Author: RH

Constructing reality: COVID & economy messaging in Sri Lanka

Prior to reading this, it may help to read my page on Constructing Reality, which gives some basic theoretical background to this blog post. I’ve had a long-standing interest in how reality can be constructed, especially in a political context. Currently, it’s possible to observe this happening in Sri Lanka in a very instructive manner. … Continue reading Constructing reality: COVID & economy messaging in Sri Lanka →

(e)Merging within a Movement

PART 3 of Constructing a Party As the diagram illustrates, the Movement coalesces and gives form to the ideological goals of the Party. It is where the Party and the Subject(s) form a group identity based on a common ideology. It encompasses those who are directly linked to the party, as well as those who … Continue reading (e)Merging within a Movement →

Ideological Apparatuses & Interpellation

PART 2 of Constructing a Party As the diagram shows, the Party will have to follow a process in order to propagate its ideology. In this conceptual framework, ideological apparatuses as conceived by Althusser become useful. These provide the tools by which the Party can inculcate the public with its message. It is important to … Continue reading Ideological Apparatuses & Interpellation →

The importance of Ideology

PART 1 of Constructing a Party As part of a larger writing project about building a political organization from the ground up, one thing I've been working on is conveying the importance of ideology. Too often, either policies are substituted for an ideology or the ideological pronouncements reflect the personal beliefs of technocrats in the … Continue reading The importance of Ideology →

#Gamestop #Wallstreetbets: Insurrection

As I pointed out in multiple tweets as the story entered the mainstream, it is an error to look upon the Gamestop / Wallstreetbets event as a purely financial matter.  Instead, the motivation of those driving up the share prices reflects something far greater.  The people investing today are driven by righteous anger, about generational … Continue reading #Gamestop #Wallstreetbets: Insurrection →

Thoughts on imagined realities, fictional constructs & January 6th

In a previous blog post I made these assertions: A unique quality of humans is our ability to create imagined realities.Many things that are fundamental to society are fictional constructs.Therefore, humans were always ripe to be exploited by fake news.It is only the increased ability to propagate fake news and the end of gate-keeping caused … Continue reading Thoughts on imagined realities, fictional constructs & January 6th →

The election: What I got right & wrong

A post election round-up of what I got right and where I was wrong. It's a follow-up to my earlier post on "Why Biden will win". To summarise: while I got the outlines of the result and pathway to victory correct, I got aspects of the electorate dramatically wrong. What I got wrongThe Trump baseThe pollsThe issuesWhat I got … Continue reading The election: What I got right & wrong →

Why Biden will win

Misunderstanding the reasons for an electoral victory is something that plagues both campaigns and the media. Too often, the victory is attributed to the wrong or overly complex reasons. This surface level analysis is deliberately designed to contrast with the hot-takes that will inevitably follow in the aftermath of the election result. The primary reasons … Continue reading Why Biden will win →

Biden, Trump & framing the issues

In a series of tweets, I drew attention to a tactical mistake that Biden made in his response to BLM protests, especially over those in Kenosha. The key points are: "Law & Order" is safe Republican/Conservative territoryBiden is adopting Trump's framing of a nation at war with itself, which makes an authoritarian & conservative leader … Continue reading Biden, Trump & framing the issues →