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Competencies in Civil Discourse

4 Videos

Competencies in Civil Discourse is a series of interviews that focus on the importance of civil discourse and the rhetorical skills necessary to practice it. Erec Smith, a research fellow at the Cato Institute, will interview a different expert in communication—or a related field—to get a variety of takes on the efficacy of effective communication for a free and civil society.

Featuring Erec Smith, Jonathan Rauch, and Rob Feld
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The Mutual Persuasion Project

A collaborative initiative for promoting the power of communication across difference, the Mutual Persuasion Project aims to develop an institution offering educational resources accessible to the general public and to academia that promote the power and necessity of communication in maintaining a society where unity and diversity can coexist.

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Competencies in Civil Discourse: Episode 2
42:19

This episode explores the role of comedy as a valuable tool in civil discourse. Erec Smith sits down with filmmaker Rob Feld, director of Jesters and Fools, a film that highlights the use of comedy during polarized times.

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Competencies in Civil Discourse: Episode 3
38:08

Competencies in Civil Discourse, a series on the effectiveness of civil discourse and the skills it requires, will feature an interview with Ian Rowe, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and cofounder of Vertex Partnership Academies in the Bronx.
Competencies in Civil Discourse: Episode 5
43:56

In this episode of Competencies in Civil Discourse, Erec Smith welcomes William Deresiewicz to explore the mission of the Matthew Strother Center for the Examined Life. Together, they unpack the role of intellectual courage, liberal education, and moral seriousness in reviving thoughtful dialogue in an age of ideological conformity.