How You Can Help End Polarization and Inequality – and Get Happier, Too | Robert Putnam & Shaylyn Romney Garrett
Robert Putnam (Harvard) and Shaylyn Romney Garrett discuss their book, 'The Upswing,' analyzing America's historical I-we-I curve of individualism to communalism and back. They offer insights on how individuals can contribute to a new, more inclusive upswing today.
Deep Dive Analysis
17 Topic Outline
Introduction to America's Current Social Challenges
Introducing the I-We-I Curve: A Historical Overview
Measuring Social Dynamics: Data Behind the I-We-I Curve
The Upswing: America's Shift from Gilded Age to Progressive Era
The Role of Moral and Cultural Shifts in the Upswing
The Social Gospel Movement and Moral Reawakening
Young Reformers and the Rise of Community Building
The Rotary Club: An Example of Association Building
Bottom-Up Movements and Laboratories of Democracy
The High School Movement: A Bottom-Up Innovation
Cautionary Tales: The Exclusionary Nature of the Progressive 'We'
The Downswing: How the 'We' Turned Back to 'I' in the 1960s
Racial Backlash and the Zero-Sum Game Mentality
Rebalancing Individualism and Collective Responsibility
Practical 'Heart Work' for Individuals Today
The Importance of Local Action and Youth Leadership
Spirituality: I-Focused vs. We-Focused Approaches
8 Key Concepts
I-We-I Curve
A statistical curve illustrating how American society has evolved over 125 years, measuring political polarization, economic inequality, social isolation, and self-centeredness. It shows a period of individualism (I) in the Gilded Age, a shift towards collectivism (We) during the Progressive Era, and a return to individualism (I) from the mid-1960s to the present.
Gilded Age
An era in the late 1800s characterized by deep polarization, significant economic inequality, social isolation, and extreme cultural narcissism. This period is noted for its striking resemblance to the social dynamics of today.
Progressive Era (Capital-P)
A diverse, bipartisan movement emerging around 1900, driven by a desire to reverse the nation's downward drift and a belief in the power of ordinary citizens to create change. It led to a multi-decade upswing in social connection and equality, though it had significant exclusionary aspects regarding race.
Social Darwinism
A mistaken application of Darwin's theory of evolution to society, suggesting that if everyone looks out for themselves ('survival of the fittest'), society will naturally improve. This theory promoted self-interest and a 'devil take the hindmost' mentality.
Social Gospel Movement
A moral reawakening, primarily among evangelical Protestants, that challenged Social Darwinism. It emphasized moral obligations to others, particularly 'the least of us,' and advocated for shaping society through democratic mechanisms rather than solely focusing on individual salvation.
Social Capital
The value that relationships bring to society. Progressive reformers built vast new stores of social capital by creating associations and new ways of bringing people together, particularly amongst unlike groups, to foster connection and citizen-driven change.
Laboratories of Democracy
A concept originating from the Progressive Era, referring to the idea that social change and innovation begin at the local level (neighborhoods, cities, states). People try out many different ideas in their communities, some of which prove successful and spread.
Self-Interest Rightly Understood
A concept, attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville, that suggests true self-interest involves thinking long-term about how investing in what is collectively good for all ultimately benefits the individual. It contrasts with short-sighted individualism that sees society as a zero-sum game.
8 Questions Answered
The I-We-I curve is a statistical representation of American society's changes over the last 125 years, tracking political polarization, economic inequality, social isolation, and self-centeredness. It shows a historical pattern of shifting from an 'I' (individualistic) period to a 'We' (communal) period, and then back to 'I'.
The I-We-I curve is a compendium curve that braids together scores of different data sets across four lenses: economics, politics, society, and culture. For example, polarization is measured by congressional bipartisanship, affective polarization among citizens, and split-ticket voting rates.
The upswing began with a cultural or moral shift, specifically the replacement of Social Darwinism with the Social Gospel movement. This moral reawakening led Americans to reconsider their obligations to one another, fostering a sense of collective responsibility that preceded economic and political changes.
The upswing was largely driven by young reformers, many aged 30 or younger, who were responding to the loneliness and hyper-individualism of industrialized cities. They focused on creating new associations and community-building initiatives from the bottom up.
The 'we' built during the Progressive Era was not inclusive; many progressives were racist, and the movement often sacrificed the needs of people of color for broader progress. This meant that structural inequality, particularly racial, was baked into many innovations and programs, carrying the seeds of the upswing's eventual demise.
The downswing was significantly influenced by a white backlash to the civil rights movement, where support for legislation quickly turned into resistance against its implementation. This re-triggered a 'zero-sum game' mentality between races and contributed to a broader societal turn back towards an 'I' (individualistic) focus.
