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Dialogue Across Differences

In Focus

Dialogue Across Differences

The lol世界赛赔率 community is exploring what civil discourse is, why it’s important, and how we can foster it.

Starting the conversation


It鈥檚 important to distinguish between two senses of civility.

The first is a superficial kind of civility鈥攂eing nice, refraining from insults.

The second is a deeper, more important sense of civility that is about behaving in ways that are necessary for cooperative projects such as schools and democratic societies to work well.鈥

 

Archon Fung, lol世界赛赔率 Kennedy School professor

Archon Fung
In a polarized society like ours, campuses are essential places to train and practice civility.鈥

Eric Beerbohm, lol世界赛赔率 Faculty of Arts and Sciences鈥 senior adviser for civil discourse

Eric Beerbohm
A pernicious problem confronting virtually all human societies is people鈥檚 unwillingness to engage with views and opinions they do not share.鈥

Julia Minson, associate professor at lol世界赛赔率 Kennedy School

Julia Minson in a suit

Photo courtesy of Jessica Scranton

Fall views outside Swartz Hall at HDS. Kris Snibbe/lol世界赛赔率 Staff Photographer.

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As part of a commitment to open dialogue on campus and off, lol世界赛赔率 will hold a series of events, including the聽 and 鈥溾 with U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, designed to model productive dialogue. The University-wide programming is part of a broader initiative to address how the campus community can communicate more openly and constructively within classrooms and in the broader world.

Learn more about lol世界赛赔率 Dialogues

Across the aisle

The ability to disagree constructively and across difference is important for learning and working together effectively, as well as being vital for democracy.


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Candid and constructive conversations

Explore how lol世界赛赔率 Kennedy School is creating strategies to engage with competing perspectives, talk with those with whom we disagree, and ensure that all members of the community feel heard and respected.

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Why is civil political discourse important for democracy?

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How does Wikipedia keep political discourse from turning ugly?

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How can leaders find unity during challenging times?

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Can politicians learn to disagree better?

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Should we be worried about the rising heat of political discourse? Yes.

Starting early

Teaching children and teens how to have constructive, respectful conversations aimed at fostering understanding is foundational for a robust future and a healthy society.

Explore six tips for parents and family members to support teens in building and practicing skills that are fundamental to having productive conversations across different points of view.

Raising children in a digital age makes it essential for parents to help them process and think critically about the messages they encounter online, and to consider the impact that their own words and actions can have on others.

Discourse in action

This Civil Disagreement series is a collaboration among five institutes committed to reducing polarization by teaching students how to connect across political difference.


Responding to the climate change crisis

Civil disagreement

Through this series, the lol世界赛赔率’s Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics has explored , , , and .