Interdisciplinary Dialogue Series: Social Polarization

Dialogue 1

Social Polarization: Can the Spatial Disciplines Bring Us Closer Together?

The social contract that fragilely held our society and others worldwide together, mutually interwoven in a fabric of trust, solidarity, and a sense of collective and common destiny, is weakening. Along with fractures of class, race, gender, political affiliation, religion, and other identity traits, our societal bonds seem to be breaking apart. We live with an “epidemic of loneliness” and a crisis of mental health, and yet we have the most media and economic means to remain connected with each other. How can architecture, historic preservation, urban planning, real estate development, and related disciplines help make sense of this paradox, if in any way? More importantly, how can these disciplines bring us closer together and rebuild trust, solidarity, a sense of community, and a common future? What are examples where fractured communities have been stitched together by planning and design interventions? How can design and planning professionals cultivate the sensitivities needed to facilitate these processes?