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An inside look into real-life conversations across ideological, racial, and institutional lines
What does it take for a progressive student and a conservative peer to view each other with respect? Can trust form between a police officer and a community member after years of tension and mistrust? At a time when political polarization seems insurmountable, Rachel Wahl offers a rare glimpse into what happens when people with opposing views sit down and talk— not with the goal to debate or “prove” their political point but with the goal to understand the life experiences, hopes, fears, and ideas that drive their disagreements. Drawing on in-depth empirical research with college students, police officers, and community members, this groundbreaking book takes readers inside real-life conversations across ideological, racial, and institutional lines.
Wahl draws on political theory to examine two cases: structured dialogue between students and a series of forums held between officers and community members. Rather than idealizing dialogue, Keeping Our Enemies Closer reveals its complexity—where it succeeds, where it falters, and how it can reshape not just minds, but institutions. Through gripping narratives and rigorous analysis, this book challenges assumptions and offers a new framework for thinking about communication in fractured times. An essential read for educators, activists, and policymakers, Keeping Our Enemies Closer has much to offer anyone seeking to understand how connection is forged—or frayed—in twenty-first-century America.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."