Bart Brandsma is a leading authority on polarisation and social division in the Netherlands and Belgium. Trained in social and political philosophy, he began his career as a journalist and documentary maker before committing himself to a single, long-term mission: helping professionals understand and break through us-versus-them thinking.

Since 2005, Bart has been developing and refining the Polarization Framework, a practical and widely used approach that offers concrete guidance for navigating conflict, reducing tension and restoring dialogue. His work addresses one of the most pressing systemic challenges of our time: how polarisation undermines collaboration, trust and progress—across society, organisations and public debate.

For over two decades, Bart has worked with a wide range of audiences, from ministries, municipalities and the judiciary to journalists, educators, police forces, activists and multinational companies. He delivers international masterclasses and advises organisations across Europe and beyond, with experience ranging from Finland to Spain and from Northern Ireland to Ukraine, as well as in Cambodia, Myanmar, Lebanon and Tanzania.

Bart is also the author of Polarization: Understanding the Dynamics of Us-Them Thinking, a widely read book translated into multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Catalan and Korean. Through his work, he equips leaders and changemakers with the tools to move beyond division—and create the conditions for constructive change.