The minutes ticked by, but nobody got here. This was new. At different Harvard Institute of Politics occasions this summer season, there was all the time a wholesome gathering of undergraduates. A lunch with a senior Biden administration official drew 16 college students. A visit to the labor secretary’s workplace received a dozen.
However as we edged nearer to the assembly time, it was obvious that we weren’t going to match these numbers on the RNC. By 2 p.m., it was simply me and one different pupil.
In reality, there have been extra panelists than college students. Over the subsequent hour, 4 senior communications administrators on the RNC shared their profession pathways, talked to us about how their group was structured and respectfully provided their considerations on the way forward for U.S. democracy. Like each different occasion this summer season, this one was primarily designed to be academic and informative, not overtly political or partisan. The problem of the empty seats went unmentioned for many of the assembly — till we received as much as take a bunch picture on the finish. By then, it was 4 panelists, a few the institute’s organizing workers and me.
The Harvard Institute of Politics is the college’s umbrella group for all issues politics. Its annual Summer season in Washington programming invitations politicians, diplomats and bureaucrats to fulfill with Harvard undergraduates who’re interning in D.C.
This summer season, the query of polarization got here up at virtually each one in all these seminars. When visitor audio system mentioned the necessity for each events to get collectively and discover frequent floor, college students nodded their heads. Everybody, crimson and blue, agreed that some elements of Congress weren’t working like they used to. Everybody agreed that speaking and sharing experiences with individuals on the opposite aspect was one small however apparent answer.
It turned out this was simpler mentioned than performed.
As an Australian and somebody who first stepped into the USA three years in the past for school, I used to be — and nonetheless am — involved for the well being of U.S. democracy. In Australia, the energy of American democracy is usually seen as a check of the energy of democratic authorities around the globe. However lately, the American union appeared to be fraying.
The summer season gave me an opportunity to transcend Cambridge, Mass., and discover the capital of the republic firsthand. On this spirit, I went to nearly each occasion the institute hosted, no matter political affiliation. After the journey to the RNC, I used to be curious why my friends had not attended. I used to be particularly curious the very subsequent day when some 10 classmates joined me on a visit to the Democratic Nationwide Committee.
So, I requested. One sophomore defined that she believed being in the identical room with the opposite aspect was a type of endorsement or legitimization. She described how she felt alienated by sure Republican arguments and insurance policies. However she additionally believed in bipartisanship and hoped that the opposite aspect would come to her desk extra usually. It was unfair to anticipate one aspect to behave in a sure approach, she argued, when the opposite aspect was not reciprocating.
I empathized together with her perspective, however I couldn’t assist however marvel, so what now? Somebody must disrupt the polarization spiral downward and begin rebuilding cross-partisan relationships. Sitting in the identical room, listening to the opposite aspect respectfully, felt like a small and vital first step.
This was Harvard’s first Summer season in Washington program in three years. In some sense, the summer season of 2022 was a political experiment. How would the scholars react to those occasions throughout the partisan spectrum? The outcomes challenged our photographs of ourselves as open-minded college students desirous to study from completely different views. Regardless of all our chatter concerning the want for cross-aisle dialog, once we Harvard college students have been those put to the check, we failed.
These college students are future leaders of this nation. A lot of my associates who interned in Washington this summer season expressed curiosity in a profession in politics. They hope to run for workplace sometime. A lot of them are additionally involved concerning the course democracy is heading. They wish to play an lively position in altering that.
Throughout each panel this summer season, from each shade of the political spectrum, the audio system expressed one factor in frequent. There was a tone of nice expectation once they talked about our technology. A way of potential that we’ve got but to appreciate, a hint of hope. The message was clear: We have been the place the pendulum would swing subsequent.
