“Glasgow University accused of undermining academic freedom in 'antisemitic' ruling”.
This is absolutely outrageous, not least because the article in question was rigorous and analytical. Solidarity with Jane Jackman. Academic freedom matters. scotsman.com/education/glas…
The article in question is here, decide for yourself.
The grim reality is that British universities are increasingly more concerned about media risk management than open and critical inquiry. The same applies with IHRA fundamentalism.
“this article employs some discursive strategies, including a biased selection of sources as well as the misrepresentation of data, which promote an unfounded antisemitic theory regarding the State of Israel and its activity in the United Kingdom.” Just extraordinary.
This is slander against scholar’s name. Just extraordinary that @UofGlasgow would stoop to this.
As I document here ‘electric fence’ approach of public relations is about intimidating individuals who undertake slightest probing of how occupation works.
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People can think whatever they like re censorship but seeing these, after so much support from Tory MPs & conservative journalists, is illustrative.
It’s why viewing the labour right as the ‘centre’ is to fundamentally misunderstand it. I don’t quite know what they believe in.
It’s not to ‘dunk’ on any of these people, I understand it and twitter is often about triviality and a laugh, but I do honestly think a big part of the Labour right is more reactionary than actual Tories on quite a few things. Why? >
Principally it’s because, in my view, conservatives don’t claim to necessarily believe in social & economic justice so take civil & political rights somewhat seriously. The Labour right doesn’t. That’s also why it isn’t especially good on due process or anything involving rules.
We have 2 parties fixated with defending permanent bureaucracy of state because the system blocks heterodoxy. Britain will be stuck with ineffective government until it changes its electoral system or parties have primaries (1/2)
European elections with PR somewhat broke that (allowing UKIP through), as does regionally concentrated votes under FPTP (Ireland a century ago, Scotland today). But entire set up is undemocratic, when that cracks (see Corbyn) establishment goes nuts because it’s a malfunction.
This system means problem solving & offering novel ideas is actively avoided and incentivised against both individually & collectively 🤯
The means by which body politic & society can reinvigorate itself doesn’t exist. Does Biden go left happen without primaries? Arguably no.
This is patent nonsense. The big dividing lines in Brighton were (eventually) on party democracy, public ownership and a £15 minimum wage. There’s consensus on climate policy and individual rights among members - as anyone who speaks to them knows…
A politics of ‘denunciation’ is calling everyone you disagree w/ a ‘Stalinist’. Members can disagree with strategic insights of McDonnell or whoever else. That’s point of mass party.
The Tories switching all English elections to FPTP mirrors Starmer's moves to consolidate power among MPs & away from members.
Both are about strengthening cartelisation of power at Westminster & ensuring no alternative emerges. The experiments of last decade can't be repeated>
For Tories that means ensuring another UKIP - where a party to their right emerges because of PR - is impossible. For Labour it means shutting out members.
NOBODY other than politicians thinks more power should be at Westminster. England needs a democratic revolution>
I favour primaries within parties, like US. To illustrate how archaic our 19th C political & media class is, this is described as 'Stalinist'.
I also favour PR so legislatures reflect vote. The raison d'etre of both Tory & now Lab leaderships is to take power not distribute it.
The idea that certain political parties could be excluded from government on the basis of not adhering to a certain set of guidelines or definitions is remarkable. It's post-democratic liberalism in its clearest form - one for political theorists to think about!
I think its outlandish this is conceivable in a democracy. Sadly it was given too much truck by Labour left, who frequently placed short term media management over right thing. That will have long term consequences for any sensible debate on this stuff
In Britain the over 65s is set to increase by 40% between 2016 & 2036, while those over 80 will double. That's a massive shift in care needs.
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The relationship between ageing & age-related conditions is exponential rather than linear, meaning the social costs of ageing are extraordinary. The chances of suffering from Alzheimer’s roughly doubles between the ages of 70 and 75, doubling again between 75 & 80 & so on.
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