What's the Antidote to Political Polarization?
Sharing more love and disagreeing better are key, says author Dr. Arthur Brooks
As the United States commemorates 250 years of independence in 2026, the landmark event has arrived during a time of increased political polarization. According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 69% of Americans are dissatisfied with how things are going in the U.S., and 59% believe the country’s best days are behind it. Yet a majority (68%) still feel hopeful about the nation’s future. Bestselling author, social scientist, and Vanderbilt University professor Dr. Arthur Brooks shares that optimism—in part because he sees a clear path out of the divisiveness.
In a talk at The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Washington office on July 9 focused on the topic “America at 250: The Power of Common Ground,” Brooks said that the key to bridging divides lies not in proving that those we disagree with are wrong, nor in convincing them that we’re right. Instead, it’s in loving them more.
He wasn’t referring to sentimental feelings; he meant love in the sense of what Aristotle referred to as “philia,” the Greek word for “friendship” or “brotherly love,” which Brooks translates as “to will the good of the other and to act accordingly.”
“So love is an extremely active thing,” Brooks said. “It’s not for weak people; it’s for very, very strong people.”
“Let me tell you something about social science,” he added, recalling a speech he delivered over a decade ago to political activists in New Hampshire. “Nobody in history has ever been persuaded by being told that they’re stupid and evil. You can’t insult anybody into agreement,” he said. “If you want to convince them, ... you have one tool, and that’s love.”
The first step away from today’s polarization, he explained, is standing up to people of your own political persuasion when they insult those who hold opposing views.
Brooks quoted his father, whom he described as a biostatistician and Ph.D., as saying, “The secret to moral courage is not standing up to the people with whom you disagree. … Moral courage is standing up to the people with whom you agree on behalf of those with whom you disagree.” That means, Brooks explained, standing up to your friends.
“I’m not saying that we need to disagree less,” he added. “I’m saying we need to disagree better. And that starts with us in leadership positions.”
Though Brooks acknowledged that the atmosphere today can feel discouraging because the levels of polarization and discord seem among the highest many can recall, he said this moment also offers the greatest opportunity he has seen in his lifetime for transcending division. “No matter where you sit,” he said, “we can stand together and make things better.”
“Number one, you gotta stand up to your friends. You gotta stand up to the political structure and to the media that are ‘productizing’ every single one of us by telling us to hate our enemies,” he said. “When you hate, somebody’s profiting—not you; you are the product. That’s how they conscript you into their culture war. You need to be a conscientious objector.”
He arrived at these realizations through years of detailed research, in addition to drawing inspiration from his Catholic faith as well as from the teachings of the Dalai Lama, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and other global leaders and scholars.
A former American Enterprise Institute president, Brooks has written several books on happiness and human connection, including Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey; Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America From the Culture of Contempt; and, most recently, The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.
Brooks underscored that love shouldn’t end at someone’s own “ideological borders,” and he noted that the key is assuming good intent rather than an intention of harm—an assumption that halts any progress or bridge-building. “You take on the idea, not the person,” he counseled.
“Love washes out hate. ... Perfect love drives out fear,” he said. “If you’re bringing love where there’s hatred, that’s a joyful thing to do.”
“I am incredibly hopeful, even on my pessimistic days,” Brooks added. “I’m hopeful, which is to say, there is something we can do together. … My hope is based on action.”
Erika Pontarelli Compart is a Trust staff writer.
In a talk at The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Washington office on July 9 focused on the topic “America at 250: The Power of Common Ground,” Brooks said that the key to bridging divides lies not in proving that those we disagree with are wrong, nor in convincing them that we’re right. Instead, it’s in loving them more.
He wasn’t referring to sentimental feelings; he meant love in the sense of what Aristotle referred to as “philia,” the Greek word for “friendship” or “brotherly love,” which Brooks translates as “to will the good of the other and to act accordingly.”
“So love is an extremely active thing,” Brooks said. “It’s not for weak people; it’s for very, very strong people.”
“Let me tell you something about social science,” he added, recalling a speech he delivered over a decade ago to political activists in New Hampshire. “Nobody in history has ever been persuaded by being told that they’re stupid and evil. You can’t insult anybody into agreement,” he said. “If you want to convince them, ... you have one tool, and that’s love.”
The first step away from today’s polarization, he explained, is standing up to people of your own political persuasion when they insult those who hold opposing views.
Brooks quoted his father, whom he described as a biostatistician and Ph.D., as saying, “The secret to moral courage is not standing up to the people with whom you disagree. … Moral courage is standing up to the people with whom you agree on behalf of those with whom you disagree.” That means, Brooks explained, standing up to your friends.
“I’m not saying that we need to disagree less,” he added. “I’m saying we need to disagree better. And that starts with us in leadership positions.”
Though Brooks acknowledged that the atmosphere today can feel discouraging because the levels of polarization and discord seem among the highest many can recall, he said this moment also offers the greatest opportunity he has seen in his lifetime for transcending division. “No matter where you sit,” he said, “we can stand together and make things better.”
“Number one, you gotta stand up to your friends. You gotta stand up to the political structure and to the media that are ‘productizing’ every single one of us by telling us to hate our enemies,” he said. “When you hate, somebody’s profiting—not you; you are the product. That’s how they conscript you into their culture war. You need to be a conscientious objector.”
He arrived at these realizations through years of detailed research, in addition to drawing inspiration from his Catholic faith as well as from the teachings of the Dalai Lama, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and other global leaders and scholars.
A former American Enterprise Institute president, Brooks has written several books on happiness and human connection, including Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey; Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America From the Culture of Contempt; and, most recently, The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.
Brooks underscored that love shouldn’t end at someone’s own “ideological borders,” and he noted that the key is assuming good intent rather than an intention of harm—an assumption that halts any progress or bridge-building. “You take on the idea, not the person,” he counseled.
“Love washes out hate. ... Perfect love drives out fear,” he said. “If you’re bringing love where there’s hatred, that’s a joyful thing to do.”
“I am incredibly hopeful, even on my pessimistic days,” Brooks added. “I’m hopeful, which is to say, there is something we can do together. … My hope is based on action.”
Erika Pontarelli Compart is a Trust staff writer.
