Governing Deep Differences

Nadav Eyal will leads a discussion, “The Future of the Middle East.” He is a Senior Research Scholar and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s Faculty of International and Public Affairs.

Kobby Barda shared his documentary, Swing State(s) of Mind, a film that follows the journey of Kobby Barda across five swing states in the month before the 2024 presidential election, including Pittsburgh.

This webinar explores how Palestinian state-building and multilateral frameworks must accompany ceasefires to ensure durable peace.

A one-day event on governance and global affairs, focusing on Overcoming Deep Differences and strategies for rebuilding trust in divided communities.

CGM partnered with the Institute for Humane Studies for an online research workshop exploring federalism, subsidiarity, and self-governance. Scholars presented work on rural policy, tribal governance, administrative challenges, and community empowerment through decentralized approaches.

Xiaoyun Wang examines how privatization reforms have reshaped nonprofit regulation in China, shifting from command-and-control to more complex forms of governance.

In partnership with the Institute for Humane Studies, CGM co-hosted an academic research symposium in Arlington, VA, exploring self-governance and pluralism in divided times. Sessions featured scholars discussing decentralization, federalism, and institutional reform. 

Anthony Spires explores the evolving relationship between global civil society and China, highlighting its challenges, impacts, and prospects for change.

Tom Ginsburg is the founding Faculty Director at the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression at the University of Chicago.

Ming Hu analyzes how the Chinese state integrates volunteering into governance, transforming it into a tool for ideological and political aims.

Stefan Toepler discusses the limits of applying Western models to Chinese foundations and identifies new directions for philanthropic research.

 This workshop aims to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration on freedom of expression and civil discourse.

Huafang Li investigates how foreign donations shape domestic giving and government support for nonprofits in authoritarian contexts.

Al Mutar will draw on his experiences in his native Iraq during a period of conflict and reflect on the challenges of fostering democracy, education, and civil discourse in Syria and the Middle East.

Hasina Jalal (University of Pittsburgh) presents her research on Afghan women’s social movements and resilience under Taliban rule.

Tareq Abu Hamed discusses environmental diplomacy and the role of science in fostering relationships across the Middle East. This project brings together Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and international students to protect fragile shared environmental resources, eliminate conflict over these scarce natural resources, and serve as a model for constructive peacemaking. 

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers shares reflections on resilience and his message that love is stronger than hate following the Tree of Life tragedy.

Oleksanda Keudal examines how local authorities in Ukraine have mobilized resources, knowledge, and institutional innovations to handle war-related crises from 2022 to 2024.

Qun Wang examines how China’s 14th Five-Year Plan is transforming the nonprofit sector and reshaping state–society relations.

Kamran Hakiman investigates why states use indiscriminate violence against some civilian populations following guerrilla attacks but not others, focusing on Myanmar’s post-coup civil war.

Al-Gharbi explores how the rise of “symbolic capitalists”—professionals in fields like education, media, law, and NGOs—contribute to social and economic inequalities, despite commitments to social justice.  

Valeria Umanets explores women’s participation in Russian municipal politics and their role in stabilizing authoritarian governance by enhancing the delivery of essential welfare services. The research draws on interviews with municipal representatives, fieldwork observations, and electoral data analysis. 

Sawsan Kheir examines how young adult Muslim and Druze university students in Israel navigate the interaction between their religious beliefs and contemporary societal norms.

Mustafa Akyol addresses historical episodes of coexistence and collaboration between Jewish and Muslim communities, drawing attention to how these experiences can inform current perspectives on governance and pluralism. 

Hui Li and May Farid explore the role of NGOs in shaping environmental governance within China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Ilana Redstone presents her book The Certainty Trap: Why We Need to Question Ourselves More and How We Can Judge Others Less. Co-hosted by the Year of Discourse and Dialogue, the Institute of Politics (IOP), and All Angles at GSPIA, students are encouraged to engage in a thoughtful conversation on how we can overcome polarization by rethinking our approach to certainty and judgment.

Steffen Höhn explores Franz Kafka’s work in relation to the cultural and political dynamics of Bohemia and Prague.

This conference will explore the resilience of governance systems and their ability to respond to and recover from crises such as economic downturns, political instability, and environmental calamities.

