At a time of intense political and social polarization, many of us are struggling to figure out how to live and work together. Because the challenge feels uniquely difficult, the answers feel uniquely distant. The reality, though, is that people around the world and throughout history have faced similarly polarized realities, and some have managed to muscle through and create something better on the other side.

Last month, Civic Genius spent two weeks with two exceptional South African leaders who offered a model for working across profound differences. While their challenges are by no means an exact analogue to ours, their experience can guide us forward.

First-Hand Experience

Roelf Meyer is renowned for his pivotal role as the South African government’s chief representative in the negotiations to end apartheid. He later served in the cabinet of former President Nelson Mandela and co-founded the United Democratic Movement. Mohammed Bhabha was a member of Parliament, an attorney, and a critical part of the African National Congress (ANC) team at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), and later as part of the agreements on the final South African Constitution.

But in the early 1990s, Meyer and Bhabha came from opposing and deeply adversarial political parties during a time of intense political unrest. Their journey to the negotiating table was neither short nor straight, but together, they were key players in the transformation of South Africa.

Years later, Meyer and Bhabha have consulted on peace processes around the world in places like Kenya, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Yemen, and Bahrain.

In the U.S.

In March, Jillian Youngblood, Executive Director of Civic Genius and director of Deliberative Democracy at the National Civic League, traveled across Washington State with Meyer and Bhabha to help state, local, and community leaders to imagine a new way forward.

These leaders offered their hard-won lessons on working across profound differences and shared the personal challenges they faced. In partnership with the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, we spoke to an audience at Town Hall Seattle, answered questions from community members in Federal Way, headlined a packed event hosted by Greater Spokane, Inc. and met new friends in Walla Walla, Pullman, and Edmonds.

Looking for inspiration during polarized times? Hear it directly from Meyer and Bhabha, courtesy of Spokane Public Radio.