I am an American and have been living in Britain for decades, but my heritage is in the USA, where I was born. I know Americans well and have been joking about the hubris of my fellow citizens from my earliest days in the UK. Inevitably, whenever I meet visitors from the States coming to … Continue reading The Americans are Coming – God Save the UK!
Brexit
Brexit as an Ecology of Games
There is a growing sense of hopelessness among people in Britain in the face of over three years of non-decision making over whether the UK will leave the EU. Why, for example, after the 2016 EU membership referendum with a vote of 51.9 percent of voters in Britain chose to ‘leave’ the EU, has there … Continue reading Brexit as an Ecology of Games
The Two Most Powerful Journalists Shaping Brexit
Laura Kuenssberg, political editor of BBC News, and Katya Adler, the BBC’s Europe Editor, are the two most powerful journalists shaping the unfolding debate over Brexit. Almost alone, these two journalists are interpreting the activities around Brexit to the people of Britain. It is hard to overstate the influence of the BBC on what the people of … Continue reading The Two Most Powerful Journalists Shaping Brexit
The Politics of Language
The language of day-to-day politics in the news and in legislative bodies, such as the UK parliament, has been so vitriolic, such as around the Brexit debate from 2016, that many have been stopped listening. It can be toxic to some, while energising to others. I should add that I would single out no one, … Continue reading The Politics of Language
Getting to No: Name-calling Politics
Every morning it seems I am stunned by any given political actor (celebrity, politician, journalist) in the UK or the USA calling another politician an idiot, a fascist, a communist, a liar, a populist, nationalist, .... the list goes on. What are they thinking? You don't need to have read Roger Fisher and William Ury's … Continue reading Getting to No: Name-calling Politics
Has Brexit Broken Parliament? No. This is Democracy!
The frustration of so many people over the machinations of the UK Parliament during the debates and votes over Brexit is understandable. So it is not surprising to see article after article, and opinion pieces piled on one another about how parliament, if not democracy itself, is broken. The GuardianJournal on 16 March notes: ‘Brexit … Continue reading Has Brexit Broken Parliament? No. This is Democracy!
Brexit and The Border: Must Read
As an American in Britain, the history and issues surrounding the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland has seemed to be too complex to even try to unravel. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Diarmaid Ferriter's book, entitled, no less, The Border: The Legacy of a Century of Anglo-Irish Politics.* The author is a professor at … Continue reading Brexit and The Border: Must Read
Getting to a Brexit Strategy: Focus on the Process
Press coverage of Brexit negotiations is focused on the politicians in support of different exit strategies, from a no-deal Brexit to no Brexit at all. As one consequence, the debate then focuses on whose right or wrong and why. All very newsworthy, but not an approach to reaching any consensus on the approach the UK … Continue reading Getting to a Brexit Strategy: Focus on the Process
Big Questions and Big Issues for the US and Britain: A Discussion with Voices from Oxford’s Denis Noble and Sung Hee Kim
When visiting Oxford in early February for a conference, I was invited to speak with my two colleagues who, with my help, founded Voices from Oxford (VOX) in 2009. The discussion was held in Rhodes House, one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in Oxford. As befitting the venue, my colleagues asked big, challenging … Continue reading Big Questions and Big Issues for the US and Britain: A Discussion with Voices from Oxford’s Denis Noble and Sung Hee Kim
Watching How the EU Treats the UK
Sovereignty is one of the issues that led some politicians in Britain to vote for leaving. Since the vote for Brexit, the UK has been struggling with how to leave in a way that respects the vote, but also creates as positive of an outcome as possible for the UK and the EU. They are … Continue reading Watching How the EU Treats the UK