Welcome to my blog! Every week or so, I post an article on something involving wicked problems in peacebuilding or comparative politics. I define those fields very broadly, so you’ll probably be surprised by some of the topics I end up covering.
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Recent Posts
The Peacebuilding Pivot: Take 2
Here is an overview of the first organizations we are working with in Peacebuilding Starts at Home.
Super Crowd Baltimore
Last week, I attended the amazing Super Crowd event in Baltimore.
The Peace on Earth by 2030 Game
This intriguing not-so-gamey game can do a lot to get millions of people actively involved in peacebuilding.
Peacebuilding Starts at Home
The Alliance for Peacebuilding is pleased to announce the launch of the Peacebuilding Starts at Home initiatiave.
Devin Thorpe
This is the third in a series of posts on new people and organizations I've met since the pandemic began. This time, Devin Thorpe of Superpower4Good anda. lot more.
The Next Big Idea Club
The Next Big Idea Club is a wonderful way to stay up on the best new nonfiction books.
Remembering Dick O’Neill Part 2–Continuing His Work
A second take on my friend Dick O'Neill's legacy--this time on our work.
Meet Roland Cayrol
A reflection on the man who made my PhD research on the French far left possible. ANd therefore my career.
Remembering Dick O’Neill
Ijust lost a dear friend, Dick O'Neill. Here's why he mattered.
The Rondine Method
Last week, I hosted a launch event for The Rondine Method, a book I coedited with Franco Vaccai and Miguel Diaz. In tis post, I look at the book and its implications for a country like the United States.
Join or Die
My reactions to a documentary about social capital told through the career of Robert Putnam and some ideas on enhancing social trust from Rotary and Geneva Peace Week.
When Zebras Become ProSocial
Last weekend, I attended Zebras Unite's DazzleCon and met with the folks from ProSocial. What fun.
Setbacks and the Long March Through the Institutions
How do activists deal with setbacks? Here are some ideas
Community Mediation–Year 2
My take on community mediation after attending this year's NAFCM board meeting and assembly.
The Two Davids and the Adjacent Possible
How David Sloan Wilson and David Orr got me thinking about social change, evolution, and paradigm shifts.
Thinks like a Commoner/Act Like a Commoner
In this post, I take the idea of the commons beyond the way it has historically been used and explore how it could help in broader social change efforts.
Introducing the Noosphere
Learn all about the noosphere without having to take the equivalent of a graduate course in applied science.
Get To Know Stranger’s Guide
Stranger's Guide is an amazing (but not so new) magazine that is sort of about travel and a whole lot more. Now available easily on Substack.
A Homework Assignment from Australia
I rarely write about the same topic in two consecutive blog posts. Normally, too, I just ask you to read what I write. Today, I’m going against the flow. Not only am I [...]
Australia reMADE/Remaking America?
How two new initiatives in Australia can help us think gridlock and division in the United States
PeaceCon 2023
AfP held its annual PeaceCon earlier this month. Here's one take on what happened.