Parent (Previous) Guide Folders
Constructive Conflict Guide >
Civic Knowledge and Skills That We Can Use to Help Ourselves and Our Society More Constructively Handle Intractable Conflict >
Stripping Away "Overlay" Problems That Make Conflicts Appear More Intractable Than They Really Are >
Limiting Communication Problems and the Resulting Misunderstandings
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Promote Civility

BI Article
The Meaning of Civility
Many people have been calling for an increase in "civility" in public discourse. But what do they mean? This article gives one definition of civility, along with recommendations about how to attain it.

BI Article
Practice (and Preach) Civility in Public and Private Discourse
Being overtly hostile to one's opponent feels good, but very rarely helps things. Civility goes a long wary towards constructive confrontation.

BI Article
Anne Leslie: Slurps, Sulks, and Family History: Do You Care Enough to Argue?
Sometimes it is better to have an argument, rather than stew in silence, and have it with the mindset of wanting to learn more about the other person's truth instead of wanting to 'win'?

BI Article
Representative Derek Kilmer on the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress and De-polarization
Guy and Heidi Burgess talked with Rep. Derek Kilmer on how to break down polarization in Congress and in society in order to actually solve problems collaboratively. There is much to learn and copy here!

BI Audio/Video
Congressional Civility Retreats
Mark Gerzon talks about the retreats he and other confllict resolution facilitators ran in the late 1990s to try to instill more civility to their proceedings.

BI Article
Working with Strong Emotions in the Classroom
A guide for both teachers and students to help with both planned discussions of "hot topics," and unexpected emotional outbursts or threats in the classroom.

Colleague Activities
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.

Colleague Activities
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.

Colleague Activities
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.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
Civility Isn't Weakness---It's How We Win
An impassioned and persuasive defense of civility even when confronting uncivil political adversaries.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
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.