
Horizons' Pillars of Support Projects' "Caselets" — Exploring tactics and strategies employed by key pillars throughout history and around the world in support of a pro-democracy agenda; notably faith-based organizations, businesses, unions and professional associations, and veterans groups.
The system within: Addressing the inner dimensions of sustainability and systems transformation — This paper highlights the overlooked inner dimension of system change, and offers systems thinkers the language to advocate for psychological, social and spiritual factors crucial to sustainable solutions.
Between Thick and Thin: Improving Public Engagement through a Wicked Problem Lens — One of the key concepts tied to deliberative engagement is the recognition that many of the issues we must engage in our communities can be best understood as wicked problems
The Protest Trap — From Amanda Ripley, three research-based lessons about how to respond constructively to fear, rage, and grief.
More Perfect Union — More Perfect Union is a nonprofit education, advocacy, and journalism organization with a mission to build power for the working class.We pair reporting with activism to win policy fights that support families and the working class.
Is the Partisan Divide Too Big to Be Bridged? — A major New York Times report on the many ways in which people are trying to bridge the political divide.
No, I Don't Want to Protest — A personal essay that explains why they don't believe that public protests are a very effective way of bringing about desired changes.
Why Activists Keep Failing the Causes That Fire Them Up — A timely analysis of the factors that determine whether the efforts of activists will ultimately produce the desired results.
Courage, the most important virtue — An inspiring TED talk explaining the critical role courageous individual action plays in resisting tyranny and authoritarianism.
Betting on the Tortoise: Policy Incrementalism and How Philanthropy's Support Can Turn Small Sustained Steps into Big Impact — As a counterpoint to today's many calls for rapid, revolutionary change as the solution to our many problems, a reminder of the virtues of the strategy based on slow, steady, incremental improvement.
Little changes, Big Impacts by Jake Klaus — The beginning of a series on data analytics and how it can be used to identify small "tweaks" to a group, organization, community, or system that can create significant change.
The Campus-Left Occupation That Broke Higher Education — In light of today's campus protests, a look back at the long shadow cast by the vastly bigger and more consequential protests of the 1960s and early 70s.
Change Makers: People Making a Difference — A 25 minute video from Common Ground Committee highlighting people who really have made a difference on polarization in their communities. And if they did it, so can you!
3 Ways to Make Conflict Less Destructive — From Bill Ury, one of the biggest names in the conflict resolution field, his thoughts on things we can do to escape spirals of destructive conflict.
When Transitional Justice Met Narrative Change Theory — An exploration of the similarities and differences between these two fields, and how, if combined, they can bring out the best of both for more meaningful change.
Slow Change Can Be Radical Change — For those who may be tempted by the allure of rapid, revolutionary change, an argument that a going slow approach can actually be more effective.
The Case For Effective Altruism — A supportive look at theories of change built around the notion of effective altruism and long-termism.
The Case Against Longtermism — A contrarian look at long-termism for those thinking about embracing the concept.
Who Bends History? — At a time when we would like to think that the "arc of history" bends towards justice, a provocative essay exploring exactly how history gets "bent."
Essentials of Social Innovation - Articles — from the Stanford Social Innovation Review, a starter kit for "leaders of change" who are beginning to explore social innovation .
Listening is powerful. This one skill can transform relationships, and even lead to social change — A story with many powerful examples of how and why listening is so important to conflict resolution and reconciliation.
Jazz and conflict resolution — Jazz is a great metaphor for constructive approaches to conflict. It has tension, yet creates beauty out of chaos. Everyone needs to listen to each other, exchange ideas, and find mutual inspiration.
Rediscovering Social Innovation — Social entrepreneurship has become popular for those trying to improve the world, but social innovation is a better vehicle for understanding and creating social change in all of its manifestations.
The Dawn of System Leadership — The deep changes necessary to accelerate progress against society's most intractable problems require someone who catalyzes collective leadership.
Design Thinking for Social Innovation — By working closely with the clients and consumers, design thinking allows high-impact solutions to social problems to bubble up from below rather than being imposed from the top.
Collective Impact — Large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination, yet the social sector remains focused on the isolated intervention of individual organizations.
The DNA of Organizational Transformation--Structure, Relationships & Shared Purpose — These three elements are intertwined together, much like the strands of DNA. By working together, they can transform organizational culture and improve members' well being.
The role and power of re-patterning in systems change. — Shifting systems towards equity is possible. But to make that happen, it is the responsibility of everyone to start doing and being differently, in every part of every system, every day.
What does theory of change have to do with justice and peace? — An explanation of what "theories of change" are, and why they are useful.
Moving From Ladders of Engagement to Self-Organizing As Decentralized Leadership — A description of a self-organizing strategy for producing a decentralized, non-hierarchical type of engagement and leadership that is better suited to the demands of large and complex societies.
Do Non-profits Drive Social Change? — A thought-provoking article for the many of us who have spent our careers in nonprofit organizations working to address society's big problems.
CBT and Peacebuilding — A Chip Hauss blog post looking at how cognitive behavioral therapy can be brought "to scale" and used for conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
Scaling-Up Peacebuilding and Social Justice Work: A Conceptual Model — An academic exploration of one of the most important and difficult challenges facing peacebuilders -- scaling up their efforts to the point where they can positively alter the trajectory of society.
Why China Didn't Liberalize — An article that explores the failure of the "theory of change" that we thought would lead to the emergence of successful liberal democracies around the world.
Failing Productivity and Systems Change: Key Mindsets and Practices — As we struggle with today's many problems, we are going to have to take on deeper systemic challenges. This will require us to learn how to embrace failure as an inevitable part of the work of shifting complex systems.
Practical Approaches to Theories of Change in Conflict, Security, and Justice Programmes — A DFID document presenting practical skills for developing high quality theories of change, and understading the role they play in conflict, security and justice program design and assessment.
Adapting a Network's Theory of Change from Network Weaver — A discussion of how networks can use a phased theory of change to grow together and to perpetuate more and new collaborations and eventually system change and large-scale impacts.
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Massively Parallel Peacebuilding

Reducing Political Divides Must -- and Can -- Occur at Massive Scal — In terms of America's democratic stability, the most pressing need for these efforts comes from dramatic misperceptions of the threat posed by everyday Americans from the other political party.
U.S. Democracy Hub — The most comprehensive, insightful, and accessible data platform for the U.S. nonprofit Democracy field providing visibility into what's happening, who's involved, and how funding is flowing in the parts of the U.S. Democracy Field that matter to you.
The Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map — The Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map is the first comprehensive look at the universe of organizations promoting healthy democracy in America.
53 Roles That Make Democracy Work, and The People In Them --- BCB #120 — An external review and summary of the Burgess's Toda Peace Institute Paper on Massively Parallel Democracy Building,
How U.S. Cities Can Get Rid of Violent Crime — With respect to urban crime, a case study showing how massively parallel problem-solving works in the real world.
Peacebuilding, Conflict and Community Development — How do local communities effectively build peace and reconciliation before, during and after open violence? A book with practical examples, from the Global North, the former Soviet bloc, and Global South.
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Inflammatory Media

Twitter Runs On Hate -- But Its Users Don't Reflect Real Life — An essay exploring the hateful rhetoric that provides so much of Twitter/X's energy and the relationship between those views and mainstream public opinion.
Troubling News From the Shit-Stirring Department — A tongue-in-cheek article with an important message -- we are not as divided as inflammatory media sources would lead us to believe.
Attack of the Crypto-Nazis! — A critical look at progressives who demonize their working-class political opponents, rather than trying to understand and respond to their complaints.
Most News Aggregators Biased to the Left, including Google, Apple, Bing: AllSides Analysis — A report on a systematic assessment of the biases associated with popular news aggregators.
Why Activists Keep Telling You the World is Ending — Reflections on our tendency to view today's big challenges in apocalyptic and existential terms (and the role that fear mongering activists play in all of this).
Whistling in the Dark — A provocative essay exploring the origins, impacts, and idiosyncrasies of "dog whistle" politics.
Don't Let Big Tech Hide What It Is Doing to Us — An important story about Europe's new effort to get the downsides of the high-tech information revolution under control.
The Age of Spectacle Is Upon Us — An insightful essay explaining how so many social institutions are moving away from their core responsibilities and acting in ways that inflame tensions.
Stimulant Politics: Arousal, Agitation, Amphetamines, and the Froth of Politics — A look at what makes the "hyper" in hyper-polarization so "hyper."
Thousands of pro-Trump bots are attacking DeSantis, Haley — Reason to believe that many of the people who are doing the most to inflame our conflicts are not really people at all. Rather, they are malicious bots directed by bad-faith actors.
Rupert Murdoch Rides the Trump Tiger --- and Gets Eaten — More reflections on the Dominion lawsuit revelations and evidence that inflammatory media coverage is transforming the political environment in ways that we have yet to figure out how to reverse.
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Aspiring Autocrats and Plutocrats

Why the Supreme Court may be open to Trump's push for expanded power — A look at the debate surrounding the conservative legal theory surrounding the concept of a "unitary executive" and the role that this debate may play in constraining or enabling President Trump.
What Worries Me Most About a Trump Presidency — One nightmare vision of a Trump Presidency -- corrupt machine politics at the national level.
Moderate Republicans Continue to Betray Their Principles — A description of how the hyper-polarization process has now almost totally unified Republicans behind former President Trump.
New technologies, new totalitarians — An examination of the ways in which new technologies may be opening the door to a new kind of 21st-century totalitarianism.
The Founders' antidote to demagoguery is a lesson for today — A timely review of what the founders thought about how the new democracy they were creating could protect itself from future demagogues.
All the Little Caesars — A primer on what everybody ought to know about the incendiary, divide-and-conquer politics used by established (and aspiring) authoritarians.
Trump's Open Plot to Break the Federal Government — A preview of the emerging effort to radically alter the role that the federal government plays in US society.
Bolsonaro Isn't Preparing for a Coup. He's Preparing for a Revolution. — From Brazil, a look at how frustration and distrust of major social institutions is being amplified and exploited as part of an authoritarian attempt to take over an entire society.
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Nihilists

The Americans Who Need Chaos — Amid a disturbing number of instances of nihilistic violence, an essay that explores the allure of this kind of thinking.
Why Young People Are Voting to Burn It All Down — An analysis of a particularly important threat to the sustainability of democratic societies -- the fact that far too many young people have become disillusioned with the society they are about to inherit.
The Rise of Anti-Politics — The support for US democracy and the associated political system continues its downward slide, reflections on the new era of anti-politics.
The Only Consistent Thread of Trumpism — Reflections on President Trump's almost nihilistic focus on dismantling governmental institutions (without, apparently, giving any thought to what comes next).
The People Who Rage Against the Machine — A profile of a surprising new political coalition, the Doomer Optimists -- a group united in opposition to modernity's supposed progress.
The Americans Who Need Chaos — An essay on political nihilism and the tendency of so many people to focus their attention on demonstrating to one another that their society is corrupt, dysfunctional, and worthless.
A Different Concept of Death — An exploration of an especially troubling aspect of Hamas' war against Israel -- suicide bombers and martyrdom. This is something that has huge implications on the battlefield and for prospects of negotiating a coexistence-based resolution of the conflict.
The People Cheering for Humanity's End — Truly terrifying news that, rather than appreciating the wonders of the modern world and applying themselves to the task making it better, people are giving up on the human enterprise altogether.
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Hate Mongering

I Hate, Therefore I Am — The psychological exploration of what happens when we allow our political enmities to define her identity.
The BBC: enough is enough — An important reminder that even mainstream, left-leaning news sources can be subject to astonishing levels of bias -- bias that can have profound and negative impacts on the people affected.
3 Surprising Ways WYSIATI Causes Undue Hate — "What you see is all there is" is a fundamental cause of unnecessary, inappropriate, and destructive hate.
The War on Empathy by Musk, Trump, and Evangelicals — One of the cornerstones of authoritarianism is the destruction of the ties that bind citizens of the democracy together in ways that lead them to protect one another's interests.
When Outrage Goes Viral: What’s Ragebait and How to Spot It — Ragebait seeks to provoke anger for financial or political gain — or even just to get attention for attention’s sake. This article explains more of what is happening, and how to resist -- even if you are angry.
Radical Moderation and the Politics of Fear — A provocative exploration of the nature and utility of fear and panic (for a time in which there really do seem to be big dangers everywhere).
The Gleeful Cruelty of the White House X Account — An exploration of what the White House' X account can tell us about the speed with which political dehumanization taboos are falling.
Yuval Levin: You Can't Run Government Through Retribution — Another perspective on the conflict between Trump's drive for retribution and the imperatives of governance.
Humiliation Always Damages Peace — A thoughtful Facebook post by longtime peacebuilder and scholar Ron Kraybill on the Ukraine War and the debacle in the Oval Office between Trump, Vance, and Zelensky.
Thwarting conflict profiteers to save the republic — A review of the way that conflict profiteers are trying to break us apart, and efforts to break the influence of those profiteers.
Iran surges cyber-enabled influence operations in support of Hamas — A shocking report from Microsoft detailing how it systems have been hijacked by Hamas as part of a global propaganda effort. (Something that other geopolitical rivals are also doubtless doing.)
How Foreign Agents Make Jews and Israel Seem Evil — An overview of the many ways in which hostile powers can exploit modern communication systems to advance their objectives. While this article focuses on Israel and Hamas the threat is much broader.
Weaponizing Anger is a Useful Political Strategy — A provocative essay exploring the ways in which anger has been cultivated and exploited for political gain.
We Are Starting to Enjoy Hatred — An article suggesting that there is an enjoyable component to hatred -- a perverse dynamic that reinforces the extremely destructive ways of thinking.
Don't Let Your Disgust Be Manipulated — An explanation of a common propaganda technique and advice on how to resist it.
Equal opportunity rage farming — Stretching the truth to arouse ire isn't just a tactic of the right; the left does it too. This short article appears toward the end of Better Conflict Bulletin's Feb. 22, 2024 Newsletter.
Chicken Littles Are Ruining America — An in-depth look at the far-reaching implications of a culture that is so focused on apocalyptic threats that it fails to see the many positive aspects of society worth celebrating and defending.
Never-Trumpers Never Had a Chance -- Animosity proved stronger than character or ideology — An argument that, at least on the Republican side, hostility towards Democrats has driven out all other political considerations. Is this true on the Democratic side?
The Greatest Threat Posed by Trump — An argument that President Trump's special brand of politics (and Democratic policies to which his supporters are rebelling) are transforming cultural beliefs in fundamental and dangerous ways.
Hyperbole For Sale — Sad reflections on the prospects for yet another election in which the outcome will be determined by which side can better demonize the other.
Batya Ungar-Sargon: The Antisemites Scream. And I Stiffen My Spine. — An interesting essay outlining an alternative way for marginalized groups to respond to verbal assaults.
Is Campus Rage Fueled by Middle Eastern Money? — The disturbing article about a different manifestation of the bad-faith actor problem -- one focused on the use of large donations by foreign powers to influence the way in which major universities teach about specific foreign policy issues.
The Words in the Middle East That Are Breaking My Heart — Perhaps more than anything, the Hamas attack was a campaign to dehumanize Gazans in the eyes of Israelis. Reflections on where this has taken us.
What a lonely time to be a Jew in America — Reflections on the terrifying and heartbreaking experience of being a Jew in a world where so many excuse and, often, celebrate the barbarity of Hamas' attack on Israel and anti-Semitism, more generally.
The Village Square--Chris Stirewalt: Broken News — A former Fox News political editor gives an inside view of the rage-driven political environment in which we find ourselves.
Bad incentives and the politics of fear — An exploration of the complex and often hypocritical interplay between real-world threats, political reactions to those threats, public opinion, and electoral outcomes.
Democrats to Continue Meddling in GOP Primaries — Amid the Democrats claims that Republicans constitute a continuing threat to democracy, disturbing news that they are continuing their hypocritical campaign to get Republicans to nominate extremists.
The midterms should be a stake through the heart of the mobilization myth — An argument that the 2022 election further proves that base mobilization politics (with its extreme positions and hate-mongering) doesn't work.
Democrats took an unconscionable gamble --- and it worked — More on the Democrats' effective, but morally fraught strategy -- promoting the nomination of extreme "Trumpist" candidates and then running against the threat those candidates pose to democracy.
Does Biden Really Believe We Are in a Crisis of Democracy — There is something very wrong with the political system (and a political party) that simultaneously tries to get Trump/MAGA candidates nominated and then demonizes them as a threat to democracy.
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Disinformation

Dan Williams on Misinformation — For a world dominated by deliberately biased sources of information, an exploration of the tough questions that those trying to fix the problem must address.
Do Your Own Research: Liber-net's Misinfo Grant Database — For those who don't understand why those on the right find the left's efforts to control disinformation so threatening, an invitation to look at the evidence.
Finally, Someone Said It to Joe Rogan’s Face — An article raising important questions about the relationship between free speech rights and (especially for prominent "influencers") the obligation to exercise those rights responsibly.
Why censorship is making us all dumber — An essay highlighting the dangers of believing that your side possesses the one true truth and that all other views are wrong and should be suppressed.
The misinformation crisis isn't about truth, it's about trust — A perceptive argument that the key to combating the misinformation / disinformation crisis is for information sources to focus on acting in ways that are truly worthy of the public's trust.
The War on Government Statistics Has Quietly Begun — Our understanding and ability to manage our complex economy depends upon reliable statistics --- statistics that are now being destroyed in the name of partisan politics.
How Trump is reshaping reality by hiding data — Yet another instance in which political leaders are trying to strengthen their positions by suppressing information that might challenge those positions.
Trump Is Breaking the Fourth Wall — A description of how the President's deep understanding of the way in which television works is enabling him to bypass many of the constraints that the media normally provides.
The Politicization of Expertise — An in-depth examination of one of the key elements of our current predicament -- the politicalization of supposedly objective scientific analysis.
Trump's efforts to censor the press — A revealing look at how the Trump administration's efforts to combat censorship (and Democratic control of the media) are turning into Republican efforts do pretty much the same thing.
MediaWise Education Resources — MediaWise provides resources to help people identify misinformation through engaging, innovative media literacy education. Their goal is to inspire savvy digital citizens who know that when facts prevail, democracy wins.
Disinformation Stops With You — A useful infograpic explaining how we all have the power to stop foreign (and domestic) disinformation campaigns.
As conflict rates soar, misinformation is getting worse — Reflections on the all-important challenge of controlling the weaponized disinformation that accompanies hyper-polarized conflict without getting co-opted by one side or the other.
These Bizarre Theories About the L.A. Wildfires Endanger Everyone — A revealing look at the way in which those on both the left and the right are trying to take political advantage of California's devastating wildfires.
Constant Demand For Censorship By Elites Shows Their Rule Depends Upon Disinformation — A sobering analysis of the ongoing global campaign against misinformation -- a campaign that this author believes is a cover for political censorship.
Inside the Republican false-flag effort to turn off Kamala Harris voters — A look at an example of the deceptive way in which the Republican Party practices hardball politics and, more generally, the way real world politics deviates from the democratic ideal.
Efforts to combat disinformation in retreat as voters head to the polls — An update on struggle between efforts to combat the disinformation being circulated by those who are truly acting in bad faith and efforts to combat those who unfairly target legitimate criticism as disinformation.
Confessions of a Russian Propagandist — A first-hand account of how 21st-century Russian propaganda techniques work with important lessons about how we can protect ourselves from internal and external actors willing to use those techniques.
How Lying Became Disinformation — A must read article exploring both the problem of disinformation and the ways in which elites (on both the left and right) are hijacking efforts to limit the problem.
The information war is critical. The U.S. must not lose it to China. — The geopolitical information war is at least as important as the emerging global arms race. This article highlights things that Western democracies can do to help protect themselves.
Australia's Misinformation Police — A worrying account of Australia's new effort to legally prohibit disinformation -- an effort that could easily wind up criminalizing political criticism
Unlocking the Secrets of Misinformation with Samuel Spitale — A conversation about how misinformation shapes our reality -- and what we can do about it.
Class 35. How to Inoculate Your Mind Against Disinformation — For a world in which so many people are trying to deceive us, a class on how to protect ourselves.
Trump's Lies Are More Injurious than Mere Propaganda — Reflections on the extremely worrying downsides of a major party presidential candidate that systematically undermines the idea that there can be anything approaching objective truth.
Why the disinformation brigade has utterly failed to weaken Trump — An essay that asks why efforts to challenge Trump's highly successful efforts to build a political movement based on lies has, thus far, ended in failure.
The Era of the Noble Lie — A thought provoking essay on what lies beyond political spin -- outright lies (supposedly for some virtuous purpose) that do a lot of harm.
Elite misinformation is an underrated problem — An insightful article exploring a different, and very important, source of inaccurate worldview images -- the shortcomings of elite, expert opinion.
Flood of Fake Science Forces Multiple Journal Closures — The disturbing update on the surprisingly widespread incidence of scientific malpractice -- something that a society that depends upon technical expertise can't tolerate.
Stone of Madness — A provocative essay on the nature of misinformation and strategies for constructively addressing it.
The West Is Still Oblivious to Russia's Information War — An important reminder that we are engaged in an increasingly intense information war with Russia -- a war that we need to take much more seriously.
Asking people to "do the research" on fake news stories makes them seem more believable, not less — A new study asked thousands to evaluate the accuracy of news articles --- both real and fake --- by doing some research online. But for many, heading to Google led them farther from the truth, not closer.
The For-Profit D.C. Firm Staging America's 'Grassroots' Movements — An astonishing window into the shady world in which "bad-faith" actors manipulate our politics and inflame (and, sometimes, generate) conflict and animosity.
The Weaponization of "Scientific Consensus" — Another threat to the accuracy of our perceptions about the world we inhabit, "scientific" efforts to distort scientific findings.
The Case Against Content Moderation — An essay that looks at ways in which increasingly moderating newsfeeds in an effort to control destructive information could make the problem worse, rather than better.
Propaganda in Local Newspapers: Distorting Reality and History — A lengthy and carefully documented explanation of the many ways in which mainstream media sources are misunderstanding and misreporting the Israeli/Hamas war.
The online information ecosystem during the Israel-Gaza crisis — In addition to its relatively narrow military objectives, the Gaza war is, perhaps most importantly, the battle for the hearts and minds of the global population. This article looks at the high-tech information ecosystem in which this battle will be fought.
An America of Secrets — An insightful examination of the role that governmental secrecy plays in undermining our ability to analyze problems in ways that are both both viewed as trustworthy and trusted.
The Autocrat Sliding into Your DMs — Sobering news for those who might be tempted to discount the dangers associated with high-tech authoritarianism.
How Disinformation Splintered and Became More Intractable — An update on recent trends in disinformation campaigns and the the rapidly advancing technologies that are making them increasingly effective.
Why Did Fox News Lie to Its Viewers? — A rare look at court-admissible evidence that documents the way in which the need to tell audiences what they want to hear is distorting news coverage -- a problem that is far more widespread than Fox News.
How Putin's Russian goon squad used Mexican gig workers to troll an American election — An account from a person who found himself in the middle of Russian efforts to hire provocateurs to influence US elections and politics.
Whataboutism — An exploration of one of the most effective strategies for promoting confusion and undermining the sensible analyses of social problems -- "whataboutism."
See the ads Democrats are funding to boost far-right Republicans — Yet another example of what happens in politics when the need to defeat the other side becomes more important than building a democracy in which we would all like to live.
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Suppressing Opponents

Experience with Hostility Increases Worry Among Local Officials, Negatively Impacting Willingness to Engage in Political Processes — Report finding that demographic factors and personal experiences with hostile incidents are connected to concerns about hostility, as well as the chilling effect these trends can have on local democracy.
Debanking and the Return of Operation Choke Point — Yet another example of the ways in which the rule of law is being circumvented in ways that can, despite well-meaning intentions, be circumvented by bad-faith actors.
New Data Shows Threat and Harassment Events Doubled in July — A report on a new study that quantifies the level of threat and harassment facing public officials.
The Great Democratic Lawfare Bust — A retrospective and critical look at the failure of the Democratic "lawfare" strategy which sought to use criminal prosecutions to deny President Trump a second chance at the Presidency.
One of the Deadliest Jobs in Mexico: Running for Office — A window into violent political intimidation -- one of the scariest failure modes for democratic systems and efforts to curtail organized crime and governmental corruption.
Governments Are Creating A Fake Hate Panic To Censor, Interfere In Elections, And Imprison Their Political Enemies — A critical look at the vast apparatus that is being mobilized to combat hate speech (as least as it is seen from the political left).
A Conspiracy Against No Labels — For a country in which there are almost as many independents as Republicans and Democrats combined, allegations of a conspiracy against a moderate, third-party, Presidential candidacy.
How death threats get Republicans to fall in line behind Trump — A disturbing review of instances in which threats of physical violence are being used by Trump supporters to quash dissent. Democracy can't survive if people aren't free to express their views.
Moms for Liberty: 'We Do Not Co-Parent With the Government' — A story about a case in which efforts to challenge political opponents crosses the line into dishonest hatemongering.
How to Know When a Prosecution Is Political — A practical guide for determining when political prosecutions arise from legitimate efforts to equitably enforce the rule of law and when they are disingenuous tactics used to weaken a political rival.
World Health Organization Pushes Sweeping Censorship Treaty — Time to think about how a solution to one problem (rampant medical disinformation) may be creating another more serious problem -- global censorship of anyone who challenges the elites.
Backfire Basics — A primer from the International Center for Nonviolent Conflict on how to create backlash against injustice, making it less likely to "get away with it."
We're About to Find Out What Happens When Privacy Is All but Gone — A look at the many implications of living in a post-privacy society.
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Making Collaborative Democracy Work

Today, We Launch Generation Refresh — and Invite America to Imagine a Refreshed Constitution — An announcement of a new nationwide campaign to crowdsource a proposed Citizen’s Constitution.
Introducing Block / Bridge / Build / Belong — Block / Bridge / Build / Belong is a clear map of the democracy ecosystem—four complementary modes that run in parallel and help us act together without demanding we all act the same.
The Ohio State University's Divided Community Project's Virtual Toolkit — This toolkit is designed to support community leaders as they identify and address issues tearing at the social fabric of their respective communities with materials for on-campus and off-campus audiences.
Locally-Led Peacebuilding: From Policy To Action — A call for a "tectonic shift" in donor culture and operations to overcome existing barriers to locally-led peacebuilding efforts.
The State of Public Discourse on Campus — Episode 9 of Areas of Agreement, a podcast featuring students and faculty discussing the need for viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement on campuses.
The Uncomfortable Truths That Could Yet Defeat Fascism — An essay from the author of "The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy" that explores ways of reaching those who are turning away from democracy.
Princeton University's Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI) — BDI is a non-partisan research initiative that tracks and mitigates political violence in the United States by building community resilience.
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Conflict Advice

Managing Stress, Anxiety, and Hopelessness in Times of Crisis — From Scot Nakagawa, lessons from immigrants, refugees, and activists who have survived the collapse of the familiar.
We Rate Thanksgiving Advice — Written for Thanksgiving get togethers, the advice offered here also applies to Christmas and other December/January holiday festivities.
How To Choose A Romantic Partner — Practical advice on how to avoid destructive conflict in, perhaps, our most important relationship.
Whatever You Do, Don't Do the Silent Treatment — Sound advice for those in the midst of difficult interpersonal conflict.
6 Steps for Mending a Politically Strained Relationship — 1/5 of all Americans say politics has harmed a close relationship. If you are one of them, here are six steps you can take to repair the damage and restore the friendship.
How to Succeed in the Foreign-Policy Blob — Wise and practical advice for those seeking a career in international relations, peacebuilding, or any other conflict-related field.
Choose the Activism That Won't Make You Miserable — As you think about getting involved in efforts to make the world a better place, practical advice on how to do this in a psychologically sustainable way -- and, make a real contribution.
DIYcivity — Civity launches a new Do-It Yourself Page with tipcs for practicing civity, seeding civity, and resources for doing both.
Conflict Hacks: A Summer Survival Kit from Amanda Ripley — Easy ideas everyone can use to defuse tension and create community.
Dr. McFiddle's Brilliant Book of Creative Conflict Potions and Other Magical Things — Terrific news! From Josh Weiss (a longtime colleague and contributor to Beyond Intractability), a new book that teaches kids how to handle conflict more constructively.
Don't Teach Your Kids to Fear the World — While there are plenty of things to worry about, we must teach the coming generation to see those concerns in the context of the many things that make life wonderful and our problems surmountable.
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Constructive Advocacy

A Public Statement From Philanthropy — From the Council on Foundations, an invitation for all charitable giving organizations to join them in an effort to protect everyone's freedom to express themselves, to give, and to invest in their communities.
Where Are You in the Outrage Overload Listener Journey? — David Beckemeyer invites us to reflect on where we are in our own attempt to develop a healthier relationship with media and political discourse and offers articles for helping at each stage.
Overcoming despair and apathy to win democracy — Lessons on movement building from one of the founders of the Serbian student movement that brought down dictator Slobodan Milosevic.
Right-Wing Populism -- A Constructive Conflict Approach — Longtime colleague Lou Kriesberg made this presentation to PARCC at Syracuse niversity. Watch the video here with the passcode =yd4?*&Z
We Need More Costly Signaling — For a time when our politics is distorted by inexpensive and superficial virtue-signaling, an argument that, to be seen as virtuous, people ought to do something significant that really makes a difference.
Teach the Conflicts: It's natural---and right---to foster disagreement in the classroom — An argument for engaging, rather than avoiding, controversial issues in the classroom.
The Basics: Deference Politics — A thoughtful essay asking hard questions about the fuzzy relationship between elite promises to really do something about the plight of the less privileged and substantive actions that actually do make a difference.
Democracy Requires Disagreement. Here's How To Do It Better. — A TED Talk with Bret Stephens and Yordanos Eyoel who discuss why democracy is still our best hope. They also offer ways we can strengthen our societies by learning to disagree more constructively.
How to make sure your disruptive protest helps your cause. — From Waging Nonviolence, an article highlighting five key factors which determine whether controversial protests are more likely to spark backlash or create positive outcomes.
Salman Rushdie's Beautiful Revenge — A hideous attack is transformed into a statement of bloodied but unbowed humanism.
Is Populism Possible Without Demagoguery? — An essay exploring a critically important topic -- building a constructive, populist, political movement.
Something Is Wrong — A perceptive exploration of the tension between ideological and people-centered politics.
36 people who made the world freer for the rest of us — Profiles of 36 individuals who, in their own way, demonstrate how individual, "massively parallel" efforts can help advance society as a whole.
Our Fathers Marched With King. Here's What They Would Say to Activists Today. — From the children of some of Martin Luther King's most important allies, thoughts about the differences between civil rights advocacy in the King era and today.
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De-Escalation Strategies

Violence de-escalation trainings are key to making movements stronger — As provocateurs try to discredit protests, having civilians trained in the skills of de-escalation gives people power a greater chance of success.
When the World Feels on Fire, Must We Keep Shouting? — In the final chapter of Outrage on the Mic, David Beckemeyer traces the evolution of rage-as-a-strategy in media -- from the firebrand preachers of the 1930s to today’s slick, emotionally charged podcasts.
America Needs a Nonaggression Pact — An interesting proposal for taming the most dangerous aspect of hyper-polarization -- apply the principles underlying nonaggression treaties to domestic politics.
The Strength You Gain by Not Taking Offense — For world in which people are quick to find reasons to be offended and reasons to claim victimhood, thoughts about the advantages of not doing those things.
Forgiving Our Enemies and Our Exes — When we are willing to engage in a forgiveness process and are willing to do the work, it is like peeling the layers of an onion. First you have to acknowledge your grief, pain, and fear, then you can release it.
Loretta J. Ross: Don't call people out -- call them in — Loretta Ross shares a toolkit for starting productive conversations instead of fights -- what she calls a “call-in culture” to challenge wrongdoing while still creating space for growth and forgiveness.
Make It A Habit: Ask ‘Why Is This Issue Important to You?’ — Most of us go into political conversations armed with stats and comebacks, ready to win the argument. But what if we started with a different question: “Why is this issue so important to you?”
Enemy Roulette — Amanda Ripley talks about how to exit "the blame game."
Tools for Meeting the Moment — From Over Zero, a set of tools for preventing violence, defusing tensions, and responding when violence does occur in ways that minimize harm and quickly restore norms of peace and civility.
Tips for writing in less politically polarizing, triggering ways — For depolarizers, journalists, activists, and politicians: Guidance on how language can unintentionally drive people away.
Three questions with Millions of Conversations founder Samar Ali — Nashville nonprofit leader and founder of Millions of Conversations, Samar Ali, talks about innovative ways to better unite people across deep divides.
Is It Possible to Be Magnanimous in Victory? — An essay on one of the most important and most neglected features of a successful democracy -- the willingness of democracy's winners to respect the interests of its losers.
An Emerging Tool in the Polarization Reduction Toolbox: A Guide to Using and Understanding Meta-Perception Correction Interventions. — Science-informed conflict management strategies, from Beyond Conflict.
How stance-taking and stance-criticism can weaken depolarization efforts and unnecessarily drive people away — Zach Elwood argues that depolarization work requires the avoidance of stances and criticizing others' stances, which he sees as a form of activism.
To Overcome Our Divides, We Must Try to Understand the Other Side's Anger — A reminder that, in this time of even more rapidly increasing hostility toward one another, we still don't really understand why the other side hates us so much.
"Why Is It on Us to Take the High Road?": Opposed Views on Our Divides — Two letters, one from a Trump supporter, the other from a Trump opponent are compared, with a goal of helping both sides better understand where the other is coming from.
Don't Just Let Radicals Dictate Your Opinions — An interesting effort to get beyond us-vs-them thinking and explore the conflict between those at the extremes of the political continuum and those at the center.
The Mirror Effect - Tim Shriver — Tim Shriver, Co-Creator of the Dignity Index, shares how participants initially used the Index to judge others, only to realize that it also serves as a mirror---helping them reflect on their own words and actions.
The Dignity Movement in Action — The Students for Dignity team recently appeared on the School Conversations podcast to discuss using The Dignity Index to navigate challenging interactions and promote dignity on campuses nationwide.
To Overcome Our Divides, We Must Try to Understand the Other Side's Anger — An important argument for empathetically trying to understand (rather than discount) the anger that others feel toward your community.
Three Ways I Have Updated My Priors Since the Election — Reflections from Daniel Stid on what the election meant and how we can best move forward from it.
The real antidote to political bitterness — An article describing the importance of "civic friendship" with detailed ideas about how best to cultivate it.
To avoid destruction, we must own our role in political polarization — Zach Elwood argues that both sides have contributed to political polarization, though in different ways and for different reasons. We must recognize that, and recognize the legitimacy of the other side's concerns.
Whatever Happens, Love Thy Neighbor — A plea for voters to remember, in the aftermath of the election, that those who vote the other way aren't evil caricatures, they are the decent folks that you see every day.
Can Dignity Prevail in America's Polarized Landscape? — From More in Common, thoughts about the critical importance of treating one another with dignity and respect and strategies for encouraging such behavior.
Radical Unity's Inaugural Year Concludes in Arizona and Georgia — A report from the Mediators Foundation on how the arts can be used to unite people across deep divides.
From Concession Speeches to Constructive Dialogue — An argument that electoral winners ought to temper their ambitions and provide losers with assurances that they will have a meaningful voice in shaping the victor's agenda.
If You Can Imitate Them, Maybe You Can Understand Them --- BCB #122 — Sun Tzu famously said that in order to win a battle you need to know yourself and know your enemy; we could say the same about making peace.
How South Africa Avoided Civil War and Built a Democracy — The story of South Africa's transition provides powerful lessons that Americans can apply to find common ground, re-humanize the "other," and safeguard democracy.
How I Learned To Stop Criticizing Everything — A philosophical argument about lifestyle choices that, if more widely followed, could help heal our divisions.
Can Humor Cure Outrage? Jonathan Bernstein Thinks So — David Beckemeyer talks to Jonathan Bernstein author of Election Day, a book that uses satire to inspire voter turnout and encourage civic engagement.
2024 Healing Starts Here Retreat — Essential Partners' reflection on the New Pluralists retreat, together with the inspiring video shown at the retreat.
Traitors and the Advantages of Criticizing Your Side -- BCB #117 — An explanation of an important de-escalation strategy -- accepting responsibility for your side's role driving hyper-polarization and undermining democracy.
UNDIVIDE US' Film is Breaking Down Barriers for Civil Conversation — From the Philanthropy Roundtable, guidelines for promoting more constructive ways of discussing controversial issues.
What Can a Chicago Gang Member Teach Us About Our Divides? Amanda Ripley Explains — Reflections on our hyper-polarized politics from a surprising source (with a different perspective on conflict) -- the street gangs of Chicago.
Cynical interpretations of our adversaries' actions can amplify divides --- and help our adversaries — Zach Elwood talks about the responses he has received to a controversial article that he published in The Fulcrum on the consequences of cynicism.
Dr. Jay Van Bavel: Deprogramming the Partisan Brain | Debate Without Hate: 2024 Elections — A video outlining a strategy for getting beyond partisan animosities and actually debating the issues.
Reasons To Be Optimistic About Polarization --- BCB #113 — Things could be worse, they have been worse, and they will get better.
The Secret Power of Using 'We' During Difficult Conversations — This simple change in language and, more importantly, the way we think about conflict can have huge and quite beneficial implications.
Are You Willing to Walk a Mile in Their Media Shoes? — Distorted views of our political opponents often lead us to interpret their news and their positions in the worst possible way. Try watching "their" news to see where they are coming from.
Calling People Forward Instead of Out: Ten Essential Steps — Excerpted from a book, "How We Ended Racism," this article explains that calling out leads to a cancel culture which is ineffective and further divides, while calling in is much more effective at addressing racism.
Resisting Polarization in an Election Season: A Four-Part Curriculum — This self-paced curriculum will help you develop the internal capacities, skills, and confidence you need to become a positive force in conversations around the election where you live, work, worship, and learn.
What's the best strategy for reducing toxic divides? Cultural change or systemic change? — Zach Elwood talks with David Foster of Know the System.org about ways we can change the media environment to improve political discourse and decrease toxic polarization.
True or False? Political Passion Is at Odds with Depolarization — One can work toward any political goal while trying to reduce toxic polarization. In fact, taking less polarizing approaches can aid one's political activism.
The Most Important Writing Exercise I've Ever Assigned — A simple and really creative writing assignment (or introspective thought experiment) that helps people see across the deepest of our political divides.
Anger overwhelms our thinking brain. Here's how to bring it back online. — A reminder about the many ways in which anger affects our thinking and undermines our ability to protect our interests, along with suggestions for overcoming those problems.
What if We're the Bad Guys Here? — A must-read article that does much to explain President Trump's continuing popularity and the role that the cosmopolitan elites have played in helping him survive his steady stream of scandals.
We keep moving from one wrong fight to another. Here's how to stop. — Thoughtful insights into our tendency to move from one us-vs-them confrontation to another while simultaneously avoiding serious efforts to work through and learn from our differences.
The Promise (and Peril) of Anti-Wokeness — A thought-provoking essay exploring ways of thinking about (but not being consumed by) things that make you angry.
Cable News Viewers Aren't as Extreme as You Might Think — An essay that does something genuinely useful -- break down unrealistic and inflammatory stereotypes.
Political Forgiveness and the Healing of Nations — This was Eileen Borris's keynoe address to the Ethiopia Symposium on Higher Eduation for Post Conflict Transformation
A depolarization-aimed speech I'd like to see President Biden give — An imagined, fictional speech that would (it seems to us) do wonders to disarm the polarization wars--if it would be heard and taken to heart. One can only wish!
Dignity Press — Dignity Press has published more than 30 books that explore the dynamics of human dignity and humiliation from diverse standpoints and global perspectives.
Deep Healing and Emotional Expression: Political Forgiveness as a Unique Peacebuilding Process — For a time when the focus is on good-vs-evil politics, social justice, and holding people accountable for past misdeeds, a look at political forgiveness and its role in building a lasting peace.
Why Your Presence Alone Is Surprisingly Powerful — Just sitting with someone can reduce pain and anxiety; making eye contact reduces perceived social distance and improves cooperation.
Are Our Political Rivals As Bad As We Think They Are? DTH Episode 161 with Daniel F. Stone — A conversation talking about how to understand the mistakes we make about those on the other side of the political spectrum --- and how they drive the affective polarization that is tearing us apart.
Americans think the "other side" is the problem when it's really the solution — We have the power -- and with that power, the responsibility -- to open our eyes and look across the aisle and see not an enemy but a potential partner for change.
Political Forgiveness 101 — With all the division and "us versus them" mentality, to heal these divisions and transform conflict we need to change our mindsets. This is where political forgiveness can come into play.
The Building Civic Bridges Act — A Congressional Act introduced by a bipartisan coalition to establish a pilot program within AmeriCorps, focused on building relationships across lines of difference, led by a new "Office of Civic Bridgebuilding."
Collaborating with the Enemy — A summary and review of Adam Kahane's book on how to work with people you don't agree with, like, or trust.
Listen, Watch, Read, Experience A Better America! — Scores of on-demand videos about ways to bring people together across political divides.
Moving Beyond Partisan Polarization: Some First Steps — From Essential Partners: 5 steps (with detailed questions for each) to have illuminating conversations with yourself, allies, and others to reduce polarization.
New Study: A Promising Method to Build Trust in Information and Reduce Partisan Animosity — A new method significantly reduced feelings of hostility between political party members to a level that resembles the political climate of the 1980s, when Republicans and Democrats got along.
A Tale of Two Karens — They are political polar opposites, but through Braver Angels, they're forging a path toward productive conversations, and even friendship.
ONE TEAM: Using sports to build bridges between Jewish and Bedouin teenage girls — During these heart-wrenching times in Israel, Danny Hakim's inspiring work offers a touching, optimistic, much-needed break from the painful daily Israeli news cycle.
Creating Space for Democracy: A Primer on Dialogue and Deliberation in Higher Education — A set of case studies illustrating ways different campuses have successfully navigated the political conflicts that are riling so many colleges and universities.
Higher Ed's Delicate Dance: Safeguarding Freedoms and Stewarding Culture — Kristen Hansen examines curricular and co-curricular (outside the classroom) approaches to navigating political conflicts on college campuses.
Not in Our Town — NIOT is a movement to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive, communities for all, using film, social media, and community organizing. NIOT helps local leaders build vibrant, diverse cities and towns for everyone.
Are you ready to forgive? A new study shows letting go is good for health. — Food for thought for those who are trying to come to terms with the unrightable wrongs of the past.
Making the other side better — A truly radical idea -- instead of devoting all of your energy to defeating a threatening adversary try acting in ways that lead them to be less threatening and better neighbors and citizens.
How to Avoid High Conflict — Yascha Monk talks with Amanda Ripley about "high conflict" in which the focus becomes on "the other," instead of the substantive issue in dispute. Amanda, here, discusses "the way out."
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Escalation & Violence Limiting Projects

We Can't Talk to People That Way — If we can't even communicate what an authoritarian is, how do we stop one from taking power?
What Is It You Just Called Me? — Ashok Panikkar says "insults work better if you know what they really mean. So he explains -- the meaning of democracy, socialism, conservative, liberal, progressive, etc. Not really "insults," but...
Christian Nationalism,' 'Never-Trumpers' and Other Biased Terms This Election Season — Catchy terms are often polarizing and exaggerated, making them common in popular tabloids and on social media. This makes it easier for media consumers to get trapped in filter bubbles.
Addressing Chronic Violence from a Gendered Prespective: Fostering People-Centered Approaches at the National Level — This report argues for reconceptualizing violence based on feminist conceptions, recognizing that societal structures, systemic discrimination and even pervasive cultural norms can be sources of violence.
Bridging Divides & Strengthening Democracy: From Science to Practice — The conference presented the approaches that most effectively reduced anti-democratic attitudes, support for political violence, and partisan animosity. Recordings of the sessions are available here.
Finding the Way Out: A Once-a- Day Political Courage Challenge — This is an invitation to look deeply but kindly within yourself and work with others to fight the toxic division that's tearing our country apart. Based on the research of our colleague Peter Coleman.
The Alternatives To Violence Project-USA — AVP-USA is an association of community, school and prison-based groups offering experiential workshops in personal growth, community development and creative conflict management.
Parallel Networks — Parallel Networks is dedicated to combating polarization, hate and extremism in the US and abroad. Founded by a former Al-Qaeda member and the NYPD officer who arrested him.
Nonviolent Peaceforce — Their mission is to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, build peace side-by-side with local communities, and advocate for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity.
International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism — An action based, interdisciplinary, research center working on psychosocial, cultural, political, economic, ideological, and technological topics impacting global peace and security.
Cure Violence Global — CVG helps communities to implement violence prevention programs that are effective in significantly reducing violence by using a rational, data-driven, evidence-based and smart approach to crime.
Black Women for Positive Change — A national policy-focused network of predominately African American women and "Good Brothers" working to strengthen the American middle and working classes (particularly among Blacks) and changing the culture of violence in America.
How Football Might Prevent Iraq's Next Civil War — A hopeful story about a sports team that is helping span social and political divides in ways that are helping reduce tensions.
Meet the People Working on Getting Us to Hate Each Other Less — A great summary, with lots of links, to the projects that are making massively parallel efforts to defuse hyper-polarization a reality.
We keep moving from one wrong fight to another. Here's how to stop. — From Amanda Ripley, provocative essay that explores the inflammatory role being played by conflict entrepreneurs and the misconceptions that we spend so much time fighting about.
One Woman Is Holding Politicians Accountable for Nasty Speech. It's Changing Politics. — An example of somebody with the bright idea that is making a real difference -- the dignity index, a strategy for encouraging and reinforcing constructive political rhetoric.
Council on Technology and Social Cohesion — Social cohesion is the glue that hold society together -- particularly in the face of toxic polarization. We need technology that builds trust and civic health rather than outrage and division
Rise of American Radicalism: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly — A Renew America Foundation study of extremist candidates running for public office in 2022.
How to Defuse a Classroom Conflict: Make It More Complex — Five practices to help students break through all the binary thinking: setting norms, establishing trust, foster complex thinking, model constructive behaviors, and grounding discussions in personal stories.
What's your 'red line'? | Jonathan Haidt with Mónica Guzmán — Does engaging bad ideas across the divide make you a bad person? Renowned psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt talks with Monica Guzman in this Braver Angels video.
The Dignity Index — An eight-point scale that scores speech on its power to unite or divide. Start your own journey by taking the Dignity Pledge.
Bridging Divides Initiative Building Resilience Ecosystem Map — An interactive map showing both political violence in the US and bridging organizations working to prevent such violence.
Why I've stopped fearing America is headed for civil war — A look at the factors that have persuaded one author that the risk of runaway escalation and violence is declining.
What Biden could gain from pardoning Trump — An example of the kind of "outside the box" thinking that might help reverse today's dismal political trends. We need to work harder to develop, evaluate, and (where appropriate) implement such ideas.
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Constructive Communication

Where Myth & Reality Merge: How Storytelling Can Carry Us Through & Beyond the Polycrisis — Through the lens of story, we can see the polycrisis of our time as a pivotal crossroads in a timeless battle between the path of separation, exploitation, and destruction or unity, creation, and regeneration?
Monitoring Dialogue in Conflict-Affected Contexts: Guide for Practitioners — This guide merges theoretical insights with practical tools to present an innovative dialogue monitoring approach designed to help practitioners identify and track meaningful progress made by dialogue programs in conflict-affected contexts.
How to Have Constructive Political Discussions w/ Guy and Heidi Burgess — Guy and Heidi were recently on Paul Rader's "Politics with Paul" Podcast where we talked about what has made American politics and society so broken, and what we need to do to start to fix it.
The Mirror Test for a Divided America — For democracy to survive, we have to be willing to treat our fellow citizens as we would like to be treated. The mirror test is a strategy for figuring out whether or not we are doing this.
Program helps bridge political divides by connecting people through personal stories — PBS' News Hour profiled Civity's program in Rhode Island, where they are trying to rebuild trust across the red-blue divide. "When people are given the opportunity, they choose to connect and care. This gives us hope."
Listening for (a) Change — Longtime friend and peacebuilder Chip Hauss reflects on how he (and most of us) have allowed our listening skills to atrophy, and how reviving them can bring wanted change -- in us and others.
What can social listening tell us about the bridge-building movement? — More in Common analyzed user data from nearly a million followers of bridge-building organizations on X (formerly Twitter). Here they share how these social media users compare to typical X users.
Telling Stories of Aliveness: A Call for Regenerative Culture — From extracting to cultivating. This article explains how storytelling can help shift from a culture of commodity to one of ecology.
The Quiet Power of the Potluck — Yet another powerful way to bring communities together.
The power of deep listening: insights from Emily Kasriel’s new book and our research — BBC journalist, Emily Kasriel, is coming out with a book on her pioneering method for high-quality listening: Deep Listening: Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends, and Foe. She talks about the book here.
The Last Of Us Warns That Us Vs. Them Thinking Is As Deadly As The Zombies — In season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us, humanity has survived a zombie apocalypse long enough to remember what it loves most: pointless, self-destructive wars against each other.
The Pöster Project: Infographics for Democracy. — The Pöster Project points out that statistics don't change minds, but stories do. They provide infographics to help people to visually tell the stories about what is happening to US democracy.
Why Do They Think We're Extreme? — Drawing from More in Common's Perception Gap, Jonathan Stray talks about dynamics that increasingly make us fear "the other" and what we can do to try to resist these pressures.
Build Community Norms and Reduce Intergroup Anxiety — James Coan reflects on the findings of More in Common's "The Connection Opportunity" project and some of the examples it offers to highlight ways in which people have been able to successfully connect across divides.
Why talking to your enemies matters — Builders' Movement Partner Daryl Davis has single-handedly persuaded many white supremacists to renounce their racism. In 2020, Daryl went on Joe Rogan's podcast to highlight the importance of engaging with empathy even with people we see as dangerous.
Well, That Went Sideways! Beyond Intractability with Heidi Burgess — Heidi Burgess talks about Beyond Intractability and our work studying that and dialogue processes on a local conflict resolution podcast.
Community Mediation: Finding the Center of Hope with Guests Cassie Lively (CCR) and D.G. Mawn (NAFCM) — In this episode of The Other Chair Cassie Lively, Executive Director of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) in Chicago, and D.G. Mawn, President of the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) are guests.
Millennials, Boomers, and the Struggle to Be Understood — For decades, each generation has had its complaints about the one that came before. But when it comes to mental health, wellness, and the weight of expectations, the disconnect between millennials and boomers feels particularly stark.
Using Empathy Reflection at Home and Work. — A video presentation on how empathy circles can help familes and executives function better at home and at work.
Disagree Better' by the numbers. Did Gov. Cox's initiative work? — A new study by a Stanford sociology professor found that the National Governor's Association's 'Disagree Better' videos decrease polarization among viewers.
The Trump-Zelensky Oval Office blowup. — This is from Tangle--a much more balanced and insightful analysis of the event and its meaning than others I've seen.
Want to Be a Better Listener? Take Lessons From a Chatbot. — AI's studying success is based on carefully listening to most all of the voices on the Internet. Could we learned something about listening from the way in which it does this?
What We Get Wrong About Each Other: Perception Gaps — More in Common's Research Manager writes about the ubiquity of "perception gaps" and how they hurt us.
Discovery Through Dialogue: Expanding Brown's ethos of open inquiry through dialogue — A new campus-wide project will create more opportunities for students, faculty and staff to advance dialogue skills and participate in meaningful conversations across a wide range of perspectives.
I Don't Think That Word Means What You Think It Means — Republicans and Democrats often use the same words, but they mean different things. A new project seeks to build a bipartisan dictionary to help us better understand one another.
What Conservatives Get Right About Politics — The first of the two-part series that tries to explain to one side some of the good ideas that the other side has that are worth embracing.
A simple Recipe for Complex Community Change: Make Stone Soup — Yet even when trust is low and resources seem scarce, communities possess capacity for successful collaboration that, when properly activated, produces remarkable results.
To Dial Down Campus Tensions, Colleges Teach the Art of Conversation — A much smarter approach to campus controversies (and controversies in the larger society).
Millions of Conversations' Pledge to Listen — To help break down the misunderstandings that keep driving us apart, Millions of Conversations is asking us all to take a "Pledge to Listen." And, to make this easier, they also offer a listening guidebook.
The Civic Information Index — The Civic Information Index uses data to map drivers of engaged, informed, equitable, and healthy communities nationwide.
Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques — In October of 2014, Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of strategic communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, gave a lecture at Alumni Weekend that went viral. This video touches on many of those same topics.
6 Reasons Why Understanding Each Other Is More Important Than Ever — Though neither side is likely to be interested in understanding "the other" after the U.S. election, Starts with Us argues that when we fail to understand each other, we push each other away and amplify our divides.
How to Be a Writer in the Second Age of Trump — Thoughtful insights from a writer who has been trying to figure out how he might best be able to contribute to the great national conversation that is going to accompany Trump's 2nd term.
6 Reasons Why Understanding Each Other Is More Important Than Ever — Trying to understand the other side is more important now than ever, says Starts with US. They explain why here.
Working on the Ground with Communities — From the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, case examples of how it is possible to build more equitable, fair, just, inclusive and hopeful paths forward.
Promising Revelations: Undoing the False Impressions of America's Faithful — This study, from More in Common, finds significant perception gaps relating to faith in America today. It examines how Americans are navigating the country's deep polarization from the perspective of their faith identities.
The Constructive Cycle — From Essential Partners, a guide for dialogue facilitators on how to help people have a constructive, though "tough," conversation. These guidelines work for all of our personal "tough" conversations too.
Against steelmanning: It's usually not a good idea to try to make arguments look stronger than they really are. — An essay on an interesting new concept, "steel man" arguments (the opposite of "strawman" arguments).
Convenings, Cohorts + Communities: Notes on so-called "impact" gatherings — Previous models of conferences and events are getting blown up and replaced with an array of experiences, interventions, connectivity practices and celebrations to foster deeper engagement and more substantial change work.
Believing and Doubting — The description of a solid, practical strategy for reading in ways that promote mutual understanding and empathy, while limiting misinformed and hateful animosities.
From Essential Partners: It's Not You! Questions are Hard to Write. — An essay exploring the critically important role that questions play in framing conversations.
Exposure to Outgroup Members Criticizing Their Own Group Facilitates Intergroup Openness — Across four experiments, Israeli Jews who were exposed to a Palestinian criticizing Palestinians were more open to the Palestinians' perspective of the conflict, than those not exposed to the criticism
A Liberal Reader Criticizes Us for "Both-sides"-ism — Starts with Us explains that examining polarizing behaviors from people across the political spectrum helps people on all sides see that they have an important role to play in healing our divisions and helping solve problems.
Things Worth Remembering: Conversation Is an Art — Reflections on what it really takes to master the art of conversation and constructive communication.
Debate Without Hate: A Podcast to Help You Navigate the Election — A podcast series with experts delving into our nation's division, threats that arise from this division, and how we can all engage in healthier, more productive political discourse.
Narratives of American Project — This summer, the Narratives of America project has been part of important conversations with organizations and individuals who share a common goal: creating a new vision of social well-being where everyone can thrive.
The Tennessee 11 — This intimate, fly-on-the-wall document puts you in the room where eleven local leaders from across the political spectrum gathered to discuss gun rights and safety --- and to achieve the impossible: find common ground
A Free Education Resource that Helps Students Engage Across Differences in Better Ways — The guide includes best practices, resources, and recommendations for those working in middle school to college education to promote critical thinking, ideological diversity, empathy, respect, and tolerance of others.
Are You Willing to Walk a Mile in Their Media Shoes? — Description of an experiment you can do to try to better understand "the other side."
Online Community Organizing Is Not an Oxymoron — Daniel Stid's report on a conversation with Deepti Doshi, co-director of New Public, a nonprofit working to imagine new media and technologies that can build constructive online spaces that serve democratic purposes.
Fighting is Easy. Persuading is Harder. — An important exploration of the difference between persuasive efforts and efforts to simply defend one's point of view.
Mismatch by AllSides — With Mismatch, students talk to other students across the country, inspiring them to connect beyond their immediate world and build a healthy democracy - without leaving the classroom.
Dialogue Lab: America | Documentary Film (2022) — A video about Ideos Institute's experiment testing whether constructive dialogue is possible in today's polarized culture, and if so, how dialogue might be a first step in healing our nation.
On Relational Facilitation: Supporting the Creative Potential of Divergent Perspectives — In this blog post, Rosa Zubizarreta explores the potential of participatory processes for supporting new forms of governance, which she illustrates with their use in Austria and Germany.
The Village Square — Building the town hall of the 21st century across the partisan divide. A nervy bunch of liberals and conservatives who believe that disagreement and dialogue make for a good conversation, a good country, and a good time.
Elon Musk is making political debate more toxic --- here's how to change course — An op-ed by our colleague Zachary Elwood using the Elon Musk story as an "attention getter" to get readers (and high profile media outlets) to start thinking about polarization as a serious problem.
Invisible memorials and the presence of absence — An interesting report on an unusual way of memorializing terrible, politically charged events.
Fighting to Understand — Fighting to Understand brings "ordinary people" together to learn and talk about contentious issues.
For Conversations You Dread, Try a Chatbot — A crazy idea that might actually make some sense -- practicing difficult conversations with AI chatbots.
Bring Back The Culture of Debate! — For a time when everyone seems to shy away from criticism, an argument for the reinvigoration and celebration of debate.
Essential Partners' Guide to Conversations Across the Partisan Divide — Drawing on four decades of real-world experience and rigorous research, this guide will equip you to address polarization in your own context.
MWEG's Media Literacy Toolkit — A collection of materials from MWEG (Mormon Women for Ethical Government) on news consumption, misinformation, bias, conspiracy theories, propaganda, and more.
Checklist for Listeners — From Ohio State's Divided Community Project, a checklist for campus leadership to help them listen to students, faculty, and staff effectively after a divisive event.
LEADING A DIVIDED CAMPUS: Ideas and Illustrations — From the Ohio State Divided Community Project, a guidebook to help college and university leaders effectively support students and promote respectful engagement as students react to the ongoing violence in the Middle East.
Three Organizations Teaching Students to Navigate Political Difference -- BCB #94 — Profiles of 3 organizations (Essential Partners, Braver Angels, and the American Exchange Project) with noteworthy approaches to teaching students (and everyone else, really) do better deal with political conflict:
Are we really as divided as we think we are? — According to Beyond Conflict's March 29, 2024 Newsletter, the answer is no.
Aches, Pains, and Alternative Facts. Do the stories you tell yourself help you or hurt you? — The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves determine the quality of the selves we imagine we are. The stories we tell about others determine the quality of our relationships with them.
Being Valued, Seen, and Heard in a Polarized Society — Eileen Borris distinguishes between people's "personal stories" and "larger stories" -- who we are as part of a global human family, connected by transcendent values and spiritual natures.
The All-America Conversations Toolkit — This free toolkit from the National Civic League helps people take small, specific actions that give them a sense of confidence that they can work across dividing lines to create stronger and more equitable communities.
Conversations in Troubled Times — How can we balance the need for immediate action with the ability to check in, listen, and support each other? How do you honor a complex history and personal connections to troubling events? This conversation guide can help.
DIY Resources — These MANY! Civity-created resources can support and guide your efforts to grow civity (a culture of deliberately engaging in relationships of respect and empathy with others who are different) in your community.
National Week of Conversation | April 15 - 21, 2024 — National Week of Conversation was created for those exhausted by the division and hatred who seek ways to turn down the heat of polarization. it is a week to become inspired, equipped and engaged in bridge-building activities.
Understanding Pro-Democracy Conservatives — This report by the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University explores the contours of a conservative pro-democracy movement in the current American political landscape
Knowledge Sharing for Collective Growth — A video of a conversation with longtime "network weaver" June Holley talking about conflict transformation, learning communities, network and knowledge weaving, and self organizing for productive change.
Contact Theory with No Contact: Facilitating Dialogue Online — An examination of the degree to which online dialogue can overcome impressions of difference without in-person contact.
What Is Christian Nationalism, Exactly? — Amid the many calls to fear the threat posed by Christian Nationalism, serious exploration of what the term actually means.
How to Disagree Better — From the Atlantic, links to three articles outlining ways in which we can discuss controversial issues more constructively.
How the social media mob helped me find my voice — Personal reflections on a positive way of responding to cancel culture mobs of the left and the right.
Substack Was a Ticking Time Bomb — Thoughtful reflections on some of the difficult issues facing the Substack newsletter platform (which hosts our newsletter).
My Friend, The Zionist — A rare look at what an in-depth conversation between friends who have been divided by an extraordinarily deep, and perhaps unbridgeable, conflict looks like.
The rebirth of local news depends on all of us — Promising suggestions for building the kind of vigorous and trustworthy local news system that is an essential component of successful democracies.
The Insidious Lie That We Can't Understand Each Other — A welcome challenge to the dangerous but increasingly popular notion that, no matter what we do, we can't understand one another (and shouldn't bother trying).
Danya Rumore: To disagree better, we need to increase our conflict competence — In response to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox's "Disagree Better" Initiative, a quick and readable summary of what "disagree better" means in practice.
America's road to healthier political discourse starts on campus — An eloquent defense of the importance of cultivating robust political debate on campus and a look at an organization that is trying to promote this kind of debate.
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.
The Abortion Talks: A Documentary — A documentary describing one of the conflict field's most successful efforts to build mutual understanding and respect across deep moral differences.
Why it's so hard to fix the information ecosystem — A thoughtful inventory of the things that make it so hard to remedy today's destructive information flows -- problems which we have to find a way to overcome.
3 tips on how to argue --- and find common ground --- from a debate champion. — Solid advice on how to transform either/or debates into a search for common ground.
A Politics Worth Watching — A strategy that citizens, the news media, and philanthropists could use to present political issues in a way that can garner sustained and thoughtful public attention.
Three Dirty Little Secrets To Improve Your Political Conversations — Being conscious of harmful habits leads to more meaningful political conversations. We don't really listen or even understand our own views.
Braver Angel's "E-Courses" — These professional level 40-minute courses have been crafted by experts in communications and depolarization. They provide an effective and "safe" way to interact with people in difficult situations.
ConnectEffect — This is a live, 60 minute entertainment experience that will profoundly shift the way you see "the other side." It is an "in-person hard reset of humanity."
The Horizon's Project Sensemaking Podcasts — Sensemaking, or what we'd call framing, is essential for understanding what's happening and how to respond to world events. Here are six short videos with leading peacebuilders about their sensemaking practices.
Embracing civil disagreement — The Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership is a space for Stanford students to discuss political differences with their peers across the country.
LivingRoom Conversations Conversation Topics — A listing of topics by category, each with a free, easy-to-use conversation guide.
Polarization Conversation Guide — A simple, easy-to-use guide that will allow anyone to lead a constructive conversation about political polarization from LivingRoom Conversations.
Why A Liberal Should Want To Share A Table With A Conservative (Like Me) — A look at the significant lost opportunities when the left gives up on the right.
Getting to Third Space with Lamar and Tom — This podcast features an exploration of how to talk with one another about significant, even controversial, issues with grace and humor.
Straight Arrow News Achieves AllSides Balance Certification — Straight Arrow News is on a mission to set a new standard for quality journalism in a time of media bias and mistrust. Allsides just awareded them a coveted "balanced" certification.
Academic Success Tip: Guide Students in Constructive Dialogue — A University of Delaware professor shares why and how she makes dialogue about difficult-to-discuss issues a foundational skill in her classroom.
The Art of Collaborative Facilitation — The crux of good facilitation is to remove the obstacles to connection and collaboration -- obstacles like disconnection, debilitating conflict, and other forms of "stuckness."
Digital Community Stewards Training — This free online training curriculum aims to help digital community stewards who host online groups prevent harm and build social cohesion through those online interactions.
Amplifying Sameness and Damping Difference — Though a search for common ground is useful, it can be taken too far. Disagreement and difference are essential for learning, change, and growth. Ideas should be challenged before they are accepted.
The Response: The World Talks — Bringing together people from around the world for 1:1 virtual dialogues, The World Talks is a global dialogue experiment built by a coalition of independent media partners from 15 countries.
Narrative Competency — A short description of the meaning of narrative competancy, together with annotated links to 15 documents on how to develop and use such competence.
AMERICA'S DIVIDED MIND | Video Intervention — This video is an attempt to correct partisan misperceptions and create a space for Americans to cooperate to address the major challenges we share.
Youth Talk: Youth Vocies for Change — This initiative of Search for Common Ground empowered a group of more than 100 young radio journalists to report on local conflicts and create radio programs to help people find common ground.
Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center — DDNRC seeks to ensure that college campuses sustain freedom of expression and academic freedom, promote pluralism, and expand opportunities for constructive communication across different perspectives.
International Storytelling Center — The International Storytelling Center believes that storytelling can yield a better life and a better world for the tellers and the listeners.
With no waitstaff, menus or regular hours, this café isn't your average coffee house — A restraurateur provides the opportunity for meaningful interactions with people whose paths may not otherwise cross while learning something new --- and maybe gaining a new perspective or even a friend.
Dialogue Lab: America | Documentary Film (2022) — A video about Ideos Institute's experiment testing whether constructive dialogue is possible in today's polarized culture, and if so, how dialogue might be a first step in healing our nation.
Conversations That Matter — A free guide from the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom to inspire conversations about values based on their "guidelines for life."
Empathy Circle Game — The Empathy Circle Game was created to enrich listening and communication skills through a series of engaging in-person group activities.
How The Current uses community listening and solutions journalism to make an impact in Louisiana. — A video showing how one community uses solutions journalism to hold local government accountable and to explore opportunities for mutually beneficial problem-solving.
Leveraging solutions journalism for revenue growth — If media organizations produce solutions journalism, will they generate more revenue? YES! (With caveats)
Civity & the "Tough Issues" — Learn how Civity is addressing really tough social issues by improving civic relationships.
National Week of Conversation — For those exhausted by division and hatred, join others from across the countryApril 17-2 to explore better ways of relating to each other.
Vengeance or Forgiveness — An exploration of the thinking of the conservative right. We must be able to "walk in the shoes of the other" to heal this nation. Here's one step.
Americans seek stories of solutions and inspiration from the media — From More in Common, a study showing Americans want the media to provide a balance of positive and negative stories and more solutions-oriented reporting
BridgeUSA — BridgeUSA is a youth-led nonprofit organization that creates spaces on high school and college campuses for open discussion between students about political issues.
The Free Speech Case for Section 230 — A primer on the many important issues swirling around "Section 230" of the Communications Decency Act and the implications that this has for efforts to control the downsides of social media.
Overuse of 'existential threat' is a crisis of existential proportions — An exploration of the threat posed by our tendency to overstate threats (in order to grab attention and build support).
Free Press, Regardless — As tensions rise over Russia and China's increasingly aggressive brand of high-tech authoritarianism, an update on efforts to undermine the propaganda that makes these regimes possible.
The New York Times Is Finally Moving on From 2020 — Welcome news that the New York Times is again embracing its traditional role of providing a forum for competing views on the big issues facing society.
Newsrooms that move beyond 'objectivity' can build trust — A report on a major new inquiry into the mainstream media's trustworthiness crisis and a disturbing argument that the solution is to abandon objectivity and the telling of both sides of a story.
The 'Twitter Files' Show It's Time to Reimagine Free Speech Online — Especially informed and thoughtful reflections on the "Twitter Files," freedom of speech, the First Amendment, public policy, and social media.
The Most Consequential First Amendment Case This Term — An enlightening look at the issues the Supreme Court is considering in 303 Creative v. Elenis and the possibility that the government will increasingly be able to tell us what we can and can't say.
Strengthening Social Connection and Opportunities in Rural Communities — This report illustrates the benefits of including a broader array of voices in determining needs among residents of rural communities.
America Talks Conversation Guide — A guide for participants in the National Week of Conversation; this can also be used by others wanting to have a productive conversation with people across differences.
National Week of Conversation — An annual online event matching 1000s of people across the political divide to talk, listen, learn and act together.
Democracy and the Epistemic Commons — The ultimate responsibility for good governance in a democracy falls to the voting citizenry, which can only exercise this duty well when it has accurate information about the world.
I stopped reading the news. Is the problem me --- or the product? — For news junkies and journalists, provocative questions about the benefits (and the costs) of the information we consume and produce.
A Guide for Professional Journalism in Conflict Zones — Exploring the challenges of reporting news from conflict zones, this guide provides a "time out" for journalists to reflect on their role as investigators and deiverers of information to society.
How Diverse Should Viewpoint Diversity Be? — A look at the tough challenges associated with building a free society that fairly and wisely accommodates a diverse array of cultures, values, and perceptions of objective truth.
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Persuasion

