THREAD
PREVENTING U.S. CIVIL CONFLICT
Nothing is normal right now in America. As much as people may wish to believe all is well, our country remains on a collision course, staring down the specter of civil conflict sometime in the next several years.
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PREVENTING U.S. CIVIL CONFLICT
Nothing is normal right now in America. As much as people may wish to believe all is well, our country remains on a collision course, staring down the specter of civil conflict sometime in the next several years.
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But violence and social collapse need not be our fate. We have the power to create a better future—if we use the present window of opportunity to correct course.
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It is easy to be lulled into denialism and complacency—but only because we are back in a calm before the storm.
Although we did well to remove Trump from office, the transition of the presidency does not alter the underlying social trends that lead to strife.
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Although we did well to remove Trump from office, the transition of the presidency does not alter the underlying social trends that lead to strife.
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Changing direction will not be easy, but it is well within reach. It requires courageous, innovative, and incisive action—not only by our leaders, but by each of us as citizens.
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As the causes of our country’s divisions are deep and multifaceted, we need a multi-pronged strategic response to address the problems hand.
Specifically, we must pursue the following key priorities, each of which I will highlight in turn.
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Specifically, we must pursue the following key priorities, each of which I will highlight in turn.
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(1) Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission
(2) National economic justice
(3) Racial equality
(4) Media reform
(5) Checks on presidential powers
(6) Counter-radicalization programs
(7) A mass civil resistance movement
(8) National dialogue and conflict de-escalation
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(2) National economic justice
(3) Racial equality
(4) Media reform
(5) Checks on presidential powers
(6) Counter-radicalization programs
(7) A mass civil resistance movement
(8) National dialogue and conflict de-escalation
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Before addressing these points further, let me state that I am well aware of the critics who will say, “That will never happen.”
However, I do not believe in resigning to social collapse by sacrificing what is entirely possible based on the boundaries of what is “practical.”
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However, I do not believe in resigning to social collapse by sacrificing what is entirely possible based on the boundaries of what is “practical.”
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Even if some of these measures never come to pass, let it be documented here—at least for our posterity—that we could have done better.
More pressingly, let’s be clear: it is up to us as citizens—through our power over our leaders—to turn these strategies into reality.
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More pressingly, let’s be clear: it is up to us as citizens—through our power over our leaders—to turn these strategies into reality.
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Priority #1: Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC)
To begin to repair our country’s many wounds, we need an impartial, astutely designed TJRC.
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To begin to repair our country’s many wounds, we need an impartial, astutely designed TJRC.
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As hard as it may be to pull off, it is essential that we institute a TJRC *prior* to all-out conflict, rather than attempting to glue back together all of the shattered pieces afterward.
In short, the TJRC should be both broad and deep, covering the following areas:
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In short, the TJRC should be both broad and deep, covering the following areas:
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•Political corruption and violence, including Trump administration crimes.
•Racial injustice, including its foundational role throughout U.S. history.
•Widening economic inequality, including its effects on human rights and social cohesion.
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•Racial injustice, including its foundational role throughout U.S. history.
•Widening economic inequality, including its effects on human rights and social cohesion.
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Priority #2: National Economic Justice
Rather than continuing to conceive of our political crisis as a drama between individual personas, we need to begin addressing root causes—the social conditions that predispose our society to conflict and demagoguery.
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Rather than continuing to conceive of our political crisis as a drama between individual personas, we need to begin addressing root causes—the social conditions that predispose our society to conflict and demagoguery.
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For decades, economic deprivation has increased under presidential administrations of both parties. As vanishing social mobility is a key driver of political instability and violence, our society is approaching a breaking point.
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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1325885035761823746
If we want to move away from the brink and truly fortify our nation against extremism, we need a bold, transformative effort that rebuilds our economy with justice at its base.
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This priority is especially key in our multiethnic, multiracial society, where the kindling of economic grievance is too easily set aflame with hate. We need a unifying approach to justice that transcends identity—precisely what the pursuit of economic well-being provides.
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Priority #3: Racial Equality
Morality by itself demands continued, urgent efforts for racial equality.
Giving systemically marginalized groups an equitable share of power is also an essential element needed to strengthen our country’s resilience in the face of conflict.
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Morality by itself demands continued, urgent efforts for racial equality.
Giving systemically marginalized groups an equitable share of power is also an essential element needed to strengthen our country’s resilience in the face of conflict.
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Racial equality must come in every dimension of life. It means political justice. It means economic justice. It means educational justice. It means health justice. It means legal justice. It means residential justice. It means environmental justice.
