Political polarisation: why it's happening and what it means
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Doors open at 6:15pm
Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday columnist; Dawn Foster, Guardian columnist; Richard Angell, Director of Progress – a New Labour pressure group; and University of Edinburgh's very own Ugur Ozdemir, Lecturer in Quantative Political Science.
Brexit and Trump’s presidential election have often been cited as two sides of the same coin, even “inextricably linked” by Steve Bannon. 2 years on, more radical right and left-wing movements are on the rise throughout the US, UK and further east throughout Europe. Political polarisation isn’t just an internal political divide within nations but is increasingly becoming a global phenomenon. Why is this? 10 years on from the financial crisis, is this still relevant? And how has social media shaped our current political culture?
Some argue political polarisation or the emergence of radical politics is necessary to solve the big problems within our society and throughout the world – inequality, climate change, poverty. Others lament it creates a political atmosphere that is divisive, malevolent and ultimately unhelpful as opposing sides talk past each other, with no desire to find common ground.
Come along and see our panel discuss it all with Oliver Kraftman, University of Edinburgh student and co-founder of The Broad. Hopefully we can find some common ground and it will be an enriching evening for all!
Organiser TheBroadOnline.com and RAG
Organiser of Political polarisation: why it's happening and what it means
The Broad was started by Oliver Kraftman and Joe Kleeman, two students at the University of Edinburgh, in November 2017. They saw a gap in the market for a student marketplace of ideas and wanted to publish opinion-pieces written by students of all political persuasions. The aim was to create a place where ideas can clash but in a sophisticated and fruitful way, which isn’t always the case on social media!
RAG is...