Building Bridges Through Talk: Exploring Intergroup Dialogue to Strengthen Weak Ties in Polarized Democracies

This dissertation explores how intergroup dialogue can (re)build bridging social capital in democracies increasingly divided by polarization. Grounded in Allport’s (1954) contact hypothesis—which suggests that intergroup contact fosters mutual understanding under specific conditions —it examines how individuals from diverse backgrounds bridge divides on issues and identities, and create a safe space for constructive dialogues on contentious issues. Departing from traditional studies that rely on controlled settings or retrospective accounts, this research analyzes real-time behaviors using rare recordings of intergroup dialogues in natural civil society contexts. This approach provides a rich, nuanced understanding of what unfolds during these exchanges, revealing strategies and dynamics that help bridge divides and reduce polarization.

Chapter I sets the stage by introducing the study’s context, key concepts, and research assumptions. Chapter II lays the theoretical foundation, linking social capital and dialogue studies. It illustrates how intergroup dialogue can be a powerful tool for developing bridging social capital and emphasizes the role of context - purpose, places, people, and processes - in building relationships across divides.

Chapters III and IV explore how participants navigate differences in issues and identities during divisive discussions to foster understanding and relations. Chapter III analyzes dialogues on race after the Charlottesville riots, showcasing the complex interplay between issues, identities, and cultural contexts in promoting healing and reconciliation. Chapter IV examines rare constructive conversations among polarized U.S. political elites, revealing how embracing complexity over binary viewpoints and prioritizing strategies that bridge rather than deepen divides, can reduce both issue-based and identity-based polarization.

Chapter V examines community dialogues during the Black Lives Matter protests and the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing participants’ active roles in creating and sustaining “safe spaces” for meaningful dialogue. It highlights the paradox of creating safe spaces, requiring both the safety from risk and courage to take risks by openly engaging with opposing or controversial views and showing personal vulnerability.

Chapter VI synthesizes the findings, explores implications, addresses limitations, and outlines future directions. Together, these studies reveal the transformative power of intergroup dialogue to (re)build connections and promote unity, even in deeply divided democracies.