What If Listening Isn't the Key to Persuasion -- BCB #119 — Listening may not change minds like we thought it did. Still, there are many other effective ways to build understanding and collaboration among those who disagree with you.
What, Me Think? — A government 'of the people, by the people, and for the people' is utterly dependent upon- wait for it.... the PEOPLE. Ashok Pannikar's initial Substack essay on democracy and critical thinking.
Why Are Democrats Speaking to America in Ancient Greek? — From John McWhorter, an analysis of the language we use to define and defend democracy -- language that makes it harder to communicate critical concepts to the general public.
Ross Douthat's Theories of Persuasion — It is a lot easier to get people to change their opinions and behavior through persuasion. Force tends to lead to backlash, defiance, and intensified conflict.
Women Know Exactly What They're Doing When They Use 'Weak Language' — From a dispute resolution perspective (and a feminist rights perspective), to look at the pros and cons of so-called "weak language."
How critical theory is radicalizing high school debate — More on disturbing trends in the way in which we teach high school debaters how to think about the issues and the almost nihilistic strategy that undermines the very notion of constructive policy debate.
Is it still possible to change minds in politics? — A conversation about the possibility and difficulty of persuasion in a time of polarization, disinformation, conspiracy theories, political violence, and more. Is it still possible to reach people?
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Effective Communication Strategies

To Put It Bluntly — A provocative critique of the now widespread practice of avoiding tough issues through euphemistic phraseology that prioritizes the avoidance of uncomfortable assertions.
Take A Position, Not A Side — An plea to abandon us-vs-them thinking and focus on debating the relative merits of competing positions.
AllSides Media Bias Chart™ Version 9: Updated Ratings for AP, IJR, TIME, TheBlaze, and More — An update on a systematic effort to assess the political bias of major news sources -- an assessment that reveals that many publications are not as objective as their audience thinks.
Can Spanish and English speakers thrive in the same city? — In Emporia, KS, a small group of residents is working to make the community more cohesive and welcoming to Spanish-speakers and immigrants by practicing Spanish together. But is that enough?
Speaking Out to Strengthen the Guardrails of Democracy — A new report from the Ohio State University Divided Communities Project focusing on how effective speech can encourage hope, counteract fear and hate, and strengthen democracy.
AllSides for Schools — AllSides provides tools and activities teachers can use with students to help cultivate their skills and proficiency in bias awareness, news literacy, and dialogue across differences.
Ending This Zombie Apocalypse: How to Have Better Political Conversations — From The Village Square, a websinar with Kristin Hansen of the Civic Health Project and Robb Willer (Prof. of Sociology and Director of the Polarization and Social Change Lab at Stanford, and Kristin Hansen of the Civic Health Project.
The Persuaders — A new book by Anand Giridharadas that profiles activists, politicians, educators, and everyday citizens who are effectively changing minds, bridging divisions, and fighting for democracy.
In Ohio, one man's quest to get more voters to agree to disagree — The story of one man in Ohio who has started Dinner and a Fight--a dialogue process to get people talking across differences.
Livingroom Conversations' Ranked-Choice Voting Conversation Guide — Information about how ranked choice voting works and a guide for having a constructive conversation about it.
National Coalition or Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD) — A network of innovators who bring people together across divides to discuss, decide, and take action together effectively on today's toughest issues. NCDD serves as a gathering place, a resource center, a news source, and a facilitative leader for this vital community of practice.
Listen First Project — Listen First enhances the impact, visibility and voice of the interpersonal bridge building field by aggregating, aligning, and amplifying the efforts of 500 #ListenFirst Coalition partners.
What Readers Really Think About Gender — An interesting alternative to face-to-face dialogue -- a journalist who promotes mutual understanding by soliciting and then sharing thoughtful reader views on controversial issues.
Overview of Monthly Conflict Transformation Empathy Cafes — Information about how you can participate in monthly Empathy Cafe for the Conflict Transformation, Mediation, Peacebuilding, Bridging, and Security Community to come together and connect.
Designing Tech for Social Cohesion — A Search For Common Ground conference, exploring how tech design and algorithms can promote pro-social content, instead of divisive content. Feb 23-25 in San Francisco and online.
Establishing Conversation Norms and Defusing Conflict — The key to any productive public, civil conversation is ensuring all participants follow a set of expectations and norms. Here's a suggested list of norms to follow.
Confronting Controversial Issues in the Classroom — Discussions of controversial issues are frequently prescribed by theorists, professors, and civic organizations, but most school systems are reluctant. Here's how to do it well.
ABA Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility and Collaboration Commission — ABA's Cornerstones of Democracy Conversation Guide to learn how to engage members in your community in civil conversations on critical issues.
Constructive Dialogue Institute — CDI seeks to repair our civic culture by spreading the practices of curiosity, critical thinking, and constructive dialogue across our nation's education systems and workplaces.
Livingroom Conversations Resources — We've highlighted LRC before, but haven't focused on their excellent resources for the times we get together with family and friends.
Braver Angels Media — Braver Angels' work is about building civic trust in the USA, healing the wounds between left and right. This video series highlights the stories of the people doing this work.
American Bar Association's Corerstones of Democracy Conversations Guide — The cornerstones are civics, civility, and collaboration, and this conversation guide helps lawyers (and others) as they work to strengthen all three.
All Sides — AllSides is a media solutions company that strengthens our democratic society with balanced news, media bias ratings, diverse perspectives, and real conversation.
The Flip Side — Sharing thoughtful news stories from the left, right, and middle on a variety of issues--emailed once per day.
We are Not Divided: Reasons to Be Cheerful Project — A good news media outlook posting stories about people using collaboration and other conflict resolution strategies to come together to solve problems.
How Fundamentalism Fails — From a Christian perspective, a more universal explanation of the limits of fundamentalism and the belief in absolute self-righteousness -- "a closed fist can't overcome the open hand."
Complicating the Narratives. What if journalists covered controverial issues differently. — An article by Amanda Ripley looking at how journalists can write better stories to help people become less polarized and suspicious.
Abortion -- Conversation Guide — A practical guide for those wanting to know how to convene and facilitate constructive dialogues capable of spanning partisan divides and meaningfully addressing our most controversial issues.
Democracy is at risk. Ten newsrooms explored what's strengthening it. — Profiles of ten news organizations that are going beyond superficial, horse-race (who's winning, who's losing) political reporting and helping their audiences understand how democracy could be improved.
Midterm Monitor -- A tool to analyze and assess the information landscape prior to the 2022 US midterm elections — An impressive effort to make what goes on in the largely hidden world of social media-based political advertising visible.
A Columbian Exchange — A different and informative kind of dialogue -- a discussion transcript created by a reporter seeking to succinctly bring together competing views on the tension between Columbus and Indigenous Peoples Day.
How social media 'censorship' became a front line in the culture war — An article that demonstrates how extraordinarily difficult is going to be to build a bipartisan consensus on how to control the many aspects of social media that threaten democracy.
Rule Omega — Daniel Schmactenberger and Jordan Greenhall talk about listening for the "meaningful signal" hidden within the "noise" of any statement.
The art of listening — For a world in which we tend to focus on developing our ability to persuade and influence others, a plea, instead, for cultivating our ability to listen to (and be persuaded by) our fellow citizens.
I spent years hating activists. Then I tried listening to them — An account of somebody who did something that we all need to do more --- really listen to and try to understand the people with whom we disagree.
Monuments, mascots, and Naming: A guide to Conversations and Community and Memory — A guide to help everday citizens constructively explore and discuss controversies surrounding monuments, mascots, and names that some find uplifting, and others find offensive or destructive.
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Networking

Putting Relationships First — This monograph from the Relationships Project assembles the evidence base for putting relationships first, describing why relationships matter, what great relationship-centered practice looks like, and how it could make an impact in your context.
The Original Protocol Was Love: Building a Networked Civilization from the Ground Up — The spread of early Christianity and the architecture of the internet both succeeded through simple, decentralized protocols. This insight can help us build a new, trustworthy network of communities today.
All of US — A directory to help people find organizations near them working to improve communities, schools, jobs, and daily life. Find out how to get involved, learn new skills, and contribute to massively parallel democracy building!
Self-Organization Needs Activators: The 9% Who Turn Networks into Movements — Effective collaboration across networks of groups requires supporting the "middle layer" of participants -- network catalysts who step into leadership roles but aren't part of the core team.
Bridging Communities, Events and Insights in a Fragmented World — This draft paper is for boundary-spanners, community catalysts, and organizational leaders who see cycles of duplication and knowledge loss. It’s for anyone who believes that how we weave knowledge across divides might be as important as the knowledge itself.
Hubs, Humans & Half-Baked Potatoes — Better Together America: How Civic Hubs Are Weaving Democracy from the Ground Up
Network Values Flyer — A List of Network Values -- a flyer to use in digital presentations or to print off to use as a handout or to hang up listing values that help networks of any kind work better together and achieve more.
Exploring multiscalar networks: What makes networks effective and transformative? — June Holley, 'grandmother of networks' joined the Socialroots team for one of the monthly Network Coordination Commons calls to talk about -- and invite collaboration on -- her current inquiries into multiscalar networks.
The SHIFT Action Lab — The SHIFT Action Lab is a collective for learning and action on democracy. It has been co-designed with practitioners who hold a desire to collaborate across the typically siloed fields of bridging, organizing, and governance.
Panel discussion on generating the connective tissue of American civil society — A panel with authors, scholars, and practitioners at the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, shares stories about where and how U.S. civic life is actually thriving.
Power of Networks: Interconnectedness Drives Change — Our world is beset by societal challenges that are large, complex, dynamic and highly contextual. Networks can play a transformative role in resolving these challenges by sparking an interconnected web of actors and actions.
Check Out the New Functionality and 15 Additional States in the Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map! — The National Civic League has added data and new functions to its Health Democracy Ecosystem Map.
Horizon's VISTA — An amazingly rich compilation of resources every month, but the September 2024 issue was particularly full of excellent resources on threats to democracy and responses to those threats.
The Aspen Institute's Weave: the Social Fabric Project — Weave tackles the problem of broken social trust that has left Americans divided, lonely, and in social gridlock. Weave connects, supports, and invests in local leaders stepping up to weave a new, inclusive social fabric where they live.
A Conversation about Partnering with Community Mediation Centers — DG Mawn, President of NAFCM and Caleb Christen, Co-Founder of Inter-Movement Impact Project have a thought-provoking conversation about incorporating community mediation centers into local democracy hubs.
7/29 IMIP Hosted Generate Democracy! "Open House" — The Inter-Movement Impact Project (IMIP) is an informal, Zoom-focused effort to bring together and exchange information between the many individuals and organizations who are part of the ongoing, "massively parallel" effort to defend and strengthen democracy. On July 29 at 3:00 pm Eastern/noon PDT, IMIP (in conjunction with LinkedIn group Generate Democracy!) is hosting an online Open House for those interested in learning more about the many ways in which people are working to strengthen democracy and how YOU can get involved in this effort. Click the above link for more information. Here's the calendar link for those who would like to attend.
Learning from Experience — From Network Weaver, a conversation between Rachel Donald and artist Maggie Robers on perspective, vision,AI, bias, resistance, extraction, imagination, and the role of art in a crisis.
Network Failures: 2023 Edition — From Network Weaver, a reflection on things they tried in 2023 that didn't work as planned--and what they are doing in 2024 to fill those gaps. These ideas have broader applicability for other networkers!
A blog post is a very long and complex search query to find fascinating people and make them route interesting stuff to your inbox — A genuinely interesting network-building strategy and a way to expand and diversify the information bubbles in which we all live.
The Relationships Project — Connecting the dots between organizations focused on relationship-building, the Relationship Project is helping to develop the infrastructure to support a thriving field of relationship-centered practice.
A Partnership for Peace — Search For Common Ground and Preemptive Love Coalition are merging! This strategic merger will amplify the impact of both organizations as we pursue a shared vision of advancing global peace.
Join Restorative Justice Map & Directory Launch List — 0
PeaceCon 2023 — The "Skinny Agenda" is out for the Alliance for Peacebuilding annual meeting to be held May 3-5 in-person and online.
Citizen Connect — A non-partisan platform to help Americans find ways to heal our political divides and strengthen our democracy by making it easy to find civic organizations and events of interest to all visitors.
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Monitoring and Evaluation

How Can We Effectively Use Evidence in Peacebuilding Project Design? | ConnexUs Thursday Talk Recording — This webinar shared findings from research examining the role of evidence in shaping & improving peacebuilding initiatives, and USIP shared what they are doing to integrate the findings into their own programming.
Mapping Civic Measurement: How Are We Assessing Readiness and Opportunities for an Engaged Citizenry? — A report on a review of existing resources and tools we can use to evaluate the success of efforts to improve our constitutional democracy.
Measuring the Un-Measurable — This practical how-to guide provides tools, methodologies, and social science approaches that can be utilised for measuring intangible change in conflict affected and fragile environments.
ICTs for Monitoring and Evaluation of Peacebuilding Programmes — This paper explores the incorporation of information and communications technologies (ICTs) into the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems of peacebuilding programmes.
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Constructively Addressing Complex Issues

Strategic Planning in 2025: Five Ways to Navigate Chaos with Clarity — Conventional strategic planning often assumes a stable environment. In today's chaos, we need strategic direction instead.
The is No Right Answer — Thoughtful reflections on the degree to which conflict and peacebuilding efforts require the abandonment of the notion that there are "right answers."
Governing Is Difficult When Few Americans Agree on Basic Facts — A look at the enormous implications of fact-based disagreements and their ability to divide people of good will -- people who also agree on basic values.
Scientific Journals Can’t Keep Up With Flood of Fake Papers — An eye-opening look at one of the factors behind the collapse in public support for scientific inquiry.
Doctors Have Lost Their Mount Olympus of Medicine — A story about the practical implications of living in a society in which there are no longer sources of reliable, objective information.
Trump’s ‘Gold Standard’ for Science Manufactures Doubt — A critique of President Trump's scientific reform efforts an argument that they do not sensibly grapple with unavoidable scientific uncertainty.
The crisis of expertise is about values — An excellent analysis of the complex relationship between objective fact-finding and moral value judgments.
But what if their side is actually wrong? — Jonathan Stray shares six arguments for "intelligent bothsidesism."
Six-Chart Sunday -- Unbalanced — Another great collection of eye-opening statistics and graphs that illuminate important and hard to see aspects of our contemporary world.
How to Remain a Reality-Based Human in 2025 — A somewhat lighthearted, but also perceptive, set of recommendations for staying focused on what really matters during the Trump era.
Six-Chart Sunday (#47) -- OK, DOGE'R — A compilation of statistics that help us understand the key facts behind the upcoming campaign to promote government efficiency.
To Assess or to Advocate? — An illuminating exploration of what happens to public trust when scientific objectivity is subordinated to political advocacy.
Why Study History? — A timeless argument worth repeating often -- those who fail to understand history are condemned to repeat it.
How Science Must Change — For a time when science is so widely distrusted, concrete suggestions about how science might re-earn the public's trust.
Can't we get back to solving problems? — Thoughts on how to transform dysfunctional democratic institutions in ways that would enable us to genuinely solve problems.
Why Certainty Can Be Dangerous - A Chat with Ilana Redstone — "Certainty is the thing that justifies outrage. Certainty that you're right, certainty that the other person is a horrible person."
Congress Got More Done When the Greatest Generation Ran It — An exploration of the way in which the "greatest" (World War II) generation approached political issues and an argument that they did a better job of making democracy work.
Adversarial Collaboration: An EDGE Lecture by Daniel Kahneman — A lecture by the late Daniel Kahneman describing adversarial collaboration -- what it is and how it works.
Weather forecasts have become much more accurate; we now need to make them available to everyone — News that, with respect to the weather, we actually are getting much more proficient at making predictions.
Intellectual Hospitality — An exploration of John Dewey's now radical idea -- intellectual hospitality, the welcoming of alternative views.
Against Mathiness — The first, of a two-part look into what it takes to be able to integrate sophisticated (mathematically sound) analyses into public policy decision-making.
You Can't Fact Check Propaganda — A really excellent description of the nature of propaganda in the context of the Israeli/Hamas war along with an explanation of the many limits of "fact-checking."
Journalists should be skeptical of all sources ---including scientists — From Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight fame, a detailed look at the COVID lab leak controversy and a spectacular example of how science can betray the public trust.
The limits of our personal experience and the value of statistics — A clear and persuasive explanation of how statistical data provides a way of looking at the world that is different from and, in many ways, superior to more direct and personal sources of information.
What the IPCC Actually Says About Extreme Weather — For those who want to trust the science (not political rhetoric), a review of what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says about the relationship between weather disasters and climate change.
The Problem with Lived Experience — Listening to people with experience actually struggling through today's big problems can provide important insights. Excessive focus on these "lived experiences," however, can also get us into trouble.
In Defense of Merit in Science — A article so controversial that it could only be published in the "Journal of Controversial Ideas." Their argument -- science should be evaluated according to the merits of the arguments being made.
Affinity Diagrams: How to Cluster Your Ideas and Reveal Insights — Not limited to peacebuilding, this idea organization strategy is powerful for garnering insights from many people, and highly complex situations and issues.
A Paper That Says Science Should Be Impartial Was Rejected by Major Journals. You Can't Make This Up. — An alarming article about the degree to which the pursuit of objective science is being abandoned by progressives.
Could Ice Cream Possibly Be Good for You? — A terrific case study exploring the complexities of what happens when a scientific study challenges the established consensus.
The State of 'Nature' — Provocative thoughts on the relationship between political advocacy and science and the danger that too much advocacy can undermine scientific trustworthiness and public trust.
The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better. — An important reminder: as we struggle to address today's big problems, we should not lose track of (and fail to sustain) the very real progress that has been made.
The Wisdom and Prophecy of Jimmy Carter's 'Malaise' Speech — A story worth remembering (and learning from) about a time when a US President tried understand the complex, underlying social dynamics that were tearing apart the United States.
An Existential Threat to Doing Good Science — Hyper-polarization reinforces the illusion that we are absolutely right and anyone who disagrees is absolutely wrong. This illusion now threatens the ability of science to find real solutions to problems.
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Developing a Unifying Vision

The Great Bipartisan Abdication — A look at the complex chain of events that led both Democrats and Republicans to lose their public-spirited vision (and ability to reconcile competing interests).
The Deformist Tendency — A review of an important new book, The New Conservatives: Restoring America’s Commitment to Family, Community, and Industry, that argues against conforming with prevailing norms.
Trump Just Reminded Me of Why I’m Still a Neocon — A defense of neoconservatism, for those looking for a more attractive political alternative that falls somewhere between the woke left or the MAGA right,
A Conversation with Joolz Casey — What if…the world were a kinder place? What would it look like? What would it feel like? How would a kinder world begin?
Bringing Human Nature Back In — From Francis Fukuyama, reflections on building a democracy that works within the constraints posed by "human nature."
DEBUNKED: 10 Myths Keeping Us Divided — From Builders, 10 (very familiar) myths we hold that keep us apart, and what we should realize instead.
Revitalizing the American Commonwealth — Harry Boyte calls for reviving the “commonwealth” tradition—the idea that democracy relies on citizens stewarding and co-creating the public good.
'Abundance’ Offers a Sounder Way Forward for the Left than Degrowth or Redistributive Progressivism — More on the big debate between those who focus on cultivating growth and, hopefully, abundance, and those who concentrate on the redistribution of the wealthy's riches.
It's time for abundance Democrats to embrace cultural moderation — A proposed, friendly amendment to the abundance agenda that some Democrats are championing -- accompany it with greater tolerance for differing views on the culture war issues.
The Problem with Empathy — In recent years, empathy has come under siege—from conservatives who see it as weakness and from liberals who wield it like a sword: Is the word actually dividing us more than bringing us together?
Contempt Can’t Live in The Light — “To get less contempt, we need to expose contempt, and to expose contempt, we need to surround it with dignity.”
Bobby Kennedy, a 1968 Liberal Patriot — Another "if it's been done it must be possible" story. This one looks at the promising political philosophy underlying Robert Kennedy's campaign for the presidency (prior to his 1968 assassination).
Working-Class Abundance — A critique and a sympathetic proposal for amending the Abundance Agenda to focus more on the needs of grassroots citizens and less on the needs of the meritocratic elite.
Liberalism Needs Community — An enlightening exploration of a critical topic: what common beliefs are needed to hold together the diverse liberal societies with their many deep-rooted differences?
New Pluralists 2030 Strategy — The New Pluralists' 2030 Strategy seeks to address 3 pernicious barriers to pluralism: dehumanization, disconnection, and distrust.
Core values guide us, especially during times of uncertainty — Chuck Salter of the News Literacy Project explains what the project is and why he believes that news literacy is so important in uncertain times.
An Anti-Monopoly and Abundance Movement for Urban Politics — One-party municipal rule leads to poor services, corruption, and dejected electorates. A major debate is brewing over how to respond.
Feelings, Facts, and Our Crisis of Truth — A thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationships between narratives, objective fact-finding, journalism, and the nature of truth.
Lessons In Listening From A Political Exile — For those who might think that today's problems are unprecedented, an article describing how thinkers from an earlier generation struggled with similar crises.
Liberalism as the Shining City on a Hill — The review of why so many think that liberalism, despite its many acknowledged faults, still offers an ideal worth pursuing.
On Humanism: the Big Picture — As we look for moral philosophy capable of binding together our culturally diverse society, a helpful summary of the key concepts behind humanistic philosophy.
The Paradox of Tolerance: Should We Not Tolerate Some Views? — The political left often complains that they cannot be tolerant of intolerance. In this article, the Builders Movement offers it's opinion on this critically important topic.
The Happiest Country in the World Isn’t What You Think — Food for thought for those who have been trying to an articulate an alternative to the now dominant materialistic culture that guides so much of society.
Don’t Squander the Potential of Abundance — As we contemplate how, exactly, to pursue an "abundance agenda," an appeal for doing so in ways which serve everyone -- not just one political party.
You are the heir to something greater than Empire — Thoughtful reflections on the many positive aspects of the culture and society that we have inherited (and a call for efforts to further enhance that heritage).
Targeted Universalism Explained — Targeted Universalism is a framework developed by the Othering & Belonging Institute that invites members of any community to co-create new structures designed to serve everyone, not just a few.
Revisiting the Social Contract — As we try to imagine a future in which we move beyond our hyper-polarized politics, an essay that looks back on the origins of the social contract that has held so many societies together.
Surviving the Storm: Strategies for Resilience in a Fractured America — Authoritarian movements aren't invincible---the challenge is being ready with a better alternative.
Can Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson Save the Left From Itself? — Bari Weiss interviews Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson about their new book "Abundance" and the possibility that it offers for escaping our hyper-polarized politics.
The Political Fight of the Century — From the Atlantic, Derek Thompson's summary of the key arguments that they make in their thought-provoking new book "Abundance."
Introducing the Beacon Project, an Effort to Build a New Civic Vision for America — From More in Common, The Beacon Project will combine polling data, cutting-edge methods in data science, and disciplinary experts to build a new vision for civic life in America.
Standing on solid ground in uncertain times — An article from the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, describing their efforts to stay focused, despite ongoing political changes, on the set of universal principles that they believe span the political divide.
The Full Common Sense Democrat Manifesto — From Matt Yglesias, a proposed vision for a democracy in which most all of us would like to live -- something worth seriously considering.
Shared Rights as the Foundation of Pluralism — Reflections on what makes pluralism work and what holds it back from three conferences all focusing on ways to navigate deep difference.
Trump wants to be a unifier. Here's how he could do it. — Stephen Hawkins from More in Common argues that neither President Trump's supporters, nor his opponents want him to override the Constitution.
How We Can Block, Bridge, and Build Our Democratic Future Together — Julia Roig and Jarvis Williams lay out the basic framework that the Horizon's Network is following to strengthen democracy and combat authoritarian trends.
Pluralism in the Trump Era — A growing movement of "new pluralists" has made real headway. But now we have come to the hard part of the journey.
A Renewed Liberalism Can Meet the Populist Challenge — The description of how liberals could respond to their critics in ways that would allow them to build a new kind of liberalism more capable of attracting populist support.
American Society Was Built for Populism, Not Elitism — The comparison between elite and populist forms of social and economic forms of social organization and an argument that America, by tradition, leans towards populism.
The Quiet Tragedy of a World Without True Community — From David Beckemeyer, How the Pursuit of "More" is Eroding Our Sense of Community and Fulfillment.
Make America Whole Again — From the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, creative thoughts about how a diverse new political coalition and a catastrophic natural disaster might help us reclaim the unity Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned.
Champions of Compassion — Greatness is about uplifting others. The Ali Compassion Pledge, inspired by the Muhammad Ali Index, is your call to act with kindness, justice, and compassion.
The Debasement of Tolerance — A provocative and controversial argument that widespread calls for tolerance in the face of differing beliefs have gone too far.
The Prosocial Ranking Challenge: Experiment Launched! Project Midpoint Update — Jonathan Stray's update report on the Prosocial Ranking Challenge progress and future plans.
How to get from the me to the we society — Thoughts on how the cultivation of social capital can be woven into the full range of public policies.
Something Important Is Unfolding in America That Hasn't Happened in a While — A thought-provoking essay that starts by recognizing that those on both the left and the right are united in believing that society's major institutions are badly in need of reform.
How Do We Get Through This? — A new podcast mini-series with Beyond Conflict CEO Tim Phillips who speaks with leaders of other countries who were key to shaping their countries' futures at times when everything was at stake.
Solidarity is Hard — A webinar discussing the evolution and power of local action in the South and in Los Angeles, showing how each community's unique path fuels a shared fight for justice, resilience, and real change.
Cultivating Solidarity and Hope in a Fractured World — Eric K. Ward and Deepa Iyer offer thoughtful reflections on the recent US elections, discussing strategies to confront authoritarianism, strengthen transnational solidarity, and build long-term infrastructure for social justice.
A Call to Hearten: Let Tender Tenacity Walk with Fierce Patience — John Paul Lederach offers a poetic reflection on resilience and compassion following the U.S. November, 2024 election.
It's Time for Institutional Insurgency — Playing defense on behalf of a broken status quo isn't an effective strategy. Democrats need to be bold, grounding its democracy rhetoric in reforms the public will strongly support.
The Centre Must Rise — Another call for a badly needed political movement that charts a middle ground between the extremes of the left and the right.
Building Resilient Communities — Can we coexist as a technologically advanced society without eroding the innate human instincts that enable us to harmoniously weave societies, thereby allowing life to fulfill its magnificent evolutionary destiny?
Endless compassion — A hopeful argument that the voters' rejection of the orthodoxies of the political left will open the door to a more compassionate future -- a future that benefits everyone.
The UN's New Pact for the Future: A Milestone That Can Set a Path for Change — The UN Pact for the Future, though imperfect, can serve as a stepping stone for even more ambitious, high-impact improvements within the UN system.
The Death of American Exceptionalism — Based in part on the examination of past periods of social conflict and distress, this hopeful article explains how politics is lagging behind positive changes that are taking place in our society.
America Is Suffering an Identity Crisis — As the United States approaches its 250th birthday celebration, a thought-provoking article about our inability to decide what, if anything, is worth celebrating.
U.C. Brekeley's Othering and Belonging Institute — The Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley advances groundbreaking approaches to transforming structural marginalization and inequality. They are scholars, organizers, communicators, researchers, artists, and policymakers committed to building a world where all people belong.
Working for the Wellbeing of Current and Future Generations — Learning from in-country innovations and building a global community for change -- the Implementation Handbook for the UN Declaration on Future Generations.
The World Is in Love with America — For a time when Americans on the left and the right seem to have nothing good to say about their country, news that much of the world still sees much to admire the United States.
A Recipe for a Striving America — From David Brooks, an illuminating attempt to formulate a vision for an America that can start filling in its deep economic and political chasms.
We All Win, or We All Lose — An essay Duncan Autrey wrote several years ago, and just recently reposted, asking how we can work together to build a world better for all of us, not just half of us.
A Renewed Union? — A review and overview of an important new book: "Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis," by James Hunter.
ProSocial World — The purpose of ProSocial World is to consciously evolve a world that works for all.
Alexandre Lefebvre on Liberalism as a Way of Life — Liberalism is more than an approach to politics, it is a comprehensive set of cultural beliefs.
The New Paradigm Coalition — Chip Hauss reports on an new coalition which seeks to "consider new paradigms that focus on interdependence, evolution, commons-related problems, and psychological flexibility."
How to Be Truly Free: Lessons From a Philosopher President — An in-depth profile of one of those rare political figures that thinks deeply about society and the role of government.
Yes, It's Easy to Defend Social Justice Politics if You Pretend Social Justice Politics Are Just Liberalism — A thoughtful exploration of the complex relationships between progressive, social justice politics and traditional liberalism.
Equality Is Good, Actually — Contrary to popular critiques, the liberal value of equality doesn't make you weak or nihilistic.
Love in Action: Embodying Love in our Organizing and Organizations — The moment we choose to love, we begin to move toward freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others.
Yes, You Do Have to Tolerate the Intolerant: It has become fashionable to invoke Karl Popper's "paradox of tolerance" to justify restrictions on free speech. That's just plain wrong. — Tolerance and coexistence are key to making a diverse democracy work. This essay explores one of the big challenges facing promoters of tolerance -- the need to tolerate the intolerant.
Why You Should Feel Good About Liberalism: We need to get better at standing up for the greatest social technology ever devised. — An argument that liberal democracy is one of humanity's greatest accomplishments -- an accomplishment that we ought to do a much better job of defending.
Are Grievances Running Our Nation and Is Political Forgiveness Our Way Out? — The June issue of Political Forgiveness Monthly is a deep dive into how we as a country got to this high tide of grievance and how humility can pull us back to a place of listening and mutual trust.
The Mediators' Foundation Newsletter — The Mediators' Foundation highlights useful articles by its members and colleagues that relat to helping us all build a better, more just and more peaceful world.
Citizens for Ethics — Using bold legal actions and in-depth investigations, CREW targets government officials who sacrifice the common good to special interests and personal gain.
5 Ways to Build Bridging Social Capital and Develop a Sense of Common Purpose — Five ways to counter the sense of loneliness and helplessness that is driving polarization and the weakening of our community and civic ties.
Why centrism might be our salvation — An argument that the key to defusing the United States' political tensions might lie in something obvious -- developing the middle ground between our polarized extremes.
The rise of the abundance faction — An interesting look at what is likely to be a very attractive social and political movement -- one focused on "abundance" instead of austerity.
From the Washington Consensus to the Berlin Declaration — A report on a new effort to craft a consensus on a new economic strategy that will do a better job of wisely and equitably serving all sectors of society.
Faith Over Division Tour — Bringing together people of faith to find hope and a shared future in the midst of toxic divisiveness.
Grand Bargain Project — Together, We Are Addressing Six Challenges Critical For Our Democracy And The American People To Thrive: Economic Mobility, Education, Health Care, Climate Change, National Debt and the Tax Code.
Thriving Together Springboard — A systems approach to recovering from COVID, this "springboard for equitable recovery and resilience in communities across America" can be applied to future challenges as well.
Effective Altruism Is Flawed. But What's the Alternative? — For those who recognize that good intentions are not enough, reflections on what makes altruistic actions genuinely effective.
Things Worth Remembering: Why Forgiveness Matters — A retrospective look at what Hannah Arendt has to teach us about forgiveness and its role in helping us move beyond the terrible, unrightable wrongs of the past.
Undergraduate Commencement Address by Ken Burns — A number of our readers recommended this commencement address as a great place to start putting our problems in perspective and thinking constructively about the future.
Daniel Lubetzky TED Talk: Replacing "Us vs. Them" with a Movement of Builders — Founding Partner Daniel Lubetzky publicly launches Builders, a new platform that takes the Starts With Us mission (equipping citizens to overcome toxic polarization and solve our toughest problems) global.
Voices for the Future — Interviews with leading figures in the fields of climate change, democracy, economics, healthcare, education, community, trauma healing, activism, diversity, and much, much more.
Liberalism As a Way of Life — An interview with the author of an important new book defending liberal democracy from its many detractors.
A New Centrism Is Rising in Washington — A persuasive argument that the conventional wisdom is wrong. Rather than being divided and dysfunctional, the US government has quietly and successfully been able to address a wide range of issues.
Can a 50-Year-Old Idea Save Democracy? — A review and summary of an important new book highlighting Rawl's vision for a society in which we would all like to live -- one that is both fair and free.
How to Create a Society That Prizes Decency — From David Brooks, an essay exploring practical things that we can do to cultivate basic decency -- a precondition for a democracy that works.
In defence of forgiveness — For a time of reckoning in which so many people focus on holding others accountable for their actions, an argument for tempering accountability with forgiveness.
America's Divided Mind: Video Intervention — This is a 4-minute video which was named one of the most effective interventions to reduce support for political violence, anti-democratic attitudes, and animosity across partisan lines.
How Contempt Destroys Democracy — Zach Elwood is distributing his second ebook free to subscribers to his substack: Defusing American Anger: A Depolarization Endeavor. This is a "pre-release" but he's eager for comments.
Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century — A report by the Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship on how we can work together, instead of against each other to achieve a true democracy.
The Plurality Institute — The Plurality Institute is building an ecosystem to push boundaries to reimagine collaborative frameworks. They serve as a hub for academics, industry researchers, practitioners, and leaders from both civil and governmental sectors
Imagination Activism | Phoebe Tickell — An interview with the founder of Moral Imaginations on the role of imagination in activism, the universality of values in human culture, and the crisis of imagination within the current system.
Our divided nation will fall unless we return to American pragmatism — Our country is disturbingly polarized, and the future of our republic is at stake if we don't change course ... and soon. This long-time civil servant observes that we are our own worst enemy.
Cosmopolis or Bust? — An article offering a vision about how today's diverse, cosmopolitan cities can effectively function despite deep differences.
The four kinds of truth America needs to pursue reconciliation — An older article offering still valuable insights for those trying to figure out how it might be possible to reconcile the United States' deeply divided society.
The Meaning of the Super Bowl 'He Gets Us' Ad — An exploration of the complex religious questions raised by the controversial Super Bowl ad and the importance of caring for the people with whom one disagrees.
Only America Can Save the Future — A partial antidote to today's pervasive pessimism -- an optimistic look at the United States' long-term strengths and prospects.
E.B. White's Beautiful Letter to a Man Who Had Lost Faith in Humanity — For difficult times, an important argument for not losing faith in our shared humanity.
What's Wrong with Liberalism: Theory — From Francis Fukuyama, an update on his latest thinking regarding liberalism and its discontents on the left and the right.
Why I Am a Liberal — A defense of liberalism and an explanation of why it offers a more unifying vision for the future than the views now dominant on the left and right.
Humanism and Its Discontents — A review and summary of an important new book looking at the evolution of humanistic philosophy and the difficult struggle to build societies based on that idea.
Even the Oppressed Have Obligations — As we struggle against oppression, injustice, and inequality it is important to remember that everyone (including the oppressed) has a responsibility to uphold the values of the world that we are all trying to build.
Radical Moderation — An overview of an important new book, "Why Not Moderation? Letters to Young Radicals" that challenges the widespread disdain for compromise that one now finds on both the left and the right.
MLK and the Content of Character — On the anniversary of Martin Luther King's 1963 March on Washington, thoughtful reflections on the meaning of his "I Have a Dream" speech in the contemporary context.
Democrats and Republicans share core values but still distrust each other — Good news that Democrats and Republicans are actually in agreement on many core moral values. Unfortunately, they still distrust one another.
What Is Integralism? — An exploration of the two major ways in which conservatives think about the relationship between individual liberty, government action, and social morality.
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.
The Left's Social Contract Is Broken. Here's How to Fix It — A look back at the left's many successes over the last 75 years, an argument that today's progressive advocacy is undermining that progress, and suggestions about how to fix things.
Why I Developed Ethical Individualism Theory — Food for thought for those trying to understand what, in our individualistic culture, they owe the larger society.
The Promise of Individualism — Provocative thoughts about the advantages of our individualistic culture and a caution about abandoning it too easily.
Two visions of environmentalism — A thoughtful and important observation that the conflict is not between the pro-and anti-environmental movement but between two different visions for the environmental movement.
Tucker Carlson and the new standard we need — Reflections on the "cancellation" of Tucker Carlson and the need for a set of moral standards that are applied equally to all.
Getting to 3rd Space - Seth Kaplan-Part 1 — Lamar Roth and Tom Klaus from Tenacious Change interview Seth Kaplan, about his book Fragile Neighborhoods, which explains how we can "repair American society, one zip code at a time."
Democracy as the Foundation that Grounds Us — A short but surprising and interesting article about the intersection of philanthropy, democracy, and faith.
US@250 Initiative — This initiative provides a unifying framework for America's semiquincentennial, hosts an annual fellowship, and organizes a network of organizations and individuals who champion the spirit of a more inclusive America.
A Quilt Meditation on Democracy, Social Connection, & Civity — Democracy is like quilting. We are all different pieces of different fabrics of different shapes and sizes -- and we piece ourselves together to make something different and bigger. We each make a contribution.
Transitioning to tripartisanship — Between 40% and 44% of American voters, according to Gallup, do not identify with either major party. They need to be represented in Washington too.
How business can help address the American schism without touching political "third rails" — Historically, the U.S. has navigated political divisions by letting facts and data lead the conversation and working together constructively to engage multiple perspectives and work toward consensus and compromise.. Businesses do that all the time.
Indigenous voices on reconciliation — Do you ever feel that you'd like to advance the work of reconciliation, but you're confused or unsure where to begin? Videos from indigenous voices in Canada compiled by the Canadian Friends Service Committee can help.
One Humanity Institute — One Humanity Institute is a social incubator, a global nexus where one can experience both the micro and macro potential of a united humanity.
A New Agenda for Peace — S.G.'s Guterres' New Agenda for Peace outlines his vision for multilateral efforts for peace and security, based on international law, for a world in transition.
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.
Positive Peace provides a framework to understand and then address the multiple and complex challenges the world faces. — IEP's empirically derived Positive Peace Framework involves the use of a systems-based approach to better understand the creation and maintenance of peaceful societies.
The Eight Pillars of Positive Peace — Based on almost 25,000 indices and survey variables, the Institute for Economics and Peace identified 8 factors that are particularly important for peaceful societies.
Our Relationship to The Future: Narratives, Imagination Skills and Futures Literacy — A discussion of and resources to help people envision positive futures while also engaging honestly with the past.
The Belonging Barometer: The State of Belonging in America — The Belonging Barometer calls attention to belonging as a critical dimension of life that should matter to all stakeholders who seek to improve America's physical, social, civic, and democratic well-being.
Principles of Ethical Government — Mormon Women's Principles of Ethical Government are good advice for everyone. They stress the importance of the rule of law, human rights, civic duties, and mutual accountability.
Fight the Return of the Old Normal: A Guidebook for Envisioning a Racially Just & Transformative Future — We can choose to live in the "old normal" of racial injustice and human exhaustion or we can imagine and design a "new normal" built around a vision for a better future.
Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding — Podcasts highlighting the experiences of international religiously-motivated peacebuilders, plus many more text profiles of religious peacebuilders with descriptions of their work.
Creating a Place to Belong by Pursuing Peace: Preemptive Love's 2022 Impact Report — Peace underpins thriving communities. More than the absence of conflict, peace is the absence of worry. That's why Preemptive Love's programming addresses people's deepest concerns.
Building The Bridge To Peace: Reframing Peace And Peacebuilding — A discussion of existing mindsents around peacebuilding; research-based suggestions for reframing the way we present this work to outsiders so they understand what it involves.
Citizenship and American Identity Program--The Aspen Institute — This program explores the question of what it means to be American, and how to promote a shared sense of national identity in an age of demographic flux and severe inequality.
The New Pluralists — New Pluralists is a funder collaborative focused on supporting the growing field of practitioners, storytellers, researchers, and innovators working to foster a culture of pluralism in America.
The New Washington Consensus — A report on an extremely important area of public policy in which a surprising consensus has emerged between the left and the right.
Politics Can't Fix What Ails Us — A timely reminder that many problems do not have political solutions and a call for developing our problem-solving capabilities in other areas.
Divided over Liberty and Equality — I thoughtful look at the tension that now exists between the goals of liberty and equality and an explanation of how this didn't used to be the case.
American Crisis -- How we lost our faith in the future and how to get it back — One of the downsides of our excessive focus on our society's failings is that we start to believe that success is impossible (and we quit trying.)
Empathy, and then what? — An important reminder that we need to do more than understand the views and motivations of our adversaries. We need to use that information in ways that make things better.
The Case Against Consensus — For a field that prides itself on being able to build consensus, a skeptic's argument is worth considering. (We always need to keep asking ourselves hard questions.)
Leave 'the American People' Alone — A thought-provoking argument that we spend too much time pursuing a unifying American identity and not enough time learning how to live with our differences.
He Made His Country Rich, but Something Has Gone Wrong With the System — From Singapore, a report on one of the principal alternatives to democracy -- a supposedly benevolent kind of authoritarianism.
Can Humanism Save Us? — As we continue to struggle to find a vision for a future in which we would all like to live, thoughts on what the long tradition of humanistic philosophy has to teach us.
The Necessity of Patriotism (Even in Times Like These) — An exploration of how patriotism can coexist with an honest assessment of our nation's failings and why it is a key part of the quest for solutions.
The Illusion of a Frictionless Existence — As we strive for an environment that protects us from threats ranging from the "micro" to the truly major, it's worth thinking seriously about when such an effort becomes counterproductive.
Robert Talissee, Sustaining Democracy: What Do We Owe the Other Side — A overview of an important book that asks a fundamental and seldom addressed question: when does the victory we aspire to become unreasonable?
Imagining a better future for American democracy, with Suzette Brooks Masters — A much more positive way of looking at democracy's problems -- instead of focusing on things that are going wrong, focus on things that could go right.
Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference — A website with information about and reviews of an important new book that emphasizes the positive role that pluralism can play in making a diverse society really work.
Rediscovering Our Shared American Values — For a time when our attention is dominated by the many issues that divide us, reflections on shared values that can help to bring us back together.
Men Need Purpose More Than 'Respect' — A good example of how paying attention to the human needs of those involved in conflict can help limit the alienation and hostility that can make conflicts so intractable..
America is in a 'Great Pulling Apart.' Can we pull together? — In the context of today's complex challenges, an insightful, personal attempt to imagine a democratic society in which we would all like to live.
The Curriculum Wars Are Based On An Illusion — Reassuring news from a major new survey -- Americans are actually in surprising agreement on what schools should and should not teach about US history.
How honest American history can cultivate gratitude — An argument for a less divisive and more inclusive way of thinking about the United States' many historical failings -- combine that with a celebration of the very real progress that has been made.
Can Democracy Exist Without Liberalism? — For a time when illiberal democracy is on the rise, Shadi Hamid reflects the all-important relationship between liberalism and democracy.
Francis Fukuyama: Still the End of History — A compelling observation that the alternatives to liberal democracy are still much, much worse. We just have to figure out how to make democracy live up to its ideals.
How Democracies Live: The Long Struggle for Equality Amid Diversity — An in-depth review and summary of two major new books that explore options for strengthening democracy in ways that better cope with socio-cultural diversity and economic inequity.
Why 'longtermism' isn't ethically sound — An interesting exploration of the pros and cons of a new philosophical perspective, "long-termism" -- a set of beliefs focused on what we owe posterity.
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Pursuing a Unifying Common Vision

Searching for Humanity in the Middle East — From David Brooks, an extremely perceptive the analysis of the principal frames/paradigms good people are using to make sense of events surrounding the Hamas' attack. To our three frames, he adds a fourth (which he says is even more important), "authoritarian nihilism."
A Path to Institutional Pluralism — A pluralistic democracy is one in which diversity is more than skin deep. It is a system that allows people with very different beliefs to live and work together in peace.
Join or Die — Chip Hauss revisits the critical concept of bridging social capital, and reflects both on its widespread loss and its importance to both peace and democracy worldwide.
What the Culture Wars Get Wrong — Amid all the sound and fury over the teaching of history, reassuring news that there is broad support for and agreement on what an honest and balanced curriculum would look like.
More Perfect — A a national campaign to align American citizens and institutions around a shared vision for our democracy -- and to marshal all the energy and resources it will take to achieve that future together.
A Love Letter to America — An honest and affectionate look at what makes US society and its democratic institutions something to celebrate and nurture despite their deep flaws -- flaws that are deeply intertwined with its virtues.
This man wants Utah and other states to adopt a "pro-human" approach to teaching ethnic studies — From the founder of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, an in-depth interview and ideas about how to structure Utah's new ethnic studies classes in ways that will be broadly supported.
Actually, Color-Blindness Isn't Racist — A controversial but especially clear and persuasive critique of the current generation of antiracism programs and a defense of the kind of color-blindness advocated by people like Thurgood Marshall.
Democracy Innovation — Working to understand, test, and disseminate innovations that can make democracy more participatory, equitable, and productive with a focus on scale, redesign of the civic infrastructure, and measurement.
America's No-Majority Future Is Going to be Delicious — A hopeful image of what the diverse society that we are evolving toward could actually look like.
Building Bridges Without a Foundation for Peace Won't Work — An article comparing different bridge-building strategies and the goals of negative peace versus positive peace. Just getting people to "talk nicely" isn't nearly enough to solve our problems.
Compassionate Humanity Community — An emerging network of people working to build movements dedicated to serving humanity, the environment, and life. Reducing conflict and fostering collaboration are tools advocated to achieve these goals.
Seek and Hide' Grapples With the Complexity of the Right to Privacy — A thought-provoking report on a new analysis of the long-standing conflict between the freedom of speech and the right to privacy.
The New Woke Discrimination Demands a New Law — From the Wall Street Journal, a carefully reasoned explanation of what those on the right see as today's big civil rights issue (and a proposed remedy) -- a controversial viewpoint worth understanding.
Misunderstanding Equality — "While people may have been created equal, they are, most certainly, not all alike." A provocative exploration of the nature of equity and equality.
The Left Gets Fascism Backward — We all ought to find time to seriously consider thoughtful views from people who deeply disagree with us. This essay, from the Wall Street Journal, offer such a critique of the left.
What We Owe The Future — For societies to flourish over the long run, they must find ways of assuring that the interests of future generations are protected.
A Usable Past for a Post-American Nation -- Arguing about the narrative that houses the facts. — A promising strategy for building a common vision for the future by focusing how we frame an honest account of societies past successes and failures.
Civics Alliance — A national coalition of organizations and citizens dedicated to preserving and improving America's civics education.
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Effective Problem-Solving

The Politicization of Intelligence — From a champion of rigorous expert analysis of policy questions, an alarming essay about how that kind of expertise is being driven from national security decision-making.
Reunited Wisconsinites who disagree on abortion fight to extend postpartum Medicaid — Another "it has been done, it must be possible" story that we ought to try harder to replicate in other areas.
Cross-Sector Leaders Release Groundbreaking Consensus Report on Child Care in Kentucky — A great example of state-level consensus building in action.
Come With Me if You Want to Survive an Age of Extinction — A thought-provoking, but depressing, inventory of the many important aspects of our lives that are now threatened with extinction (and a call for us to do what is necessary to prevent this from happening).
Citizens' Assemblies Inspire Love & Truth in Our Politics — An introduction to citizens assemblies and the role that they might be able to play in building a democracy that is truly "of the people, by the people, and for the people."
Why the government built only 58 EV charging stations in three years — An in-depth look at the good (and not so good) reasons why the government takes so long to get anything done. This case study looks at efforts to expand the number of EV charging stations.
Americans' Rage at Health Insurance Companies Is an Opportunity — An example of the benefits of looking at problems and crises as opportunities to actually make things better.
The Case for Explorers' Day — A creative idea for moving beyond October's perennial conflict between Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day.
Congress Ranked: Top Problem Solvers and Dividers — Compiled by Starts with US, a weekly rundown of the top (and bottom) players in America's most popular full-contact sport -- politics.
Critical reflection: Ethical marketing of conflict resolution services — Samantha Hardy argues that mediators need to be very careful to use an honest and accurate approach to marketing, to develop credibility and maintain the legitimacy of the field.
Inside the Secret Negotiations to Free Evan Gershkovich — The report on the complex negotiations surrounding the recent prisoner exchange (and disturbing news about how authoritarian regimes are profiting from a hostage-taking strategy).
Are You Really Thinking Critically? Let's Find Out! — Separating Critical Thought from Cynical Noise with David Beckenmeyer and science educator Melanie Trecek-King.
The Thinking Citizen — Ashok Panikkar asks whether this is an oxymoron or an existential imperative. Given that successful democracies are dependent upon THE PEOPLE, he concludes that deep thought is essential for democracy.
The Quiet Magic of Middle Managers — A must-read article about the "middle managers" whose conflict-handling expertise enables our society to function.
Conflict Engagement and Peacemaking — A Peace Talks Radio podcast exploring "conflict engagment" and explaining how this differs from more familiar "conflict resoloution."
CSU Center for Public Deliberation — Our aim is to improve the way our community is able to talk through complex issues so that we can arrive at better decisions. CPD provides the space, good information, and skilled facilitation to facilitate such collaborative decision making.
Resolutionaries — Resolutionaries is an organization dedicated to bringing Americans together. Our goal is to shift the current paradigm --- from fighting over our problems to working together to solve them.
Colleges Are Lying to Their Students — For a time when colleges promise, but failed, to teach students how to think, a simple question that would improve all of our thinking: "What is the best argument of the other side?"
Can Plastic Recycling Ever Really Work? — An example of a small, but effective effort to challenge the misleading labeling of "recyclable" plastics in ways that expand the market for true recyclables (and limit "greenwashing").
A fiscal crisis awaits. Here's a provocative idea for heading it off. — The realistic strategy, with a proven track record, for grappling with the kind of tough public policy problems that require substantial public sacrifice.
We fixed I-95 in 12 days. Here are our lessons for U.S. infrastructure. — A story (with lots of practical implications) of how, when we really want to, we can resolve disputes and make decisions quickly in ways that actually get things done.
The World Needs Neutrals — For those too frequent times when war breaks out, a reminder of the critical role played by neutral humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross.
IREX and the Community Solutions Program — A report on innovations in networking and cooperation, looking at ways to build trust , overcome the free-rider problem, and inspire participation in collaborative projects among widespread participants.
Make it a Habit: Be Hard on Issues But Soft on People — A quick "how to" (and why) from Starts with Us as a good way to reduce polarization, improve relationships, and get more done.
Community Mediation--Year 2 — Community mediation, says Chip Hauss, is the "best-kept secret" in the peacebuilding field.
Tamarack Institute — The Tamarack Institute develops and supports collaborative strategies that engage citizens and institutions to solve major community issues across Canada and beyond.
Summer 2023: CBI in Action — Short summaries of the many projects the Consensus Building Institute is currently working on, showing that consensus can be built in very difficult situations.
Citizen Solutions: America's Hidden Opportunity Revealed. — Starts With Us' inititiave to empower Americans to overcome our misperceptions and co-create solutions to shared challenges. This article shows how badly we misjudge "the other" on many dimensions.
Fighting for a U.S. federal budget that prioritizes peace, economic security and shared prosperity — An online tool to explore budget trade-offs between the military and other spending priorities. The National Priorities Project asserts that the budget should reflect our priorities--but does it?
3 Collaborative Practices for Advancing Social Impact — Know what you're good at and what your partners can do better, find the most powerful leverage point, and allow for failure and learn from it and the three practices highlighted here.
The Man Who Settled the Fox-Dominion Defamation Case From a Romanian Tour Bus — An interesting profile of how a mediator brokered the out-of-court settlement in the Dominion / Fox News case.
The Case For (Even More) Compromise — A story about what has been gained through compromise and what our stubborn unwillingness to compromise further is costing us.
The Democracy, Politics, and Conflict Engagement Initiative (DPACE) — A Mediators Beyond Borders initiative to enhance social movements and communities to engage in conflict constructively.
Healthy Democracy — Healthy Democracy is a US-based nonpartisan nonprofit that designs and coordinates innovative deliberative democracy programs
Ethelo.com Case Studies — Case studies illustrating the many ways that Etholo has been applied to reach consensus solutions to tricky problems.
Ethelo — Ethelo is a "digital democracy platform" that helps organizations come to consensus solutions after involving many stakeholders in an online deliberative process.
Keystone Habits for a Collaborative Learning Culture — "Keystone habits" have the power to start a chain reaction, changing other habits as they move through an organization or system. They can jump start collaboration.
Humanity's Phase Shift', Daniel Schmachtenberger — A video discussing why modern day governance isn't working, and what every individual must do within themselves to enable us as a community and society, to work out our problems together.
Consensus Building Institute Resources — Another "if it being done it must be possible" story -- an extensive collection of resources explaining how people are successfully collaborating despite deep differences.
Rich Rubenstein's Blog — A blog from Richard Rubenstein, a professor of Conflict Resolution at the Carter School. Most recently Rich has focused on the quest for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
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Negotiation / Collaboration

Emotional Intelligence for Peer Mediators — An announcement of an upcoming webinar with Frederick Golder on November 8, 2024. In a note to us, Frederick observed that the "best way to get beyond intractability is to teach our children the benefits of constructive conflict resolution."
The Mediation Group: Conflict Coaching — Conflict coaching is a one-on-one process that develops the client's skill at handling conflict, or supports the client in working through a particularly difficult or complex conflict.
Association for Conflict Resolution — ACR is an international professional association for mediators, arbitrators, educators and other conflict resolution practitioners.
Negotiation: A Very Short Introduction — Leading negotiation scholar Carrie Menkel-Meadow's basic book highlighting things everyone should understand about negotiation.
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Effective Problem-Solving Efforts

