Full Description
In today's volatile political and social climate, characterised by demagogues, populism, and increasingly AI driven misinformation, combined with growing global crises from obesity to the environment, this eclectic collection brings together a diverse array of international contributors. These include leading thinkers, policymakers, and activists drawn from the world of business, politics, education, law, the arts, science, medicine, health and social enterprise. The book explores how people engage with ideas, particularly the lure of dark ideas, and proposes innovative policy solutions to combat susceptibility to 'dark' ideas such as misinformation, conspiracy theories and science denial.
Recent trends and events across the UK, US, and many European countries, including the war in Ukraine, Brexit, the election of Trump, numerous immigration crises, and the perceived lack of solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggest a shift away from an 'ideas-informed' democratic society. Demagogues, Populism and Misinformation examines two crucial factors that influence ideas engagement: the allure of 'dark ideas' and the necessary preconditions for effective engagement with ideas, such as tolerance, intellectual humility, intellectual empathy (a willingness to engage with other perspectives), and intellectual curiosity.
Contents
Foreword; Sir Anthony Seldon
Tackling the foundations of Dark Ideas
Chapter 1. Introduction: Striking back against the Dark Side; Chris Brown and Graham Handscomb
Chapter 2. Why are some ideas easy to believe on little evidence?; Anna Stone
Chapter 3. The lure of the shadow; Arif Anis
Chapter 4. Can pro-climate advocates steal populism's clothes?; Matthew Paterson
Liberation through education
Chapter 5. Getting Down To Earth; David Lambert
Chapter 6. Science Literacy Beats Misinformation; Andrew Morris
Chapter 7. Defeating Misinformation Through Classroom Deliberation; Lee Jerome
Misinformation and the power of knowledge
Chapter 8. Data-Driven Misinformation; Anna E. Premo, Alexander Ratkovsky, and Martina A. Rau
Chapter 9. Confronting Media Outrage and Restoring Trust and Evidence Based Debate; Sir Les Ebdon CBE
Chapter 10. Populism and its impact on the rule of law; Robin Ellison
Chapter 11. It's Darwin!: An evolutionary lens on knowledge and truth; Steven Warmoes
Demagogues, democracy and political action
Chapter 12. Extremism is the Point - How Our Society and Politics Fosters Dark Ideas; Sam Fowles
Chapter 13. Preserving and sustaining democracy in an age of disinformation; Gopal Subramanium
Chapter 14. Living with shade: ambiguity does not mean only darkness in world politics; Ben O'Laughlin and Alister McKimmon
Chapter 15. What would the Suffragettes think?; Vivienne Porritt OBE FRSA FCCT
Populism, faith and belief
Chapter 16. Faith Communities and national populisms: seeking integrity in the grey areas; John P. Bradbury
Chapter 17. Responding to (Christian) Nationalism; Andy Braunston
Chapter 18. Embracing Uncertainty in a Chaotic Age; Beverley Clack
Personally facing up to the dark
Chapter 19. Writing into the Dark: Dementia and the Cultivation of Human(e)ness; Lesley Saunders
Chapter 20. Taking Control - Be more selective in choice of media; Lynn Wood
