• Our societies are increasingly polarized

     

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    We are divided about what problems exist, who is responsible and how to tackle them

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Our ability to function within a pluralistic, interdependent system is being eroded

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Our capacity to make collective decisions (consult, build consensus, compromise)

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Our capacity to solve complex problems
    (speak, listen, agree on facts)

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Our capacity for empathy, compassion,
    curiosity, growth and love

     

     

     

     

     

     

    These human capacities are all diminished  when we are divided

     

     

     

     

     

     

    We experience stress in our in families, friendships & communities

     

     

     

     

     

     

    We are incapable of solving any problem
    when we are divided

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Apparent progress is partial, short-lived and fuels opposition and resentment

     

     

     

     

     

     

    As in nature, division in human society
    leads to decomposition and death

     

     

     

     

     

     

    No human system has survived extreme polarization (Apartheid, Nazism)

     

     

     

     

     

     

    But there is hope

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Societies don’t become polarized overnight,

    group identities harden slowly

     

     

     

     

     

    Human beings are wired for love, as long as there is contact between groups there is a chance to reverse polarization

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This is especially true of connectors, those willing and curious to socialize across groups

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Connectors exist in every system, yet they may not realize how important they are 

     

     

     

     

     

     

    In a polarized state, they tend to be chastised for fraternizing with the enemy

     

     

     

     

     

     

    But if empowered they can help bring us
    back from the brink

     

     

     

     

     

     

    These are the unifiers we seek.
    Are you one of them?

     

     

     

     

  • The Problem

    Why Polarization

    Polarization isn't just about politics. Culture, health, faith and an alarming growing list of issues are too divisive to discuss. For open and diverse societies to thrive we have a critical responsibility to build our collective capacity for dialogue across ideology.

    What is Polarization

    Polarization happens when ideas are pushed to the extreme and middle ground disappears. Us vs. them ideologies split us into in-groups and out-groups that attribute bad ideas to bad people. The loudest voices prevail over kindness and reason, and it's dangerous.

     

    "We define polarization as the moment we break off human relationships because of extreme differences in our ideas."

    Who can fix polarization

    Polarization is often framed as something too big to fix, something created by politicians over which we have little control. We reject that idea. Separation, alienation and division start with each of us and so does love, respect and the capacity to change.

  • Polarization Examples​

    Abortion

    Borders

    Climate

    Equal pay

    Education

    Guns

    Health

    LGBTQ

    Monuments

    Police

    Poverty

    Race

    Reparations

    Taxes

    Vaccination

    Voting

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