How can we talk with people with radically different worldviews?

Social anthropologist Emanuel Schaeublin, in his column, points out the increasing importance of being able to conduct constructive conversations with those who view the world in radically different ways. He describes two skills which pave the way toward this.

People with different religions or worldviews can stir up existential fears. Take the calls to change the gender classification of public bathrooms. Those demanding and those opposing such a change both feel that their self-conception and way of life is under attack. As a result, the conversation becomes blocked. People resort to contested labels such as woke, patriarchal, queer or transphobic – terms that trigger one side or the other. People now effectively lack a common language to talk about their differences on this topic.

Worldviews in peace mediation

A similar dynamic can be observed in armed conflicts. While more countries are getting involved in mediation work, sustainable peace agreements have become rare.

One of the reasons for this arguably lies in the conflict parties’ lack of a common language. For instance, one side may want to negotiate based on religious scripture, while for the other side the constitution is the sole legitimate foundation for talks. While willing to meet and carry on dialogue semi-officially, conflict parties that are so divided often fail to even agree on a negotiation agenda or a conceptual framework for a sustainable peace process.

The ability to positively relate across different worldviews will be crucial in the coming decades.

Against this background, questions of collective imagination are gaining importance in the field of peace mediation (Introduction to Conflict Resolution, edited by Cobb et al.). Worldviews are among the emerging concepts to address such issues. They can be defined as shared and embodied understandings of the reality that orients social and political life (Mediating Conflicts between Groups with Different Worldviews: Approaches and Methods, ETH Zurich).

From addressing so-called culture wars to intrastate conflict or geopolitical confrontations, the ability to positively relate across different worldviews will be crucial in the coming decades. Here are two skills that are helpful in this regard.

Skill 1: Asking concrete questions

On a recent visit to a snowed-in farmers’ market, I took my small daughter to a bathroom in a nearby Mexican bar. She chose the one that had “Señoritas” written on the door. I had to help her get out of her winter clothes. Feeling awkward about blocking the way for other women, I told my daughter that I would wait outside and that she should call me if she needed help.

Outside, I met a woman waiting in line. I excused myself and explained that my daughter insisted on going to the women’s room. The woman said: “Hopefully so!” Then she started giving me a long speech about the negative effects of gender-neutral toilets. I asked her why she thought visiting a “women’s room” was so important for young girls. “Because it is crucial for their self-confidence!” she replied.

People have a common concern about feeling free from fear and shame.

This made me realise that in debates about gender identities, people have a common concern about feeling free from fear and shame. They radically disagree, however, on the conditions that enable such freedom. A mediation approach could explore practical solutions cultivating self-confidence that are acceptable to people whose worldviews on gender diverge deeply (Mediation Space: Addressing Obstacles Stemming from Worldview Differences to Regain Negotiation Flexibility by Jean-Nicolas Bitter et al.).

Skill 2: Active listening

In conflict areas where statehood is contested, political actors referring to religion tend to be cast as religious zealots. Some analysts even argue that such religious zeal is a central cause of the conflict.

By actively listening to a wide range of people living in such contexts, however, you can learn many different reasons why religion might be important.

Conducting anthropological research on how people in the Palestinian city of Nablus deal with financial scarcity, I found that Islamic concepts play a crucial role in orienting mutual support among families and neighbours living in economically difficult circumstances under Israeli military occupation (Divine Money Islam, Zakat, and Giving in Palestine by Emanuel Schaeublin). In contexts where state authorities fail to provide a minimum of social security, people may refer to Islamic texts to discuss ethical and political issues such as the responsibility to care for those in need.

References to religious texts also enable a dignified human life, constituting an often-untapped resource for mediation and conflict resolution.

Without the readiness to actively listen, outsiders often do not fully comprehend such lively debates. Giving too much attention to the religious discourse of armed groups, they overlook the multi-layered practices and positive meanings that people derive from religious texts in their specific circumstances.

The extent to which references to religious texts may enable a dignified human life constitutes an often-untapped resource for mediation and conflict resolution.

Learning about fears and wishes

In summary, good conversations across worldviews require a certain awareness of the fears on all sides. Instead of being paralysed by fears, look for something on the other side that might convince you.

This does not mean you should not set boundaries. It is OK to ask the other side in the conversation to refrain from using certain words or arguments in your presence. If you make such demands, encourage the other to speak concretely about their own experiences, fears and wishes.