Keeping Our Enemies Closer

Rachel Wahl is Professor of the Social Foundations of Education at the University of Virginia. She is the author of Just Violence: Torture and Human Rights in the Eyes of the Police.

"Keeping Our Enemies Closer moves beyond familiar platitudes about the importance of dialogue among people who disagree about politics. Instead, the book delves deeply into the different perspectives of police officers, community activists, college students and other everyday people who engage in these conversations. By bringing to life with narrative richness what actually happens for these people when they talk to each other, the book uniquely shows why such conversations are so emotionally and politically fraught, what participants gain—or lose—through them, and what these difficult exchanges reveal about the possibilities and limits of dialogue as a means to sustain democracy." - Beth Macy, author of Paper Girl and Dopesick"Rachel Wahl's attention to the layered context of dialogue makes this book unique. She keeps in focus the full humanity of the individual; the relationships that dialogue (re)makes; the institutions in and about which we dialogue; and the democratic goals of the endeavor. The exchanges and reflections stayed with me. They help reframe the role of dialogue on campus and beyond." - Sigal Ben-Porath, author of Free Speech on Campus"In this searching and illuminating book, Rachel Wahl considers whether and how talking across difference can help Americans heal deep divides. By combining practical experience, empirical investigation, and a grasp of the philosophical underpinnings of democratic life, she avoids both cynicism and naivete and gives readers a realistic sense of what the hard work of democratic engagement might have to offer us." - Yuval Levin, author of American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—and Could Again"Rachel Wahl's book is required reading for anyone concerned about rising polarization and political violence, and seeking evidence-based ways to respond. Wahl moves us beyond simple, one-size-fits-all approaches to a nuanced understanding of initiatives designed to help us talk across the chasm created by our differences. Drawing on years of research, including engagement in communities and on college campuses, she shows us how, when, and why we can remain true to our values and goals and still recognize that those with very different beliefs are valid co-creators of our democracy." - Melody C. Barnes, Karsh Institute of Democracy, University of Virginia"Keeping Our Enemies Closer is a compelling and important book that demonstrates why meaningful conversations across political differences are essential to democratic life. Drawing on rich empirical research and vivid case studies, Rachel Wahl provides powerful insights into when political dialogue succeeds, when it fails, and why it matters. A must-read for anyone interested in strengthening communities, bridging political divides, and sustaining democracy." - Diana Hess, author of Controversy in the Classroom: The Democratic Power of Discussion"In a society riven by intense ruptures, when and how can dialogues bridge these political divisions? In this discerning and immersive narrative, Rachel Wahl weaves together political theory, rigorous analysis, and the voices of polarized Americans themselves, grappling with the possibilities and limits of this democratic endeavor. Wahl powerfully argues that dialogue is more of a nuanced performance art than a single formula, and offers a practical and versatile guide for leaders, educators, and engaged citizens committed to preserving our common project of democracy at a time when it faces uncommon stress." - Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuéllar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"Keeping Our Enemies Closer uses fascinating case studies to derive insights and guidance about whether to join dialogues (on campus or in communities), how to approach these conversations, whether to disclose one's own views fully, how to interpret the other participants, and other matters that are urgent in this time of polarization. It will also be useful for people who organize dialogues. It is nuanced, deeply researched, and relevant to practice." - Peter Levine, author of We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: The Promise of Civic Renewal in America"As polarization continues to shape how people relate to one another, this book offers a nuanced examination of dialogue's role in democracy. Grounded in rigorous research and lived experience, it helps educators and practitioners connect this work to broader goals and outcomes, strengthening student learning, deepening community impact, and engaging across political difference with greater honesty and care." - Bobbie Laur, President of Campus Compact