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  The Complex Factors That Make Intractable Conflict So Difficult >
  The Additional (and Even Bigger) Challenge of Societal Complexity >
  Types of Complexity
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Political Complexity

BI Article
Reflections on the 4th of July (U.S. Independence Day)
Can the Constitution brings us back together, as it was designed to do, or will it push us further apart? Should we, in the United States, be proud or ashamed this Independence Day -- and how can we balance pride with serious efforts to address our many shortcomings?

BI Article
Harry Boyte and the Burgesses on Thinking Politically
What does "thinking politically" mean in terms of nonviolent action? It doesn't mean thinking along party lines. Rather, it means thinking strategically about audiences, desired outcomes and best strategies to meet those outcomes.

Related Folders
Political and Democracy Thinkers
Political and Democracy Thinkers nurture the democratic idea and try to figure out how to better adapt it to continually changing realities.

Colleague Activities
Congress is polarized. Fear of being 'primaried' is one reason.

Colleague Activities
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

Colleague Activities
The problem of complex legislation

News and Opinion
Cacophonocracy
Important new word: cacophonocracy --what happens when the possibility of consensus among the governed deteriorates to unmanageable extremes.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
How America Got Into This Omnishambles
An analysis of the factors underlying the ongoing collapse of Democratic prospects with important lessons for the future.

News and Opinion
Is Europe Becoming Ungovernable?
An article highlighting the many ways in which hyper-polarization has made Europe so dysfunctional.

News and Opinion
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.