Bridging Political Divides: A Collaborative-Developmental Approach (Contemporary Social Issues Series)

We are living in an increasingly polarized political world.Partisans routinely view members of opposing political parties as out-of-touch, stupid, crazy, or even evil.This book calls for the creation of a more collaborative democracy to bridge these divides.It does so by noting that modern democracy is based primarily on adversarial practices - we seek to solve political problems through debating, campaigning, and voting.Drawing on an 18-month study, Michael F. Mascolo shows how individuals with opposing beliefs were able to use the principles and practices of conflict resolution to address three contentious socio-political issues: school dress codes, capital punishment, and race relations involving the police.Their success illustrates how collaborative problem-solving can generate genuine, shared solutions to seemingly intractable problems, offering insights for scholars and practitioners seeking to reduce polarization and strengthen democratic life.An essential read for researchers,