Change is Gonna Come: How to Have Effective Political Conversations in a Divided America

The decline in civility in American politics and the fracturing and hardening of political attitudes pose a challenge to deliberative democracy. Insults are thrown, feelings are hurt, and family and friends avoid political discussions altogether. This book argues that we need a new way to discuss politics that encourages engagement and room for dissent. One way to approach this challenge is to consider how public opinion changes, such as the successful marriage equality movement. A Change is Gonna Come reflects on the last fifteen years of LGBTQ advocacy to propose practical ways to approach informal political conversation on a variety of contentious issues.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 208 pages
\n Publication date: 09 April 2020
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
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The decline in civility in American politics is a concerning trend, coupled with the fracturing and hardening of political attitudes. This has led to a lack of communication and understanding between people with different political views, resulting in insults, hurt feelings, and social groups breaking apart. Deliberative democracy, which relies on open and respectful dialogue, is at risk of survival if we cannot engage with those who disagree with us.

In this book, the author argues for a new way to discuss politics that encourages engagement and room for dissent. One approach to this challenge is to consider how public opinion changes. Public opinion, by and large, is sticky and change occurs slowly, but there have been exceptions, such as the significant change in public opinion toward LGBTQ rights and marriage equality.

The marriage equality movement is considered one of the great success stories of political advocacy. Brian F. Harrison argues that one of the most powerful reasons for its success is that a broad range of marriage equality advocates were willing to engage in contentious and sometimes uncomfortable discussion about their opinions on the matter. They started everyday conversations that got people out of their echo chambers and encouraged them to start listening and thinking.

However, the question remains: can simple conversation work in other arenas, and how and where does one approach such conversation? Drawing from social psychology, communication studies, political science, personal narratives, and other sources, the author explores these questions and offers insights into how we can create more open and respectful dialogue in our political discourse.

The book also highlights the importance of empathy and understanding in political conversations. By recognizing and respecting the perspectives of others, we can build bridges of understanding and create a more inclusive and diverse political landscape. This is crucial for the survival of deliberative democracy and for building a stronger and more resilient society.

In conclusion, the decline in civility in American politics is a significant concern, but there are ways to address this challenge. By encouraging engagement and room for dissent, considering how public opinion changes, and promoting empathy and understanding, we can create more open and respectful dialogue in our political discourse. This will help to build a stronger and more resilient society and ensure that deliberative democracy can survive in the face of political polarization and division.

\n Weight: 346g\n
Dimension: 148 x 217 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780190939557\n \n