REAL WORLD ISSUES COURSE
(De)Polarizing Dialogue
Dr. Maja Nenadović
Practical strategies to defuse polarized communication and increase impact
OVERVIEW
In the workplace, classroom and on our streets, everyday interactions increasingly provoke angry divisiveness. Red lines are drawn and redrawn between “Them” and “Us”, making civil discussion and respectful disagreements seemingly a thing of the past.
This course addresses the real-life issue of divisive rhetoric and polarized encounters in Europe and beyond—whether about self-expression, freedom of expression versus hurtful rhetoric, political disagreement, or otherwise.
This course will provide you with specific tools and activities that you—and your clients—can apply in different polarized situations when non-constructive and, at times, destructive debate hijacks space for dialogue.
If you work with those who find themselves having difficulty explaining and advocating for their position and views, or are regularly met with opposition and resistance even in the face of science/facts, this course will show how to better adapt communication approaches to defuse tensions, maximize the chances of being heard, and achieve desired outcomes.
In this course, you will learn how to help yourself and those you work with so that you/they can better:
- Immediately “dial down” the temperature in tense and intense verbal encounters
- Diagnose communication problems in real-time
- Engage in ‘on the spot’ strategic planning to transform communication and improve engagement
- Implement appropriate strategies for engaging in dialogue with those with (extremely) differing views and making oneself heard
- Respond to discriminatory remarks and/or hate speech with integrity and civility
This course will blend cognitive and affective discussions about key concepts, dynamics, and cognitive biases with experiential, behavior-oriented opportunities for self-reflection, skill-building activities, and how to pass along these insights to others. You will practice applying the tools and strategies and consider how you might share them as a part of your client work.
This course is for you if you are a consultant/trainer/multiplier/educator who helps those who:
- Have meetings/lessons/agendas that are ‘hijacked’ by stakeholders with extreme views;
- Experience increasingly heated and uncivil disagreements among colleagues, whether around political issues, current events, or otherwise;
- Are holding back from authentic engagement due to anticipated/actual discriminatory and hate speech remarks…or the fear of inadvertently giving offense.
COURSE TYPE
Real world issues
DURATION/DATES
2 days/7-8 July 2025
TARGET LEVEL(S)
Senior (20+ years)
Advanced (13-19 years)
Mid (6-12 years)
TUITION FEE
€1050
includes certificate from the University and the Institute
Maja Nenadović, PhD
Political education and human rights trainer Maja Nenadović, PhD, is a Monitoring-Evaluation-Learning and program design consultant, formal debate coach, and facilitator who has worked in 40+ countries.
Over the past 20 years, she has worked with both those who use discriminatory and hate speech rhetoric and those who are targeted by it, to create “Across Divides: Training Workshops for Depolarizing Communication,” a field-tested methodology for defusing and redirecting inflammatory encounters.
Holding a PhD from the University of Amsterdam, Maja’s research explores democracy promotion, post-conflict democratization processes, and dysfunctions in democracy. She is the co-founder of Reflectory, a boutique consultancy in the field of conflict transformation, civic engagement, and social cohesion. She lectures and trains internationally.
My work is inspired in part by this George Bernard Shaw quote, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
We will explore some difficult and, at times, uncomfortable conversations during this course. When analyzing the causes behind polarization, conflict, and the heightened emotions that occur during disagreements, we will necessarily shy away from “political correctness” that may hamper our ability to authentically and clearly address the issues. This said, complex topics will be approached sensitively and with warnings provided.
“Take this course – you will leave with your assumptions and ideas challenged in a setting that is supportive. It’s hard at times, but hard in the best of ways.”
“Dr. Nenadović was amazing. I have never been to a training that provided me with so many tools and knowledge after just two days. In addition to her expertise she also felt very accessible.”
“Maja was an incredible faculty member. Not only did she show great respect for the knowledge the participants bring, she also shared her personal experiences openly. Despite being a large group, a safe and inclusive space was created which I truly appreciate.”
She is a leader in her field and believe it is fair to say that she is one of the top trainers globally.
