Bridging Our Political Divide

Bridging Our Political Divide: How Liberals and Conservatives Can Understand Each Other and Find Common Ground is an essential contribution to a better national conversation.

Kenneth Barish, Ph.D., is Clinical Professor of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College. He is on the faculty of the Westchester Center for the Study of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy and of the William Alanson White Institute Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program, as well as visiting professor at Tongji Medical College in Wuhan, China. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and a member of Sigma Xi, the scientific research honor society. In addition to his teaching and clinical practice, Dr. Barish plays jazz trumpet.

Part I. Why We Disagree 1. Liberal and Conservative: A Brief History 2. The Essence of Liberalism and Conservatism 3. Political Emotions - The Politics of Resentment, Humiliation, Pride, and Fear Part II. Principles of Constructive Dialogue: From Debate to Dialogue 4. Is Dialogue Possible? 5 A Language of Dignity and Respect 6. Learn Someone's Personal Story 7. Empathy and Moral Imagination 8. From Debate to Dialogue Part III. Principles of Reasoned Argument: From Ideology to Pragmatism 9. From Pronouncements to Concerns 10. Intellectual Charity: What are Your Opponents Most Reasonable Arguments? 11. Intellectual Humility 12. From Ideology to Pragmatism: A Better Grammar for Political Debates Part IV. Finding Common Ground 13. Liberalism and Conservatism in Modern American Politics: Pragmatic Liberalism and Compassionate Conservatism 14. Finding Common Ground: The Future of America's Children