At the Joint Public Issues Team, we orient our work around six hopes for society, one of which is that politics will be characterised by listening, kindness and truthfulness.
Politics has always been a mucky business. However, the 24-hour media cycle, the ability to carry the news around in our pockets and commentate on the issues in real time means that now, more than ever, we can’t escape it. Reading the news, watching the theatrical uproar of Prime Ministers Questions, seeing politicians endlessly finger pointing, and watching people shout past each other on social media, this hope can seem like a naïve and completely unrealistic dream.
Since the Brexit referendum, latent political and social fractures in the UK have been uncovered in a new light. In the years since the referendum, political debate seems to have become more divisive. It often appears that politicians fan the flames of division for their own political gain. These divisions are further exacerbated by the fact that, despite globalisation and the internet, we exist in ever-narrowing echo chambers. More and more, we spend time with people who think and act like us in the online and the real world. While it is a well-worn truism, we do live in polarised times.
With an election coming up sometime in the months ahead, my fear is that the election campaign will stoke the worst instincts of politics and society. That we will see parties and candidates playing off division and fear to win the election. I believe that the challenges the UK and wider world are facing, from growing inequality, to the climate crisis and international conflicts, are too big and too important for us to give in to fear, paralysis, apathy and blame games. We need robust and searching public debate of the issues and we need creative political solutions.
If this all sounds pie in the sky to you, let me just say that I completely understand. My instinct is to hunker down, disengage, make some tea and turn on a TV show. It can be easy to feel powerless as we can’t control what the Government, opposition parties, political pundits and candidates are saying. However, we are responsible for the quality of political debate we engage in, and the conversations we have in our communities, families, friendship groups, workplaces and churches.
Having constructive discussions amidst disagreement over the things that matter is not easy. Looking to the church, I often feel that it is at its most gracious and beautiful when it is able to be a space of diversity and unity. It is also clear that fellowship amidst diversity of experience and thought is hard. However, I wonder if this is when the commandments to ‘love your neighbour’ and ‘love your enemy’ are at their most costly and most important.
In the run-up to the election, while we should go into discussions aware that they may not be easy, there are many reasons to be hopeful, to believe that constructive disagreement is possible, and maybe even welcome.
For starters, the UK is less polarised than we think. In a piece of research conducted over 18 months with thousands of interviews with Britons across all political and social spectrums, More In Common found that there was far greater overlap on political values and issues than expected.[1]
There is further hope in other recent research which has shown that polarisation and preconceptions reduce when people spend time with those they disagree with, or create diverse social networks.[2] Another study indicates that the vast majority of people in the UK want to try to disagree well and don’t want to give in to tribalism. Indeed, 91% of Britons of all political persuasions want to have these conversations and believe that we can disagree and come together.[3]
In the midst of a political landscape that feels intractably divided, I find it very hopeful to know that, in reality, we have more in common than we have been led to believe.
The challenge we are left with then becomes:
- How do we break out of our echo chambers?
- How do we have productive conversations when we disagree?
- How do we find the common ground and how do we use this ground to tackle the immense challenges we are facing today, together?
Tips to engaging in productive, genuine political conversations
Assume the best intentions in others
When exploring ideas or challenging issues, people may use phrases that you find difficult or problematic. If this happens, try to give them the benefit of the doubt. The best of intentions may be hidden behind clumsy words.
Be prepared to listen
Too often we listen only to respond or to correct. Try to listen actively to understand, engaging fully with what is being shared. If you are contributing more than listening try to pause and give others the opportunity to share; if you are listening more than you share try to contribute to the conversation.
Try to understand rather than convince
Too often we listen only to respond or to correct. Try to listen actively to understand, engaging fully with what is being shared. If you are contributing more than listening try to pause and give others the opportunity to share; if you are listening more than you share try to contribute to the conversation.
Look for common ground
Our ability to convince ourselves is much greater than our ability to convince others. Rather than trying to change the opinion of others use this as an opportunity to fully understand their thoughts and feelings. If everybody does this, it is likely that a great deal more will be exchanged as a result.
Comment on ideas, not people
We are biologically programmed to respond to people attacking our views in the same way that we would respond to being attacked by a lion!
If something inspires you or if there is something that jars it may be appropriate to highlight it. It is important however to do so in terms of the ideas that were shared and not the people who shared them. It also may sometimes be wise to re-direct and often is helpful to give people time to explain themselves more fully.
Stay curious
Resist the urge to pigeonhole others by asking questions and respecting the complexity of the issues and the depth and experiences of the individuals that are sharing with you.
Have a conversation over a meal
Evidence suggests that people are more likely to be open to changing their opinions about something if the discussion takes place over a meal.
While it may not be easy, or come naturally, following these principles should enable us to have productive and meaningful political conversations in the lead up to the election. These conversations have the power to shift the tone and experience of the election in our communities.
“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.” ― John Wesley
[1] 0917-mic-uk-britain-s-choice_report_dec01.pdf (britainschoice.uk)
[2] Political polarization and its echo chambers: Surprising new, cross-disciplinary perspectives from Princeton
[3] Ibid.
