2017 Mackenzie Lecture in Politics

Published: 18 May 2017

Professor Robert Ford of the University of Manchester will deliver this year's 2017 Mackenzie Lecture in Politics.

The Stevenson Trust for Citizenship - 2017 Mackenzie Lecture in Politics

Professor Robert Ford
(University of Manchester)

‘Nationalism, referendums and political choice in England and Scotland: The rise of identity politics and the decline of Labour’

Thursday May 25 at 6 p.m.

Chair: Professor John Curtice

Sir Charles Wilson Lecture Theatre
(Corner of Gibson Street and University Avenue)

In the past 5 years England and Scotland have seen major political changes following the political mobilisation of identity attachments. In both countries we have witnessed a realignment of politics away from class and economic questions and towards nationalism and identity questions, a process which in both cases was accelerated by the referendum votes which were supposed to resolve such questions. In both this realignment has hit the Labour party hardest while the Conservative party has better adapted to the new environment. I will consider the similarities and differences of these two political realignments, the reasons why the Labour party has been hurt most by the rise of identity politics, and the implications for the approaching general election.

WJM (Bill) Mackenzie dominated the field of Politics in the UK for multiple generations, arguing that it required knowledge from across the social sciences. He led the Politics Department at Manchester University for many years, and then came home to Scotland and the University of Glasgow, where he served as both James Bryce Chair of Government and Edward Caird Chair in Politics from 1966 -1974.

All are welcome. No advance booking is necessary. For further information: www.gla.ac.uk/stevensontrust/

Also:

6 June 6 p.m. – Stevenson General Election Special


First published: 18 May 2017