Discussion Cures Division

Addressing the deep divisions afflicting our nation through productive conversation is at or near the top of EnCiv’s priorities.  Some people have told us over the past year think that they think we’re on a fool’s errand.  But plenty of solid research says otherwise.  Indeed, as I reported in an earlier post, social science tells us not only that deliberation is effective in general, but that deliberation is the antidote to group polarization–even in deeply divided societies.  Deliberation can, as Nicole Curato and her colleagues wrote last year, “promote recognition, mutual understanding, social learning about the other side, and even solidarity across deep differences.”

What’s more, research on the subject has revealed the key factors that make for successful deliberation.  In order to be an effective antidote to polarization, deliberation needs to include three key ingredients: (1) participants from different sides; (2) a reliable process; and (3) skilled facilitators.

All three ingredients will be built into the platform EnCiv is building.