In published in the January 15th issue of Science, Peter T. Coleman, Professor of Psychology & Education, asserts that âpiecemealâ tactics will be insufficient to reverse âa 50-year trajectory of runaway divisionâ that have led to toxic polarization in the United States.
Peter T. Coleman, Professor of Psychology & Education (Photo: Jonathan Heisler)
Coleman, who directs TCâs argues instead that deeply divided societies are most likely to transform âwhen leaders take office after a major political shock â like the COVID-19 pandemic or the 6 January storming of the Capitol by political extremists â has destabilized the status quo and lead in a way that differs dramatically from the leadership that instigated the divisions.â He adds that in societies where âdistrust and suspicion reign,â new political strategies are more likely to succeed when introduced with âa public declaration of intention.â
Deeply divided societies are most likely to transform âwhen leaders take office after a major political shock has destabilized the status quo and lead in a way that differs dramatically from the leadership that instigated the divisionsâ.
âPeter T. Coleman, Professor of Psychology & Education
Calling for âa two-pronged strategy to defeat toxic division in America,â Coleman urges the Biden-Harris administration to launch âa listening tour during which they partner with local, trusted community groups to elicit grievances and proposed remediesâ and to scale up the impact of âbridge-building groups across the United Statesâ through federal funding, recognition, and coordination.
[Read in Science. Read a new journal article Coleman has co-authored on his Sustainable Peace Project, and visit the website for his forthcoming book, . ]