In our interview with Dr. Michael MacLeod, professor of Political Science at St. Mary’s University, we discuss why political borders have become so insurmountable and share strategies for having conversations with those who disagree with our political convictions.

Dr. Michael MacLeod is Associate Professor of Political Science and past Chair of Social Science at St. Mary’s Univeristy in Calgary, Alberta. He formerly was Associate Professor and Director of International Studies at George Fox University in Oregon, and studied at The Queen’s University and The George Washington University.

Dr MacLeod mentioned the following books, audio recordings, or organizations:

-A podcast interview with James Martin: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/battleground-with-david-plouffe-steve-schmidt/id1529896611?i=1000507268224

-The book The Death of Expertise: The Campaign against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters by Tom Nicholas: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-death-of-expertise-9780190469412?cc=ca&lang=en&

-The book Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/hillbilly-elegy-j-d-vance?variant=32207704391714

-The book Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations by Amy Chua: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/535371/political-tribes-by-amy-chua/

-A lecture by Amy Chua: https://youtu.be/P1xTlL6mE4k

-The organization “Make America Dinner Again”: www.makeamericadinneragain.com

Our next Border Walkers conversation will be “Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict” with Marilyn McEntyre, on Friday, February 165h at 6:30 pm Mountain Time. For details on how to join the live conversation, visit http://borderwalkers.eventbrite.ca.

The audio for all of our Border Walkers conversations can be found wherever you get your podcasts or by visiting Anchor.fm/BorderWalkers.