In published in the January 15th issue of Science, Peter T. Coleman, Professor of Psychology & Education, asserts that 鈥減iecemeal鈥� tactics will be insufficient to reverse 鈥渁 50-year trajectory of runaway division鈥� that have led to toxic polarization in the United States.
Peter T. Coleman, Professor of Psychology & Education (Photo: Jonathan Heisler)
Coleman, who directs TC鈥檚 argues instead that deeply divided societies are most likely to transform 鈥渨hen leaders take office after a major political shock 鈥� like the COVID-19 pandemic or the 6 January storming of the Capitol by political extremists 鈥� has destabilized the status quo and lead in a way that differs dramatically from the leadership that instigated the divisions.鈥� He adds that in societies where 鈥渄istrust and suspicion reign,鈥� new political strategies are more likely to succeed when introduced with 鈥渁 public declaration of intention.鈥�
Deeply divided societies are most likely to transform 鈥榳hen 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 divisions鈥�.
鈥擯eter T. Coleman, Professor of Psychology & Education
Calling for 鈥渁 two-pronged strategy to defeat toxic division in America,鈥� Coleman urges the Biden-Harris administration to launch 鈥渁 listening tour during which they partner with local, trusted community groups to elicit grievances and proposed remedies鈥� and to scale up the impact of 鈥渂ridge-building groups across the United States鈥� 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, . ]