The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Iain Martin in The Times
on the staying power of two-party politics
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Jo Swinson is leading the Lib Dems into a dead end
“The Lib Dems should not be thought of as centrist on Brexit because they have, in fact, chosen an extremist policy. It is one thing to demand a second referendum on leaving the European Union. Even though Brexiteers like me dislike the idea, I accept there is a logic to it. But compared to revoke, a second referendum looks like a model of touchy-feely consensus politics. Can you imagine the upsurge in populist anger there would be in places that voted Leave nearly four years ago if the state just cancelled Brexit?”
2. Ayesha Hazarika in The i
on the appeal of Corbynomics
I may be neo-liberal, Blairite, Red Tory scum, but I quite like the Labour manifesto
“The past is a different country. Looking back at the 2010 and 2015 manifestos the central theme was economic responsibility and balancing the books, which was a big thing back then. Anyone remember the deficit? Millennials, Google it. As a political adviser working with senior politicians, it was hard work coming up with manifesto ideas, as we were told over and over again there was no money. It was pretty dispiriting fighting in vain for causes which weren’t popular or fashionable, like arts and culture in local communities which were seen as a frippery. We became risk averse and lacking in ambition. But all that changed with Jeremy Corbyn.
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3. The editorial board in the New York Times
on a rapid revolution
Chile is ready for a new constitution
“In a month’s time, Chile has gone from being one of the wealthiest and most stable countries in Latin America to a nation on the brink of collapse, its institutions and economy shaken by protests, a military response and human rights abuses unlike any since the return of democracy in 1990. Chile’s 30-year democratic project seems to hang by a thread. The social and political unrest, which was prompted by a subway fare increase in Santiago, soon grew to encompass entrenched economic inequality and free-market, neoliberal excesses enshrined in Pinochet’s constitution.”
4. Denijal Jegic in Al Jazeera
on in-built European Islamophobia
The problem with the Bosnian responses to Macron
“Bosnians’ eagerness to show Macron that Islam in their country is not ‘radical’ and that they are ‘peaceful’ and ‘civilised’ Europeans is understandable in the context of Bosnia's recent history. European integration is of primary importance in post-genocide Bosnia, which suffers from structural, economic and political hardship as well as many other obstacles set by its neighbours. Close ties with and prospective accession to the European Union and NATO are seen by many Bosnians as essential for the country's safety and the improvement of the lives of its citizens.”
5. James Attwood in Autocar
on Elon Musk’s Knight Rider fever dream
Is the Tesla Cybertruck too extreme?
“Right, the Tesla Cybertruck, then. Discuss. It’s quite something, isn’t it? Elon Musk promised his firm would unveil a pick-up like no other - and he was absolutely true to his word. In almost every aspect, from its out-there styling to the gaudy statistics, the Cybertruck is remarkable. On first impression, it raises the question: has Tesla gone too far this time? Let me quickly add that’s an honest question, and not a leading one.”
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