Sometimes an issue divides a community to such an extent that violence erupts, as in the U.S. Civil War. At times, there may be ways of avoiding violence through discussion, or agreed upon ways of mitigating violence.
In the early 1900’s the Hopi tribe (in what is now part of Arizona) was divided over several issues. One group preferred to allow their children to be taken away to learn the “ways of the White man” at boarding schools rather than risk violent conflict with the Whites, while the other group felt the need to avoid the boarding schools. The two groups were irreconcilably divided.
To decide which group would have to leave the established community, something similar to a tug of war occurred. Instead of pulling, as in a tug of war, each group tried to push the other group over a line. The losing group gathered their belongings and started a new village about four miles away, as described here.
Another, more recent instance where groups were deeply divided, but found a way to develop a conversation, was in Boston over the issue of abortion. This is described in an article in the Boston Globe.
Love this story of a disintegrating community turning things around.
Some organizations seeking to help bridge division (especially political division) are:
Weave: The Social Fabric Project
The Civility Project (Part of New York University’s John Brademas Center)
The Great Lakes Civility Project
Some societies seem to have evolved away from violence. This website has information about peaceful societies.