Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

The power of interdependence in the healthy democracy ecosystem

The capacity for change is rooted in the belief in its possibility

Many people standing arm-in-arm

"Acknowledging our challenges doesn't equate to succumbing to pessimism; rather, it propels us to forge expansive coalitions, uniting diverse voices to dismantle entrenched power structures that hinder our progress," writes Becvar.

DisobeyArt/Getty Images

Becvar is the executive director of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, which houses The Fulcrum.

Each week, I dive deep into the pulse of our collective efforts within the Bridge Alliance, exploring the tapestry of initiatives and activities of the healthy democracy field. At times, our work is galvanized by pivotal events, both within the United States and globally, or inspired by cultural milestones, like Taylor Swift pushback or the Tracy Chapman/Luke Combs duet at the Grammy Awards.

This week’s reflection transcends any specific political or cultural narratives. A different kind of theme stood out: the intrinsic interdependence of our diverse fields of work.


Over the years, the areas of focus brought together by the Bridge Alliance have clarified into organizations dedicated to bridging divides and peacemaking, reforming elections and governance, improving civic education and engagement, and spreading trustworthy information. Our founders and team continually work to define how these areas of practice strengthen one another and actively seek to intertwine the domains and amplify their collective impact. Last week highlighted the importance of how two of those domains – bridging divides and electoral and governance reform – really need each other.

There are updates about the successes and challenges of ranked-choice voting in 2023, the challenge of A.I. regulation, testimony on social media policy reforms, state efforts to minimize voters, rock-bottom primary election turnout, campaign finance reform, the debate over immigration, and the challenge of former President Donald Trump’s false allegations about U.S. elections. The breadth of these challenges is as daunting as it is invigorating, yet they are matched by the community’s efforts toward social cohesion and civic engagement.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

One highlight was the National Civic League’s webinar with leaders of the Bridging Movement Alignment Council and the #DisagreeBetter Campaign. They offered tools for having conversations with those we disagree with on many of the issues mentioned above. Podcasts discuss how curiosity can bridge dangerous divides and give insights into retaining our humanity in these divided times. Additionally, upcoming events provide opportunities to join discussions with thought leaders like Katherine Gehl and Jonathan Haidt offering insights into reforming our electoral systems, safeguarding democracy, and the societal impacts of social media.

The journey towards bridging divides and fostering social cohesion is often viewed through a skeptical lens, perceived as overly idealistic or disconnected from the broader socio-political challenges. Yet, my personal evolution from a self-identified pessimist to an unwavering optimist underscores a fundamental truth: advocacy for change is rooted in the belief in its possibility. Acknowledging our challenges doesn't equate to succumbing to pessimism; rather, it propels us to forge expansive coalitions, uniting diverse voices to dismantle entrenched power structures that hinder our progress.

In the face of current uncertainties and discord, I draw my hope from recognizing that within this reality lies an opportunity to galvanize broader engagement, drawing individuals out of complacency and into action. The Bridge Alliance and the wider healthy democracy ecosystem have been building capacity and laying foundational groundwork to welcome those individuals for years, and stand ready to lead with solutions, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to democracy.

As we move forward, I carry with me a profound sense of gratitude for this community, our collective endeavors and the tools at our disposal to navigate these times. It's a reminder that our work is not only necessary but pivotal in shaping the future of our democracy. Let this realization fuel our efforts in the coming week and beyond.

Read More

Crowd Surfing Through Revolution
silhouette photo of man jumped off on top of people inside party hall
Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash

Crowd Surfing Through Revolution

Picture this: A person launches themselves into a crowd at a concert, and for a moment, everything hangs in the balance. Will they fall? Will they float? It all depends on countless hands moving in coordination, strangers united in a common purpose. Some push up while others stabilize, creating a dynamic, living system that defies gravity.

At this moment, we are all suspended between falling and flying, carried by a wave of global resistance that nobody controls but all can help shape. Think about what makes crowd surfing work. It's not just about the individual being carried – it's about the collective choreography happening beneath. With too much force in one direction, you fall. Not enough support in another, you crash. The magic happens in the balance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Threat Minimizes Compassion
Polarization and the politics of love
Polarization and the politics of love

Threat Minimizes Compassion

Threat minimizes compassion. This connection helps to explain two seemingly unrelated questions: Why do those who voted for President Trump seem not to publicly express much concern for the thousands of government workers fired since Inauguration Day? And why do liberals often seem not to talk as much about drug deaths as other issues like gun deaths?

The answers are multi-faceted, of course. This article will focus on one of many reasons: the potential victims of these actions and situations (government workers and drug users) are often directly or indirectly seen as threats by the other side, and it is hard to feel the pain of those who seem to threaten us. Institutions can also be threatening, based on the actions taken by people within those institutions.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘When People Spend Time Together, They Are Less Inclined To See Each Other As the Enemy’: ​A Conversation With Matt Grossmann

Picture of Matt Grossmann

‘When People Spend Time Together, They Are Less Inclined To See Each Other As the Enemy’: ​A Conversation With Matt Grossmann

In The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway famously observed that a character went broke in two ways: gradually, then suddenly. The same dynamic has been at work in American politics. For decades, the composition of our principal political parties has been slowly shifting, without a great deal of public attention. And then the 2024 presidential election happened, and it was suddenly obvious: the Democrats, traditionally the party of the working class, had become the party of educated elites.

Matt Grossmann has been a keen observer of this transition. A professor of political science at Michigan State University, Grossmann also directs the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and hosts the “Science of Politics” podcast for the Niskanen Center. With his co-author David A. Hopkins, Grossmann recently published Polarized by Degrees: How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics, a book that documents a remarkable shift in American society. Since 1960, we have seen a massive expansion in the number of adult Americans earning college degrees—from roughly 7 percent of the population to nearly 40 percent.

Keep ReadingShow less