Lessons on Polarization from Global Leaders

I recently had the privilege of attending an event hosted by the Ford Foundation and the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) in their New York offices. This convening brought together global leaders to share lessons on polarization, aiming to enhance our understanding and strategies concerning the challenges the United States currently faces in this area.

The event kicked off with an insightful introduction by Hilary Pennington, the Executive Vice President of Programs at the Ford Foundation. Hilary set the stage by discussing the importance of this gathering, especially in today's rapidly polarizing world.

Panel Discussion

A panel moderated by Mark Freeman, the Executive Director of IFIT, featured an impressive lineup of speakers who provided firsthand accounts of dealing with polarization in their countries. The panel included:

• General Óscar Naranjo (Colombia) — a renowned former Director General of the Colombian National Police, General Naranjo was a lead negotiator in the Colombian government’s peace talks with the FARC and went on to serve as Minister for Post-Conflict and then Vice President of the Republic.
• Hon. Ms. Ouided Bouchamaoui (Tunisia) — a prominent national business leader, Ms. Bouchamaoui was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015 for her leadership in the Tunisian Quartet that prevented a civil war and helped usher in the country’s modern constitution.
• President Chandrika Kumaratunga (Sri Lanka) — Sri Lanka’s first and only female Executive President, for eleven years she led the country during its brutal civil war, including surviving an assassination attempt, before later serving as Chairperson of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation.
• Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia (Kenya) — the first General Secretary of the World Council of Churches to be elected from Africa, Rev. Dr. Kobia served as ecumenical special envoy to Sudan and as Senior Advisor to Kenya’s President, before assuming his current role as Chairman of Kenya’s National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
• Hon. Ms. Monica McWilliams (UK) — cofounder of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition cross-community political party and its lead negotiator in the peace talks that led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Ms. McWilliams later served as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission from 2005-2012.

Each leader shared moving stories and lessons from their experiences in creating peace agreements and navigating through intense national crises. They discussed how polarization often feels like a race to the bottom, highlighting the difficulty of recognizing when societies have hit rock bottom and the critical need for action to change the prevailing culture of division.

Insights from Monica McWilliams

One poignant moment was when Ms. McWilliams shared how personal losses due to polarization pushed her towards realizing the urgent need for cultural and systemic change. This resonated deeply with me, especially considering my current research on AI tools for incarcerated individuals, emphasizing the necessity of including diverse voices in dialogue and policy-making to combat polarization effectively.

General Naranjo's Approach

General Naranjo emphasized the critical need to not tolerate violence and to enhance the visibility of victims. This resonates deeply with ongoing initiatives in Mexico to commemorate victims of violence, exemplified by the recent erection of statues throughout the city to honor women who have disappeared or been murdered. Such actions are crucial for cultivating a culture that decisively rejects violence and prioritizes understanding over victory. This theme of visibility also aligns with our research on sousveillance tools for workers, through which we help them document and quantify workplace harms. Promoting visibility is an effective strategy to combat polarization and violence, ensuring that victims receive the recognition they deserve. I am proud to contribute to this important research on sousveillance.

Duet by US Leaders

The event also featured a "duet by US Leaders," with Ai-Jen Poo from the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Brian Hooks from Stand Together, who discussed the role of fear in fueling polarization and the potential of caregiving as a central strategy to counteract this through enhancing well-being and fostering mutual respect.

Lunch Discussions

Lunch was not just a meal but an extension of the learning environment, with table discussions that allowed us to dive deeper into strategies for building trust and understanding across different communities. This was particularly enlightening as we shared strategies on engaging with rural communities in the US, recognizing common goals, and avoiding divisive topics.

This convening by the Ford Foundation and IFIT was not only timely but also a crucial reminder of the ongoing need for dialogue, understanding, and proactive efforts to address polarization. It has inspired me to think more critically about how we can apply these global lessons to the US context and beyond, particularly through my work with AI and community engagement. The connections made and insights gained will undoubtedly influence my approach to research and activism moving forward.