At TrendsActive, we regularly write about polarisation. We discuss how algorithms amplify the extreme voices in society, and how that leads us to perceive much more division than actually exists. We discuss how the media and politicians highlight the extremes to win clicks and votes. We discuss how this perception of extreme division can—in turn—lead to more actual polarisation because we become less willing to talk with people we expect to hold extreme opinions. And even though it is useful to understand the mechanisms that drive division in society, in the end it’s just theory. 

That is why it’s interesting to see a new action group arise that explicitly wants to tackle these toxic feedback loops in society. Last week, several former politicians, backed by a big group of Dutch celebrities, launched ‘Voor Ons Nederland’ (For Our Netherlands). This think tank/action group’s purpose is to embody the ‘mild majority’ and bring back ideas to politicians to solve problems, claiming that ‘democracy is too important to leave to politicians alone’ 

Mirroring similar action groups like the American Lincoln Project (a PAC consisting of (ex)-republicans that were worried about the state of democracy), they want to provide an alternative voice to the concerning rise of populist rhetoric that undermines trust in the system. Furthermore, they want to function as an idea platform and work together with experts to devise non-partisan solutions to big problems. The underlying idea being: solving actual problems is an important step towards regaining trust in politics.

It will be interesting (and important!) to see whether they can gain traction and offer a meaningful alternative to populism in the coming years.