Search Pathfinders

Bridging Divides and Countering Polarization

Exploring linkages between inequality and polarization, identifying solutions to bridge divides and building solidarity across groups.

Large crowd of people holding up protest signage in Melbourne, Australia

As inequalities within and between countries rise, divisive narratives and political strategies continue to polarize our societies, sow disinformation, and pit groups against each other. The growing threats of division, polarization, and the breakdown of societal and institutional trust undermine social cohesion, democracy, and collective efforts to foster equitable, just, and peaceful societies (SDG16+).

Our Work

In the past decade, the world has witnessed a concerning surge in divisive narratives, disinformation, and escalating polarization—both online and offline. These trends undermine efforts to implement inclusive policy agendas, weakening existing legal frameworks and good governance. Narratives that sow discord between groups, normalize prejudice and hate, and distract from addressing the root causes of inequalities and exclusion. This rhetoric translates into detrimental policies at the domestic and international level, posing a significant threat to social cohesion, solidarity, and democracies. How can the dynamics shift from polarization to solidarity, inequality to inclusion, and fear to hope? Since fall 2022, Pathfinders has been exploring the linkages between polarization and inequality through:
  • Innovative research;
  • Identifying solutions;
  • Convening policymakers, experts, and civil society across sectors and countries;
  • Mobilizing political actors to promote solidarity.
Since 2022, the program has held a series of six dialogues with policymakers and practitioners from around the world to explore the themes of division, polarization, and inequality—as well as emerging strategies to build solidarity and bridge divides. The insights and lessons learned have culminated in a new forthcoming report (Summer 2024) on “Addressing the Plight of Fragmented Societies: Divisive Narratives and Growing Inequalities.” For more information, visit the page here. The hope is to pave the way for constructive dialogue and partnerships that will identify feasible and effective solutions to the root causes of division, as well as build solidarity and ultimately foster more equitable societies for all.

Featured Event

Bridging the Divides: Fostering Pluralism, Inclusion, and Solidarity in a Fragmented World

On February 15th in Ottawa, Canada, the Pathfinders Grand Challenge on Inequality and Exclusion and the Global Center for Pluralism co-hosted an invite-only high-level roundtable on how to address division across the world. Policymakers, experts, and practitioners from Canada, Indonesia, Spain, and South Africa shared lessons learned from global experiences in building solidarity and belonging across groups, including disrupting disinformation and divisive narratives that seek to polarize and bolster fragmentation.

Download the meeting report

Featured Publications

Featured Resource: Inequality Solutions Policies

Global policies on building solidarity, from Sierra Leone, Ecuador, and Canada, to Cuba, Colombia, and Rwanda.

More on the Inequality Solutions Portal

Wheat being loaded onto a ship
"Loading of wheat on the ship," ©Adobe Stock/Igor Strukov