We Don't Need This Much Permitting — As the controversy surrounding the Department of Government Efficiency heats up, an argument that we really are an overregulated society.
Network for Responsible Public Policy — NFRPP provides stories that educate, inform, foster civic engagement, and generate a sense of shared purpose to help keep US democracy dynamic and viable.
A Guide for Building a Sustainable and Resilient Collaboration — Five elements are required for collaborative success: a common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communications, and backbone infrastructure.
Weighing difficult choices for a more promising future — Our choices will determine whether we continue on the path of dehumanizing one another in ways that fracture society and promote conflict, or will we change directions so that America can thrive again.
Divided Community Project — DCP provides dispute resolution and systems-design expertise to help local community and university leaders enhance community resiliency and prepare for and respond to events that polarize their communities.
Common Ground Committee's Podcast: Let's Find Common Ground — A podcast exploring paths to more progress and less division. How to find common ground with "the other side."
Mediators Beyond Borders International — MBBI builds local skills for peace and promotes mediation worldwide, emphasizing inclusivity cultural competency, and trauma healing.
National Association for Community Mediation — A member organization, and a hub for advancing the work of community mediators, aggregating their wisdom and amplifying their voice.
The Renewable Energy Revolution Has a Power Line Problem — A reminder of the importance of comprehensive problem-solving efforts and the fact that failure to address some aspects of a problem can make successful efforts to address other aspects meaningless.
Lina Khan: We Must Regulate A.I. Here's How. — Amid all of the concern about the social impact of the coming AI revolution, specific proposals for regulatory changes that would limit problems while also helping us take advantage of the new technology.
Biden Administration Proposes Evenly Cutting Water Allotments From Colorado River — A classic example of a negative-sum game and the complex, high-stakes political conflict that surrounds it.
The Problem With Everything-Bagel Liberalism — A pragmatic look at what it takes to really solve problems why trying to solve too many problems at once can be counterproductive.
The Reagan Revolution Was Built on Compromise — For those on the right who do not feel that the changes they seek can be achieved through compromise, a reminder of what Ronald Reagan was able to accomplish.
How UK Politicians Are Learning to Disagree---More Agreeably — From the United Kingdom yet another promising story about people who are showing us that it's possible to handle conflict in positive ways.
These radically simple changes helped lawmakers actually get things done — Another one of those good news stories about people doing things that the conventional wisdom thinks impossible.
Banning noncompete clauses would be an economic game changer — Noncompete clauses, especially for low and middle income workers, represent a kind of modern day indentured servitude. Hopeful news about efforts to ban the practice.
Bad Apples' or Systemic Issues? — A look at a continuum between two very different ways of responding to outrageous and indefensible acts and reflections on how our politics affects our response.
Congress Must Halt Big Tech's Power Grab — We need to do more than complain about the power of big tech. Here is somebody who's trying to find a way to control that power. Who can improve on these ideas?
I'm a Congressman Who Codes. A.I. Freaks Me Out. — An example of somebody who is trying to come up with realistic ways of limiting the downsides of A.I while enjoying the upsides.
Secret Congress delivers more good news on clean water — For a media environment dominated by stories of political dysfunction, a good news account of how (with bipartisan support) we have been making major strides toward reducing water pollution.
Urban Rural Action — UR Action brings together Americans across divides to tackle our nation's most urgent challenges. They focus on building relationships by solving problems together in all 50 states.
A Good-Will Government Was Possible in Israel — From Naftali Bennett, lessons learned from Israel's attempt to govern across deep political divides -- an attempt that focused on the "70/70 rule" (the 70% of issues that 70% of Israelis agree upon).
Institute for Negotiation Innovation — INI is a new nonprofit which bridges negotiation research and practice, provides negotiation thought leadership, and mobilizes capacity for highler levels of negotiation competence and excellence.
Biden Can Still Get Things Done. Achieving National Unity Isn't One of Them — For deeply divided society, a more realistic look at things that might be actually accomplished over the near-term.
A Compromise on Immigration Is Possible. This Bill Could Make It Happen. — Welcome news that, even in today's hyper- polarized environment, there are people who are actively working to reach mutually beneficial, compromise agreements on today's tough issues.
Bringing a Conflict Lens to the US and Corporations as Agents of Peace — The first of a series of webinars held by the Alliance for Peacebuilding examining the need for and methods for doing peacebuilding in the United States.
Calif. Passed CARE Court Bill. Will Other States Follow? — A look at California's efforts to deal with the hard choices that arise when the problems of untreated mental illness intersect with the politically explosive issue of homelessness.
Malthusian Theory Has Always Been False — A hopeful argument that, despite over a century of worrying about "overshoot and collapse," economic productivity continually managed to outstrip population growth.
Joe Biden should do some boring bipartisan commissions — A persuasive argument for remembering one way in which we can come together, put aside our acrimony, and get about the business of finding mutually beneficial solutions to our common problems.
A Functional Congress? Yes. — Amid today's political fury, a surprising observation -- the 117th Congress has actually been remarkably functional (often in a bipartisan way).
Transfroming the Conversation on Carbon Pricing USA — A policy dialogue between carbon pricing advocates and environmental justice activists about how to advance climate policy in ways that better include the concerns of vulnerable communities.
How Bipartisan Gun-Control Talks Actually Succeeded — Another "if it exist it must be possible" story --- this one focuses on the especially incendiary topic of gun control.
How the gay rights movement found such stunning success — As we contemplate strategies for promoting constructive social change, it's worth looking to past successes for guidance.
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Bridge Building

Why 500 Organizations Joined Forces to Bridge America's Deepest Divides. — David Beckemeyer talks with Karissa Raskin, the new CEO of Listen First.
The Heat of Resistance Meets the Cool of Dialogue — Eileen Boris and Julia Roig talk about the continuum from raising the heat (resistance) to cooling things down with dialogue. They go on to explain why both approaches are valid and needed.
Action over Dialogue: The Case for Prioritizing Local Civic Engagement — A report from the Trust for Civic Life showing how processes that focus on one issue or problem and move toward action are more impactful than processes that just focus on dialogue.
Exploring a new typology of types of bonding, bridging, and breaking groups — Recording of a "deliberative journalism" call Martin Carcasson holds monthly, this one focused on new material he is developing on bonding, bridging, and breaking/toxic groups.
This Week’s Bridge Moment: Cameron Cohen on Narrative vs. Reality — What if we could improve conversations, not by changing our views, but by changing how we talk?
Bridge Building, To Where? — A provocative essay asking hard but important questions about the theory of change underlying the "bridging" movement (and strategies for increasing its probability of success).
What I’m thinking now, as a political bridge-builder and democracy-strengthener — In answer to the question "what can I do?", Kristen Hansen, of the Civic Health Project, lists five things America needs from all of us.
The Tennessee 11 — A documentary capturing the drama and triumphs of eleven Tennesseans working across difference on gun rights and safety.
The Connection Opportunity — A report from More in Common exploring American's interest in and barriers to connecting across race, politics, socioeconomic status and religion.
Bridging Movement Collaborative — BMC is the new name for the Bridging Movement Alignment Council. This document describes their background, their theory of change , and lists some of their accomplishments.\
Americans are united: send wildfire aid — Ashley Fabrizio, PhD, Head of Research for More in Common US, writes about Americans' desire for federal aid to California fire victims.
Breaking the Cycle: Why Bridge-Building Feels One-Sided (and How We Fix It) — If both sides wait for the other to engage, no one ever will.
Introducing the Bridging Dictionary — Could seeing how opposite sides of the US political spectrum use the same words differently be a first step toward greater cross-political understanding?
5 Ways Liberals Can Build More Bridges with Conservatives — An article based on a conversations with Luke Nathan Phillips of Braver Angels about the state of depolarization and bridge-building endeavors.
The Potential of the Building Civic Bridges Act — The National Civic League describes what this legislation would do and how it is being pursued in the coming Congress.
The Reunited States — A film based on Mark Gerzon's book of the same name, follows four everyday heroes as they journey across the US to bridge racial and political divides.
Bridge Pledge — Bridge Grades for Congress objectively identifies the most collaborative and least polarizing politicians by sorting bridgers from dividers based on voting records, bill authoring, and other public 3rd party data.
Supporting Society's Bridge Builders — In a world of increasing complexity and polarization, system orchestrators drive collective action to achieve outsized impact.
Hands Across the Hills Tells Its Story — The story of a six-year bridging project between a progressive and a conservative community, with their voices, training resources & links to media coverage. Available for free as a pdf.
The Seven Essential Truths of Digital Media Literacy — Solid proposals for responding to the way in which digital media has worked its way into pretty much every corner of our lives.
Addressing Questions from Skeptics of Political Depolarization and Bridge-building Work — Zachary Elwood summarizes a talk between Liz Joyner of The Village Square and Melissa Weintraub, the Executive Director of Resetting The Table.
For Students to Change the World, Colleges Must First Teach Them to Bridge Differences — A commentary from our colleague Shamil Idriss observing that the spring's turmoil on campuses highlights what's not on the curriculum: Young people need conflict resolution skills to lead us to a better future.
Solidarity: Building Solidarity In an Era of Silos — In an age of increasing polarization and division, how can we build bridges? This episode explores the challenges and opportunities of building solidarity in our current social and political climate.
Bridging Movement (BMAC) Goals & Measures Program — This is the home of the Social Cohesion Impact Measurement (SCIM) tool - a resource empowering bridging groups and other institutions to evaluate and measure the impact of their programs.
The One America Movement — The One America Movement partners with faith communities across religious, political, and racial divides to confront toxic polarization in our society. Our vision is a resilient, strong, and united country working together to solve our common challenges.
Peace: We Build It! Building Bridges Amid Division: Understanding America's Conflict Dynamics — In this podcast, AfP Executive Director Liz Hume discusses identity-based grievances, polarization, and social cohesion in the U.S with three experts across the political spectrum.
Belonging Design Principles: A resource guide for building belonging — From the Othering and Belonging Institute, a set of ideas about how society can organize itself so that no one is "othered," and we all collaborate to build a society in which everyone wants to live.
Bridge Entertainment Labs — Accelerating the creation of content that fosters social cohesion and pluralistic norms to transform the way Americans see and engage with each other across divides.
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Trust / Trust Earning

5 Reasons Americans Lost Trust in Each Other—and How We Build it Back — The Builders shares "what is feeding the mistrust machine and how we shut it down."
The Virtue of Integrity — A look at one of the keys to solving the ongoing crisis of distrust -- leaders and experts need to re-earn that trust by acting with integrity.
The twilight of liberal credentialism — More food for thought as we struggle to understand the full implications of the public's lost confidence in society's educated, meritocratic, elites.
Can You Trust Anybody? — A lament about what it means to live in a society in which there are no longer sources of information that are widely trusted.
Can We Trust Social Science Yet? — For a time in which the public no longer trusts science (and especially the social sciences), thoughts about whether science is or is not worthy of the public's trust.
The Crisis of Trust — From Francis Fukuyama, reflections on what has happened to the social fabric in the Trump era.
We can be drawn to distrusting elections when "our side" loses — The goal of this article is only to get people to examine how emotions can make their views more pessimistic and unreasonable,
2024 Edelman Trust Barometer — This tool reveals a new paradox at the heart of society. Rapid innovation offers the promise of a new era of prosperity, but instead, it risks exacerbating trust issues, leading to further societal instability and political polarization.
The Aspen Institute's Social Trust Index. — This social trust index, available for every US zipcode, looks at three measures of trust in neighborhoods across the country, and provides info on how to build more trust.
An Object Lesson From Covid on How to Destroy Public Trust — Reflections on new information about the government's COVID response lost the public's trust and what this implies about how we might better handle future crises.
I've Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust. — This is the critical article about NPR that has provoked considerable outcry. It deserves thoughtful consideration.
Rebuild Trust in Politics: Common Sense Paper # 48 — Those who choose to run for office should evidence some knowledge and care for the principles of sound government. To build trust, they must exhibit both good intent and competence.
Do you keep your agreements? — Anne Leslie explains why keeping our agreements, no matter how small, has important ramifications for our relationships, demonstrating respect and trustworthiness that are hard to replace once broken.
How to Tackle Truth Decay — Thoughts about what to do about a world in which sources of objective truth have almost completely disappeared.
Trust in government: 1958-2015 — A long-term analysis of the way in which trust in US governmental institutions has collapsed over the last half-century.
We've Been Thinking About America's Trust Collapse All Wrong — We live in a time in which we are experiencing the widespread collapse of societal trust. Before we can remedy the situation, we need a more sophisticated image of the processes through which trust is earned.
Using Democratic Innovation to Rebuild Trust between Elected Officials and Citizens — Exploring the use of deliberative town hall meetings. The process brings together a cross-section of the community to have an informed discussion on a topic with an elected official.
Why a Lack of Trust Is So Damaging: Three surprising ways to build greater trust. — We can build greater trust in our lives by focusing on relationships, consistency, and expertise.
The Scarcest Thing in the World — For a world in which we are all depend on being able to work with others, a sobering argument that the trust needed for effective collaboration is the scarcest thing in the world.
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Media Reform

The Next Phase of Democracy Tech — Kristin Hansen of the Civic Health Project explains how we can promote more constructive uses of information technology by moving beyond content moderation and toward more proactive civic technologies.
We Are Rushing Into the Same Mistakes We Made With Social Media — An insightful comparison of the mistakes made during the early stages of social media revolution and similar mistakes that we are now making with respect to AI.
The Fourth Estate — A timely essay explaining why a free press is essential to democracy with thoughts on how best to defend it.
Want a less polarized society? Support local news — Local newspapers, news websites, and TV and radio stations are a necessary part of public infrastructure that must be supported.
Straight Arrow News — A new news service that independent evaluators believe actually lives up to its promise of being a source for straight, unbiased news.
Social Media Can Support or Undermine Democracy – It Comes Down to How It’s Designed — An article by our colleague Lisa Schirch, about the ways much social media is being designed to optimize profit and political power, but it also can be designed to reinforce democracy.
From Harm to Health — The new Blueprint for Prosocial Tech Design Governance lays out systems that incentivize prosocial design -- and goes beyond just removing harm.
Sourdough, Submission, and the Algorithm: When Wellness Becomes a Gateway — How lifestyle content is quietly radicalizing our feeds—and what it says about culture, gender, and power.
It Was the Damn Phones — For parents of young children, and anyone trying to understand how phones have been affecting the lives of young people -- a first person account of what a phone-based childhood is like.
Don’t let the news overwhelm you — use this tool to stay engaged — When it feels like progress isn't happening, a force field analysis can reveal where the status quo is shifting and point to other strategic leverage points.
A Social Feed Without the Rage? Meet Sez Us — David Beckemeyer talks with Yevgeny Simkin, co-founder of Sez Us —a new kind of social media app that’s not built to stoke outrage. The platform’s algorithm is designed to surface thoughtful, meaningful content—not the most toxic or divisive takes.
My School Banned Phones for the Year. Here's What Happened. — An informative update on efforts to reduce the damage that smartphones can do young people.
The Alarm Over Social Media Is Getting Through to Teens — A hopeful, good news story about the young people who are rebelling against the many ways in which their lives and relationships are being threatened and exploited by social media companies
Tyler Cowen: Why I (Often) Choose My Phone Instead of Flesh and Blood — Amid all of the criticisms regarding online life and friendships, a thought-provoking defense of the relationships that we form in the digital world.
Outrage 62 – How Systems Like Community Notes on Twitter/X Aim to Break the Cycle of Misinformation – Paul Resnick — What if the same technology that fuels outrage and division could also help us bridge divides and lower the temperature? In this episode of Outrage Overload, we dive deep into the role of technology in shaping what we see—and believe—online.
Debunking some myths about Tangle (and me). — Tangle exists to deliver political news that can be trusted by the left, right, and center all at once. And to give people of all stripes a more accurate image of their world than they can get elsewhere.
Can recognizing and reducing bias in news help with polarization? with Vanessa Otero — Vanessa Otero is the creator of a popular and well respected media bias chart that ranks the bias of many news outlets. Here she talks about the morass of media bias and how to tell what is and what isn't.
The news is polarizing us. Can Tangle News help? — A talk with journalist Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle News (readtangle.com), which shares takes on current events from across the political spectrum.
Isaac Saul: Doing Journalism That's Trusted by Both Sides [Podcast] - BCB # 56 — An interview with the man who is trying to do what many consider to be impossible -- build a widely trusted news source (one that doesn't just preach to the choir).
We need a Freedom of Information Act for Big Tech — An interesting proposal for limiting the insidious influence that so many tech companies have over our lives -- make those actions visible and turn them into a commercial liability.
Conversation on The Social Dilemma - Part 1 — What is your relationship with social media? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Do you avoid it? What if there are good reasons to love it, hate it, and avoid it - all at once?
Faces of X || Capitalism, Gender, Race, & Abortion — A series from Synthesis Media showing opposing points of view on hot-button topics, and how they may not be so opposing after all.
Beyond the Broadcasting Model — Today's communications landscape demands that social sector organizations move away from a 20th-century broadcasting approach and toward dialogue, relationship-building, and fostering community.
How Jonathan Haidt Won the Fight Against Smartphones in Schools — For those who might think that it is impossible to successfully challenge the system, a report on the increasingly successful campaign to get smartphones out of schools.
This company rates news sites' credibility. The right wants it stopped. — Those wishing to be good citizens desperately need a reliable way of evaluating the credibility of various information sources. This article tells the story of the difficulties faced by one such effort.
Smash The Technopoly! — An interesting exploration of the longer-term relationship between technology and society with lots of references to the people who have done much to help us understand this crucial topic.
The Economics of Media Bias — From the Wall Street Journal, an explanation of the financial incentives that make mainstream media biased and make it hard for unbiased media to be commercially viable.
News Literacy in America — A survey of teen information attitudes, habits and skills on media and the news finds that teens want more media literacy instruction, and more than half of those surveyed believe the press does more to harm democracy than protect it.
How Persuasion Will Cover the Trump Presidency — From Persuasion, their thoughts on how the media might most constructively cover the President Elect.
Can We Trust Tech Giants to Rebuild Society? — David Beckemeyer examines the dreams of Elon Musk and Peter Thiel on how they want to reshape society. Beckemeyer argues that they seek a "digital, decentralized world where institutions like government and law are relics of the past."
Announcing Version 10 of the AllSides Media Bias Chart! — Featuring six new sources and strengthened ratings for 10 outlets ahead of the 2024 presidential election
The Breaking News Consumer's Handbook — A guide on how to interpret "breaking news" -- what to believe; what not, and how to find out.
As Newspapers Fade, Journalists Are Finding New Ways to Cover Local News — A pretty sober assessment of the difficulties facing local news -- an assessment that, surprisingly, also contains good news about the successes that journalists are having in finding ways to continue their work.
Section 230 Catches Up to AI — A description of ongoing litigation that might help overcome the "Section 230" problem and hold tech companies responsible for the content that their algorithms are pushing on users.
AI researchers call for 'personhood credentials' as bots get smarter — One idea for limiting the many threats posed by an online world in which AI-generated, artificial people become indistinguishable from the real thing.
American Political Satire Sucks Because It Force Feeds You Answers Instead of Asking You Questions — A critical essay that asks whether political satire in the United States is playing a positive or a negative role.
AllSides Bias Checker™ — The AllSides Bias Checker provides instant bias ratings and analysis for any news article, based on AllSides' patented bias rating system.
Twitter, Elon and the Indigo Blob — From Nate Silver, reflections on the evolving media environment in which debates regarding the upcoming US election would be played out.
Fix the News — Fix The News is an independent, subscriber-supported publication that reports good news from around the world, read by 55,000 people from 195 countries.
Journalism Needs Cultural Adjacency — A perceptive analysis of how reporting suffers when there are deep cultural differences between journalists and the people that they are writing about.
How the Atlantic Went From Broke to Profitable in Three Years — For those who feared that good journalism was no longer economically feasible, a hopeful story about the Atlantic's resurrection.
The problem with social media is that it exists at all — A report on an interesting study that reveals that people would actually be willing to pay to remove social media from their lives and the lives of their friends.
America's Tech Giants Rush to Comply With New Curbs in Europe — After years of complaining about the many ways in which tech companies are exploiting the public, news that the EU is taking a major step to address the problem.
Strategies for Improving the Global Information Environment: Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis — This IPIE Summary for Policymakers presents the main findings of two IPIE Synthesis Reports that examine countermeasures to misinformation on social media platforms.
The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) — The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) is an independent global organization dedicated to providing actionable scientific knowledge on threats to our information landscape.
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System Thinking Strategies

The Rondine Method — A blog post from our friend Chip Hauss about innovative ways we can all copy this deep Italian approach to conflict resolution and apply it in our own lives.
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.
Co-Intelligence Institute — The Institute develops innovations in individual and collective wisdom, choice-making, and co-creativity, developing tools that help people and communities design effective self-governance systems.
The Networks Festival — The Fito Network's "Network Festival" seeks to bring together (online and in person) 1000s of people from other networks to deepen understanding of how we leverage relationships to transform the world.
7 Ideas to Reduce Political Polarization. And Save America from Itself. — Sensible things that we could all do to actually help limit the polarization that we complain so much about.
How to Be Left Without Being Woke -- Towards a better understanding of status and victimhood. — Ideas for crafting a response to the world's often grotesque inequities that will be more likely to attract the support needed for successful, long-term implementation.
How to Save Democracy — From The Atlantic, a report on a massive, crowd-sourced effort to find and then test mass audience-based strategies for diffusing our hyper-polarized politics
The U.S. is Heading Toward a Second Civil War. Here Is How We Avoid It — From Peter Coleman, a colleague with a long history of research into the problems posed by complexity and intractability, thoughts about how to escape our current predicament.
Failing Productively in Systems Change: Key Mindsets and Practices — How do we embrace failure as an inevitable part of the work of shifting complex systems?
Applying Regenerative Practice to Systems Beyond Place -- Some Thoughts — Applying the prinicples of living (biological) systems to social systems to help address threats and redesign those systems to thrive.
The Consilience Project — A project exploring how our social systems and institutions need to be redesigned if free, open, non-authoritarian societies are to survive.
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Multi-Faceted Projects

Polarization and Social Change Lab — Our work is focused on developing practical scientific knowledge in three main areas: paths to political consensus, reducing harms of polarization, and effective strategies of social activism.
YOUnify — YOUnify is a nonprofit project which works to (1) reduce polarization and cultural division by uniting people from business, philanthropy, impact investing, non-profits, government, inter-faith, arts , media, and grassroots organizations working to problem solve together.
The Horizons Project — The Horizons Project recognizes the urgency for a social movement to protect democracy to come together now in the United States. Our vision, mission and values represent our deep commitment to systems-level organizing with the existing ecosystem of social change: i.e., all those working for change with different priorities and from different vantage points across the ideological spectrum.
CivXNow — A national cross-partisan coalition of over 260 organizations focused on improving our nation's K-12 in and out-of-school civic education.
Civics Renewal Network — The Civics Renewal Network is an alliance of 37 nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations that provide free online classroom resources for civics education.
More in Common — More in Common works on both short and longer term initiatives to understand and address the underlying drivers of fracturing and polarization, and build more united, resilient and inclusive societies.
Civic Health Projects -- Short, simple interventions can reduce partisan animosity (yay)! So, what comes next? — Ninety ideas for correcting inaccurate stereotypes, appealing to common identities, role modeling, strengthening political leadership, highlighting the threat, modifying social media, etc.
To Build a Bridge: The Bridge Alliance Podcasts — A podcast series focused on illuminating the complex societal issues we face and highlighting the solution-oriented work of the many organizations and community leaders in the Bridge Allinace Network.
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Overcoming Hate-Mongering Efforts

Colombia's Peace-Whisperer Makes Plenty of Enemies — A profile of what it takes to fill one of society's most difficult and dangerous roles -- that of a peacemaker.
Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism in Schools (2022-2023) USA — BRAVE Schools, a project of the Karuna Center, works in partnership with middle and high schools in Western Massachusetts to proactively engage students and staff in preventing violence and strengthening resilience.
India Eyes a New Identity — The government's preoccupation with "Bharat" caps a nativist surge under Modi. Can a country that is bogged down in battling its past ever truly hope to win a better future?
How to Encourage Civility From Politicians? Give Them a Score — The Dignity Index encourages everyone, politicians and others, to check their speech and consider whether it dignifies or degrades those they see as political opponents.
The 'Other Side' Is Not Dumb -- Is it possible we're not right about everything? — A much-needed call for some old-fashioned humility and serious consideration of the possibility that we might have something to learn from our political opponents.
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Countering Misinformation

In Colorado, a Murder and a Viral Video Stoke Fears of Migrant Crime — An example of the kind of in-depth reporting that gives us all a chance to separate fact from politically convenient fiction.
When Fact-Checks Backfire — In theory, fact checking provides one of our most important tools for combating misinformation. This article takes a critical look at the factors undermining the effectiveness of these tools.
What I Wish More People Knew About American Evangelicalism — For a time in which evangelicals are, especially on the left, widely demonized, an article that tries to explain the positive impact that this movement has had on the lives of so many people.
The Orwell Test — Thought-provoking reflections on what one of history's leading experts on authoritarianism might think of contemporary politics and the many people who are trying to co-opt his ideas.
The Rage and Joy of MAGA America — A thoughtful essay offering those on the progressive left new insights into the appeal of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
The American Left's Fantastic Threats — A provocative and, if true, game-changing argument that many of the things that the left most fears about the right are nowhere nearly as serious as is widely believed.
"Misinformation" isn't just on the right — A timely reminder that the complex dynamics that lead to a misinformed citizenry afflict those the left and the center as well as the right.
Countermeasures for Mitigating Digital Misinformation: A Systematic Review — This Synthesis Report reviews the findings from 588 peer-reviewed publications, from around the world and many disciplines, to highlight the most effective countermeasures for disinformation.
The Government Created a New Disinformation Office To Oversee All the Other Ones — Another window into the vast bureaucracy that has been created to control disinformation and, quite possibly, political disagreement.
Your political rivals aren't as bad as you think. Our misunderstandings amplify hostility. — From Kansas, evidence that our conflicts are more the result of misunderstandings and less the result of deep-rooted disagreements.
Bring Back Objective Journalism — More on the debate over whether "objectivity" is the key to trustworthiness or whether it is an obstacle to be avoided.
The 'Disinformation Industry' Is Only One Part of a Larger Scandal — From the National Review, a critique of the left-leaning fact-checking industry and a reminder of the difficulties faced by this once promising effort to provide us with information we can rely on.
How to Destroy (What's Left of) the Mainstream Media's Credibility — A critical response to ongoing calls for the media to abandon the quest for objectivity in favor of solidarity with progressive worldviews.
Internet Censorship 2023: A Global Map of Internet Restrictions — Interested in learning how your country compares to the rest of the world on internet censorship? Comparitek has broken down every country's online restrictions into an easy-to-read guide.
Politics and the English Language, 2023 — Starting with George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language," a critique of some of the ways in which the left deceptively uses language to advance its agenda.
Meta's Proposed Reforms Are Significant — From Facebook, hopeful news that there are at least some serious and promising ideas for promoting more constructive online interactions.
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Saving Democracy

Reluctant Truth-Tellers and Institutional Fragility — In democracies under strain, the most important truths often arrive too late, uttered hesitantly by those who should have spoken earlier.
U.S. Democratic Backsliding in Comparative Perspective — The erosion of U.S. democracy under President Donald Trump shares many features with other prominent cases of democratic backsliding. Yet a close comparative look highlights important distinctive elements of Trump’s approach.
Wisconsin Business Leaders Ensure Fair Elections — An article from the Horizons Project explaining how civic pressure, pledges, and letters helped preserve electoral trust in Wisconsin.
Understanding Democratic Erosion — An interactive conflict map illustrating the reinforcing feedback loops that drive the system of democratic erosion.
Introducing the Democracy Atlas — The introduction to a major project exploring what the world's struggling democracies can learn from one another.
Designing a Bigger “We”: Civic Studies & Civic Innovation Huddle (Aug 18, 2025) — We’re designing a bigger “We.” This Huddle shows how: start with belonging, give people simple ways to join, and tie dialogue to real work that changes local conditions or innovates new civic life.
One Sentence in the Constitution Is Causing America Huge Problems — For rule of law-based systems of government to work, the laws have to be very clear about what is and what is not permissible -- otherwise loophole seeking, bad actors will find ways to subvert these systems.
Rules Matter More Than Rulers — An essay based on a provocative hypothetical, which would be worse: a Trump presidency that was actually constrained by the law or a Democratic presidency that was not?
How Not to Fix American Democracy — A critical review of an important new book, The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding.
Proportional representation is the solution to gerrymandering — Amid the all of the current fury over gerrymandering, a concrete, sensible proposal for reforming this aspect of representative democracy.
When Lawmakers Aren’t Allowed to Make Laws — A detailed description of just how far the US lawmaking process that we were taught about in civics classes differs from today's reality.
The Politics America Needs Now — For a time when much of our effort focuses on the many things that are going wrong, a rare article describing how we can make things go right.
FAQ: Deliberative Town Halls for Congress — More information from Civic Genius about their "deliberative town halls." What they are, how they work, and why they are a good idea.
Reimagining Congressional Town Halls — Civic Genius announces a first-of-its-kind deliberative town hall designed to facilitate deep discussion with a cross-section of Washington’s 9th District residents
Mapping How Mamdani’s Ranked-Choice Strategy Beat Cuomo — After years of hearing arguments that ranked-choice voting is the cure for democracy's ills, we now have a big election that was decided under ranked choice rules to contemplate.
Freedom in the World 2025: The Uphill Battle to Safeguard Rights — A report from Freedom House documenting the 19th year of declining freedom, arguing that "all those who understand the value of political rights and civil liberties must work together in the defense of democracy."
V-Dem — Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) provides a multidimensional and disaggregated dataset that reflects the complexity of the concept of democracy, focusing on 5 dimensions: electoral, liberal, participatory, deliberative, and egalitarian dimensions.
Open Government Partnership — Open Government Partnership is an organization of reformers inside and outside of government working to transform how government serves its citizens.
Global Democracy Coalition — A multi-stakeholder solidarity network, the Global Democracy Coalition explores and seizes opportunities for collective action and influence for the global democracy agenda.
We the People — As we approach the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, We the People is calling on leaders to take up their power, exercise their values, and courageously build a future where all can thrive.
Can Citizens’ Assemblies Become a Permanent Process in the U.S.? — The question now is not whether citizens’ assemblies work --they do -- but whether the United States, with its deep-seated political traditions and institutional inertia, can adopt them meaningfully and at scale.
Endorse the Fair Representation Act — The Fair Representation Act seeks to reduce gerrymandering by implementing ranked choice voiting, multi-winner congressional distructs and uniform rules for congressional redistricting.
How Do We Rebuild Institutions That Serve Citizens? — From Common Sense, description of one important aspect of their 52 point plan for renewing democracy.
America Has Always Been a Dangerous Idea — Thoughtful reflections on the most valuable features of US society and the contributions that it has made to humanity.
On Patriotism and Protest — Thoughtful reflections on how to resolve the apparent contradiction between being patriotic and, at the same time, very critical of a society.
Why Even the “Losers” Embraced the Outcome: What Citizens’ Assemblies Teach Us About Democratic Legitimacy — In democratic politics, every decision produces winners and losers. The critical question is: Will the losing side accept the outcome? This concept, known as losers’ consent, is foundational to democratic legitimacy.
RealTime DemTrends — A new substack trying to assess what's REALLY going on with US democracy based on measurements of 39 factors across 13 key dimensions of US Democratic health.
People Say Democracy Isn’t Working — An article in the "Journal of Democracy" showing that people around the world think democracy isn't working as it should, but there seems to be little interest in fixing it. Why? Joel Day asks.
People Power #3: Ostbelgien’s Permanent Citizens’ Council — A New Pillar of Democracy — A story from Just Citizens about a citizens' council established in 2019 in Belgium. Randomly selected citizens are integrated into the legislative process, with agenda-setting powers and a structured platform to influence policy decisions.
The Supreme Court Is Watching Out for the Courts, Not for Trump — A reassuring look at recent Supreme Court decisions that contrast with more popular partisan analyses and gives hope that the judiciary may continue to fulfill its constitutional role.
Nondelegation and Major Questions Doctrines Can Constrain Power Grabs by Presidents of Both Parties — A report on two of the biggest legal issues surrounding efforts to constrain Presidential Power -- issues that are often misunderstood in partisan ways.
Feeling cautiously optimistic about American democracy — Hopeful reflections on the "No Kings" protests and what it says about the United States underlying political culture.
Diagnosing and Treating a Withering Democracy — An editorial from Doug Linkhart, President of the National Civic League, about our current predicament and how to address it.
When Culture Breaks, Democracy Won’t Be Far Behind — Reflections on the critically important relationship between a society's cultural and social beliefs and the health of its democratic systems of governance
How Do We Resist Trump — A podcast with directors of the Indivisible Project, State Demoracy Defenders Action, and the Horizons Project.
The Slow Death of Effective Government — A report on the complex ways in which Trump administration actions are dramatically altering the civil service (and undermining the ability of government employees to serve the public).
Epistemic Secession: Can Democracy Survive Without a Shared Reality? — When Americans no longer agree on who to trust or what counts as truth, democracy itself is at risk. Rebuilding a shared foundation of facts may be our only path forward.
Principles for Trusted Elections — The Principles for Trusted Elections is a cross-partisan national program helping to restore voters’ confidence along six dimensions: honest process, nonviolent campaigning, secure voting, responsible oversight, and trusted outcomes.
Can democracy take us into the future? — A podcast with Suzette Brooks, a political strategist and Senior Fellow at the Democracy Funders Network, exploring her research on ways to invigorate democratic practice, including citizens’ assemblies and participatory budgeting.
What is democracy, anyway? — To explain the threat, focus on the *why* not the *what*
The Democracy Index - May 23, 2025 edition — An examination of some of the ways Donald Trump is increasingly becoming an autocrat, unbounded by any sense of decency, empathy, or rule of law.
Why Democracy Is in Retreat — From Walter Russell Mead, an attempt to distinguish genuine threats to democracy from the widespread use of anti-democratic rhetoric to undermine the legitimacy of political opponents.
Is Gen Z Giving Up on Democracy? — Is Gen Z really giving up on democracy? Not quite. Rabhya Mehrotra, writes about More in Common's surprising findings – and what they mean for democracy advocates.
Hit Refresh on the U.S. Constitution: A Revolutionary Roadmap for Fulfilling the Promise of Democracy — Our Constitution, while brilliant in its time, is nearly 250 years old. In a new book by Paul Zeitz of #unifyUSA, Zeitz lays out how he thinks we can peacefully and inclusively rewrite the "code" of our democracy—so it truly works for everyone.
The Democracy Index for May 2, 2025 — “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.” This was Winston Churchill speaking about Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler. This article applies Churchill's observation to the Trump era.
Congress needs an expansion. A ‘high line’ could make it possible. — An overview of an intriguing, but seldom mentioned, proposal for strengthening US democracy -- expand the House of Representatives.
Trump’s autocracy is growing—but patriotic opposition is growing faster — A hopeful story about the speed with which opposition to the Trump administration's most extreme and indefensible policies is growing.
From Resistance to Resilience: A Guide for Organizing Civil Society Field Hearings — HOLD til MAY 4!!!This guide provides a practical approach to addressing concerns about presidential overreach by using Civil Society [Congressional] Field Hearings to harness shared intelligence with democratic participation, strengthen oversight, and create a public record that holds elected leaders accountable.
Who Really Runs America? — For those who wonder why America can't seem to successfully do anything, an important review of the powers held by small special interest groups.
Delivering for Democracy: Why Results Matter — From Francis Fukuyama, an in-depth, academic article explaining why it is so important for democratic societies to improve their ability to successfully address problems.
State Citizens' Assemblies: Time to Refresh the U.S. Constitution — The founders gave us a revolutionary document in 1787. Now, as our democracy fractures under polarization and systemic dysfunction, it's our turn to revitalize it. Citizens' Assemblies can help us do that.
Make Congress Great Again — For those who might share the public's generally low opinion of Congress, ideas for improving Congress in ways that would allow it to earn back the trust that has been lost.
Disqualification Is Not a Democratic Process — Serious questions about the controversial (and suspect) way in which Marine Le Pen was removed as a candidate for the French presidency.
Path Forward: Defining The Democracy Reform Movement, Julia Roig — Julia talks about the Democracy Reform Movement on the Fulcrum's new Podcast series.
Modernizing Congress with Lorelei Kelly — Lorelei Kelly joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career in working to build a more informed and responsive democracy and founding Georgetown Democracy, Education and Service to continue working on congressional reform.
A Battle for the Soul of the West — An examination of our hyper-polarized politics that centers around the conflict over whether "enlightenment values" are worth defending.
It May Not Be Brainwashing, but It's Not Democracy, Either — A review, with lots of citations, of the role that the tech elite is playing in the Trump administration.
An Unexpected Trump Bump for the World's Centrists — Evidence that President Trump's "shock and awe" policies are strengthening centrists and weakening support for right-wing populists around the world.
We Dodged A Constitutional Bullet — A report on hopeful, but still precarious, signs that the courts will force Trump to act within legal constraints.
The One Question That Really Matters: If Trump Defies the Courts, Then What? — An examination of one of the most important crunch points that will determine whether or not President Trump's authoritarian ambitions will be realized.
The Death of Competition in American Elections — The surprising and disturbing look at how few US elections are contested in any meaningful way. Democracy can't work when the views of so many voters are irrelevant.
The Dilemmas of Democracy — A thoughtful exploration of the complex relationship between democratic self-rule, public opinion, and genuine expertise.
Democracy is Fighting Back — More information about the rapidly evolving nature of efforts to push back against the Trump administration's radical changes.
Exploring Plural Voting as a Method for Citizen Engagement — From New America, this interview is part of a series spotlighting successful stories of co-governance models across rural, urban, and tribal communities.
The End of the Cordon Sanitaire — An insightful comparative analysis of how coalition building works and doesn't work in US and European democratic systems.
The Democracy Index & The Contrarian — The Democracy Index is a project that will use the expertise of lawyers and political scientists to track developments in Trump 2.0., based on facts and transparent analysis.
How You Can Protect Democracy — An article describing 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect democracy.
Here's What You Can Do to Keep Democracy Alive During Trump's Second Term — From George Lakoff, another set of recommendations for those wishing to play a positive role during the coming Trump Presidency.
Democracy Playbook 2025 — From Brookings, thoughts about how we might better protect the integrity of elections, promote the rule of law, combat corruption, and counter disinformation.
The Bomb Is Back as the Risk of Nuclear War Enters a New Age — For those who may have thought that the risk of nuclear war was a story for the history books, news that this terrifying threat is intensifying once again. We need to prioritize efforts to defuse it.
Liberal Democracy Faces Doubts. But Collapse? Not Likely. — A hopeful essay highlighting the factors that are allowing democracy to retain its resilience in the face of its ongoing challenges.
Reasons To Be Hopeful in 2025 -- BCB #131 — From our colleagues at the Better Conflict Bulletin, an essay explaining that people on the other side aren't as extreme as we think, support for violence is low, and people are investing more in healthy conflict.
Democracy Next — DemocracyNext is an international foundation working to accelerate the spread of high quality, empowered, and permanent citizens' assemblies to give everyone meaningful power to shape their communities.
Democracy in 2024 was noisy and chaotic. It was also resilient. — A more reassuring look at democracy's travails -- one that asks us to separate the chaos and conflict that are a feature of democracy from its real problems.
The Future of our Fromer Democracy — Northern Ireland's history and politics offer a blueprint for how the US can implement a better electoral system, especially in the wake of rising polarization and political violence.
Facing Uncertainty Together: How Philanthropy Can Stand for Democracy in Challenging Times — A look at how the philanthropic sector views democracy's ongoing crisis and their role in helping to address that crisis.
The Nearly $100 Million Election-Reform Flop — A postmortem on the once promising efforts to strengthen democracy through open primaries and ranked choice voting.
To save liberal democracy, save its institutions — The persuasive argument that well-functioning institutions (not individuals) are the key to successful democratic societies (because they allow us to effectively pool our collective expertise).
Making Government Efficient Again — An example of the kind of constructive reform proposals needed to correct institutional shortcomings while, at the same time, preserving the benefits of those same institutions.
Governors Launch Initiative to Protect American Democracy — From Colorado Gov. Polis information about the Governors Initiative to Protect American Democracy.
A Reckoning for the Pro-Democracy Community — From a big supporter of pro-democracy efforts, real concern about the degree to which the movement is dominated by progressives (with very little conservative involvement).
Liberalism is the rebellion now — Concern that classic liberal ideals like individual freedom and dignity are increasingly being marginalized.
Lessons from Around the World: Engaging 'Pillars of Support' to Uphold and Expand Democracy — From Maria Stephan of the Horizons Project, a review of the strategies that politicians, business leaders, religious leaders, trade unions, sports figures, and others have used to fight authoritarianism outside the U.S.
Protect Democracy — Protect Democracy is a cross-ideological nonprofit group that uses litigation, legislative and communications strategies, technology, research, and analysis to defend elections, rule of law, and fact-based debate.
How Congress Unleashed the Presidency — An interesting argument that many of our difficulties stem from the fact that we created a government that was too big for our democratic institutions to govern.
Elections, Democratic Processes — A collection of resources compiled by the TRUST Network on keeping elections fair, free, and safe.
What Worries You About the Other Side? — A list of election planning and communication resources compiled by Nealin Parker from Common Ground USA and Kristin Hansen from the Civic Health Project to help organizations respond to election tensions more effectively.
Journal of Democracy Subject Guides — This subject guide shares reading lists covering crucial contemporary subjects. The materials listed below can serve as no-cost or low-cost reading materials in undergraduate political science courses.
Supreme Court Reform Is in the Air — An especially good overview of proposals to "reform" the Supreme Court and the relative advantages and disadvantages of each.
Business for Democracy: A Call for Courage and Action — There is ample evidence that democracies around the world are being threatened by authoritarian populist forces, and that the best antidote to stemming this tide is broad-based, "big tent" organizing to stand up for democratic norms and freedoms.
More Polarization, More Election Distrust: Why We Must Avoid Temptations to Call Elections "Rigged" — Starts with Us argues that we must see that when we call elections "illegitimate" without very strong reasons, we hurt America.
Democracy plays no role in the UN's Pact for the Future — The Pact for the Future, adopted at the United Nations Summit of the Future on 22-23 September in New York, is a pivotal framework designed to address global challenges with a long-term vision extending beyond 2030. Surprisingly, this vision does not include democracy.
Bipartisanship Reinvigorated — From the journal Democracy, a symposium and set of papers on top down and bottom up ways to invigorate bipartisan democracy.
Hahrie Han | Tanner Lecture 1 | Stories of Democracy Realized: Becoming, Belonging, Building — A series of lectures exploring the ways in which different communities (including Christian faith communities) practice democracy,
Democracy Resource Hub — The Hub offers curated tools and connections for democracy practitioners worldwide. Access resources on civic engagement, nonviolent action, peacebuilding, and strategic planning, and joining the global community of dialogue practitioners.
Civilization Works — Civilization Works is a research organization that is defending the pillars of civilization: Free Speech, Cheap Energy, Meritocracy, Law and Order, Equal Justice, Free and Fair Elections, and Childhood.
The Grave Error of Old-School Liberals — The challenge for traditional liberals worried about the declining influence of their political philosophy -- think about the ways in which your actions may have contributed to this decline.
Things Worth Remembering: The Imperfection of America — An argument for holding democratic institutions to a more reasonable standard -- one that reflects the fact that we are a long ways from figuring out a perfect process for governing ourselves.
The Left's Assault on the Constitution — For those who see Democrats as defenders of our democratic (and Constitutional) institutions, a worrying story about the many Democrats who are embracing radical changes to those institutions.
The Enduring Wisdom of America's Founding Documents — For a time in which faith in US democracy is plummeting, a review of the reasons why so many people have, throughout history, found the United States' founding principles to be so inspiring.
Taking Democracy for Granted: Philanthropy, Polarization, and the Need for Responsible Pluralism — A new report written by Daniel Stid in which he asserts that philanthropy, as it is currently practiced, has increased polarization. He urges philanthropists to practice "responsible pluralism" instead.
Liberalism Offers a Language of Resistance Against Authoritarianism Everywhere. The West may have become complacent about defending liberalism but non-Western countries are naturally turning to it — Thoughts on the complex relationship between liberalism and authoritarianism and why fighting authoritarianism requires a stronger defense of liberalism.
What if Congress had more than two parties? Proportional representation could create a more functional Congress. A new report outlines how and why it just might work. — A provocative idea for reforming the U.S. Congress in ways that supporters believe would help defuse hyper-polarization by making Congress more like a parliament.
In Praise of First-Past-the-Post — A compare and contrast article exploring the implications of the two principal ways in which democracies select members of legislative bodies.
How to fix presidential primaries — Thoughtful ideas for improving our politics by reforming the process through which the major parties select presidential candidates.
How to harden our defenses against an authoritarian president — A call for taking the steps needed to close the legal loopholes that could allow an unscrupulous president to bypass our system of checks and balances.
The Founders Saw This Insane Political Moment Coming 237 Years Ago — For those who might think that, among the radical changes associated with our high-tech world, there is nothing we can learn from history -- news that the "founding fathers" anticipated our current crisis.
A case study in why political parties matter — An explanation of the positive role that political parties can play in moderating the extremes of popular opinion.
Podcast: Leaning into Paradox: How We Can Block, Bridge & Build Our Democratic Future Together — An audio recording of Horizons' Julia Roig and Jarvis Williams' session at the recent Othering & Belonging Institute conference on the "block, bridge, and build" strategy.
Harnessing our Power to End Political Violence: 2024 Guide — A guide for communities across the United States to organize to counter political violence. The guide is about taking action "because individuals and communities must organize in order to bring about a better democracy and country."
Could Changing how we Vote Make us Less Polarized? --- BCB #105 — An article on "fusion voting." Under this system, third party-nominated candidates won't just appear on the ballot under the new party, but also as either a Democrat or a Republican. The hope is this will encourage multi-party dialogue.
Does deliberative democracy stand a chance in neoliberal times? — This video is part 4 of a 10-part conversation series on 10 Big Questions on Deliberative Democracy convened by at the University of Canberra.
The American experiment -- a democratic republic -- is worth defending — Seth David Radwell argues that we need a deep appreciation for why our democratic republic, with all its historical chapters of tragic injustice, and present day flaws and warts, is still the best example of self-government in our planet's recorded history.
This Is What a Functioning Political Party Looks Like — At a time in which the power of the United States' political parties has been reduced in favor of grassroots voter power, an argument for restoring some of the power of the party apparatus.
Our Solution to the Crisis of Democracy — A report on another big picture look at the problems facing democracy and the things that ought to be a done to address those problems.
Eitan Hersh on the Perils of Political Hobbyism — An interview exploring a critically important topic, "political hobbyism," -- something that is very different from responsible citizenship.
A Coalition of All Democratic Forces, Part I: A Political Focus on What's Truly Important — The first of a three-part series exploring strategies for strengthening solidarity within democratic societies, despite the inherent tensions and competitiveness of the electoral process.
Will the Center Hold? — A review and summary of an important new book exploring the philosophical foundations and political viability of centrism around the globe.
Democracy is US — A nonpartisan nonprofit, dedicated to transforming democracy into a system that genuinely serves all citizens by fostering enlivening conversations, actions, and events that empower and inspire citizens to preserve and vitalize democracy.
Reclaiming Our Democracy' book urges advocacy beyond hashtags and petitions — Sam Daley-Harris talks about how everyday people can take democracy back into their own hands.
Generate Democracy! — An open LinkedIn Group for the Intermovement Impact Project, an effort to build a "movement of many movements," all working to strengthen U.S. democracy in myriad ways.
Can the Constitution Reconcile America? — A first rate, must-read article defending the U.S. Constitution and its many mechanisms for forcing citizens to compromise and work together.
What Exactly Did Justice Alito Say That Was Wrong? — Amid all of the turmoil over Justice Alito's surreptitiously recorded comments -- a look at the ethical questions involved,
What's Wrong With Congress (And How to Fix It) — An example of the kind of constructive problem-solving that can, over time, help restore the public's trust in its government.
Hollow Rebels — A report on Robert Kagan's new book on the long-running conflict between liberalism and it's many detractors.
MAGA Turns Against the Constitution — From a conservative perspective, disturbing news that Trump supporters continue to lose faith in the Constitution and are actively looking for ways to get around its constraints.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: We Have Been Subverted — A look at how Russia's four-step subversion and destabilization strategy applies to the ongoing Israeli/Hamas crisis (and deteriorating support for Western values and democracy).
Democracy Lighthouse — From the Toda Peace Institute, a new web portal designed to make it easier to find information about the world's "massively parallel" array of efforts to strengthen democracy.
Narendra Modi's War on Civil Society on the Cusp — As India undergoes an existential election for its democracy and future, the fate of its civil society hangs in balance. Thousands of NGOs have already wilted in the populist heat, and worse is expected if Modi wins again.
Change the System — Many Americans agree, our political system is broken. Join forces with those working towards a more perfect American democratic system.
Democratic Erosion Consortium. — The Consortium is a collaboration between academics, students, policymakers, and practitioners that aims to help illuminate and combat threats to democracy both in the US and abroad.
How To Put a Country Back Together — Perceptive thoughts, grounded in real-world situations, about how to make a diverse, pluralistic society really work.
OECD's Anti-corruption and Integrity Hub — The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's overarching objectives of its anti-corruption and integrity (ACI) work is to support trustworthy institutions and open, efficient and inclusive markets.
Want to help renovate American democracy? Welcome to Democracy, Refreshed. — From the Washington Post, the chance to sign up for free online course highlighting many of the things that can be done to improve US democracy.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Not as Powerful as She Thinks She Is — A hopeful and surprisingly persuasive argument that bipartisan governance is much healthier than it appears.
On Public Service — A strong defense of the ideal of public service and a sharp critique of Donald Trump's disdain for such service.
Liberals must not use illiberal means to defeat Trumpism — An argument that liberal democracy cannot be defended by abandoning the liberal democratic principles that are its foundation.
The Great Struggle for Liberalism — An insightful essay that puts democracy's current struggles into the larger historical context of societal development and evolution.
Utah opponents made a campaign ad together. Here's what it achieved — During the 2020 campaign season, Utah's Democratic and Republican candidates for governor took the unusual step of recording an ad together. Two years later, researchers found it had an effect on those who saw it.
Perceptions of Democracy — People across the globe lack confidence in political institutions and are dissatisfied with their governments. Citizens generally are more skeptical, however, than are experts.
Reformation Series -- Cover Down: A Conversation with Dr. Richard Barton -- Unite America — A discussion about non-partisan primaries and the benefits they bring to real world issues and the lives of citizens.
How to beat the backlash that threatens the liberal revolution — From Fareed Zakaria, an overview of his major new analysis of threats to liberal democracy.
The One Idea That Could Save American Democracy — Another idea about something we could do to limit the threats to democracy in the US and elsewhere.
What Can Improve Democracy? — A report from Pew Research outlining what citizens in 24 countries told them about how democracy could be improved.
Will you join the supermajority for constitutional democracy? — A thoughtful essay exploring threats to democracy and steps that might be taken to address those threats.
The 22nd Century Initiative — The new website of a movement to "forge a people-powered democracy in this century and the next" with a growing "resource hub."
Enduring Hope: Democratic Resilience in Asia — The March 2024 (Vol 19. No. 1) Issue of Global Asia from the East Asia Foundation
Uncommon and nonpartisan: Antidemocratic attitudes in the American public — While American political elites increasingly exhibit an antidemocratic posture, both Democratic and Republican constituencies overwhelmingly and consistently oppose norm violations and partisan violence.
Federation for Innovation in Democracy: Europe — FIDE teaches people how to design and run citizen assemblies on various topics at the local level. While starting in Europe, there is now a FIDE in North America as well (fide.eu/north-america).
How We Could Lose Our Democracy — We prepare for disasters by understanding how they could happen.
Americans' Views on Protecting and Improving Our Democracy — Key findings from a national survey of 1,005 registered voters Conducted December 21-24, 2023, conduced by Hart Research for More Perfect.
Faces of Democracy — A campaign of election officials and poll workers to strengthen U.S. elections
What's the end game of a New Way in our politics? — Our task is to find and grow a new generation and community of leaders who seek the most good for the most people in the most expansive and gracious ways we can imagine.
NEW WAY INTERVIEW: Katherine Gehl — The business leader, innovator, thinker, do-er and reformer on what she's learned and what we need to fix America democracy.
Mapping America's Healthy Democracy Ecosystem — A webinar put out by All-America City, looking at "promising practices" for protecting democracy.
Women's Power Collaborative — The only national-level body dedicated to achieving a gender-balanced democracy by networking, strategizing, resource-sharing and helping women run for office.
Democracy 2076 — Democracy 2076 is developing a vision for a new U.S. constitution which would ensure an effective, responsive, and representative democracy.
The 2023 ABA Frank Sander Award: The House Select Committee on Modernization of Congress — Bruce Patton talks with the Co-Chairs of the Select Committee about what they did to try to make Congress more effective, and reflect on what's working and what is not.
National Endowment for Democracy — The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is an independent, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world.
Britain, Islamism and the Forgotten Lessons of Appeasement — Look at how violence and the threat of violence is affecting British parliamentary debate in ways that raise the specter of a successful January 6-style insurrection.
Fix the Insurrection Act Before a Trump Inauguration — An urgent plea to strengthen the resilience of US democracy by closing a legal loophole that could allow an unscrupulous President to use the military to suppress political opposition.
The Cure for What Ails Our Democracy — From David Brooks, an insightful look at the virtues of pluralism and the dangers of monism -- the belief that one possesses the one true answer and that anyone who disagrees is evil.
Apathy Loses -- If reasonable people disengage from politics, the zealots win. — An appeal for moderates who can see both sides of today's complex issues to get more evolved in politics. Otherwise, our future will be determined by true believers who see no value in competing views.
How 'Our Democracy' Became Undemocratic — An essay exploring the many ways in which the word "democracy" has been weaponized by a wide array of narrowly focused interest groups -- groups that have little concern for the welfare of the larger society.
Innovating Beyond the Two-Party System — For those looking for an alternative to a Trump/Biden rematch, reflections on how we might escape the two-party system that as left us with such an unpopular choice.
Roles that Make Democracy Function — From the Better Conflict Bulletin, reflections on Beyond Intractability's Massively Parallel Peacebuilding roles. Thanks to BCB for highlighting these so well!
How The Biden Administration Put Race at the Center of Government Spending — An explanation of the Biden Administration's effort to remedy "centuries of structural racism" and the Justice40 program which reserves 40% of federal assistance programs for "underserved communities."
The Case for Disqualifying Trump Is Strong — From David French, a former constitutional litigator, the report on his detailed look at the legal questions surrounding President Trump's candidacy and the 14th amendment.
What Biden Needs to Tell Us — From David Brooks, a must-read essay about how both the left and the right have abandoned win-win politics -- the idea that our problems can be solved in mutually beneficial ways.
Don't Worry About Donald Trump. Worry About Yourself. — An important reminder that demonizing those with whom we disagree is actually a direct and serious threat to our own welfare.
The State of Global Democracy in 2024 — From Francis Fukuyama a year-end update on increasingly serious challenges facing global democracy.
The Specter of Nationalism — Identity politics has always influenced elections. In 2024, it will pose a serious threat to liberalism---and to democracy itself.
I Oppose Trump---and Any Efforts to Ban Him From the Ballot — From William Barr, an analysis of the many dangers associated with using the 14th amendment to prevent President Trump from running for a second term.
Worldwide, 2024 Elections Promise a Whirlwind — While the United States is focused on its upcoming election, a reminder that many other nations are holding elections in 2024 that also face serious challenges.
Trump Is Not the Only Reason to Fix This Uniquely Dangerous Law — An argument for reforming the "Insurrection Act" in ways that would eliminate legal loopholes that could be used by an aspiring authoritarian to direct police and military forces against their political opponents.
Meet the Americans Trying to Lower the Temperature in Politics — A Wall Street Journal profile of some of the groups that are trying to defuse the United States' hyper-polarized politics.
The Anti-Democratic Quest to Save Democracy From Trump — An argument against using anti-democratic tactics to defend democracy, even when you regard President Trump as a direct threat to that democracy.
American democracy is cracking. These ideas could help repair it. — A hopeful inventory of a great many promising ideas for strengthening US democracy.
It's Time to Fix America's Most Dangerous Law — A persuasive plea for Congress to clarify the 1792 law that contains loopholes that could give an unscrupulous President the power to mobilize the federal government against his political rivals.
Restoring Civility in Our Politics — An overview and summary of an important new book, "The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves" by Alexandra Hudson.
Brexit and The Voice: Two Ill-Conceived Referenda — Reflections on two cases in which the voters were asked to consider hugely consequential and poorly understood referenda.
No Guardrails' Foretold Today's Breakdown 30 Years Ago — A story about the origins of the concept of political "guardrails" and the man who the anticipated their deterioration and the problems that that would cause.
How the Supreme Court can limit Congress's taste for self-diminishment — An analysis of a Supreme Court case that could help force Congress to do a better job of fulfilling its Constitutional responsibilities.
Good Intentions Gone Awry — A must-read explanation of why it is so critical that we "save" democracy and the pitfalls of many popular strategies that people are using to pursue this goal.
Polarization is a choice — More insight into the dynamics underlying our hyper-polarized society and the role that our conscious actions play in this process.
How American Democracy Fell So Far Behind — For United States, a country that likes to think of its democracy as exemplary, a look at countries that have found ways to fashion better democracies.
A crisis in U.S. presidential legitimacy is looming — An exploration of the likely possibility that the U.S. 2024 election might not produce a result that the losers view is fair and legitimate.
Small Donors Are a Big Problem — A disappointing report on the the success of efforts to strengthen democracy by replacing big money with small donor fundraising.
Can Liberalism Save Itself? — A thoughtful addition to the larger debate over the nature of liberalism's difficulties, how to save it, and whether it should be saved.
We're Entering a New Era of Shady Campaign Finance — An instructive example of why political reforms have to be carefully monitored -- unscrupulous actors will find loopholes that need to be plugged.
Why this governor is promoting 'healthy conflict' — Genuinely good news, the incoming chair of the National Governors Association, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) plans to focus his attention on the cultivation of "healthy conflict" and the ability to "disagree better."
Our two-party political system isn't working. The fix? More parties. — Another creative idea for diffusing the United States' hyper-polarized politics worth considering -- change the rules in ways which encourage more political parties.
Civility Isn't Weakness---It's How We Win — An impassioned and persuasive defense of civility even when confronting uncivil political adversaries.
Extremism In Defense of Moderation Is No Virtue — A review/summary of an important new book about why the U.S. Congress is so dysfunctional and what might be done about it.
Biden faces renewed pressure to embrace Supreme Court overhaul — More evidence that the credibility of the United States' judicial system is collapsing and being replaced by partisan efforts to shape the courts so in ways that deliver the politically desired judgements.
The End of Democratic Capitalism? — A review of an important new contribution to efforts to understand and surmount the challenges facing democracy and its capitalist economic system.
A Radical Idea for Fixing Congress: Proportional Representation — An idea for restructuring Congress in ways that replace the current, usually noncompetitive "winner take all" system with real choices that help assure that minority views are represented.
Machiavelli Preferred Democracy to Tyranny — From one of history's great experts on tyranny (Machiavelli), strong support for democracy.
Why is empathy central to democracy? — From George Lakeoff, an insightful look into the relationship between empathy and democracy.
Our Weaponized Legal System Misfires — A must read article explaining "lawfare" and how both parties are abusing the legal system in ways that constitute one of the most serious threats to democracy.
The Left's War on the Rule of Law — An argument that the left is attempting to advance its political agenda by undermining the democratic institutions that it claims to be defending.
The Case for Violating the Debt Limit Is Dangerous Nonsense — An explanation of why using clever legal loopholes to get around tough choices undermines the rule of law (and, in this case, is unlikely to work).
"How Scared Are You?" Mapping the Threat Environment of San Diego's Elected Officials — This report from the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice discusses the extent of threats and harassment towards elected officials in San Diego County. San Diego is certainly not unique in this respect.
The Global State of Democracy 2023: The New Checks and Balances — A report from International IDEA observes that the global state of democray is "complex, fluid, and unequal", but that democracy has continued to contract worldwide.
Designing Resistance: Democratic Institutions and the Threat of Backsliding — This report examines democratic backsliding, detailing strategies and actions taken affecting the core institutions of democracy offers recommendations to make democracy more resilient.
Essay IX: Mapping the Healthy Democracy Ecosystem: Future of Citizenship — A series of essays exploring how democracy and citizenship are both evolving and threatened, and how people are thinking about and engaging in politics and community.
Threats to American Democracy Ahead of an Unprecedented Presidential Election - Findings from the 2023 American Values Survey — A look at the state of the country in details show widespread pessimism, fear of and acceptance of political violence and paranoia about the other side.
The Global State of Democracy Initiative — This Initiative provides evidence-based, balanced analysis and data on the state and quality of democracy for 173 countries, producing a variety of indices and an annual report.
Faith in Democracy: Mobilizing Religious Communities for Democratic Change — A robust democracy is essential to safeguard the rights and fostering the civic participation of the religious cannot be overstated. And likewise, religious communities can help strengthen democracy.
Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections — These principles put forth by Team Democracy and the Carter Center include an honest process, civil campaign, secure voting, responsible oversight, and trusted outcomes.
The Carter Center and Team Democracy Unite to Advance Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections — This strategic alliance aims to strengthen the core values of democracy and electoral integrity as defined in the Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections, a national, cross-partisan effort.
Berkeley political scientists chart a promising course to ease toxic polarization — New research co-authored at UC Berkeley details the psychological processes that demagogues exploit to erode support for democracy --- and show a way to bridge the dangerous divide.
Democratic Engagement after Two Summits for Democracy — A report summarizing lessons from the Year of Action and Second Summit, and presenting opportunities for shaping an inclusive and effective Third Summit for 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.
Can We Transform Our Politics? Utah Governor Spencer Cox Addresses the Braver Angels Convention — Governor Cox talks about his new "Disagree Better" Initiative which he hopes will help revive healthy American politics because, he says "the alternative is unthinkable."
More than Red and Blue: Political Parties and American Democracy — A study done by the American Political Socience Association and Protect Democracy that outlines the challenges too and promise of political parties in the U.S. They are dangerous--but needed nevertheless.
ACTIVATING KEY PILLARS: Combatting Authoritarianism to Uphold Democracy in the United States — A description of how key institutional pillars, notably business, faith, and media, can incentivize pro-democratic behavior and discourage authoritarian behavior at the state and federal levels.
US politics isn't broken. It's fixed — Katherine Gehl says the U.S. political system is working as designed. Yet we can make it better with voting innovations that give voers more choice and incentivize politicians to work towards progress.
The Rise of a Pro-Democracy Coalition — William Kristol and Simon Rosenberg discuss how a coalition between Democrats and Never-Trumpers could form a successful coalition to help save democracy.
Team Democracy — Team Democracy's mission is to rally all Americans - and especially those who we elect to represent us - to a shared identity, and a shared commitment to democracy. They work especially on assuring safe and fair elections.
Nancy Mace, a 'Caucus of One' in the G.O.P., Says She's Trying to Change Her Party — A profile on a Republican member of Congress from South Carolina who is trying to take a more compromise-oriented approach to governing.
In 'ordinary man,' a certain greatness emerges of Gerald Ford — A profile of Gerald Ford, a President who came close to personifying what we look for and political leaders and public servants.
What the Supreme Court Does in the Shadows — A look at the disturbing ways in which the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" is undermining public trust in the rule of law.
Small-dollar donors didn't save democracy. They made it worse. — A reminder that we always need to consider the possibility that sensible sounding reforms could wind up producing unintended (and potentially counterproductive) outcomes.
America Does Have a Way to Save Itself — An essay exploring the little used but potentially quite useful and important concept of "defensive democracy."
A Crisis Coming': The Twin Threats to American Democracy — A progressive assessment of the threats to democracy (one that conservatives will doubtless challenge). If we really want to save democracy, we need to define it in ways that both sides can support.
Voters See Democracy in Peril, but Saving It Isn't a Priority — It is hard to agree to work together to save something when you can't agree on what you are trying to save or how it is threatened.
No Labels group raises alarms with third-party presidential preparations — An update on the promise and the potential pitfalls of an effort to empower the more compromise-oriented political center.
Rachel Kleinfeld on Why America Isn't About to Have a Civil War — Rachel Kleinfeld discusses strategies for limiting extremism, strengthening American democracy, and containing political violence. She also explains why she mistrusts predictions of "civil war."
Mormon Women for Ethical Government — MWEG's mission is to inspire women of faith to be ambassadors of peace who transcend partisanship and courageously advocate for ethical government.
Rebound in Confidence: American Democracy and the 2022 Midterm Elections — A report from Bright Line Watch that found that public confidence in the American election processes improved after the November 2022 midterm elections.
The Problem with Primaries — An analysis of the many ways in which the structure of US primary elections is intensifying divisions and undermining democratic institutions despite being superficially more democratic. And, some proposed remedies.
Restoring the Guardrails of Democracy — This initiative brings together America's leading constitutional scholars and thought leaders of diverse perspectives to identify reforms that could preserve the institutional guardrails on which democracy depends.
Evil Clowns and Cowardly Lions — A look at two types of people who, in often unrecognized and unopposed ways, threaten democracy.
Enough about democracy's weaknesses. Let's talk about its strengths. — Amid our continuing frustrations with chaotic democratic systems that repeatedly fail to live up to their ideals, a welcome look at democracy's strengths and its advantages over authoritarianism.
The Fever Is Breaking — A hopeful argument that the 2022 election marks both the beginning of the end of the "performative populism" that has upended US democracy and a new era of real problem-solving.
Democrats Are Getting Democracy Wrong. Here's Why. — From the left, self-critical food for thought as the United States contemplates the meaning of the 2022 elections and what it will really take to "save democracy."
Only Bipartisanship Can Defeat Authoritarian Aggression — A persuasive argument that the only way in which we can protect ourselves from authoritarian threats (both external and internal) is by recommitting ourselves to working together for the common defense.
The 12 Laws of Democracy and Pluralism — For those who feel that the goal of a democracy that lives up to its ideals is slipping away, an online course that asks hard questions about where we are going wrong and how we could do better.
Return to the List of Links Newsletter Topics

