From Polarization to Partnership Index - מוקד פריז לחברה משותפת

From
Polarization
to Partnership
Index

Israeli society does not lack initiatives designed to strengthen social cohesion. What it lacks is a tool for determining whether meaningful progress is actually being made.

In recent years, polarization in Israel has evolved from a social challenge into a threat to the state’s capacity to function as a shared democratic society. It is expressed not only in political disagreement, but also in the erosion of trust, the hardening of boundaries between groups, experiences of exclusion, and the growing difficulty of regarding citizens from other groups as legitimate partners in shaping the public sphere.

The “From Polarization to Partnership” Index is intended to establish a national framework for measuring and understanding polarization in Israeli society and the ways in which it is addressed. The Index will examine both manifestations of polarization and the extent to which the state and public authorities succeed in responding to them. It will identify key polarization-related issues; examine policy, legislation, and institutional structures; assess their implementation in practice; and consider their effects on trust, belonging, participation, and the capacity of different groups to act together. This will make it possible to identify core issues underlying the breakdown of trust in Israeli society, assess gaps between declarations and implementation, locate structural barriers, and track change over time.

The Index is currently under development, with the aim of transforming the concept of shared society into a measurable framework capable of informing public policy and processes of social change in Israel.

Our Courses

Identity and Belonging in a Multicultural Society – Dr. Mirit Hayavi Barak

This course examines how identity and belonging are formed in a multicultural society, considering both the individual and groups and the relations among them.

The course moves from the individual to society: it begins by examining processes of self-construction through socialization and interaction, and then considers the formation of groups, social boundaries, conflicts, and intergroup encounters. It explores different approaches to managing cultural diversity and examines the tensions among personal identity, group identity, and social belonging.

The course then considers processes of recognition, inequality, and privilege as part of a broader web of intergroup relations, and concludes by examining the possibility of building a shared society – a society in which different groups live together through mutual recognition, participation, and cooperation.

Managing Conflict and Diversity in Israeli Society – Dr. Assaf Turgeman

The course surveys the principal cleavages in Israeli society by tracing their roots in Israeli social and political life. It addresses the Jewish – Arab conflict, the religious – secular divide, ethnic cleavages, and the constitutional revolution and its implications for contemporary political divisions.

Skills for Managing Diversity and Conflict across Life Domains – Dr. Ran Kuttner

This course develops skills for managing difference and conflicts arising from difference across multiple settings – from the interpersonal level, through the intergroup level, to the national level. Participants will acquire tools for collaborative dialogue, negotiation, and conflict management, while becoming familiar with the theories underlying the approaches studied. The course will also examine how these approaches can support constructive management of disputes surrounding social cleavages and polarization that undermine cohesion and resilience in different arenas in Israel. Accordingly, participants will acquire both conceptual frameworks and practical skills for action in the social sphere.

The course is reflective in character and, from its outset, invites students to examine how the material challenges their own assumptions and leadership practices, how they might wish to apply it in their personal lives, and what obstacles may stand in the way.

Practical Strategies for Engaging with Diversity in Israeli Society – Dr. David Barak-Gorodetsky

The course offers an in-depth examination of the political and social tensions between conservatives and liberals in Israel, while providing a practical toolkit for conducting dialogue in conditions of disagreement. The theoretical component explores the roots of polarization, focusing on the central role of religion and state, their influence on public policy, and the historical analysis of political strategies and case studies that have shaped Israeli society. This foundation supports the practical component, in which participants practice and acquire skills in deep listening, managing complex dialogue, and recognizing different perspectives. By combining academic analysis with experiential learning and simulations, the course develops the capacity for respectful and meaningful dialogue in situations of disagreement and provides practical tools for building trust and reducing tensions across identity-based, cultural, and political divides.