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Today’s volatile political and social climate, is characterised by demagogues, populism, and increasingly AI driven misinformation, combined with growing global crises ranging from obesity to the environment. This eclectic collection brings together a diverse array of international contributors to tackle these crucial issues. These include leading thinkers, policymakers, and activists drawn from the world of business, politics, education, religion, law, the arts, science, medicine, health and social enterprise. The book explores how people engage with ideas, particularly the lure of dark ideas, and proposes innovative policy solutions to combat susceptibility to ‘dark’ ideas such as misinformation, conspiracy theories and science denial.

Recent trends and events across the UK, US, and many European countries, including the war in Ukraine, Brexit, the election of Trump, numerous immigration crises, and the perceived lack of solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggest a shift away from an ‘ideas-informed’ democratic society. Demagogues, Populism and Misinformation examines two crucial factors that influence ideas engagement: the allure of ‘dark ideas’ and the necessary preconditions for effective engagement with ideas, such as tolerance, intellectual humility, intellectual empathy (a willingness to engage with other perspectives), and intellectual curiosity.

CHRIS BROWN is Professor of Education, University of Southampton. He is Head of the Southampton Education School and Distinguished Visiting Professor at University of Tübingen. Chris has an interest in how people go about harnessing great ideas to improve the human condition.

GRAHAM HANDSCOMB is Honorary Professor at University College, London (UCL) and Visiting Professor at Durham University and the University of Bolton. Graham also works as an educational and change consultant.

The chapters within this remarkable book stretch both the mind and the imagination. At times they seem almost too hopeful and ambitious; at other times, the ideas are so obviously sensible one cannot imagine why they are not widespread in our lives today… reading this book will fill you as it does me with hope for the future.

SIR ANTHONY SELDON

COVER DESIGN: Mike Hill

DEMAGOGUES, POPULISM & MISINFORMATION EDITED BY

Chris Brown & Graham Handscomb