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Talking across divides

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Posted by:
Bryn Davies
April 30, 2025

Did you know:

  • The people most involved in civic and political life hold the least accurate views of the other side's beliefs.?
  • The more passionate you are about a topic, the more likely you are to be wrong?

How we talk with each other is the foundation of democracy. If we can't discuss, if we can't even disagree in a healthy way, how can we tackle our collective challenges?

In early April, Really Local facilitated a workshop on 'talking across divides' at Castlemaine Free University — part of a regular program of sharing and building capability across our community.

We took participants through an immersive discussion and listening exercise, interspersed with the evidence on how we combat polarisation and build stronger communities.

It was an opportunity for reflection — not just on our community, but on ourselves.

‍Also that month: Marty Sharples and Bryn Davies interviewed the Bendigo electorate candidates on MainFM ahead of the federal election — Lisa Chesters (ALP), Avery Barnett-Dacey (Greens), Rohan Tyler (Victorian Socialists) and Matt Bansemer (Libertarian). All candidates were invited; the remainder declined or did not reply. The Bendigo electorate covers all of Mount Alexander Shire.

‍Interested in running a 'talking across divides' session of your own? Get in touch: connect@reallylocal.au

Sources

The people most involved in civic and political life hold the least accurate views of the other side's beliefs:  https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/09/polarization-democracy-and-political-violence-in-the-united-states-what-the-research-says

The more passionate you are about a topic, the more likely you are to be wrong:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19485506241252461?icid=int.sj-abstract.citing-articles

At a time when it feels as thoughso much is on the line, putting on our armour and preparing for battle againstthose with whom we disagree can foster a sense of safety, certainty andcontrol… The risk, however, is that in protecting our theoretical positions, weend up veering away from each other, making co-operation, consensus buildingand communication increasingly difficult at a time when those precise skillsare required to tackle the policy problems we face. 

AnikaBaset <https://www.abc.net.au/religion/dancing-across-differences-polarisation-relational-repair/105031404>

Constructivediscussion emphasises a need for diverse perspectives to be raised andexchanged in a manner that enables reflection and practical decision-making

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4899372

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