Civil Society

Why protecting democracy means protecting nonprofits — Threats to civil society are a threat to us all.
Shrinking Civic Space, Digital Funding, and Legitimacy in a Post-Truth Era — The shrinking of civic space, the decline in digital funding, and the erosion of legitimacy are not just abstract concerns—they are existential threats to the future of democracy.
(Part 2 of 2) Gradually and Then Suddenly: The Sixty-Year Crack-up of Federal Funding for Nonprofits — The Trump Administration has decimated longstanding patterns of federally-funded, nonprofit-delivered services. But the system's many and mounting contradictions made it a pushover.
How Everyday Americans Can Help Create a Healthier Politics — From the always insightful "Liberal Patriot," an especially good list of things we can all do to limit destructive hyper- polarization.
What Americans Really Want is an Opportunity to Make a Difference — A new report from the Beacon Project explores how Americans think about hard work, opportunity, and the American Dream.
Decline of Civility in Public Discourse — A C-SPAN panel discussion that considers the meaning of civility, how we lost it, and what might be done to reclaim it.
Five Steps toward a Resilient Nonprofit Sector — From the Kettering Foundation, five things nonprofits can do to weather the coming storm: don't panic, communicate proactively, don't go it alone, do a risk assessment, and "Learn the lessons of resiliance."
Civil Society in the Second Trump Administration: Reckoning with the Meaning of "Nongovernmental" — An interesting exploration of the ways in which the roles of civil society and nongovernmental actors are being transformed by the Trump administration.
A Fluorescent Moment for Civics — The CEO of iCivics, Louise Dube, reflects on last week's Civic Learning Week. Her key takeaway is that while the civic fabric of America is frayed, it remains durable. She shares evidence, and ways forward.
The Essence of The New Civic Path — Rich Hardwood has started a campaign to develop what he calls a "New Civic Path" that is an alternative to divisiveness and is much like our notion of win-win democracy -- building a society together in which we would all like to live.
Of, By and For the People: Let's talk about the Constitution — A new Living Room Conversation/Dorm Room Guide for talking constructively in a small group about the Constitution. Included in this guide is the opportunity for participants to receive a "Civic Badge" for participation in this activity.
It's Time to Reimagine Civic Responsibility — More in Common Senior Advisor and Beacon Project Director Daniel Yudkin reflects on the duties of citizenship.
Citizenship Without Partisanship — An insightful exploration of the tension between one's partisan political objectives and one's obligation as a citizen to protect the interests of all fellow citizens.
Engaging Democracy: A Citizens' Assembly on Youth Homelessness — This initiative demonstrated how ordinary people can navigate complex political issues effectively, fostering constructive dialogue in contrast to the usual polarization seen in public discourse
What America needs is some big citizenship — A proposal outlining ways in which the creation of a new and much larger national service program might strengthen democracy.
New Civic Information Index offers crucial insight into civic health in the US — The pioneering data tool monitors the health of local information and civic ecosystems across the country. It underscores journalism as a key part of the local infrastructure necessary to enable robust, thriving communities.
How to Unite America at Scale — Colleague Peter Coleman touts the benefits of volunteering and service to build cross-partisan collaboration "at scale."
Prioritizing Service Years to Strengthen Our Civic Bonds — The Service Year Alliance's policy agenda uses service years (such as AmeriCorps service) to as part of the program to help strengthen civic bonds.
Finding Opportunity in Closing Civil Spaces — At the 9th International Conference on Shrinking Civic Space in Asia, hosted by Asia Center in Bangkok, Counterpart conducted a session on strategies for civil society organizations to use in constricted civic spaces.
Protecting civic space around the world — American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) published an interview, Protecting Civic Space Around the World, with Kerri Kennedy, Associate General Secretary for International Programs at AFSC.
Practitioner Mobilization For Democracy - Launch Event Recap — A summary of (with videos from) NCDD's launch of their Practitioner Mobilization effort, seeking to get mediators and other third parties involved in the effort to encourage constructive democratic engagement.
American by the Grace of God — Reflections on the complex issues surrounding immigration from two grateful immigrants to the United States.
Bridge USA — BridgeUSA is a multi-partisan student movement that champions viewpoint diversity, responsible discourse, and a solution-oriented political culture.
Sam Daley Harris on NPR's 1A, January 22, 2024 — Sam Daley-Harris is a leader and innovator in the field of citizen advocacy. This is his talk on NPR's 1A on how ordinary citizens can get re-engaged and effective in our democratic processes.
Imagining the Robust Deliberative City: Elevating the Conversations We Need to Support Democracy — How do we elevate the conversations we need to support a healthy democracy? This is best done at the local level, where people already have relationships, local knowledge of issues, and stakes in the outcome.
The Inter-Movement Impact Project — IMIP is connecting pro-democracy leaders, reformers, & change agents, who are working to strengthen American democracy, ethical government, civic health, social cohesion, and social justice at the national, state, and local levels.
Democracy's Good News: The Role of Business in Democracy from The Democracy Group — Host Jenna Spinelle explores the intersection between business and democracy, highlighting the crucial role of business in supporting democracy through consumer trust and solving problems.
America Must Face Its Civic Crisis — Politics is no longer a space for civic inquiry, argument, and creativity, but a place where civic hope goes to die. But it's not dead yet. Everyday Americans are demonstrating how a little civic hope can ignite a chain reaction to build more.
Wicked Problems-Wise Cities - Intro video 1 — This first of 3 videos by Martin Carcasson focuses on how the wicked problems lens can help reframe public issues to transform engagement in more productive ways.
Trust for Civic Life — Trust for Civic Life pools funds from philanthropists and investing them in locally-led civic programming, bringing Americans together to solve shared problems and move our democracy forward.
Electing prosecutors is a terrible idea. Trump's conviction shows why. — A pretty convincing argument against electing prosecutors and especially prosecutors who promise to pursue specific political figures.
PACE survey shows the path to civic unity — A report on the Civic Language Perceptions Project showing how civic language unites, divides, and motivates American voters.
The War on Citizenship — A provocative essay on the nature and meaning of nationalism and citizenship and a primer on the conflict between conflicting views on this issue.
Closing Civic Space in the United States: Connecting the Dots, Changing the Trajectory — From Rachel Kleinfeld, thoughts on opposing the use of regulations, laws, and narratives to restrict the ability of civil society organizations to act and speak.
Citizen Assemblies: An Interview with Marjan Ehsassi — Civic Genius interviewed Marjan Ehsassi, the founder of FIDE North America about what citizen assemblies are and how they work, and how FIDE hopes to develop them in North America.
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Civic Education

Restoring Power and Agency to the Public for Civic Studies and Renewal feat. Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Harry Boyte — This civics podcast illustrates how the principles of George Washington's Farewell Address (patriotism, civility, faith, education, national unity, and fiscal responsibility) apply to today.
To save themselves, universities must cultivate civic friendship — An explanation of both the meaning and utility of an interesting new concept, "civic friendship."
Everyone wants colleges to produce good citizens. No one knows how. — Thoughts on how, exactly, to build a civic educational system that successfully trains and motivates citizens to produce the society in which most everyone would like to live.
Daily Citizenship: A Primer — In a self-governing nation, citizenship is not a spectator sport. It is a daily discipline—a habit of heart and mind. This primer introduces the core idea of daily citizenship in the United States: what it means, why it matters, and how to practice it.
Growing Young Peacemakers: The Why and How of Youth Peace Education — Peace Catalyst hosted a conversation with U.S. peace educator Julie Lillie and Nigerian peace educator Moses Abolade on how to train young peacebuilders around the world effectively.
Rotary Peace Fellowships — Rotary International is accepting applications for the 2026-27 Rotary Peace Fellowship. Fellows can earn a master's degree or a postgraduate certificate in disciplines related to peace and development.
Civic Learning Week: Empowering the Future of Democracy, March 10-14 — Join iCivics from March 10-14 for Civic Learning Week (CLW), an annual event dedicated to highlighting the crucial role of civic education in strengthening constitutional democracy.
Civic Learning Week: March 10-14, 2025 — From the National Civic League, a nationwide initiative highlighting the critical role of civic education in sustaining and strengthening our constitutional democracy.
Action Guide for Improving Civic Health in Rhode Island — The National Civic League partnered with the Rhode Island Foundation to create this guide to improving civic health -- a guide that has much more widespread applications.
The Character-Building Tool Kit — An argument that the cultivation of "character "is a big (and much neglected) aspect of building a society and a democracy that truly works.
The Unify America Challenge: A Worthwhile Tool for Deliberative Pedagogy — A description of a new tool to help colleage students engage in constructive discourse. The tool promotes communication skills, encourages students to listen to diverse voices, and underscores the shared values that transcend divisive political issues.
Our Common Purpose — A report from the bipartisan Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship, with 31 recommendations for strengthening U.S. democracy by reforming political institutions, investing in civil society, and transforming our political culture.
Fostering Civic Renewal and Building Bridges with Braver Angels — NCDD has consolidated the insights, ideas, and meeting notes from various individuals and groups as they recapped the 2024 Braver Angels Convention
America Must Face Its Civic Crisis — No matter who wins the U.S. election, the return of civic hope---and with it, the future of our democracy---depends on the return of the citizen: the conceptual and practical restoration of everyday Americans to the center of self-government.
Democracy 101 — A program from Citizen Connect seeking to revitalize civic education as a key to raising more knowledgeable citizens and empowering us all.
Why Public Administration? — A critical, but widely neglected component of democratic success -- the willingness of principled, talented, and energetic people to commit to a career of public service.
Civics, Democracy, and Civic Learning Week (With Elizabeth Clay Roy and Abbie Kaplan) — What does civics education have to do with our moment of democratic crisis? How do we create citizens with a sense of agency over society? This video discusses these issues.
Do Americans have civic role models? — New research, by More in Common and others, indicates that we have a reason to be concerned about the status of Americans' civic disposition.
Follow the Left's Example to Reform Higher Ed — A thoughtful proposal for cultivating a new academic field -- civics studies with the mission of figuring out how to make democracy work.
The Soul of Civility — A review and brief summary of an important new book exploring the concept of civility and explaining how it can help heal our society.
Civic Thought: A Proposal for University-Level Civic Education — An argument for a vastly expanded program of civic education at the collegiate level. We desperately need such programs (provided that they reflect a bipartisan vision of what democracy should be).
Preparing the next generation of citizens requires bringing back civics — An update on a critically important component of the broader effort to defend and strengthen democracy -- civic education.
In search of 'civicians' --- the team parents of a healthy democracy — The story about a small-scale effort to to promote civic functioning -- an effort that could be applied much more broadly.
By Abandoning Civics, Colleges Helped Create the Culture Wars — An argument that a big part of our hyper-polarized politics is the direct result of the failure of our educational institutions to teach the civic skills and values upon which democracy depends.
A Mixture of Pride and Shame — To us, what seems like a sensible way of thinking about the tremendous achievements and terrible injustices that characterize the history of all civilizations.
Faces of Civity — Short videos in which people who have attended Civity Workshops reflect on their workshop experience, what "civity" means to them, and how they have incorporated civity in their own work.
Democracy Caravan — A non-partisan podcast presenting stories about how Americans are finding common-sense solutions to what ails our political culture which aims to share hope and resources for constructive civic participation.
Collaborative for Compassionate Civic Engagement — A team of civic professionals and educators that serves as an advisory board to the Civic Crop. CCCE also designs and administers the Civic Service Skills Workshop.
Winter 2023 Issue of the National Civic Review — With articles on addressing aging, racism, and creating thriving workplaces and communities.
National Civic League — The mission of the National Civic League is to advance civic engagement to create equitable, thriving communities. We achieve this by inspiring, supporting and recognizing inclusive approaches to community decision-making.
It's Time to Krauthammer the Curriculum — A persuasive argument for combating right-wing extremism by raising the visibility of thoughtful, right-leaning critiques of the left.
Why We Need Civics — A compelling argument for strengthening the teaching of "civics" -- the underlying commonality that binds together US democracy's diverse citizenry.
Educating for American Democracy (EAD) — EAD is a call to action to invest in strengthening history and civic learning in K-12, and to ensure that civic learning opportunities are delivered equitably throughout the country.
Serve America Together — A campaign to make national service part of growing up in America.
How Are U.S. Public School Teachers Approaching Civic and Citizenship Education? — For those wanting to help strengthen democracy by strengthening civic education, a report on where things now stand.
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Leadership

Nourishing Liberatory Leadership: Lessons from the John W. Mack Fellows — A cohort of 40 southern California leaders have worked together to disrupt harmful norms, leading with care, shared power, and the goal of sustainability. This website shares their reports.
What true political leadership looks like — For those looking for political leaders in whom we can place our trust, a proposed job description.
When leaders fail, people... step up? — While the leadership of many institutions seems to be bowing down to Trump's autocratic demands, many of the people who work in these institutions are refusing to go quietly. It is these individuals (who we normally think of as having less power) who are doing the hard work of defending democracy.
How Young Leaders Are Helping Bridge Divides — In this episode of 12 Geniuses, Layla Zaidane, CEO of Future Caucus, discusses the important role that young leaders can play in addressing political polarization and building a brighter, less divided future.
Revitalizing Political Leadership — A special issue of the journal Democracy, examining ways in which talented and civically minded citizens can be encouraged to enter public service and presents case studies of where that has already happened to good ends.
A Time for Statesmanship — A detailed and eloquent argument calling for the rediscovery of civic-minded leadership and the need for civil servants committed to advancing the common good (not just their political fortunes).
If you care about movements, you have to care about leaders — Leadership is the single most important indicator of the likelihood of success for any movement for good or for ill.
The Leadership Lab — The Leadership Lab does "deep canvasing" work in an effort to re-engage infrequent voters to increase voting and force representatives to better reflect their constituencies' interests.
National Leadership Network — NLN is a collaboration between the 700,000+ alumni of more than 800 US Community Leadership Programs. Many operate locally, but we know -- now more than ever -- we could be stronger together.
Philanthropy Bridging Divides — This project brings together philanthropic leaders from both sides of the aisle to support bipartisan causes, and connect beyond political divides.
Leadership Now Project — This is a membership organization of business and thought leaders taking action to protect and renew American democracy by focusing on and promoting business's role in pro-democracy efforts.
Future Summit 2023: Shaping Leaders for a Unified Governance — In an era marked by political polarization and complex challenges, the annual summit plays a pivotal role in collectively shaping the trajectory of policymaking for young legislators.
Series Introduction: The Practice of Leadership in the Midst of Controversy and Conflict: — An explanation of how leaders are currently dealing with deep-rooted, highly polarized intractable conflicts--not well, of course. Can anything change that?
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Problem Assessment

The Medical Establishment Closes Ranks, and Patients Feel the Effects — An exploration of one area in which elites have lost the public's trust, and a call for those in the medical profession to do better.
It Takes Too Many Studies for the Government to Do the Right Thing — An article about the "analysis paralysis" trap that explains much of why our government has so much trouble for solving problems.
An epidemic of scientific fakery threatens to overwhelm publishers — More information about the massive scandal associated with fake scientific studies. Our ability to solve the complex challenges that we face depends upon finding some way to fix this.
What a COVID-19 Food Fight Says About Scientific Discourse — Things that everybody should know about the ways in which partisanship often distorts the work of science journalists.
How not to be fooled by viral charts — For those who don't want to be lied to with statistics, a lesson on how to protect yourself.
Google Isn't Grad School — An exploration of the relationship between the ability to retrieve lots facts relevant to a particular issue and real thinking.
Opinion: How Joe Rogan's vaccine-debate pitch undermines real science — A provocative look at the circumstances under which debate does and does not help audiences develop a more accurate and morally sound opinions about controversial issues.
The new academy: modern intellectuals are writing their best ideas on Substack — A look at the way in which Substack is emerging as an exciting new forum for exchanging thoughtful ideas on the complex problems facing humanity.
Statement on AI Risk — A link to the statement on AI risks that people are being asked to sign as part of an effort to draw attention to the issue. Could this strategy be used elsewhere?
A.I. Poses 'Risk of Extinction,' Industry Leaders Warn — A story about how leaders of the tech industry are trying to persuade society to take the steps needed to protect itself from the downsides of AI.
Vanderbilt's Bold Stand for 'Neutrality' — An update on Vanderbilt's neutrality policy and a vision for progressively uncovering the truth through an examination of available evidence and an exchange of views about the meaning of that evidence.
Health and Democracy Index — When communities vote, they influence policy decisions that have a big effect on their health. This analysis compares 12 public health indicators and voter turnout to the restrictiveness of voting policies in each state.
Focus on the Research, Not the Researcher — A look at the 'positionality statements' that increasingly accompany scientific publications, and the possibility that they may be contributing to the further politicalization of facts.
Dr. Fauci Looks Back: 'Something Clearly Went Wrong' — As we think about the lessons that we should learn from the pandemic, reflections from Dr. Fauci on the relationship between pandemic management and conflict management.
Managing the Metrics of Academic Publishing — For those who would like to rebuild public trust in the trustworthiness of scientific analyses, an article about one area in which reform could really help.
Escape From Model Land — An in-depth look at the complexities associated with predicting the future (and selecting the most desirable policy options).
How to be a smart consumer of climate attribution claims — An example of the kind of guide to understanding "expert" opinion that we need to make sensible use of expert analyses of all complex social problems .
Improve how science advice is provided to governments by learning from "experts in expert advice" — For a complex world in which we are utterly dependent upon expert advice to keep the system running, welcome news that there are experts specializing in how to obtain advice that is genuinely trustworthy.
Partisan 'Fact Checkers' Spread Climate-Change Misinformation — A pretty well-documented example of what can go wrong when supposedly objective fact-finders start favoring politically convenient facts over objective evidence.
Healthy Democracy, Healthy People — A new nonpartisan initiative from major public health and civic engagement groups that supports public health professionals and policymakers who are working to advance civic participation and public health.
The Consolidation-Disruption Index Is Alarming — A critical look at the world of academic publishing that tries to understand why it is generating so few of the bright ideas that we need to meet today's big challenges.
A Report From the Stanford Academic Freedom Conference — A welcome report about a conference focused on helping universities refocus on their core mission -- the promotion of the "critical inquiry and scholarly debate that produces true knowledge."
Reason To Believe -- How and why irrationality takes hold, and what do to about it. — An in-depth look at the role that rational thought plays in human society, how it has made us so successful, and the many dynamics that are undermining our ability to think (and deal with conflict) in rational ways .
How ChatGPT actually works — Amid the many reasonable and exaggerated worries about ChatGPT and the dangers that it may or may not pose to society, a challenging and illuminating, explanation of what, exactly, it does and how it works.
Critical Thinking, Reverential Thinking, and Lashing Out — A critical look at critical thinking programs along with ideas about what critical thinking should be and how we can really cultivate it.
The rise and fall of peer review — For those who recognize the critical importance of rigorous scientific research, an account of how badly the existing, peer review-based system is failing. Fixing this ought to be a top priority.
How Do They Know This? — A review and brief overview of an important new book -- a primer on what everybody ought to know about statistics and how not to be misled by them.
More than 1,000 professors sign on to 'Stanford Academic Freedom Declaration' — For those interested in defending academic freedom and the ability of universities to help us really solve problems, a report on the campaign to build support for the "Chicago Trifecta."
No One Votes for Democracy — Reflections on the perils of avoiding debates on substantive policy questions and replacing them with vague aspirations of "hope" and "greatness" and the demonization of political adversaries.
A Radically Different Model of American Education: UATX's Jacob Howland Speaks to the PEP — An update on the University of Austin -- an outside-the-box effort to create a new university capable of avoiding a great many of the problems that now plague higher education.
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Rule of Law

Will This Conservative Legal Doctrine Undo Trump’s First Months in Office? — The timely article explaining the Supreme Court's new "major questions doctrine" and the role that it may play in determining the legality of many Trump administration initiatives.
How to Survive a Constitutional Crisis — From Foreign Affairs, a lengthy and in-depth analysis into strategies for protecting Constitutional democracy from the Trump administration's ongoing and potential threats.
The Supreme Court Has No Army — Reflections on the ultimate source the Supreme Court's power and its ability to exercise its Constitutional role as final arbiter of legal disputes.
What Recourse Does the Supreme Court Actually Have? — Useful information for those trying to think through what might happen if (maybe when) President Trump decides to directly defy a Supreme Court order.
What Biden's Lawfare Has Wrought — A look at the ways in which the use of lawfare strategies by Democrats has transformed our politics.
Liberals Bet They Could Beat Trump With the Law. They Lost — An explanation of why the Democratic effort to defeat Trump through criminal prosecutions failed and why political movements must be defeated politically .
Jack Smith Owes Us an Explanation — A call for Jack Smith to explain why the way in which he is prosecuting Donald Trump should not be considered the kind of politically motivated prosecution that, in other contexts, would be seen as a threat to democracy.
Chuck Schumer's plan to create a constitutional crisis — An overview of worrying Democratic plans to dramatically transform the role of the Supreme Court (and the role of the judiciary, more generally) in US society.
America Has Too Many Laws — From Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch, a summary of his new book and a compelling argument that the United States is an over-regulated society -- something that those on the left should consider seriously.
The High Price of Democrats' Anti-Trump Lawfare — Concern that the Democrat's complex array of not yet successful efforts to hold President Trump legally responsible for his actions, may, over the longer-term, undermine support for the rule of law.
South African Lawfare at The Hague — An undoubtedly controversial argument that South Africa's genocide charges against Israel are a type of "lawfare" based on allegations that are not supported by sound legal arguments.
The Supreme Court Isn't Rogue — An article about the Supreme Court that makes an important distinction between conflicts over differing legal philosophies and attempts to subvert the rule of law.
Ignore the Histrionic Attacks on the Supreme Court — Amid attacks from the left on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, an argument that the court has, in fact, been fulfilling its responsibilities under the US system of checks and balances.
The First Great Crisis of a Second Trump Term — An essay exploring what might happen should President Trump's criminal prosecutions come into direct conflict with his electoral success.
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Reliable Problem Assessments

Whose Experts? — A detailed and well-documented look at radical changes now influencing the way in which FDA "experts" evaluate and approve vaccines.
Major data revisions are coming — The continuing changing nature of society makes it hard to gather statistics that reliably track trends over the long-term. This article explains how this is done.
Detect Fakes — Detect Fakes is research project hosted at Northwestern University by researchers at the Kellogg School of Management to examine how people distinguish truth from fiction in online media, especially as synthetic media becomes more and more realistic.
Partisan Science is Bad for Science and Society — At a time when so many people are being called upon to "trust the science," some serious thoughts on how to make science truly trustworthy.
What Economics (and Sociology) ought to be — This thoughtful essay reminds us of what the social sciences could learn if they would aside political advocacy and objectively study our problems.
Wikipedia Quietly Shapes How We View the World — An "If it exists it must be possible" story. This one looks at Wikipedia's remarkable success in writing articles that are broadly seen as objective and reliable.
National Issues Forum's Issue Guides — On policing, elections, COVID vaccines, immigration, and lots of other controversial issues.
National Issues Forum — A nonpartisan organization that promotes public deliberation about difficult public issues, publishes issue guides, and promotes collaboration throughout its large network.
What This War Correspondent Wants You to Know About America and Fear — It is almost always helpful to get an outside perspective from someone who is knowledgeable and cares. They can tell us things that, in the heat of a conflict, we can't see for ourselves.
Which Gun Laws Work? Article in RAND Policy Currents — A six-year study evaluating scientific evidence about the effects of various gun laws on homicides, suicides, and mass shootings.
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Efforts to Limit Concentrated Power

How Affective Polarization Undermines Support for Democratic Norms — When in power, political parties tend to oppose constitutional protections that they support when they are out of power -- a tendency that undermines efforts to cultivate broadly supported norms.
Disney v. DeSantis: How Strong Is the Company's Lawsuit? — A look and the legal principles surrounding efforts to limit corruption.
The Trifecta of Civil Resistance: Unity, Planning, Discipline — An essay that starts with the assumption that "power is never given, it is always taken." It then goes on to observe that the historic success of nonviolent movements proves that they can be more powerful than the autocratic regimes they oppose.
Unions are on a roll. And they unite a divided nation. — A hopeful development that spans the political divide, unions are becoming more effective at protecting the interests of working class citizens.
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Power-Sharing Strategies

Youth-Inclusive Guide to Peace Mediation — Mediation processes that include young people are more likely to generate better conflict analyses, broader national ownership, greater legitimacy, and improved prospects of more sustainable peace.
Citizens' Assemblies: Democracy that Works — A description of a new form of democracy in which a randomly selected group of citizens does an in-depth analysis of an issue, evaluates possible solutions, and then makes an informed decision.
Launching a Third Party Takes More Than Good Intentions — A friendly critique of the Forward Party and its efforts to offer voters a moderate alternative to the "us-vs-them" politics that dominates the two major parties with lots of ideas about what it takes to be successful.
The Two-Party System is Failing Us — A discussion between Duncan Audrey and Benjamin Life discussing why the U.S.'s two-party system doesn't work, and what might be done about that.
Give Ordinary People a Say On Abortion (and Other Contentious Issues) — An inspiring report on Ireland's Citizens Assembly and its surprisingly successful efforts to bring collaborative problem-solving to the morally fraught issue of abortion.
Unite America — Working to improve our elections to elect leaders who will really represent us.
Veterans for Political Action — A nonprofit with a mission to mobilize veterans and supporters to advocate for election innovations to make our political system less toxic and more competitive.
Star Voting — An alternative to traditional winner-take-all and ranked choice voting to give voting more meaning and to discourage extremism.
While Alaska votes, ranked-choice voting is gaining steam — From the president of FairVote, a report on efforts to help defuse hyper-polarization and promote collaborative democracy by encouraging the switch to Ranked Choice Voting (RCV).
Citizen Connect Participation Guide to the 2022 Midterm Elections — Amid the flood of deceptive efforts to influence our votes in the upcoming US election, a project focused on helping people fulfill their civic obligations through informed voting.
If an Alternative Candidate Is Needed in 2024, These Folks Will Be Ready — A strategy for offering voters the choice of moderate, compromise-oriented governance in the event that both US political parties nominate extremist candidates.
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Big Picture Thinking Projects

Sources of Wisdom — From the Co-Intelligence Institute's Wise Democracy Project. They suggest ways to comprehend a bigger picture -- that can help us think about how to incorporate more wisdom into our governance processes.
Our Singular Century — Thoughtful contemplation about the great breaks in history -- when the past suddenly becomes a much less valuable guide to the future (and the fact that we are living through a series of such breaks).
You Are Not Destined to Live in Quiet Times — An especially perceptive, big picture essay that places the time in which we are now living into the broader context of human history (while also helping us make sense of it all).
Collaborating Across Differences to Reduce Authoritarianism: A Literature Review — A literature review exploring the question: What are the practices that support groups that come together to collaborate across differences to reduce authoritarianism?
How to rise above partisan politics to uphold our democracy — As we celebrate the International Day of Democracy, here are seven ways to mobilize citizens across differences as partisans for democracy. An article from Julia Roig.
The Karuna Center for Peacebuilding — The Karuna Center bridges deep divides to transform violent conflict to foster reconciliation, interrupt cycles of violence, and strengthen community resilience .
Institute for Global Leadership — IGL provides training and consultation for leaders and teams to adapt to the changed dynamics of a post-9/11 world. They train reconciliation leaders with personal, interpersonal, systemic, and global competencies in business, community, institutional, national, and world environments.
Institute for Economics and Peace — The Institute for Economics and Peace aims to create a paradigm shift in the way the world thinks about peace. They do this by developing global and national indices, calculating the economic cost of violence, analyzing country level risk and fragility, and understanding positive peace.
The Carter Center — Founded in partnership with Emory University, the Carter Center has a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering. The Center seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health worldwide.
American Friends Service Committee — The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) promotes a world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. They work with people and partners worldwide, of all faiths and backgrounds, to meet urgent community needs, challenge injustice, and build peace.
Crisis Management — A review and critique of an important new book, "The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism" by Martin Wolf.
Propaganda (Almost) Never Works — Reassuring new data indicating that the impact of today's high-tech propaganda is much less than we might otherwise have feared.
Will America's woes bring down democracy and capitalism worldwide? — A report on another major new book that helps us understand our troubled times and, especially the ways in which elites are undermining both democracy and capitalism.
Amanda Ripley -- Stepping out of "the zombie dance" we're in, and into "good conflict" that is, in fact, life-giving — An illuminating interview that helps us understand how Amanda Ripley's insightful views about conflict evolved (and how we all could think more constructively about the topic).
Someone Else's Utopia — A report on a fascinating new compilation of mini-biographies telling the story of how life experiences have altered the views of those who have tried to make the world a better place.
National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers (NANR) — An association dedicated to structural election reforms that advance the public's interest in robust political competition and a level playing field.
The Forward Party — The Forward Party is fighting for the American people with practical, common-sense solutions, forged by bringing people together instead of driving them apart.
Crossing the Divide — A set of videos highlighting "incredible individuals" who are pioneering new ways to connect with those on opposing sides in the world's "most intense religious, political, and societal conflicts."
National Conference on Citizenship's Civic Health Index — NCoC has created an index of civic health, while simultaneously working with local partners to strengthen the health of communities nationwide to better define and address local problems.
Five Strategies to Support U.S. Democracy — A really first-rate article that, from a different perspective and in a different way, is trying to do what Beyond Intractability is trying to do with our Hyper- Polarization Discussion.
6 Reasons Why Liberatory Leaders Need to Take Play Seriously. — Play is valuable because it helps fuel innovation, promotes wellness, creates new models of strategic thinking, expands leadership opportunities, builds community, and invites wholeness.
The public has a role in defending and sustaining democracy — Places to start: strengthening the electoral system, encouraging the value of public service, and focusing less on identity that divides us and more on commonalities that unite.
Digital Peacebuilders Guide — An online guidebook for peacebuilders interested in using digital tools to advance their work.
Applying Regenerative Practice to Systems Beyond Place -- Some Thoughts — Describing regenerative practitioners who support change-makers by adapting principles of living systems to revive and evolve the places and the systems they are working with
Biden's Missing Democracy Pages — A look at the speech that Biden should have given had he really been concerned with the many ways in which US democracy is being threatened.
Citizens for Global Solutions 2022 Annual Conference — A free, virtual conference, that explores five models for global governance and the organizations that are pursuing them today.
Narrative Engagement Across Difference (NEAD) Project — The Horizons Project is joining forces with funders, researchers, and movement leaders to develop narrative competencies that can be used to strengthen democracies and combat rising authoritarianism.
The Horizons Project: Sharing a United Front — Social change agents need to build a united front by fosterning a shared understanding of the threat, collaborating across difference, and forming dense networks.
Organizing for collective impact: Transforming American democracy together — A second essay on ways in which a mass movement for strengthening democracy might be established.
Organizing for collective impact: The making of a mass pro-democracy movement — Provocative thoughts on a critically important (and often neglected) question, how can the many groups working to support and strengthen democracy integrate their efforts into an effective social movement?
Paths to Depolarization — From Francis Fukuyama an argument that while grassroots activism and electoral reform are important, what the US really needs is a major political realignment.
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Peacebuilding

Measuring Our Impact — Search for Common Ground's Peace Impact Framework for understanding the impact of peacebuilding work and how to improve its effectiveness.
Alive and Whole in a World of Hurt: the below and beyond of well-being — A short essay by John Paul Lederach and colleagues at Humanity United, in which they reflect on the tensions that often exist within and between the calls for resilience, resistance, and accompaniment in peacebuilding and allied work.
The Priest and the Guerrilla Fighter — Eileen Borris talks with Fr. Leonel Narvaez who helped people in Colombia heal from the long-lasting violence. He shows how "peace doesn't begin with politics. It begins in the heart."
Healing Memories, Forging Peace — An article describing Fr. Leonel Narváez Gómez tireless work in Colombia’s peacebuilding efforts, focused on healing, hope, justice, and peace.
Summary Report - Democracy in the 21st Century: Fragility and Resilience — A report summarizing the key discussions and outcomes of the 2025 annual meeting of the Toda Peace Institute’s Global Challenges to Democracy Working Group.
Mercy Corps: The Human Toll of U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts Six Months On — An article documenting the devastating and mounting human consequences of the U.S. foreign aid cuts, with millions of people around the world cut off from food, water, shelter, health care, and other life-saving support.
Briefing Paper : Health, Peace and Security Nexus — The Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS) published a briefing paper that examines how peace, conflict, and health are interlinked.
Reconceptualizing Atrocity Prevention — A policy brief that introduces a new framework for understanding atrocity prevention focusing on three non-mutually exclusive approaches: proactive, responsive, and redressive.
Shadow Report to Congress on Section 5 of the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-441) [as amended] — A report to Congress on US atrocity prevention work, written by experts who were fired by the Trump administration's "Reduction in Force."
Global Governance Innovation Report 2025 — The Stimson Center published a report that provides the first progress review on the Pact for the Future, offering pathways for implementing its 56 Actions, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations.
Peace & Conflict Statistics — A new service from the Alliance for Peacebulding, this is a "a go-to resource for peace and conflict-related statistics for use by the peacebuilding community."
Democracy Lighthouse — The Lighthouse is a new research and publications platform for all those interested in addressing global threats to democracy.
Briefing Paper - Digitalization, Peace and Security Nexus — This paper outlines the opportunities and risks digital tools present, particularly in fragile contexts, and demonstrates how CSOs are navigating this evolving nexus.
Global Peace Index 2025 — The GPI ranks 163 independent states and territories using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators to surface key trends in peace, ascertain its economic value, and identify prospects for the development of sustainable peaceful societies.
The Council on Technology and Social Cohesion's Expo 2025 — Videos from the Council's US summer meeting showcased innovations from the Council's six thematic hubs: prosocial tech policy and design, dignital peacebuilding, deliberative tech, conflict prevent, and LLMs and AI agents.
The Choice Is Still Clear: Renewing the UN Charter at 80 — The text pf a speech delivered on 26 June 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations. It calls for a reaffirmation of the charters' founding principles: peace, dignity, and international cooperation.
Insights Research Partners — EIRP is a group of professionals who work on advancing evidence and learning in the international democracy and development sector. In 2025, they started this collective to support their peers in the face of the termination of USAID funding.
I Worked at U.S.A.I.D. for Over 8 Years. This Is Our Biggest Failure. — From a former USAID official, thoughts about what the agency could have done to better protect itself and its mission.
Executive Order 14311: Establishing a White House Office for Special Peace Missions — From the Federal Register, a surprising executive order which might become meaningful. It is worth remembering that, after a rocky beginning, the United States Institute of Peace was able to flourish under the George W. Bush administration.
How to Stop a Civil War — A podcast with John Paul Lederach on America's dangerous polarization and the rising risk of political violence. Lederach shares lessons from global conflict resolution to show how we might prevent civil war here.
Alliance for Peacebuilding 2024 Annual Report — This report outlines what the Alliance has done in this past year and is working toward in 2025 and beyond.
With the Peacebuilding Field Under Attack, Risks Abound – But Also Opportunities — Decreasing budgets for peacebuilding across the Global North are forcing a rethinking of the field. Experts say that the dramatic cuts present significant risks, but also offer a window of opportunity for the field to become more efficient and sustainable.
Threads of Peace: Leadership and Conflict Resolution in Nested Negotiation Networks — This article analyzes the intricate dynamics of protracted, asymmetric, and ethnonational (PAE) conflicts across continents, spanning the period from 1960 to 2021.
Triangulating Peace: How Adversaries Build Sustainable Peace through Negotiated Settlements — This article pulls in twelve case examples to show how peace negotiations can be started, successfully concluded, and implemented.
Why It Worked: Redefining “Success” in Conflict Resolution and Peace Negotiations — A special issue of the Negotiation Journal based on a 2-year research project examining why and how peacebuilding can succeed even in the most intractable conflicts.
The Wars We Still Can Stop — For a time when so many wars seem to be raging out of control, an important argument that we should still stop those that we have the capacity to stop (or, better yet, prevent).
Pope Francis’s remarkable peacemaking life — As Francis demonstrated, there's no better way to live life than to practice, teach and promote nonviolence.
Threads of Resilience: A Tale of Unity Across Genocides — A survivor of the Bosnia genocide visited the Rwandan genocide memorial and wrote about the resilience of both peoples in the wake of those tragedies.
In the Footsteps of Peacebuilders: Reflections from Montgomery & Selma — Members of the Euphrates Institute met in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama for their in-person meeting and took a journey through the historical landmarks of the Civil Rights Movement, reflecting on what is being asked of us today.
April 2025: What we’re telling Congress about peacebuilding — Peacebuilding and conflict resolution are the issues of our time. Over the past five years, the number and intensity of armed conflicts have doubled, at a terrible cost. But peacebuilding can bring breakthroughs in peace, trust, and prosperity.
Transformation Futures — In this report, CDA, Peace Direct, and Search for Common Ground share the various transformative outcomes that they have seen through supporting transition processes over the past eight years of collaborative learning and applied research.
AfP Calls on the U.S. to Robustly Support Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Programs and Not Shut Down the U.S. Institute of Peace — The Alliance for Peace's statement about Trump and DOGE's actions against the United States Institute of Peace.
A Nuanced Conversation About USAID — This podcast from Making Peace Visible explores the successes and failures of USAID over the last 20 years.
How to Show Up When Your Work Is Under Attack — How can the social sector show up at this moment when it is under such grave attack? Own your work and your success. Speak plainly about the stakes. Bring people in.
Conflict Tipping Podcast 41: Creating Spaces for Transformation with Prabha Sankaranarayan — An interview with Prabha Sankaranarayan, president and CEO of Mediators Beyond Borders International, on her career, including discussion of societal conflict in the United States.
What Happens When Peace Programs Shut Down? — A Search for Common Ground Emergency Town Hall to explain about the impact of the U.S. foreign aid freeze and what it means for communities worldwide.
How Much the U.S. Spent on Foreign Aid---and Where It Went — An in-depth statistical profile of what USAID used to do that tells us a lot about what we may be losing.
A Rwandan Lesson to Americans in Reconciliation, Forgiveness, and Community — What is most inspiring about Rwanda's strong cultural values are the ways that they've positively shaped the country's post-genocide reconstruction and reconciliation process.
Great Hatred and Little Room: Building Peace in Northern Ireland — Insights from two individuals who came of age in the deeply segregated Ireland during the "troubles." Like Americans today, they had to learn how to live together despite deep distrust.
What Does Peacebuilding Achieve — n December, the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding held an event on how peace is built at the international level, featuring AfP's Executive Director, Liz Hume.
Measuring Peace: How the Peacebuilding Field Can Enable and Evaluate Effective Interreligious Dialogue — The goal of the initiative was to gather and assess the evidence about the effectiveness of interreligious dialogue (IRD) as a peacebuilding approach, and to promote monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
Making Peacebuilding a First-Order Issue: Learning From the Past and Applying it to the Future — We know peacebuilding is the answer to conflict---so why do we, as a field, have such a hard time making that case to funders, policymakers, and the public? Liz Hume talks with John Marks.
Got Conflict? Let's Talk Peacebuilding! Podcast — Two new episodes discuss what is driving record-breaking global violent conflict, and more importantly, what we can do to prevent and reduce violent conflict and build sustainable peace.
Diplomacy of Peace at Any Price — A provocative and doubtless controversial essay asking hard questions about situations in which the desire to bring about the quickest possible end to hostilities conflicts with the desire to overthrow murderous authoritarian regimes.
Understanding Peace Agreements: A Journey Through Words and Impact — Conflict Transformation, Peacebuilding and Security explores the layers of peace agreements, exploring their language, intent, and the challenges of implementation.
In conversation: The essential role of women in peacebuilding — From Conciliation Resources, a video with Rosa Emilia Salamanca, Executive Director of the Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE) in Colombia about the role of women in peacebuilding.
Great Hatred and Little Room: Building Peace in Northern Ireland — A podcast from Beyond Conflict, about deeply segregated societies where politics are personal and violence is intimate. Like Americans today, the guests and their communities had to navigate living together in an atmosphere of deep mistrust.
International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD) — Established in 1998 by Dr. Douglas Johnston, the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD) was founded to bridge religious considerations with global peacebuilding policy and practice.
From Ashes to Empathy: Navigating the Path to Peace in a World Divided by Conflict — From the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy, a blog arguing religious peacemakers can be vital agents of change.
PeaceCon 2024 Videos — These 38 videos show some of the more interesting and important sessions from this year's meeting of the Alliance for Peacebuilding.
Introducing the Peace Impact Calculator: A Comprehensive Tool for Measuring Social Impact — A tool developed as a complement to the Peace Impact Framework provides a way for organizations and individuals to assess and report outcomes of their projects in a structured and accessible manner.
How Autocracy Prevailed in Tunisia: And Why Any Future Democratic Renewal Will Depend on an Entirely New Movement — A post-mortem on the failure of Tunisia's Arab Spring revolution -- a revolution that, at the time, seemed like the one most likely to succeed.
How Do We Get Through This? | Episode 2: Great Hatred and Little Room: Building Peace in Northern Ireland — A second podcast from Beyond Conflict, this one looks at what the U.S. can learn from the Northern Ireland peace process.
USIP Newsletters — The United States Institute for Peace sends out weekly and monthly newsletters about it work, important events and resources from their education department. Sign up here.
How Do We Get Through This? A New Podcast Mini-Series — A three-part podcast mini-series showcases leaders from South Africa and Northern Ireland sharing lessons they learned when all hope seemed lost.
ICAN: International Civil Society Action Network — ICAN forcuses on women's rights, peace, and security, promoting inclusive and sustainable peace globally. It connects women peacebuilders across countries to break their isolation and learn from each other's experiences.
Guide to Peacemaking Using Islamic Principles — From Ebrahim Rasool, from South Africa whose wisdom we have frequently cited, a guide to peacemaking from an Islamic perspective.
The State of Civil Society Peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians — An astonishing report with detailed data showing that civil society peacebuilding is thriving in Israel, even during the war.
How Do You Forgive the People Who Killed Your Family? — From Rwanda, an agonizing story about what it takes for society to recover from a period of genocidal violence (and another reason for preventing such violence).
PeaceCon 2024 and Beyond — A report on the Alliance for Peacebuilding's annual PeaceCon conference and, especially, efforts to focus the Alliance's expertise in the US.
Practitioner Mobilization For Democracy — A gateway for conflict practitioners to more effectively engage in the pro-democracy movement. It's about turning your skills into action, providing clear pathways for participation, and fostering a community of practice where we all learn and grow together.
We are Peacemakers: A Fellowship for Evangelical Leaders — The Fellowship seeks to create a more unified Church that is more resilient to toxic forms of division and ready to lead peacemaking efforts in their community and beyond.
Toda Peace Institute Global Outlook - June 20.2024 — Global Outlook articles from Toda Peace Institute's expert commentators focus on significant developments in treaties and agreements, geopolitical relationships and international legal decisions.
Peace and Security Funders Group — The Peace and Security Funders Group connects and supports the global community of funders advancing peace and security efforts in order to build a more peaceful, just, and equitable world.
Global Fragility Act Coalition — A coalition of 100 peacebuilding, development, humanitarian, and faith organizations, led by the Alliance for Peacebuilding and Mercy Corp to help the U.S. administration to successfully implement the GFA.
Toda Peace Institute's Global Outlook: March 2024 — This issue has articles on the Korean Peninsula, New Zealand's landmark decision on climate, COP 28, and the most worrying international conflicts.
An End-of-Year Letter from AFP's Executive Director, Liz Hume — This letter contains an impressive list of all of AfP's activities over the last year with many links for more details about each of them.
Peacebuilding Starts at Home — A new Alliance for Peacebuilding initiative intended to educate and raise awareness about the drivers of instability and conflict in the U.S. and responses to that.
President Bukele nukes a BBC reporter for criticizing his tough crime crackdown in El Salvador — From the President of El Salvador, a complaint how western democracies are trying to impose their "solutions" on his country -- solutions that he thinks are unworkable.
Five Miles and a World Apart, Younger Activists Dream of a New Peace Process — Welcome news that there is a new generation of peacemakers trying to chart a positive path away from the ongoing war (and reminding us that all problems create opportunities for people with ideas about how to solve them).
Religion and Peace building: Lessons from Africa — The Catholic Church has played a prominent role in promoting human rights, sustainable development, good governance, and peace Africa. Cardinal John Onaiyekan reflects on this work.
Women Peace and Security Index — This index put together by Georgetown University scores and ranks 177 countries in terms of women's inclusion, justice, and security.
Parents of the Field: Betty Reardon — Betty Reardon was one of the founding parents of the conflict resolution field. We were saddened to learn of her passing this week, and wanted to share this video that is making the rounds of our email feeds. Hats off to Betty!
Deep Healing and Emotional Expression: Political Forgiveness as a Unique Peacebuilding Process — A political forgiveness process is uniquely different than other peacebuilding measures --- it provides a healing mechanism to deal with the emotional undertow that keeps a conflict alive.
Revisiting the pillars of peacebuilding: understanding the Lederach gaps in conflict transformation — Despite advancements in conflict transformation and peacebuilding, significant gaps remain. Addressing these is imperative for realizing a positive, sustainable, and just peace that goes beyond just a simple ceasefire and the absence of violence.
U.S. Peacebuilding Digest — A compilation of recent statements, activities, analyses, on more on 16 different topics related to U.S. peacebuilding.
What is Peacebuilding — The Alliance for Peacebuilding's new "story map" that explains what peacebuilding is and how it is done in words everyone can understand.
Catholic Peacebuilding in Times of Crisis — Vol. 12:2 of the Journal of Moral Theology featuring original articles coming out of the the Catholoic Peacebuilding Network's summer 2022 conference .
Digital Peacebuiling — A description of an "open community of practice" to advance the analysis and response to online conflict dynamics and harnessing digital tools to further peacebuilding success.
A Pivot To Prevention: How The 118th Congress Can Prevent Violent Conflict & Build Peace Globally — A briefing book for the U.S. Congress (and interested others) on what Congress can do to further peace in 2023.
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Non-Violence

This Is What Makes Protests Successful — A helpful review of the historical lessons learned from a comparison of successful and unsuccessful protest movements.
Trump's Manufactured Crisis and the Urgency of Strategic Nonviolence — An exploration of strategic and tactical questions that arise in conflicts between nonviolent protesters and provocateurs who try to amplify crises in order to justify repressive responses.
“No Kings” Is Not Enough — For those encouraged by the size and enthusiasm of the "No Kings" protests, thoughts about what else we really have to do before we can repair our democracy.
There is Another Way — Award-Winning Documentary That Demonstrates the Power of Choosing Nonviolence - a film documenting peacebuilders in Israel and Palestine, to be live streamed across the world on June 12.
Protests, political violence and its alternatives with Erica Chenoweth: podcast and transcript — Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard, discusses historical and contemporary strategies for protesting, democratic backsliding, global comparisons and more.
The Faithful Fight: Practicing noncooperation and civil disobedience — As part of movements for freedom, justice, and democracy, faith leaders and communities have turned to nonviolent action, writes Stephen Green and Maria Stephan.
Understanding and Countering Agent Provocateurs in Nonviolent Movements — Provocateurs pose one of the biggest threats to nonviolent protest movements. This article explores strategies for preventing them from infiltrating and then discrediting a movement with provocative and indefensible actions.
The power and pitfalls of protest: how to speak out without falling victim to Trump’s playbook — For those contemplating protest-based strategies for challenging Trump administration policies, an important review of what separates successful from unsuccessful campaigns.
Don’t believe the doubters: protest still has power — Genuinely useful information about how to distinguish effective from ineffective protest strategies.
Pro-Democracy Movement Playbook — Scot Nakagawa shares his thoughts on how the progressive pro-democracy movement can seize the moment to build lasting power. The key is not just resisting, but advancing a positive, durable vision of democracy.
The creative playbook behind Turkey’s mass protests — The arrest of Istanbul’s mayor has sparked a carnivalesque movement against Turkey’s authoritarian turn, showing how satire can transform fear into hope.
Using Our Power - Nonviolence & Noncooperation In History & Today — Horizon's Project Maria Stephan's recent presentation to the Franciscan Action Network about how nonviolence and non-cooperation has been used in the past to resist authoritarianism, and how it can be used now.
Baseline Study for the NEST Project — Nonviolent Peaceforce is carrying out a survey to set a baseline on the current policy and programming practices for Unarmed Civilian Protection and other forms of direct protection from violence.
The Nature of Our Power: A Conversation with Political Scientist Erica Chenoweth — Institutions really can't save us; civil society and mass mobilization are a more potent check on backsliding democracy in the long term. rather than relying on institutional checks and balances alone.
Can nonviolent struggle defeat a dictator? This database emphatically says yes — The Global Nonviolent Action Database details some 40 cases of mass movements overcoming tyrants through strategic nonviolent campaigns.
A Winning Strategy: Defending Democracy with Civil Resistance, with Maria Stephan — Maria Stephan discusses the historic success of protest and non-violent civil disobedience in protecting democracy and describes how it might be used now to combat authoritarianism and polical violence.
Violent Conflict is Destructive. Nonviolent Conflict is Essential — The entire field of nonviolent conflict exists to help people make their point without firing a gun.
The Science of Violent vs. Non-Violent Resistance — Addressing calls for violent resistance to Israel and Jews on his campus, Peter Coleman points to research by Maria Stephan and Erica Chenoweth that show that nonviolence is about twice as likely to succeed as violence.
Protection and Resilience Strategies for Nonviolent Activists — From the Center for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies, a report on the nature of threats nonviolent activists face, and how they can be resisted or mitigated.
We all want a nonviolent world. — From Waging Nonviolence, an announcement about Campaign Nonviolence Action Days from Sept. 21-Oct. 2 to mobilize for a culture of active nonviolence, free from war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction.
Albert Einstein Institution's 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action List — Gene Sharp's list of all the ways people can engage in conflict nonviolently, which results that are usually better than what might be obtained through violence.
Polls and Protests — As we contemplate the latest wave of student protests, a look back in this 1971 analysis of the anti-Vietnam protests by prominent sociologist Seymour Martin Lipsett.
Nonviolence News — Each week, Nonviolence News brings 30-50 stories of "nonviolence in action" to readers, illuminating the scale and scope of how nonviolence is actively shaping our world.
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Political Moderates

Britain's Starmer Is Trying to Fight Populism From the Lonely Center — A profile of the one major country in which centrists are actually in power and offering voters an governing alternative between the populism of the left and the right.
A Guide for the Politically Homeless — For those who feel alienated from contemporary Republican and Democratic politics, a call to become engaged in a new and more positive political movement.
The Democrats Are in Trouble. This Man Can Save Them — As Democrats (and even Republicans) try to build a solid base of political support, an argument that the philosophy of John Rawls offers a more broadly attractive basis for building a fair society.
The Senator Warning Democrats of a Crisis Unfolding Beneath Their Noses — An in-depth profile highlighting the thinking of one Democrat who believes that his party has failed to grasp the reasons why so many people distrust Democrats.
Joe Manchin Has Some Unsolicited Advice for Kamala Harris and the Democrats — During this time of massively parallel partisanship, thoughts from one of the few politicians still inhabiting the middle ground between the two partisan extremes.
The Governor Who Endorsed Trump to Heal American Politics — A profile of Utah Gov. Cox, the founder of the Disagree Better campaign, explaining why he thought that supporting Donald Trump was the best way to continue his efforts to depolarize US politics.
Project 2025: A cross-partisan approach — The start of a month-long series of articles examining each policy area of Project 2025 with a cross-partisan lens.
Rupa Subramanya: I'm Stuck Between the Woke Left and the Nativist Right — An anguished appeal for a revitalized political center that avoids extremes on both the left and the right.
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Understanding The Issues That Divide Us

Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says — From Rachel Kleinfeld and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an extensive, must-read analysis of the origins of the United States' ongoing political difficulties.
"Woke" is a Perfectly Meaningful Word - Better Conflict Bulletin #43 — An examination of what the term means, how it is used, and how it is used as an excuse--by both progressives and conservatives to avoid talking about real issues.
Biden's Federal Budget Blowout — An alarming, nonpartisan report from the Congressional Budget Office shows just how far the abandonment of budgetary constraint has taken us. Is this, as Democrats claim, "sustainable?"
The Power-Mad Utopians — A thought-provoking and undoubtedly controversial look at six major political follies that have characterized the still young 21st-century (three on the left and the on three right)
America's True Divide: Pluralists vs. Zealots — A perceptive look at what is arguably a more important political divide -- one that separates those who are absolutely convinced that their side is in the right and those who see value in reconciling competing perspectives and insights.
A Dispatch from the Exhausted Majority — A comprehensive look at how the extreme us-vs-them rhetoric of the hard left and the hard right is viewed by the majority of voters who inhabit the political center.
What Is National Conservatism? The movement could be the future of the American right — A look at the way conservative beliefs are evolving in response to the progressive left's ambitious agenda for social change.
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Left / Right Conflict

Populist Right-Wing Parties Lead Polls in Europe’s Biggest Economies — For those who thought that the right-leaning populist revolt that brought President Trump to power was unique to the United States -- news that similar movements are gaining strength in Europe.
Small Bookstores and the Future of Liberalism — Report on an informal, anecdotal, but extremely perceptive analysis of what Democrats are actually thinking about in the wake of President Trump's victory.
Can Democrats Promote an Abundance Agenda? — As "abundance" emerges as a possible basis for a more broadly embraced political movement, hard questions about whether Democrats could make the big changes that pursuing such a strategy would require.
Blue states don't build. Red states do. — For Democrats, one key to re-earning the public's trust is to look honestly at things that Republicans appear to be doing better and consider making changes.
Why I Am Not A Conflict Theorist — A critique of the conflict theory that lies at the core of so much of the progressive, left's thinking.
Left and Right Alike Are Blind to Trade-Offs — A call for both the left and the right to rediscover the the need to wisely and equitably balance costs and benefits -- something that neither side does very well.
Our favorite findings from 2024 — At More in Common, we aim to provide Americans with new ways of thinking about our politics. Here are some of MiC's favorite findings from the past year.
Beyond Red and Blue — A hopeful story about those who have been able to craft political campaigns that span the red blue divide.
America's political realignment is catching Democrats flat-footed — The pretty persuasive argument that politics is repolarizing in ways that divide the more from the less educated.
Biden said he wanted to bring Americans together --- why didn't he? — An op-ed on Biden's polarizing approaches, and what we can learn from that
How Trump and Black Lives Matter Combined to Change American Politics — The review of the latest political science insights into the forces that produced the United States' contemporary political crisis.
Can Blue States Build? — Reflections on the far-reaching implications of the startling fact -- it is Texas, not California, that is the national leader in clean-energy generation.
Not Just Bigotry, not Just Economics: Why Rural Voters Are Red -- BCB #107 — Rural residents have strong feelings of attachment, pride and loyalty to their homes. When urbanites disparage their beloved communities, they get mad, which then creates a positive feedback cycle of anger and resentment.
When Progressive Ideals Become a Luxury — A video explaining Rob Henderson's notion of "luxury beliefs" -- things that the relatively wealthy can believe because they are insulated from the downsides of those beliefs.
You'll Never Guess Where Red and Blue Agree --- BCB #106 — Another reminder that Red and Blue don't disagree as much as we think
Far-Left Extremism Enabled Right-Wing Victories — From a more conservative perspective, a pretty persuasive argument that the extremes of the left are a major factor in the rise of the extreme right.
How Elites Have Empowered The Far Right — From a conservative perspective, an eye-opening look at how the left's open immigration policies are, in country after country, empowering the far right.
The dark side of active citizenship — The most politically active citizens are the biggest drivers of destructive polarization -- a fact that suggests that we ought to consider rethinking the norms of civic involvement.
When Hatred of the Left Becomes Love for Putin — A look at how opposition to progressive policies is metastasizing into an open embrace of Russian authoritarianism.
Can Texas Create Its Own Immigration Policy? — Texas' Senate Bill 4 would make unlawful entry into Texas a state crime, empowering state troopers and cops to arrest individuals suspected of crossing the border illegally and giving state judges the power to issue deportations.
America's Most Overlooked Political Divide Is Also Its Most Revealing — A persuasive argument that we ought to be paying a lot more attention to the conflict between political activists and everyday citizens.
What is the Building Civic Bridges Act and Why Support it? — A set of essays from conflict resolvers, advocates, a retired four-star general, an educator, a business leader, and others about why the Building Civic Briedges Act is so important.
Horseshoe Politics — We should all understand the meaning and implications of the phrase "horseshoe politics" and its observation that political extremes tend to converge on one another.
The Red-Blue Divide Goes Well Beyond Biden and Trump — It's not just Trump and Biden -- the divisions that are tearing apart the United States are far deeper than any political personality.
Trump Came for Their Party but Took Over Their Souls — An analysis of the way in which Trumpism has completely supplanted the previous policy priorities of the Republican Party.
The GOP's True Priority — An article that tries to make sense of the collapse of one of the most promising bipartisan negotiations in recent years -- the one that combined aid for Israel and Ukraine with border security measures.
American Politics is Bringing Us Down — As we continue to fight about most everything, a reminder that it's the destructive nature of these fights (rather than the substantive issues involved) that pose the greatest threat.
Deadly Hot Air — Thoughtful reflections on the complexities of our current political moment.
Is the Electoral Fix Already In? — Amid the cascade of articles describing the many ways in which Donald Trump threatens democracy, an important counterpoint on the right's concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election.
We Are Normalizing Trump. Again. — A summary, with lots of links to what the latest political science research is showing about President Trump's political dominance among Republicans.
Political Trench Warfare — An exploration of what is likely to happen in the United States' upcoming "trench warfare" election -- an election characterized by a virtual tie and almost no one willing to consider changing their vote.
Do You Remember the Ecstasy of Electing Joe Biden? — With the 2024 election rapidly approaching, reflections on what happened to the enthusiasm of the Democratic coalition that drove Trump from office.
The Them-vs.-Us Election — This article offers a new, perceptive, and important way of looking at the fault lines that divide our hyper-polarized society.
You Should Go to a Trump Rally — A sensible challenge for those on the left who would like a more accurate understanding of the other side of the political divide.
Why the right is eating the left's lunch — As President Trump's growing support among formerly Democratic working-class voters increases his chances of winning a second term, reflections on why this is happening.
The Case for Trump ... by Someone Who Wants Him to Lose — For a time in which the mainstream, left-leaning media has almost nothing nice to say about former President Trump, a thought-provoking effort to understand his appeal.
Democrats! Time to Re-Embrace Merit, Free Speech, and Universalism — A plea for Democrats to strengthen their electoral appeal by rediscovering the wisdom of traditional liberal values -- values that are increasingly viewed with suspicion.
America Feels Like a Codependent Household — An attempt to help us better understand US political psychology by comparing it to dysfunctional family dynamics.
Two parties, two wildly different spending solutions, both implausible — An explanation of how massive deficit spending allows both Republicans and Democrats to convert tough, sero-sum budgetary conflicts into positive-sum disputes that allow all of their supporters to win.
Overturning Roe Changed Everything. Overturning Affirmative Action Did Not. — An analysis of the dramatically different political ramifications of recent Supreme Court decisions on abortion and affirmative action.
My grand theory of the left — For those who may have thought that intersectionality (or perhaps something else) explains the left's behavior, an essay that reminds us that things are more complex than that.
Where Have All The Democrats Gone? — A window into the ever-changing nature of the left and right-leaning political coalitions that divide our hyper-polarized society.
On This Issue, Matt Gaetz Actually Has a Good Point — An argument that much-maligned GOP rebels like Matt Gatetz are making at least one sensible argument -- Congress ought to follow its own rules and debate and pass all 12 appropriations bills (something it hasn't done since the mid 1990s).
Moderates could unite amid House speaker chaos. Why don't they? — In the context of the fight over who should be Speaker of the US House of Representatives, an examination of why the hyper-polarized political divide has become so impenetrable.
Vivek's Ten "Truths"? — Before dismissing Vivek Ramswamy as just another rich, Presidential wannabe, consider an analysis of the deep support that exists within US society for his "10 truths."
Mitt Romney Has Given Us a Gift — A look at revelations from Mitt Romney's about-to-be-published biography and the rare insight it gives us into the way in which the Senate actually works and senators actually behave.
Why Are Democrats Losing Ground Among Nonwhite Voters? 5 Theories. — For a party that frames itself as the defender of nonwhite voters, Democrats are losing a surprising amount of support among those voters. This article asks why.
Vivek Ramaswamy's Truth — An informative profile of Vivek Ramaswamy and his effort to become the new leader of the populist rebellion against what US progressives think democracy ought to be.
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.
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.
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!)
Democrats and Republicans Are Living in Different Worlds — A big reason why our conflicts are so intense is that we have such different images of the world that we think we inhabit.
The Damaged Brands of America's Two Political Parties — A report on a new poll that documents the growing gap between the positions of the United States' two political parties and the general population.
At High School Debates, Watch What You Say — High school debates have long been praised for helping students learn how to constructively grapple with controversial issues. Now, unwelcome news that they are moving away from that role.
Tim Urban: Why are we so divided? And what can we do about it? — An interesting TED talk exploring how we can move toward a world that is less angry and more filled with curiosity, cooperation, and respect.
If No Labels Pushes a 'Unity Candidate,' Expect a 'Trainwreck,' Group's Allies Say — An update for those who have been following (with hope and/or trepidation) plans for a more moderate, third-party Presidential campaign.
Where Is the Electoral Payoff to Progressivism? — A provocative look at whether the progressive agenda is, in fact, a winning political strategy.
The Flip Side on the Durham Report — A presentation of views from the Left and the Right about the Durham Report on FBI and other law enforcement investigations of the Trump and Clinton Presidential campaigns.
Finding Common Ground on Election Reform — Free and fair elections are at the cornerstone of our democracy, yet many Americans feel disenfranchised about their ability to cast a ballot. Can we reach agreement on how to fix that?
Civility, civil disobedience or something in between — When does civility become compliance and when does activism that might further divide serve a tactical function that outweighs a more passive approach? A bridge-builder considers this question.
Bridging divides in the workplace — Many companies are witnessing how contentious social and political issues create workplace conflict and reduce productivity. A look at how businesses can help repair America's social fabric --- both in and out of the workplace.
Two Stories of Distrust In America — Fewer than 1/4 of Americans believe the federal government, American corporations, and national media to be honest. Why?
Trust in SCOTUS in the wake of Roe v. Wade — 80% of Americans think the Supreme Court should be independent from politics. Before Dobbs, 39% thought it actually was; after Dobbs that number was down to 24%.
Rise of the Independents -- But not of third parties — Interesting observations -- increasing numbers of people are identifying as moderate, political "independents" and this trend is not being reflected in increasing support for third-party candidates.
How Identity Politics Aids the Right and Divides the Left — An assessment of the political implications of dividing society into separate (and often competing) identity groups.
Are There Signs We're Becoming Less Polarized? — Reason to believe that there are now places in the US where communities are finding ways around our us-vs-them politics and learning that people on the left and the right have something to contribute.
The Democrats' Patriotism Problem — The next installment in a three-part look at things that Democrats might do to broaden their appeal enough to start diffusing our hyper-polarized politics. This one focuses on the trouble that progressives often have acknowledging that there are good things about America.
The Forces Tearing Us Apart Are Not Quite What They Seem — An informative and much more nuanced look at what the latest political science is telling us about the nature and magnitude of our differences.
Revisiting the Three Point Plan to Fix the Democrats and Their Coalition — From a Democratic perspective, a look at the deteriorating strength of their political coalition and proposed changes that could make it much more broadly attractive.
The conservative challenge to liberalism goes deeper than self-interest — An explanation of the core beliefs underlying conservatism (for those who might think that it is nothing more than a set of rationalizations justifying the pursuit of selfish interests).
How Much Longer Can 'Vote Blue No Matter Who!' Last? — A review of what political scientists see as the likely efficacy of the Democratic political strategy of emphasizing racial differences (and assuming near monolithic support from nonwhites).
How Moderate Republicans Became an Endangered Species — From a Republican perspective, a look at the potential power of political moderates, the difficulties that moderates have faced, and strategies for overcoming those difficulties.
The Populist Independents — A look at a small, but potentially quite powerful, segment of the electorate -- populists dismayed about the current direction of society who see moderate politicians as the solution.
What Really Saved the Democrats This Year? — An excellent review of the latest analyses of the 2022 election with real insight into the strategies that generate broad public support.
Why the 'Smart' Party Never Learns — Increasingly, the left is the party of the more educated and the right is the party of the less educated. Reflections on how the resulting arrogance is undermining the left's ability to learn.
Trump Struggles, but America Is Still Feverish — A reminder that the profound social problems that contributed to President Trump's success persist even though his political fortunes may be waning.
Conservatism in an Era Of Populist Revolt — An enlightening explanation of the core beliefs underlying true conservatism and a look at the wide gulf that separates these beliefs from prevailing, right-leaning politics.
It's Always a 'Negative World' for Christianity — For those on the secular left who feel threatened by advocates of traditional Christian beliefs, look at what the constant criticism of Christianity feels like from the other side.
Toxic Polarization: What's the Left Got to Do With It? — An AFP panel looking at how the Left contributes to toxic polarization with Erica Etelson, author of Beyond Contempt with Debilyn Molineaux from the Bridge Alliance, and Steve House with Braver Angels.
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Race / Anti-Racism

