The Past is Prologue: Lessons Learned and Hope Renewed
Lessons Learned: "Is the United States Headed Toward a Civil War?"
"The answer is no," write Benjamin Jensen and Joseph K. Young of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "These Critical Questions use core findings from the academic literature on civil wars and political violence to situate recent tragic events and fundamentally challenge the notion that the United States is on the verge of an internal conflict. The risks of an actual U.S. civil war in 2025 are negligible, and rhetoric to the contrary is counterproductive and inflammatory when analyzed in relation to studies of political violence. The greatest risk on the horizon is not a civil war, but social media–induced tit-for-tat cycles of sporadic violence by lone gunmen. Not all political violence is organized or a harbinger of civil war. Modern scholarship defines a civil war as a state-based armed conflict between a government and an internal opposition group that results in 1,000 battlefield-related deaths. This cumulative death toll separates civil war from other forms of political violence like terrorism. Furthermore, there needs to be at least some proportion of deaths from both sides of the conflict, or it isn’t a civil war—it is one-sided violence that, in the extreme, becomes genocide." Read more HERE.
Harnessing Our Power to End Political Violence (HOPE)
Please review Harnessing Our Power to End (HOPE) Political Violence. It is "a guide for communities across the United States to organize to counter political violence." Written by Hardy Merriman "for the 22nd Century Initiative and the Horizons Project, along with allies working to end political violence, this resource emphasizes the importance of addressing political violence due to its corrosive impact on society. Political violence undermines trust in government institutions, democratic processes, and community cohesion, leading to the deterioration of government accountability and individual well-being. It also causes significant mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, while damaging the social and political systems that support health and stability. Stopping political violence helps preserve democratic participation, strengthens social trust, and fosters safer environments where communities can thrive and collaborate. Additionally, preventing political violence protects individual rights, reduces intimidation and fear, and promotes a political culture where conflicts are resolved nonviolently—an essential condition for healthy societies and legitimate governance." Read more HERE.
Workforce Insights from the Future: What 2026 Leaders Can Expect
“Here are three key trends, supported by leading research, with practical steps you can act on today.” According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, “technological and macroeconomic shifts could eliminate approximately 92 million jobs globally, even as they generate around 170 million new ones by 2030."
"This represents a historic level of role churn and reallocation of talent across industries. The same report finds that nearly 39% of core skills in organizations will change in the next five years; this means that what is considered a critical competency today may become irrelevant in the near future. McKinsey also reinforces this trend, highlighting that by 2030, 'roughly 10 percent of the American workforce may need to switch occupations,' a sharp rise compared to pre-pandemic forecasts." Read more HERE:.
Diamond Strategies Founder and CEO Wins Silver Medal in Diverse 10th Wushu Kung Fu Championships in Emeishan, China
The 10th World Kungfu Championships were held from October 14 to October 20, 2025, in Emeishan, China. Our founder and CEO, Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker, a martial artist, won a silver medal in the Men’s Shaolinquan Group E (Score: 8.64, Rank: 2, Prize: 🥈). Dr. Whitaker performed the Shaolin 7 Star Fist 七星拳 [Qīxīng Quán], the oldest Shaolin Kung Fu form. The World Kungfu Championships is the largest and most influential sports-for-all event in the global wushu community. This championship attracts traditional wushu practitioners from 54 countries and regions worldwide.
"The diverse, global population that competed at the World Championship renewed my faith in the goodness of most of humanity. Even language barriers did not stop us from communicating, bonding around our shared passion for martial arts, and competing with mutual respect and acknowledgment of the value and dignity of each individual. We can, in fact, get along." Learn more HERE.
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Questions? Contact us here: Diamond Strategies or call us at 480-252-0639.
Images: iStock; 22nd Century Initiative and the Horizons Project; Matthew C. Whitaker
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