海角大神

In the anti-elite politics and protests of today鈥檚 democracies, leaders are eager for new ways to gauge public opinion. Many of the old ways 鈥� elections, polling, referendums, even Twitter 鈥� just seem inadequate to shape consensus.

In Ethiopia, for example, a new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, holds 鈥渓istening rallies鈥� before crowds, seeking advice. 鈥淐hange can only come,鈥� he tells them, 鈥渋f we are only able to change ourselves.鈥� Mexico鈥檚 new president, Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador, takes questions during hourlong press conferences 鈥� every workday starting at 7 a.m. and live on YouTube. Such style of leadership 鈥� or is it listenership? 鈥� reflects a certain self-reflection.

Now France鈥檚 beleaguered president, Emmanuel Macron, offers his own model. On Monday he kicked off a two-month national dialogue in response to weeks of 鈥測ellow vest鈥� protests against his economic policies.

The French are being encouraged to express opinions at the local level with the help of mayors, either in town hall meetings or in online questionnaires. The topics up for discussion: the environment, democracy, public services, and taxes. Mr. Macron will attend the first meeting on Tuesday in Grand Bourgtheroulde.

鈥淲e鈥檒l show we鈥檙e a people which is not afraid of talking, exchanging, debating,鈥� he wrote in a letter to the public. 鈥淭his is how I intend to turn anger into solutions.鈥�

Macron himself is famous for breaking the political mode in 2017 by defeating France鈥檚 entrenched parties. His victory was a symbol of Europe鈥檚 anti-elite movements of both the left and right. Now even he, after proposing a fuel tax that sparked grass-roots protests in November, is being forced to find what he calls a new 鈥渃ontract for the nation.鈥�

He faces a high wall of distrust. One poll shows few in France believe the 鈥済rand d茅bat鈥� will be independent enough to lead to useful solutions. The poll also indicates about 40 percent of people will participate.

The mood is similar to that in many American companies where workers demand fewer bosses and more equality and consultation 鈥� or simply bosses who ask questions before giving answers.

To come up with blueprints for solutions, a group or society must first build bridges of mutual understanding. Techniques like 鈥渓istening tours鈥� help in pushing people to take a long-term perspective and be willing to show empathy. They are often inclusive and do not define a winning argument from the start. An invitation for deliberation can change the way people talk.

Macron鈥檚 grass-roots national dialogue 鈥� in response to grass-roots protests 鈥� is noble in concept. Yet it鈥檚 unclear what it might unleash. 鈥淚n trying to bring fresh air into our democracy, it could quickly degenerate into a free-for-all,鈥� warned the French daily Le Figaro. With patience and reflection on the part of the French, however, good ideas can float to the top.