How To Fix DEI — An example of a constructive response to criticism and the loss of public trust -- figure out how to do better.
Let's have an authentic racial reckoning. — From Tangle, an organization devoted to helping us see both sides of the story, thoughts about how we might have the genuinely healing "racial reckoning."
Are White People a Protected Class Now? — An illuminating report on the history of "protected classes," the recent Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services Supreme Court Case, and questions about whether it is possible to discriminate against white men.
How the BLM riots broke America: The oligarchs learned to weaponise mistrust — An informative examination of the way in which the BLM riots transformed the United States and the ways in which the resulting tensions were exploited by political opportunists.
Discrimination cases unravel as Trump scraps core civil rights tenet — An article describing Trump's efforts to roll back one of the most significant and controversial apects of civil rights law -- that governing "disparate impacts."
The Progressive Moment Is *Still* Over — Thoughts about whether, in the wake of the Trump administration, the "status quo ante" might reassert itself and Biden-era progressive beliefs once again take charge.
DEI’s Beleaguered True Believers, in Their Own Words — For a time in which DEI programs are under siege, a chance to hear what supporters of those programs have to say about the current situation.
'Oikophobia': Our Western Self-Hatred — An essay exploring an important new word, "Oikophobia" -- a concept that can help us understand one of today's most important (and least recognized) socio-cultural trends.
White Americans as a normal minority — A thought-provoking new way to think about race in America -- think about whites as just another racial group.
Diversity Is Good, Actually — From a more conservative perspective, support for diversity and an argument for looking at the term in more diverse and inclusive ways.
Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes — A thought-provoking argument that those who ignore politically inconvenient information about affirmative action are more interested in defending a narrative than in actually solving a problem.
The Resistance Is Gonna Be Woke — An argument that the reported death of the progressive left has been greatly exaggerated (and is probably an illusion).
DEI’s Beleaguered True Believers, in Their Own Words — A helpful window into what DEI's strongest supporters think about building a more equitable society.
Teach Pluralism, Not Antiracism — A persuasive argument for an alternative (and much less divisive) strategy for promoting a genuinely diverse society -- one which offers most everyone valued place.
Believe It Or Not, There Are Interesting And Non-Evil Reasons Why Your Political Enemies Disagree About Victimhood And Immediately Leaping To The Least Charitable Interpretation Is Stupid — Any attempt, by an opponent of DEI programs, to better explain why reasonable people might really have a legitimate reasons for concern and opposition.
Aaron Sibarium on Identity Politics under Joe Biden and Donald Trump — More food for thought as we try to understand the complex ways in which identity politics is influencing events.
Morgan Stanley Went Big on DEI, and No One Is Happy About It — Another case study of the way in which DEI policies and programs have transformed a major corporation.
Was Integration the Wrong Goal? — A look at the long shadow cast by The 1954 Brown vs the Board of Education Supreme Court decision and the surprisingly large number of Blacks who think that the integration of the schools that it ordered was a mistake.
The Pluralist's Paradox — A controversial and thought-provoking argument that the more you empower minorities, the weaker they become.
The Future of DEI — From the Journal of Free Black Thought, reflections on the failure of DEI and thoughts about how its most laudable goals might more effectively be achieved.
Working at Anheuser-Busch, I Saw What Went Wrong With the D.E.I. Movement — A first-person account describing many ways in which, before Trump, DEI policies influenced decision-making at a major corporation.
How a Key Civil Rights Era Shift Paved the Way for Today's Political Fallout... and Why It Matters — A retrospective look at an enormously consequential step in the evolution of civil rights law -- the idea that discrimination can exist without intent to discriminate.
DEI Has Lost All Meaning — An argument that we could do much to defuse the conflict over DEI if we would just be clearer about exactly what we want and why.
Supreme Court Considers Reverse-Bias Lawsuits Amid DEI Backlash — An update on some usually consequential cases that the Supreme Court will be considering with respect to accusations of reverse bias.
Illustrations of Civil Rights Peacemaking & Conflict Resolution — The Divided Community Project in collaboration with Stanford Law School and NAFCM is hosting a webinar on Feb. 26 illustrating effective civil rights peacemaking and conflict resolution strategies .
Trump's Colorblind Message Energizes Black Americans — A look at why some Blacks support a more conservative model for addressing racial inequities.
Dr. King's Call to Justice: A Universal Beacon in Troubled Times — January 20, 2025 was the day President Trump was inaugurated as President in the U.S. and it was also the day we celebrated the life and ideas of Martin Luther King. This coincidence invites a reflection on King's enduring ideas.
Trump and the DEI Counter-Revolution — An informative and comprehensive review of the history of DEI programs, their expansion, the growing backlash, and now the counter-revolution.
Reforming the DEI Reforms — A promising proposal for reforming DEI to focus on MEI: Merit, Economics, and Ingenuity (and build the support needed for real positive change).
As Trump Attacks D.E.I., Some on the Left Approve — A report on Democrats who are going beyond a reflexive defense of DEI programs and actually trying to understand and constructively respond to criticisms.
Martin Luther King, Conservative? — A podcast highlighting the many ways in which conservatives agree with the teachings of Martin Luther King -- could this be a basis for imagining a way out of our deep divisions?
Bridging America's Political and Racial Divides — Peter Coleman shared several key findings from six studies that can help mobilize citizens to heal growing divisions.
Fake White Guilt Drove Decades-Long DEI Mania — For those trying to understand the hostility with which so many people view DEI-related programs and initiatives, one conservative's attempt to explain his views.
How DEI Conquered the University of Colorado — Based upon an open records review of University of Colorado faculty recruiting documents, this article reveals just how deeply DEI criteria now dominate universities.
Race Is a Spectrum. Sex Is Pretty Damn Binary — Really insightful article that starts with the observation that race is a social construct but sex is a biological reality. This has huge implications for the way in which we think about race and gender.
DEI Is a Failure Because the Civil Rights Movement Wasn't About Elite Diversity — A look at the conflict between those who seek to pursue racial justice by promoting diversity among elites and those who pursue more traditional vision of civil rights.
Black and White Weren't Always as Black-and-White as They Seemed — An insightful exploration of the complexities of race and racism that argues against efforts to classify people by race and for efforts to focus on eradicating true racism.
To understand modern political polarization, you have to go back 53 years. — A retrospective look at the long shadow cast by the 1971 Griggs v. Duke Power Supreme Court case which removed conscious intent from the definition of discrimination.
Martin Luther King Jr. and the American Political Tradition — From Daniel Stid, thoughtful reflections on Martin Luther King's wisdom on the occasion of Donald Trump's inauguration.
Three Questions That Probably Doom California's Reparations Push — Hard questions that proponents of reparations need to be prepared to answer.
The Racial Identity of Americans Is Rapidly Blurring. Politics Hasn't Caught Up. — An assessment of the contradictions between a political philosophy based on sharp racial differences and the reality of increasingly blurry racial distinctions.
Skin Deep: Reverse racism is just racism — An explanation of why reverse racism (in any of its many disguises) is a formula for perpetual conflict -- a conflict that will undermine both democracy and efforts to address the very real problem of racism.
How I Found FAIR — An important analysis of the many benefits of political tolerance and the organization, FAIR, which champions this approach to politics.
Matt Walsh's Hilarious New Film Asks: 'Am I Racist?' — A guide to the many reasons why so many strongly oppose DEI programs (criticisms that the many defenders of those programs really need to address).
D.E.I. Is Not Working on College Campuses. We Need a New Approach. — For a time in which DEI programs are clearly not delivering on the racial harmony that they promised, a critical review of current practices and the thoughts about more promising approaches.
The Scandal Hidden in Plain Sight — A provocative challenge to the idea that racism is responsible for all racial disparities -- and an alternative explanation that is hard to completely refute.
Democrat platform says America was built on stolen land — An undoubtedly controversial, outside critique of the Democratic Party's obligatory "land acknowledgments" -- a critique that asks hard questions about our messy and fraught history.
The declining significance of race, quantified — Evidence that we are, in fact, making significant progress toward addressing racial inequities.
Who Can Achieve the American Dream? Race Matters Less Than It Used To. — The report on a new study that further illuminates the complex economic relationship between race and class.
Merit, Excellence and Intelligence: An Anti-DEI Approach Catches On — The report on a new and doubtless controversial alternative to diversity equity and inclusion programs worth considering and debating.
Poor Black Kids Are Doing Better. Poor White Kids Are Doing Worse. — The report on surprising racial disparities in our ability to alleviate intergenerational poverty.
How Modern "Anti-Racists" Reject the Philosophy of MLK - with Coleman Hughes — An article contrasting contemporary efforts to reckon with the United States' continuing history of racism and the approach taken by Martin Luther King.
Embrace Pluralism over Racialism — Thoughts on the complex relationship between race-based views of social equity, antisemitism, diversity, tolerance, and pluralism.
With State Bans on D.E.I., Some Universities Find a Workaround: Rebranding — An article describing how DEI programs are responding to increasing public criticism and political efforts to prohibit them.
You Can't Fire Only the White Guys — An article about a court case that pretty convincingly demonstrates that there are cases in which reverse discrimination is a real problem.
Historical Monuments: To Remove or Not to Remove — Renaming or removing a namesake does not change the past, it only prevents us from educating future generations.
Can Multiracial Democracy Survive? — An article by Horizon's "Chief Organizer" Maria Stephan on the relationship between democracy, autocracy, white supremacy, and racism.
DEI killed the CHIPS Act — With respect to the Biden administration's efforts to onshore computer chip production, a look at how deeply DEI has become embedded in everything the federal government does.
The Democrats and the Rise of Racial Radicalism — A retrospective look at the evolution of the Democratic Party's views on race and reflections on the political implications of those changing views.
The Prophets: Bayard Rustin — As we still struggle to deal with the problems of racism, an article that helps us remember what we should have learned from one of the giants of the civil rights era.
Horizons' Race and Democracy Resources — An essay on why racial justice and democracy must be pursued hand-in-hand and resources discussing how to do that.
The Horizon's Project New Race and Democracy Portolio — Julia Roig and Jarvis Williams' new focus on race and democracy and their goal of supporting partners to break down siloes to place racial equity and racial healing at the center of our pro-democracy organizing.
Civil Rights: A Most Righteous Hangover — Ashok Panikkar's reflections on how we took away the wrong lessons from US Civil Rights Movement, which has now contributed to the weakening of minority rights and Western democracies over the last few decades.
Rediscovering the Meaning of Diversity: Lessons from Generation X — From those younger than baby boomers, but old enough to have a sense of history, reflections on the successes that we have had in building a more diverse society.
Equity, Equitist, Equitism — An insightful new effort to clarify the conflict between the equity of the social justice movement and the egalitarianism of liberal democracy.
We Are Too Good for DEI — A thought-provoking essay exploring the relationship between "victimhood" and "agency."
This is not a good way to fight racism in America — A quite thoughtful essay on Google's new Gemini AI engine, its initial pro-diversity bias, and the dangers of thinking that there is a quick and easy solution to racism.
Coleman Hughes wants a colorblind America. So should we. — An overview of the new book that offers what we see as a much more effective and much less divisive way of addressing racism and other forms of oppression.
Breaking Down America's Workforce — A report on a detailed demographic analysis that reveals how very far we are from the ideal of "proportionate" representation of the various identity groups in the US workforce.
Color blindness remains the best form of antiracism — An argument for the principal alternative to today's antiracism strategy -- one based on colorblindness.
Coleman Hughes: My Testimony on Reparations — A critique of the case for reparations and a proposal for a more constructive way of dealing with the unrightable wrongs of the past and the many problems of the present.
Our Open Border Policy Is Not an Accident — A look beyond the political showmanship that surrounds the immigration debate and an examination of why many people are troubled with the left's approach.
Virtuous Lies and Black Despair — When social policies fail to produce the desired results, it's good practice to ask hard questions about unintended consequences and the possibility that good intentions may be being counterproductive.
How our treatments for "racial trauma" only make the problem worse — An article that makes the case that the way in which we typically handle racial trauma is making the problem worse rather than better.
They're Black Democrats. And They're Suing Chicago Over Migrants. — In the context of the struggle over government assistance programs in Chicago, a look at the tension between Black residents and newly arriving migrants.
Black and Jewish Activists Have Allied for Decades. What Now? — One of the more surprising outcomes of the October 7 attack on Israel and the war that has followed is the way in which it has shattered the long-standing alliance between Blacks and Jews.
America Works. DEI Doesn't. — From the south side of Chicago, and inner-city pastor's look at what it will take to save his community (and how that differs from prevailing progressive policies).
This Is the Actual Danger Posed by D.E.I. — An argument highlighting three major areas in which DEI policies, as currently practiced, appear to violate the law and the core principles underlying democracy
What Bayard Rustin Could Teach Democrats Today — A report on a new biopic that explores the life of Bayard Rustin -- a man with a great deal to teach the current generation of civil rights activists.
Higher Ed Has Become a Threat to America — A critical and undoubtedly controversial look at the impact of DEI programs on the ability of universities to fulfill their core missions.
Liberals Once Embraced Interracial Marriages Like Mine. What Changed? — Thought-provoking reflections on the pros and cons of rapidly changing social norms regarding interracial marriage along with deep questions about the kind of society that we are trying to build.
Inside Ohio State's DEI Factory — Thanks to a Freedom of Information Act request, we now have a rare window into how universities actually use DEI criteria in their internal deliberations.
Making Race Skin Deep — An article about race that demonstrates the value of looking at such an important concept from the perspective of multiple cultures (and not just assuming that our way is the only way).
The Politics of Tribal Nonsense — A controversial, but pretty well documented article, that asks important and disturbing questions about the factual underpinnings of many of today's dominant narratives (including, especially, those about race).
Why My Generation Hates Jews — A heartbreaking account of how the now common educational practice of bifurcating society into oppressed and oppressor groups has metastasized in ways that have produced a generation with deeply anti-Semitic beliefs -- all of the name of social justice.
Why identity politics is poisonous to the ideal of human equality — Well-documented reflections on identity politics, the Plessy vs Ferguson Supreme Court decision (which enshrined the "separate but equal" doctrine), and the idea of human equality
Robin DiAngelo Thinks Society Will Never Improve — A challenge to the depressing assertion that society is horrible and racist and can never be improved.
How Ibram X. Kendi Broke Boston University — An informative, critical, and doubtless controversial examination of the way in which Kendi's vision of antiracism has transformed Boston University (along with many other institutions).
Does Your Worth Depend On Your Immutable Characteristics? — An updated argument for judging people on their actions and content of their character, rather than traits over which they have no control.
D.E.I. Statements Stir Debate on College Campuses — A look at the increasingly frequent practice of requiring job applicants in higher education to submit DEI statements. (How does this differ from requiring a progressive loyalty oath?)
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.
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.
Business Is Caught in a Diversity Trap — A story about what happens when Democratic and Republican-led states tell businesses that they have to approach questions of racial equity in different and incompatible ways.
Antiracists' vs. Academic Freedom — A look at the way in which California Community Colleges (with 1.8 million students) are assuring that all faculty members are unquestioningly supportive of the system's DEI policies.
The Pseudoscience of Critical Race Theory — Amid all of the uncertainty about what "critical race theory" is and isn't, a detailed look and critical assessment of its core assertions (with lots of links).
For DEI Supporters, Perpetuation of Racism Is Good Business — All political movements should guard against the tendency to become a self-perpetuating bureaucracy -- one that undermines rather, than advances, the movement's core goals.
10 Notes on the End of Affirmative Action — A series of provocative and controversial observations about affirmative action well worth considering.
The DEI Industry Needs to Check Its Privilege — All institutions in positions of power and authority ought to routinely ask themselves hard questions about whether they are living up to their responsibilities. The DEI "industry" is no exception.
Race once governed U.S. voting patterns. That's quickly changing. — A look at how the association between race and voting behavior is evolving (and undermining many common and simplistic assumptions).
Why Some Companies Are Saying 'Diversity and Belonging' Instead of 'Diversity and Inclusion' — A report on new thinking about diversity programs and hope that we might be learning how to craft these programs in ways that better live up to their lofty ideals.
Defining 'Woke' (a Word We Should Probably All Stop Using) — A thoughtful exploration of the many controversies swirling around the word "woke" and the difficulty of finding an agreed-upon name for a philosophy that is remaking society.
Rethinking Systems Design for Racial Justice & Equity — Recordings of a Spring 2022 symposium held by the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution and the Divided Community Project, with the Harvard Negotiation Program, and the Stanford Center for Conflict Resolution
A Practical Guide to Planning Collaborative Initiatives to Advance Racial Equity — Ideas and illustrations on ways to help people understand the history of current racial harms, advancing racial equity, and starting healing based on actual programs at the local and state levels.
Bridging Divides & Cultivating Solidarity to Counter Strategic Racism, with Ian Haney López — A podcast exploring how engaging across our racial and class divides and cultivating solidarity can help bring us together to care for and nurture our democracy.
Five Calls-to Action from the 2022 Facing Race Conference — Calls included: 1) don't be afraid of backlash--it means we're winning. 2) reconnect, 3) expose white nationalism for the threat it is, 4) Stop internal implosions, and 5) Look and move forward.
California May Bill You for Slavery — A report on the racial reparations recommended by a high-level California committee with details about who does and doesn't receive various levels of compensation.
Glenn Loury and the Great Partisan Divide — Glenn Loury, from a Black conservative perspective, offers a provocative challenge to progressive views on inequality and race (as well as a reminder that there really are issues worth debating).
Biden's OMB Plans to Divide America Into More Racial Groups — For a society in which so much effort is being devoted to providing some racial groups with more opportunities, news about upcoming changes in the way the government defines those groups.
The true Left is not woke — A thoughtful critique of left-leaning, progressive political views and an argument that they often fail to live up to their own ideals.
Today's Woke Excesses Were Born in the '60s — A well-documented inquiry into a big question: how did the civil rights movement of today emerge from the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King (and what is been gained and lost in the process)?
Intellectual Brown Web (IBW): An Introduction — The genuinely interesting effort to add diversity and nuance to often bipolar discussions about race.
Why Racial Discussions Should Also Focus on Progress — A call for balancing efforts to address continuing racial problems with a companion effort to recognize and sustain the progress that has been made.
A View of American History That Leads to One Conclusion — A thought-provoking essay for those struggling to find a constructive way of thinking about humanity's brutal history while also recognizing its beauty and accomplishments.
Reading, Writing, and ... Black Studies? — Amid all of the sound and fury over Florida's proposed AP course in African-American studies, a thought-provoking report that tries to explain the nature of the conflict and the issues involved.
More In Common Report: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Highly Regarded as a "Leader, Brave, and Activist" — Presenting a survey showing that Americans' views of MLK Day" found most Americans value and respect Dr. King and they think that racial equality has improved since the 1960's.
Martin Luther King Would Choose Reflection Over 'Intersectionality' — For those trying to understand what Martin Luther King would have to say about our troubled times, an essay emphasizing his beliefs about the importance of personal reflection.
The U.S. Government's Woke Training — Amid all the heated rhetoric about the virtues and vices of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, a rare chance (thanks to a FOIA request) to actually see the materials being used in these programs.
Harvard, Herschel Walker and 'Tokenism' — A thought-provoking essay on racism, strategies for opposing it, and the multi-faceted issue of "tokenism."
Review of Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America — An in-depth review and summary of an important new book exploring the complex, bewildering, and often indefensible mechanics underlying many programs designed to correct racial disparities.
After Intersectionalism — An argument worth considering -- the possibility that the intersectional struggle against oppression will lead to an era of widespread conflict between the various identity groups.
The Progressive Case Against Race-Based Affirmative Action — An example of the advantages of questioning prevailing orthodoxies and looking for better ways of pursuing the things that we really care about.
Dismantling Structural Racism and Injustice — An AfP webinar discussing the ways structural racism contributes to the current state of affairs in our country and how we can move toward justice, peace, and reconciliation.
America Needs a New Civil Rights Act — A controversial argument for new civil rights legislation (and, a reminder that people with different perspectives can look at the same problem and reach very different conclusions.)
What a Report of Extreme Racism Teaches Us — Reflections on the fact that a great many of the stories of extreme racism that are doing so much to drive us apart turn out not to be true.
This Is What Happens When Race Is Everything — Reflections on the far-reaching implications of a political philosophy that sees racism as the sole factor that determines the course of society.
The Counterweight Conference on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion — An announcement of an upcoming online conference that tries to do more than criticize existing diversity equity and inclusion programs, it tries to offer a less divisive and more unifying alternative.
James Baldwin's Radicalism — An enlightening profile of one of the giants in the struggle against racism, James Baldwin -- a man with much to teach us as we continue to struggle with age-old problems.
The Racial Binary Is Inadequate — An exploration of the limits of binary thinking on race and the advantages of a much more complex and nuanced exploration of our diversity -- an approach that can help diffuse a lot of tension.
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Family / Gender / LBGTQ+

The Wrong Definition of Love — From David Brooks, an argument that a big factor behind our unraveling social fabric is our failure to understand the most fundamental of human emotions -- love.
Not all men (are in crisis) — An in-depth examination (with lots of charts and statistics) of the complex problems facing men and boys, plus a look at how these problems are unevenly distributed through society.
Family Structure Matters to Student Achievement. What Should We Do With That? — An article asking us to grapple with an uncomfortable tension -- the desire to treat all family structures equally and the fact that some family situations undermine a child's chance for success.
Can Progressives Get Behind Parental Rights for All? — A call for compromise based on what we call "mirror" building – imagining how we would react if the other side did the same things that we are doing.
How the Gay Rights Movement Radicalized, and Lost Its Way — A really perceptive and thoughtful history of the emergence of the gay rights movement, its success with Obergefell, and the downsides of the shift towards gender issues.
The Liberal Misinformation Bubble About Youth Gender Medicine — A welcome example of the kind of hard questions that backers of all social movements ought to be asking themselves.
4 ways women are physically stronger than men — Yet another area in which stereotypes about the relative strengths and weaknesses of men and women turn out to be wrong in surprising ways.
There’s a Link Between Therapy Culture and Childlessness — Food for thought as societies worldwide contemplate a future in which the coming generation won't be large enough to sustain the society.
How to Spot ‘Toxic Femininity’ — It's always useful to, from time to time, turn the tables and look at your side in the same way that you look at the other.
Fertility on demand — An in-depth look, with lots of statistics and charts, at the complex relationship between motherhood, careers, and children.
How I Became a Wife — A reminder that progressive views on sex, gender, and family are not universal and eloquent defense of traditional family structures.
Men and women are different — An argument that women and racial minorities require different strategies for protecting their civil rights (based on the fact that there are significant biological differences between men and women and no such differences between racial groups.
The cruelty of gentle parenting: It neglects the dark corners of children's souls — A thought-provoking article, especially for parents, critiquing the increasingly popular practice of "gentle parenting."
Six-Chart Sunday (#49) -- The Kids Aren't Alright — Another collection of revealing power points. This one highlights challenges facing young people.
Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL)'s Gendered Violence Division — PERIL's new Gendered Violence Division analyzes patterns of gender-based bigotry and violence, including against the LGBTQ+ community, and designs and tests tools to prevent and respond to gendered hate and violence.
If Men Are in Trouble, What Is the Cause? — A review, with lots of links, to the latest social science thinking about the many challenges facing men and boys.
Meet the Women with AI Boyfriends — A report on just how far men and women have become estranged from one another.
Should You Even Have Kids? — Looking back on wonders of a lifetime spent parenting and grandparenting, we find it incredibly sad that so many young people are deciding not to have kids.
Democrats Need To Realize It's Not Always Easy To Be a Man — Amid all of the concern about obstacles faced by women and girls, an argument for also attending to the challenges facing men and boys.
Lighthouse Parents Have More Confident Kids — A new word to add to the lexicon of parenting philosophies, lighthouse parenting (an option that has a lot to recommend it).
America's Families Are Not Okay: Inside the crisis of parent-child estrangement. — A look at a seldom considered conflict that has enormous implications for human well-being -- the conflict between parents and children.
The kids are not okay — From Brookings, more analysis of the problems facing young people today.
Algorithms Are Making Kids Desperately Unhappy — An analysis of the truly dystopian reality -- a society in which our relationships (and especially the relationships of young people) are driven by computer algorithms, not interpersonal interactions.
How the Gay-Rights Movement Lost Its Way — The sad profile, with lessons for all advocacy groups, describing how a movement can be corrupted once its principal goals are attained.
Masculinity Is on the Ballot — During a time when culture war politics seems to primarily focus on abortion, LBGTQIA+ issues, and feminism, news that questions about masculinity will be a big topic this year.
What Is America's Gender War Actually About? — It is clear that gender has become a principal fault line in US politics. This insightful essay explores the nature of that fault line.
Assortative Mating and Income Inequality — The report on the stodgy demographic term "assortive mating" -- a phenomenon that contributes greatly to both political tensions and societal inequality.
What to Do About the Gender Divide — A Gen Z essay exploring the many ways in which the deepening gender divide is likely to adversely affect their future and thoughts about what to do about it.
From Pride to Alienation — A critical look at tensions that have arisen within the LGBTQIA+ following the successful campaign to legalize same-sex marriage.
Things Worth Remembering: The Indispensability of Men — Amid all of the criticism of men as patriarchal oppressors, a welcome Father's Day article highlighting the contributions that men make.
How Babies Are Made — A terrific overview of what the process of starting a family has become in the contemporary world.
Subverting the Nuclear Family — An exploration of the intersection between large-scale societal "subversion" and the weakening of what is probably our most important social unit -- the family.
Less Marriage, Less Sex, Less Agreement — Thoughtful thoughts on the changing way in which people are thinking about romantic relationships and the political implications of increasing tensions between men and women.
The Gender Gap Is Now a Gender Gulf — As progressives focus on dismantling patriarchal power structures and protecting society from toxic masculinity, not so surprising news that the political divide between men and women is a chasm.
How to Negotiate Effectively With a Child — Food for thought on one of the most difficult and important kinds of disputes -- disputes between parents and children.
The Great Hypocrisy of the Pro-Life Movement — An exploration of the relationship between abortion has a fundamental moral cause and abortion as a politically useful tactic for mobilizing voters.
The Case for Saying 'I Do' — As support for the institution of marriage continues to decline, an argument that (in this case) cultural change may be making things worse rather than better.
LGBTQ+ Identification in U.S. Now at 7.6% — Statistics about the rapidly changing nature of gender identity in the United States.
Perceptions Of Women In The Arab And Muslim World — For international Women's Day, a series of alarming videos exploring what many in the Muslim world think about the role of women.
Women have made major advances in politics --- but the world is still far from equal — Global data on the changing role of women around the world.
When It Comes to Dating, Ambition Might Matter More Than Politics — More reflections on the tensions that are making it harder for men and women to form stable successful families.
The male college crisis is not just in enrollment, but completion — Statistics on the gigantic gender gap favoring women that has opened up in higher education -- a gap that, if it were reversed, would be causing considerable alarm.
Good Marriages Are Good. Bad Marriages Are, Well, Bad. — A thought-provoking analysis of the many ways in which our confused way of thinking about marriage and family contributes to so many of society's problems.
Fertility and Culture: A Deep Dive — In-depth statistics about what may be one of the biggest threats to the sustainability of human society, the fertility crisis.
A new global gender divide is emerging — A stark look at ways in which the global trend toward demonizing men as oppressors is dividing men and women into sharply opposing political camps.
The Two-Parent Privilege is Real — A reminder of the many ways in which we could benefit from efforts to strengthen stable, two-parent families (and reflections about why we are unwilling to take such steps).
Why Men Are Drifting to the Far Right — More insight into what is driving men and women apart politically (and undermining traditional family structures).
America's Families Are Not Okay — An in-depth look at a little recognized but critically important conflict -- one that divides parents from their adult children.
Sex Differences in the Brain and the Mind — From the perspective of neuropsychology, a look at the conflict between what science and what politics has to say about sex differences.
The Southern Poverty Law Center's New Enemy: Americans Who Accept Biology — An in-depth (and critical) profile of the Southern Poverty Law Center highlighting the ways in which it achieved its astonishing success (and moved away from its original mission).
The Real Reason for Marriage Polarization — A look at the way in which political hyper-polarization has infected our most intimate interpersonal relationships.
America Isn't Ready for the Two-Household Child — A real-life example of cultural lag and the struggle to adapt family support structures to changing social norms.
Why I'm Increasingly Worried About Boys, Too — From Jon Haidt, an important article looking at the tough challenges facing boys and young men plus thoughtful ideas about how we might best respond.
Feminists Are Consenting to Hamas' Rape Culture — A look at one of those cases in which the intersectional left's anticolonial bifurcation of the world into oppressor and oppressed groups seems to make no sense.
Quillette Cetera Episode 20: Care Feminism vs Career Feminism — An article that draws an important distinction between two principal feminist visions -- one focused on care-giving roles and a second focused on careers.
What Jordan Peterson Can Teach Church Leaders — An introduction to some of the people who have built large followings among young men by trying to help them chart a path toward a positive and fulfilling role in society.
On Marriage, an Economist Bravely States the Obvious — For those concerned about inequality and the deep disadvantages faced by so many people, a look at one controversial, but clearly effective, way of reducing the problem.
The story of Iran's Mahsa Amini uprising told through its most iconic images — A series of images and videos that convey the awesome power behind Iran's political uprising -- an uprising that we hope can avoid the tragic outcomes of so many other uprisings.
Academia's Missing Men — Illuminating statistics documenting the remarkable progress that has been made toward racial and gender equity and the possibility that we are starting to undermine this progress with reverse discrimination.
The Misogyny Myth — More on the argument that, in our efforts to combat discrimination against women, we have to started discriminating against men in ways that are hard to justify.
The "Transformative" Invention of Title IX Sex Tribunals — Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, an account of the messy origins of Title IX enforcement policies -- origins that differ substantially from our image of the way democracy is supposed to work.
What America gets wrong about gender medicine — A reminder that, even among people who care deeply about the welfare of transgender youth, there is a continuing need for respectful debate over what kind of care is most helpful.
U.S. LGBT Identification Steady at 7.2% — From Gallup, a statistical portrait of what rapid social change really looks like.
Rebalancing the Gender Narrative — A review of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It by Richard V. Reeve
Transgender Athletes are Winning — Amid all of the sound and fury surrounding the conflict over transgender athletes, an account of how we are quietly coming to a reasonable set of compromises.
The Woman Who Made Online Dating Into a 'Science' — A look at the origins of one of the most dramatic changes in the way we form our most important and most personal relationships.
Let's Say Gay — With respect to LBGTQ issues, a look at the complex way in which the language we use to describe social problems evolves and the way in which that language drives conflict and determines policies.
The Boys Feminism Left Behind — Reflections on the way in which the women's movement disrupted relationship patterns that existed between men and women for 1000s of years and thoughts about how to build new and better relationships.
Disagreement Isn't Bigotry — A thoughtful look at the miracle of religious pluralism and tolerance that we take for granted and reflections on why we can't seem to apply this to the "culture war."
Why Men Are Hard to Help — A look at the obstacles that we will have to overcome before we can expect to reintegrate the many men and boys who are now alienated from both our economy and our society.
Men Are Falling Behind — An exploration of the many difficulties being faced by contemporary men and an explanation of why society's failure to address these problems is both a human tragedy and a political disaster.
The Crisis of Men and Boys — As we continue to work hard to make opportunities available for women and girls, a sobering reminder that men and boys need help as well.
What Conflicted Americans Fear Most From an Abortion Ban — The first of the three part series exploring the critically important moral choices that the Pro-Life Movement will have to make in the wake of the Dobbs decision.
Generation Swipe — Reason to believe that we have yet to figure out the set of cultural norms regarding sex, gender, relationships, and family that will reliably lead to rewarding and happy lives.
The Kids Are Alright — Because of the rapid rate of social change, differences in the experiences that shape each generation commonly lead to intergenerational tension. To help address this, a reassuring essay about young people.
How You Feel About Gender Roles Can Tell Us How You'll Vote — A much more sophisticated, well documented, and accurate look at the nature of the gender divide and the role that it plays in the larger societal conflict.
Your Kids Are Not Doomed — A persuasive argument against one of the terrible manifestations of fear, hopelessness, and cynicism -- the decision not to have kids.
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Crime / Policing / Guns

Crime in DC is a Problem, or Maybe It Isn't — We are measuring different things and talking past each other
How Can You Be a Cop in a City That Hates You? — A rare article exploring the other side of the story -- what it's like to be a police officer in a community where law enforcement is widely viewed with contempt.
Inside America's Fastest-Growing Criminal Enterprise: Sex Trafficking — As we focus on political violence, terrorism, and the possibility of civil and international war, a timely reminder that criminal violence is also a major threat to large numbers of people.
The True Costs of America's Gun Obsession — In the context of the United States' cherished gun rights, a reminder that rights are not cost free.
Both Sides of the Gun Debate Come Together at the Tennessee 11 Premiere — From Starts with Us, a film about all sides working together to find common ground on guns.
The Most Surprising New Gun Owners Are U.S. Liberals — A story about a surprising and worrying development -- a significant uptick of the number of people on the political left who are buying guns.
Tennesseans have different views on guns, but here's how we know solutions are possible — The authors participated in Citizen Solutions, a national civic experiment by Starts With Us that empowers Americans to work across differences to create solutions to divisive issues.
The police are in the wrong places — An exploration of an obvious and much neglected reason why we can't effectively fight crime -- we can't afford enough police officers in areas plagued by crime.
With 'conversion switch' devices, machine guns return to U.S. streets — An explanation of how a simple, easy to reproduce, and difficult to control device may be about to dramatically exacerbate the United States' gun violence problem.
A Firearm-Owning Republican's Solutions for Gun Violence — A look at what the Zone of Possible Agreement looks like with respect to gun control in the US.
Why do Americans want guns? It comes down to one word. — An explanation of the big reason why people in the US want guns. It's not that they want to threaten others, they are afraid of others.
Polarized Misperceptions of The Magnitude of Police Violence - BCB #72 — It's not just differences in values that can drive conflict, but differences in knowledge. Liberals' estimates of the magnitude of the problem are way off.
Ravenscroft students leverage EP training in the wake of a local shooting — A story from Essential Partners about how their trainings helped high school students deal with a local shooting.
The culture of Punishment: A Critical Approach — The May 2023 Issue of Peace in Progress, the magazine of the International Catalan Institute for Peace has ten articles about the downsides of punishment and constructive, restorative alternatives.
Restorative Movement Building — A short discussion of what "restorative movements" are, how they are built, and why they are powerful, along with 11 annotated links to further readings.
Police2Peace — Police2Peace is a national nonprofit with members from the activist and police communities. Its mission is to unite police departments and communities around programs that uplift and heal them.
Why are Americans shooting strangers and neighbors? 'It all goes back to fear.' — A reminder that the United States' gun problem is downstream of the collapse of mutual trust and the fact that we increasingly fear one another.
7 quick facts about accesSOS --- a text to 911 app that triages emergency responses and gets people the help they actually need — An example of a practical project designed to overcome some of the problems associated with emergency response systems.
The Anti-Gun Violence Hustle — For those who might think that spending money on a social problem means that we are getting closer to a solution, a reminder that the "industrial complex" effect applies to much more than the military.
We Profiled the 'Signs of Crisis' in 50 Years of Mass Shootings. This Is What We Found. — A report on the search for commonalities in the motives of mass shooters that documents the important role played by social alienation.
A Smarter Way to Reduce Gun Deaths — An exceptionally good compilation of reasonable ideas (and supporting evidence) for limiting the terrible toll associated with gun-related violence.
What Does the Evidence Say About U.S. Gun Laws? — A Rand report reviewing the scientific evidence relating to the efficacy of various gun-related laws and policies for preventing gun deaths.
Still under-policed and over-imprisoned — An explanation, with important implications for criminal justice reform, of the disconnect between the United States' mass incarceration policies and its inability to fight crime.
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Progressive Left

How “Sensitivity Readers” Made Publishing More Racist — An argument that the sensitivity readers now commonly employed by publishers have made things worse, rather than better.
Liberalism Doomed the Liberal International Order — From Foreign Affairs, thoughts about the internal contradictions embedded within liberalism that are now leading to the collapse of the liberal international order.
Why Is Democratic Favorability at a 35-Year Low? — One of the reasons why many believe that the political pendulum is unlikely to soon swing back in ways that quickly restore the many programs and policies that Trump is now dismantling.
Stolen Land? It’s All Stolen Land — A critical, controversial, and thought-provoking essay that tries to help us come to terms with a human history dominated by intense competition and, sometimes, conquest.
The Far-Left’s obsession with victimhood is making minorities less safe. — A provocative and controversial argument that the left's constant focus on oppressed, victim populations is actually counterproductive.
Why Woke Failed — The terrific summary of the excesses of the "woke" revolution and an analysis of why it failed in its goal to transform society and, instead, helped bring us Donald Trump.
There's a New War Among the Liberal Intelligentsia — Another perspective on what is emerging as the left's big conflict -- should it, or should it not, embrace the deep changes that would be required to pursue "abundance."
Explaining Canada's Cult of 'Decolonial Futurity' to Americans — A report on how Canadians are coming to terms with their history as a British/French colony and the way they see the larger anticolonial movement.
The FAA's Hiring Scandal: A Quick Overview — For those who want to know the degree to which DEI politics has been distorting FAA hiring practices, a report (with links to court documents) on the ongoing litigation surrounding this issue.
The Hills the Left Will Die On — A critical look at the rise of the progressive left and, now, it's decline, with thoughts about whether or not it is going to be willing to recalibrate its positions in light of public opinion.
What We Don't Know Because of Polarization — Partisanship makes most media useless for understanding "grooming gangs," and new research shows psychologists self-censor evidence which suggests "taboo" conclusions.
What the Left Did to Me and My Family — From a conservative, the story about how he and his family have been subjected to threats and intimidation. We must vigorously oppose such actions, regardless of which side is responsible.
Why Antisemitism Sprouted So Quickly on Campus — From Jonathan Haidt, a must-read look at ways in which the left's oppressor/oppressed mindset is taking us deeper into the morass of mutual hate and closer to embracing acts of extreme violence.
The Democrats' Culture Denialism — An argument that Democrats need to recognize that their recent defeat is a reflection of public disapproval of much of their platform (and not just problems with their campaign or Trump's unscrupulous tactics).
What Can Replace Social Justice Fundamentalism? — A perceptive argument that the key to combating the extremes of social justice fundamentalism is to find some better way of genuinely advancing the cause of justice.
Critical Race Theory Is an Inversion of History — An important challenge to the social justice left's interpretation of history and a reminder of the central role that Britons and Americans have played in developing modern conceptions of justice and fairness.
The crisis of democracy is really a crisis for the left — An appeal for those on the left to take an honest look at the adverse impacts of the policies that they have put in place in states like New York and California where they dominate state government.
Why I Am No Longer Woke — An extensive exploration, with lots of citations, of the complex arguments for and against "woke" philosophies.
Common Sense Manifesto #4: Identity politics won't save us — An in-depth and sensible analysis of the ways in which the identity politics of the left has become counterproductive -- contributing to, rather than helping, us solve our many problems.
How Liberal America Came to Its Senses — An account of the rise and, according to this author, the fall of so-called "woke" ideology.
Totems and Taboos — A summary and review of an important new book, "Taboo: How Making Race Sacred Produced a Cultural Revolution" examining the epicenter of our political divide.
Why sociologist Musa al-Gharbi says social justice elites value performance over progress. — An interview with Musa al-Gharbi, author of ""We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite" and a look at the difference between rhetoric and actual problem-solving.
The Left-Flank Albatross — An especially perceptive look at the role that the progressive left's unpopular agenda played in Donald Trump's victory.
Democrats need to loudly reject progressive extremism — An argument that the key to rolling back the extremes of right-wing populism is for Democrats to disassociate themselves from the extremes of left-wing progressivism.
Don't Expect Democrats to Give Up on Wokeness Anytime Soon — Description of the dynamics that have deeply embedded woke ideology in Democratic political thought (despite its electoral liabilities).
Throw the Groups Under the Bus! — For Democrats (and anyone opposed to Trump's brand of politics), an statistical analysis of the ways in which Democrats have lost the support of working-class voters (and what to do about it).
Is Wokeness on Big Power Grab? — Reflections on the degree to which the progressive left is motivated by a self-serving quest for political power (and not social justice in the abstract, universal sense of the term).
Equity Everywhere: 500 Ways the Biden-Harris Administration Infused DEI Into the Federal Government — The critical, but informative, report on exactly what the Biden administration did as part of its "whole of government" effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Democrats Are the HR Department of Political Parties — An examination of the ways in which the Democratic Party followed its own advice with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
How the Ivy League Broke America — From David Brooks, an analysis of why the rise of the meritocratic elite was accompanied by a simultaneous collapse in the public's trust in its educated elite and the institutions in which they work.
In Shift From 2020, Identity Politics Loses Its Grip on the Country — Further information about the apparent decline in the influence of "woke" political ideas.
How Gender Ideology Captured the State Department — An exposé, with lots of links, documenting the way in which the Biden administration's "whole of government" effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion has reshaped the State Department
The Left Wants to Forget Its Mistakes. That Is a Very Dangerous Plan. — The sensible argument that the left ought to remember and learn from (rather than forget) the things that they have promoted the turned out to be bad ideas. (Advice for the right as well.)
The Progressive Moment Is Over — An article exploring the consequences of the progressive movement's failure to attract broad public support for its agenda.
Woke Is Here To Stay — An argument that "woke" political ideas will continue to be a major force -- one that casts a long shadow across the social and political landscape.
America is becoming less "woke" — A statistical analysis that strongly suggests that influence of "woke" ideas is declining in the US.
How French Intellectuals Ruined the West — An illuminating look at the intellectual foundations at the enormously consequential philosophical perspective of postmodernism.
How Settler-Colonialism Colonized the Universities - The Atlantic — A retrospective look at the origins of the theory of "settler colonialism" -- a theory that has done much to frame the Gaza crisis in the eyes of the world.
Freddie deBoer on "Peak Woke" — A thought-provoking discussion about the rise and fall of political ideologies and the future of the "woke" left's political agenda.
The Cancellation Playbook: It is time to rewrite the playbook. It will take a collective effort to restore balance within arts institutions and remove the chilling effect of cancellation---if we work together, it's achievable. — An overview of the strategy that those targeted for political cancellation can use to to defend their freedoms and help provide society with access to a robust debate on controversial issues.
Illiberal Liberalism — Progressives who advocate for illiberal policies aren't Marxists or postmodernists. They turn liberalism's tools against itself.
Progressives Need To Stop Lecturing White Voters About Their Privilege — An exploration of the political downsides of the progressive focus on "white privilege."
The Woke Style in American Politics — An observation that many of the woke, cancel culture political tactics pioneered by the left are now being adopted by the right.
The Roots of Progressive Radicalism: Nellie Bowles vs. Musa al-Gharbi — A review and summary of two new books the try to help us understand the evolution (and radicalization) of the progressive movement.
The Child Soldiers of Ethnic Studies — An insightful contribution to efforts to understand how so many "privileged" young people are turning against the system that granted them all of those privileges.
The 'Omnicause' Is Collapsing — An exploration of the contradictions that arise when you try to simplistically bifurcate the world into two groups -- oppressors and the oppressed.
Utah's Promising New Anti-DEI Law — A description of what sounds like a genuinely promising effort to craft a workable legislative compromise on the regulation of DEI programs.
The War on Citizenship — An insightful analysis of the complex relationship between citizenship, nationalism, and the ethics of global cosmopolitanism.
Rescuing Identity Politics — Review and summary of an important new book that tries to offer identity politics a positive path through the backlash that is threatening its success.
Campus Deplatforming is on the Rise. Is that bad? -- BCB #95 — A disturbing trend in the one place in society that is supposed to teach people how to think critically and have an open mind to new ideas.
Why Can't Biden Move to the Center? — For those wondering why Biden and the Democrats aren't reaching out to the many moderates who have been abandoned by Trump's swing to the right, an explanation.
Looking Back on a Decade of Cancel Culture — A look back at the way in which the cancel culture has evolved over time and its profound impact on society.
What is the oppressor/victim mindset and how did it conquer the academy? — From Jon Haidt and Greg Lukianoff, a pair of essays trying to make sense of the surprising surge of anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses.
Why liberalism and leftism are increasingly at odds — A really thoughtful analysis of the increasingly significant conflict that is emerging between social justice progressives and traditional liberals.
The Left Can't Afford to Go Mad — Thoughtful reflections on how one can constructively and effectively challenge the many excesses embodied in Trump's campaign and possible Presidency.
The Democratic Coalition Is Falling Apart — Building victorious political coalitions requires an ability to successfully manage a wide range of within-coalition disputes. This article explains how Democrats are failing to do this.
Osama bin Laden, Big Man on Campus — A worrisome story about how students, in their zeal to address the many shortcomings of liberal, capitalistic, democracies, are embracing the teachings of Osama bin Laden.
The Laws of Campus Culture War — For those embroiled in the campus culture wars, a primer on what everyone ought to know about the law regarding such conflicts.
Sick of Cancel Culture? One Man Has a Surprising Solution. — An interview with Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation For Individual Rights in Education explaining an important new book and why the belief that having "to destroy freedom to save freedom" is a formula for tyranny.
Social Justice's Forbidden Word — An important observation and criticism of the social justice movement that centers around its failure to recognize the importance of forgiveness.
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.
Collective Guilt is the Most Indefensible Form of Cancel Culture — A look at how the "cancel culture" embraces a kind of collective punishment that, in other contexts, is seen as a serious human rights violation.
How Therapists Became Social Justice Warriors — More on the fuzzy line between psychotherapy and politics and the notion that one political view constitutes absolute truth.
The Anti-American Psychological Association — A disturbing report on the degree to which the science of psychology has replaced objective consideration of the field's big questions with progressive advocacy.
Are Free Speech and Inclusion at Odds on College Campuses? — A comprehensive survey of 2,618 U.S. college students reveals stark divisions in their views on freedom of expression, cancel culture, and the weighing of social justice values against free speech.
Inclusive or Alienating? The Language Wars Go On — A thoughtful argument that widespread efforts to enforce increasingly aggressive changes in the use of language are making things worse rather than better.
Fables of the Deconstruction — A lighter and very illuminating inquiry into the many ways in which our society discriminates against left-handers (with important lessons about what we should and shouldn't be doing to help all disadvantaged groups).
The Real Reason Cancel Culture Is So Contentious — An intriguing new explanation of why the "cancel culture" wars are so divisive -- neither side is being clear about exactly what they want (leaving their others to assume the worst).
Fear of Cancel Culture Is Worse Than Cancel Culture — The ambiguous and, in many ways, unpredictable ways in which the cancel culture punishes "unacceptable" behavior has dramatically increased its impact (by forcing most everyone to "play it safe").
How Social Justice Became a New Religion — For a time when we thought that religious wars were thing of the past, a provocative argument that we are dealing with a new kind of conflict -- one based on a secular religion.
The Unseen Side of "Cancel Culture" — An exploration of how the fear of being caught in the middle of the cancel culture outrage storm is preventing us from even thinking about and discussing better ways of working through our problems.
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Critical Theory

Progressives Aren't Liberal — An in-depth look at the evolution of the words "liberal" and "progressive" with real insights into the enormously important conflict between these two worldviews.
Bari Weiss: End DEI — A critical look at the a critical look at the DEI programs that have now become so firmly embedded in the conventional wisdom (and valuable food for thought).
Social' Justice Is Injustice — A provocative challenge to the kind of justice being pursued by the social justice movement.
The MAGAfication of the Left: A progressive movement that makes allowances for Jew-hatred cannot endure. — A highly critical look at the social justice left that focuses on moral hypocrisy of fighting against oppression while embracing anti-Semitism.
Finally, a book about critical social justice that its advocates might read — A review and summary of Yascha Mounk major new, must-read book on intersectionality, the identity synthesis and an associated trap that is taking society in very dangerous directions.
A Billion-Dollar Bet on Local News — A good news story about a major effort to restore local news -- a cornerstone of effective civic culture and the ability of local communities to govern themselves democratically.
The End of Allyship — An assessment of the role that unquestioning "allyship" has played in a hyper-polarizing society by preventing constructive criticism.
Thomas Sowell on the Trouble With 'Social Justice' — We often take the pursuit of social justice as a desirable end in and of itself, without ever really being clear about what, exactly, it means. This article tries to force us to think more critically about the term.
How Elites Ate the Social Justice Movement — An overview a new book that explores the complex relationship between social justice elites and the people who have truly been treated unjustly by society.
Where Does 'Wokeness' Come From? — A look back at the origins of the cluster of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that are now playing such a dominant role in so many institutions.
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Freedom of Speech

Europe’s Free-Speech Problem — For those who assume that the United States' free-speech traditions are shared by other liberal democracies, an enlightening look at the conflict that has emerged over free speech in Europe.
Europe Really Is Jailing People for Online Speech — For those who think that citizens of all democracies enjoy the same free speech rights that we take for granted, news from Europe about the limits being placed on those rights.
Censorship is Anti-American — A well-documented and multifaceted essay explaining the many ways in which free speech is under attack in the United States.
Snitch hotlines for 'offensive' speech were a nightmare on campus --- and now they're coming to a neighborhood near you — For those concerned about freedom of speech and big brother-style efforts to control our thoughts and behavior, a critical look at the rise of "bias reporting systems."
Martin Gurri: The Great American Debate Begins Again — A hopeful article celebrating Trump's efforts to remove cancel culture restrictions on open debate. The challenge is to avoid replacing them with similar Trump-era restrictions.
Lesson 1: Be willing to drive the bus into a wall — For those supportive of the work of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, an article describing how they do what they do.
Despite positive signs for Team Freedom, the game is far from over — From the former Governor of Indiana, an update on what he sees as the status of today's freedom of speech conflicts.
A People's History of Free Speech — A valuable primer on the origins of and the reasoning behind free speech protections.
The Great Betrayal: How I messed with Progressive Perfection. — Our colleague Ashok Panikkar explains how he came to believe that progressive beliefs are not always correct -- and what happened when he said so.
The Censorship Industrial Complex Is US Government Counterpopulist Blowback — Food for thought for those who on the left to do not understand why those on the right are so upset about efforts to combat misinformation.
I've written many dark and stormy columns on free speech. Not this one. — An upbeat observation that, as a society, we may be rediscovering the virtues of free speech.
Why Are Museums So Afraid of This Artist? — A profile about an artist famous for disdaining the cult of personality and challenging the art world to address society's tough issues.
Art Under Quiet Siege — More reason to think that, in the name of diversity, we are robbing ourselves of the diverse voices that we all need to learn, evolve, and enjoy one another's creative insights.
Scenes From The Literary Blacklist — A heartbreaking story about how cancel culture pressures are destroying young writers' careers and creativity before anyone really has a chance to hear what they have to say.
Answers to 12 Bad Anti-Free Speech Arguments — For those who find themselves engaged in free-speech debates, a review of strategies for rebutting common arguments against free speech.
First Amendment Doesn't Protect Speech That Solicits a Specific Crime — An examination of one of the most difficult issues facing free speech advocates -- where to draw the line between protected speech and criminal speech.
Mind the Gap — An essay exploring the chasm between what we know is true -- and what we feel comfortable saying out loud.
Canada's Assault on Free Speech — Canada is at the forefront of progressive efforts to promote "social justice" by controlling speech. This alarming article tells us just how far they've gone.
Not in Our Name — From an Israeli perspective, reflections on the relationship between freedom of speech and efforts to limit campus protests.
USAID Internal Documents Reveal Government Plot To Promote Censorship Initiatives — Useful new information for those trying to figure out what they think about stories of government censorship initiatives.
Google and the Gemini Debacle — In the case of Google, more information about how DEI is altering the kind of "intelligence" produced by AI.
New Hate Speech Laws Threaten Freedom Across the West — An update on how efforts to control hate speech may be undermining the most foundational of all our freedoms -- the freedom to think and speak one's mind.
The Truth About Banned Books — A report on a systematic effort to identify political biases in the holdings of K-12 school libraries.
Why activism leads to so much bad writing — A thought-provoking exploration of the tension between politics (with its need to compromise) and art (with its focus on articulating an idea).
Free speech is in trouble — From Nate Silver, a detailed look at a major new poll exploring what young people really think about free speech.
Free Speech Defenders Must Be Consistent — A plea for free speech standards that protect everyone's right to express their views and not just the rights of one's allies.
Here's the Long List of Topics Republicans Want Banned From the Classroom — Amid free speech concerns about Republican efforts to ban the teaching of certain topics, a reasonably impartial look at what, exactly, they are trying to ban.
Tolerating Intolerance: The Free Speech Paradox — An exploration of one of the toughest challenges facing efforts to build a diverse democracy based on mutual tolerance -- the unwillingness of some people to tolerate political opponents.
Why civility should not trump free expression: Part 10 of answers to bad arguments against free speech from Nadine Strossen and Greg Lukianoff — For those trying to think through what limits should be placed on free speech, a link to thoughts on one part of the argument plus links to 13 articles addressing other aspects of this complex issue.
Greg Lukianoff on How to Build a Culture of Free Speech — Thoughtful advice on how to cultivate both public support for freedom of speech and an ability to use those freedoms effectively.
Heterodox Academy wants to 'lovingly' push viewpoint diversity at colleges — A description of Heterodox Academy's new Campus Community Network, starting at 23 colleges where its members will host events aimed at remolding "campus culture and institutional practices."
An Illustrated Guide to Self-Censorship — An interesting exploration of the many ways in which modern society influences what we do and do not feel comfortable saying.
The End of Progressive Intellectual Life — A worrisome argument that progressives have concluded that today's big issues all fall into the realm of "settled knowledge" where disagreement and debate is no longer appropriate.
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Immigration

Trump is deporting fewer people than Obama. He’s just louder and meaner. — Another example of the way in which the Trump administration seems to focus more on appearances than the substantive success of its policies.
Is Civil War Coming to Europe? — From a frequent skeptic of Civil War talk, a disturbing analysis of the enormous strains that immigration, primarily from Muslim societies, is placing on Europe.
Multiculturalism sounds nice — until it destroys your society. — A thought-provoking and likely controversial exploration of the limits of multiculturalism and the value of the shared national identity.
Yes, Biden really did make a mess of immigration. — A rare and balanced look at the role the Democrats have played in setting the stage for the ongoing backlash against immigration (and Trump's often outrageous deportation efforts).
Sweden Has a Big Problem — For those looking for an explanation of the complex of ways in which immigration is transforming European societies, an illuminating report from Sweden
Issue Brief: Mapping the Rise in Immigration-Related Demonstrations in Early 2025 — A report on the widespread pushback against Trump's deportation initiatives, from Princeton University's Bridging Divides Initiative.
Immigrants and Freedom of Speech — A thoughtful exploration of the complex and legally murky nature of free speech rights for noncitizens.
Something Extraordinary Is Happening All Over the World — A review of the many ways in which large-scale human migrations are transforming (and placing great stress on) societies all over the world.
Why deportations actually dropped in Trump's first term — A surprising factoid that challenges the conventional wisdom -- deportations dropped under Trump (as compared with the Obama years).
How do countries measure immigration, and how accurate is this data? — Hard data for those who want a more reliable basis for evaluating the claims made by the various sides of the immigration conflict.
Trump's Mass Deportation Promise — A semi-friendly and semi-critical look at Trump's mass deportation plans that highlights ways in which things could go both right and wrong.
Is There Really a Plot to Use Migrants to Turn America Blue? — A well-documented and thorough inquiry into the politics of immigration -- motivations, strategies, and implications.
The Great Immigration Public-Opinion Reversal — Stunning statistics about the extremely rapid change that has occurred in public opinion regarding immigration to the US.
The Real Questions of the Immigration Debate — From a thoughtful, conservative perspective, an example of how to constructively raise difficult and controversial issues without fear and hatemongering.
The Case for a Merit-Based Immigration System — For a world in which immigration has become a major flashpoint, concrete ideas for more constructively handling the many who would like to migrate.
The riots in the United Kingdom. — Isaac Saul on Tangle reports on the left's and the right's "take" on the UK riots and then shares his own view that the UK situation is dangerous, not only for them, but also for us in the U.S.
How Not to Hand Populists a Weapon — An argument for diffusing the right wing, populist threat to democracy by seriously addressing the legitimate concerns they raise about immigration.
America Can't Do Without Immigrants — A pretty comprehensive overview of the many ways in which immigration benefits our society.
Blinken Meets With Mexico's President About Surge in Migration at the Border — A look at the nature and magnitude of the United States' immigration crisis -- something that is likely to play a major role in the upcoming election.
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Class Inequity

