A Crisis of Civility?

“The publication of this book is a call to join with the National Institute for Civil Discourse in its mission of improving our spaces for civic dialogue. Fundamentally, I believe that to achieve the aspirations expressed in our founding documents, we must be able to engage in civil public conversations among citizens of the greatest possible diversity all across the country.”

- Gabrielle Giffords, former U.S. Representative, from the Foreword

“A Crisis of Civility? is vital to our national dialogue on the exigency of civility in our society. In these pages, a network of prominent scholars make a compelling case for civility as the one essential mechanism for distilling the vast diversity of ideologies and opinions in America, so that we can arrive at solutions to our most pressing challenges. Today’s forces of division and proliferation of sensationalism have combined as virulent enemies of civility. Fortunately, the National Institute for Civil Discourse is leading the movement to revive civility, compromise, and consensus building. Now, we must all join the cause and remind one another that, as we debate our differences, our use of words is powerful and critically important in setting a constructive tone for the important conversations that will determine America’s future.”

- Olympia Snowe, Senior Fellow, the Bipartisan Policy Senator; Former United States Senator

“Americans all along the political spectrum are worried about our ability to get along and develop constructive solutions for our political problems. So many of our country’s challenges are made even more difficult by a lack of opportunities to engage in civil discourse, to talk across the boundaries that can too often divide us. The chapters in this book provide clear-eyed discussions of contemporary politics that help us to understand how we got to this point and how we can work together to improve our democracy. This is essential reading for scholars, practitioners, and anyone concerned about our nation’s future.”

- Tom Daschle, Founder and CEO, The Daschle Group; Former Senator and Senate Majority Leader

“As the media continues to cover our increasingly coarsened political, public and even private discourse, this research will be critically important to our understanding of how words can be weaponized and language can motivate violence. This book will also be invaluable as we revive the democratic norms of civility and respect. I can’t wait to share it with my colleagues.”

- Katie Couric, former anchor and managing editor, CBS Evening News, former special correspondent, ABC News

“The best antidote for the bitter partisanship that has overtaken American public life is also the simplest: getting people of diverse viewpoints to know and listen to each other. The thoughtful chapters in this book are an invaluable addition to NICD’s effort to keep American democracy vibrant and strong.”

- Mickey Edwards, Vice President, The Aspen Institute; Former United States Representative

“If we are serious about restoring civility, we need to know how to recognize it and what actions might improve it, how different disciplines approach the challenge, and how past civility crises have ended. This book is a treasure trove of clear thinking and analysis to guide the restoration of civil discourse.”

- Alice M. Rivlin, founding director of the Congressional Budget Office and former vice chair of the Federal Reserve

“Many Americans perceive a crisis of incivility, yet demanding civility may suppress worthy voices. If you seek insight on these and related issues, A Crisis of Civility? is the best available guide, filled with thoughtful, original contributions by scholars who represent diverse perspectives and approaches.”

- Peter Levine, Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University

"How should the fractious state of politics be understood? And what can be done about it? With contributions from an impressive array of scholars, A Crisis in Civility? surveys public perceptions of civility, details contemporary examples of incivility, and mines the past for practical solutions. It is essential reading for a time when common decency no longer seems very common."

- Keith J. Bybee, Vice Dean and Paul E. and the Hon. Joanne F. Alper ’72 Judiciary Studies Professor, College of Law, Syracuse University

“This first of its kind interdisciplinary, research-based examination of civility in politics sheds light on the importance of improving the current tenor of political discourse to enhance the wellbeing and safety of our nation. The contributing scholars also underscore the pressing need to promote understanding, tolerance and respect for the differences among us, which is a guiding principle for the field of psychology. This is a must read not only for those in politics and journalism but also for the public at large.”

- Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, American Psychological Association

“America has many solvable problems, and because of our dysfunctional politics, we are likely to solve few of them. This collection of essays’ by some of America’s top researchers is therefore essential. It will help readers to understand the various kinds of civility, why most of them are declining, and what we can do—as individuals and in organizations—to bring about better public discourse.”

- Jonathan Haidt, Professor of Ethical Leadership, New York University Stern School of Business, and author of The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion

“I don’t think a day goes by in the United States when I don’t see or read about a fracture in our civil life—whether it be a bully’s words, a politician’s accusations, or a mass murder. Make no mistake we have a crisis of civility in this country today. The National Institute for Civil Discourse was founded out of one such tragedy—the attempted assassination of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in 2010 by a lone shooter. In the years since then, the NCID has become the leading voice on reviving civility in our country and this collection of essays—taken together—is an urgent call to action to seek what binds us rather than what divides us. There is no more important topic to the survival of our democratic experiment.”

- Steven Petrow, USA Today Opinion Columnist; Host, The Civilist Podcast