Proyecto Disonante
Listen to what is hard for us to hear
Proyecto Disonante is a contribution to strengthen civic space through public deliberation, the use of evidence and pluralism.
The problem
Polarization is a challenge for democratic governance
Polarization is a trend that globally impacts public conversation. It is increasingly difficult to discuss public issues, from a film or a song to the content of a bill or a public policy. Political, cultural and moral identities are immediately at stake and the most trivial topic becomes a battlefield.
This phenomenon is a challenge for democratic governance. Governments at all levels, legislators, and even judges face the challenge that their proposals and decisions are processed as cultural, political or moral warfare. Journalism and Civil Society Organizations face the same problem with their agendas for intervention in the public sphere. In this way, any initiative is either labeled from its outset, or subsequently assimilated to one side or the other of the antagonisms that run through different societies. This, in turn, generates a spiral of intolerance that hinders debate, coexistence and, in some cases, fosters authoritarianism.
“This polarization is, in some sense, tempting: it touches something intimate in our convictions, but renders any debate sterile.”
Our proposal
A proposal to improve public debate, legislation and public policy
Proyecto Disonante is a proposal to put into practice mechanisms that improve public conversation through respect, argumentative logic, the incorporation of evidence, diversity and pluralism.
Public policy proposals, legislative projects, and reform agendas can increase their legitimacy and effectiveness to the extent that they incorporate plurality, deliberation and evidence in the discussion process.
What we doA public conversation subject to rules of respect and argumentation can be more productive for better governance.
How can we help you?
We work with governments and legislative bodies, educational institutions, civil society organizations, businesses and professional associations along three lines: diagnosis and solutions, training, and evidence-based argumentation.
What we doLatest activities
- ECLAC
Proyecto Disonante at the ECLAC Regional Conference: sexual and reproductive rights and polarization
In August Proyecto Disonante participated in two activities related to sexual and reproductive rights and polarization.
Carolina Fernández Blanco
- Training
Proyecto Disonante held a workshop on “difficult conversations” with Minerva University
Proyecto Disonante held a workshop with Minerva University's M27 cohort, focused on improving the quality of dissent and the skills for difficult conversations in high-diversity contexts.
Carolina Fernández Blanco
- Paper
Evidence in lawmaking: an introduction and a plausible model
Paper presented at the 2nd Michele Taruffo Girona Evidence Week, in the workshop “Evidence in legislation”.
Carolina Fernández Blanco
Who we work with
National Democratic Institute · Minerva University · Alianza Regional por la Libre Expresión e Información · Ríos Strategic Lawyering for Social Justice · MYSU (Women and Health in Uruguay)