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Most pressing for U.S. democracy, racial justice means passing both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act.
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Priority #4: Media Reform
Information must be a bedrock of democracy—not an object to pervert for demagoguery.
Our media industry is in crisis. We must enact reforms to eliminate the peddling of false information and to reshape the industry to serve the public interest.
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Information must be a bedrock of democracy—not an object to pervert for demagoguery.
Our media industry is in crisis. We must enact reforms to eliminate the peddling of false information and to reshape the industry to serve the public interest.
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Social media also requires regulation. While preserving online freedom, we must intelligently regulate social media algorithms, which are often designed to generate profit by driving division.
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Priority #5: Checks on Presidential Powers
The risk of civil conflict is fundamentally connected to the continued risk of an autocratic takeover.
For decades, executive power has expanded under presidents of both parties. We are only asking for a successful coup.
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The risk of civil conflict is fundamentally connected to the continued risk of an autocratic takeover.
For decades, executive power has expanded under presidents of both parties. We are only asking for a successful coup.
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To help restore our democracy, we must establish critical checks on executive power. Among other actions, this means curtailing the role of DHS as a pseudo-personal police force for the president, as well as restricting the authorities that can be exercised through decree.
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Priority #6: Counter-Radicalization Programs
Many years in the making, our country's radicalization has followed an entirely predictable trajectory. Without mitigating action, the next stage of crisis may well make the January 6 storming of the Capitol look like nothing.
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Many years in the making, our country's radicalization has followed an entirely predictable trajectory. Without mitigating action, the next stage of crisis may well make the January 6 storming of the Capitol look like nothing.
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Based on scientific evidence, we have the capacity to develop antidotes to extremism. While we needed anti- and de-radicalization programs yesterday, it is never too late. Now is the time to pursue this priority.
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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1284540297612005376
Priority #7: Mass People’s Movement
Anyone who continues to believe that our leaders alone will solve our country’s crisis is walking down a dangerous, delusional path—for we have witnessed an accumulation of evidence to the contrary.
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Anyone who continues to believe that our leaders alone will solve our country’s crisis is walking down a dangerous, delusional path—for we have witnessed an accumulation of evidence to the contrary.
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The moment we are in calls for the responsibility of citizenship. The moment we are in requires all of us as citizens to *make* our leaders rise to the occasion—because the people serve as the ultimate backstop when all other systems fail.
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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1347305760909385728
There is little doubt that a mass civil resistance movement—involving non-violent protests, boycotts, and strikes, following the model of Gandhi and King—will be the most effective way to overcome the vested interests currently obstructing social progress.
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It is through a mass people’s movement that we can create the pressure needed to achieve many of the foregoing priorities.
Mass movements also do more: by show of moral force, they help to restore reality, community, and values in broken societies.
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Mass movements also do more: by show of moral force, they help to restore reality, community, and values in broken societies.
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Priority #8: National Dialogue, Non-Violence, and Conflict De-escalation
Regardless of political stripe, eroding social cohesion threatens the existence of us all. In the end, no matter how righteous our causes may be, no one will be served by conflict.
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Regardless of political stripe, eroding social cohesion threatens the existence of us all. In the end, no matter how righteous our causes may be, no one will be served by conflict.
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To forestall violent conflict, we need an urgent effort toward national dialogue—and a campaign for non-violence and conflict de-escalation.
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Dialogue in no way means appeasing immorality, foregoing justice, or capitulating to assaults on human dignity.
But it does mean working to build a shared commitment to non-violent conflict resolution, while also recognizing the humanity in every single person.
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But it does mean working to build a shared commitment to non-violent conflict resolution, while also recognizing the humanity in every single person.
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To engage in dialogue, we will have to draw on profound courage and strength. Without a concerted effort toward this end, everyone will lose in civil conflict—victims and perpetrators alike.
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Looking ahead, the choice is stark: a collective future or a collective death. Either we can continue down the sectarian abyss, or we can pull ourselves out.
Our only hope is in truth—by confronting the fragility of our society and using the present to save our future.
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Our only hope is in truth—by confronting the fragility of our society and using the present to save our future.
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Already, since January 20, we have been living on borrowed time. But with the Democrats now in power, there is no excuse not to make good on the agenda to repair our society.
The time is now. Not in a month. Not in two weeks. Not tomorrow. But today.
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The time is now. Not in a month. Not in two weeks. Not tomorrow. But today.
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