Posts
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Performative Politics: Trump’s pageantry in office.
Yesterday the UFC held its 250th event at the white house, to commemorate 250 years since the founding of America, but also for Donald Trump’s birthday. It is not uncommon to see leaders of the world hold events in celebration of history and great achievements. However the celebration of one’s own birthday, partially funded by…
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The far-right’s weaponisation of tragedy
As with all British politics, any major events or shocking tragedies reflect poorly on those in government. Outside of the grieving and the pain caused to local communities and families, these events have a direct effect on politics. For example after the 7th July terrorist attack in London, Tony Blair was forced to introduce the…
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For the People?: The disparity between politics and the public
Political representation has always been the foundation of modern democracy. In theory there should be a party that represents every base of political thought and belief. However the reality is far from that. Logically no one’s personal political beliefs will align perfectly with any one party. Yet if a large portion of the population do…
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Fear Sells: The monopolisation of fear in the modern media
Since the start of newspapers in the 17th century, news has become a staple of modern life. Always connected, always informed. The difference today is speed, for which we can access global news within a click of a button. We can see the wars across the globe, the constant pandemics and peril that faces humanity.…
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Brexit or Brejoin: The causes, consequences and future of Britain’s relationship with the EU.
In 2020 Britain left the European Union, and removed itself from the economic and political hub of the European mainland. Brexit itself caused a division within the country, as only 51% had voted to leave in 2016. The propaganda and misinformation that overshadowed the vote, led to a confused and poorly planned election. The effects…
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Stigma around politics: Why marginalising the Far-Right increases extremism
Recently there was another Tommy Robinson led anti-immigration march in the UK. What banner they say they march under, is very different from the reality of the protest. The supporters of Robinson, and other Far-Right figures, all have different motivations and reasons for going to such an event. The issue is, not what these supporters…
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Politics by the people, for the people: Has ‘First Past the Post ‘voting become outdated?
The current UK political system has been in place since the 1950s, and the voting method, namely First-Past-the-Post, has been a focus of conversation for years. Voters, on Election Day, choose an MP to represent their constituency within parliament, however the total number of MP’s country wide determines the election winner. This creates a problem,…
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Rise of Reform UK: The breeding ground of divisive populism
The best way to categorise how reform has garnered such a large and devoted support base is through the lens of populism. Various scholars, such as Ernesto Laclau, and Cas Mudde, set out a list of requirements that Reform encapsulates. Firstly, populists attempt to define a homogeneous body, who are the true people of that…
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Personal Politics: the emotional response to political choice
In recent years especially with the rise of social media, Individual political opinions have become intertwined with one’s character. By aligning yourself with a political party, in today’s world, means to associate your core morals with that of the party itself. In many ways this removes the subjectivity of politics, and makes voting an extremely…
Common Sense Journalism 