The Shared Societies Project

“The main hope of harmony in our troubled world lies in the plurality of our identities, which cut across each other and work against sharp divisions around one singled hardened line of vehement division that allegedly cannot be resisted."

Amartya Sen. Identity and Violence

Democratic Leadership for Dialogue, Diversity and Social Cohesion

The Shared Societies Project is a Club of Madrid global initiative that provides leaders with greater understanding of the benefits of social cohesion, the incentives and means to act to advance it. The project supports democratic development through promoting leadership for dialogue, diversity and social cohesion.

The project is designed in the belief that societies are most likely to be peaceful, democratic and prosperous when leaders and citizens recognize the value of diversity and actively build a shared society.

A ‘shared society’ is a socially cohesive society. It is stable, safe. It is where all those living there feel at home. It respects everyone’s dignity and human rights while providing every individual with equal opportunity. It is tolerant. It respects diversity. A shared society is constructed and nurtured through strong political leadership.

The Project strands of work are:

• Outreach and Dissemination of Shared Societies Project Principles and Tools.
• Norms, Practice and Policy, International Advocacy. Through participation in international fora and building on partnerships with international organizations and civil society organizations.
• Engagement with Leaders. Club de Madrid, led by its Members, responds to requests for leader-to-leader support in implementing the project tools.

Two strategies are cross-cutting all of the above lines of work. First, the creation of a Network of Political Leaders United for Shared Societies (NetPLUSS) which is committed to promoting shared societies in their own work and working with others to promote that ideal in the wider world. Second, the Building of the Economic Argument for Shared Societies. This strategy operates under the belief that leaders make greater efforts to achieve a shared society once they and their communities understand and communicate the economic benefits of building a shared society. The project will make that case and create tools and arguments that can be internalized and acted upon by leaders.

The project has produced a portfolio of both practical and realistic strategies from which leaders can seek inspiration, analyse alternatives and design, communicate and implement policies and strategies for social cohesion and shared societies in their nations and cities.

The question of managing difference and coexistence is one of the most important conversations of our lives, and we are committed to build a world safe for difference.

Download the Shared Societies Booklet	Watch the Project's Summary Video	Download the Project's one-Pager

We wish to acknowledge and thank the following organizations that make the Shared Societies Project possible:

Alan B. Slifka Foundation

The initiative has benefited greatly from the vision, commitment and support of Alan Slifka

The Global Forum on Leadership for Shared Societies was made possible thanks to the contribution of:

The support of ther institutions that have helped us to develop project activities is also much appreciated

The Shared Societies Project has received valuable input from other Club of Madrid projects supported by

Government of Norway

 Other project partners include: