"The political wilderness": 4 questions on polarization with Dr. Black

This week I spoke with Assoc. Prof. David Black about the worrisome increase of polarization in the world, whether in social media, government or even around our dinner tables.

He helps to define it from a political perspective, put it into historical context, and outline what it means for us in Canada.

But perhaps what I enjoyed most about our talk was his insight into what we can do about it. He says that just like we can get out into the wilderness to help heal our mental health, we can also get out into what he calls the “political wilderness” to begin to heal our sharp divides.

I deeply believe universities, while they can be prone to the ills of polarization themselves, are in a unique position to take the lead on solving those big challenges. The only way it will work is through a courageously collaborative approach.

We can and should experiment with innovative approaches to convening discussions that span differences and gently dispel misconceptions.