The importance of a culture of discussion and a culture of self-criticism

A serious trend, now known as polarization, is sweeping the globe and taking hold in numerous countries. This occurs when a society divides into two large blocs of roughly comparable size, situated at opposite ends of the ideological spectrum. The consequence is the impossibility of dialogue or reasoned discussion on fundamental issues or potential agreements. The above is occurring in some Latin American countries.

Given the complexity of social reality and the difficulty in establishing public policies that promote the common good, it is only natural that citizens hold diverse opinions about the principles that should guide a government and who should comprise it. But under polarization, members of one bloc see those of the opposing bloc not as adversaries worthy of respectful conversation, but as dangerous enemies who must be ignored, insulted, and, if necessary, subjected to political violence.

Herein lies the central problem: citizens on one side do not listen to those on the other, because mutual hatred predominates on both sides, and trust — a key attribute of a healthy social fabric — has been lost.

In our time, an ethics of discussion is fundamental. We must accept that building a better society requires dialogue that begins with recognizing and respecting the interlocutor's arguments, with self-criticism of one's own position, and with accepting rules that transcend the parties involved — three ethical principles that will, in principle, make rapprochement and agreements possible. It is not about annihilating the other's point of view, nor about assuming the discussion will lead to one side winning and the other losing. I wish we could all accept that in a discussion it shouldn't matter which side is right or which side makes the greatest contribution, but that the participants emerge enriched as a result of the dialogue.

It's worth asking to what extent social media is exacerbating polarization. These digital resources can be highly beneficial if used wisely and with critical thinking. However, they frequently promote hatred and aggression, while also spreading fake news and impersonations, the latter aided by artificial intelligence. Algorithms have emerged that make all kinds of recommendations, from the most important to the most mundane, which users then follow blindly. We are becoming slaves to our own inventions, so much so that we no longer consider it necessary to reflect or exercise our capacity for judgment.

We need to develop two “cultures” . First is the the culture of reasoned and respectful discussion, even with people from different ethnicity or religions. Second is the culture of self-criticism, since it is easy to criticize others and difficult to recognize that we may be wrong in our assessment and that we must be willing to change our opinion or position.

The emergence of these two cultures brings us back to education, a responsibility of parents and teachers toward those who, due to their constant use of social media and, more recently, artificial intelligence, have lost their attention span and feel no obligation to think before making decisions.

There is also a relationship between polarization and the increasing tendency to discredite politics and politicians. Citizens perceive that their essential problems remain unresolved, that inequality is increasing, and that corruption is spreading. Consequently, a large segment of society, in its radicalization, chooses leaders it considers to be outsiders of traditional politics — true outsiders, often ignorant, populist, and authoritarian.

This division of the country, largely driven by emotion, then results in the defining characteristic of polarization: an aversion from one sector to the opposing sector, and vice versa. This makes agreements impossible, exacerbates political divisions, and erodes trust in the justice system and, in general, in institutions.

A situation like the one described makes governance impossible and weakens democracy. Indeed, recent international surveys show majorities disillusioned with a political system that recognizes and respects freedom and equality before the law as essential values. This is despite the fact that democratic systems founded on freedom and equality have enabled the development and progress of many countries over many decades.

All of the above, point to the urgent need to address polarization. One path to action is the practice of politics at the local level, since the concrete discussion of problems affecting the local community can allow opposing sectors to reach fundamental agreements. It is essential to overcome insulting and derogatory language, as recent evidence shows that verbal intemperance can be the prelude to political violence.