Worldwide, polarization is increasingly eroding people’s ability to have rational and civil conversations with each other. Nowhere is this clearer than in the political realm, where opposing camps spend much of their time ‘talking past’ each other rather than with each other.
On Thursday, 21 March 2024 at 1400 UTC, Dr Ian Siebörger, Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa, will present constellation analysis as a set of tools for analysing others’ positions and enabling clear discussion of divisive topics. Constellation analysis is part of Legitimation Code Theory, a sociological theory of knowledge that builds on the work of Bernstein and Bourdieu. He will show how Jesus had a unique ability to discern and rearrange the prevailing constellations of his time and how we can follow his lead in working toward solutions to the political dilemmas facing our societies.
If you would like to read up on constellation analysis before the webinar, you are welcome to read Ian’s article with Ralph Adendorff, ‘We’re talking about semantics here: axiological condensation in the South African parliament‘, as an example.
With the intensity of political discourse rising in a number of countries worldwide, do not miss this opportunity to learn how to work toward more peaceful solutions by better understanding one another.
