The Center Must Hold: Why Centrism is the Answer to Extremism and Polarization

Division in society. The spread of misinformation. The rise of extremism. Centrism holds the answers.

In an age of complex global challenges, extremism and populism offer a simple but fatally flawed narrative to a public craving a sense of normalcy. There is another way. Centrism has proven itself not only the most effective antidote to their dangerous brand of politics but also as a successful way to lead countries.

Far from being an arbitrary middle point between left and right, centrism offers a coherent set of political ideas, principles, and approaches:

  1. the importance of moderation and pragmatism,
  2. the embrace of complexity,
  3. the deep commitment to democracy,
  4. the belief in equality of opportunity, and
  5. the belief that through balancing the tensions that exist in every nation we can make people's lives better.

It is about finding the most productive and effective balance between globalization and local communities, civil rights and security, religion and democracy, free markets and protecting the weakest in society.

Drawing together politicians, thought leaders and social commentators - from Tony Blair to Michael Bloomberg, from Jennifer Rubin to Yair Lapid - The Center Must Hold contains a series of essays from those who have led from the center or made significant contributions to centrist thought and policy-making, including former prime ministers, policymakers, and leading journalists from across the world.

Discover:

What is centrism?

What are the big questions of modern politics and how does centrism address them?

What are the policies and practices of world leaders who are centrists?

How does centrism operation--practically speaking--around the world?

Why is centrism the best way forward in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in governance?


1145655018
The Center Must Hold: Why Centrism is the Answer to Extremism and Polarization

Division in society. The spread of misinformation. The rise of extremism. Centrism holds the answers.

In an age of complex global challenges, extremism and populism offer a simple but fatally flawed narrative to a public craving a sense of normalcy. There is another way. Centrism has proven itself not only the most effective antidote to their dangerous brand of politics but also as a successful way to lead countries.

Far from being an arbitrary middle point between left and right, centrism offers a coherent set of political ideas, principles, and approaches:

  1. the importance of moderation and pragmatism,
  2. the embrace of complexity,
  3. the deep commitment to democracy,
  4. the belief in equality of opportunity, and
  5. the belief that through balancing the tensions that exist in every nation we can make people's lives better.

It is about finding the most productive and effective balance between globalization and local communities, civil rights and security, religion and democracy, free markets and protecting the weakest in society.

Drawing together politicians, thought leaders and social commentators - from Tony Blair to Michael Bloomberg, from Jennifer Rubin to Yair Lapid - The Center Must Hold contains a series of essays from those who have led from the center or made significant contributions to centrist thought and policy-making, including former prime ministers, policymakers, and leading journalists from across the world.

Discover:

What is centrism?

What are the big questions of modern politics and how does centrism address them?

What are the policies and practices of world leaders who are centrists?

How does centrism operation--practically speaking--around the world?

Why is centrism the best way forward in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in governance?


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The Center Must Hold: Why Centrism is the Answer to Extremism and Polarization

The Center Must Hold: Why Centrism is the Answer to Extremism and Polarization

The Center Must Hold: Why Centrism is the Answer to Extremism and Polarization

The Center Must Hold: Why Centrism is the Answer to Extremism and Polarization

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Overview

Division in society. The spread of misinformation. The rise of extremism. Centrism holds the answers.

In an age of complex global challenges, extremism and populism offer a simple but fatally flawed narrative to a public craving a sense of normalcy. There is another way. Centrism has proven itself not only the most effective antidote to their dangerous brand of politics but also as a successful way to lead countries.

Far from being an arbitrary middle point between left and right, centrism offers a coherent set of political ideas, principles, and approaches:

  1. the importance of moderation and pragmatism,
  2. the embrace of complexity,
  3. the deep commitment to democracy,
  4. the belief in equality of opportunity, and
  5. the belief that through balancing the tensions that exist in every nation we can make people's lives better.

It is about finding the most productive and effective balance between globalization and local communities, civil rights and security, religion and democracy, free markets and protecting the weakest in society.

Drawing together politicians, thought leaders and social commentators - from Tony Blair to Michael Bloomberg, from Jennifer Rubin to Yair Lapid - The Center Must Hold contains a series of essays from those who have led from the center or made significant contributions to centrist thought and policy-making, including former prime ministers, policymakers, and leading journalists from across the world.

Discover:

What is centrism?

What are the big questions of modern politics and how does centrism address them?

What are the policies and practices of world leaders who are centrists?

How does centrism operation--practically speaking--around the world?

Why is centrism the best way forward in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in governance?



Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781963271195
Publisher: Armin Lear Press
Publication date: 06/27/2024
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 424
File size: 767 KB

About the Author

Yair Zivan is a committed centrist. He has served as foreign policy advisor to Yair Lapid, leader of Israel's largest centrist political party since 2014 throughout his tenures as finance minister, leader of the opposition, foreign minister and prime minister of Israel. Before working for Mr. Lapid he was international media spokesperson for President Shimon Peres. His work has been published in media outlets across the world.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 1

YAIR ZIVAN


SECTION 1: WHAT IS CENTRISM? 15


1 REFLECTIONS ON CENTRISM 17

WILLIAM GALSTON


2 CENTRISM AND THE FIGHT FOR LIBERAL

DEMOCRACY 25

JENNIFER RUBIN


3 FAITH, PHILOSOPHY AND THE FOUNDATIONS

OF CENTRISM 33

MICAH GOODMAN


4 THE "VITAL CENTER" AS A FACE OF MODERATION 45

AURELIAN CRAIUTU


5 THE EVOLUTION OF DEMOCRATIC CENTRISM 57

LANAE ERICKSON AND MATT BENNETT


6 CENTRISM AND ITS CRITICS 67

PHILIP COLLINS


7 THE CASE FOR CENTRISM 75

YAIR LAPID


SECTION 2: CENTRISM AND THE BIG QUESTIONS 85


8 CENTRISM AND THE STRATEGIC STATE 87

TONY BLAIR


9 CENTRISM AND FREE SPEECH 95

RUTH ANDERSON


10 CENTRISM AND GLOBAL COOPERATION 105

BØRGE BRENDE


11 CENTRISM AND PUBLIC POLICY 113

CHRYSTIA FREELAND


12 CENTRISM AND THE RULE OF LAW 119

MARCO BUSCHMANN


13 CENTRIST JOURNALISM AND DEFENDING DEMOCRACY 127

JOHN AVLON


SECTION 3: LEADING AS CENTRISTS 137


14 A CENTRIST APPROACH TO NATIONAL SECURITY 139

MICHÈLE FLOURNOY AND RICHARD FONTAINE


15 A CENTRIST APPROACH TO EDUCATION 149

ARNE DUNCAN


16 A CENTRIST APPROACH TO PROGRESS 157

HALEY STEVENS


17 A CENTRIST APPROACH TO COUNTERTERRORISM 165

JONATHAN EVANS


18 A CENTRIST APPROACH TO GLOBAL ENERGY POLICY 175

RACHEL PRITZKER


19 A CENTRIST APPROACH TO THE CHALLENGE

OF TECHNOLOGY 185

JAMIE SUSSKIND


20 A CENTRIST APPROACH TO FOREIGN POLICY 193

YAIR ZIVAN


21 CENTRIST ECONOMIC POLICIES AND IDENTITY

POLITICS 201

ANDRÉS VELASCO AND DANIEL BRIEBA


SECTION 4: CENTRISM AROUND THE WORLD 213


22 CENTRISM AND THE AUSTRALIAN MODE 217

MALCOLM TURNBULL


23 EUROPE AT THE CENTER 227

MATTEO RENZI AND SANDRO GOZI


24 HOW THE EU EMPOWERED CENTRISTS ALL OVER

EUROPE 233

STÉPHANE SÉJOURNÉ


25 JAPAN'S POLITICAL CENTRISM IN NATIONAL

SECURITY POLICY 241

TOMOHITO SHINODA


26 CENTRISM IN INDIA IN A TIME OF POLARIZATION 251

SHASHI THAROOR


27 THE FUTURE OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY

IN LATIN AMERICA 263

MAURICIO CÁRDENAS AND EDUARDO LEVY YEYATI


28 THE CASE FOR A DEMOCRATIC CENTER IN BRAZIL 275

SIMONE TEBET


29 A CENTRIST APPROACH TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 283

ANN BERNSTEIN


SECTION 5: CENTRISM AS THE WAY FORWARD 295


30 GOVERNING AS CENTRISTS 297

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG


31 WINNING AS CENTRISTS 305

JOSH HANTMAN AND SIMON DAVIES


32 THE CENTRIST ORGANIZATION OF THE FUTURE 317

JOSEF LENTSCH


33 THE CENTRIST METHOD 325

POLLY BRONSTEIN


34 CENTRISM AND BUILDING A BETTER POLITICAL

SYSTEM 341

CHARLES WHEELAN


35 CENTRISM AND BUILDING A BETTER SOCIETY 355

DANIEL LUBETZKY


36 CENTRISM IN A WORLD OF EXTREMES 366

KATHRYN MURDOCH


CONCLUSION: A CENTRIST ROADMAP 375

YAIR ZIVAN


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 383

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 387

ENDNOTES 397

INDEX 405

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