Originally hosted by the Kenan Institute of Ethics, The Civil Discourse Project (CDP) will now be housed with Polis: Center for Politics. CDP has been successfully teaching and practice respectful disagreement and dialogue within intellectually diverse communities within and beyond Duke who support and challenge each other inside and outside of the classroom.
Sanford Professor Abdullah Antepli will serve as CDP’s new Director. Since it began in 2018, CDP has organized over twenty-five on campus events, sponsored twelve for-credit courses, and hosted eight summer seminars, including seminars for faculty on teaching civil discourse. Over eighty professors from universities around the country have participated in these seminars.
Dr. John Rose, CDP’s former Associate Director, has reason to be confident about CDP’s future. “Given Sanford’s own mission, it’s an ideal home for CDP. And I can’t think of anyone better than Prof. Antepli to lead the project going forward.” Rose noted that the need for the project has only increased in recent years. “America is polarizing at a rapid pace. Citizens of different views are no longer engaging in real conversation with each other. Universities need to model for our society how to facilitate these intellectual encounters.”
Interim Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy Manoj Mohanan agrees with Rose, “I’m delighted about the future of the Civil Discourse Project at POLIS. At a time when polarization across political lines is one of the most daunting challenges facing our nation, the CDP provides a unique opportunity for Sanford and Duke. We aim to create a much-needed space for well-informed conversations where we might differ in our political views but continue to work together towards a common objective of solving complex policy challenges.”
“I am extremely proud and excited to bring CDP to Polis as one of my first initiatives as director” says Polis’s new Director Professor Abdullah Antepli. “We have identified crossing the political and ideological divide and setting up exemplary models of engagement over significant differences and disagreements as a top priority for Polis moving forward. CDP’s rich history and impressive achievements are a perfect and timely match for our vision. We are looking forward to building upon what Dr. Rose and his team have built and to carry CDP to new heights as a helpful educational platform open to all members of the Duke community and beyond.”
Polis invites and welcomes all Duke students, faculty, staff, and Alumni who are interested in democracy and civil discourse to sign up our newsletter or email Polis at polis@duke.edu with any feedback or suggestions.