Click to print (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

These are astonishing days. Amid rapid-fire policy changes, America has grown even more divided; similar divisions are spreading across the world. Vitriolic rhetoric roars from all sides, and battle lines are hardening.

We aren’t listening to one another.

Is there space left for dialogue? For reason? For thoughtful persuasion?

We’re determined to find that space. This goes to the core of TED’s mission. We’re therefore launching a series of public events, TED Dialogues, that will focus on the burning questions of the moment; questions about security and fear, democracy and demagoguery, neo-nationalism and neo-globalism.

We’re not looking for more angry soundbites. We’re looking to pull the camera back a little and get a clearer understanding of what’s going on, where we are, how we got here—and how we must move forward. Our speakers will be invited to give short, powerful talks, followed by probing questions from both live and virtual audiences — including you. We will search for voices from many parts of the political landscape. And we will focus on the ideas that can best shed light, bring hope and inspire courageous action.