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
- Colleague and Context Posts for the Week of September 10, 2023 -- More interesting reading from colleagues and others in allied fields on democracy, polarization, and related issues. -- Sep 09
- Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says -- From Rachel Kleinfeld and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, an extensive, must-read analysis of the origins of the United States' ongoing political difficulties. -- Sep 09
- MLK and the Content of Character -- On the anniversary of Martin Luther King's 1963 March on Washington, thoughtful reflections on the meaning of his "I Have a Dream" speech in the contemporary context. -- Sep 09
- Jay Rothman on Large Scale Interventions -- In this interview, Jay Rothman continues to reflect on strategies for scaling up small group processes in ways that enable whole communities to develop "both-and" solutions the common problems. -- Sep 06
- Colleague and Context Posts for the Week of September 3, 2023 -- More interesting and important ideas from our conflict resolution/peacebuilding colleagues and others in allied fields. -- Sep 05
- Essentials of Social Innovation - Articles -- from the Stanford Social Innovation Review, a starter kit for "leaders of change" who are beginning to explore social innovation . -- Sep 03
- Why civility should not trump free expression: Part 10 of answers to bad arguments against free speech from Nadine Strossen and Greg Lukiano -- For those trying to think through what limits should be placed on free speech, a link to thoughts on one part of the argument plus links to 13 articles addressing other aspects of this complex issue. -- Sep 03
- America Is Often a Nation Divided -- An informative look back at historical periods in which the US was as deeply divided as it is today. We got through those tough times and we can get through today's (if we work at it). -- Sep 02
- Daniel Stid: Four Ways To Reframe Democracy in America -- How loneliness and isolation are contributing to our political malaise--and four ideas for changing that. -- Aug 30
- Zach Elwood on the Belief that "Polarization is not the Problem" -- Polarization is hurting both sides, and both sides should be concerned about reducing it if they want to achieve any of the high-priority goals. -- Aug 27
- Zach Elwood on the Belief that "Polarization is not the Problem" -- Polarization is hurting both sides, and both sides should be concerned about reducing it if they want to achieve any of the high-priority goals. -- Aug 27
- What is Meritocracy For? -- An article that asks an all-important (but not commonly asked) question, what are the obligations of those who hold positions in the meritocracy? -- Aug 23
- Colleague and Context Posts for the Week of August 20, 2023 -- Another set of links to interesting articles from our colleagues in conflict resolution, journalism, and allied fields. -- Aug 23
- Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center -- DDNRC seeks to ensure that college campuses sustain freedom of expression and academic freedom, promote pluralism, and expand opportunities for constructive communication across different perspectives. -- Aug 23
- More on Constructive Conflict Communication -- Empathic (active) listening and I-message are two very powerful communication strategies that work at the societal as well as interpersonal levels. -- Aug 21
- Why So Many Elites Feel Like Losers -- An especially perceptive article highlighting what happens when more people feel entitled to upper level positions in the social hierarchy than there are positions available. -- Aug 20
- First Principles: The Need for Greater Consensus on the Fundamentals of Polarisation -- A discussion of the definition of polarization, why it is so important, and how it might be addressed, including, perhaps by creating an academic "field" of polarization. -- Aug 16
- Talking with and Listening To People on the Other Side -- Most of us have unrealistic images of "the other side." If we talk with, and most importantly really listen to, some of those people, we will usually find out they are not nearly as different from us as we think. -- Aug 16
- Colleague and Context Posts for the Week of Aug. 13, 2023 -- More of our weekly links to informative and provocative readings from colleagues and others in allied fields. -- Aug 13
- India Is on the Brink -- From India, a story about how hyper-polarized politics has inflamed social tensions to the point where true authoritarian rule and large-scale violence are imminent. (This is what we are trying to prevent (and reverse). -- Aug 12
- The Culture of Transgression -- An informed and thoughtful critique of the progressive, Democratic elite that does much to explain the intensity and strength of the populist opposition. Something everyone ought to read. -- Aug 12
- Anne Leslie: Know Thyself -- A reflection on the role and choices we all make that will influence not only ourselves, but our society and planet as well. -- Aug 09
- A Time for Statesmanship -- A detailed and eloquent argument calling for the rediscovery of civic minded leadership and the need for civil servants committed to advancing the common good (not just their political fortunes). -- Aug 07
- Negotiation: A Very Short Introduction -- Leading negotiation scholar Carrie Menkel-Meadow's basic book highlighting things everyone should understand about negotiation. -- Aug 05
- What if We’re the Bad Guys Here? -- A must read article that does much to explain President Trump's continuing popularity and the role that the cosmopolitan elites have played in helping him survive his steady stream of scandals. -- Aug 05