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

Convergence Policy

May 5th, 2025|Comments Off on Convergence Policy

The Convergence Center for Policy Resolutiion is one of the few bright spots in your believe in cooperative problem solving in Washington.

The Next Big Idea Club

April 15th, 2025|Comments Off on The Next Big Idea Club

The Next Big Idea Club is the best kept secret in the publishing world.

The YMCA and Me

March 10th, 2025|Comments Off on The YMCA and Me

Last week, I had the opportunity to rethink my history with the Y when I was invited to a lunch to celebrate its Team Up project

The End of Zero-Sum Thinking?

March 5th, 2025|Comments Off on The End of Zero-Sum Thinking?

Damien Cve of the New York Times got me thinking about the world over this tumultuous weekend. And surfing.

We Have Work To Do

December 3rd, 2024|Comments Off on We Have Work To Do

I haven't written about the election. Here's what I think we peacebuilders need to work on.

Becoming ProHuman

November 25th, 2024|Comments Off on Becoming ProHuman

I had known about Daryl Davis and his unique work with KKK members. I recently got to spend some quality time with him and his new organization, the ProHuman Foundation.

Evolution and Foreign Policy

October 21st, 2024|Comments Off on Evolution and Foreign Policy

A summary of a remarkable workshop on evolutionary thinking and American foreign policy.

Meeting Mercatus

September 30th, 2024|Comments Off on Meeting Mercatus

My remarkable two days at the Mercatus Center's Pluralism Summit.

PeaceCon and Beyond

September 16th, 2024|Comments Off on PeaceCon and Beyond

I spent last week at PeaceCon and then convened a group of colleagues who want to build up Peacebuilding Starts at Home.

Rotarians Have Difficult Conversations

September 9th, 2024|Comments Off on Rotarians Have Difficult Conversations

Last weekend, I helped organize and facilitate a workshop on having difficult conversations for my Rotary district

Labor Day and Peacebuilding

September 3rd, 2024|Comments Off on Labor Day and Peacebuilding

Because I am now committed to doing a blog post a week, I decided to do this week’s on Labor Day and its implications for peacebuilding. Although I didn’t grow up as a [...]

The New Paradigm Coalition

August 26th, 2024|Comments Off on The New Paradigm Coalition

Last week, I attended the semi public launch of the New Paradigm Coalition

Build Community Online

August 19th, 2024|Comments Off on Build Community Online

This week, I revisit a question that has preoccupied me for decades. Can we build community on line? For the first time in years, I think we can.

Evolution Comes to International Relations

August 12th, 2024|Comments Off on Evolution Comes to International Relations

I'm helping plan a workshop to explore how evolutionary thinking can (re)shape both conventional foreign policy making and peacebuilding.

From Conflict to Convergence

August 5th, 2024|Comments Off on From Conflict to Convergence

I  go to a lot of launch events and other talks based on books by friends and colleagues. So, I was surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed—and, more importantly, learned from—the [...]

Our Big Lunchpail F***king Job

July 29th, 2024|Comments Off on Our Big Lunchpail F***king Job

How should we peacebuilders and others think and act as the presidential election heats up.

Let’s Build Something Together

July 22nd, 2024|Comments Off on Let’s Build Something Together

I've stolen Lowe's tag line from the late 2000s as a jumping off point for how I'm planning to adapt my on line work so it can help us build peace--and a whole lot more--together.

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