The Bunker
Cruel world: How did we become so mean?
Sep 17, 2023
Danny Dorling, author of 'Shattered Nation: Inequality and the Geography of A Failing State,' joins Hannah Fearn to discuss how social issues contribute to mean-spirited attitudes in the UK. They explore the country's inequality, fear-driven decisions like private schooling, and the lack of help for those in need. The podcast delves into studies on anger and meanness, exploitation, blaming immigrants, flaws in the education system, past instances of resolving social divisions and inequality, and potential policy solutions.
38:14
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Quick takeaways
- Social issues and inequality contribute to mean-spiritedness in the UK.
- Attitudes towards poverty and inequality reveal conflicting opinions and disparities in society.
Deep dives
The Rise of Divisive Politics
The podcast explores the increasing divisiveness in politics, discussing how social media and inequality contribute to this phenomenon. Research indicates that in more unequal societies, people become less trusting, angrier, and meaner. The podcast highlights Twitter as an interesting example, where conversations in English tend to be less civil compared to those in other languages like Spanish or Finnish. Countries with greater inequality, such as the UK and the USA, experience more uncivil and hateful conversations.
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