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March 5, 2018
- Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer
Executive Director
Incivility and Political Dysfunction: What Can We Do About It? - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Incivility and Political Dysfunction: What Can We Do About It? - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Incivility and Political Dysfunction: What Can We Do About It? Center for the Study of Narrative and Conflict Resolution George Mason University March 5, 2018 Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer Executive Director Democracy is a conversation. The
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Democracy is a conversation. The quality of that conversation matters.
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Weber Shandwick Poll
Released January 23, 2017
Poll finds Americans are united in seeing an uncivil nation but divided about the cause https://t.co/UQ0n24FjXF
- 79% of Americans believe the 2016 U.S. Presidential
Election was uncivil
- 69% believe the U.S. has a major civility problem
- 75% of us now believe that incivility in America is a
crisis
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How We Got Here:
- Money in Politics
- Gerrymandering
- Election Rules
- 24/7 News Cycle
- Social Media
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People are Social Beings… They respond to:
- Context
- Structure
- Signals
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Richmond, VA
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Charlottesville, VA
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The National Institute for Civil Discourse brings people together for civil conversations to find common ground on divisive issues.
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Three Target Groups
RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH
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Signs of Hope: Elected Officials
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46 Bipartisan Freshman Members of Congress Pledge to Civility, January 2017
Signs of Hope: Elected Officials
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2017 Revive Civility Initiative
- Deep dive in 4 states: ME, OH, IA, AZ
- National state & local partners:
Signs of Hope: Public
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Working with Citizens Initiative to Revive Civility
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Unlikely Friendships
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dMMCVfKP9s
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Text, Talk, Revive Civility
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Step One:
- Set up the conditions for people to listen
for understanding
- What in this person’s life experience has
led them to this choice or this belief
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Core to Being Able to Do this Work:
- We have a fundamental obligation to
see our common humanity across our differences.
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Core to Being Able to Do this Work:
- We need to trust those on the other side
as fellow travelers rather than as enemies.
- We have to enter the conversation as a
two-way street: my mind could be changed as well as yours.
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Civility Pledge Civility Conversations Mayoral Proclamations
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Citizen Action
www.ReviveCivility.org
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Signs of Hope: Media
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Signs of Hope: Media
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- Sign the Civility Pledge
- Participate in the National Week of Conversation
NWOC
- Host civility conversations with friends, family and
within organizations/clubs
- Recruit organizations in your community to get
involved
- Sign up to be a facilitator of conversations in other
communities.
What Can You Do?
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April 20-28, 2018
Americans coming together across different political views, listening to each other, helping bridge divisions.
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What can we do to improve the tone of the upcoming 2018 elections?
Five key questions
- One on One
- Small Groups
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www.ReviveCivility.org
How do I participate?
- Sign up at www.revivecivility.org
- Download a sample conversation guide
- Invite one person or small group to join you
- Meet during NWOC (April 20-28, 2017)
- Share your ideas afterwards
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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
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Phone: (202) 759-9302
Thank You!
- Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer
Executive Director National Institute for Civil Discourse
Email: cjlukensmeyer@email.arizona.edu
www.nicd.arizona.edu