We are living through a time of great global political and economic change, which is being played out in different ways across the world. Historically, in times of uncertainty and fear of the future, people have turned to political extremes for answers and reassuring, if unnuanced, narratives. Today is no different: in the context of rising global authoritarianism and nationalism, legitimate questions and grievances of the populace in any given country are deflected and misdirected. Scapegoats are sought as people rail against both the existing centres of power and their avatars (the government, the elites, the establishment, the deep state, etc), as well as the amorphous ‘other’ (the foreign, the immigrants, etc). The latter are often blamed by the former for reasons of political expediency and survival, and that is reflected in increasingly divisive and toxic public discourse today.
Culture, media, language, and education play an important role in instilling and fueling extremist ideologies, often subliminally. For example, in a study conducted by University College London (UCL) in 2021, teachers were concerned that students would mimic extremist behaviour seen on social media. They saw themselves as unprepared to deal with extremism at school due to limited training, curriculum constraints, and pressure to simply report at-risk students, rather than engage with them. However, education is often proposed as a solution to counter political polarisation, religious fundamentalism, and online radicalisation by fostering critical thinking and empathy. The Arts are also increasingly recognised as a powerful tool, creating spaces for dialogue that challenge politically delicate topics subtly and in a non-confrontational manner.
How can we disagree well in a polarised world that is increasingly using rhetoric of division and violent means to establish certain norms? What can educators, artists, and professionals do to establish spaces of dialogue and conviviality? What ways of thinking and acting do we need to change within educational institutions, media, and political discourse? Join us for The Forum session in Barcelona to discuss these topics and more with the wide array of international and intercultural perspectives present at the conference.
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