Frank Barry discusses his new book, Back Roads and Better Angels: A Journey Into the Heart of American Democracy, which explores America's deep political and cultural divides through a reflective journey along the Lincoln Highway.

This workshop is designed to support emerging scholars by providing them with a platform to present their research, receive feedback from experienced academics, and engage in discussions that explore how institutional theory can help societies with deep cultural and political differences coexist peacefully and thrive.

Meng Ye and Andrew Heiss analyze how China’s Overseas NGO Law has redefined the space for international nonprofits and civic engagement.

This event is a timely response to the rapidly evolving situation in Myanmar, aiming to foster discussions and strategies for resolving long-standing conflicts and building trust among diverse ethnic and regional groups in the country.

Hui Yin presents research on how digital tools for volunteer management can both empower and constrain nonprofit outcomes in China.

Shen Yongdong investigates how government funding influences nonprofit performance in China through donations, volunteers, and networks.

Uriel Simonsohn discusses the role of interreligious dialogue in mitigating conflict and fostering coexistence in Israel’s mixed cities.

Reza Hasmath explores why Chinese citizens remain hesitant to engage in philanthropy and volunteerism despite state promotion of “model citizenship.”

Jacob Heilbrunn & Damir Marusic discuss the book written by Heilbrunn, America Last. This book argues that dictator worship is a longstanding romantic impulse that fits firmly within the modern American political tradition―and shows what it means for us today.

Jessica Teets discusses how state messaging on “common prosperity” intersects with rising trends in philanthropy and volunteerism among Chinese citizens.

Kevin Vallier discusses how older religious influences are taking back their political influences by rejecting the doctrine of liberalism that they have seen as their oppressors.

Timur Kuran discusses his book Freedoms Delayed, which explores the lasting political effects of the Middle East's lengthy exposure to Islamic law.

This forum will address the broad resentment at government and social institutions and debate the provocative overhaul thesis of the new book by Philip K. Howard, Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society (Rodin 2024)

A forum to explore overhaul of broken government operating structures.

This manuscript workshop explored how individuals, communities, and societies address deep divisions caused by polarization, economic, social, and cultural cleavages. 

Dan Cole and Michael McGinnis gave a presentation, based on a book manuscript that explores the reasons for which liberalism is under attack and revisits the diversity and eclecticism of the liberal family, with emphasis on the relationship between liberalism and political moderation.

CGM and the Hollings Center co-hosted a regional dialogue in Kuala Lumpur focused on the challenges and opportunities in Myanmar–Southeast Asia relations. The event convened regional experts and stakeholders to discuss political dynamics, economic ties, and pathways for greater cooperation amid ongoing instability. 

This talk presents a political theory of governance of cultural diversity developed in Omar Sadr's book, Negotiating Cultural Diversity. It argues that a pluralistic society should forge a balance between three key elements: individual autonomy, counter-homogenization measures, and intercultural dialogue.

Mark Sidel reviews the creation of the Chinese Communist Party’s new Central Social Affairs Department and its implications for China’s social policy.

Yan Long reveals how frontline workers used emotional and informal practices to sustain neighborhood governance during China’s COVID-19 lockdowns.

In The Identity Trap (Penguin Random House, 2023), Mounk argues that although appreciating the cultural diversity is vital for our democracy, a new ideology is on the rise: one that puts too much emphasis on group identity, and in doing so, deepens polarization and threatens democracy.

Liana Reyes from Purdue University discusses Rebel and Incumbent Law and the Durability of Post-Civil War Peace.

Mohamad Machine-Chian, CGM Senior Research Scholar, will discuss “Iran: Stoking Divides in the Middle East” as part of the Governing Deep Differences lecture series. This talk will analyze how Iran systematically exports terrorism through a network of organizations, rooted in the country’s ruling ideology.

Marian Zulean discusses his new co-edited volume, Social Values and Identities in the Black Sea Region (Roman & Littlefield, 2023), which explores the nexus between geopolitical challenges and cultural frameworks in the Black Sea region. He also discussed how the war in Ukraine affects regional dynamics.

This workshop brought together scholars to discuss approaches to governing deep-seated societal differences and identified frameworks to foster tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and collaboration among diverse communities.

The Center for Governance and Markets invited scholars to discuss readings that serve as the theoretical and empirical foundations of the project, Governing Deep Differences.