A Blue-Collar View of Psychology’s Woke Drift — A rare, first-person account of what it's like to simultaneously live in the blue-collar world of the construction trades and the white-collar world of academia.
Elon Musk and the Decline of Western Civilization — Important reflections about the emergence of a new 21st-century style of oligarchy within Western liberal democracies.
America’s New Segregation — The critically important observation that should do much to shape our thinking about ways of escaping our current political predicament -- we are now more segregated by class than we were ever segregated by race.
Mamdani May Herald a New Kind of Class Struggle — Thoughtful reflections on Mamdani's stunning political rise and what it says about class conflict in the United States.
The Elite Overproduction Hypothesis — An analysis of the hypothesis that many of our conflicts result from the fact that there are not enough positions in the upper levels of the social hierarchy to fill the demand from people who feel entitled to those positions.
Billionaire do-gooding is out. Naked oligarchy is in — Disturbing reflections on the changing norms of the superrich.
It's time to retire this liberal catch phrase — Erica Etelson, Author of Beyond Contempt: How Liberals Can Communicate Across the Great Divide. Suggests progressives should no longer ask "Why do they vote against their own interests?"
Stop Trying to Make Everyone Go to College — For a society with an oversupply of white-collar workers and an under supply of blue-collar workers, a timely argument against our overemphasis on higher education.
The Changing Politics of Oligarchy — The timely analysis of the complex way in which superrich "oligarchs" influence and manipulate our society.
‘Economic Affirmative Action’ Won’t Work — Hard questions for those who think that focusing on class instead of race is the key to building a broader base of support affirmative action.
America Doesn't Just Have a Housing Crisis. It Has a Moving Crisis — An examination of the complex factors surrounding the sharp decline in the geographic mobility the US population (and reflections of how that contributes to social tensions and inequities).
Why Is Africa Poor? — An important and persuasive argument that much of Africa's struggles are attributable to a lack of basic freedoms rather than its colonial legacy.
The 'White-Collar Lie' Led Americans To Embrace Illegal Labor — A provocative and insightful essay that asks hard questions about why so many people disrespect those who do blue-collar work and the relationship between this and our embrace of extra-legal immigration.
Learning (Again) From Les Leopold — Chip Hauss reflects on Les Leopold's presentation about his new book, 'Wall Street's War on Workers' and how it suggests ways of dealing with divisions--and worse.
Why Poor American Kids Are So Likely to Become Poor Adults — For those committed to finding ways of ending poverty and material deprivation, an example of the kind of multifaceted thinking that will be required to find solutions.
The Re-Skilling of America — Hard questions about whether higher education is giving students real value for their money and whether programs that cultivate blue-collar skills might be more valuable.
America doesn't really have a working class — A thought-provoking exploration of the nature of class in contemporary society and an argument that what we traditionally thought of as the working class may no longer exist.
The election, the elite, and the roots of our dysfunction — The review and brief summary of two new books that explore the ways in which the cultural traits of the highly educated are diverging from the traits of the larger population.
What Does HUD Have to Show for the Trillions It's Spent? — Hard questions about whether or not the Department of Urban Development has produced positive results commensurate with the public's investment (and a reminder of the importance of quality program evaluation).
The New Driving Force of Identity Politics Is Class, Not Race — An argument that the United States' "identity politics" is in the process of refocusing itself around class and away from race.
The New Class Politics — An argument that our turbulent politics is a whole lot easier to understand when one focuses on class-based differences.
Peter Thiel and the Triumph of the Counter-Elites — A look at the wealthy elites who are now part of the anti-elites.
They Still Won't Say That They're Sorry: deindustrialization's victims and the wonks who won't acknowledge them — Thought on the ways in which proponents of globalization have failed to acknowledge (and take steps to remedy) the adverse impacts associated with their policies.
Meritocracy and Its Critics — An articulate defense of meritocratic institutions and ideas -- a defense that provides an important counterpoint to the more critical views that now dominate.
John Rawls and the death of Western Marxism — A thought-provoking essay highlighting the ways in which Marxist thought has evolved in the West over the last several decades.
The Intellectual Roots of YIMBYism — Is YIMBY the true opposite of the NIMBY (not in my backyard) syndrome that has long prevented us from building most anything? Or, is it just a way of saying, yes, build it in somebody else's backyard.
Here Comes Kamala's Mortgage Forgiveness — A review of a surprisingly large number of sometimes legally questionable governmental programs designed to promote housing affordability. The big question is, are they really affordable?
What Populism Is---And Isn't: Everything you need to know about the buzziest and most dangerous political force of our time. — A primer on what everyone needs to know about the buzziest and most dangerous political force of our time.
The great wealth wave — A hopeful argument that, while everyone was worrying about inequality and lack of economic opportunity, the Western world was actually moving in the opposite direction.
What Gives Poor Kids a Shot at Better Lives? Economists Find an Unexpected Answer — A summary of a new analysis of the factors that determine intergenerational social mobility (the ability of poor kids to move up the economic ladder).
Biden's bad rent-control idea has no upside — An explanation of why rent and price controls are a poor way of solving affordability problems.
This Is What Elite Failure Looks Like — An essay that helps us understand why there is such a widespread revolt against the elites at the top of so many democratic societies.
The Party of the Ultrarich and the Ultra-poor' — An examination of the demographic characteristics of the Democratic Party -- a party that has lost its middle class base of support.
The Sins of the Educated Class — A must read article that explains how the actions of today's highly educated, "knowledge" workers continue to inflame the populist right in ways that genuinely threaten the viability of modern society.
World's Biggest Construction Project Gets a Reality Check — News about an astonishingly ambitious Saudi effort to build 105 mile long skyscraper taller than the Empire State building (and an example of the absurdities of concentrated wealth).
Want to help Trump? Keep up the 'White rural rage' stereotyping. — A timely warning for opponents of former President Trump, continuing to refer to his supporters in demeaning and dismissive ways drives the hyper-polarization spiral and strengthens his candidacy.
The Billionaires Who Are Threatening Democracy — In his new book, the historian Quinn Slobodian writes about the ideologues who believe that society should prioritize capital, not people.
Embrace your Inner Barbarian — A provocative and challenging essay that asks today's highly educated elites to quit defending just their narrow interests and start defending the interests of society as a whole.
Are we overproducing elites and instability? — A perceptive argument that some of our most difficult conflicts stem from the fact that more people feel entitled to elite positions within society than society has to offer.
Elite College Admissions Have Turned Students Into Brands — The story from the highest levels of higher education that suggests that the way that the meritocracy measures merit is in need of serious reform.
The U.S. Already Soaks the Rich — A thought-provoking essay revealing that recent efforts to redistribute income and wealth away from the rich have been much more successful than we might have thought (though probably still not successful enough).
Why good news about inequality is awkward for the left and right — Eye-opening news about serious flaws in the way in which we have, for decades, been calculating statistics about poverty and the level of inequality.
Preach What You Practice: Charles Murray on Our New Class Divide: Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960--2010 — A report on a pretty persuasive conservative strategy for limiting inequality from Charles Murray -- one of the first to highlight the class tensions that would give rise to Donald Trump.
Meritocracy and Its Discontents — A review and summary of two new books that delve into the debate over whether the meritocracy has had a positive or negative impact on society.
Rob Henderson: Social Class, Elite Virtue Signaling, and "Luxury Beliefs" — An essay exploring the sociology of "luxury beliefs" and the way in which those beliefs signal status and virtue while undermining societal problem solving.
The Grand Canyon-Sized Chasm Between Elites and Ordinary Americans — The report on what is likely the United States' biggest and most consequential political divide --- the one that separates elites from the rest of society.
Incompetent Elites Make Trump Look Appealing — A big part of the reason why grassroots citizens are increasingly hostile toward society's elites -- those elites are failing to earn their lavish compensation.
America's social ills are not simply due to inequality and despair — An interesting article questioning some of our most basic assumptions about the challenges facing society and possible remedies -- the kind of outside the box thinking we ought to consider occasionally.
The Coming Working Class Election — With working-class voters comprising over 60% of the electorate -- a look at the critical role that they are going to play in the upcoming election in their relationship with college-educated elites.
Merit Is No Longer Evil' — An essay exploring the implications of all of the things that we believe, but can't say and the things that we don't believe, but must say.
What Does the Working Class Really Want? — A pretty persuasive argument that neither Republicans nor Democrats understand the grievances motivating working-class populism. Also missing are proposals for addressing those grievances.
Another Wrong Way to Measure Poverty — A surprising story about the muddeled and misleading way in which we gather statistics about the incidence of poverty (and some proposed fixes).
Why America Abandoned the Greatest Economy in History — Reflections on what it was that made the United States' economy so phenomenally productive and thoughts about why those sources of strength are being abandoned.
How Democrats Lost Voters With a 'Compensate Losers' Strategy — Reflections on the impact of the political strategy that focuses on providing financial assistance to the disadvantaged (rather than removing those disadvantages).
America's two homelessness problems — A thoughtful look at the two very different elements of homelessness (and options for better dealing with both problems).
Chuck Your Privilege — A call for students at elite institutions of higher education who are concerned about unfair privilege and class inequities to be honest with themselves about the many privileges they enjoy.
The Workings of the Party-State — An attempt to map out the ways in which today's "power elite" exerts its influence over the larger society.
Superstar Cities in the Age of Zoom — An introduction to the field of economic geography -- an attempt to understand exactly why some economic localities are favored, why others are disadvantaged, and what to do about it.
Why So Many Elites Feel Like Losers — An especially perceptive article highlighting what happens when more people feel entitled to upper level positions in the social hierarchy than there are positions available.
What is Meritocracy For? — An article that asks an all-important (but not commonly asked) question, what are the obligations of those who hold positions in the meritocracy?
The Tale of Rising Inequality Turned Out to Be Wrong — A hopeful argument that, while we were all worrying about how increasing inequality was tearing society apart, inequality started decreasing!
The Great Convergence: Global Equality and Its Discontents — Amid our continuing anguish over Increasing inequality, an essay that takes a global perspective -- one that reveals that, at that level, inequality is decreasing, not increasing.
The Real Cost of Cheap Labour — A thoughtful exploration of the origins of an economy that pays so many so little and an explanation of why it is in our best interest to change this.
Class Dismissed -- How material abundance erodes class but intensifies social status. — Thoughtful insights into the meaning of class (which is not as simple as we tend to think) and the role that it plays in contemporary conflict.
The Billionaires Who Are Threatening Democracy — Important detail on how, exactly, the super wealthy exert their influence and undermine democratic institutions.
The War on Poverty Is Over. Rich People Won. — A review and preview of an important and thought provoking new book on the dynamics that produce inequality, unfairness, poverty, and wealth.
The Woke University's Servant Class — A look at the hypocritical mismatch between the university's conspicuous commitment to social justice and the exploitive way in which it treats "contingent" faculty.
The Violence, Inequality and Power Lab (VIP Lab) at the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego — The VIP Lab seeks to understand how power inequalities cause violence. They provide actionable ideas to be implemented at the systems level to confront harmful power inequalities and reduce violence.
William Deresiewicz on the "Excellent Sheep" of the American Elite — A really excellent social psychological analysis of the cosmopolitan elite that now effectively controls so much of society.
The 'Diploma Divide' Is the New Fault Line in American Politics — For a time when so many believe that the United States' principal fault lines revolve around race and gender, an argument that education is even more important.
As enrollment plummets, academia gets schooled about where it went wrong — For those disturbed about trends in higher education, a thought-provoking and controversial examination of what went wrong.
Supply-Side Progressivism Has a Fatal Flaw — An update on the promise (and the political perils) of an intriguing new strategy for addressing social inequities -- "supply-side progressivism."
The New National American Elite — For a time in which we all like to think that we are one of the good guys struggling against the oppressive elites, a provocative article that asks us to consider whether we are part of that elite.
Helping People by Helping Distressed Places — A different and potentially quite promising way of thinking about how to help those that are being left behind -- focus on more than individuals, focus on the places in which people live.
The powerful lesson from 18 million workers getting a pay raise over $15 — Reflections on a welcome and surprising development -- rapid increases in the compensation paid to low-wage workers (something that seemed impossible just a few years ago).
Why So Many Elites Feel Like Losers — Insight into the reasons why so many of our most talented, hard-working, and successful young people are struggling and losing faith in the system.
Low-wage workers are finally catching a break — A good news story about how those at lower levels of the social hierarchy are, in today's tight job market, doing surprisingly well with wage gains that would have been considered impossible just a few years ago.
White Liberals Vs. The Working Class — One view on the current status of the important, but often neglected, conflict between progressives and the working classes.
Biden's Vision About How to Heal America — Reflections on a path toward healing America that focuses on the plight of the many people (of all races) that live at the economic margins of society.
Thorstein Veblen's Theory of the Leisure Class---A Status Update — An update on the complex psychology of the cosmopolitan elite and the subtle and consequential ways in which they influence the rest of us.
How ChatGPT Will Destabilize White-Collar Work — Reflections on what could easily become a highly disruptive new technology. We need to figure out how to use AI to help us solve problems while also preserving rewarding employment opportunities.
Why Some Students Are Skipping College — Even stronger reason to really do something about the continuing and rapid increases in the cost of higher education -- it is solidifying the class divide by locking ever more students out of the chance to develop their talents.
Upward Mobility Is Alive and Well in America — Encouraging news that, despite our many problems and worries, we are continuing to fulfill the American dream of intergenerational upward mobility.
Labor's Lost — For anyone concerned about the plight of the "working classes," a first-rate exploration of what everyone ought to know about the factors driving contemporary inequities.
There Is a Tax That Could Help With Inflation — An example of a creative idea that might be able to help us escape today's lose-lose policy options for controlling inflation. We need to cultivate such outside-the-box thinking.
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Corruption

Kleptocracy Tracker Timeline — A public log of political decisions that benefit private interests. Developed by journalists and SNF Agora Senior Fellow Anne Applebaum, the project builds on her reporting in The Atlantic to document a shift in American governance.
The first rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down — Another angle on the importance of governmental transparency (and tricks that unscrupulous leaders use to avoid accountability).
A Comprehensive Accounting of Trump’s Culture of Corruption — A detailed report outlining how far we have come, under the Trump administration, from a political culture in which corruption and conflicts of interest were a serious political liability.
The Trump Presidency’s World-Historical Heist — An update on the things that the Trump administration is doing that would previously have been considered grotesquely corrupt and unacceptable.
Democrats Have a Corruption Problem. They Can't Keep Ignoring It. — From Sarah Chayes, a renowned expert on global corruption, a reminder that the scourge of corrupt politics extends into the Democratic Party.
The Rise of Poverty Inc. — In coining the phrase, military-industrial complex, Dwight Eisenhower gave us the name for the way in which conflicts of interest distort public policy. This article looks at the poverty industrial complex.
USAID Anti-corruption Policy — In line with the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption, USAID's Anti-corruption Policy signals its commitment to countering corruption and outlines its plan for institutionalizing anti-corruption efforts across all its work,
Transparency International — Transparency International is a global movement working in over 100 countries to end the injustice of corruption. It focuses on issues with the greatest impact on people's lives and holding the powerful to account for the common good.
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Climate / Environment / Health

The Truth About Climate Change ‘Lies Somewhere in the Middle’ — A rare effort to try to honestly sort through all of the competing arguments regarding the immediacy of the threat posed by climate change in the efficacy of proposed solutions.
A Red Team Climate Report — A description of one way in which we might be able to foster a genuinely productive debate on a wide range of climate change -related issues.
How this group got Trump to sign a pro-environment executive order — Another surprising Executive Order from the Trump administration -- an order that gives hope that there really are opportunities for persuasion and compromise.
Building Climate and Conflict Resilient Communities (2023-2025) — This Karuna project empowered farmers and herders in northern Benin to better anticipate and respond to tensions over land and water use, in order to prevent escalation of conflict and counter the influence of violent extremism in the area.
A Better Approach to Climate Policy — The report on an earlier and still quite promising effort to craft a climate strategy that is more likely to survive its encounter with the global political system.
The World Seems to Be Surrendering to Climate Change — A global report on the many ways in which countries are reversing past commitments to limit climate change-related emissions (and a look at the obstacles to building a sustainable consensus for climate action).
The Troubled Energy Transition — From a thoughtful, credible source (not your typical, unprincipled climate deniers), news that, because we misunderstood the world energy market, things are actually going quite badly.
What It Really Means to 'Give Infectious Disease a Break' — A report on one way in which Trump administration policies are posing a genuine threat to our very survival --- a threat that goes beyond understandably partisan efforts to dismantle progressive governance.
Putting the Worst Green Ideas in the Dustbin of History — Amid all of the chaos and fury surrounding Trump administration climate policy, an argument that, in some surprising and important areas they are taking genuinely positive steps.
From Idealism to Realism — From a leading climate scientist with more than 40 years of experience in the field, reflections on the planet's ongoing retreat from its commitments to address the climate change problem.
California's Climate Time for Choosing — An illuminating look at the priorities set by California's ruling Democratic Party (and the debate over how those priorities have affected the state's susceptibility to wildfire.)
Revenge of the Fossil Fuels — A comprehensive and illuminating window into the workings of the global energy market and the staggering challenges faced by those who really want to limit carbon emissions.
The Unstoppable Rise of Energy Realism — An explanation of the importance of recognizing the harsh realities the global energy market and adjusting climate policies according.
Climate Activists Need to Radically Change Their Approach Under Trump — Thoughts about steps the climate change movement can take to escape the ups and downs of partisan politics and build a strong bipartisan foundation for its efforts.
Global Existential Risks — A scientific look at the nature of existential, societal risk and reassuring news that climate change doesn't qualify (other things do, unfortunately).
The Problem With Solar — In all problem-solving efforts, "the devil is in the details." This essay does an especially good job of explaining why , despite its extremely low cost, solar power can't meet our green energy needs.
The Clean Energy Transition's Voter Problem — A report on recent research that documents the giant chasm that divides grassroots citizens from proponents of a clean energy transition -- something that we have to find better ways of addressing.
Finding Hope in the Environmental Crisis: Insights from Dr. Roger Gottlieb — Gottlieb argues that one of the biggest threats to our planet isn't just the damage itself -- it's our collective avoidance and denial of the crisis.
Making the Climate a Blue Issue Was a Mistake — Climate change can and should be a cause that people across the political spectrum are invested in. The key to making that happen may well be in how we frame conversations about the issue.
Where Environmentalists Went Wrong — An essay that explains why, with respect to the environment and so many other issues, it is critically important that we wisely and equitably balance costs and benefits.
Tally Of US Wind & Solar Rejections Hits 735 — Hard data indicating that efforts to limit climate change are being threatened by our failure to effectively address the many conflicts that surround wind and solar development projects.
Japan Offers a Glimpse into the Future — A story about how Japan is struggling with an energy trilemma in which it seeks to simultaneously balance economic growth, energy security, and meeting international emissions reductions commitments.
Climate policies that achieved major emission reductions: Global evidence from two decades — A major new study from the American Association for the Advancement of Science's, Science Magazine that argues that most of what we are doing to fight climate change isn't working. Time for a major rethink.
Why Are Carbon Emissions Up? — A more understandable summary of the major new research report highlighting the fact that most of the things that we have been doing to fight climate change aren't working.
Climate Fueled Extreme Weather — The first in a series of posts looking at the ways in which scientific and popular images of the relationship between climate change and extreme weather have diverged.
A New Age of Materials Is Dawning, for Everything From Smartphones to Missiles — A description of the new, and largely unrecognized, technology that may turn out to be hugely consequential -- hopefully, in a genuinely positive way.
Recycling Plastic Is a Dangerous Waste of Time — A report on an alarming study that suggests that factories that grind up plastics to recycle them are actually the biggest source of micro-plastic pollution. Proof that good intentions are not enough.
No, You Don't Have the Power to Stop Climate Change — An important reminder that efforts to limit climate change ultimately depend upon strong support from the developing world -- something that will require massive increases in carbon free energy production.
The 'Climate Crisis' Fades Out — News that the general public may be losing interest in climate related issues as the "issue attention" cycle winds down.
What The Media Won't Tell You About The Energy Transition — A statistical look at just how badly the global energy transition is going -- an analysis that highlights the need to find cleaner ways of powering the developed world.
When the Only Problem Was Climate Change — A nostalgic look back to the time when we thought the world's only big, remaining problem was climate change. Now, sadly, we know (or should know) better.
As Bird Flu Looms, the Lessons of Past Pandemics Take On New Urgency — As we still struggle to decide what lessons we should learn from society's contentious COVID response, news that we may soon have to apply those lessons.
To Fight Climate Change, We Need New 'Political Technologies' — Welcome recognition that successfully fighting climate change will require major improvements in the political process we use to make decisions about climate related issues.
The U.S. Urgently Needs a Bigger Grid. Here's a Fast Solution. — An example of the kind of unexpected and seemingly insignificant technology that could emerge from the shadows and play a big role in making the energy transition successful.
The Coming Electricity Crisis — As the climate change emergency focuses efforts on "electrifying everything," more information about how far we are from being able to produce enough electricity.
Conservative Environmentalist Benji Backer Talks Polarization and the Pressures to Conform — A conversation with the author of a new book The Conservative Environmentalist about the pressures to align with "our team" and how liberals and conservatives are amplifying division on climate.
The 'Blood Bath' Battle and the Electric Car War — An exploration of the looming political battle over EV vehicle mandates (and the way in which that debate is being expressed in 2024 campaign rhetoric).
California's Electricity Disaster In Seven Charts — If we are going to save the climate by electrifying everything, then we better be able to produce a lot of clean electricity.
Follow the Science' Leads to Ruin — Thoughts on how climate orthodoxies could be making things worse, rather than better -- comments that those concerned about climate ought to carefully consider.
The Climate Emergency, Conflict and Peace — Part of the Toda Peace Institute's Peace Seminar Series. Dr. Volker Boege discusses why it is important for peace research and practice to engage with the climate crisis.
Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power — Startling statistics about how much energy AI is going to consume and how that is likely to affect our efforts to move away from fossil fuels.
Defending the status quo is not environmentalism — A reminder that the banana syndrome (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything) can't successfully protect the environment.
Is Global Climate Policy Working? — If you really care about the climate (and you should), you ought to be asking hard questions like this about whether current policies are actually working.
The Climate Fix Book Club, Chapter 9 & Full Book — Links to a thoughtful series of articles (and an online book) that try to get beyond climate hysteria and focus on what, exactly, the science is telling us about how to most effectively address the problem.
Unleash the power of bipartisan NRC reform — For those who recognize the importance of moving as rapidly as possible to limit carbon emissions, sensible proposals for improving our ability to take advantage of nuclear power.
Don't San Francisco--ize Clean Energy — An important story about a second-order problem that presents a serious threat to efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
How Climate Policy Went Wrong — Hard questions about whether our climate strategy is going to be able to achieve its desired objective or whether we're just wasting money on a green energy industrial complex. We can't afford to get this wrong.
How Much Does it Cost to Build a Nuclear Power Plant? — For a time when efforts to speed the transition to carbon-free energy sources are encountering difficulties, welcome news that nuclear power may be cheaper than we thought.
Bone-Chilling — The story about how important it is that we maintain our infrastructure in ways that allow it to cope with extreme events.
Why America Doesn't Build — An essay examining ways in which an inability to constructively navigate the many conflicts associated with the transition to a net zero energy economy is threatening to undermine the entire effort.
The Coming Revolution in Climate Research — For those who recognize the importance of "trusting the science" with respect to climate issues, welcome news that the science is about to get much better (and more reassuring).
The Climate-Change 'Emergency' Is Coming for You — A skeptical account of the wisdom of many current climate change policies and a preview of emerging conflicts over those policies. Protecting the climate will require more constructive responses.
Turning Down the Temperature on Extreme Claims About Extreme Weather — A look at the complex methodological issues surrounding efforts to understand the impact of climate change, plus an argument that things are not quite as bad as commonly portrayed.
Backlash to climate policies is growing. A new strategy is needed. — Growing reason to believe that many projects designed to reduce CO2 emissions are running into serious trouble because of a failure to anticipate respond effectively to likely sources of conflict.
Climate Journalism is Broken — A look at the way in which the many problems afflicting contemporary journalism are impacting coverage of climate-related issues and, potentially, distorting our response to the crisis.
Climate Change and Disaster Losses — A look at what one needs to consider if one wants to rigorously assess the impacts of climate change (and allocate scarce resources wisely).
We need an area the size of Texas for wind and solar. Here's how to halve it. — An important first effort to seriously consider (and find constructive ways of limiting) the growing opposition to the staggering amounts of land that a wind/solar-based energy system will require.
Climate Security: Finding Shared Solutions to Shared Challenges — ConnexUs's knowledge-sharing campaign is designed to promote discussion, shared learning and collaboration among peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian practitioners working on climate issues.
In This Together — A campaign to help save the environment and repair our democracy by growing a diverse bipartisan community of America's silenced majority: common sense problem-solvers willing to overcome fear, anger, and division.
Climate Protest Tracker — A one-stop source for following global trends in climate policy protests since 2022 from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Dawn of Nuclear Energy Abundance — As we start to spend big money on the shift away from carbon-based fuels, hard questions about the limits of wind and solar and hopeful thoughts about the promise of nuclear energy.
An Even Deadlier Pandemic Could Soon Be Here — The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how very far we are from being able to sensibly and effectively respond to such crises. We simply have to do better and this article explains why we have to hurry.
U.S. Extreme Weather in 2022 — An extensive and long-term look at statistics on the incidence of different types of bad weather that makes it clear that it's not all climate change and that disaster preparedness is essential.
The Democrats' Climate Problem — A detailed account of one case in which conflict dynamics have pushed problem-solving efforts toward extremes---extremes which undermine efforts to deal with the problem.
Beyond Catastrophe: A New Climate Reality Is Coming Into View — Hopeful news that, despite many, many problems, our efforts to combat climate change are having an impact and the future is starting to look a bit brighter. Keep working, things aren't hopeless.
The Environmentalists Undermining Environmentalism — A reminder that efforts to limit climate change will require us all to make tough choices and sacrifices -- including environmentalists.
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Education

The Higher Ed Death Spiral — An unusually comprehensive summary of the vast array of problems now plaguing higher education.
The Perverse Consequences of the Easy A — An analysis of the surprising downsides associated with grade inflation (and university efforts to keep their primary customers happy).
We Can Still Save Higher Education — Amid intense and widespread criticism of higher education, this article offers a constructive response -- a proposed strategy that higher education could use to re-earn the public's trust.
Education’s Elephant in the Room — As we struggle with the complex conflicts surrounding inequality, thoughts about aspects of inequality that are beyond our control.
Universities have no choice — Thoughts on the role of negotiation and compromise in the context of the ongoing battle between universities and the Trump administration.
Is the University Of Austin Betraying Its Founding Principles? — An article that has generated a lot of interest and controversy by highlighting the ongoing debate over how, exactly, the University of Austin should pursue its mission of reforming university culture.
How One Ivy League University Has Avoided Trump’s Retribution So Far — The report that tries to explain why Dartmouth College has been able to avoid so much of the firestorm that has engulfed the rest of higher education.
As ‘Grading for Equity’ Movement Grows, More Teachers Are Pushing Back — The thought-provoking article that asks us how we should define "equity" if we want to be fair.
My Education Solution — From a right-leaning perspective, a valuable attempt to make those on the left understand why so many think that higher education is in need of radical reform.
The High-School Juniors With $70,000-a-Year Job Offers — Further evidence of just how badly we need (and how much we've neglected and disrespected) the blue-collar trades -- occupations that we rely on, but don't think too much about.
The Broken Promise of Academic Freedom — As universities struggle to defend academic freedom, an article examining ways in which higher education has made this test a much more difficult.
The Right Is Winning the Battle Over Higher Education — An explanation of why those on the political right are so supportive of the changes in higher education that President Trump is demanding.
It’s Easy to Understand Why Universities Have Lost Public Trust — Thoughts on how universities might be able to rebuild lost public trust -- trust that is critical to higher education's ability resist the political pressures that can undermine its objectivity.
The Average College Student Is Illiterate — Over the door to our university library is the inscription, "Enter Here the Timeless Fellowship of the Human Spirit." Sad news that today's students may not be able to read that.
Fostering Social Cohesion in Schools & Beyond — This Toolkit is a comprehensive resource designed to promote social cohesion in learning spaces within diversified communities.
Why the Events at Columbia University Will Have Profound Chilling Effects — The United States has a long history of trying to silence speech. What's happening now is different---and dangerous, write Nathan Brown and Zaha Hassan from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Government and universities battle in a contest of bad behavior — A thoughtful critique of the theories of change that Trump is following in his attempt to transform universities and that universities are using to resist those efforts.
Colleges Have to Be Much More Honest With Themselves — Amid Trump's all-out effort to transform higher education, a call for our nation's universities to take a hard look at why so much of the general public has turned against them.
Abandoning DEI won't fix academia's left-leaning problem — For DEI's opponents and supporters, a reminder that this is not just a debate over DEI funding, it is a much more fundamental debate about what we mean by "justice" and how we view our common history.
I'm a Liberal at a 'Conservative' University. How Did I End Up Here? — An essay exploring the University of Texas at Austin's (UATX) efforts to reform higher education in ways that they hope will allow it to once again earn the public's trust.
How Trump Can Lead Higher-Education Reform — An example of a constructive response to President Trump's attack on higher education --- instead of blindly defending everything, use this as an occasion to pursue reforms that could strengthen our universities.
How Did Academia Not See It Coming — Insightful, and nonstandard, reflections on the mistakes that academia made that caused public trust in and support for academic institutions to collapse.
Cultivating a Culture of Dignity in Schools — Much of the growth in UNITE's work has been happening in the K-12 education space. Teachers and school leaders across the country are asking how they can uphold and promote the value of dignity within our schools.
A New Kind of Crisis for American Universities — An analysis of the complex ramifications of the way in which Trump is directly attacking the economic model underlying the modern research university.
Why Is Academia A Fraud Factory? — A provocative exploration of the ongoing epidemic of scientific fraud and thoughts about what it will take to fix it.
How Higher Education Can Win Back America — An example of the kind of reform-oriented thinking that will have to become widespread if our institutions are to regain the public's trust.
Politicization of the American University — An excellentseries of articles that try to help us understand how higher education has changed in recent years, why it's public support has collapsed, and what might be done to fix things.
The Department of Education: The Un-American Institution Destroying Progress — In the spirit of listening to the other side, this article tries to explain why so many of those on the political right are so opposed to the actions of the US Department of Education.
America's new caste system: The education gap has dented democracy — An argument that the most important political divide is not race or class -- its education.
Niall Ferguson: After the Treason of the Intellectuals" on YouTube — An argument that the progressive monoculture that has taken over higher education and intellectual life has abandoned the honest pursuit of truth.
College for all' needs a rethink. National security could depend on it. — In the midst of an increasingly serious national security challenge, an argument that our college-focused educational system is not producing enough people with the essential, blue-collar skills we need.
American College Student Freedom, Progress, and Flourishing Survey — A big statistical report that offers an illuminating window into the life and thinking of today's college students.
Abolish Grades — A description of a surprisingly well reasoned strategy for limiting the ways in which grade inflation is distorting the educational incentives of today's college students.
Should a 'Diverse' Campus Mean More Conservatives? — A look at the many arguments swirling around calling for more ideological diversity on campus.
Saving the Idea of the University at Dartmouth — From the president of Dartmouth, thoughts about how universities might be better able to live up to to their traditional ideals.
To Rebuild Trust, Universities Need To Build Open-Minded Brands — Concrete steps that universities could take to earn back the public's trust (and do a better job of serving the larger society).
The Misery of Leading Columbia University — A look at what it takes to lead a major university today with important lessons about why effective and broadly supported leaders are now such a rarity.
Why Are Academics Liberal?--- BCB #108 — A discussion of why there aren't more conservative academics, plus bridge-building groups to look out for, and protesting isn't change by itself. As always, thoughtful essays!
Campus Protests and Police Force: An Ethical Framework — In a new essay, Archon Fung looks at this current wave of campus protests and asks if civil disobedience is permissible, and how much disruption should be tolerated at universities today.
What Would Success Look Like in American Education? — You can't solve problems if you don't have a shared vision of what a solution would look like. This essay tries to imagine a goal for our educational system that we could all work toward.
The Coddling of the American Undergraduate — A look at the nature and implications of the United States' current approach to higher education.
What Do American Universities and Communist Political Systems Have in Common? — A critical look at higher education that draws disturbing parallels between today's culture of higher education and communist regimes.
Why America's Richest Universities Are Protecting Hate-Filled Foreign Students — A surprising look at the way in which DEI incentives have led universities to recruit (and profit from) rich foreign students (who are also allowed greater freedom of speech protections).
The Real Problem With American Universities — For those who would like to see universities take effective steps to re-earn the public's trust, a systematic look at higher education's problems and possible solutions.
The Harvard of the Unwoke — For those looking for a reasonable, but less "woke" model for 21st century higher education, a report on Ben Sasse's experiment at the University of Florida.
American Universities Are Post-truth — Universities were, above all, supposed to be in the business of providing us with increasingly accurate and reliable information about the nature of our world. An article on why they are failing to do this.
Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault Is That? — A wake-up call for higher education. It is losing the support it needs to fulfill its mission. To rebuild that support, it needs to fulfill that mission much more effectively.
How To Overhaul Higher Education — For the many who are deeply frustrated by the current state of higher education, specific reform proposals. We need to encourage comparable proposals for reforming our other troubled institutions.
What is Liberatory Learning — This approach, based on Paulo Freire, argues that learning is a liberating practice that often thrives beyond the confines of educational systems.This approach benefits learners and teachers together.
The Approaching Disintegration of Academia — Reflections on what the abandonment of objectivity would mean for academia (and society's ability to solve problems where solutions depend on true, not politically convenient, understanding).
In the Age of A.I., Major in Being Human — Sound advice for young people thinking about how to fit into a world in which artificial intelligence technologies are going to do things that we used to think only highly educated people could do.
Life is Inherently Uncomfortable — An argument that universities should focus less on being safe and nurturing and more on preparing students for a world of controversy and conflict in which things do not always go well.
When colleges take political positions, they show who isn't wanted — A persuasive argument that universities should not, as institutions, take political positions -- positions that cut off critically needed debate on important social issues.
Fire Them All; God Will Know His Own — From the Harvard Crimson, an irreverent look at the administrative bloat that has led to skyrocketing college costs and profound changes in the nature of higher education.
The Two Fiduciary Duties of Professors — From Jonathan Haidt, an exploration of the collision between "two incompatible sacred values in American universities" -- truth vs. social justice.
What Is School For? — Perhaps our most deep-rooted instinct is to protect our children. That's why school conflicts are so intense. In this context, set of essays to help us think things through what matters in education.
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Artificial Intelligence

A Better Way to Think About AI — A reminder that the principle that "all good things tend to be intertwined with bad things." This essay applies this principle to efforts to promote more beneficial uses of AI.
This game-changing AI tool helps students learn constructive disagreement. — Amid all of the AI-related doom and gloom, a positive story about the way in which the technology might actually be able to help to help us deal with conflict more constructively.
The AI Doomers Are Getting Doomier — More insights into the potential downsides of AI -- downsides that we need to find effective ways of limiting.
The AI Takeover of Education Is Just Getting Started — Food for thought for educators and students struggling to understand how AI is going to reshape the institution within which they live and work.
Can AI break the engagement trap? — Integrity Institute Co-Founder Jeff Allen reflects on TrustCon 2025, the evolution of trust and safety, and why regulatory pressure—and transparency—still matter most.
AI on the Frontline: Evaluating Large Language Models in Real‑World Conflict Resolution — A study that argues major large language models (LLMs) are providing dangerous conflict resolution advice without conducting basic due diligence and meeting basic thresholds for conflict sensitivity.
The Era of A.I. Propaganda Has Arrived, and America Must Act — Reflections on the terrifying potential of AI-driven political propaganda and proposed steps that we could take to defend ourselves.
Are We Really Willing to Become Dumber? — More food for thought for those trying to understand the relationship between AI intelligence and human intelligence and how the former might undermine the latter.
How AI Can Support Democracy Movements — If we have to live with the many ways in which AI is threatening peace and democracy, we might as well start learning how to take advantage of the technology.
A.I. Might Take Your Job. Here Are 22 New Ones It Could Give You. — One of the few articles that I've seen that actually starts to consider the new kinds of jobs that AI is likely to create.
A.I. Can Already See You in Ways You Can’t See Yourself — For those wondering how AI thinks about us, the surprising look at its unconventional "thought" process.
Big Tech’s AI Endgame Is Coming Into Focus — An analysis of where, several steps down the pipeline, the AI-led technological revolution is going and what the high-tech industry has planned for us.
For Some Recent Graduates, the A.I. Job Apocalypse May Already Be Here — A report on the way in which AI is already dramatically altering labor markets -- especially for young knowledge workers.
Normsy.ai: Strengthening Online Civic Norms At Scale — A white paper explaining how Normy.ai works to transform online conversation threads with the greatest potential for civic harm toward more constructive dialogue.
Normsy.ai — A project of the Civic Health Project, Normsy.ai empowers everyday users to promote respectful discourse, institutional trust, and democratic norms—right in the heart of the online spaces where these values are most under threat.
Everyone thinks AI is biased, but it doesn’t have to be — A report on new research showing that Democrats, Republicans, and independents all agree that essentially all large language models lean to the left.
Zuckerberg’s Grand Vision: Most of Your Friends Will Be AI — A terrifying vision for the future with big-name backing from Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg -- a world in which we've abandoned reality in favor of AI-generated illusion.
The Urgency of Interpretability — The report on one of the most important frontiers in the field of artificial intelligence -- trying to figure out why AI systems behave as they do.
Is it okay? — Reflections on the moral questions involved in our personal decisions about when and how to make use of artificial intelligence-based technologies.
DeepSeek has created a 21st-century Sputnik moment — An article that examines the national security implications of the global AI technology race by comparing it to an earlier era and the shock of discovering that the Soviets could challenge US technology.
Scaling up: how increasing inputs has made artificial intelligence more capable — Some answers for those still trying to understand how AI suddenly got so "smart."
How A.I. Could Reshape the Economic Geography of America — An exploration of the possibility that AI technology may reshape labor markets in ways that also alter the geographic distribution of job opportunities.
How Does A.I. Think? Here's One Theory. — Insightful reflections on the way in which AI technologies actually think -- something that, surprisingly, its designers don't really understand.
To Whom Does the World Belong? — An exploration of an interesting moral and legal question related to AI -- If it is based upon our collective knowledge (as gleaned from the Internet) who owns the product it produces?
AI and the Future of Civics (with Adam Hinds, Michael Champigny, and Will Foster-Nolan) — What can experiential learning reveal about students' capacity to engage with complex policy issues? This article explores that and more.
Technology is Part of the Problem, but also Part of the Solution — Researchers are exploring how technology could improve dialogue---and democracy. For instance, could AI help humans find common ground, make hard online conversations easier, and expand the tools available to peacebuilders? Yes!
A Powerful AI Breakthrough Is About to Transform the World — A story about recent developments in artificial intelligence technology that may be about to make it vastly smarter.
Is this the most aligned we've seen Democrats and Republicans on any issue? — More in Common studied American attitudes toward Generative Artificial Intelligence, a major technological development poised to profoundly impact our psychology, society, and politics. Dem's and Rep's attitudes towards Gen AI are very similar.
AI mediation tool may help reduce culture war rifts, say researchers — An intriguing exploration of the possibility that AI could play a significant "mediation" role by helping those involved in conflict identify and articulate points of agreement.
Deliberative Technology: Designing AI and Computational Democracy for Peacebuilding in Highly-Polarized Contexts — A Toda report on artificial intelligence, digital democracy, and deliberative technologies that asks intriguing questions about the relationship between 21st-century technology and democratic governance.
What if everyone is wrong about what AI does? — A contrarian look at the way in which we have been thinking about Artificial Intelligence and a reminder of the complexities involved in predicting the impact of the new technology.
Could Congress Leverage AI to Help Restore Faith in US Democracy? — One of those rare stories that asks how AI might actually be used to strengthen democracy and limit political dysfunction.
Depolarizing AI and the Evolution of Political Discourse — A thought-provoking conversation exploring the complex relationships between consciousness, culture, and AI.
What's Ahead for Artificial Intelligence — A big report from the Wall Street Journal on where the rapidly changing field of Artificial Intelligence is taking us.
Mechanical Intelligence and Counterfeit Humanity — A thought-provoking chance to look back and reflect upon the rapid evolution of information technologies over the last 50 years and its impact on society.
Test Yourself: Which Faces Were Made by A.I.? — An interesting little quiz that allows us all to see for ourselves just how far AI-driven image creation has come.
Advancing a More Global Agenda for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence — International AI governance enshrines assumptions from the more well-resourced Global North. These efforts must adapt to better account for the range of harms AI incurs globally.
Nine Major Proposals for Government Regulating Artificial Intelligence Favored by Very Large Bipartisan Majorities of Voters — Public opinion polls show the public is strongly in favor of strong regulation of artificial intelligence.
Google's weird AI answers hint at a fundamental problem — Has Google's embarrassing Artificial Intelligence-based advice revealed that the technology is not really so intelligent?
Maxims for the AI Age by Reid Hoffman — Perceptive principles for guiding emerging AI technologies in ways that better protect us, while also allowing us to take advantage of the technology's potential.
See How Easily A.I. Chatbots Can Be Taught to Spew Disinformation — In an information environment characterized by enormous quantities of information that is unreliable and often deliberately distorted, thoughts about how AI can be used to make the problem even worse.
The AI deepfake apocalypse is here. These are the ideas for fighting it. — A story about how we might be able to protect ourselves from a world in which AI makes it increasingly hard to distinguish reality from illusion.
Beating Back Cancel Culture: A Case Study from the Field of Artificial Intelligence — From within the AI community, an analysis of the conflict over how best to handle demands that AI produce DEI sensitive results.
Plentiful, high-paying jobs in the age of AI — Hopeful news that, even in the age of AI, humans will have a valuable (and well compensated) role to play.
Google's Culture of Fear -- inside the DEI hivemind that led to gemini's disaster — A must-read article describing how DEI has transformed the Google culture and is threatening to transform our image of reality (as we see it through the lens of Google's monopoly).
Why We Must Resist AI's Soft Mind Control — Thoughts about how AI, with its inherent biases, is likely to change the way in which we think.
The Perilous Coming Age of AI Warfare — From Foreign Affairs, thoughts on what AI is going to do the warfare in our increasingly perilous times.
Let AI remake the whole U.S. government (oh, and save the country) — A rare and hopeful article about the ways in which AI could be used to increase the trustworthiness of governmental institutions -- with at least one real-world precedent.
The Real AI Weapons Are Drones, Not Nukes — A look at the areas in which artificial intelligence is most likely to have a near-term impact on the nature of war -- autonomous, killer drones.
AI's Growing Legal Troubles — An informative look at the legal disputes that are now casting a very long shadow over the future of AI development efforts.
Large language models, explained with a minimum of math and jargon — The best lay explanation that I have seen thus far about how the large language models underlying AI actually work.
AI and Geopolitics: How Might AI Affect the Rise and Fall of Nations? — Regardless of whether AI poses an existential risk to humanity, governments will need to develop new regulatory frameworks to identify, evaluate, and respond to the variety of AI-enabled challenges to come.
Unpacking Democracy: Artificial Intelligence and Democracy — A video of an InternationIDEA webinar examining the impact of AI on democracy. worldwide. The panellists discussed the advantages and disadvantages of AI for democratic institutions, rights and values.
Bing and Google's chatbots are a disaster — A reassuring look behind the curtain (and the hype) surrounding the new AI chat bots. They are a long way from anything like artificial intelligence, but not so far from pretending that they have it.
Life in the Metaverse — For those who can't quite wrap their mind around Zuckerberg's vision of the metaverse, an especially clear statement of what it is, its promise, and the danger it could pose to our future.
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US Politics

