Persuasion in an Age of Polarisation, with Anand Giridharadas | Intelligence Squared

The lifeblood of any free society is healthy disagreement: people with different views trying to change each other’s minds through argument and persuasion. But many democracies across the world are suffering a crisis of faith in the values of debate and have instead turned to writing off those who disagree with them.

In December 2022 Anand Giridharadas came to Intelligence Squared to discuss how our societies lost the art of persuasion. Drawing on his new book The Persuaders, he took us inside the movements at the heart of the culture wars. From Black Lives Matter to Trumpism, Giridharadas highlighted the intense pressure to conform to ideas and highlight the dissenters who continue to champion persuasion and healthy disagreement in an age of polarisation.

Intelligence Squared has established itself as the leading forum for live, agenda-setting debates, talks and discussions around the world. Our aim is to promote a global conversation that enables people to make informed decisions about the issues that matter, in the company of the world's greatest minds and orators.

#Debate #Persuasion #ThePersuaders #AnandGiridhardas #IntelligenceSquared #IQ2

[TheLivirus]

I agree on many of the issues Anand brings up. The problem is I don't trust in the system that has been set up to address it. It lack the essential signs of a healthy institution: self-interrogation, self-correction, accountability, transparency, etc. To the contrary, I sense that the cause has been corrupted by opportunists who utilize people's good will for nefarious ends. Trust isn't won by persuasion, but is earned through honesty, transparency and demonstration of competence and good intent.

[terenigtopjian]

Loved this interview!

“How come we never tell people about the blimps?

In a future where we fight climate change, blimps are going to be important…Blimps are fun, blimps are exciting. People like blimps.

We never talk about the blimps! Instead, we tell everyone we can’t eat steak anymore…”

[cielxtianceth]

This dude is brilliant. The last book he wrote blew my mind.

[kenneth.topp.]

For a second I thought that Anand had a point that democrats are that party that puts forward reasoned arguments and are fully knowledgeable about the policies the put forward and those policies are for the good of everyone, then I turned on MSNBC and remembered that they constantly pout, call opposing views anti science or extreme without any basis, claim long term issues are immediate emergencies and actual immediate emergencies aren't problems at all, and put forward policies that reduce freedom, cause short term issues, don't address long term issues but claim to solve them.

[TheLivirus]

Trust isn't won through persuasion, but is earned through honesty, transparency and demonstration of competence and good intent. This is what's lacking.

[jutsu]

Why do I never see anyone on the right being interviewed on this YouTube debate channel?

[melissadTvH]

Very interesting overview of today’s stars and so true we need a different way to talk as well as belonging to a practical project for change

[MikeAngiletta]

Ah yes, Intelligence Squared. Previously, an open platform for intellectual debate. Now, an echo chamber for the Establishment Narrative. The lack of self-awareness would be shocking if not so predictable. After Michael Mann and other leftists got decimated in the old format debates, IS2 went into irreversible decline, similar to NPR and PBS. Sad really, as the debate format was already a dying breed...

[RebeccaVaughn-ipij]

I wonder what persuasive techniques Giridharadas would use on someone who says, "There are 50 black countries on Earth and every single one is a failure. Doesn't that prove that the blacks are inferior? Why is there no black country with strong economic growth like China, South Korea, Taiwan, India and Vietnam?"

[Dblue-rhino]

Agree with inclusive discussion- plz tell the left.

[nidasamad]

Imo he posed a contradiction in his statements. He first judged elon and Zuckerberg based on their interviews and public persona without having met them in real life and said demeaning things like "he stopped growing after age 11".

And then later in the interview says people have begun calling others out instead of quietly going to the person after the meeting and saying "hey, so and so...".

Thats being two faced

[Erik_Aegir]

Sad really, the unwillingness and/or incapacity within the more and more religious-authoritarian woke left to be honest about the said polarisation problem.

Matthew 7:5 "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye"

[DangerfieldChris]

I’ve watched two minutes of this and I’m going to put my neck on the line and guess this bloke is a leftist.

[blookolla]

The interviewer has arthritis in her hands and the AC is clearly too cool for the guest who decides to wear a leather jacket and scarf indoors.

[titosx]

You used a lot of words without actually saying anything...

[samblackwell]

Listen to this guy bad mouth the most contributing…economy people on the planet….jealousy, envy and sadness