This series of graphics illustrates ICE’s latest approach to mapping the ‘landscape of values’ that underlie American politics. The first graphic below shows how the significant influence of culture can be conceived with reference to the ‘Bedrock Values’ of the electorate.The circles graphic below shows America’s three major values-based worldviews, which we’re calling: ‘Traditionals, Moderns, […]

This is to announce a summer seminar by ICE directors Steve McIntosh and Jeff Salzman focusing on the integral philosophy that animates ICE’s perspective. For three and half days—August 18-21, 2016—we will gather at the Integral Center in Boulder, Colorado for a deep dive into the integral (a.k.a. “evolutionary,” or “post-postmodern”) worldview. Here is a […]

In this 50 minute recorded conversation, ICE Board Member Jeff Salzman and I talk about my new paper, published on this website, titled Overcoming Polarization by Evolving Both Right and Left: How Polarity Theory Provides a Path to Political Progress. The ideas we explore in the podcast include: • Why we should we care about […]

My new paper on the problem of hyper-partisan polarization was originally written in January 2016. But since then the Republican party has entered the throes of a historically significant meltdown which may actually solve the problem of polarization by severely crippling the right and handing political power to the left in the next election cycle. […]

The brewing fight over the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice is bringing the problem of hyper-partisan polarization into sharp focus. But even though this situation clearly reveals how polarization is crippling our democracy, this problem’s ability to stimulate greater political engagement is limited because there is no viable solution yet in sight. So […]

Here at the beginning of 2016, as I continue to pursue The Institute for Cultural Evolution’s project to envision “the Future Right” and “the Future Left,” it is important to be clear about ICE’s political strategy. This strategy is designed to improve the functionality of American government by evolving our political culture. In this project […]

Grant recognizes innovative approach to decreasing hyperpartisanship. December 3, 2015: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Boulder, Colorado—Overcoming America’s hyper-partisan political paralysis is a big challenge, and may be the most troublesome problem facing America today. In response to this challenge, The Institute for Cultural Evolution (“ICE”), an independent think tank founded in 2013, is advancing a bold […]

On Monday the Washington DC-based Nation Journal published an extensive article on the “polarization movement” entitled: The War On Partisanship, How fighting polarization became its own cause. The article describes the efforts of a wide variety of nonprofits who are working to overcome hyper-partisan polarization and gives special attention to the work of The Institute […]

In our campaign to ameliorate political polarization, we have found our best leverage on this issue by working to evolve the Right and the Left independently on their own terms. This has led to our current efforts to advance a vision of both the “Future of the Right” and the “Future of the Left.” And […]

Introduction Political gridlock in Washington is negatively impacting all Americans, and sending a message to the rest of the world that they shouldn’t try to emulate or strive for a democratic system such as ours. Indeed, according to a recent Gallup poll, Americans see “dysfunctional government” as the country’s biggest challenge.1 Polarization, however, has shown […]