Thinking about what more those with conflict resolution and peacebuilding expertise can do to defend liberal democracies while also helping them live up to their ideals.
A Beyond Intractability / Conflict Resolution Quarterly Joint Online Discussion / Blog
Overview
- Editor's invitation to discussion on the hyper-polarization crisis: A conflict resolution challenge — Helena Desivilya Syna, CRQ Editor
- BI/CRQ Discussion: Welcome, and Invitation to Participate — Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess, BI Co-Directors
- About this Initial Version of the BI/CRQ Hyper-Polarization Discussion / Blog
- Project Origins: The Constructive Conflict Initiative --- Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess
Starting Points: The New CRQ Feature Article and Commentaries
All articles can be read for free on the CRQ/Wiley site.
Feature Article — Applying conflict resolution insights to the hyper-polarized, society-wide conflicts threatening liberal democracies — Guy Burgess, Heidi Burgess, Sanda Kaufman
A call for those with conflict-related expertise to do more to help society more constructively handle the scale and complexity of today's big conflicts while also more effectively countering the efforts of bad-faith actors who are actively working to inflame and exploit our conflicts.
- Commentary — Applying conflict resolution insights to hyper-polarization: “When will (we) ever learn?” — Carrie Menkel-Meadow
Long-time conflict resolution scholar and practitioner, Carrie Menkel-Meadow reflects on the many causes of hyper-polarization and suggests new metaphors and approaches for replacing it with constructive, collaborative problem solving. 
Commentary — Adding to the call to action — a few more thoughts — Connie P. Ozawa
An exploration of the importance of framing and the need to take control of the destructive narratives that are so pervasive in polarized democracies. We need to replace them with a shared vision for our future -- one that is attractive to everyone including those with whom we disagree.- Commentary — Helping organizations and individuals develop conflict wisdom — Barney Jordaan
An appeal for the conflict field to go beyond interpersonal work to organizational work, particularly in businesses and business schools and an explanation of how peacebuilding "hubs" have been used in Belgium and The Netherlands to "scale up" peacebuilding to the societal level.
BI / CRQ Discussion Posts and Related Articles
- Related Articles — We Must Break the Logic of War Now--Before We Get World War III —Shamil Idress
As we embrace every effort to end the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine today, we must seize this moment for what it is: our last best chance to prevent even greater tragedy tomorrow - Interview — Talk with Shamil Idress, CEO of Search for Common Ground —Shamil Idress and Heidi Burgess
Heidi Burgess interviews Shamill Idress about his career, Search for Common Ground's work, current challenges facing Search, the peacebuilding field, and the world as a whole--and how we can meet them. - Related Articles — Russians Must Accept the Truth. We Failed. — Ilia Krasilshchik
From one of the many brave Russians who tried, and failed, to stop their country from sliding into an authoritarian dystopia, an eloquent reminder of why It is so important that we work to resist hyper-polarization and strengthen liberal democracy. - Discussion — The Ukrainian War: What Happens When You Have a War That Both Sides Absolutely, Positively Can't Afford to Lose? — Guy Burgesss
The dynamics that are driving the hyper-polarization crisis in so many countries are now threatening to turn the Ukrainian crisis into a truly catastrophic war. - Extended Commentary — Applying Conflict Resolution Insights to Hyper-Polarization: “When Will (We) Ever Learn?” — Carrie Menkel-Meadow
A much longer version of Menkel-Meadow's formal Commentary exploring our interdependence and the importance of curiousity, humility, "process pluralism," and, most importantly, widespread education of the polity on better ways of dealing with conflict.
Listing of All BI/CRQ Hyper-Polarization Discussion Posts
List of Discussion Posts Expanded to Include the Earlier Constructive Conflict Initiative Blog
