Description
The re-emergence of President Trump and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement in the US, National Rally in France, the Alternative for Germany (AFD) in Germany and Reform in the UK; these and similar groups in the Netherlands, the former states of Eastern Europe, the Balkans and beyond, reflect a deep and fundamental polarisation in society.Political disagreement is now characterised by allegations that opponents are ‘traitors’, by disputes over basic facts and by an unwillingness even to consider compromise. These splits are created and maintained by misinformation and by an increasingly global movement to destabilise the international rules-based order.
Can societies – can democracy – survive in such circumstances? What can be done to rein in big tech (Meta, X, Amazon etc) and the ‘Broligarchy’? Finding answers to these questions is critical not only to the future of democracy, but to national security and sovereignty.
Taking an agile approach to emerging world events, our expert panel discusses these issues and more. Our speakers include Aurelien Mondon of the University of Bath, an expert on reactionary politics; Jessica Cecil, a leading media industry figure and an expert in the field of disinformation; Chris Featherstone of the University of York, who works at the intersection between international relations, US and UK foreign policy, and foreign policy decision-making; and Alexander Hurst, a Paris-based writer, editor and columnist at The Guardian. The session is chaired by Joan Concannon, Director of York Festival of Ideas.
| Period | 8 Jun 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | York Festival of Ideas: A world in Crisis? |
| Event type | Other |
| Location | York, UK United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |