Unpacking Massively Parallel Peacebuilding with Guy Burgess
Discover innovative solutions to tackle intractable conflicts
In the latest episode of the Outrage Overload podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Guy Burgess, a Founder and Co-Director of the University of Colorado Conflict Information Consortium. With a Ph.D. in Sociology, Dr. Burgess has been a prominent figure in the conflict resolution field since 1979, both as a scholar and a practitioner. His work focuses on managing intractable conflicts, resolving public policy disputes, and disseminating conflict resolution knowledge through the Internet. He is one of the creators of the Online Training Program on Intractable Conflicts and co-director of CRInfo, the Conflict Resolution Information Source. Alongside Heidi Burgess, he has authored several books and articles, including The Encyclopedia of Conflict Resolution.
Dr. Burgess's work is guided by three core principles. First, he believes that destructive conflict is the most serious threat to our common future, as it ruins lives, obstructs problem-solving, and fosters dystopian trends like authoritarianism and chaos. Second, he views conflict problems as extraordinarily complex, requiring a large-scale effort to mobilize human ingenuity for solutions. Lastly, he emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in promoting more constructive conflict, urging people to learn what actions truly help in this endeavor. Each week, the Beyond Intractability project shares links on the many global predicaments we face, reminding us of the daunting challenges and the need for massively parallel peace and democracy-building efforts.
In our conversation, Dr. Burgess introduces the concept of "massively parallel peacebuilding," an approach designed to tackle the complex and often intractable problems that conventional methods of conflict resolution tend to avoid.
Dr. Burgess highlights the pervasive influence of bad-faith actors in modern political discourse, noting how they exploit cognitive biases to mobilize their base by inciting fear and anger. He argues that while these tactics are effective, they ultimately deepen divisions and undermine the democratic process. The conversation explores the role of cognitive biases, social media algorithms, and the so-called "base mobilization problem" in amplifying societal discord.
One of the central themes of the episode is the need for pragmatic empathy—understanding opposing viewpoints without necessarily adopting them. Dr. Burgess emphasizes that the key to reducing polarization lies in recognizing the humanity and motivations of those on the other side of the political spectrum. He encourages listeners to embrace "both-sidesism" not as a pejorative term but as a pathway to meaningful dialogue and understanding.
The episode also highlights the numerous initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and reforming systems to reduce inflammatory content. From living room conversations and cross-divide dialogues to efforts at modernizing Congress and reforming electoral processes, there are many promising endeavors designed to bridge the gap between opposing viewpoints. Dr. Burgess stresses the importance of public awareness and engagement in these efforts, urging individuals to resist the temptation to engage in snarky comments and instead focus on actions that genuinely contribute to peacebuilding.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Burgess offers a message of hope. He notes the existence of many organizations and individuals working tirelessly to address these issues and calls on listeners to get involved in their communities. By recognizing and resisting the manipulative tactics of bad-faith actors, individuals can play a crucial role in fostering a more balanced and peaceful society.
This episode of Outrage Overload is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding and addressing the root causes of political polarization. It challenges listeners to think critically about their own biases and behaviors while offering practical advice on how to contribute to massively parallel peacebuilding efforts. Tune in to the full episode to hear more about these thought-provoking ideas and to find out how you can be part of the solution.
New This Week in Outrage Episode!
It’s everything the Outrage Overload podcast is not. It’s not edited. It’s not scripted. It’s lightly researched. It’s David and Lisa talking about this week in outrage, what was in the news, in the memes, and maybe finding some backstory with a humorous (at least to us) twist.
