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 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.
My First Rotary Conference
I had my first two official introductions to Rotary’s peacebuilding work last week. First, Gretchen and I attended the second of three planning sessions for a proposed permanent partnership between Rotary and George [...]
Getting Your Act Together
I've been thinking a lot about personal growth and why it is so important for peacebuilding and peacebuilders. Here are some early ideas
A Weekend in Columbia
We spent a remarkable weekend plotting social change in Columbia SC.
Slightly (and Happily) Ill at Ease
An event this weekend let me vaguely--and happily--uncomfortable. Find out why.
Three Dilemmas/Three Solutions
Last week, I was handed three tough dilemmas involving social change. Three unexpectd (at least to me) experts helped me out.
To Peace
An overview of my next book, which could better be called, "peace, the verb."
A New Year’s Resolution That Just Might Stick
I've never been good about making New Year's resolutions. Here's the story of why this year's might just stick. And it's about stories.
Building Political Bridges–And Beyond
Last week, I attended the Bridge Movement Alliance Council annual discussion. Here are my takeaways.
Stranger’s Guide–Ukraine
Stranger's Guide's most recent issue on Ukraine provides amazing insights into the country and its people in ways that go beyond the war.
Design Thinking, Peacebuilding, and More
Design thinking is a hot topic in the corporate world today. It should be in peacebuilding, too.
CBT and Peacebuilding
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a well-established therapeutic too. See you how it can be applied to peacebuilding.
Here to Hear
How do we effectively persuade people we disagree with so that we can build bigger and more powerful movements" This post explores that question by taking off from Anand Giridharadas' new boo, The Persuaders.
Curious Not Furious
AJ Jacobs is a funny man who writes serious books. This post talks about the serious side of his most recent effort, The Puzzler.
Community Mediation
Community Mediation I just joined the board of the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM). I had worked with its President, D. G. Mawn, for the last few years and already [...]