'Heart work' involves moral indignation directed inward, asking how one has been complicit in societal problems rather than blaming others. Practically, it means reflecting a 'we-focused' ethos in daily life, such as intentionally building relationships and engaging in neighborliness conversations across lines of difference.
Individuals can contribute by engaging in bottom-up, grassroots efforts to solve local problems in their communities, intentionally crossing lines of difference. It also involves listening to and empowering young people, who were key leaders in the last upswing, and fostering a 'we-focused' spirituality.
17 Actionable Insights
1. Prioritize Moral and Cultural Shifts
Focus on fostering a cultural or moral shift in how people perceive their obligations to one another, as historical data suggests this is a leading indicator for positive societal change, preceding economic improvements.
2. Cultivate Mutual Obligations
Shift from self-interest to a mindset of mutual obligation, focusing on caring for those left behind, as this moral reawakening historically spread beyond religious communities to foster broader societal change.
3. Practice Inward Moral Indignation
Instead of blaming others, direct moral indignation inward by reflecting on your own complicity and obligations to others, as this self-reflection characterized past progressive reformers.
4. Ensure Full Inclusivity in Progress
When working towards societal progress, ensure that the ‘we’ you are building is fully inclusive of all groups, especially people of color, and do not postpone addressing issues of racial reconciliation, as historical omissions led to the demise of previous upswings.
5. Adopt ‘Self-Interest Rightly Understood’
Shift your mindset to believe that society is not a zero-sum game, but rather that everyone benefits when collective well-being is prioritized, understanding that long-term self-interest aligns with what is good for all.
6. Invest in Collective Good
Actively invest in initiatives and behaviors that benefit the collective good, recognizing that this approach ultimately creates a better society for everyone, including yourself.
7. Initiate Change Locally (Bottom-Up)
Start making a difference at your own front doorstep, neighborhood, city, or state level, recognizing that significant societal change historically originates from bottom-up, grassroots movements.
8. Create New Associations for Connection
Actively invent and participate in new ways of bringing people together, forming associations to combat hyper-individualism and loneliness, and to build social capital.
9. Build Face-to-Face Ties Across Differences
Engage in community building by creating face-to-face relationships, especially with people from different backgrounds, to build social capital and foster citizen-driven change.
10. Practice Neighborliness Across Differences
Intentionally get to know people with differing views as individuals and neighbors, engaging in ’neighborliness conversations’ rather than political debates, to build understanding and restore a fundamental democratic act.
11. Engage in Service Projects
Join or create organizations that move beyond mere social gatherings to actively engage in service projects that address societal needs, reflecting a ‘service above self’ motto.
12. Experiment with Local Solutions
Embrace an experimental mindset by trying numerous different ideas to solve local problems, understanding that many will prove effective and contribute to broader progress.
13. Empower Young Leaders
For those who are older, actively listen to young people and empower them to take on leadership roles, as historical upswings were often driven by the initiatives of younger generations.
14. Re-center on Deep Values
In times of overwhelm and societal noise, re-center yourself on deeper, shared values that transcend divisive political moralities, connecting with a ‘morality of mutual obligation’ that resonates across different spiritualities.
15. Cultivate We-Focused Spirituality
If engaging in spirituality, consciously choose a ‘we-focused’ approach that prioritizes connections with other people and community, rather than a purely self-focused spirituality.
16. Contribute to Societal Problems for Happiness
Actively contribute to solving societal problems like inequality and polarization, as the very work of contributing is likely to increase your personal happiness.
17. Try New Meditation App
Download and sign up for the new 10% with Dan Harris app, using the 14-day trial, to access guided meditations, live community sessions, and ad-free podcasts.
5 Key Quotes
This call is not just for a morality that is about getting into heaven. It's a morality that is about shaping society through the mechanisms of democracy.
Shaylyn Romney Garrett
The problem is actually that we are refusing to talk to one another. And beginning there, I think, is an incredibly important starting point.
Shaylyn Romney Garrett
The political leaders of the country were a lagging indicator. The progressive era did not come from some national charismatic leader saying, I know the way, follow me, I can fix this. It was exactly the opposite.
Robert Putnam
Whatever we we would hope to build and reorient ourselves toward today to sort of emulate this upswing that happened once before, that we absolutely has to be fully inclusive.
Shaylyn Romney Garrett
America had signed a promissory note in 1965, and we said, we're going to fix things, and we did nothing.
Robert Putnam
1 Protocols
Engaging Across Differences at a Local Level
Shaylyn Romney Garrett- Identify a person in your community with whom you have significant differences in views (e.g., political).
- Resist the common urge to dismiss them outright or label them as 'the problem.'
- Choose to take a different path by seeking to get to know them as a person and a neighbor.
- Engage in 'neighborliness conversations' focused on shared human experience rather than political debates.
- Build a relationship through mutual interaction and support, recognizing their humanity despite differing worldviews.