About us
Civilized Conversation seeks to revive the lost art of face-to-face thoughtful conversation. We're a diverse group of people from different parts of the political spectrum and varying backgrounds. Yet, we believe that it is possible to discuss controversial topics honestly and respectfully, as well as passionately.
We meet every Monday evening (except the last Monday of each month) at the same time and place to discuss a pre-set topic. Usually it's related to politics or public affairs, but some topics are about religion, cultural change history, world politics, or even philosophy or science. Our format is an informal roundtable discussion by all present, with a moderator.
WHEN: Mondays 7pm - 9pm (except last Monday of each month).
WHERE: Panera Cafe, 5620 Balboa Ave., at the front of the giant shopping mall at Balboa and Genesee. Lots of free parking.
SIGN UP to the group and to attend specific mtgs at Meet-up.com.
Upcoming events
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Will far right political parties become mainstream in more major democracies?
Panera Bread, 5620 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA, USRight-wing political parties have been gaining power through the ballot box in more and more geopolitically important countries in recent years. Yes, they have lost power recently. Yet in many nations they remain the main political opposition party. These are radical right parties - not the center-right parties that exist in almost all democratic countries and govern off and on while playing by the rules.
Here are some of the nations that are currently governed by right-wing political parties, have been until very recently, or may soon be.
-- Argentina, Brazil, Columbia., Chile, Bolivia
-- Italy, France, Netherlands, Germany, Hungary and Serbia (recently voted out), Croatia, and even Sweden.
-- India (BJP), Türkiye.
-- USA.This doesn't even count Putin's Russia or the four dozen (!) or so countries typically categorized as "unfree," like China, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Sudan. (Only a few are left-wing.)
The key points for our purposes, IMO, are that (1) these right-wing parties usually were freely elected, (2) it is a worldwide phenomenon so maybe there are common voter grievances or failures by mainstream parties, (3) they now constitute the main opposition party even if they do not rule, and (4) the right-wing parties loosely cooperate with and mutually support one another.
Civilized Conversation discussed the rise of right-wing political parties several times in the past. Try mining the two mtgs listed below for links and other thoughts. Check back here the week before the November 16th mtg for optional background readings/viewings on what may be a big change in global democracy's future: The need to either accommodate disgruntled voters or pay the price we're seeing now - far-right parties evolving into mainstream parties. Without the need to moderate to do so. All over the world. Loosely cooperating.
Background Readings -
-- 2017 CivCon: Is a Global Far Right-Wing Movement Emerging?
-- 2019 CivCon: How dangerous is the far right-wing in Europe?16 attendees
Past events
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