The Battleground was launched in January 2019 in response to the rise of populism around the world and the failure of traditional media to account for this paradigm shift. The centre-ground has collapsed, yet its institutions remain in place as a cruel reminder of what was.
Even as the UK leaves the EU, the European project is still ongoing and British institutions have so far survived the turmoil of Brexit. However, the future is very much up for grabs in this uncertain era. The future could be ours, but only if we’re willing to fight for it.
The growing tension between liberal democratic capitalism and nationalist populism in countries like France and Italy has replaced the left-right divisions of the past. This is the ‘Orbánisation’ of European politics. Others like Mark Blyth might call it ‘Global Trumpism’.
At the same time, The Guardian and The Observer responded to the crisis by backing the People’s Vote Campaign. The two liberal papers became increasingly crazed about the Labour leadership and its failure to make the uncompromising case for stopping Brexit.
The so-called Irish border became just another prop in an endless vaudeville of horrors. Hard Leavers wondered why it even mattered what happens in Northern Ireland, while hard Remainers questioned why Sinn Féin wouldn’t take their seats to help stop Brexit.
This article can be read in full at The Battleground.
Joshua White 