Phil Burton-Cartledge’s research into the changing character of work and class in the 21st century argues that there are reasons to think the future might be a better place.  Phil argues that observations around the values differences between generations, which results in different voting preferences as well as tendency to not vote at all, the emergence of gender splits along attitudinal lines, and the decline of anti-immigrant, racist, sexist, and homophobic prejudices are all part of the same process. In this talk, Phil explains and criticises other approaches offered by political science scholarship that have observed the same phenomena, but offer limited and, at times, contradictory explanations that avoid addressing the significant structural changes capitalism in the West has undergone. In contrast, Phil suggests that analysing these changes in their entirety brings out their political implications – which might mean the present resurgence of extreme right wing authoritarian politics could be its last gasp.

Free entry but booking required.