The Vital Role of Compassion and Trust in Strengthening Democracy
Cape Town – Jennifer Nadel, the co-founder of Compassion in Politics and co-author with Gillian Anderson of We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere, joins Dominic Wilhelm on the newly initiated Closing Distance podcast to discuss the vital role of compassion and trust in supporting democracy.
“Compassion is not weak. It’s powerful.”
This emphatic message from barrister, award-winning journalist, and political reformer Jennifer Nadel resonated during her conversation with Dominic Wilhelm on the Closing Distance podcast.
Nadel, co-founder of Compassion in Politics, posits that incorporating compassion into political decision-making is not only beneficial but essential for the health of democracy.
Her career is marked by a dedication to challenging authority with integrity.
In her time as an investigative journalist at ITN, she exposed war crimes and presented proof to the United Nations.
As an author, she partnered with actress Gillian Anderson on We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere, promoting a transition from a self-centered perspective to a more collective approach.
The manifesto, created by Nadel and Anderson, advocates for resilience, compassion, and shared responsibility—values that Wilhelm elaborates on through the Global Trust Project, highlighting trust as a fundamental component in bridging divides between individuals and communities.
Through Compassion in Politics, Nadel has championed reforms that integrate empathy and integrity into public life.
These initiatives range from mental health support for MPs to cultural change campaigns, such as Stop the Nastiness, and the Honesty Standard in Parliament, currently being tested in Wales to ensure politicians are held accountable for intentional dishonesty.
“We’ve made a political climate that inflicts unnecessary harm,” Nadel remarks.
“Compassion requires action. It involves confronting falsehoods, recognizing struggles, and holding politics accountable to its ethical standards.”
Nadel acknowledges that compassion may be viewed as naive or even “churchy.”
However, she counters that truth: “Compassion requires courage. It means stepping into difficult environments and advocating for alternative solutions.”
Her message particularly resonates with younger generations who feel disillusioned by politics.
Only 1% of Britons under 35 trust politicians to be honest, a statistic cited by Nadel as evidence of a trust crisis that Compassion in Politics aims to address.
“When people witness the real consequences of dishonesty, we can begin to rebuild public trust,” she asserts.
The conversation with Wilhelm underscored the link between compassion and trust.
While Wilhelm’s Global Trust Project aims to foster trust within organizations and governments, Nadel argues that compassion acts as politics’ “magnetic north”—a guiding principle leading toward fairness, dignity, and truth.
Her personal journey lends authenticity to this message.
After years in journalism and advocacy, Nadel encountered burnout, prompting her to rebuild her life from within.
This experience heightened her understanding of the importance of compassion, not only as a personal virtue but as a foundational political principle.
“For me, it always comes back to action,” she reflects.
“Compassion is not just a feeling. It’s activism—a motivation to strive for the world we envision rather than merely settling for what exists.”