Recent BI and Substack Posts

Further exploration of the larger, "larger context" of the Israel/ Hamas war with the focus on global public opinion and the perverse incentives that it is creating.

In order to successfully navigate the complexities of the Israel/Hamas war, we need to understand the war's context in ways that are much more expansive than the left's narrow focus on Palestinian grievances.

Reader contributed and Guy's suggestions of interesting reads for the week relating to peacebuilding and hyper-polarization.

A look at the now hard-to-imagine challenges faced by the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King, and the 1963 March on Washington; how they were able to overcome them; and what they can teach us today.

A conflict is "ripe for resolution" when the parties are in a mutually-hurting stalemate, and they can see a "way out." Though Israeli/Palestinian conflict seems, to those on the outside, to be in such a stalemate, the way out seems much less apparent.

Two more readers contribute thoughts about the Israel/Gaza war and ways of envisioning a future we would all want to live in.

Readings on Israel/Hamas war recommended by readers, more colleague activities articles and news, and writing from people in allied fields.

To understand why the peacebuilding field has failed to live up to its lofty ambitions, we have to unpack the world we inhabit today. Peacebuilding is not possible in many societies, and peacebuilders need to understand where their processes can work and where they cannot.

A compendium of ideas from conflict strategists about the nature of the US hyper-polarization problem and ways to address that.

An exercise to help us all appreciate our inner and social experiences of peace, wholeness, and connection, as defined by many cultures around the world.

The US 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be extremely challenging to U.S. democracy, but there are things that can be done to make sure it is both trustworthy and trusted.

More thoughtful articles from colleagues, the media, and writers in allied fields.

The Burgesses answer Jack William's questions about the best strategy now to obtain peace and security in Israel and Gaza, whether Israel is attacking civilians on purpose, and what can be done over the longer term to attain peace and security in the region.

An exchange between the Burgesses and Jack Williams examining how the Burgesses have come to make the several controversial assertions with respect to the Israel and Hamas war.

How much could we change if we could just accept the fact that "America belongs to all who live here" and we set about the task, as South Africans did, to figure out how we could make that work for everyone?

Jay Rothman shared his 2013 article in which "intersectionality" is seen as aiding intergroup cooperation, not harming it.

Reports from colleagues and others in allied fields about US democracy and related topics.

Colin Rule says that intersectionality means that all oppressed people should support each other in their mutual efforts to realize their basic human rights to live in peace and have self determination, and hence is good.

Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve safety, justice, and dignity. They will only find these basic human rights when they can give them to each other.

A summary of the Burgess's latest thinking about massively parallel peacebuilding and democracy building explaining how it is already taking place on a large scale.

More important ideas from our colleagues and writers in allied fields.

More articles from our friends, colleagues and others about hyper-polarization as well as the Israel/Hamas war.

A consideration of the factors that are making the Israel/Hamas war so exceptionally difficult even to talk about (civilly at least) let alone solve.

Reflecting on messages from readers about our Israel/Hamas writing and why we see this as differently as we do from many of our colleagues.

New comments from Israeli peacebuilder Julia Chaitin and U.S. psychotherapist Madeline Taylor about the Israel/Hamas war.