Newsletter #348 — April 27, 2025
by Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess
Reader Suggested Links
Highlighting links suggested by our readers. Please send us links to things that you find useful.
- Disinformation
Finally, Someone Said It to Joe Rogan’s Face — An article raising important questions about the relationship between free speech rights and (especially for prominent "influencers") the obligation to exercise those rights responsibly. - Authoritarianism
The rise of end times fascism — A rare peak into the extreme and sometimes crazy aspirations of the super wealthy (and the limited obligations that they feel toward the societies that made them wealthy). - Rule of Law
Will This Conservative Legal Doctrine Undo Trump’s First Months in Office? — The timely article explaining the Supreme Court's new "major questions doctrine" and the role that it may play in determining the legality of many Trump administration initiatives. - Immigration
Immigrants and Freedom of Speech — A thoughtful exploration of the complex and legally murky nature of free speech rights for non-citizens. - War
How Trump Could Make ‘Muscular Mediation’ Work in Ukraine — The description of the promises, pitfalls, and intricacies of the "muscular mediation" strategy that the Trump administration is apparently trying to use in Ukraine. - Superpower Conflict
Sweden Has the Tanks. Finland Has the Troops. Welcome to the Pan-Nordic Army. — Yet another indicator of the speed with which Europe is being forced to consider the very real possibility of war -- the kind of war that was thought unthinkable just a few short years ago. - Israel / Hamas War
This Is the Holocaust Story I Said I Wouldn’t Write — In the context of today's overuse of the term "genocide" and widespread embrace of virulent anti-Semitism, a reminder of just how bad things can get. - Saving Democracy
Trump’s autocracy is growing—but patriotic opposition is growing faster — A hopeful story about the speed with which opposition to the Trump administration's most extreme and indefensible policies is growing.
Colleague Activities
Highlighting things that our conflict and peacebuilding colleagues are doing that contribute to efforts to address the hyper-polarization problem.
- Theories of Change
Does Protest Even Work? — Jonathan Stray and Eve Sneider argue that protests can be successful if they are big enough and nonviolent. - Civil Society
The Essence of The New Civic Path — Rich Hardwood has started a campaign to develop what he calls a "New Civic Path" that is an alternative to divisiveness and is much like our notion of win-win democracy -- building a society together in which we would all like to live. - Peacebuilding
Threads of Resilience: A Tale of Unity Across Genocides — A survivor of the Bosnia genocide visited the Rwandan genocide memorial and wrote about the resilience of both peoples in the wake of those tragedies. - Bridge Building
What I’m thinking now, as a political bridge-builder and democracy-strengthener — In answer to the question "what can I do?", Kristen Hansen, of the Civic Health Project, lists five things America needs from all of us. - Civil Society
Of, By and For the People: Let's talk about the Constitution — A new Living Room Conversation/Dorm Room Guide for talking constructively in a small group about the Constitution. Included in this guide is the opportunity for participants to receive a "Civic Badge" for participation in this activity. - Peacebuilding
In the Footsteps of Peacebuilders: Reflections from Montgomery & Selma — Members of the Euphrates Institute met in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama for their in-person meeting and took a journey through the historical landmarks of the Civil Rights Movement, reflecting on what is being asked of us today. - Civil Society
A Fluorescent Moment for Civics — The CEO of iCivics, Louise Dube, reflects on last week's Civic Learning Week. Her key takeaway is that while the civic fabric of America is frayed, it remains durable. She shares evidence, and ways forward. - Authoritarianism
The Faithful Fight: Toolkits for countering authoritarianism — American values and institutions are under threat. Religious communities can play a pivotal role in protecting our neighbors and building a stronger democracy. The Faithful Fight toolkits offer strategies to bring us together, and help us act. - Authoritarianism
The Faithful Fight Toolkit: When authoritarians take power, faithful leaders fight back — Throughout history religious leaders and communities have played a crucial role in protecting people and pushing back against authoritarian systems. This toolkit series shows how to do that. - Superpower Conflict
The Shift from Smart to Dumb Power — Donald Trump may be a good campaigner, but his government policy in the first few months is characterized by chaotic and irrational decisions: "Dangerous and dumb," according to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. - Constructive Advocacy
A Public Statement From Philanthropy — From the Council on Foundations, an invitation for all charitable giving organizations to join them in an effort to protect everyone's freedom to express themselves, to give, and to invest in their communities. - Theories of Change
Lessons on change from the immortal jellyfish. — Tips for organizations facing organizational change on how to manage that change and come out strong. - Networking
Network Values Flyer — A List of Network Values -- a flyer to use in digital presentations or to print off to use as a handout or to hang up listing values that help networks of any kind work better together and achieve more. - Authoritarianism
When Authoritarianism Creeps In: Lessons from History, Warnings for Today — What do we do when democratic norms begin to erode---not through a single coup or law, but by a thousand smaller cuts? David Beckemeyer talks with Bruce Neuburger about his grandfather's fight against Hitler, and how it applies today.
