A Recipe for Cooling Down American Politics with Peacebuilder Dr. John Paul Lederach

In a world increasingly fractured, whispers of civil unrest grow louder. Dr. John Paul Lederach, a veteran peacebuilder with decades of experience in global conflict zones, offers a stark yet hopeful message: the antidote to escalating tensions lies not in grand pronouncements but in the quiet power of human connection. This week on Mission Forward, Lederach shares insights from his new book, Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War, a timely and urgent call to action for a nation teetering on the edge.

The conversation isn’t about finding easy answers or quick fixes. It’s about cultivating the courage to start, the willingness to listen deeply, and the perseverance to stay engaged, even when the path forward seems uncertain. Lederach’s message is a potent reminder that the future of our democracy rests not in the hands of politicians or pundits, but in our own capacity for empathy, connection, and the unwavering belief in the possibility of a more peaceful future. In a world where division seems inevitable, Lederach offers a powerful alternative: the possibility of building peace, one conversation, one relationship, one pocket at a time.