Parent (Previous) Guide Folders
Constructive Conflict Guide >
The Complex Factors That Make Intractable Conflict So Difficult >
Conflict "Overlay" Problems >
Escalation
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Weak Societal Integration

BI Article
Summary of "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community"

Related Folders
Bridge Builders
Bridge Builders facilitate direct human connections that cross political divides and dispel inaccurate and inflammatory stereotypes. 

Related Folders
Integrators
Integrators focus on reaching out to those who feel alienated from and left behind by the larger society — people who have lost so much hope that they are falling victim to the various diseases of despair.  Especially worrying are those who have crossed the line into destructive nihilism where they are so resentful of the larger society that they want to do all they can attack and destroy it

Colleague Activities
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.

Colleague Activities
Join or Die
This documentary follows social scientist Robert Putnam, author of the groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research, about why you should join a club, and how we could heal our current isolation and division by simply showing up.

News and Opinion
A Close-Up Picture of Partisan Segregation, Among 180 Million Voters

News and Opinion
The New Urban Crisis: How Our Cities Are Increasing Inequality, Deepening Segregation, and Failing the Middle Class-And What We Can Do about

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
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..

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
Segregation Won't Return. It's Already Here.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
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.

News and Opinion
The Anti-Social Century
An article exploring the causes and effects of the long-term erosion of interpersonal social relationships.