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
- 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
- Colleague and Context Posts for the Week of Aug. 6, 2023 -- Our weekly suggested readings from colleagues within and outside of the conflict resolution field relating to polarization, democracy and other issues of importance. -- Aug 05
- Constructively Navigating the World of Media Bias -- A look at the forces, including our own cognitive preferences, that produce a biased information environment and thoughts about what to do about it. -- Aug 03
- Can We Transform Our Politics? Utah Governor Spencer Cox Addresses the Braver Angels Convention -- Governor Cox talks about his new "Disagree Better" Initiative which he hopes will help revive healthy American politics because, he says "the alternative is unthinkable." -- Aug 01
- The limits of our personal experience and the value of statistics -- A clear and persuasive explanation of how statistical data provides a way of looking at the world that is different from and, in many ways, superior to, more direct and personal sources of information. -- Jul 30
- Colleague and Context Posts for the Week of Jul 30, 2023 -- Our regular colleague and context posts showing what are people are doing and thinking about intractable conflicts and democracy. -- Jul 29
- ‘The Country’s Already Been Destroyed’ -- An especially well-informed and thorough analysis of Israel's ongoing difficulties and look at how quickly complex societal conflicts can spin out of control. -- Jul 29
- Jay Rothman and Daniella Cohen on the Aria Group School Intervention in Yellow Springs, Ohio -- Highly polarized conflicts are typically systems problems, and they need system-based solutions to be successfully addressed. Here's an example where that was done very well. -- Jul 27
- The Left’s Social Contract Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It -- A look back at the left's many successes over the last 75 years, an argument that today's progressive advocacy is undermining that progress, and suggestions about how to fix things. -- Jul 25
- Harry Boyte and Marie-Louise Ström: Constructive Nonviolence -- Nonviolence can be a profound resource for addressing injustice, repairing torn relationships, and creating healthy civic life. And it is something we all can do, everyday. -- Jul 24
- Colleague and Context Posts for the Week of July 23, 2023 -- Our normal weekly links to interesting reading about democracy in the U.S. and around the world. -- Jul 23
- What Was the Fact? -- An examination of the role that "facts" have played in the evolution of society and thoughts about the implications of their recent demise. -- Jul 23
- Civil Rights Mediation Oral History Project: Modern Updates from Lum, Burgess, and Froehlich -- New civil rights mediator interviews provide a fascinating then-and-now comparison with earlier interviews conducted in 1999-2001. So much has changed--AND--so much has stayed the same! -- Jul 19
- Defusing American Anger -- A new, free online book by Zachary Elwood that shows how to better understand our fellow citizens and reduce our us-vs-them divides. -- Jul 18
- Ted Wetzel's Disagreement Fitness -- Democracy only works if people understand how to work through disagreements constructively. "Disagreement Fitness" is a way to strengthen such skills. -- Jul 18
- Colleague and Context Posts for the Week of July 16 -- Our normal weekly links to interesting reading about democracy in the U.S. and around the world. -- Jul 15
- Why this governor is promoting ‘healthy conflict’ -- Genuinely good news, the incoming chair of the National Governors Association, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) plans to focus his attention on the cultivation of "healthy conflict" and the ability to "disagree better." -- Jul 15
