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As a Distinguished Resident Fellow at Duke Sanford’s Center for Politics (POLIS), the Honorable Dr. John Hillen teaches “Civil Discourse in an Age of Political Polarization.” This Civil Discourse Project course creates a classroom space for students to engage across lines of difference, discussing controversial topics while striving to build a community of trust, friendship, and rigor amid political and intellectual disagreement.
Hillen’s career includes roles as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State of Political-Military Affairs, decorated Army combat veteran, CEO, and award-winning leadership author.
At Duke, he also teaches classes in Sanford’s Master of National Security Policy program and Duke Program in American Grand Strategy, and serves as an executive-in-residence in the Department of Political Science.
In honor of Sanford’s “Public Policy in Democracy” month, Hillen answered the following questions on the meaning of pluralistic democracy, the role of civil discourse, and his course on political polarization.
What is a pluralistic democracy and why do you believe it’s needed?
Pluralism in political life is the active participation of diverse viewpoints in public life. In our American republic — which is distinct from a pure democracy where the majority simply rules — this practice is essential because it safeguards the specific rights of minority perspectives to coexist and contribute. In a free society, deep disagreement is inevitable; pluralism provides the framework to view those differences not as existential threats, but as a feature of our democracy that prevents tyranny. As Duke Provost Alec Gallimore has noted, “as members of a pluralistic community who strive to practice civil discourse, we shouldn’t shy away from conversations just because they’re difficult.”
What constitutes a healthy democracy?
Some thinkers maintain that a healthy democracy is defined not simply by consensus, but by the quality of its disagreement. From antiquity to the Enlightenment, thinkers have always recognized that a free society relies on free inquiry, constructive disagreement, and engagement with diverse viewpoints as essential to self-government. In our American republic, this means moving beyond 'mere politeness' or a 'mushy middle ground' to practice the intellectual courage of debating ideas while prioritizing the pursuit of understanding each other, not simply trying to triumph over fellow citizens.
What do you hope students take away from your 'civil discourse in an Age of Political Polarization' course regarding cultivating a healthier democracy?
I hope students recognize their duty as future citizen leaders in a free and diverse society. My goal is for them to build the 'civic virtue' necessary to sustain our republic by mastering specific habits of mind—choosing curiosity over conviction and 'calling in' rather than 'calling out.' Ultimately, I want them to understand that engaging constructively with opposing views is not just an interpersonal skill, but a fundamental requirement for self-government.