The Insidious Creep of Trump’s Speaking Style — A critical attempt to understand the nuances of President Trump's speaking style and why so many find it attractive.
The Democratic Party Faces a Voter Registration Crisis — Stark statistics about the nationwide decline in the number of voters affiliated with the Democratic Party -- statistics that suggest that a dramatic rethinking of the party's philosophy is long overdue.
Trump’s Half-Baked Approach to Negotiation — An attempt to understand (and provide an informed critique) of President Trump's approach to international negotiation.
The Real Threat to Democrats Isn’t Redistricting — Amid the ongoing flurry over Texas' redistricting (and California's response), a reminder that the left's problems go much deeper than that.
The Sultanization of US Politics — As an alternative to seeing Trump's USA as either plutocratic or fascist, an argument that it more closely resembles what the German sociologist Max Weber described as patrimonial, or more precisely, sultanistic.
This World-Renowned Negotiator Says Trump’s Secret Weapon Is Empathy — From an experienced negotiator, thoughts about how President Trump (despite his commonly inflammatory behavior) has been so successful in building a broad and solid base of support.
6 Surprising Beliefs Democrats and Republicans Share — There are six core values that almost all Americans, regardless of political party, still believe in. But here’s the catch: most of us think the other side doesn’t care about these values.
Why the Trump Tariff Merry-Go-Round Won’t Stop — From the Wall Street Journal, good reason to believe that the tariff turmoil will not, under Trump, settle down around a new status quo.
2025 Political Tribes — Based on last year's election, an update of the United States' eight major political groups -- groups that have polarized into the current two-party stand off.
In Fight for House, New York May Follow Texas in Redrawing Maps — An article on the ongoing battle to see which political party can do the best job of disenfranchising the other party's voters.
The Trump Presidency Takes a Better Turn — From a Trump critic who also believes in honest reporting, a rare article describing some of the more positive steps that the Trump administration has recently taken.
MAGA doesn't build anything — An argument that the MAGA movement will not succeed until it moves beyond undoing the existing order and starts focusing on how to build something better to replace it.
Today’s Non-Progressive Progressives — For progressives still trying to understand what went wrong, an argument that they too often abandoned progressive values.
Presidential Pettiness — A look at what happens when you take the politics of defeating enemies and rewarding friends to extremes.
The Cities and States That Are Getting It Right — Evidence that there are political jurisdictions that have figured out how to reform government operations in ways that really do make them efficient and effective.
What Would a Third Party Need to Succeed? — Third parties could make for healthier politics, but we'd need voting reform first say Sofia Scarlat and Jonathan Stray at Better Conflict Bulletin.
A Final, Comprehensive Look at How Trump Won in 2024 — After almost 9 months of data crunching, political scientists are now able to offer us a accurate and comprehensive view of the trends that gave Donald Trump a second presidency.
These Younger Democrats Are Sick of Their Party’s Status Quo — An enlightening profile of the new generation of political leaders -- leaders that are now advocating major changes to the Democratic Party.
Why Do So Many People Think Trump Is Good? — Thoughtful reflections on a question that many have been trying to answer, what are the social changes that have broken down the taboos that, in normal times, would have made the Trump presidency impossible.
The Limits of Culturally Radical Economic Populism — Thoughtful reflections on the political strategy being pioneered by the surprisingly successful campaign of the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani.
The One Question Trump Always Wants the Answer To — An interesting hypothesis regarding the way in which President Trump looks at political issues, its relationship with policy analysis, and the reason why it's so successful.
How the Left Loses its People — A retrospective historical look at the many things that the left has done over the years to undermine its support.
Congress Should Measure Twice and Cut Once on Charitable Sector Reform — The House GOP's ill-considered excise tax hike on foundations would put these institutions – and the pluralistic charitable sector they support – on a slippery slope. Nothing good lies at the bottom.
Is There an Opening for a Third Party — Amid widespread popular frustration with both the Democratic and Republican parties, an update on prospects for a less hyper-polarized third-party.
How the Democrats Lost Men Like Me — As an alternative to the in-depth analyses that Democrats are doing to try to figure out why they have lost the support of so many men, one man offers his opinion.
The No. 1 Rule for Understanding Trump — An argument for tempering fears about the consequence of extreme Trump administration actions with Trump's long history of abandoning such actions before they ever fully go into effect.
Six-Chart Sunday – Overruled: POTUS v SCOTUS — An interesting series of historical information graphics documenting through both Democratic and Republican administrations the conflict between the Presidency and the Supreme Court.
The Unconstitutional Conservatives — With respect to one cluster of issues, a reminder that, while the political parties may appear stable, the beliefs expoused by those parties can change radically.
Can the ‘Abundance Agenda’ Save the Democrats? — More critical reflections on the profound and controversial changes in Democratic policies that adoption of the Abundance Agenda would entail.
Does the Working Class Vote Against Its Interests? — An argument against the notion that voters can (and should) focus almost exclusively on economic interests when deciding who to support.
Rod Dreher: The Woke Right Is Coming for Your Sons — From a conservative perspective, a critical look at the the disturbing way in which so many on the political right are trying to make sense of today's turbulent times.
‘Original Sin’ Review: A Conspiracy in Plain View — A review of an important new book, "Original Sin," about the scandalous way in which the Democratic Party machinery concealed President Biden's failing health and, essentially, hijacked the government.
‘TACO’ Is the Secret to Trump’s Resilience — An argument that the TACO (Trump always chickens out) strategy is, surprisingly, the key to the President's remarkable political resilience.
Living Among the DOGE Wreckage — A report on what it's like to be (or have been) a civil servant during this time when you and your labors are so widely disparaged and demonized.
Hispanic Moderates’ Big Swing Right — More information about just how many voters and, especially, Hispanic voters are switching their political allegiances away from the Democratic Party.
A Pivot Point for the American People — A hopeful argument that democracy's self-correcting mechanisms are starting to respond effectively to the many challenges being posed by the Trump administration.
The most disturbing aspect of Trump’s first 100 days — A lament about the unwillingness of so many people to challenge President Trump's assertions of near dictatorial power.
The Coming Democratic Civil War — More thoughts about the intense conflict that is emerging around proposals for scaling back the regulatory state and promoting economic growth.
There Is a Way Forward: How to Defeat Trump’s Power Grab — A proposed strategy for defeating the most egregious and indefensible aspects of President Trump's efforts to consolidate power.
How Qatar Bought America — An alarming article about influence peddling on a gargantuan scale -- the kind of thing that petrodollars make possible.
The murders outside the museum were foreseeable: That’s the problem — Recent attacks on Jews are not random acts of senseless violence, they are the logical consequence of a widely supported political philosophy.
Who Started the Lawfare Era? — From a right-leaning perspective, a thoughtful counterargument about the origins of our rapidly escalating epidemic of political lawfare. (It's not just Trump.)
Analyzing the 2024 Presidential Vote: PRRI’s Post-Election Survey — Amid continuing debate over the lessons that we should learn from the recent US election, a report on a major new post-election analysis.
Trump Is Turning a Good Idea Into an Authoritarian Weapon — Praise for efforts to move government agencies out of Washington and into the communities that they serve, and harsh criticism for Trump's efforts to weaponize such moves as a strategy for attacking government employees.
‘I Even Believe He Is Destroying the American Presidency’ — A compilation, with lots of links, to what political scientists think about the adverse impact that Donald Trump is having on the US Presidency.
The fate of Trump’s agenda rests with the House GOP’s ‘five families’ — A description of the quite different voting blocs that make up today's Republican Party -- a description that illuminates the role of the bipartisan problem-solver caucus.
The Illusion of Transparency: What the Trump Cabinet Meeting Really Reveals — Understanding the emotional appeal of political performance. Devid Beckemeyer of Outrage Overload reflects on a televised Trump cabinet meeting.
The Actual Math Behind DOGE’s Cuts — If you thought Elon Musk was really trying to cut costs, you weren’t in on the joke.
Trump’s Weak Position on Trade — A critical analysis of the flaws in President Trump's "art of the deal" strategy with respect to tariffs.
Trump’s Inevitable Betrayal of His Supporters — An essay exploring the coming collision between President Trump's promises to his constituents and the likely impact of his actions.
The Democrats’ Fork in the Road — Democrats are about to make a fateful decision -- one that will cast a long shadow on all our lives. Are they going to focus on restoring the Biden-era political order or building something new and better.
The Next 1,360 Days — From Yascha Mounk, an effort to rethink, based on recent experience, where the Trump administration is likely to take us over the next three and a half years.
What Trump Voters Think of Trump — Our project of “better conflict” only works if we’re able to reach people on both sides. Are we? So asks Eve Sneider and Jonathan Stray of Better Conflict Bulletin in their first ever readers survey. This edition also looks at profiles and surveys to see what Trump voters think 100 days in.
When Establishments Fail: Trump’s 100 Days — An especially good analysis of the establishment failures that made Trump's second presidency possible (and thoughts about the implications of the new administration's unfolding failures).
One Moment That Foretold It All — The perceptive analysis explaining what may be the most important difference between President Trump's first and second administrations.
Are We in a "Soft" Civil War? — The disturbing the persuasive argument that our hyper-polarized politics is crossing the line into cold, but still open and extraordinarily dangerous warfare.
The Trump Voters Who Like What They See — More food for thought as so many still struggle to understand why there is such strong support for Trump's efforts to destroy the established order.
How to Survive the Trump Years With Your Spirit Intact — Reflections on the ways in which various cultures and religious traditions have, over the centuries, worked to oppose leaders motivated by "pagan," "might makes right" moral beliefs.
In Montana, a Rare Sight: Republicans and Democrats Voting Together — Another "if it is being done, it must be possible" story -- this one focuses on the ways in which Montana is violating the stereotypes.
‘I Run the Country and the World’ — A rare opportunity to hear, in President Trump's own words, an in-depth report on what he thinks of his first 100 days in office.
Is Trump a Tyrant or a Savior? Maybe Just a Bumbler — Reflections on a critically important question: Is Trump a devious mastermind orchestrating some grand authoritarian takeover strategy? Or, are his plans so poorly crafted that they can't possibly achieve their desired objectives?
What Working-Class Voters Really Want — For the meritocratic elites of the Democratic Party, another useful effort to explain why working-class voters tend to view them with such disdain.
Trump Meets His Match: The Markets — Hopeful news about the ability of financial markets to successfully persuade the Trump administration to abandon especially ill-advised policies.
Rod Dreher: ‘Cry More, Libs’ Is Not a Strategy — From a Trump supporter, recognition that simply doing things that enrage the left will not be enough to successfully address the right's many legitimate grievances.
What Trump's Re-Election Means for Democracy: A Call for Transformation, Not Just Defense — Our colleague, Duncan Autrey, wrote this right after the election, and we missed it. But his call for using this moment to transform our culture, not just defend it against Trump's assault, is still very valid and important.
I Should Have Seen This Coming — From David Brooks, a personal account of the long sequence of events that led to President Trump's surprising rise to power.
A Different Kind of Anti-Trump Resistance Is Brewing — A report on how besieged federal workers are trying to protect their jobs and the institutions in which they work (institutions that we all depend upon).
Trump Is Gaslighting Us — A revealing look at the psychological propaganda techniques that Trump uses to free himself from the constraints of objective reality.
Trump Has Already Botched His Own Bad Tariff Plan — An exceptionally clear and persuasive explanation of why he Trump's tariff plan can't possibly achieve its desired objectives.
Why Cory Booker's Speech Matters — An explanation of the theory of change behind Cory Booker's marathon speech on the Senate floor.
I Used to Hate Trump. Now I'm a MAGA Lefty. — For those still having trouble understanding Trump's popularity and appeal, yet another essay that tries to explain why so many have given up on the left.
The Question Progressives Refuse to Answer — New information about the brave Gazans who are trying to lay a real foundation for peace by forcing Hamas out of Gaza.
What I Saw at the MAGA Revolution — The report on one of today's most important conflicts -- the conflict between Republicans who genuinely want to build a better society and those who just seek retribution against the left.
Our 2028 Nominee Will Need to Come From America, Not Washington' — A forward thinking argument that one key to escaping our current political predicament is to look outside the Washington establishment for future leaders.
New Insights on Why Harris Lost---and Why Democrats Are in Such a Hole — A must-read article with solid, eye-opening statistics that can help Democrats understand the degree to which their business-as-usual approach to politics has failed.
Tariffs only "work" if they make prices higher — An essay exploring the disconnect between what tariffs are likely to do and how they are being sold to Trump supporters and the American people.
Jay's Notes: Trump's tried and true political strategy will fail him on tariffs — Executive Director of More in Common, Jason Mangone, shares new data on how Americans are feeling about President Trump's proposed tariffs. Spoiler: they don't like them.
The Impact Map — A timely and important effort to document the things that we are losing as DOGE prioritizes rapid budget cuts over a careful consideration of what needs cutting.
What Does the New Right Want? — A substantial effort to really try to understand the interests that the Trump administration is seeking to advance.
What Ocasio-Cortez Wants for the Democrats — From the Sanders / Ocasio-Cortez and their Fighting Oligarchy tour, a report on AOC's vision for the future,
Trump Is About to Bet the Economy on a Theory That Makes No Sense — As the US embarks on radical effort to restructure global trade relationships, a reminder that policies only achieve their intended result when they are based on an accurate understanding of the way the system works.
Republicans should welcome Democrats' turn to 'abundance' — More reason to hope that it might be possible to craft a new and much more broadly accepted political movement built around "abundance" -- an effort to eliminate chronic shortages in almost everything.
The Democrats Are in Denial About 2024 — Another article urging Democrats to make the kinds of changes needed for it to pursue its role as an effective opposition party -- something that a functioning two-party democracy desperately needs.
The beginning of the end of the Trump era — An argument that the Trump administration may have already gone too far in the pursuit of its agenda (and that that overreach may be undermining its power and creating opportunities for Democrats).
How to beat back Trump's divide & conquer strategy — In the context of the Trump administration, an essay on strategies for reducing the effectiveness of "divide and conquer" attacks.
Democrats confront the wrath of their voters, just as Republicans have — Yet another big conflict to think about -- the conflict between the Democratic base that wants its leaders to more vigorously oppose the Trump onslaught and the party's more cautious leadership.
The Great Demolition — A look at just how radically our society is being changed and the challenges we will all face as we collectively decide what comes next.
The Danger of a Flood of Anti-Trump State Lawsuits — An eye-opening examination of the complex legal landscape that surrounds efforts by state attorneys general to challenge federal government policies on both the left and right.
It's About Ideology, Not Oligarchy — A critical look at efforts to frame the Trump administration as an effort by our society's oligarchs to strengthen their ability to control and exploit us.
In-Group Backlash: Amy Coney Barrett and Gavin Newsom — An article from The Builders on the within-party backlash experienced in recent weeks by Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Resistance to Trump is everywhere --- inside the first 50 days of mass protest — A Waging Nonviolence analysis says mass actions are diverse and multiplying and are already having an impact.
There Is a Way for Democrats to Stop Trump and Save America — More food for thought as we consider how best to address the failures of the Trump administration and the Biden administration that preceded it.
Trump Voters Love Him More Than Before. Four Conservative Columnists Pinpoint Why. — A really helpful discussion for those struggling to understand the loyalty of Trump supporters and why society is turned so sharply away from Democrats.
Both Left and Right Are Wrong About Mahmoud Khalil. — An article that tries to look at all sides of the debate over efforts to deport Mahmoud Khalil.
Tom Friedman: Trump Is a 'Small Man in a Big Time' — Tom Friedman reviews the enormously consequential era in which we find ourselves and the ways in which he believes that the Trump administration is unprepared to deal with this era.
How Deep Is the Hole Democrats Are In? — An effort to help Democrats better understand why so much of the country is rebelling against their rule and so much of the political edifice that they constructed.
Trump's Flood-the-Zone Strategy Has a Big Weakness — An analysis of the weaknesses associated with the Trump administration's focus on unilateral executive action and its neglect of the legislative process (and the more durable laws that it can create).
Michael Lewis On DOGE's Victims — An interview with Michael Lewis, author of "Who Is Government" --- an individual who has done extensive research into why the work of our now much maligned civil servants is so important.
Funding the Resistance Is Not a Winning Strategy. Here's What Is. — Billions spent fighting Trumpian populism hasn't worked. Practicing a pluralistic approach to grant making might be much more effective.
The Democrats' Brahmin Left Problem — An exploration of the contradictions inherent in the left's commitment to social justice and its status as members of society's most highly educated elites.
Don't Trust the Trumpsplainers — A story about the big question, is there a clear and defensible rationale behind Trump's actions or is it just simple, vindictive chaos?
Even if the Democrats Can Move to the Center, It May Not Help — A more detailed assessment, with lots of links, of the difficulties Democrats are likely to face if they decide to counter Trump by "moving to the center."
There Is a Liberal Answer to the Trump-Musk Wrecking Ball — Another contribution to the debate over how progressives and liberals might best respond to President Trump's dramatic changes.
This thing will fail — An article looking ahead at the weaknesses in the Trump administration's cultural transformation efforts.
How Not to Resist Donald Trump — For Donald Trump's opponents who want to make things better and not worse -- a list of things to avoid.
Snap Out of It, Democrats — From the Wall Street Journal, an appeal for Democrats to abandon ineffectual and silly tactics and become the kind of effective opposition party that our two-party system requires.
Douglas Murray: How MAGA Lost Its Way on Ukraine — An insightful essay exploring the complex history that led to President Trump's Ukraine policy (and the reasons that his constituents support that policy).
Machiavelli Would Hate Trump — For those who may view President Trump in Machiavellian terms, surprising news that Machiavelli would not have approved.
Vengeance Is His — A summary, with lots of links, of the in-depth examinations of Donald Trump's actions being conducted by political scientists.
DOGE's Reign of Ineptitude — Good (or at least defensible) intentions are not enough. Policy initiatives that are not based on an accurate understanding of the system that they are trying to influence are doomed to failure.
Trump and Vance Are Stripping Away Foreign Policy Illusions — A rare look at the Trump/Zelenskyy conflict that tries to look at both the strengths and weaknesses of the President's approach.
The Coming Showdown in Trumpworld — An analysis of the deep conflicts that are simmering just below the surface of Donald Trump's multifaceted coalition.
What Erratic Government Does to a Country — A review of some of the costs associated with uncertainties about where Donald Trump's radical changes will ultimately take us.
Can you resist Trump while also working on political depolarization? — Is political activism at odds with reducing political toxicity? (Spoiler: no, says Zachary Elwood.)
Is This What America Voted For? — Opinion poll data highlighting what the voters think of DOGE's effort to downsize and reform the federal government.
Democrats Need to Clean House — An update on the Democratic Party's big conflict over how best to respond to last year's election defeat and the unfolding Trump Presidency.
A Federal Judge Says: Knock Off the Threats — From a distinguished Federal judge, a report on the growing instances in which jurists are subjected to efforts to intimidate them.
Why Did Democrats Lose Their Edge with Women? — Surprising information about how support from one of the Democratic Party's core constituencies (women) is declining.
Ten reasons for modest optimism — An update on Robert Reich's reasons why those shocked by Donald Trump's actions should not give in to hopelessness and despair.
Jay's Notes: From Peak Woke to Peak DOGE — From the E.D. of More in Common, Jason Mangone, this piece points out four ways that wokeism and DOGEism are similar projects, and points to what that might mean for a way ahead.
One Simple Question for Democrats — Simple advice for Democrats looking for a way of evaluating competing proposals for rebuilding their base of support -- think about how working-class voters are likely to respond.
A Democrat Who Is Thinking Differently — An interview with Democratic Representative Jake Auchincloss -- another leader who is trying to craft a broadly attractive alternative to President Trump's policies.
Venting at Democrats and Fearing Trump, Liberal Donors Pull Back Cash — An update on funding problems being faced by those who seek to offer an alternative to President's Trump unfolding policies.
Democrats Fear They Are Missing the Moment to Remake the Party — An overview of the big conflict within the Democratic Party over what lessons to learn from last fall's electoral defeat and the Trump presidency.
Can We Please Stop Calling These People Populists? — From David Brooks, an appeal to distinguish President Trump's populist supporters from the very different class of people he is appointing to key positions within the government.
Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall — From Yascha Mounk, reflections on just how radically the world (and the US) has changed, why past solutions will no longer work, and why we need a new vision better adapted to contemporary realities.
This Progressive Has a Plan to Win Trump's Base. Steve Bannon Calls It 'Brilliant.' — An additional perspective on Ro Khanna's plans for building his party's base of support by extending its appeal to include the many Trump voters the Democrats had previously left behind.
The Alternative to Trump Cannot Be a Defense of Institutions as They Are — A promising essay by Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) outlining a way forward for Democrats that broadens the party's base of support by acknowledging and correcting past mistakes.
Trump's honeymoon is over — Amid President Trump's unprecedented effort to radically transform the full range of governmental institutions and policies, news that public support for this effort maybe starting to erode.
There's No Substitute For Public Opinion — Helpful reflections on what democracy's defenders can learn from the United States' first populist presidency -- that of Andrew Jackson.
Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities — More poll data that helps us understand the gap that has opened up between the Democratic Party and so much of the electorate.
"The Week 'Democrats Must Work With Trump' Died" — An explanation of why it is so difficult for the losing political party to, after a bitterly fought election, start engaging in true collaborative governance.
This time, the anti-Trump resistance is in the courts, not in the streets — An overview of what is happening in the courts -- the one arena in which there is significant pushback on President Trump's claims of executive authority.
Democratic States Are Wards of Washington — An exploration of the ways in which state and federal government finances are deeply intertwined (with Democratic states especially dependent on the federal government).
We Have No Coherent Message': Democrats Struggle to Oppose Trump — A report on interviews with more than 50 Democratic leaders that highlights the ongoing conflict within the party over how best to respond to Trump's victory.
Trump's Populism Isn't a Sideshow. It's as American as Apple Pie. — A podcast that places today's anti-elite populism into the broader context of the United states' long-standing distrust of its elites and its embrace of populist rebellions.
Democrats have become the party of permissiveness. That's ballot box poison. — From Rahm Emanuel, an argument against focusing exclusively on "kitchen table" economics and neglecting the many other issues that affect day-to-day quality-of-life.
How Do We Understand Culture? — Thoughtful reflections on what we have and should have learned from the failures of the "resistance" movement in President Trump's first term.
How Trump's Lawbreaking Strategy Is Designed to Work — A look at how the Trump administration believes that it can be successful, even though many of its actions are unlikely to survive a legal challenge.
Democrats' brutal poll problem — New public opinion data that suggests that the public's repudiation of the Democratic Party runs even deeper than previously thought.
Last Boys at the Beginning of History — With the focus on Donald Trump's youngest male supporters, this article offers a great example of how quality journalism can help build genuine understanding across deep political divisions.
Donald Trump Is Just Watching This Crisis Unfold — An argument that Donald Trump is not making the transition from a candidate (focused on observing and criticizing events) to a President responsible for guiding those events.
Trump's Return -- Americans' Views in A New Political Chapter — As President Trump begins his second term, More in Common highlights five key takeaways from our latest poll focused on Americans' views, misperceptions, and aspirations in this new era.
The Democrats' Governance Problem — As Democrats struggle to understand how why they are so widely distrusted, a call for them to take a hard look at the ways in which they actually govern.
So Much for Not Taking Trump Literally — It is been said that Trump supporters take him seriously but not literally and his opponents take him literally but not seriously. It seems like it's time to take him both seriously and literally.
Democrats Should Embrace Ideological Pluralism — An argument that Democrats, if they want to "look like America," ought to go beyond skin deep traits like race and really embrace differences of opinion.
Goodbye, 'Resistance.' The Era of Hyperpolitics Is Over. — In the context of the muted response of the Democratic Party to Trump's election, an argument that hyper-politics (if not polarization) is declining.
Trump's Plan to Crush the Academic Left — An overview of the way in which President Trump is trying to decisively defeat progressives -- politically, culturally, and socially.
The Birth of Aspirational Populism — As those on the left try to understand how they so badly misunderstood the strength of Trump's support, an argument for paying more attention to the allure of genuine opportunity.
Trump's 'Cabinet of the Cancelled' — An observation about President Trump's cabinet and an explanation of why they so strongly support his agenda -- they have been on the receiving and of the left's repression of criticism.
What Happened to Joe Biden the Moderate? — President Biden was elected as a moderate leader who could bring the country together. This essay explains how, instead, he alienated many of his supporters by pushing the country far to the left.
My Decade with Donald Trump — From a journalist with exceptionally long and close access to the President Trump, an illuminating effort to help us better understand the man and his supporters.
Standing Up to Donald Trump's Fear Tactics — Much of President Trump's power stems from his ability to threaten and intimidate anyone who might stand in the way of his plans. This article explores ways of resisting such pressures.
Making Sense Out of the Chaos — A helpful overview of President Trump's initial actions with thoughts about whether or not he has the legal authority to do each thing.
Trump will overplay his hand. Be ready for when he does. — For those alarmed by President Trump's aggressive efforts to implement his agenda, thoughts about how best to respond in the likely event that he, in some way, goes too far.
Republicans and Democrats play a role in making each other more extreme — Contempt and aggression can induce the stances and behaviors that anger us.
"Blue Collar, Not Billionaires": How We Build Coalitions that Win — Long-term organizing, deep canvassing, and broad coalitions fueled wins for working families across the US. Rural America isn't MAGA country. Housing, health, climate, affordability and despair -- hurt people in small towns and big cities alike.
Even in Victory, Republicans Should Listen to Their Opponents — From the Builders, an article about the need to understand and respect our fellow Americans' concerns. When we fail to do those things, we'll find that we deepen divisions and amplify contempt.
Trump could be setting himself up for a 'powerful' early failure — A review of the many pitfalls that President Trump will have to overcome before he can successfully implement his ambitious agenda.
Trump's Return Is a Civil Society Failure — A review, with lots of citations, of the factors that political scientists see as responsible for President Trump's return to power.
The opposition to Trump isn't inert. It's reflecting --- and that's good. — Thoughts about efforts to develop more constructive and effective ways of challenging President Trump's plans to make major changes to our government and society.
Builders vs. Dividers: Who Fared Better in Elections? — From Starts with US: Among House representatives up for reelection, 82% of Builders reclaimed their seats versus 100% of Dividers. What does that mean?
Done With Never Trump — From a conservative, "Never-Trumper," thoughtful reflections about the things that his movement got right and got wrong plus thoughts about how to be most constructive during the coming Trump administration.
Maybe Democrats Didn't Do So Badly After All — For Democrats, a not so dismal look at election results and a reminder that, despite Trump's big victory, we remain a deeply and evenly divided nation.
The Democrats' Dirty Tricks Playbook? — A disturbing explanation of why No Labels was unable to offer voters a viable alternative to the Trumo and Harris candidacies.
H.R. McMaster: My Travels with Trump — A rare article about Donald Trump that honestly tries to assess his strengths and weaknesses (and an article written by somebody who actually worked closely with the incoming President.)
The Priority Gap — Following the 2024 election, More in Common surveyed 5,005 Americans to explore what shaped their voting decisions, how they perceive polarization and division, and -- most importantly -- how they understand one another.
Making Sense of the 2024 Elections as a 21st Century Paradigm Shift — Seth David Radwell argues that the U.S. political Left-Right paradigm has shifted to focus on where the authority to govern lies.
The Moral Challenge of Trumpism — From David Brooks, an effort to understand the moral basis Trump's support and how those beliefs differ from the political morality that has traditionally dominated democratic societies.
Key to Trump's Win: Heavy Losses for Harris Across the Map — An impressive collection of maps with county-level statistics revealing how voter preferences changed between 2020 and 2024.
How Resilient Is the Emerging Trump Coalition? — A compilation (with lots of links) of what leading political scientists are saying about the likelihood that Donald Trump will be able to hold his political coalition together.
Trump's recess appointments gambit? A power grab hiding in plain sight. — A detailed look at one of the strategies that President Elect Trump intends to use to expand Presidential power by bypassing one of the key Constitutional "checks and balances."
Beware the Trifecta: History Shows Full Control of Government Is Fleeting — A reassuring history for those worried about the possibility that Republican control of Congress may give President Elect Trump a long-term lock on power.
When Will Democrats Learn to Say No? — An argument that the key to building a super majority capable of defusing the United States' 50/50 political split lies in finding a way to say no to those on the political extremes.
How to Handle Kennedy as America's Top Health Official — An interesting essay written by a health care professional looking for a constructive way to engage with Robert Kennedy -- Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The Musk-Ramaswamy Project Could Be Trump's Best Idea — From the Wall Street Journal, an explanation of why many people think that the proposed Department of Government Efficiency is actually a good idea.
Dear Democrats, I Tried To Warn You — A particularly perceptive "I told you so" article highlighting lost opportunities associated with the Democrat's reluctance to seriously consider the views of its critics.
Why We Got It So Wrong — A must-read exploration of the origins of our current predicament and thoughts about the big thing we need to do to get out of it.
A Post-Election Path Forward — Jacob Borenstein argues that we can heal our country though local action. We should start, he says, by listening to community needs and aspirations.
Outlooks on Trump's election — Framechange is a non-partisan publication aimed at helping people understand different perspectives on news and events. Read their compilation of views about Trump's election.
Which Way Forward for Red and Blue? — Jonathan Stray has assembled an overview of left and right leaning pundits' views on the election, concluding that "when you shade each state based on 2024 election results, the country looks pretty purple."
The US Elections---A Reason for Anxiety or an Opportunity for Hope and Growth? — International Center for Religion and Diplomacy published an article detailing how faith communities can play a role in reducing toxic polarization and rehumanizing perceived adversaries around the U.S. elections.
The Democratic Blind Spot That Wrecked 2024 — An unusual and quite perceptive article describing how Democrats were lulled into a false sense of security.
The Election Gender Gap Was Expected to Be Huge but Was Unremarkable — Amid all the articles highlighting the political divide between men and women, surprising news that the spread between male and female voting patterns was surprisingly small.
Obama Isn't Going Anywhere — A look at the outsized role that President Obama continues to play in Democratic politics.
The End of the Obama Coalition — A detailed look at the strengths (and now weaknesses) of the Obama coalition that ruled the United States for 12 of the last 16 years.
Farewell to the "Rising American Electorate" — A postmortem on the theory that the changing demographics of the electorate would lead to Trump's defeat.
Answering all of your biggest post-election questions. — From Tangle, an organization really committed to telling both sides of the story, questions and answers about the election.
Book Review: The Road to Wigan Pier — For those who wondered what Orwell would think about contemporary events, a book about how he approached very similar challenges in his time.
What now? With the election behind us, here are five ways forward — From the Foundation against Intolerance and Racism, concrete ideas for constructively navigating the post-election period.
Democrats and the Case of Mistaken Identity Politics — Now that the election-related taboo against Democratic self-criticism has been lifted, thoughtful ideas about why identity-based politics was doomed to failure.
The Elites Had It Coming — From Thomas Frank (the man who wrote "What's the matter with Kansas?") helpful insights for those struggling to understand Trump's success.
We're About to Find Out Who Trump's Victory Belongs To — For the case of Donald Trump, an essay exploring the election day transition from candidate appeals for constituent support to constituent appeals for support from now elected candidates.
Democrats Need Working-Class Voters. Maybe Now They'll Act Like It — From Nicholas Kristof, reflections on the relationship between the struggles of his working class childhood friends and the election's outcome.
The Book That Predicted the 2024 Election — An interview with the author of "Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP" -- a book that was ahead of its time in understanding the changing political landscape.
It's Time to Resist the Resistance — As Democrats struggle to decide how to respond to the Trump presidency, an argument against replaying the resistance strategy used during his first term.
Russia's Election Meddling: Farce After Tragedy — An update on Russia's muddled and, hopefully, not very effective efforts to influence the election.
Millions of Movers Reveal American Polarization in Action — A statistical look, with lots of revealing graphics, at the ways in which Americans are self segregating based on political beliefs.
Lessons for Kamala Harris - 1 — The first of three essays by Ashok Panikkar on the Democratic loss. Here he explains what the elite of the cosmopolitan world don't understand about democracy (or, as he says, life on planet Earth.)
Treat Trump Like a Normal President — After 8 years of treating Trump as an extraordinary threat that cannot be challenged by ordinary means, an argument for doing just that -- trust the system and work within the process.
AllSides Story of the Week: Trump Elected President — AllSides compares the right's and left's reaction to the U.S. Presidential election.
Election 2024: The illusion of division hits a tipping point — After so much nervous anticipation about the possibility of political violence following the election, reflections on why that didn't happen (and the possibility that we are not as bitterly divided as we think we are).
The Shattering of the Democratic Coalition — An essay explaining why the winning electoral coalition that Democrats thought that they had is no longer viable.
We Don't Have Time to Waste Time in Despair — For those opposed to the things that President-elect Trump has promised to do, thoughts about how they can work within the system to effectively oppose such things.
10 Reasons You Didn't See This Coming — A succinct, must-read article that explains, with exceptional clarity, why so many Democrats were blindsided by the election's result.
Voters to Elites: Do You See Me Now? — One of the very best articles that we've seen on the election. If you can only read a few, read this one.
Trump has big plans for 'Day 1' on immigration, energy and more — Just as Biden's selection ushered in big changes in US society, Trump promises to do the same. This article reviews his intentions.
Francis Fukuyama on Trump 47 — From Francis Fukuyama, his analysis of the election.
Why Trump's Victory Is, For Millions Of Us, Cathartic — A very personal reaction to Trump's election from someone who used to be closely aligned with the left but who found himself canceled for raising what he regards as perfectly legitimate criticisms.
Four THB Takeaways from the Incredible 2024 US Election — Another set of thoughtful, and somewhat different, reflections on the election with one stunning map highlighting just how much politics has changed.
What issues are most important to the Hidden Tribes this election? — A comparison of concerns of progressive activists, devoted conservatives, and the "exhausted majority." The one commonality: high cost of living and inflation.
How To Win and Lose an Election — Published on election day, Jonathan Stray points out that no matter what happens, we will all have new responsibilities tonight.
Sometimes when I get mad, when I get really mad, sometimes I write a poem — A poem by one of our colleagues on the U.S. election and what comes next.
Ready for the Rollercoaster Again? America's Strange Relationship with Calm — David Beckemeyer argues that Biden gave us calm. Yet now Americans seem to hunger for drama and disruption again.
Can Dignity Prevail in America's Polarized Landscape? — More In Common writes that though their work with UNITE and their Dignity Index, they hope to encourage a cultural shift towards noticing and elevating dignity in political discourse.
How Progressivism Turned off Voters — The Better Conflict Bulletin agrees that bold ideas are necessary for social change. Yet there's no substitute for knowing the people you claim to be serving.
The Art of the Bullshitter — Yet another attempt to understand the effectiveness of President Trump's rhetorical "weave" and its loose relationship with objective facts.
The Obama Machine — An explanation of the many ways in which today's Democratic politics seems to resemble the political machines of the past. (And, a look at Obama's ties to the Daley machine in Chicago).
How Red and Blue America Shop, Eat and Live — A clever new way of looking at differences in the way in which polarization is reflected in our day-to-day lives. This statistical analysis shows, for hundreds of businesses, which ones operate in Republican and Democratic areas.
Five Things You Can Do to Make America a Better Place Tomorrow (No Matter Who Wins) — For those looking for concrete, positive steps that they can take in the current environment, five ideas.
Case Study Panel: America's Moment of Truth (Again) — During the annual Athens Democracy Forum hosted by the Democracy and Culture Foundation and the New York Times, this international panel of journalists, academics and activists reflects on the coming U.S. election.
The Danger Is Greater Than in 2020. Be Prepared. — In uncertain times it makes sense to develop contingency plans for dealing with the many things that could go wrong.
Bipartisanship Reinvigorated — Ideas for moving beyond today's hyper-polarization and figuring out how to really make bipartisanship work
There Is a Silver Lining in This Tense Election Year — As the saying goes, "things that can't go on like this, don't." Thoughts about the possibility that hyper-polarization has reached the point where people recognize that they have no choice but to do something about it.
Democrats Stump for Trump — As they demonize the former president, a troubling story about how Democrats are also willing to promote Trump and his supporters in cases where they find it politically useful.
It's Not Too Early to Begin the Reckoning — An early compilation of things that social scientists think that they have learned from this year's election.
The Election Is Happening Too Soon — Based in part on historical analogies, this hopeful essay argues that today's destructive politics is lagging behind ongoing and much more positive societal changes.
Four Lessons From Nine Years of Being 'Never Trump' — From a long-standing Republican opponent of President Trump, reflections on the big things that he has learned from the experience
There Are Four Anti-Trump Pathways We Failed to Take. There Is a Fifth. — A comparative international look at ways in which democracies have sought to protect themselves from aspiring authoritarians (with lots of lessons for our hyper-polarized society).
Trump's Election Reversal Dreams Are Dead — A somewhat hopeful account of the many steps that have been taken to close the loopholes that came to close to allowing President Trump to reverse the results of the 2020 election.
Conservative Environmentalist Talks About Polarized Politics and Simplistic Stereotypes — In this episode of "Debate Without Hate: Elections 2024," Benji Backer, shares insights about building cross-partisan consensus based on beliefs that don't easily align with political stereotypes.
Four Reasons You Should Distinguish Politicians from Their Voters — By separating our feelings about politicians from our feelings about their voters, we can create more constructive political discussions --- and strengthen personal relationships along the way.
Did Trump say he would use the military against his opponents? If not, why did many say he did? — Zach Elwood investigates the New York Times' reporting of Trump's reference to calling in the military, and found out that it was not in the context they suggested. Such mischaracterizations, he asserts, are dangerous.
Trump Is Speaking Like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini — Anne Applebaum's controversial article about similarities between Donald Trump and the 21st century's most notorious authoritarians.
Why the Heck Isn't She Running Away With This? — For those wondering why the election is so close despite former President Trump's unpopularity, thoughts about things that Democrats are doing that drive supporters away.
The Idiot's Guide to Dominating American Politics — A strategy that either the left or the right could employ to dominate US politics (and serve the interests of most citizens) along with reflections on why neither side is pursuing this opportunity.
The Path to Healing a Nation — A review and summary of Terry Szuplat's 'Say It Well.' This is the first in a series of articles that FAIR is soliciting from those with ideas of about how to heal our society.
There's One Main Culprit if Donald Trump Wins — A pre-mortem highlighting the many factors that have taken Donald Trump so close to victory (and a list of things that anyone who wants to heal society ought to start working hard to correct).
Black Men Are Waiting for a Democratic Party That Delivers for Them — Further reason to believe that political voting blocks are not as stable as is usually thought.
The elusive 'policy-driven' undecided voter — An article about the complex process through which still undecided voters make their decisions.
The Abortion Distortion Campaign — Disturbing news that Democrats (who like to complain about disinformation) are, with respect to abortion, spreading their own brand of disinformation.
Dignity Wins at the VP Debate — The Dignity Index scored the two US Vice Presidential Candidates at their debate, finding that both candidates scored well, treating the other with respect.
Trump's Plan Boosts Budget Deficits by $7.5 Trillion, Double Harris's Proposal — Amid the bidding war for President of the United States, a reminder that, for every trillion dollars of deficit spending, each US citizen assumes $3000 in debt -- debt on which interest will be paid in perpetuity.
Eighty-Member Bipartisan National Citizens Panel Uses The Dignity Index To Score the Presidential Debate between Harris and Trump — "Our nation's divisions are not caused by our disagreements," said Shriver, co-creator of the Dignity Index. "They're caused by treating others with contempt when we disagree."
New Survey Results Find That Worry About Hostility Is on the Rise Among Local Elected Officials — New survey results indicate that concerns over harassment, threats, and physical attacks have significantly increased in the wake of high-profile incidents like the shooting of former President Trump.
Within Collaborative 2024 Election Preparation — This guide is designed to help people identify sources of resilience and sustainable action. Their goal is to nurture hope, build connections, promote care and focus, and be prepared for different election outcomes.
Kamala Harris Said She Owns a Gun for a Very Strategic Reason — In the context of political persuasion, an exploration of the relationship between two activities -- "virtue signaling" and "vice signaling."
Harris Puts Government Intervention at Heart of Economic Policy — A reminder that at the heart of the United States' hyperpolarized political rhetoric, there is a real debate over hugely consequential issues like the role the government should play in our daily lives.
Dignity: The Hidden Campaign Strategy — Conspicuous disrespect is one of the most effective strategies for intensifying political opposition. This article explains the advantages of forsaking that strategy.
Want More Votes? Try Depolarization — For a society in which hatemongering, anger-provoking strategies dominate political discourse, an argument that the opposite might be more effective.
The Carter Center U.S. Elections Project — The Center is working to support US elections by providing objective information about the election process and advancing good practices in transparency.
Federal Debt Is Soaring. Here's Why Trump and Harris Aren't Talking About It. — An examination of the ways in which we are resolving distributional conflicts by pretending that we have more resources than we do.
Merrick Garland and the 'Norms' of Justice — From the Wall Street Journal, a look at "lawfare" as practiced by Democrats.
Sympathy for the Undecided Voter — In the context of the upcoming US Presidential election, a look at those suffering from what psychologists call avoidance-avoidance conflicts.
Trump's Road Map for Taking 'Woke' Out of American Education — From critics of the trend toward increasingly "woke" approaches to education, concrete plans for reversing those trends.
Calls For Unity at the DNC --- But We Need More Than Words — Are democratic calls for national unity political spin? Or, do they reflect genuine aspirations and policy priorities?
All the Struggles Are Connected.'Protesters failed to disrupt this week's Democratic convention, but the party got the message. — A Wall Street Journal report on the way in which the intersection between the various left-leaning interest groups has influenced the Democratic Party.
How liberals' worst-case readings of Trump actually help Trump — Zach Elwood argues that avoiding highly pessimistic and certain interpretations of Trump is the right thing to do, on its own --- but it's also something politically passionate people should do for purely practical reasons.
Kamala Harris Rushes to the Center — From a critical, right-leaning perspective, a look at the steps that Kamala Harris and the Democrats are taking to better appeal to moderate, centrist, swing voters.
Harris can seal the deal this week by being new, improved --- and loyal — An example of delicate balancing strategies that are needed to win US elections.
Trump Turned the Democratic Party Into a Pitiless Machine — Ezra Klein's illuminating reflections on the differences between Democrats and Republicans.
Obama's DNC Speech Had a Hidden Message to Democrats — Obama challenged the notion that "the only way to win is to scold and shame and out yell the other side."
Exploring the Dynamics of Project 2025 & Agenda 47 with Dr. Sean Evans — From David Bekemeyer, an examination of two significant conservative policy initiatives and their potential implications for democracy.
Democrats Are Still Not Thinking Seriously About Preventing Another Jan. 6 — An argument that Democrats have, thus far, failed to respond to the threats posed by the extremes of Trump's candidacy with specific proposals for correcting the situation.
The Democratic Party's Project 2025 — An attempt to understand and articulate what it is that Democrats genuinely stand for -- a government that systematically identifies problems and then works to solve those problems.
The Democrats embraced patriotism after all — An explanation of the ways in which Democrats used, during their recent Convention, patriotic imagery to alter popular perceptions that they have been overly critical of the United States.
J.D. Vance Endorses Book with Dehumanizing "Unhumans" Language — From Starts with Us, thoughts for Trump supporters and Harris supporters on the danger of dehumanizing language and what to do when it is uttered.
Harris Gonna Code Switch — The linguistic analysis of how cultural diversity is reflected in our patterns of speech and what this says about how best to communicate with different groups.
Certification and Non-Discretion: a Guide to Protecting the 2024 Election — A legal analysis of steps that can and should be taken to limit at least one source of vulnerability regarding the integrity of the upcoming US election.
Kamala Harris can't meme her way to victory. Or can she? — A reflection on the upcoming US election that contemplates the complexities of human thought, today's high-tech information systems, and the minor role being played by rational policy debate.
Kamala Harris and the Election of Laughter and Forgetting — Thoughts on the complex psychological processes that people use to make decisions about what political candidates to support and what factors to consider (and not consider).
Harris is winning the all-important battle --- of vibes — A look at the subjective, emotional side of the battle for the US Presidency.
The truth about Trump's press conference — In the wake of the Democrats' long refusal to consider the fact that age was undermining the President's capabilities, news that Republicans may be making a similar mistake.
Quieting the Noise of this Political Season — Lamar Roth and Tom Klaus talk about quieting the noise around the current presidential election in the United States. They offer three tips for your consideration.
JD Vance Just Blurbed a Book Arguing That Progressives Are Subhuman — Another step down the slippery slope of dehumanization, runaway escalation, and catastrophe.
Who's "weird"? — As Democrats decide to brand their Republican opponents as "weird," a thoughtful, in-depth analysis of the complex issues that this raises.
Trump's Most Radical Plan — Amid all of the uncertainty about what a second Trump presidency would mean for the United States, a report on what might be its most consequential change (the politicalization of the civil service).
My Fellow Republicans: Stop the Trash Talk — From a Republican perspective, a reminder that disrespectful, dehumanizing language is bad politics and bad for democracy -- a lesson that Democrats should learn as well.
The Harris Coalition Is *Not* the Second Coming of the Obama Coalition — Important reflections on how political demographics have changed since the Obama years.
Republican Populists Are Responding to Something Real — A look at the populism of of the United States' Republican Party and it's relationship with the party's elites -- a conflict within the larger conflict between the left and the right.
Today's Democrats love unity and hate arguing. Here's why. — An essay exploring the advantages and disadvantages of the left's and the Democrat's reluctance to challenge one another.
How Is This Going to Work? — A practical analysis of what Democrats need to do and the problems they face following Biden's withdrawal from the race.
How the Bet on an 81-Year-Old Joe Biden Turned Into an Epic Miscalculation — A postmortem analysis of how the Democrats came to commit to the Biden candidacy despite repeated warnings that he was no longer up to the challenge.
The Trump Campaign Has Peaked Too Soon — In the context of the upcoming US election, an essay on the surprisingly widespread and useful applications of Clausewitz' concept of a "culminating point."
What Trump Means When He Tells Us to 'Fight' — An in-depth look at what Trump means when he calls upon his supporters to "fight" the Democratic establishment.
Criticize Trump, but Don't Demonize Him — Practical advice for those looking for ways to oppose Donald Trump's candidacy without further driving the hyperpolarization spiral and partisan animosities.
About Biden's Pledge to Unify the Nation — A retrospective look at the mismatch between President Biden's pledge to unify America and his actual policies.
The Coming 'Summer of Resistance' — A description of the "Behind Enemy Lines" -- a mysterious coalition of groups with a disruptive strategy focused on advancing its goals by promoting civil unrest.
James Carville: Biden Won't Win. Democrats Need a Plan. Here's One. — An intriguing set of ideas about how Democrats might successfully rebound from a Biden decision to abandon his quest for a second term.
The 'MAGA Supreme Court' Doesn't Exist — A reassuring analysis of recent Supreme Court decisions that argues that, while conservative in its legal orientation, the Court is upholding the rule of law and not merely rubberstamping the MAGA agenda.
A Political Base Is Only a Base — A reminder that winning elections requires strong support from moderate "swing" voters. A fired-up base of true believers will never be enough.
The Biden-Replacement Operation — A perceptive look at the delicate mechanics of replacing Biden as the Democratic Presidential nominee.
My Unsettling Interview With Steve Bannon — From David Brooks, an interview with Steve Bannon that reveals much about the anti-elite, revolutionary pressures that are simmering beneath the surface of US society.
Local Election Officials Survey --- May 2024 — Since 2020, 92 percent of local election officials have taken steps to increase election security for voters, election workers, and election infrastructure.
Not Invited to the Party Primary: Independent Voters and the Problem with Closed Primaries — This report examines who independent voters are, how many there are, shows how they are excluded from primaries, and presents solutions to that problem.
The Resistance to a New Trump Administration Has Already Started — Preliminary information about what all-out, us-versus-them politics is likely to look like should President Trump be reelected.
What J.D. Vance Believes — An interview with Republican Senator J.D. Vance that tries to get beyond simple, left-wing demonization and understand his point of view.
Trump Would Be Long Gone if Only We Could ... — A summary, with lots of links, into the efforts of political scientists to understand President Trump's remarkable political resilience.
On Black Swans, Gray Rhinos, and the 2024 Election — For those trying to protect the integrity of the upcoming election, a useful guide to the many different contingencies that we need to prepare for.
Why Biden lost — It is always a good idea to anticipate things that could go wrong before they actually do (and in time to change plans). This article applies this principle to the upcoming election.
Democrats Should Embrace the "New Centrism" — At a time when politics is dominated by the extremes of the right and the left, an argument that Democrats ought to move toward the center -- home of the all-important swing voter.
The Shapeshifting Threat of Election Interference — The Voting Rights Lab most recent report examines how election interference legislation has changed over the past three years and how this is likely to impact the 2024 election.
How to make a difference in the 2024 election — From Matthew Yglesias, a list of things that those wanting to make a positive contribution in the coming election year might consider.
The Three Point Plan to Fix the Democrats and Their Coalition — Concrete steps the Democrats could take to broaden their appeal and reduce the chances of a second Trump Presidency.
Blue Morning — An eye-opening report on the demographic changes that are transforming US politics and cultural relationships.
Why Can't Biden Triangulate Like Trump? — A description of the "triangulation" process through which political leaders try to adjust their campaigns and rhetoric to target political voting blocks.
Joe Biden's Long Career of Conformity — A profile of President Biden's long-standing and quite successful political strategy of adjusting his views to the changing and, sometimes, logically inconsistent views of his constituents.
No Labels Should Pick a Team, Biden or Trump — From potential No Labels nominee, Mitt Romney, advice on how they might better be able to pursue their objectives through the two-party system.
How No Labels was thwarted --- and a disaster for democracy was avoided — From someone opposed to No Labels' efforts to give voters a choice between political extremes, an account of how and why the opposition was successful.
No Labels, No Alternatives, No Escape — A postmortem on No Labels' failed effort to put a "national unity" candidate on the November Presidential ballot.
How to survive another Trump-Biden election — From Amanda Ripley, thoughts about how to navigate the coming year of political turmoil.
Trump's Backers Are Determined Not to Blow It This Time Around — A window into what opponents of the left's administrative state are planning to do to take advantage of what they hope will be a second Trump Presidency
Why Democrats Can't Quit Trump — An interesting essay exploring the symbiotic relationship between Donald Trump in the Democratic political establishment.
Trump Is No Savior — An eye-opening look into the strange synthesis between Donald Trump and the efforts of Christians to defend their beliefs.
The Democrats' Abundance Problem Revisited — An argument that President Trump's reelection campaign cannot be defeated by promising voters increased scarcity (and that the key to electoral success is an abundance strategy).
Why Are Democrats Losing Non-White Voters? — This article argues that the issue is religion: the more Democrats appear like a party of mostly areligious white liberals, the less they will appeal to non-whites
Too Much Purity Is Bad for the Left — Practical advice for Democrats who want to win this fall's election, be more compromising and open to political diversity.
Democrats Are Meddling in Republican Primaries — A deeply disturbing story about how Democrats are fueling the extremes of Trumpism in hopes of making it easier to win elections. And, this is the party that wants your vote because it's willing to fight Trump!
U.S. Supreme Court Justices Join Governors To Discuss Overcoming Political Division — Hopeful news about prominent government officials actively working to try to defuse hyperpolarization.
The Biden-Trump Rerun: A Nation Craving Change Gets More of the Same — An essay exploring what happens when a nation that longs for hopeful change has to choose between candidates that offer only known quantities from the past.
Trump's freewheeling speeches offer a dark vision of a second term — For those who have not had the opportunity to attend one of President Trump's rallies, a detailed look and what takes place (plus an accompanying left-leaning analysis).
First Principles — The newsletter of Common Sense 250, this issue proposes a new political coalition in the U.S. based on "first principles" that are supportive of the Constitution. This issue lists what those are.
Essential Resources to Combat 2024 Election Polarization — Essential Partners' free election resources are designed to interrupt partisan polarization where people live, work, worship and learn, with lessons, tools, and conversation guides.
The Nonwhite Working Class Bails Out on the Democrats — More on the political implications of the gigantic culture gap that exists between college-educated elites and the working classes.
The Backlash in Deep-Blue America — For progressives who can't quite see how anyone could disagree with their worldview, news that they are nowhere near as persuasive as they would like to think.
Mandate for Leadership -- The Conservative Promise — An almost 900 page report on things that a high level group of Trump supporters are hoping that they might be able to accomplish during a second Trump Presidency.
What I Learned When I Read 887 Pages of Plans for Trump's Second Term — For those who do not want to read the almost 900 page report on plans for a coming Trump administration, a New York Times quick overview.
Against Democrats' "What, Me Worry?" Approach to Losing Working Class Voters — Thoughts on the folly and potentially far-reaching implications of the Democrats tendency to write off so many working-class voters.
A Wild and Dangerous 2024 Experiment — An update on "No Labels" and the possibility that they might field a moderate alternative candidate with a serious chance of becoming President.
How Did We End Up With Trump Again? — From someone who spends much of her time listening to voters in in-depth focus groups, an explanation of why Donald Trump is on the verge of capturing the nomination.
How Democrats Could Disqualify Trump If the Supreme Court Doesn't — A worrying article about how Supreme Court inaction could conceivably lead Democrats to refuse to certify a Trump victory on January 6.
The Strongest Case Against Donald Trump — An observation that, on both the left and the right, President Trump seems remarkably adept at bringing out the darker side of our political personalities.
The Political Failure of Bidenomics — A must-read article that explains why Biden's quite successful efforts to create economic opportunities for the working class is not translating into political support.
The Republican Party is Doomed — An explanation of of the complex array of institutional capabilities that are required to exercise sociopolitical power -- an area where Republicans are at a major disadvantage.
Doom dominates 2024 messaging as Trump and Biden trade dire warnings — A look at the fear (and hate) mongering rhetoric that is now dominating the US Presidential campaign -- rhetoric that is going to make it even harder for one side to accept defeat.
Trump's Corruption Unbound — An alarming look at the level of corruption that a second Trump administration seems likely to tolerate.
The Only Thing More Dangerous Than Authoritarianism — From a left-leaning perspective, a warning that unscrupulous politicians may be exploiting their constituents' Christian faith as part of a political power grab.
US Officials Turned Regime Change Tactics Developed Abroad Against Trump, Evidence Suggests — From a right-leaning perspective, a warning about the sophisticated and unscrupulous tactics being used to sabotage the Trump candidacy.
I Am Your Retribution.' Trump Knows What He Wants to Do With a Second Term. — An examination of the evolving strategy that President Trump is promising for his second term.
The Self-Doubting Superpower — A look at the global implications of the United States' collapse of confidence in its own system.
The Secret of Trump's Appeal Isn't Authoritarianism — A thoughtful and surprisingly persuasive argument that much of President Trump's appeal stems from his relatively moderate policies.
Behold, MAGA Man — A look at how social pressures have pushed once independent political figures into fully embracing President Trump's narrative about the stolen elections and other issues.
Trump 'Could Tip an Already Fragile World Order Into Chaos' — An examination of the ways in which another Trump presidency (with the accompanying Democratic opposition and political chaos) could affect the international system.
Never Trumpers Never Learn — A critique of the tactics used by Trump's opponents and an argument that they might be undermining their own objectives.
Talk of a Trump Dictatorship Charges the American Political Debate — An observation that President Trump and his allies are not trying to reassure voters worried about his dictatorial ambitions. Rather, they seem to be giving people more reason to worry.
How Trump Has Transformed Evangelicals — An analysis of how President Trump with his is questionable personal moral record could develop such strong support within the evangelical community.
A War on Blue America — From a left-leaning perspective, an analysis of many ways in which a Trump Presidency could threaten the interests of Democratically-aligned communities.
A MAGA Judiciary — An examination of the politicalization of the US Judiciary and worries about how a Trump administration could tip the judiciary in ways that would favor Republicans.
What Will Happen to the American Psyche If Trump Is Reelected? — An essay exploring some of the many ways in which our hyper-polarized politics is affecting us psychologically and physiologically.
A Military Loyal to Trump — The beginnings of a look into a true nightmare scenario -- one in which military forces are drawn into our political battles.
Trump Voters Are America Too — An observation that the hateful rhetoric seen on the right is not an aberration. It is a reflection of what we think of each other. (Sadly, the rhetoric on the left is similarly hateful.)
Alabama and Georgia Defy Federal Courts on Redistricting — For those who recognize the importance of having a clear process through which the meaning of our laws is determined, a worrying case about states defying federal court rulings.
Class Conflict and the Democratic Party — Reflections how the Democrats made the transition from being the party of the working class to being the party of the educated professional class.
It's not just Biden -- Incumbents everywhere are unpopular and losing elections. — It is about more than Trump vs. Biden, the public Is losing confidence in a large fraction of its political leaders.
Disagree Better: As governors of Colorado and Utah, we want to tackle toxic polarization — An encouraging look at steps that governors are taking to limit toxic polarization and earn the trust of the electorate.
Where Have All the Democrats Gone? — A critique of the progressive left and part of an explanation of why Democrats and President Biden are polling so poorly.
Collusion vs. Stop the Steal — A sobering look at extreme and deceptive tactics being used by both parties and an argument that the Democrats may be as guilty as Republicans.
The Roots of Trump's Rage — An overview, with lots of links, of the latest political science thinking on strategies for countering President-Trump's special brand of anger filled politics.
The Gaping Hole in the Center of the Electorate — Almost as many people (49%) identify as political independents as identify as Democrats and Republicans combined. Yet, somehow, the system can't field candidates who represent this moderate center.
Vivek Ramaswamy Wants a Second American Revolution — As the left continues to call for some type of political revolution, a look at what a political revolution from the right might actually look like.
The angriest voices in Congress are mostly faking — Reflections from one of our newest members of Congress on the mismatch between the public and the private personas of some of our most inflammatory lawmakers.
Marjorie Taylor Greene's Civil War — More evidence that the United States continues to slide toward some sort of existential crisis where, for increasing numbers of people, the prospect of actually splitting the country seemed increasingly attractive.
Activism and Apathy Are Poisoning American Politics — A look at the dangers of a political system that focuses so much of its attention on its angriest citizens -- those that are convinced that the other side's views are wholly illegitimate..
Turnout Myths Are the Democrats' Drug of Choice — Abandoning political persuasion in favor of "mobilize the base" strategies forces political leaders to rely on fear and hate mongering strategies that further drive the escalation spiral.
American Rasputin — A profile of the complex nature of one of the many different types of bad-faith actors who are making it so much harder for democracy to succeed.
How Much Damage Have Marjorie Taylor Greene and the 'Bullies' Done to the G.O.P.? — A look at what social scientists think are the differences between political extremes on the left and the right.
Return to the List of Links Newsletter Topics

Superpower Conflict

You Can’t Quit America — A thoughtful exploration of the many ways in which the United States is inseparably integrated into the the planet's political economy.
Does Trump understand what ‘the West’ is? Does the West itself know? — A review of the long-running conflict between liberal democratic societies and their authoritarian rivals with related questions about the effectiveness of Trump administration policies.
Trump Is Winning the Race to the Bottom — A stark comparison between the way in which the United States responded to the first Cold War's Sputnik threat and the Trump administration's reaction to the second Cold War's Deep Seek threat.
Who Is Winning the World War? — An argument for seeing the explosion of ongoing crises as part of a larger global conflict and clash of civilizations -- something that, for we are not careful, could lead to a third World War.
The President’s Weapon — As risks of nuclear war continue to escalate, an examination of how US tradition and law place authority over the use of these weapons almost exclusively in the hands of the president.
What Trump Doesn’t Understand About Nuclear War — Given increasing superpower tensions and the potential role of nuclear weapons in the conflicts between India and Pakistan and Israel and Iran, thoughts on what Trump and everyone else ought to know.
My fellow Republicans, the responsibility to speak out rests with you — From Jeff Flake, an appeal for Republicans to do what they can to at least assure the reversibility of Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the web of alliances upon which US security has traditionally relied.
Amerika: MAGA, China, Imperial Decline, Democracy — This report examines the current rivalries between the USA and China—two entangled but differently structured empires—which are triggering mental confusions, public anxieties and political misunderstandings and fears.
When Trade Wars Become Shooting Wars — Amid continuing uncertainties about the vigor with which President Trump will pursue his ongoing trade wars, a retrospective look at the relationship between trade wars and real wars.
Are we heading for another world war – or has it already started? — An argument the World War III may already have started and we just haven't noticed.
The crisis of the 21st century is here — As Trotsky famously said "you may not be interested in war but war is interested in you."
Lessons From World War II to Avoid World War III — From the foreign ministers of countries that only recently escaped the grip of the former Soviet Union, thoughts about what needs to be done to prevent another world war.
Sweden Has the Tanks. Finland Has the Troops. Welcome to the Pan-Nordic Army. — Yet another indicator of the speed with which Europe is being forced to consider the very real possibility of war -- the kind of war that was thought unthinkable just a few short years ago.
Brace Yourself. Trump’s Trade War With China Will Get Even Uglier. — As we slide ever deeper into a trade war with China (a country that supplies so many of the things we depend upon), thoughts about what might come next.
The Shift from Smart to Dumb Power — Donald Trump may be a good campaigner, but his government policy in the first few months is characterized by chaotic and irrational decisions: "Dangerous and dumb," according to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Reasons to Be Optimistic About a Post-American Order — An essay that offers a hopeful vision for a world in which the US is far less prominent.
I Just Saw the Future. It Was Not in America. — From Thomas Friedman, report on his recent trip to China and the many ways in which he sees US power and its ability to influence the 21st-century world as declining.
How World Order Changes — From Joseph Nye (the man who coined the term "soft power"), his thoughts on the radical ongoing changes in the world political order.
Read This if You're on Trump's National Security Team — A summary of the core principles that those in national security roles need to follow if they are going to be able to effectively defend the nation from the many genuine threats that do exist.
What Rusting Russian Tanks Can Teach Us About the Pete Hegseth Group Chat — In the context of Trump and Ukraine, a perceptive and important essay about the dangers posed by national leaders who surround themselves with people who will only tell them what they want to hear.
How a New Axis Called CRINK Is Working Against America — An update on the emergence of CRINK -- the other side of the increasingly the hyper-polarized global world order.
I Am the Turkish President's Main Challenger. I Was Arrested. — From a leading candidate in Turkey's next presidential election, a personal account about how democracy can quickly disappear.
Conquest Is Back — Evidence that the global security system is rapidly abandoning a rules-based international order in favor of ruthless "I'll fight you for it" rules.
Arsonist, Killer, Saboteur, Spy — From Foreign Affairs, a report on the many ways in which Russia is actively working to undermine US interests and skepticism about the ability of Trump policies to defuse the situation.
Niall Ferguson: A User's Guide to Wrecking the Global Financial System — A critical look the way in which Trump administration policies are affecting the economy.
The Return of Spheres of Influence — From Foreign Affairs, an in-depth look at what a new world order based upon "spheres of influence" and balance of power global politics might look like.
The End of the Postwar World — From Anne Applebaum, another quite perceptive analysis of the radical changes that are now transforming the planet.
Dear Europe: Become a Great Power---or Get Carved Up by Them — Advice for Europe on how to protect its interests in a world that is increasingly being governed by raw economic and military power.
Trump wants Greenland and Gaza. That might embolden China on Taiwan. — Thoughts on the way in which President Trump's comments regarding Panama and Greenland are contributing to the further erosion of global taboos against aggression and conquest.
The Disrupter in Chief Can't End a War Like This — A clear and succinct explanation of why so many people find President Trump's actions with respect to Ukraine so outrageous.
The New American Imperialism — An exploration of the complex ramifications surrounding President Trump's aggressive, expansionist, and imperialistic rhetoric surrounding Greenland, Panama, and even Canada.
Is This the End of Pax Americana? — Now that the United States' brief reign as the world's only "hyperpower" has passed into the history books, thoughts about whether it will take "Pax Americana" (and, perhaps, peace as well) with it.
The Open Society and Its New Enemies — A lengthy and comprehensive assessment of the long-term trends underlying democracy's current trials and a great starting point for people who want to understand the big picture.
A Secret Cable and a Clue to Where U.S.-Russia Relations Went Wrong — As what we once thought was a Cold War victory disintegrates, thoughts about how pivotal historical events can cast very long shadows.
The Deep and Dangerous Roots of Trump's Foreign Policy — A critique of Trump's apparent inclination to return us to the era of old-fashioned, sphere of influence, great power politics.
In a New Age of Empire, Great Powers Aim to Carve Up the Planet — Before we totally give up on efforts to reinvigorate the post-World War II world order, we ought to consider what's likely to replace it -- old-fashioned great power politics.
Accidents, not Russian sabotage, behind undersea cable damage, officials say — Defusing superpower tensions requires a willingness to publicly admit when events that were earlier seen as acts of aggressive hybrid warfare actually turn out to have a benign explanation.
The Stable World Order Has Passed. What's Next? — From the president of the World Economic Forum, his thoughts on what's next for a planet in the midst of rapid social, political, and economic change.
We Deserve Pete Hegseth — Written before Pete Hegseth confirmation as Secretary of Defense, this article provides an overview of the daunting challenges awaiting him.
Konstantin Kisin: -- The West's Decline is Self-Inflicted (Newspaper Interview) — From the perspective of someone who grew up in Soviet Russia, an essay about why he fell in love with the West and the reasons for the West's ongoing decline.
Trump Is Right That Pax Americana Is Over — Reflections on the collapse of the Pax Americana that has dominated the global security environment for the past 75 years (and thoughts about what might come next in the coming Trump era).
The looming Eurasian menace — An exploration of the most dangerous form of hyper-polarization -- the one that is uniting the world's big authoritarian regimes in common opposition to Western liberal democracies.
It's September 2026, and the Pentagon Is Alarmed — For those who have trouble imagining how the social media platform TicTik could suddenly become a major national security threat, a description of how a crisis over Taiwan might unfold.
Nations Prepare for a Post-European World — In the wake of the serious problems facing so many European societies, thoughts about how the world is adapting to the continent's declining influence.
Diplomacy at the End of History, Part III: Diplomacy and Multilateral Cooperation | Thomas Greminger — From the Toda Peace Institute, the third of 3 videos featuring Ambassador Thomas Greminger and Toda Peace Institute Senior Research Fellow Keith Krause on Track II diplomacy, mediation and development policy..
Diplomacy at the End of History, Part I: Ukraine and Cooperative Security | Thomas Greminger — From the Toda Peace Institute, the first of 3 videos featuring Ambassador Thomas Greminger and Toda Peace Institute Senior Research Fellow Keith Krause on prospects for the future of the war in Ukraine.
How Chinese Hackers Graduated From Clumsy Corporate Thieves to Military Weapons — An alarming look at the intensity and sophistication of Chinese attacks on our information infrastructure (and the ways in which these attacks could cause catastrophic harm in a major conflict).
Europe, on the brink, faces a pileup of threats for 2025 — For those who might have thought that Trump was the only threat facing democratic societies, a review of the many difficulties facing Europe.
China's Economy Is Burdened by Years of Excess. Here's How Bad It Really Is. — Rather than talking about the threat posed by China, this article addresses a different topic -- the weaknesses of the Chinese economic model.
The Crumbling Foundation of America's Military — Thoughts about the critically important relationship between the United States' atrophying military-industrial complex, deterrence, and the risk of war.
Has World War III Already Begun? — For those who are not yet taking the danger of the 3rd World War seriously, a reminder that World War II started with a series of lower level skirmishes that are eerily similar to contemporary events.
As Russia and China Rewrite Rules of War, NATO Adapts Its Game Plan — While we are preoccupied with the minutia (and often silliness) of contemporary politics, we are failing to address rapid changes that are dramatically increasing the risk of large-scale war.
The Warning — An ominous story about why experts believe that Russia is the developing the ability to successfully attack the vast array of satellites upon which modern society depends.
America's Approach to Its Allies Is Backward — For a time of rapidly increasing geopolitical tensions, reflections on the value of alliances and the steps that must be taken to keep those alliances strong.
The Return of Total War: Understanding---and Preparing for---a New Era of Comprehensive Conflict — Unfortunately, the massively parallel strategy for organizing complex societal systems is not limited to peacebuilding. This article explores what might be called the new era of massively parallel war.
World War III is already under way. Not that Harris or Trump has noticed. — A warning that the United States' political hyper-polarization is undermining our ability to deter war (at a time when the early stages of World War III may already be upon us).
U.S. Wrestles With Aiding Allies and Maintaining Its Own Weapons Supply — A worrying indicator of how rapidly the global security situation is deteriorating -- we are running out of munitions.
The Staggering Price You're Paying for America's Nuclear Makeover — For those not taking international tensions seriously, a story about how quickly we are sliding into a new nuclear arms race.
America's Crisis of Deterrence: How to Adapt an Old Theory to New Realities — From Foreign Affairs, carefully considered thoughts about how we can deter war by modifying deterrence strategies to better reflect complex 21st-century strategic realities.
America first? Or the United States as the leader of the free world? — An essay about the great debate of 1940 about America's proper role in the world -- a debate that could inform today's consideration the same issue.
America Isn't Ready for the Wars of the Future: And They're Already Here — Pax Americana relied heavily upon expensive US weapon systems -- systems that are rapidly becoming obsolete and ineffective (and are not being replaced).
Unprepared for the rising, nightmarish risk of biological Warfare — A wake up call highlighting the largely unrecognized threat posed by another rapidly advancing military technology -- biowarfare.
Liberal Soulcraft: Liberalism is in trouble. It will take a concerted act of will to save it. — An excerpt from Alexandre Lefebvre's new book "Liberalism as a Way of Life" -- another effort to help us understand liberalism and why we need to defend it.
Putin's New Agents of Chaos: How Russia's Growing Squad of Saboteurs and Assassins Threatens the West — More information about the murky boundary between democracies internal dysfunction and efforts by outside powers to promote that dysfunction.
The Quad, Maritime Security, and Climate Change — The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with Australia, Japan, India and the US, is now broadening its focus beyond simply countering China to combatting climate change and other security threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
The World Is Realigning — While we have been talking about the hyper-polarization that has emerged within so many countries, a different kind of polarization between those countries.
U.S. Foreign Policy Wanders Aimlessly — A critique of the Biden Administration's foreign policy that argues that it makes a serious effort by assuming that China, Russia and Iran all want 'stability.'
Why They Don't Fight: The Surprising Endurance of the Democratic Peace — For those trying to understand how to preserve the peace and avoid war, an article exploring what is, perhaps, the most effective strategy -- democracy.
Taking on China the Right Way — Reflections on one of today's most important challenges, figuring out how to channel our intensifying conflict with China in constructive directions.
Why Russia Is Happy at War — In the wake of huge losses still being suffered in Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, a somewhat surprising look at Russia's patriotic unity (and the danger it presents to the rest of the world).
U.S., Chinese Defense Chiefs Confirm Plan to Reopen Hotlines in First Face-to-Face Meeting - The Wall Street Journal. — A glimmer of good news and increasingly dangerous world -- the US and China are taking steps to reduce the risk of accidental war by reopening the hot line between their respective military commands.
The End of the World as We Know It — A review of an important new book on the danger posed by nuclear weapons and an appeal to put this threat at the top of our priority list.
What Trump Could Do in Foreign Policy Might Surprise the World — For a time when the left talks about a possible Trump Presidency in almost exclusively apocalyptic terms, a more hopeful analysis of what a Trump foreign policy might actually entail.
Fareed Zakaria's Speed Date With the Liberal World Order — For an era in which so many people want to be "change agents" and, often, proponents of revolution, a 400-year retrospective on what past revolutions have produced.
Why so many of us were wrong about missile defense — In the wake of the stunning success of the antimissile systems that protected Israel, reflections from a previous critic of such systems.
The U.S. Has Received a Rare Invitation From China. There Is Only One Right Answer. — Encouraging news that the Chinese are starting to realize the dangers posed by the emerging nuclear arms race. We should join them in their efforts to negotiate a new series of arms control treaties.
Sizing up the New Axis — As we slide into an increasingly dangerous global Cold War, a sobering assessment of relative strengths of competing blocs.
Can Ukraine Find New Soldiers Without Decimating a Whole Generation? — A startling look at the demographic impact impact of the war on the Ukrainian population -- the disappearing cohort of young men.
What We Lose if We Let Putin Win — A reminder of the the enormity of the geopolitical ramifications surrounding the war in Ukraine and the danger of thinking that isolationism will insulate us from those ramifications.
Americans are still not worried enough about the risk of world war — Another plea to take the deteriorating global security environment seriously and not assume that a third World War is an impossibility.
Did One Guy Just Stop a Huge Cyberattack? — A story about one unsung hero -- the kind of person that society depends upon in ways that are seldom recognized.
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once': U.S. Officials Warn of Increased Cyberthreats — The possibility of serious cyber attacks launched against the United States' critical information systems is not a hypothetical possibility. It's an ongoing reality.
China's Advancing Efforts to Influence the U.S. Election Raise Alarms — An update on the ways in which we can expect geopolitical rivals to use the latest technology to attack the upcoming US election.
The West Needs a War Footing — A compelling and terrifying argument that the time has once again arisen for making the United States (and its allies) the arsenal for democracy.
Agonizing over Europe's Defence: Some Narratives are Getting Ahead of the Facts — Russia's war against Ukraine should have been a stop sign for nationally-oriented security and defence policies in Europe. But the opposite is the case.
The Rise of Western Individualism — A look at what makes liberal, democratic, capitalistic, and individualistic societies so different (and a reminder that culture matters).
Dilemmas of Deterrence: The United States' Smart New Strategy Has Six Daunting Trade-Offs — Like it or not, our future may well be determined by the complex geopolitical maneuverings described in this article.
Biden's Budget Neglects the Military — News that the United States has decided to cut real defense spending despite the fact that the US is involved in two major wars and much of its military equipment is rapidly becoming obsolete.
Drone Swarms Are About to Change the Balance of Military Power — One of the many new technologies that are rapidly changing the nature of war and, with it, the balance of power and effectiveness of deterrence.
Is the current world order a clash of ideologies: Liberal Dictatorship vs. a Pluralism of Traditions? — This article suggests that the current world order is characterized by a clash of ideologies: on one side, a perceived liberal dictatorship, and on the other, a call for a pluralism of traditions.
An Introduction: It's Time to Protest Nuclear War Again — A refresher course for those who may have forgotten (or never knew) how seriously we ought to take the threat of nuclear war.
The Age of Amorality — A look at one of the most difficult questions facing liberal democracies -- the need to use illiberal means to defend those democracies.
"Gendered" Nonsense Is Dangerous Nonsense — From a conservative perspective, alarm about the Biden administration's efforts to promote its internationally controversial gender ideology at a time when immediate threats to peace seem everywhere.
America's soft power isn't the problem — A reminder that, in a world of increasingly aggressive and ruthless geopolitical actors, freedom, peace, and security depends upon much neglected hard power (as well as soft power).
Interview: Sarah C. Paine — A look at global history and the current geopolitical situation from the perspective of someone who has spent a career studying great power conflict.
If Trump wins, he will destroy the American-led world order — A reminder of the threat that President Trump's candidacy poses to the admittedly flawed "world order" that is still our best defense against aggressive authoritarianism.
How to Lower the Risk of War With China — As we continue to slide closer to some sort of direct military confrontation with China over Taiwan, thoughts about how we can walk away from the brink.
Is Congress Really Going to Abandon Ukraine Now? — A desperate plea for the West consider the humanitarian and strategic implications of abandoning Ukraine, giving Russian brutality a big win, and making it clear to the world that the West can't be trusted.
Visiting the Most Important Company in the World — A profile of Taiwan's role as the world's sole supplier of advanced microprocessors and an explanation of why the island's fate is so strategically important.
When Democracy Is a Threat — In the context of Taiwan's recent election, a look at how democratic elections are becoming a battlefield in the increasingly tense struggle between geopolitical rivals (and a preview of the US 2024 election).
What Happens When the U.S. Overestimates Its Power — Americans tend to think of themselves as all-powerful either as an exceptional beacon of freedom or the most exploitive of the colonial powers. This article asked whether the US is really that powerful?
The Return of the Isolationist Republicans — Given the world's many complexities and dangers, it is understandably tempting to withdraw from it all. This article explains why that would be a big mistake.
A World Without American Deterrence — While the United States has, during its reign as a superpower, done lots of truly terrible things, it does not necessarily follow that American decline will make things better. There is a critical need for better ways of deterring aggression and combating evil.
Alexei Navalny: This is what a post-Putin Russia should look like — From Russia's most prominent dissident, a thoughtful proposal for how Russia, in the post-Putin period, could restructure its government in ways that reduce the risk of aggressive authoritarianism.
The Minimum Viable Navy — A look at the way in which the U.S. Navy is thinking about emerging security challenges and a look at the dangers associated with our slide into a new Cold War.
U.S.'s political madness takes place against a backdrop of astonishing strength — Amid today's dominant focus on the many things that are going wrong, a call for also paying attention to the things that are going right.
Unanswered Questions About Trump and Russia — From the Wall Street Journal, an attempt to look beyond the left's political rhetoric and disinformation and focus on the true, unanswered questions about President Trump's relationship with the Russians.
New and Old Wars, New and Old Challenges to Peace! — A discussion at Notre Dame wondering if nonviolence and nuclear disarmament are new moral and policy imperatives, or if current events call for continuing the just war tradition and strengthened nuclear deterrence?
Russian 'Ghost Ships' Are Turning the Seabed Into a Future Battlefield — More reason to think that superpower tensions are rising to alarming levels. The time has come to dust off and advance Cold War-era ideas for reducing tensions.
America is exporting its worst ideas across the Atlantic — A look at the global implications of the United States' culture wars and the complex ramifications that accompany the diffusion of belief systems.
Ukraine and Russia Need a Great-Power Peace Plan — An outside the box strategy for ending the terrible carnage in Ukraine (and reducing the risk of a wider war). Making peace is likely to require bold and disagreeable compromises like the one proposed.
Blundering on the Brink -- The Secret History and Unlearned Lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis — New information about the 1962 missile crisis in Cuba that brought the world to the brink of nuclear catastrophe with important lessons about the dangers of nuclear brinksmanship.
The Cold War With China Is Changing Everything — As we slide deeper into a cold war with China, thoughtful reflections on what this means.
Is Ron DeSantis Flaming Out Already? — As we try to find a viable strategy for combating Russia's naked invasion of Ukraine, a look at how domestic US politics could, instead, wind up strengthening this kind of brutality.
America Is Too Scared of the Multipolar World — As geopolitical tensions rise, we may be tempted to take refuge in the simplistic bipolar, thinking of the Cold War. However, what we really need to do is learn how navigate an emerging multipolar world.
The U.S. Is Not Yet Ready for the Era of 'Great Power' Conflict — Another reminder that the global security situation is changing rapidly. If we don't find a way to adapt to these changes, we risk a breakdown of the system that has been protecting us from major power conflict.
How Democracy Can Win — From Samantha Powers, thoughtful reflections on what democratic societies can do to defend themselves against increasingly aggressive authoritarian regimes.
Russia and Ukraine Have Incentives to Negotiate. The U.S. Has Other Plans. — In the context of the war in Ukraine a look at the extraordinarily consequential question of when to and not to negotiate.
The Global Zeitenwende -- How to Avoid a New Cold War in a Multipolar Era — For those of us who lived through the first Cold War, there are few (if any) priorities more important than avoiding another Cold War. Ideas on how to do this.
Global Civil Society in a Geopolitical Age: How Great Power Competition Is Reshaping Civic Activism — A major inquiry into an alarming threat -- major geopolitical actors who are trying (often in clandestine ways) to get civil society organizations to help them pursue their goals.
Putin Is Onto Us — For those who may have lost interest in the war in Ukraine, a reminder that the war has not lost interest in us. A look at what the coming winter could bring.
What If Russia Uses Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine? — A rarity in reporting on Ukraine, an authoritative article that explains the complex and dangerous issues surrounding Russian threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine (and, perhaps, elsewhere).
Putin Will Make People Choose Between Heating or Eating This Winter — Thoughts on the coming winter and the terrible choice that the Ukrainian war is going to force on Europeans.
China Is Running Covert Operations That Could Seriously Overwhelm Us — Further insight into the many ways in which China's aggressive, "gray zone" warfare campaign is attacking the fabric of Western society. Our future depends on mounting an effective defense.
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World Order

Don’t Give Up So Quickly on the Liberal International Order — As the moral and legal constraints associated with the liberal international order continue to be replaced by contests of raw military power, a reminder of the many advantages of a rules-based system.
This Is the Way a World Order Ends — As the Trump administration rejects he pillars underlying the global order that has prevailed in the last 75 years, a report on the new order that it is seeking to establish.
Exceptionalism and Rules-based Order: From Biden to Trump — A report from the Toda Peace Institute examining American exceptionalism and President Trump's vision for the U.S. in the global world order.
World Order in a Time of Monsters by Minouche Shafik — Valuable food for thought as we struggle to understand this period of radical change in virtually all aspects of international relations.
Can the United Nations Be Saved? — A timely article addressing a critically important topic: ways of reforming the United Nations so that it could play a much more positive role in our increasingly troubled world.
Toward a Fifth World Order by Gordon Brown & Mohamed A. El-Erian - Project Syndicate — Amid rising tensions and the collapse of traditional sources of global stability, a proposal for a better way of organizing the international system.
The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons to the UN Security Council: Adapt or Die — An argument that the majority of the world's countries should give up on the UN and start planning for a replacement international organization more fit for its purpose of addressing and solving emerging challenges and threats.
What Is Bretton Woods? The Contested Pasts and Potential Futures of International Economic Order — The many competing views of the post-1945 international economic order each contribute to the debate over how the Bretton Woods negotiations should guide today's proposed economic reforms.
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Israel / Hamas War

