Around the world, shrinking trust and rising polarization are making collaboration more difficult. A 2023 global survey found that 53 percent of respondents say their country is more divided today than ever, and six countries are now classified as severely polarized.
What does this mean for coalitions working to protect civil society and democracy? Brazil’s Pacto pela Democracia has a unique approach—valuing divergence, keeping momentum without insisting on unanimity, and fostering trust through neutrality—and offers practical lessons for uniting diverse actors around shared goals. It shows us how innovators in any issue area can organize meaningful, coordinated actions that protect and advance progress. Here’s how they do it.
→ From Difference to Common Purpose: How Valuing Divergence Can Strengthen Coalitions (skoll.org)
annah mason 