Archive of entries posted by Owen Bell

Israel, Europe, and the corrosive effects of nationalism.

Posted by on

This week’s post is a response to an article in The Spectator published just a few days ago, in which Seth Frantzman argues that the European right increasingly resembles its Israeli counterparts. He writes, “For Israelis, Europe’s political landscape is looking increasingly familiar. Whereas Israel was once seen as something of a political backwater, nowadays it’s European …

Continue reading ‘Israel, Europe, and the corrosive effects of nationalism.’ »

Has the socialist left come to accept liberal globalisation?

Posted by on

I wouldn’t normally post more than once a week. But a friend of mine has shared an article I think couldn’t be more relevant. The Financial Times’ Janan Ganesh argues that the rise of anti-globalisation right wing populists like Trump and the pro-Brexit campaigners, have inadvertently made social democrats defend the neoliberal global order they …

Continue reading ‘Has the socialist left come to accept liberal globalisation?’ »

Northern Ireland: where moderation is a rarity.

Posted by on

It’s often said that American politics is increasingly polarised. Republicans and Democrats vote on party lines more frequently, with dissenters being scorned as ideologically impure. Many academics believe this polarisation has been an elite phenomenon, with most ordinary Americans maintaining relatively centrist views. But even if America’s stark political divisions are purely the failure’s of …

Continue reading ‘Northern Ireland: where moderation is a rarity.’ »

Musings on the Netherlands and Turkey

Posted by on

On Wednesday 15th March, the Netherlands will hold a general election. In the American and British popular imaginations, the Netherlands is a socially progressive nation with a well-functioning democracy, and a high trust in its institutions. Relatively speaking, that perception is largely correct. But the Dutch increasingly believe their values are under threat, not from …

Continue reading ‘Musings on the Netherlands and Turkey’ »