The SJB-JVP battle for votes

The jockeying for voters between the NPP/JVP and the SJB provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the importance of ideology and identity for a political party. https://twitter.com/ravirannaneliya/status/1628239362352881664 As things stand, polling suggests while ex-SLPP voters are moving to other main parties, the greatest number have gone to the JVP. https://twitter.com/ravirannaneliya/status/1628239374172422145 A question that I’ve … Continue reading The SJB-JVP battle for votes →

The future of “Go Home Gota”: Occupy Wall Street?

Occupy was, at its core, a movement constrained by its own contradictions: filled with leaders who declared themselves leaderless, governed by a consensus-based structure that failed to reach consensus, and seeking to transform politics while refusing to become political.https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/the-triumph-of-occupy-wall-street/395408/ If one is searching for movements analogous to “Go Home Gota”, Occupy Wall Street is a … Continue reading The future of “Go Home Gota”: Occupy Wall Street? →

Stenner, authoritarianism & winning over status quo conservatives

As someone from the left/liberal camp, a fascinating Twitter thread led me to discovering potential communication tactics for "status quo conservatives" and how to differentiate them from voters with authoritarian tendencies. https://twitter.com/dasvee/status/1450404018258391046 The tweets are largely based on the work of Karen Stenner, a political psychologist and behavioural economist. Stenner's research leads her to conclude … Continue reading Stenner, authoritarianism & winning over status quo conservatives →

(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 →

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 →

Jamaal Bowman & the Political Disruption Model

Bowman’s primary contest for NY-16 provides another opportunity to test the disruption model. There have been two recent events that have brought this race into prominence, with Bowman securing AOC’s endorsement and his opponent having a disastrous hot mic moment. Bowman has also benefited from a progressive opponent dropping out to endorse him. In terms … Continue reading Jamaal Bowman & the Political Disruption Model →