Recent Beyond Intractability Posts
Including Hyper-Polarization Posts
Posts by BI Section
Lists of recent posts are also available separately for each BI Section:
Hyper-Polarization Discussion Posts | Earlier Constructive Conflict Initiative Blog
Things You Can Do To Help | Conflict Frontiers | Conflict Fundamentals
Beyond Intractability in Context | Colleague Activities
- 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. -- Jun 09
- Talking with Friends and Family about the Election -- How should we deal with summer family visits when some of our relatives are "on the other side?" Like so many other things, "it depends." -- Jun 09
- 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. -- Jun 08
- The Great Reset -- Peter Coleman suggests 8 steps that Columbia could follow to better understand what caused the chaos of last year, and how such conflicts can be conducted more constructively in the future. -- Jun 05
- 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. -- Jun 03
- Massively Parallel Peace and Democracy Building Links for the Week of June 2, 2024 -- Interesting readings from readers, colleagues, and journalists we are following. -- Jun 02
- 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. -- Jun 02
- 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. -- Jun 01
- Guy and Heidi Burgess's Thoughts on Memorial Day and Louis Kriesberg on Seeing a Way Out of The Gaza War -- A reflection of the meaning of Memorial Day to veterans and their loved ones, and to peacebuilders, and some thoughts on how the Gaza war might be ended. -- May 26
- 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. -- May 24
- Massively Parallel Peace and Democracy Building Roles - Part 4 -- The last in a four-part series of MPP roles looking at those who help balance power so that everyone in society is treated fairly, and those who try to defend democracy from those who would destroy it. -- May 23
- Massively Parallel Peace and Democracy Building Links for the Week of May 19, 2024 -- Another in our weekly set of links from readers, our colleagues, and others with important ideas for our field. -- May 19
- 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. -- May 19
- 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). -- May 18
- Massively Parallel Peacebuilding Roles - Part 3 -- Part 3 of a 4 part series examining the many roles played by participants in Massively Parallel Peace and Democracy Building. This newsletter focuses on those who help us analyze complex problems and develop collaborative solutions. -- May 17
- Crisis, Contradiction, Certainty, and Contempt -- Columbia Professor Peter Coleman, an expert on intractable conflict, reflects on the intractable conflict occurring on his own campus, suggesting "ways out" that would be better for everyone. -- May 13
- Massively Parallel Peace and Democracy Building Links for the Week of April 28, 2024 -- New suggested readings from colleagues and the Burgesses. -- May 09
- Attack the Problem, Not the People -- "Separate the people from the problem" might be the most often violated fundamental conflict resolution principle, even by people who know better. And it is hurting us. -- May 06
- 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." -- May 04
- 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. -- May 04
- Massively Parallel Peace and Democracy Building Links for the Week of April 21, 2024 -- More recommended readings from the Burgesses and readers. -- Apr 26
- Don't Take the "Hate Bait!" -- Returning hate with hate hurts everyone. Much better to return hate with inquiry and respect (even if it isn't deserved), and try to defuse the anger before it explodes. -- Apr 23
- 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: -- Apr 22
- Massively Parallel Peace and Democracy Building Links for the Week of April 14, 2024 -- Another of our weekly suggested links from readers and the Burgesses. -- Apr 19
- No Labels, No Alternatives, No Escape -- A postmortem on No Labels' failed effort to put a "national unity" candidate on the November Presidential ballot. -- Apr 16
