Many Americans are breathing a cautious sigh of relief. Heading into the presidential election, it was reasonable to wonder if our republic would become more polarized. Some even worried that if the outcome wasn’t decisive enough, it would destabilize the nation.

The election did not bring that kind of chaos, even if — as in most contests — a slim majority of voters celebrated while a strong minority was dissatisfied or disillusioned.

For now, we seem to have emerged more stable than most people imagined. This resiliency points to something crucial: an American civic culture which, while battered and never perfect, holds us together. I believe it’s time to be more intentional about this culture; to better recognize it and take concrete steps to strengthen it.

Civic culture is the invisible fabric that holds our diverse democracy together — the shared norms, values, narratives, habits, and rituals that guide how we live, work, and govern as a society. Unlike political culture, which focuses on how we contest power and policy, civic culture is about how we coexist as neighbors, collaborators, and fellow citizens.

Think about rituals we share, like celebrating the Fourth of July with fireworks or gathering for Super Bowl Sunday. Think about narratives like “a nation of immigrants” (even as we debate it) or habits like volunteering with local food pantries. In a time when so many lament a lack of social........

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