The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the views of the SNF Agora Institute or Johns Hopkins University.
Those who seek change in civic life have much in common: they each bring valuable expertise to the table and need to strategize with others about what to do. That’s why new collaborative relationships between diverse thinkers are essential. Yet they’re difficult to form. Collaborate Now! presents a new argument about why that is, along with tools to foster them anew. As with any form of voluntary civic engagement, these relationships require time and motivation. Yet on top of that, collaborators often start off as strangers, and are uncertain about relationality: whether they’ll relate to each other in ways that are meaningful and brimming with interaction. Using case studies, field experiments, interviews, and observational data, this book provides a rich understanding of the collaborative relationships needed to tackle civic challenges, how uncertainty about relationality can produce an unmet desire for them, and actionable tools to surface and meet this desire.
- Offers a new theoretical argument about a fundamental type of civic engagement: engaging in collaborative relationships with diverse thinkers which can help readers better understand a key aspect of civic life: when people choose to engage across lines of difference
- Unpacks and names key elements of everyday interaction that are vital yet often less visible/overlooked. For anyone who has found it difficult to talk to strangers, this theory helps us understand why
- Provides actionable guidance, including a new tool called an unmet desire survey, that organizational leaders can put into practice
- Readers specifically interested in research partnerships will find Appendix C a very useful step-by-step guide
-
-
Martha S. Jones -
Martha S. Jones -
Hahrie Han
