Civility as we pursue it is the ability to disagree productively with others, respecting their sincerity and decency. By civility we do NOT mean agreement. We think citizens are well served when political parties represent different viewpoints and then compete vigorously to recruit voters to their side.

Based on decades of social science research, we believe this civility is best fostered by indirect methods (changing contexts, payoffs, and institutions), rather than by direct methods (such as pleading with people to be more civil, or asking people to sign civility pledges). Much of the research that we cite concerns these indirect methods.

Our approach is to draw on the best scientific research to understand how moral disagreements become uncivil, and how we can recommend changes that can get people out of unproductive, uncivil disagreement.