"Is the War Against Hamas Winnable?" with Haviv Rettig Gur — For those ready to discard simplistic and unrealistic images about the nature of the war between Hamas and Israel, an illuminating conversation about the heart-wrenching decisions that Israelis are facing.
The global counter-intifada — One of the downsides of the "globalize the intifada" movement is that it globalizes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in ways that may bring its horrors to a place near you.
While politicians bash Israel, their militaries take notes. — Amid all the social and political turmoil surrounding Israel's ongoing wars, there are military developments that are likely to have a much wider impact on the nature of war.
The protests in Israel are not what they want you to think. — In the wake of recent mass protests in Israel against the Netanyahu government's war fighting strategy, an Israeli perspective on the current state of that country's hyper-polarized politics.
Half-Time for Hamas — Reflections on the current state of the Israeli / Hamas war -- which it sees the conflict as nowhere close to ending.
Muslims made me Islamophobic. — Thought-provoking and doubtless controversial reflections on the complex relationship between Islamaphobia, Islam, and the very real threat posed by kind of radical Islamism that was behind 9/11, 10/7, and ISIS.
Occupation of Gaza — From an Israeli with an especially clear understanding of the military aspects of the ongoing war -- an examination and a critique of plans to reoccupy Gaza.
The fear of peace: Iran, Israel, and the path away from their forever war. — Sir Richard Dalton, former British Ambassador to Iran, discusses rising tensions in the Middle East, exploring what it would take to move beyond endless war, and why dialogue and diplomacy offer the best path toward a collective future.
Parts I-VIII: The Face Of The 'Suffocating Occupation,' — From the Mideast Media Research Institute, an eye-opening collection of videos portraying life in Gaza before the war and further illuminating the folly of October 7.
Coleman Hughes: The Simple Truth About the War in Gaza — An undoubtedly controversial, but also clear and persuasive, explanation of why so many people are misinterpreting what's going on in Gaza.
Michael Oren: The Wisdom of Yahya Sinwar — An explanation of the strategic brilliance (and the incredible human costs) of Sinwar's attack on Israel and the Jewish people.
I tried to be pro-Palestinian, but they made it impossible. — From the perspective of an Israeli who has long tried to defend Palestinian interests, a heartbreaking story of the dehumanizing pressures that have surrounded the ongoing war.
Is Gaza Starving? — An informative effort to unpack the complex causes of and solutions for Gaza's ongoing hunger crisis.
What next for Gaza? — An especially thoughtful examination of the choices facing Israel as it is, once again, being forced to reconsider its Gaza strategy.
The Great Misinterpretation: How Palestinians View Israel — A must listen to account of the long history leading up to the current conflict between Israel and its neighbors -- an account that explains how understandable judgments can lead to catastrophe.
The next Iranian massacre is unfolding in plain sight — A terrifying report on what is now unfolding in Iran that emphasizes just how hard it is for protest movements to successfully challenge ruthless and brutal authoritarian regimes
Everything you think about Gaza is based on a lie. — Reflections on the enormous implications of the global media's willingness to abandon basic journalistic ethics and refuse to acknowledge the biased nature of Hamas -controlled information coming out of Gaza.
The massacre of the Druze — The same kind of horrors inflicted on Israel on October 7 are now being visited on the Druze and nobody seems to care (except Israel).
Atomic Jihad — A chilling analysis of what might happen should the jihadi culture that brought us suicide bombings gain ability to attack with suicide atomic bombers.
The Anti-American Academic Who Helped Build the Caliphate — For those trying to understand why some societies follow the path of violence and aggression, a look at the origins of a cluster of ideas that have been extremely influential in the Muslim world.
Islam, Israel, and the Tragedy of Gaza — One individual's very thoughtful and well-reasoned analysis of Israel's ongoing wars, their causes, their tragic consequences, and what it will take to stop them.
What ‘Globalize the Intifada’ Really Means — A primer on what the term "globalize the intifada" actually means, along with an explanation of the implications of its increasingly widespread use.
The Most Significant Long-Term Consequence of the U.S. Strikes on Iran — It’s not the damage to Fordow or Natanz. What has changed most dramatically since the strikes is Iran’s internal discourse on nuclear weapons, which used to be secret, and now is open and hardened.
‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at Glastonbury Music Festival Sparks Uproar — A rare example of an antisemitic incident that was so extreme that it provoked widespread condemnation (in contrast with the slower, but more widely accepted, erosion of taboos against anti-Semitism).
It’s easy to preach peace when no one is trying to kill you. — It's easy to tell others to make make peace and agree to a cease-fire when you are not in the line of fire should that a peace agreement fail.
How Israel-Aligned Hackers Hobbled Iran’s Financial System — A case study of one important way in which cyber tactics can be integrated into conventional (kinetic) warfare.
Enough is Enough — In the wake of back-to-back anti-Semitic attacks, Builders' Founding Partner Daniel Lubetzky breaks down how hate --against Jews and others -- isn’t just spreading. It’s being amplified for profit.
The Boulder Suspect Video Exposes a Hamas-Aligned Network Promoting Lone-Wolf Attacks — In the context of the recent fire-bombing assault on members of Boulder's Jewish community, a look at the complex online network that encourages and supports such "lone wolf" attacks.
WATCH: Inside the Massacre that Never Happened — An illuminating video that explains the seldom reported story behind widespread and inflammatory allegations that Israeli forces fired on Palestinians at aid distribution centers.
J'Accuse — With respect to the recent violence at a Gaza aid distribution hub, an explanation of how mainstream media's failure to follow the most basic journalistic standards of honest, objective reporting has helped drive the global wave of anti-Semitic violence.
How the Muslim Brotherhood Is Capturing Europe — An article about a leaked, top-secret, report prepared for France's Ministry of the Interior outlining the dangers associated with Muslim Brotherhood operations in France.
The Boulder Attack Didn’t Come Out of Nowhere — A review of the larger context in which the Boulder attack took place and the things that so many are doing to promote such violence as well as, more hopefully, the things that are being done to help combat it.
The Deadly Virus of Anti-Semitic Terrorism — An early effort to try to understand the anti-semitic violence behind the June 1 fire bomb attack on Boulder, Colorado.
Unholy Alliance — An in-depth review of an important new book exploring the implications of burgeoning coalition of radical leftists and Islamists that has emerged since October 7.
The New Dark Age — A thoughtful exploration of the many implications of society's repudiation of expertise.
Welcome to the Global Intifada — An all-important argument that the ongoing spate of anti-semitic violence is the inevitable result of widely supported calls to "globalize the intifada."
In Gaza, Long-Suffering Palestinians Are Directing Their Anger at Hamas — For those concerned about Palestinian welfare, an update on the conflict between Hamas and the people they rule -- a conflict marred by Hamas' ruthless suppression of the Palestinian people.
The Gaza Famine Myth — A thoughtful and in-depth investigation into widespread allegations that famine threatens the people of Gaza -- an investigation that reveals that the situation is not as horrific as is widely believed.
Hamas’s Human Shield Strategy — A quick summary and a link to an exhaustive and extremely well-documented analysis of the vast scope of Hamas' human shield strategy.
Arson terrorism against Israel reveals the Palestinian goal once again. — A report on yet another new and terrible weapon being deployed in the war against Israel -- deliberately set wildland fires.
This Is the Holocaust Story I Said I Wouldn’t Write — In the context of today's overuse of the term "genocide" and widespread embrace of virulent anti-Semitism, a reminder of just how bad things can get.
WATCH: Gazans Clash with Hamas as Historic Protests Escalate — New information about the brave Gazans who are trying to lay a real foundation for peace by forcing Hamas out of Gaza.
Sen. Dave McCormick: The Attack on Gov. Shapiro Was an Assault on Democracy — Reflections on Passover and the firebomb attack and attempted assassination of the Jewish governor of Pennsylvania.
How to Manufacture a Genocide: A Masterclass in Propaganda — An effort to understand why Israel's efforts to defend itself are so widely seen as genocidal and why other, objectively more genocidal actors somehow escape scrutiny.
Here Is the Real Route to Freeing Palestinians — An update on what seems to us to be the most promising strategy for freeing the Palestinian people -- disempowering Hamas.
Why I and thousands of my fellow Gazans say Hamas's tyranny must end — An urgent appeal from the citizens of Gaza who are trying desperately to free themselves from Hamas's brutal and catastrophic rule.
Amid rubble of Gaza, protesters decry Hamas — As Hamas continues to suffer significant battlefield losses, a story about the brave Gazans who are trying to find a path to a post-Hamas future.
How to Match Ends and Means in the Middle East — From Dennis Ross, a man who has long worked to reduce the destructiveness of the Middle East's many conflicts --- thoughts about where to go from here.
The Case for Palestinian Pragmatism — A thoughtful Palestinian perspective on the plight of his people, the terrible cost of refusing to consider compromise, and hopes for a better future.
The West is facing an Islamic holy war — A controversial, but surprisingly well documented, explanation of the many ways in which Islam and the West are engaged in an intense "grey zone" battle.
Israel's biggest threat is now the Western Left. — An important reminder that the most important front in Israel's ongoing wars is the battle for public support within Western democracies.
Israel's Impossible Plight — Reflections on the terrible choices that Israel is being forced to make (and a look at why the many conflicts surrounding Israel are so intractable).
The Egyptian Plan for Gaza Takes Shape — While President Trump's threat to seize and redevelop Gaza may be a political nonstarter, there is some hope that it is pushing Egypt and Jordan to offer a more realistic alternative.
How Israelis and Palestinians View Their Own Children — Culture matters and our collective belief systems do much to determine our future. This article looks at the differing ways in which Israelis and Palestinians view their children.
Trump Takes a Wrecking Ball to the Middle East Status Quo — A look at the way in which President Trump's statements regarding Gaza and the Middle East are transforming everyone's calculations (even though they have yet to be backed up with any real action).
The Song Remains The Same — With the release of a few of the remaining Israeli hostages, we are getting a new and terrifying look at the barbaric evil that characterizes Hamas -- something peacebuilders need to find better ways of opposing.
Hamas's narrative falls apart — A report that explains (based on information that is become available since the cease-fire) the ways in which Hamas was able to mislead so much of the world.
How Trump can remake the Middle East — From Dennis Ross, diplomat who has spent much of his life trying to somehow resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, thoughts on opportunities available to President Trump.
Matti Friedman: Israel's Prisoner's Dilemma — A thoughtful article that does much to help us understand, from Israel's perspective, the ongoing cease-fire and the lopsided exchange of prisoners and hostages.
The Campaign Against 'Settler Colonialism' — A great interview with Adam Kirsch in which he critically describes his research into the origins and nature of anti-colonial theory and the far-reaching impact that it is having on society.
Everybody Hates the Jews — For a time when the social justice left is so fond of demonizing "hate groups," thoughts about why hating Jews has somehow become acceptable.
Why Is there no Palestinian State? — A comprehensive review of the history of past efforts to create a Palestinian state (and a review of obstacles that still need to be overcome).
The Altneu Antisemitism: Part I — A two-part essay explaining how the antisemitism of today differs from earlier eras.
A Visual Guide to the Tangled Alliances and Rivalries in Syria — From a major news publication, a rare conflict map that offers a visual guide to the astonishing complexity surrounding the Syrian revolution.
Syrian mass grave is largest uncovered since Stalin era as 100,000 bodies were discarded outside Damascus: advocacy group — A sobering reminder of the unfathomable barbarity that was at the core of Assad's rule of Syria.
Al-Assad's Fall Has Changed the Future of the Middle East — From the United States Institute of Peace, thoughts about the far-reaching ramifications of the collapse of Syria's Assad regime.
How Israel Turned the Mideast Around — Reflections on 15 months of war in the Middle East and the complex an unpredictable chain of events unleashed by the October 7 attack.
Bin Laden's Catastrophic Success — A look at the long shadow cast by the September 11 attack and another reminder of the complex and unpredictable consequences of wars and the actions that provoke them.
The International Criminal Court's Folly — A carefully reasoned article that argues that the International Criminal Court's recent indictment of Israeli leaders was unfair and unjustified.
Antisemitism in America: My Campus Tour — A report on a tour of US college campuses to talk about the ongoing wars in the Middle East (and related increases in antisemitic behavior).
Stories the Media Purposely Ignore About Israel — A review of some of the stories about Israel and the ongoing wars that mainstream media is largely missing.
Israel's Changing War — From an Israeli perspective, thoughtful reflections on how the war has changed over the last year.
Contextualized and Decontextualized: Israel's Fight for Truth — An update on the changing ways in which people try to understand the context of Israel's ongoing wars.
After War in Gaza, Rivals Hamas and Fatah Don't Plan to Be in Charge — Hopeful news that a post-war system for governing Gaza may be emerging -- a system that may free Palestinians from the terror of Hamas and the corruption of the Palestinian Authority.
Would this be acceptable if Jews were not the victims? — An illustration of a good way to identify discriminatory behavior -- ask if it would be okay to treat other groups in the same way.
Last Night's Pogrom in Amsterdam — A harrowing account of the recent attack on Israeli soccer fans -- an attack that in many ways emulates the horrific anti-Jewish pogroms of the past.
The Age of the Pogrom Returns — From Bret Stephens of the New York Times, one of the scariest sentences I've ever read: "My advice to Europe's besieged Jewish communities: Remember what Kishinev foreshadowed --- and please get out while you still can."
Trump to Renew 'Maximum Pressure' Campaign Against Iran — Elections do have consequences -- sometimes very big ones. This article looks at the effect of the Biden/Trump foreign policy switchover on the wars raging in the Middle East.
Bill Clinton speech in Michigan about Israel — From Bill Clinton, a man who tried as hard as anyone to make the two-state solution a reality, a talk, given in Michigan just before the election, outlining his views on the Mideast crisis.
Abigail Shrier: The Kindergarten Intifada — From California, a must-read story about the way in which educational institutions are driving a terrifying rise in hate-filled antisemitism.
Game-ender or game-changer? — An examination of what Israel intended to achieve in retaliating for the recent Iranian missile attack (and reflections on whether or not they were successful).
A Fashionable Madness: The Obsession with 'Settler Colonialism' — An in-depth exploration of the meaning and implications of the relatively new and usually consequential concept of "settler colonialism."
Sinwar's Bloody Gambit Changed the Middle East---but Not as He Imagined — Thanks to recently uncovered documents, we now have a pretty clear image of what Sinwar hoped to accomplish with his October 7 attack -- enough to make a judgment about whether or not it was successful.
What Is the U.N. Resolution That Tried and Failed to Keep the Peace in Lebanon? — A primer on what everyone ought to know about the ongoing war in Lebanon and the failed UN peacekeeping that led up to it.
This Is the House That Hezbollah Built — More information about the ways in which Hezbollah has copied Hamas' civilian shield/sacrifice strategy.
Palestinian Risks His Life for a Two-State Solution w/ Israel — Meet Ezzeldeen Masri, a Palestinian-American who grew up in Gaza and now fights for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. As the Chief Field Officer for the OneVoice Movement, Ezz has dedicated his life to a two-state solution.
We Should Want Israel to Win — An explanation of why many believe that a defeat for Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran would be good for the people of the Middle East (not just Israel).
Capitalizing on the Weakening of Hamas and Hezbollah by Dennis Ross — From Dennis Ross, a man who has devoted much of his professional life to making the two-state solution or reality, thoughts about the dramatic weakening of Hamas and Hezbollah changes things.
Terror in a Safe Space, a Year On — An exploration of the coming collision between a dangerous and violent world and a citizenry that has become accustomed to safety and security.
Totaling Up the Damage in Gaza After a Year of War — An inventory of the incredible human costs of the war in Gaza and a reminder of why war prevention is so important.
Iran Is at a Strategic Crossroads — After its latest escalation, Tehran may be forced to reconsider its entire approach to national security, including leveraging its status as a threshold nuclear state to counter Israel.
Towards a Post-Hamas Future — A hopeful essay about a postwar future in which Palestinians may be able to escape the iron grasp of Hamas and its ruinous policies.
The Mistakes Israel Can't Afford to Repeat — The outcome of war is not determined by the rightness of one's cause. Instead, what matters is an ability to avoid strategic and tactical mistakes.
A Naked Desperation to Be Seen — The report on efforts to reverse the terrible dehumanization that accompanies all-out war is like the one being fought in Gaza.
Oct. 7 and the Iranian Nuclear Threat — A must-read article about what is now clearly a war between Israel and Iran and the likelihood that Iran, with its deep support for terror and martyrdom, will soon possess nuclear weapons.
Benny Gantz: What the World Needs to Understand About Iran — From a former Israeli Defense Minister, an explanation of why Israel regards Iran as a major threat toIsrael and the global community.
Hamas built an underground war machine to ensure its own survival — Evidence that Hamas realized and planned for the devastating war that it's October 7 attack was designed to provoke.
Things Worth Remembering: Mr. Biden, This Is How You Defend Israel — A retrospective look at what Daniel Patrick Moynihan had to say about Israel and the many threats it faced in 1975 -- a speech with important lessons for today.
Why the Arab Street Is Celebrating Israel's Killing of Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah | Opinion — Hopeful news that there is little grassroots support for the ruinous wars launched by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Israel Defends Itself---and May Save Western Civilization — From the Wall Street Journal, an argument that Israel is not just defending itself, it is defending all Western liberal democracies.
Why Israel should NOT have a "day after plan" for Gaza — A reprint of an insightful, older article that explains why it is almost impossible to plan for the replacement of the despotic regime while that regime remains in power.
Gaza's Suffering Is Unprecedented — A sobering reminder of the immense suffering produced by the ongoing war in Gaza and an eloquent appeal for all concerned to take the steps needed to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
Israel's Pager Attacks Have Changed the World — Israel's ongoing war with Iran and its proxies (and Ukraine's simultaneous wa with Russiar) are opening up new arenas for conflict -- arenas that attack the vulnerabilities of modern, high-tech societies.
How to Evaluate Media Coverage of Israel: A Guide — A practical framework for determining the degree to which media coverage of Israel's ongoing war with Iran and its proxies is actually reliable.
Maybe It's Time for Jewish Self-Segregation — For a time in which we claim to oppose hate and embrace tolerance and diversity, a look at how antisemitic hate (based on Israel's efforts to defend itself from real hate) is driving Jews into internal exile.
You dared to strike at Israel, now they've sent you back 1,000 years' -- Arab commentator mocks Hezbollah — From an Arab commentator, a surprising critique of Hezbollah's military strategy.
Hezbollah device attacks: Is this a prelude to war, or an alternative? — Thoughtful reflections on a critically important question -- whether or not the recent use of force against Hezbollah is increasing or decreasing the risk of a wider war.
Eight months later, how have things changed? How are we different? Or not? — After two thirds of the year, reflections on the increase in the long shadow being cast by the October 7 attack.
An explosive moment of clarification — A controversial and thought-provoking argument that "Israel is leading the fight of good against evil while the "civilised" world doesn't know what side it's on."
Peaceworks Foundation — Peaceworks is committed to persuade a critical mass of Israelis and Palestinians to reject the status quo and unlock the full potential of both peoples.
I fought in Iraq --- I know Israel's doing all it can to save civilians — A former NATO commander (and self-described skeptic of Israeli actions) reports on his fact-finding mission to Israel and Gaza.
Israel's Strategic Win — An insightful article exploring the strategic implications of Israel's recent attacks on Hezbollah and what these attacks portend for the future of the Middle East.
Dark Tunnels and Moral Beacons — Reflections on the execution of six Israeli hostages after so many months of captivity -- an act of self-dehumanization on the part of Hamas that seems designed to further compound the tragedy.
Hamas's ideological commitment — A short video making the argument that the conflict between Israel and its neighbors is about religion, not land.
Human shields: 'Every third house' in south Lebanon is used by Hezbollah for military purposes — An alarming report that makes clear the degree to which Hamas' civilian shield/sacrifice strategy is being used by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis — An interesting website that tries to balance mainstream media reports about the Middle East with easier access to "the other side of the story."
Report: "The secret document found on a computer in Gaza, and revealed Sinwar's tactics in the negotiations — A report on a document that supposedly reveals Hamas' secret strategy -- a strategy that is cynically exploiting the compassion and goodwill of so many in the West.
Israel complied with the UN --- but peace never came. — A look at the many instances in which the "land for peace" strategy that peacebuilders have urged upon Israel has failed (and reasons for us to ask harder questions about how best to deal with intractable conflict).
Israel and the Coming Long War — An illuminating attempt to apply the long war perspective to the ongoing conflict between Israel and its neighbors.
Son of Hamas founder insists 'no such thing' as Israel, Hamas cease-fire until ayatollah is gone — Thoughts on what it will really take to bring peace to Israel and its neighbors from a rare and valuable perspective -- the son of one of Hamas' founders.
'Anti-Zionism' is literally killing millions of people. — A critical look at the anti-Zionism movement and an argument that the movement is a major contributor to global suffering.
How the Progressive Left Adopted Oppressive 'Palestine' -- A Guide — An attempt to answer one of today's big mysteries -- why do Palestinians (who are so hostile to so many progressive beliefs) enjoy such strong support from the political left.
Can We Be a Little Less Selective With Our Moral Outrage? — As we agonize over the loss of life on the many fronts of Israel's ongoing war, an important reminder that there are a great many other tragedies that deserve attention.
Gaza and the Apocalypse — The surprising story of the large number of religious groups that see, in ongoing Mideast strife, the fulfillment of long anticipated prophecies.
In a Grim Palestinian Refugee Community, People See Hope in Hamas — The report on what Palestinians are now thinking about Hamas, Israel, and the tragedy that has engulfed them.
Warning: Advocates of a 'ceasefire-for-hostages' deal are lying to you. — A critique of ongoing efforts to negotiate a cease-fire/hostage-release deal that raises real questions about whether or not this is really a path to peace.
Weaponizing Sympathy: 'Pro-Palestinian' blackmail takes center stage. — A thought-provoking and doubtless controversial look at the ways in which Hamas has managed to weaponize global sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people (a plight that they deliberately cultivated).
UCLA Crafts FAQs On How Not To Enable Discrimination Against Jewish Students — A look at what UCLA is and is not doing to protect Jewish students and reflections about how that compares to the treatment of other minority groups.
New Training and Tougher Rules: How Colleges Are Trying to Tame Gaza Protests — A summary of the steps that institutions of higher education are taking to prevent the kind of politically explosive protests that occurred on so many campuses last spring.
I was a captive of Hamas. After I was freed, I was imprisoned by online trolls. — A personal account of both the horror of being one of Hamas' hostages, and the horror that follows when one becomes a focal point in the globa propaganda war over the war on Gaza.
What I Want a University President to Say About Campus Protests — Thoughtful advice for university presidents looking for ways to better handle Gaza-type protests, while also remaining true to the core (and often neglected) mission of the university.
Israel's deterrence is working against Iran's threats - opinion — As Israel and the world waits for the expected Iranian attack, a hopeful argument that Israel is reestablishing the system of deterrence that, for years, successfully prevented a wider war.
Tactical Civilian Sacrifice — A short video that, I think, offers a much clearer image of Hamas' strategy -- a strategy that anybody who cares about the people of Gaza should condemn.
Humanitarians Should Want Hamas's Human-Sacrifice Strategy to Fail — A more in-depth exploration of the enormously difficult moral issues raised when aggressive authoritarian regimes employ civilian sacrifice tactics.
Israel is fighting the hardest war in modern history --- and winning. — From an Israeli (and a more general military perspective) reflections on the military challenges posed by the Gaza war and Israel's strategy for meeting those challenges.
In Syria's Hinterlands, the U.S. Wages a Hidden Campaign Against a Resurgent Islamic State — News about a war that most of us, in the US, didn't know we were fighting -- one that has US soldiers, on the ground in Syria, fighting ISIS.
Michael Oren: Should Israel Strike First? — The report on the agonizing strategic choice facing Israel and questions about the degree to which the lessons of 1967 and 1973 apply.
Israel on the Brink: If the Israelis find themselves facing difficult choices, so do their enemies. — An in-depth look at the complex and difficult choices facing the major players in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The Sabaya: How the advocates of Palestine erased the experience of the Yazidis in order to deny the rape of Jewish women — An article comparing the world's reaction to the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on October 7 and by ISIS against the Yazidis.
The Strange Resurrection of the Two-State Solution — From Foreign Affairs, updated reflections on the "two-state solution" and the reasons why it is the only path toward "resolving" the conflict. The question is, is "resolution" possible?
'We need to flip the equation: Land for peace? Yes, but they should pay us with land for the peace we grant them' — A thought-provoking (and doubtless controversial) interview with one of Israel's most prominent experts on Islam with thoughts about the current crisis which are worth considering.
On the Brink of War, Hezbollah Is Emboldened in a Crippled Lebanon — As we stand on the brink of a war between Israel and Hezbollah (a war that will be fought in both Lebanon and Israel), an insightful primer on what we ought to know.
Ismail Haniyeh's Assassination Sends a Message — Thoughts on the role of political assassination as a military strategy and its applicability to leaders who blithely sacrifice their own people.
Iran-Israel: The Escalation Calculus — The dance between Israel and Iran continues -- sometimes escalating, sometimes receding. This article is a bit dated now -- things change so fast in that region -- but it still has useful content.
U.A.E. Puts 84 Civil Society Members on Trial Again, Sentencing 43 to Life — A disturbing window into the the way in which the United Arab Emirates, one of the more "moderate" Arab regimes, treats dissidents.
How Israel Turned the Tide in Rafah — A reminder that wars are decided on the battlefield, not by outside observers offering their opinions of how things ought to be.
The Lebanon War Is Coming — An update on the increasing risk of a catastrophic war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel.
How Hamas Is Fighting in Gaza: Tunnels, Traps and Ambushes — For those trying to help protect Gaza's civilian population, important information about how, exactly, Hamas fighters are embedding themselves in that population.
It's Time to Start Using the Term 'Palestinian Civilian' Correctly — The protection of Gaza's innocent civilians depends upon clearly distinguishing them from combatants posing as civilians.
The Brutal Syllogism of this War is a Deathtrap for Israel — An honest look at the extraordinarily difficult strategic challenge posed to Israel by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
How an all-out Israel war could rope in the US and other countries — An update on a prospects for war between Israel and Hezbollah ad an explanation of why that would be vastly more catastrophic.
Israelis Are Not Watching the Same War You Are — The Israeli journalist Amit Segal discusses Benny Gantz's departure from the war cabinet, Israel's shift to the right and whether a new theory of security is emerging in Israeli politics.
From Discourse to Discord: Dissecting Antisemitism on Campus — A discussion between two experts on the nature of antisemitism and anti-Muslim attitudes on US campuses.
At $25 Each, Cigarettes Are Turning Gaza Aid Trucks Into Targets — The report on the surprising relationship between the movement of aid into Gaza, cigarette smuggling, $25 apiece cigarettes, lawless gangs, and the suffering of the people of Gaza.
Gen Z Palestinians See Door Slamming Shut on Coexistence With Israel — An article describing what it's like to be a young Palestinian adult witnessing the collapse of prospects for a peaceful future.
Hamas terrorists are playing the West for fools — An argument that many in the West are being tricked by Hamas into supporting policies and actions that they would normally find abhorrent.
I Went to Cover a Protest. I Was Surrounded by a Mob. — A personal account of what it was like to be a Jewish reporter at the recent pro-Palestinian protests in Manhattan.
Is Israel Guilty of Perfidy? — In the context of the Gaza war and the recent hostage rescue, and exploration of the concept of "perfidy" -- prohibitions on launching military attacks while pretending to be civilians.
America Is Losing the Arab World — A look at how the war in Israel is undermining US relations with the Muslim world and the geopolitical implications of that shift -- a big part of the reason US policy often seems inconsistent.
Gaza Chief's Brutal Calculation: Civilian Bloodshed Will Help Hamas — The real reason behind mounting civilian casualties in Gaza -- a strategic choice by the Hamas leadership (a choice that is proving extremely effective).
The Academic Proletariat Goes on Strike at the University of California — A report on a new front in the campus Gaza protests -- a "wildcat" solidarity strike by University of California teaching assistants (who are, surprisingly, represented by the United Auto Workers).
New Rule: Gender Apartheid | Real Time with Bill Maher — A Bill Maher video that exposes the contradiction between the social justice movement's support for women's and LBGTQ rights and its support for Hamas.
They turned into monsters — From German Nobel Prize winner Herta Muller, reflections on October 7, the Israel/Hamas war, and the global rise of anti-Semitism.
Why Israel should NOT have a "day after plan" for Gaza — An argument that "day after" planning for the Israel/Hamas war is impossible as long as Hamas continues to be able to threaten reasonable people who might want to take part in such a plan.
Matti Friedman: Northern Israel Is on Fire — An update on the simmering war between Israel and Hezbollah -- a war that could quickly exploded in ways that would be even more destructive than the ongoing war in Gaza.
A Pragmatic Post-War Gaza Plan is Needed Now — An argument that some sort of "day after" plan is critically needed to prevent Gaza from falling into anarchy and chaos following the war's end.
Al Qaeda and Iran Salute the U.S. Campus — A report on eye-opening statements from Al Qaeda and the Iranians welcoming the support that they are receiving from the campus protests.
What is the Antisemitism Awareness Act? — A Fulcrum article examining the key elements of the Antisemitism Awareness Act, its intentions, the potential impacts it may have on curbing this age-old prejudice and concerns with its implementation.
What's happening to all the aid sent to Gaza? — An eye-opening report that illuminates one of the ways in which Hamas is interfering with the delivery of badly needed aid to the people of Gaza (and also cultivating global sympathy).
Decades of Denial: How Islamists Won the War Against Western Values — A long-term look at the conflict between Islamic and Western values and the continuing struggle for dominance -- a big part of the larger context of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The Untold Stories of Gazans — This series of video interviews provides the rare look around Hamas' iron grip into what the people of Gaza are actually thinking.
The 500 — From Natan Sharansky, thoughts about the suppression of Jewish voices and the hopeful news that Columbia students are overcoming that suppression.
A Chill Has Fallen Over Jews in Publishing — A not so hopeful story about the ways in which Jewish voices are being suppressed by the publishing industry.
No Gaza aid delivered through US pier has been distributed to Palestinians, Pentagon says — An update on the delivery of aid to Gaza using the new pier constructed by the US military (a pier that has since been badly damaged by storms).
The Ugly Lessons of October 7 — An analysis of the terrible precedents being set by Hamas' October 7 attack, Israel's response, and the global reaction.
What Hamas Called Its Female Captives, and Why It Matters — A detailed look at the complexities of translating Hamas' language regarding its female captives and the alarming meanings of the words they use.
Who's in More Trouble: Israel or Iran? — Despite its aggressive and apparently successful efforts to spread its influence around the Middle East, Iran's regime faces challenges that are at least as serious as those being faced by Israel.
The Great Misinterpretation: How Palestinians View Israel — A first-rate lecture that takes a long, historical look at the origins of Israeli/Palestinian antipathy -- a look that clarifies the complex origins of the contemporary conflict.
How Hamas criticism vanished in The New York Times — A statistical analysis of the New York Times coverage of the Israeli / Hamas war -- an analysis that demonstrates the success of Hamas' public relations strategy.
Back to Basics in the Middle East — Four general principles that, if followed, would do much to improve chances of a positive outcome to the current Mideast crisis (and promote good democratic governance, more generally).
Israel's war has killed 31 members of my family, yet it's vital to speak out against Hamas — From someone who has suffered immensely from the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, a plea to recognize and address Hamas' role in the conflict.
Paging Senator Schumer ... — Amid the rising tide of antisemitism and calls to do something about it, a legal analysis of how this kind of prejudice falls through the cracks in our existing legal structure.
Secret Hamas Files Show How It Spied on Everyday Palestinians — Another window into Hamas's authoritarian power and its ability to take their citizens into a ruinous war.
Hamas Shift to Guerrilla Tactics Raises Specter of Forever War for Israel — A disturbing look at what the next phase of the Israeli/Hamas war might look like -- a phase that will require totally different tactics.
A Likud MK admits, "the IDF has failed" and a public intellectual asks "how will we know when it's time to leave? — A look at the hard questions Israelis are asking themselves as the decisive defeat of Hamas seems ever more distant.
Student activists or pro insurgents? — An eye-opening analysis of internal campus protest documents revealing their interconnections, their funding, their command structure, their inner workings, and their goals.
Confessions of a former antisemite — In the context of the ongoing Gaza war, a personal and an in-depth look at the process of persuasion and the way in which fundamental beliefs change.
A Cheat Sheet to the Middle East's Web of Friends and Enemies — A short primer that attempts to shed light on an unbelievably complex topic -- the web of interrelationships that characterize today's Middle East.
A suit alleges anti-Israel protest groups provide material support to Hamas — The report on a legal claim that some of the groups behind the campus protests have direct ties to Hamas -- a legally recognized "foreign terrorist organization."
Why Israel Should Declare a Unilateral Cease-Fire in Gaza — From Dennis Ross, a provocative, ambitious, and controversial proposal for countering Iran and defusing the crisis in Gaza.
The Blind Centrist's Guide to Gaza — A comprehensive argument explaining why the solution to the Gaza crisis cannot be found at the midpoint between Israeli and Palestinian perspectives.
With Iran's Strikes, Arab Countries Fear an Expanding Conflict — In light of recent events, more thoughts on the way in which ongoing Mideast hostilities could escalate into a much bigger conflagration (and what might be done to avoid this).
How Did the War Begin? With Iran's Appeasers in Washington — A well-grounded and sharply critical essay highlighting things that the United States did to help make the ongoing Mideast conflagration possible.
The False Economic Promise of Populism: A Conversation with Rachel Kleinfeld — An interview with one of the more prominent voices in the pro-democracy movement, Rachel Kleinfeld, talking about the origins of the populist rebellion against democratic institutions.
Iranians Don't Want a War With Israel — A timely reminder of the limited support that Iran's aggressive military campaigns enjoy with the Iranian people themselves.
How Many Dead in Gaza? — For a time when casualty statistics coming out of Gaza are driving so much of global politics, an article asking hard questions about the reliability of those statistics.
Toward Accountability for Iran's UN-Recognized Crimes Against Humanity — Welcome news of progress toward Iranian accountability for at least some of its crimes against humanity.
Western Democracy's Future Depends on Israel's Victory — More thoughts on the relationship between Israel's war with Hamas, Iran, and its proxies and larger efforts to defend democracy.
A Fight Between Hamas and Other Palestinians for Power in Gaza Emerges — The fight between those vying for Palestinian leadership in Gaza is, in many ways, as consequential as the fight between Israel and Hamas.
History Goes to War in the Holy Land — A description of one man's effort to write an honest history of Israel and the Palestinians.
The 'Tectonic Shift' in Media That Changed Perceptions of Israel: 'What's Left Is a System Run by Activists' — An excellent analysis of the many factors that have led to sharp changes in global news coverage regarding Israel, the Palestinians, and the turbulent Middle East.
How Much Is a Dead Jew Worth? — An eye-opening account of the economic incentives that Palestinians offer to those who agree to become terrorists.
Conclusion of the Investigation Into the Incident in Which 7 WCK Employees Were Killed During a Humanitarian Operation in Gaza — The official Israeli Defense Force report on the incidents in which 7 World Central Kitchen employees were killed. Contrast this with Hamas' cynical exploitation of civilian casualties.
The numbers of dead in Gaza don't add up -- and there is no easy explanation — A persuasive, and critical, look at the reliability of Gaza War casualty statistics.
Israel Unleashed? — The worrying look at the still simmering confrontation between Israel and Iran and the continuing possibility that this could explode into a wider war.
Israel Is Making the Same Mistake America Made in Iraq — A cautionary essay raising the possibility that Israel may be making many of the same mistakes that the United States made in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Israel Has Created a New Standard for Urban Warfare. Why Will No One Admit It? — Those who are demanding that Israel do all that it can to limit civilian casualties ought to at least acknowledge its efforts to do so.
What Would You Have Israel Do to Defend Itself? — An exceptionally complete and thorough analysis of the pros and cons of the many strategies that Israel's critics have suggested that they pursue.
The Mass Killing in Gaza Will Poison Israeli Souls Forever — From the Israeli perspective, reflections on the terrible psychological and cultural costs associated with the war in Gaza.
The Great Rupture in American Jewish Life — Provocative thoughts on how the events surrounding October 7 have transformed Jewish life in United States and around the world.
On the Loneliness of the Jews — Reflections on what it is like to live in Israel and to be a Jew amid the ongoing war and the global explosion of antisemitism.
Port Of Hope -- Part II: The Peaceful Future Of The Israel-Palestinian Conflict Depends On Ousting Qatar From Any Involvement In It — A follow-up on an earlier story we posted from MEMRI about the "Port of Hope."
The Factions in Gaza: A Comprehensive Overview. — A surprising look at the social complexity of Gaza.
Israel Needs a New Strategy -- Total Victory Is Not Possible---but Demilitarizing Hamas and Stabilizing Gaza Still Are — From Foreign Affairs, thoughts about how the war in Gaza might be more effectively pursued.
The Ideology Of Hamas -- In Its Own Words — With so many people around the world rising to defend Hamas, a disturbing summary of how the group describes its own beliefs. Is this something we really want to defend?
Israelis must listen to the Palestinians! — The collection of video clips assembled by somebody who was honestly trying to understand what Palestinians think about the war.
The Road to Ceasefire Leads Through the Rafah Offensive — An explanation of why Israel believes that its campaign in Rafah is critical to ending the war and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Hamas-linked website warns Palestinians not to work with Israel' — One reason why distributing aid to the citizens of Gaza so difficult.
Port Of Hope In Gaza: The Beginning Of The End Of The War — From MEMRI, an organization focused on helping the West understand the Middle East, a hopeful essay about recent developments in Gaza.
As Israel fights Hamas in Gaza, a brutal war is waged in the media — From an Israeli perspective, a window into the information war that may ultimately be decisive in determining the outcome of this conflict..
There is no famine in Gaza — The Israeli side of the story on claims of an impending famine in Gaza.
IDF aid convoy catastrophe probe: Deaths occurred from looting crush — The kind of investigation that we need to make sense of the violence in Gaza. It would, however, have been better if this had come from a credible and genuinely objective international body (which doesn't exist).
Longing for Auschwitz — Amid increasing concern about the war's humanitarian impact, an article that tries to explain the fears that are motivating Israel's actions in the war.
How the Gaza Ministry of Health Fakes Casualty Numbers — Given the public relations advantage that Hamas gleans from reports of large numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza, it is worth asking hard questions about the accuracy of those numbers.
The Vicious Cycle Driving Gaza's North to Famine — An article looking at the dynamics behind the deteriorating situation in northern Gaza.
Israel and Gaza: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow — The destruction of the military threat posed by Hamas is a necessary condition for re-establishing some sort of a peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict, but Israel must reign in its most extreme factions too.
Israel-Hamas Conflict Puts Spotlight on American Universities — An AllSides "story of the week," this article looks at the way the media is covering the Israel-Hamas conflict on campuses. Needless to say, there are significant differences.
Difficult Conversations About Israel and Gaza — Suggestions from the dialogue experts, Essential Partners, about how to have a constructive conversation about one of the most divisive issues many of us currently face.
Oasis of Peace Winter 2023 Newsletter — From Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, on how they are dealing with the war and trying to move both themselves and the prospect of peace forward.
The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending — An excellent and thought provoking essay exploring how the ongoing war in Gaza and the global rise of antisemitism is transforming the lives of Jews in the United States.
The Justice of Israel's War in Gaza Will Depend on How It Ends — A thoughtful observation that the morality of Israel's war in Gaza will ultimately be judged by what happens after the war.
Israel Is Falling Into an Abyss — A look at the far-reaching effects that the all-out war between Israel and Hamas is having on Israeli society.
What It Means to Choose Freedom — A superb lecture that explains how the current crisis facing the Jewish people is deeply intertwined with the larger effort to preserve democratic freedoms.
Only More Attacks Like October 7 Will Restrain It; The Conflict Will End Only With Disappearance Of Israel — From the Qatari press, another perspective on what it will take to end the Israel/Hamas war -- the destruction of Israel.
The NYT Misrepresents the History of the Israeli--Palestinian Conflict — Our conflict over the Palestinian/Israeli conflict stems from competing images of objective reality. This article cites a description of one such image and then offers a critique with a competing image.
No, Most People in Gaza Are Not "Just Like Us" — From an Israeli perspective, an article that that looks at the cultural differences between Palestinians and Israelis and questions the notion that everyone cares about the same things.
Women Wage Peace — Another organization to add to Louis Kriesberg's list of the Israeli peace groups that are trying to struggle with the ongoing war.
Restoring the Past Won't Liberate Palestine — Reflections on the impossibility of rolling back the clock to the time before Israel's birth and the Nakba.
An Israeli and a Palestinian talk peace, dignity and safety — An example of the kind of conversation that could, had it been sufficiently widespread, have averted the ongoing tragedy.
When I Was a Hostage — From the Syrian civil war, a first-person account of what it's like to be captured and held hostage by Islamic terrorists.
Where are Our Jews? — A critical look at the Israeli campaign in Gaza and, especially, plans for the invasion of Rafah.
This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Hope of the Middle East — A moving interview with a prominent Israeli Arab newscaster describing what it's like to live on the boundary between two warring cultures.
'Not just for invading Galilee': Hezbollah's monstrous tunnel network — A description of Hezbollah's much more formidable military capabilities in southern Lebanon (and a preview of what could be a much more devastating war).
What Americans don't get about Israelis Fighting for their Lives — From Israel, an attempt to correct some of the misperceptions that Americans have about the war.
Memo to the 'Experts': Stop Comparing Israel's War in Gaza to Anything. It Has No Precedent — A comparison of the war in Gaza with other "similar" military campaigns and an argument that this war is, in many important respects, unprecedented in human history.
The Fraudulent Case Against 'Violent Settlers' — A look at the larger context surrounding stories of Israeli settler violence on the West Bank and ongoing efforts to defend against Palestinian terrorism.
Why Israel Is Winning in Gaza — This article offers what appears to be an authoritative account (from an Israeli perspective) of the military aspects of the ongoing war in Gaza.
Building the Palestinian State With Salam Fayyad — An interview with the Palestinian leader who, perhaps more than anyone, tried to bring peace and prosperity to the West Bank.
"They see hiring Hamas terrorists as a mark of diversity" — From an Israeli expert on UNRWA, an interview that explains the unusual nature of UN assistance for Palestinian refugees and how the nature of that assistance has contributed to the conflict's intractability.
If You Want To Liberate Your Land, You Cannot Keep Counting Martyrs -- The Families In Gaza Are Not Complaining — A revealing translation of what one Hamas official is saying about the war and, especially, the horrific casualties Gazans are suffering.
This is Ethnic Cleansing — A must-see tabulation of statistics regarding ethnic cleansing in the Middle East.
Arab-Israeli Solidarity: Defying Divisions in the Face of Terror — A revealing story about how Israel's Arab citizens are responding to the ongoing war.
Israel Palestine is not the root of Middle Eastern chaos — A regional update on the larger, "larger context" surrounding the Israel Hamas war.
The Two-State Delusion — Before concluding that the way to resolve the Palestinian / Israeli conflict is by quickly moving to implement the "two state solution," consider this perceptive critique of the idea.
A Biden Doctrine for the Middle East Is Forming. And It's Big. — A sympathetic look at President Biden's bold plan for ending the Israel/Hamas war, creating a Palestinian state (that doesn't threaten Israel), and building a grand Mideast coalition to counter Iran.
UNRWA EDUCATION: REFORM OR REGRESSION? — A detailed and thoroughly documented account of what UNRWA is accused of doing with its educational programs to undermine any sort of coexistence-based resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Case Against UNRWA — Congressional testimony from UN Watch explaining the many ways in which they believe that UNRWA has contributed to the intractability and destructiveness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Abolish the U.N.'s Palestinian Refugee Agency — The relatively succinct overview of the many criticisms that are being leveled against UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East).
Palestinian Refugee Camps In The Gaza Strip Prior To October 7 -- Part I — The comparison of refugee camps in Gaza, Syria, and Jordan.
Israel's War With Hamas Has No End in Sight — A sobering assessment of the Israel / Hamas war and an explanation of why prospects for peace are so dismal.
Hamas Official On Al-Jazeera Website: October 7 Was Scaled-Down Model Of Palestine's Final War Of Liberation — Bad news for those who were hoping that October 7 was a not to be repeated aberration rather than a harbinger of things to come.
Oct. 7 Was Worse Than a Terror Attack. It Was a Pogrom. — From those who are concluding that there really was no such thing as the "uninvolved" on October 7, a plea: 'Let me know of one Palestinian in Gaza who tried to save a Jew and maybe I'll change my mind.'
Too Little, Too Late — Heartbreaking questions about why the global women's rights and LBGTQ communities have been so reluctant to condemn the atrocities of October 7.
The Meaning of Gaza's Tunnels — An exploration of the causes and far-reaching ramifications of Hamas's unique brand of tunnel warfare.
How the Palestinians Hijacked the Jewish Culture War — A perceptive essay exploring the complex interactions between the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and the culture war conflicts that afflict Israel and the larger Jewish Diaspora.
Top Biden aide argues Israeli-Palestinian peace is possible 'in near term' — A look at the Biden administration's attempt to negotiate a near-term peace deal amid the horrific ongoing war.
Two States, One Homeland -- an Open Land for All — A link to the website of an organization that is trying to move beyond the constraints of the Oslo "two state solution" and imagine a more attractive, alternative future for the region.
Rula Hardal: Life as a Palestinian Citizen of Israel — A reflective essay exploring the thoughts of the Palestinian who is also an Israeli citizen.
The Israeli Quotes That the Press Got Wrong — A carefully documented investigation of allegedly genocidal statements made by Israeli leaders -- an investigation that reveals how misunderstandings and missed translations can propagate in dangerous ways.
The Face Of The 'Suffocating Occupation' — From MEMRI and Arab (not Israeli) sources, an eye-opening collection of videos depicting life in Gaza before October 7 -- videos that challenge a great many prevailing stereotypes.
Violent Pro-Palestine Demonstrations Are Not a Bug — A look at the complex origins of violent, pro-Palestinian demonstrations and a disturbing argument that they may be being instigated by well-funded national and international provocateurs.
The Agony and Determination of Sderot — A profile of Sderot, an Israeli town one mile from the Gaza border. This powerful article ends with the line "Conflicts end once we all recognize each other's humanity and strive to uphold it."
The path to peace in the Mideast could be paved by fuzzy language — A profile of Secretary Blinken's complex and multifaceted effort to bring peace to Israel and Gaza. Regardless of what you think about his efforts, this article demonstrates the complexity of the challenge.
Finding moral clarity on campus about the Hamas-Israeli War — Robert Reich's thoughts on the grotesque and staggering levels of violence surrounding the Israeli / Hamas war and a call for us all to help find a way to put an end to this violence.
Matti Friedman: The Wisdom of Hamas — A thoughtful argument that the opinions that many in the West have about the war between Israel and Hamas are based on serious misunderstandings.
10 thoughts on what is happening in Israel. — As we try to decide what we think about conflict in Israel and Gaza, reflections on 10 aspects of the conflict worth considering.
How 'Antiracism' Becomes Antisemitism — An essay reflecting on one of the big surprises following Hamas' October 7 attack -- the degree to which this conflict has become a focal point in the domestic US struggle against racism.
Journalistic Duty in Israel Palestine News — An excellent analysis of the difficult moral questions that journalists covering the Israeli/Palestinian conflict have been struggling with in the decades leading up to today's war.
Win-Win? — Israel could claim victory in Gaza but so, too, could Hamas. It depends on how they each define "success."
In the Shadow of the Holocaust — From Masha Gessen, an analysis of how the politics of memory in Europe obscures what we see in Israel and Gaza today.
Hamas's Asymmetric Advantage -- What Does It Mean to Defeat a Terrorist Group? — From Foreign Affairs, an examination of how terrorist groups are different from other kinds of international actors.
The Inside Story of How Palestinians Took Over the World — This article provides an unusual window into the quite sophisticated, long-term strategic thinking of Palestinians -- a threat that is very hard for Westerners, with their short attention spans, to understand.
The Real Gaza Hospital Crisis — An examination of the multifaceted nature of the Gaza Hospital crisis -- it, sadly, is about much more than protecting patients and healthcare workers.
In Israel, There Is Grief and There Is Fury. Beneath the Fury, Fear. — A really excellent piece of reporting. This is the kind of article that can help people who live a half a world away come much closer to understanding what another group of people is thinking.
When Anti-Zionism Is Anti-Semitic — A well reasoned analysis of the complex relationship between anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, internal Israeli political conflict, and Israel's need to defend itself.
Behind Hamas's Bloody Gambit to Create a 'Permanent' State of War — An examination of what appears to be the core goal of Hamas' brutal October 7 attack -- make peace impossible.
Gaza and the De-Colonization Narrative — Western views of Arab society often get one major thing wrong -- Arab agency.
The Theory of Hamas's Catastrophic Success — An enlightening essay the tries to understand what Hamas was thinking and hoping to accomplish when they launched their brutal attack on Israel.
5 Things to Know About the Hamas-Run Gaza Health Ministry — A guide for those trying to evaluate the credibility of widely cited statistics about Gaza war casualties. Remember, we are in the midst of an information war and these statistics come from Hamas -- the party that started that war.
After Years of Vowing to Destroy Israel, Iran Faces a Dilemma — For years, the Iranians have used fiery rhetoric about the destruction of Israel to mobilize support and deflect criticism. Following the most successful attack on Israel in decades, they now are having to decide whether they really mean it.
How a deep Palestinian yearning has been hijacked by Hamas — Thoughts about a little mentioned but critically important conflict --- the conflict between Hamas and Palestinians who would like to take a different path.
The Israel-Hamas War Will Reshape Western Politics — An analysis of the many ways in which the politics of Western democracies is likely to be influenced by the surprisingly intense conflict over whether Israel or Hamas is most deserving of support.
The Untold Stories of Gazans — A much-needed counterpoint to the widespread demonization and dehumanization of Gazans that has followed the October 7 attack.
As Gazans Scrounge for Food and Water, Hamas Sits on a Rich Trove of Supplies — A detailed look at what Hamas' strategy of using civilian shields looks like in actual practice and a description of the elaborate fortifications it has constructed and supplied under Gaza's civilian population.
The Victory Hamas Has Already Won — An analysis of the depressingly successful strategy that Hamas has used to turn its barbarous conduct into a winning political strategy and thoughts about the terrible precedent that this sets.
Many Palestinians in Gaza hate Hamas. My father certainly did — A window into how extraordinarily difficult it is for Gazans to mount any sort of effective opposition to Hamas (and why brutal authoritarianism is so dangerous).
A Humanist Manifesto — We end this dismal series of links with an uplifting reminder, from David Brooks, about the power of humanism -- our best defense against the forces of dystopia.
I Don't See a Better Way Out — From someone who has devoted much of their life to making peace between Israelis and Palestinians, an agonizing account of his decision to support the invasion of Gaza. Now, the challenge is to mount that invasion in ways that will lead to a better world.
A Catastrophic Success for Hamas? — A look at what Hamas (and, before it, Al Qaeda) had hoped to accomplish with their terror attacks and an analysis of how their "hoped for" victory led, instead, to catastrophe.
Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries — The very real hardships faced by Palestinian refugees from the 1948 and 1967 wars are only one side of the refugee flows associated with the Arab-Israeli conflict. This article explores a lesser-known story of what happened to Jewish refugees from Arab countries.
Why Jews Cannot Stop Shaking Right Now — An explanation of why Israelis (and Jews, more generally) find the Hamas' October 7 even more terrifying than non-Jews might conclude from watching the news. There is a long history of this kind of violence that we thought we had moved beyond. Now it seems clear that we haven't.
The Day the Delusions Died — An exploration of the ways in which the Hamas attack (and the way in which much of the progressive left reacted to that attack) has shattered the worldview of many progressives in ways that are forcing a massive rethinking.
Hamas does not yet understand the depth of Israeli resolve — A must-read history of the many Israeli peace overtures that were violently rejected by Palestinians (included an account of the 2000 era when Israelis made all of the concessions that peacemakers recommended and had those concessions met with a massive wave of terror attacks).
What Comes After Hamas? A Plan to Return the Gaza Strip to Palestinians and Keep Israel Safe — A Foreign Affairs article that is starting to think seriously about how the Israeli campaign against Hamas might be followed by an international effort to bring peace and stability to Gaza. This is critical topic that demands a lot more attention.
In Global Conflict Zones, Hospitals and Doctors Are No Longer Spared — A look at the global deterioration of protections that the laws of war provide to the doctors and hospitals serving the many casualties of war.
How is the IDF Minimizing Harm to Civilians in Gaza? — A summary of the specific steps Israel's Defense Forces have historically taken to limit civilian casualties during its many responses to Hamas' terror attacks --- a sharp contrast to Hamas' direct targeting of Israeli civilians and use of civilian shields.
The United Nations, Israel and Anti-Semitism — A summary of the many areas in which Israelis believe that they are not being treated fairly by the United Nations.
It's Not the Occupation — A counter-argument to the claim that the Hamas war was simply a desperate effort to resist an unjust occupation. The article explains the long history of similar violence --- violence that precedes any sort of Israeli occupation.
A Dark Day for the Middle East---and Journalism — A careful analysis of the way in which the Gaza hospital bombing was reported in the mainstream US press -- an analysis that reveals a shocking disregard for basic journalistic ethics.
A Quick Primer on Understanding 21st-Century Israel — The many conflicts swirling around Israel cannot be understood by a quick perusal of current events. This is a part of the world where history really matters and this is an especially good guide to sources that explain that history.
How the Palestinian Authority Failed Its People — A review of some of the many ways in which the Palestinian people have been victimized by their corrupt and ruthless leaders.
My Phone Says 2023. It Feels Like 1948. — The combined horror of the October 7 attack on Israel, the use of human shields by Hamas to protect itself, and global condemnation of anything that Israel might do that harms these civilians is leaving Israelis with the sense that they are fighting for their very existence.
The Best of Bad Options for Recovering the Hostages — From long-time Mideast negotiator, Dennis Ross, thoughts about how it might be possible to negotiate the release of the hostages.
Palestinian Lives Matter, Except to Hamas — Strong reason to believe that the Hamas' callousness and total disregard for civilian welfare extends to the citizens of Gaza.
What Hamas Wants — A chilling account of the many ways in which experts (including peacebuilders) misjudged Hamas. It is now clear that it is not a rational, good-faith actor seeking to defend the legitimate interests of its citizens. It is a sadistic and suicidal cult focused on destroying Israel and the Jews.
Appeasing Iran Has Failed — A critique of the Obama/Biden strategy of trying diffuse the Iranian threat by negotiating some sort of détente and an argument that Iran was never interested in any kind of reasonable compromise.
The Deep Roots of the Left's Deafening Silence on Hamas — For many, the second biggest surprise associated with the October 7 attack was the reluctance of many on the left to condemn the attack (and the fact that some even supported it). This article looks at the intellectual foundations behind the left's reactions.
The Moral Questions at the Heart of the Gaza War — A thought-provoking look of complex moral questions that are going to face Israeli soldiers as they enter Gaza (and the rest of the world as they judge the Israelis and the Palestinians).
This Is Hezbollah's Arsenal Of Weapons It Could Rain On Israel — A look at the terrifying array of weapons that Hezbollah has hidden in civilian areas all over southern Lebanon --- weapons that, if used, could quickly provoke a much wider and more catastrophic war.
Why Israel Is Acting This Way — An essay that places Israeli actions (both past and future) into the broader context of Middle Eastern political violence --- violence that often does not involve Israel (and does involve large-scale attacks on civilians).
Complacency and the Coming Storm — An essay that asked us to consider the possibility that the relative peace and stability that we've enjoyed over the last several decades is something of an aberration and that "normal" times are much more dangerous. We need to take efforts to avoid this kind of normality much more seriously.
There Are No Rules — An examination of the rules-based international order that was instituted following World War II to reduce the risk of that that war's horrors would be repeated. And, an exploration of the ways in which that, always tenuous, order is now eroding rapidly.
War in Israel: Michael Oren Explains How 'Evil' Infiltrated the Country — An especially enlightening interview with former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, recorded on October 7.
The savage nihilism of free palestine — A thought-provoking essay exploring the role of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism in Arab and Muslim culture and the relationship between these beliefs and European revolutionary thought.
Not since the Holocaust have this many Jews been killed in a single day — Israeli rabbi, author and blogger Daniel Gordis reflects on the enormity of the attacks, concluding that Israel will win, but it will never be the same. Despite the fact that the government was "nowhere to be found," the people and the army were raising a defense on their own.
Alliance for Peacebuilding's Statement On The Israel-Hamas Violent Conflict — Released on October 26, the Alliance calls for an immediate ceasefire with the release of all hostages, addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and working for a two-state solution.
Canadian Friends Service Committee E-Newsletter In response to the ongoing intensity of violence in Palestine/Israel. — "[F]reedom from the scourge of war will only be brought about through the faithfulness of individuals to their inmost convictions" As such, CFSC calls for an immediate ceasefire and new leaders who are open to paths of nonviolence. It calls for the immediate release of all the hostages and end to the violence of the Israeli military. CFSC calls on each individual to search for and recognize our shared humanity.
Scaling the Wall of Grief in Israel and Palestine — This article by Lisa Schirch recounts how history and stories about that history shape current day thoughts and events. Amid all the despair and horror, we can carve out spaces for hope, for grieving, for care for those traumatized, for those lost. There is a better way. "The violence will end when the occupation ends and there is justice, democracy, and a land for all people and when the world can work against antisemitism without working against Palestinian human rights."
Eileen Boris's Political Forgiveness Monthly for October 2023 — Eileen's main article is entitled "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive," a direct quote from the Dalai Lama. Writing after the Israel/Gaza conflict broke out, Eileen goes on to say, "if we want to survive as humanity, violence is not the answer. Instead, we need to make contact with our own hears and shift our mindsets to one of political forgiveness. On then can we meet these changes and begin to heal together.
Why Conspiracy Theorists Always Land on the Jews — An insightful exploration of the ways in which anti-Semitism differs from other forms of prejudice and discrimination.
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Culture and Religion

The Ancient Roots of Western Self-Criticism — One of the big features of Western society, and a major source of its dynamism, is its willingness to be self-critical and continually strive to do better (rather than simply accepting its fate).
The Enlightenment’s Gravediggers — The enlightenment which gave birth to scientific inquiry, market economies, and democratic systems of governance is now being subjected to serious challenge. This article explores what's at stake.
Does Uncompromising Morality Harm or Help? — Outrage over sacred values -- however morally justified -- can all too easily harden divisions and make progress much harder to achieve.
What the Fastest-Growing Christian Group Reveals About America — An examination of the surprising way that Christianity is evolving in the United States.
I’m Normally a Mild Guy. Here’s What’s Pushed Me Over the Edge. — An impassioned challenge to the way in which the "Make America Great Again" administration seems to be discounting the notion that there is an American idea worth defending and fighting for.
The moral collapse of the West — A thoughtful essay that goes beyond lamenting what's wrong with society and starts trying to imagine something new and better.
Trump is reorienting America's moral compass — Reflections on what the Trump administration is doing to the United States' moral standing around the world.
If you have no problem with this, carry on as you are. — An alarming and doubtless extremely controversial argument that the West is sleepwalking into a gigantic clash of civilizations with global Islam.
Answering Tough Questions About Promising Revelations — More in Common answers some tough questins about their report on American religious life.
There are no pure cultures — An informative exploration of the complex ways in which differing cultural traditions are deeply intertwined with one another.
How does the internet derange and divide us? — Zach Elwood lists ten ways social media is harming us before discussing what we can do to stop or address the harm.
Ramaswamy Is Uninvited From My Sleepover — A thought-provoking look at a big, but seldom recognized, cultural divide that exists within society's meritocratic elites.
Faith in Policy: Right-sizing religious actors' role in democratic processes — This brief from Search for Common Ground takes a nuanced approach to the role of religious actors in civic space, highlighting some of the ways in which their positive impact has been promoted and more negative influences mitigated.
I Don't Want to Live in a Monoculture, and Neither Do You — An especially good explanation of why the left-and right-leaning orthodoxies created by hyper-polarization are so counterproductive and destructive.
All Cultures are Not Equal — A disturbing and controversial article about the conflict between Western, liberal, democratic cultures and Islam -- a conflict that has been and likely will continue to be a major flashpoint.
The Questionable Enlightenment — Ashok Panikkar answers a student's question about the "Age of Enlightenment" and why it still is relevant and important today.
Is Culture Dying? — An explanation of the complex processes that are leading to the "deculturation" of so many places and reflections on the implications of this trend.
The Junkification of American Life — An insightful look at the ways in which the commercial success of tech driven dopamine highs is transforming our society.
The Problem Is Islam---Not Islamism — An article arguing that the popular distinction between Islamists and those who simply believe in Islam leads to serious (and potentially dangerous) misperceptions.
Religious Perspectives on the Narratives of America: The Search for Just, Honest, Inclusive and Forward-looking Tellings — This set of essays was compiled by the US Bahá'í Office of Public Affairs, and the Aspen Institute which collaborated on this collection of essays from people of many faiths in the U.S.
Social Conservatism Is Alive and Well — An exploration of the surprising resurgence of more traditional and conservative family values and lifestyles.
God™: an ageing product outperforms expectations — A thought provoking look at religion from an economics perspective.
Beware Cultural Drift — Thoughtful reflections on the nature of cultural evolution and the dangers of the cosmopolitan, global monoculture which has led so many people to adopt such highly similar sets of beliefs.
The Myth of White Christian Nationalism — For a time when many on the left tend to dismiss their political opponents as nothing more than "White Christian Nationalists," an honest effort to try to understand what this actually means.
How religious communities are working to ensure a free & fair election — To protect democracy you have to bring together a broad coalition of people who might have major disagreements on politics and policy but who are willing to come together to prioritize its defense. A discussion with Emma Addams of Mormon Women for Ethical Government.
Three Interfaith Organizations Helping Communities Navigate Their Differences -- BCB #99 — There's no question that religion plays a part in Americans' divisions. But it can also help bridge them, as this story illustrates.
The Metamodern Shift in the Culture Wars — A story about a valuable new word, "metamodern" and an explanation of how it can help us better deal with the world's complexities and contradictions.
Inside No Labels decision to plow ahead with choosing presidential candidates — For those hoping not to have to choose between the extremes of the right the extremes of the left, news that there is likely to be a national unity ticket on the ballot.
The Religion of Workism Is Making Americans Miserable — Reflections on what happens to elites when they view their profession as the central focus of their lives (and how that makes them different from the working classes).
Why Religious Freedom Matters, Even if You're Not Religious — An important reminder that religious freedom is of critical importance to all -- even those whose socio-cultural beliefs are not grounded in one of the major religious traditions.