News and Opinion
From around the web, more insight into the nature of our conflict problems, limits of business-as-usual thinking, and things people are doing to try to make things better. (Formerly, Beyond Intractability in Context.)
- Developing a Unifying Vision
Don’t Squander the Potential of Abundance — As we contemplate how, exactly, to pursue an "abundance agenda," an appeal for doing so in ways which serve everyone -- not just one political party. - Saving Democracy
Who Really Runs America? — For those who wonder why America can't seem to successfully do anything, an important review of the powers held by small special interest groups. - Immigration
Yes, Biden really did make a mess of immigration. — A rare and balanced look at the role the Democrats have played in setting the stage for the ongoing backlash against immigration (and Trump's often outrageous deportation efforts). - US Politics
Trump Meets His Match: The Markets — Hopeful news about the ability of financial markets to successfully persuade the Trump administration to abandon especially ill-advised policies. - Theories of Change
Trump’s Single Stroke of Brilliance — From David Brooks, a thought-provoking comparison of the Trump administration's transformative energy and the left's malaise. - Social and Economic Complexity
Hedging the New Uncertainty — Another indicator of the seriousness of the problems we face, financial planners are starting to think about how to protect their assets in the world if the financial system collapses. - Psychological Complexity
The Neuroscience of Compliance and Control: Why We Follow Orders — An exploration of the neuroscience behind the complex psychological dynamics that bind society together in functioning social groups. - Social and Economic Complexity
The Coming Economic Nightmare — Amid the chaos and turmoil surrounding Trump's efforts to remake the global economy, a thoughtful attempt to forecast the economic problems that these efforts may produce. - Rule of Law
How to Survive a Constitutional Crisis — From Foreign Affairs, a lengthy and in-depth analysis into strategies for protecting Constitutional democracy from the Trump administration's ongoing and potential threats. - War
The Age of Forever Wars — From Foreign Affairs, a carefully considered analysis of why efforts to end wars so often end in failure. - Freedom of Speech
Europe Really Is Jailing People for Online Speech — For those who think that citizens of all democracies enjoy the same free speech rights that we take for granted, news from Europe about the limits being placed on those rights. - Class Inequity
‘Economic Affirmative Action’ Won’t Work — Hard questions for those who think that focusing on class instead of race is the key to building a broader base of support affirmative action. - Media Reform
Tyler Cowen: Why I (Often) Choose My Phone Instead of Flesh and Blood — Amid all of the criticisms regarding online life and friendships, a thought-provoking defense of the relationships that we form in the digital world. - US Politics
Rod Dreher: ‘Cry More, Libs’ Is Not a Strategy — From a Trump supporter, recognition that simply doing things that enrage the left will not be enough to successfully address the right's many legitimate grievances. - Developing a Unifying Vision
You are the heir to something greater than Empire — Thoughtful reflections on the many positive aspects of the culture and society that we have inherited (and a call for efforts to further enhance that heritage). - Saving Democracy
Delivering for Democracy: Why Results Matter — From Francis Fukuyama, an in-depth, academic article explaining why it is so important for democratic societies to improve their ability to successfully address problems. - Climate / Environment / Health
The World Seems to Be Surrendering to Climate Change — A global report on the many ways in which countries are reversing past commitments to limit climate change-related emissions (and a look at the obstacles to building a sustainable consensus for climate action). - Rule of Law
The Supreme Court Has No Army — Reflections on the ultimate source the Supreme Court's power and its ability to exercise its Constitutional role as final arbiter of legal disputes. - Media Reform
The Alarm Over Social Media Is Getting Through to Teens — A hopeful, good news story about the young people who are rebelling against the many ways in which their lives and relationships are being threatened and exploited by social media companies - US Politics
Is Trump a Tyrant or a Savior? Maybe Just a Bumbler — Reflections on a critically important question: Is Trump a devious mastermind orchestrating some grand authoritarian takeover strategy? Or, are his plans so poorly crafted that they can't possibly achieve their desired objectives? - Social and Economic Complexity
There’s a Reason the World Is a Mess, and It’s Not Trump — An important look at the larger, and not yet successfully addressed, problems that created the socioeconomic environment that produced our hyper-polarized politics and the Trump administration.
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About the MBI Newsletters
Two or three times a week, Guy and Heidi Burgess, the BI Directors, share some of our thoughts on political hyper-polarization and related topics. We also share essays from our colleagues and other contributors, and every week or so, we devote one newsletter to annotated links to outside readings that we found particularly useful relating to U.S. hyper-polarization, threats to peace (and actual violence) in other countries, and related topics of interest. Each Newsletter is posted on BI, and sent out by email through Substack to subscribers. You can sign up to receive your copy here and find the latest newsletter here or on our BI Newsletter page, which also provides access to all the past newsletters, going back to 2017.
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