Hugh Roberts’ Post

CONSTITUTIONAL CONTRASTS - DON’T YOU JUST LOVE THEM?! It’s tempting to compare the ongoing uncertainty surrounding future leadership in the two republics closest to us - France and the USA - with the UK’s wholesale change of power done and dusted within 6 weeks without so much as a hint of insurrection or discontent as to process beyond the evergreen objections to a first-past-the-post election system. And we’re the ones without a written constitution (though for how much longer, I wonder?) while France and the US generated detailed written proscription to determine change of power based originally on resisting that of non elected minorities - their own monarch and aristocracy in the case of France and our own (mad) king George and his colonial rule in the case of the USA - both over 2 centuries ago. Our system is far from perfect and retains many injustices not all of which could be ironed out by a written constitution. That much is obvious from our republican friends and neighbours as they jump through hoops with their own written codes to decide who determines future policy and with what actions and implementation going forward. There are no guarantees in either republican constitutions nor our more malleable and interpretative system that the right decisions for future governance will be successful. For now at least, Britain’s change to a new government has been effectively and peacefully achieved in a remarkably short space of time. We can only wish for the same broad outcomes for our friends and neighbours. Vives nos différences! mais… Vives aussi nos mêmes futurs harmoniques! Nous voyageons ensembles vers un petit monde!

OPINION || The debates getting underway among Tory thinkers today might not make the daily headlines, but they could shape our politics in the years ahead, writes City AM Editor in Chief Christian May ✍️ One of the features of modern politics is just how reactionary it is; political leaders jump from issue to issue as the agenda dictates while the media (understandably) follows or leads this trend. For those who keep a close eye on politics it can therefore feel as if life is a series of tactical battles with the focus on winning the day, or just surviving it. And yet, ideas still matter. They matter a great deal. A survey by YouGov, released this week, shines a light on the UK’s ideological diversity. Socialism is viewed favourably by 38 per cent of the population while Communism garners support from 10 per cent. Continue reading 👇 https://bit.ly/4gx9Jsp

Excited to share my latest article on exploring the complexities of political representation and understanding its scope and impact. In this piece, I delve into the multifaceted dynamics that shape our political landscape and the crucial role representation plays in fostering inclusive governance.#PoliticalRepresentation #Governance #Inclusivity https://lnkd.in/d-fW8UqF

When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion: Every person will say they know the answer. Every company will claim its strategy is the best. Every government will insist they are doing enough. Every expert will assert their approach is the most effective. Every media outlet will present its narrative as the definitive truth. Every advocate will argue that their cause is the only one that matters. Every institution will assert its policies as the most progressive. Every stakeholder will proclaim their interests align with the greater good. But beneath the surface, reality often reveals a more complex picture. Solutions are rarely as straightforward as they appear, and the effectiveness of strategies can vary greatly depending on unseen factors and shifting circumstances. True progress requires more than just proclamations, it demands a commitment to understanding the deeper issues, engaging with diverse perspectives, and adapting as conditions evolve. #dei #progress

Decency in politics is crucial for several reasons: 1. **Trust and Credibility**: Decent behavior helps build trust between politicians and the public. Trust is essential for a functioning democracy, as citizens need to believe in the integrity and honesty of their leaders. 2. **Effective Governance**: Decency fosters a cooperative environment where politicians can work together to solve problems, rather than being embroiled in partisan conflicts and personal attacks. 3. **Public Engagement**: When politicians act with decency, it encourages greater public participation in the political process. People are more likely to engage with and support a system that they view as fair and respectful. 4. **Role Models**: Politicians are public figures and role models. Their behavior sets an example for society, influencing social norms and the behavior of future generations. 5. **Policy Focus**: Decency helps keep the focus on policies and issues rather than personal vendettas or scandals. This leads to more productive debates and better outcomes for society. 6. **Global Perception**: Decent political behavior enhances a country's reputation on the international stage, fostering better diplomatic relationships and international cooperation. In essence, decency in politics is fundamental to maintaining a healthy, functional, and fair society.

📉UK political party membership is on the decline 📉 Joining a political party used to be a common life milestone. But today, just 1% of the electorate are members of a party. This shift tells us a lot about how attitudes towards politics and society are evolving. What do the rise of individualism and the impact of social media mean for the future of political parties and the democratic system? The latest blog in our Human Behaviours series dives into these trends and explores the potential implications for political representation and party funding. Read the blog 👉 https://bit.ly/4dkXAp5 #Politics #UKPolitics #SocialTrends #Research #BIT At BIT, we're committed to understanding shifts in behaviours and helping organisations navigate changing landscapes. Find out more about our services here: https://bit.ly/4dr4UzO

https://lnkd.in/g9PQiFfX "In the recent pandemic, the moderate left has failed the lower half, what we used to call the working class, which is now rather the working poor. What do I mean by the left? Its definition varies from country to country and almost from person to person. I leave aside the extreme left and focus in this article on the liberal left, which I use as a synonym for the moderate left or liberals, a current of thought largely represented amongst intellectuals and journalists, for instance those of the New York Times, the Guardian or the Washington Post that I will cite many times here. While this moderate left has historically claimed to represent the interests of the disadvantaged, I argue that with COVID they have focused instead on surviving at all costs at the expense of the poor, including – and this is my second point – by endorsing authoritarian means: censorship, repression, and public shaming. They rationalized their heavy-handed response with a narrative built around notions of truth, civic virtue, and fear."

"The disintegration of society is not an inevitable outcome. While the forces of immiseration and elite overproduction are powerful drivers of crisis, history shows that wise governance can mitigate these trends and prevent the worst outcomes. With the right leadership and a commitment to the principles of equity and inclusion, it is possible to steer society away from the brink and toward a more just and cohesive future." Read Cloos Jim's recent editorial looking at the causes of disintegration of social cohesion and the rise of polarisation in European and world politics 👉 https://lnkd.in/entubnQp

How do we ensure research integrity throughout the phases of translation of research into policy? Particularly, how do we tackle racial and ethnic bias in this process? This plenary tackles these questions from 3 perspectives - a great insight for #ECRPnetwork Learn more here https://lnkd.in/dieJTb7C #WCRI2024 Lex Bouter Panagiotis Kavouras Maura Hiney Eleni Spyrakou

Pathways to #global #democracy? Escaping the statist imaginary by Kate Macdonald The literature on global democracy has often been accused of trading in institutional fantasies, divorced from the constraints of the real political world. Miller for instance has criticised the literature on global democracy for asking “only about where democracy is needed ... without considering whether it is actually possible to conjure the necessary democratic body into existence (or if this is possible, in a formal sense at least, how it is likely to perform).” Even supporters of aspects of normative democratic projects often express scepticism of this kind, Buchanan and Keohane for example claiming that: “... the social and political conditions for democracy are not met at the global level and there is no reason to think that they will be in the foreseeable future”. Scholars of global democracy are taking such practical questions about the necessary social foundations for a global democratic project increasingly seriously.4 Attention is turning both to the analysis of existing social conditions to assess the extent to which democratic institutions might already be feasible, and to questions about the social forces and mechanisms that could at least move global institutions in a more democratic direction. ... https://lnkd.in/ek6g65WG