In this guest essay, Gregory Maniatis argues that the political “centre” is not an ideology but a way of working – one rooted in collaboration across disagreement. In a moment of democratic emergency, he argues, this may be the most radical thing you can do.
Drawing on examples from immigration policy, civic movements and democratic innovation, Gregory contends that progressives have too often prioritised moral certainty over democratic persuasion, weakening their ability to build durable coalitions and leaving reforms vulnerable to political reversal.
The essay is a call to action. To “repopulate the centre” means moving beyond agreement within like-minded groups and instead building power with those we differ from – making the centre a lived democratic practice capable of sustaining meaningful, long-term change.
Gregory Maniatis has worked on immigration policy in the United States, Europe, and globally for many years. He currently leads the work on immigration and refugees at the Open Society Foundations, was a longtime advisor to the UN special representative for migration and numerous governments, and a journalist and author whose work has appeared in outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, and Foreign Affairs.