“Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.”

- Bertrand Russell

About Alan Finlayson

Alan Finlayson teaches and researches political theory and political science in the Department of Political and Cultural Studies, Swansea University. His research is particularly concerned with the theory and practice of democratic politics, the study of political ideologies and also with political rhetoric. As part of a project supported by The Leverhulme Trust he has developed the website www.britishpoliticalspeech.org and is working to promote the theory, analysis and improved practice of political speech, oratory and argument in the UK.

Articles by Alan Finlayson

What is Blue Labour? An Interview with Jonathan Rutherford

Alan Finlayson and John Rutherford 18 July 2011

In the second of a series of interviews on Blue Labour, Jonathan Rutherford tackles some common misconceptions with the approach, explaining why the left cannot afford to ignore issues of race, national identity and the emotional need for belonging.

What is Blue Labour? An Interview with Marc Stears

Alan Finlayson and Marc Stears 15 July 2011

In the first of a series of interviews on "Blue Labour", Marc Stears argues that the UK Labour party must recover a democratic culture, connecting with progressive social movements outside the Party to forge a politics of the common good.

Should the left go Blue? Making sense of Maurice Glasman

Alan Finlayson 27 May 2011

As the figurehead of 'Blue Labour', Maurice Glasman is being hailed as an intellectual guru for the Labour Party. In this Friday Essay, Alan Finlayson engages with Glasman's vision of the common good

Compass' vote on opening out its membership is a sign of the pluralist times

Alan Finlayson 3 February 2011

Compass is deciding whether or not to open itself to members of any political party - rather than, as at present, only those who are members of the Labour party or of none. The decision feeds into a wider debate of the moment around the shifting distribution of power in British politics and the extent to which the left can and should co-ordinate efforts.

The philosophical significance of UKUncut

Alan Finlayson 31 January 2011

When activists under the banner of UK Uncut protest outside high-street shops on Saturday 18th December they will be doing something of great political importance. But they will also be demonstrating and articulating something of immense philosophical significance.

David Willetts is trying to conjure away the dangers of higher education reform with the magic word 'choice'

Alan Finlayson 15 December 2010

There are many different kinds of magic trick, but for all of them, one technique is the most important: misdirection. Of the many practitioners of such magic, David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, is one of the best.

Britain, greet the age of privatised Higher Education

Alan Finlayson 9 December 2010

Let’s be clear about what has happened. The House of Commons has not voted only for a rise in tuition fees in English universities. It has voted for the privatisation of British Higher education.

This week's editor

Heather McRobie is a regular contributor to 50.50

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
Bo Stråth

As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
Sandro Mezzadra

European debate

A republican call for a basic income
Daniel Raventos and Julie Wark

Nuclear non-proliferation

Women and the Arab Spring

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

Mali - the plot thickens

Remote control war

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