Rehearsing civility: Bridgebuilding in polarized America
Over the last decade, ever-increasing polarization has exacerbated political divisions threatening both the civil sphere and democracy itself. In the United States, concern over democracy’s future has led to the growth of self-described bridgebuilding organizations. Bridgebuilding brings pe...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
| Published: |
Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, Belgrade
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Filozofija i Društvo |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-5738/2025/0353-57382501119C.pdf |
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| Summary: | Over the last decade, ever-increasing polarization has exacerbated political
divisions threatening both the civil sphere and democracy itself. In the
United States, concern over democracy’s future has led to the growth of
self-described bridgebuilding organizations. Bridgebuilding brings people
from across the political aisle together for dialogue with the aim of
lessening polarization. This paper examines bridgebuilding through a
detailed case study of one such organization. Drawing on observation,
interviews, and participant surveys, the study describes the motivations and
experiences of bridgebuilders. The paper finds that bridgebuilding allows
participants to “rehearse civility” experiencing the civility and goodwill
they crave in their own lives and desire for the broader society in a
relatively safe and controlled setting. Rehearsing civility invites
participants to invoke the civil- reaffirming social bonds, speaking to a
broader sense of goodwill, in turn rehumanizing their political opponents.
Though not without its limitations, the growth of bridgebuilding highlights
a deep desire for civility and the experiential and affective pleasure it
allows. Civility as mutual regard and as bonds to democratic institutions is
considered. |
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| ISSN: | 0353-5738 2334-8577 |