A reaction to being kettled and reflection on the authoritarian turn of the British state through policing It produces a horrible feeling. Animal instincts and feelings swell up as you are trapped in an enclosed space by other animals. They form a tight circle around you and slowly constrict that circle, coming closer to you,… Continue reading The kettle and the cage: rising authoritarianism in the UK
At a time when the vocabulary of the progressive left feels hollowed out and political participation continues to decline, a handful of figures are trying to reverse the slide. In today’s shifting political landscape, progressive voices are redefining what it means to advocate for social change. Two leaders at the forefront of this movement are… Continue reading TwoFaces of the New Progressive Politics — Zohran Mamdani and Zack Polanski
Around the fifth century BCE, in ancient China, one notorious commander declared that “all warfare is based on deception”, and ultimate success purely stems from tactics of evasion and subtlety. The work which this quote has been acquired from, The Art of War, is attributed to Sun Tzu; however, by 1469, the year Niccolò Machiavelli… Continue reading The art of the prince — Machiavelli and the endurance of deception
I was on the toilet when I first became acquainted with Zohran Mamdani. I wasn’t reading an article or listening to a campaign speech, but rather I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. Despite initially swiping up, it was perhaps the warmth of his smile I had glimpsed for a half second that compelled me to… Continue reading How Mamdani reeled me in
Throughout 2025, mostly thanks to the film A Complete Unknown hitting cinemas and a further exploration of his career, there has been a rekindling of interest in Bob Dylan. A whole new generation of youngsters has discovered that nasally voiced, mysterious Jewish boy who roamed Greenwich Village in the folk clubs and coffeehouses all those… Continue reading The politics of Dylan
France has a deeply chequered past; characterised by bloody battles of rebellion and uprisings. Having moved past these barbaric and rudimentary forms of protest, France has not completely forsaken their rebellious inclinations and a golden thread of revolution runs throughout the country’s history. Modern protest movements are relied upon heavily to enact social change, such as the ‘Gilet Jaune’ protests–… Continue reading Stealing liberty — the Louvre heist and the unfinished business of the French Revolution
In recent years, Europe has started resembling a laboratory for testing and experimenting with democracy. Far-right parties are gaining ground on the continent like never before, and polls show that right-wing political ideas are becoming more and more popular in nations like Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Finland and Austria. Giorgia Meloni in Italy, Fidesz (the political… Continue reading Democracy under pressure — what Serbia reveals about Europe’s shrinking freedoms
As the United States approaches the end of 2025, immigration remains one of the most divisive and emotionally charged issues in American politics. Under President Donald Trump’s second term, the federal government has intensified its crackdown on undocumented immigrants, reshaped asylum policies and expanded the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in ways that… Continue reading Raids, resistance and reform — the US immigration crisis under Trump’s second term
What is fascism? — a myth of national rebirth, an in-group to be defended and the scapegoats cast as enemies within. Calling someone a fascist holds a lot of weight. After all, no one wants to keep company with Nazis (right?—). I’ll admit, I’ve accused a few people of being one myself—I won’t say who,… Continue reading Fascism (for dummies) — how to spot one
Wherever you may look, whether it’s on social media, news networks or even within your local community, there seems to be an undeniable feeling of disdain and hatred, reflected by angry accusations, false news and far-right protests. Within a time of political uncertainty, where the UK’s recently elected Labour government already appears to be crumbling… Continue reading The capitalisation of hate within UK politics
