Shared Communicative Spaces in Divided Democracies
By Cherian George
Addressing the escalation of political and social polarisation in contemporary democracies, Fighting Polarisation: Shared Communicative Spaces in Divided Democracies examines how collective communication practices can counter division and rebuild democratic common ground. Rather than focusing on individual coping strategies, the book explores community-level responses that foster dialogue, mutual recognition, and respect for difference across entrenched social and political divides.
Drawing on international, interdisciplinary case studies, the volume analyses initiatives in journalism, higher education, social media, civil society, and governance that create shared communicative spaces in polarised contexts. Examples span regions and engage fields such as deliberative democracy, media studies, memory studies, postcolonial theory, and religious studies. Together, these cases demonstrate how grassroots dialogue, democratic innovation, and inclusive communication practices can challenge the assumption that polarisation is inevitable, offering evidence-based pathways for democratic renewal.
Cherian George is Professor of Media Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University and a member of IAMCR.
The above text is from the publisher’s description of the book:
Title: Fighting Polarisation: Shared Communicative Spaces in Divided Democracies
Author: Cherian George
Published: 2025
Publisher: Polity Press