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 quality of that conversation matters.

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

How We Got Here: • Money in Politics • Gerrymandering • Election Rules • 24/7 News Cycle • Social Media

People are Social Beings… They respond to: • Context • Structure • Signals

Richmond, VA

Charlottesville, VA

The National Institute for Civil Discourse brings people together for civil conversations to find common ground on divisive issues.

Three Target Groups RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH

Signs of Hope: Elected Officials

Signs of Hope: Elected Officials 46 Bipartisan Freshman Members of Congress Pledge to Civility, January 2017

Signs of Hope: Public 2017 Revive Civility Initiative • Deep dive in 4 states: ME, OH, IA, AZ • National state & local partners:

Working with Citizens Initiative to Revive Civility

Unlikely Friendships https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dMMCVfKP9s

Text, Talk, Revive Civility

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

Core to Being Able to Do this Work: • We have a fundamental obligation to see our common humanity across our differences.

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.

1 Civility Pledge 2 Civility Conversations 3 Mayoral Proclamations 4 Citizen Action www.ReviveCivility.org

Signs of Hope: Media

Signs of Hope: Media

What Can You Do? • 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.

April 20-28, 2018 Americans coming together across different political views, listening to each other, helping bridge divisions.

What can we do to improve the tone of the upcoming 2018 elections? Five key questions • One on One • Small Groups

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 www.ReviveCivility.org

“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

Thank You! Questions? Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer Executive Director National Institute for Civil Discourse www.nicd.arizona.edu Email: cjlukensmeyer@email.arizona.edu Phone: (202) 759-9302