In this episode of Tomorrow Thinking, Johann Alexis speaks with Mathieu Lefèvre, co-founder and CEO of More in Common, about one of the defining challenges of our time: why our societies feel increasingly polarised - and what still connects us beneath the noise.

More in Common has become one of the most influential international organisations working at the intersection of research, politics and civil society. With large-scale surveys, behavioural insights and on-the-ground partnerships, the team advises governments, NGOs, media organisations and businesses on how to strengthen social cohesion and rebuild trust in democratic systems.

Lefèvre’s personal story is deeply intertwined with questions of identity, exile and belonging. Raised between cultures in a French-American family shaped by political displacement and intergenerational memory, he developed an early sensitivity to what binds societies together - and what tears them apart. Before founding More in Common, he worked internationally across civic initiatives and public engagement projects, always focused on participation and democratic resilience.

At the heart of the conversation lies a fundamental tension of our present moment: while polarisation is rising, people are simultaneously yearning for connection.

Why does the perception of division often exceed reality? How does the attention economy amplify conflict? And why are facts alone not enough to restore trust?

We speak about the “exhausted majority”, the crisis of loneliness and loss of agency, the role of influencers and storytellers in shaping public opinion, and the need to translate research into tangible action - moving from thinking to doing.

As in every episode, the dialogue also intersects with one of Johann’s artworks. In front of Truth is Capital, they reflect on truth, trust and the fragile relationship between evidence, belief and narrative in a world saturated with information. Not as a slogan, but as an open question: whose truth, and how do we rebuild shared ground?

A thoughtful, human and quietly hopeful conversation about democracy, responsibility and the possibility of reconnection.

Johann Alexis von Haehling is a Franco-German multidisciplinary artist. His work spans painting, sculpture, installation, video and socially engaged projects. As a curator, he collaborates with a selected group of leading contemporary artists.At the centre of his practice lies a simple but urgent question: how can human beings orient and transform themselves within a rapidly changing cultural, ecological and technological world?

He understands art as a medium to explore new ways of thinking, acting and living together – just like this podcast.

www.la-maison.co

Malcolm Gompf

#TomorrowThinking #MathieuLefèvre #MoreInCommon #SocialCohesion #Democracy #Leadership #Europe #PublicOpinion #ArtAndIdeas #Podcast