Daily Politics from the New Statesman Why are people talking about an English civil war? | Politics with Anoosh Chakelian
Aug 20, 2025
Phil Tinline, an author and journalist, dives into the historical fears of civil war in Britain amid current political turmoil. He reveals how past predictions of civil conflict often stemmed from economic struggles and societal unrest, yet never materialized. The discussion highlights the dangers of civil war rhetoric in today's politics, driven by sensationalism. Tinline emphasizes the importance of community empowerment to address social disconnection and critiques policies that exacerbate disenfranchisement. A timely reflection on navigating contemporary crises!
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Academic Framing Of Modern Risk
- Recent civil‑war talk coalesced after academic David Betts highlighted Western risk factors like perceived status loss and economic strain.
- Betts even quantified a small annual probability and extrapolated a non‑trivial multi‑year risk figure.
Status And Economics Combined
- Conversations mix ethnic anxieties with economic grievances to produce vivid predictions of unrest.
- Phil warns the linkage is persuasive rhetorically but not necessarily predictive of civil war.
Use Projections To Drive Change
- Treat civil‑war talk as projection: a warning of where current trajectories could lead if unaddressed.
- Use such projections to justify pragmatic reforms rather than to amplify panic for clicks.
