Partners
Compassion in Politics UK
CIPA came together out of the Compassion In Politics movement in the UK led by Jennifer Nadel. CIP UK was launched in the UK in 2018 after the Brexit referendum, when
unprecedented levels of polarisation and division split society, damaging trust in politicians -and civic institutions and putting lawmakers’ lives and health at risk.
The movement quickly gained traction, based on its unique ability to bring together politicians from various parties to support initiatives that prioritise compassion in legislative
processes. This approach aims to reduce adversarial politics and encourage more collaborative decision-making.
CIP UK now has a thriving network of more than 100 MP supporters and over 50 partner organisations.
CIP’s research shows compassion has been systematically eroded in the political sphere in recent years, causing avoidable suffering, and needs to be reintroduced to produce better political solutions. Using the framework of compassion allows CIP to work across parties, competitors and tribes because compassion is seen as a core and essential value.
In the US, CIP has joined forces with the Charter of Compassion to highlight the powerful role of compassion in driving change in the fractured American political system. This informal collaboration allows CIP to amplify the Charter’s messages for American audiences, drawing on its growing research base and practices honed in the UK context.
In Australia, the intention is to leverage the UK experience while harnessing the benefits of a vibrant multicultural society, a prosperous economy and a relatively stable political environment with promising community-based elements.