Jonathan Haidt: How common threats can make common (political) ground

How common threats can make common (political) ground

If an asteroid were headed for Earth, we'd all band together and figure out how to stop it, just like in the movies, right? And yet, when faced with major, data-supported, end-of-the-world problems in real life, too often we retreat into partisan shouting and stalemate. Jonathan Haidt shows us a few of the very real asteroids headed our way -- some pet causes of the left wing, some of the right -- and suggests how both wings could work together productively to benefit humanity as a whole.

Society faces urgent challenges—rising sea levels, spiraling national debt, widening inequality, and the breakdown of families—yet political tribes block collective action. When faced with an existential threat, like a giant asteroid, people naturally unite, but real-world dangers often get wrapped in polarization instead. Research shows that morality binds groups together but also blinds them to the other side's facts. Lasting progress emerges when people recognize common threats and cooperate across divides, not just when they seek common ground.