🎧Ep20: Uncovering the Roots of Polarization
“Trauma is the glue that holds polarization in place.”
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Episode #20: “Honoring Dignity & Leading in Polarization” with David Brubaker
Listen here:
In this classic Fractal Friends episode re-release, Duncan speaks with David Brubaker about the depth of polarization. They discuss the importance of honoring each others’ (and our own) dignity, even when we don’t agree with each other. Empathy is a valuable tool we can use to understand other perspectives and ask questions that produce profound answers.
David and Duncan delve deep into how trauma impacts polarization, including our epigenetics. That’s why it’s so important to know how to deal with trauma appropriately and recognize its wider effect on all of us.
David explains how people choose their side regardless of how much sense the other side makes. He tells an anecdote about Israel and Palestine, where one side shunned their own idea because they thought it came from the other.
Polarization is real and dangerous, and it’s up to us to understand and fix the rift it creates.
Highlights in this episode:
Learn the definition of polarization and the different levels of conflict.
Discover the importance of honoring each other’s dignity, even when we don’t agree.
Learn about the history of Mennonites and their involvement in conflict resolution.
David explains how polarized people choose their side, regardless of the logic presented by the other side.
Duncan and David discuss the history that’s led to polarization.
Uncover why avoiding conflict isn’t the answer.
Learn why trauma makes polarization worse and why it’s important to understand how to deal with it.
David explains why Confederate statues were built in the South.
Understand why epigenetics might cause people of color to run from the police.
David: I am personally convinced that the root out of polarization does not lie through avoiding conflict because we've tried that, and it doesn't work.
It actually just goes underground and gets worse, but engaging conflict, particularly when it's small. So if we can engage conflict at the more manageable levels, those levels, one, two, and three. Level one, where dialogue is very effective. Level two, where negotiation is very effective. Level three, where having the third-party mediator is very effective.
The vast majority of our conflicts never need to get to level four and if they do get to level four and five, then there is a certain kind of leadership that's required. And it certainly is not the kind of leadership that throws gasoline on the fire, as we've seen in several countries around the world, including our own.
That kind of leadership makes everything worse. It's polarizing leadership, but there are examples, and I've seen them in organizations, congregations, governors of people who are very clear about their own beliefs, about who they are and what they believe, and yet they're equally open to hearing others perspectives, and they don't diminish or demean them. They honor the humanity of all those that they interact with.
The leaders that fare the worst in polarized systems, and I've seen this play out time and time again, are those who remain steadfastly neutral because then they are despised by both sides.
They are seen as weak and unprincipled by both, and leaders fare better when they're able to say, “This is who I am, this is where I stand.”
About this week’s guest:
David Brubaker is a Dean at the School of Social Sciences and Professions at Eastern Mennonite University. He’s also a Professor of Sociology, and the author of several publications, including a book called When the Center Does Not Hold: Leading in an Age of Polarization. David has consulted or trained with over 100 organizations worldwide. He’s served with several community development and conflict transformation organizations for over four decades.
Connect with David:
Email: david.brubaker@emu.edu
Check out the info-packed episode page for more awesome resources.
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