MORE IN COMMON INC

More in Common US works to counter the profound threats to American democracy and our pluralist society from the forces of division and ‘us-versus-them’ populism. We are focused on understanding what is driving societies apart and strengthening the forces that can bring us back together.

The mission of More in Common US is to build a more united and inclusive America, where there is a deep commitment to a shared democratic culture, and where all Americans feel they belong. More in Common US works in partnership with national teams in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, with around 35 staff globally. In all the countries we work in, our strategy is to build healthier, more united democracies, chiefly through catalyzing action by organizations with the potential for large-scale impact.

Since our establishment in 2018, More in Common US has gained recognition for three areas of our work:

• Our research, beginning in 2018 with Hidden Tribes: A Study of America’s Polarized Landscape, which harnessed groundbreaking insights from social psychology to change the narrative on polarization in the United States. We built on this research with our 2019 report Perception Gap: How False Impressions are Pulling Americans Apart. In 2020 we produced two reports on democratic culture and national identity: Democracy for President: A Guide to How Americans can Strengthen Democracy During a Divisive Election and American Fabric: Identity and Belonging. In 2020 we also launched a unique online qualitative research platform – Hidden Tribes Live – which allowed us to engage less-political Americans over the election year. In 2021 we published a population segmentation study of Texas (Threads of Texas), Two Stories of Distrust in America, and After Kabul: Veterans, America, and the End of the War in Afghanistan.

• Our partnerships and the diversity of our networks across civil society, academia, media, advocacy, politics, faith, and business. In the period since our launch, we have intentionally cultivated strong relationships across disciplines and themes in order to support values-aligned organizations in addressing the challenges posed to our democracy by intense us-versus-them divisions. In 2020, for example, we led a COVID-19 scenario planning exercise with approximately 40 leaders, from funders to political partners to civil society groups, with individuals working on democracy reform, immigration, racial justice, violence prevention, media reform, and a range of other focus areas. In 2021 we led a six-month research project with a partner focused on race and identity in the American South.

• Our capacity for incubating and accelerating partner initiatives to strengthen democratic culture. Due to the diversity of our networks and the fact that our research expertise is on issues of human psychology, relationships, and identities, we are well-positioned to bring together and support partners—with insights, messaging, and strategic guidance—on initiatives focused on addressing issues of trust, belonging, and agency in our democracy. In 2020, for example, we led an election integrity communications table where approximately 25 diverse organizations met to share lessons learned, identify gaps in the ecosystem, and collaborate on new efforts. As this table concluded we then launched a new table focused on fostering commitment to a peaceful post-election period—this involved a large-scale digital intervention to disrupt disinformation, mitigate election violence, and promote pro-democracy content. In 2021 we launched a year-long project that will include a partner table focused on deploying narratives of American identity that can reach across lines of difference.