Informing and engaging citizens
In a divided Britain, the pro-EU movement will have to be clear about what it wants
The Brexit vote has thrown different conceptions of democracy into sharp relief. Some are horrified at the conduct of the referendum campaign; others see the result as the revealed will of the people. Luke Temple uses tweets from the March for Europe event on 3 September to show how these views clash. He concludes that the pro-EU movement needs a clear aim if […]
The BBC must improve how it reports statistics
The BBC has a unique position in British society, with a reputation for fairness, impartiality, and usefulness. But to maintain these characteristics, journalists need to be much more careful about how they scrutinise and present statistics to the public, write Amy Hawkins and Phoebe Arnold. How much does the UK contribute to the EU each […]
Heads or Tails? How leaving the selection of public offices to chance could revitalise democracy
Representative democracy has come under severe criticism lately, with a number of commentators pointing at the way it restrains public participation. In this blog post, Romance Porrot seeks to explore the way in which sortition – i.e. drawing lots in politics – is increasingly called upon to reshape the political arena and empower ordinary citizens. […]
A ‘one-language’ EU policy would foster elitism and hit disproportionately the least advantaged
In an increasingly anglo-centric world, is multilingualism still needed in the European Union? The answer is a resounding yes, according to a study by Michele Gazzola. Analysing Eurostat data, he finds that making English the only official language of the EU would exclude approximately four out of five EU citizens from having a deep understanding […]
Review Roundtable: Naked Diplomacy: Power and Statecraft in the Digital Age by Tom Fletcher
What is the role of the diplomat in the digital age? In Naked Diplomacy: Power and Statecraft in the Digital Age, Tom Fletcher – former British ambassador to Lebanon and the youngest to be appointed in 200 years – draws upon his own experiences to outline a progressive vision of contemporary diplomacy that challenges top-down or one-way models […]
Older women in local parties: marginalised or empowered?
The subject of older women in politics has rarely been investigated and very little is thus known about their motivation to be active in party membership. Vicky Randall’s interview-based study in seven English parliamentary constituencies sheds some light on the matter. Randall finds a mixed picture, showing that older women give a substantial contribution to […]
The under 30s in the UK: A generation used to not getting what they voted for
The EU Referendum underlined a clear disconnect between the ruling elites and the electorate, writes Benjamin Bowman. Disappointment with political choices is particularly marked among the younger generation, whose disaffection exemplifies a deeper depolitisation. Much can be learned from recent episodes such as the Iraq War and the increase in tuition fees if we are […]
The aftermath of the Brexit vote – the verdict from a derided expert
John Van Reenen was disappointed but not surprised by the UK’s vote to Leave the EU. Whilst his own research predicts serious economic and political damage in the case of Brexit, he thought a Leave vote was a real possibility ever since David Cameron committed to a vote in 2013. In his last post as Director of LSE’s Centre for […]
The politics of language and prejudice: How the New Primary Curriculum for English is outdated
Matt Carmichael argues that Conservative policy regarding language tests in English is outdated. The social attitudes which underpin the tests are divisive and dangerous and have the effect of promoting prejudice. Similar PostsPromoting English learning is an important first step, but much more needs to be done to support integrationBook Review: Class by Will AtkinsonBook Review | […]
Using technology to inject the demos back into democracy
Possibilities to ‘take action’ and participate in our current system may exist, but they are rarely effective.While individuals may be able to express their opinions, there is no mechanism in place for translating those opinions into action. In this light, Roslyn Fuller writes online deliberation allows us to take a leap towards much deeper democracy. Similar PostsBrexit […]
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