Category Archives: Political theory

Why I’m not reading Steven Pinker’s latest

Posted on January 13, 2019 by Nicholas Gruen

I’m afraid this post won’t live up to the title above. It has its genesis in a long email I wrote someone who told me I just had to read Jeremy Lend’s critique of ‘Enlightenment Now’. I’ve mainly just topped and tailed … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Cultural Critique, Political theory | 18 Comments

The Future of Politics: by John Burnheim

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Nicholas Gruen

Politics is about constructing those public goods that are necessary for communities, are a minimum to deal with problems that threaten life itself. In our present situation, the most serious problems are all posed on a global scale, as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Philosophy, Political theory, Sortition and citizens’ juries | 1 Comment

My presentation in London

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Nicholas Gruen

Herewith my presentation in London “Economic reform thinking as if we’d bothered to do it” and Martin Wolf’s commentary on it beginning at around the 40 minute mark. Judging from audience comments, a good time was had by all. You can download … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Innovation, Methodology, Philosophy, Political theory | 2 Comments

Authoritarianism: GUEST POST by John Burnheim

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Nicholas Gruen

Arguing with an American ex-Australian now resident in Canada, I contested his view that, of the three countries, America is the least and Australia the most, authoritarian. In part it was a verbal difference. I was taking “authoritarian” in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Critique, Democracy, Philosophy, Political theory, Politics - international | 25 Comments

The first page test: Hannah Arendt edition

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Nicholas Gruen

There’s an amazing amount of dreck about – masquerading as the latest thinking. It’s not that there isn’t a lot to think about, so it’s easy to think you should read this or that. How to choose? One of my filters is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Critique, Philosophy, Political theory | 9 Comments

The people’s voice: as rage and as healing

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Nicholas Gruen

There’s a spectre haunting Europe … and the rest of the Western world. We have elaborate ‘diversity’ programs in good upper-middle-class places to prevent discrimination against all manner of minorities (and majorities like women). It’s a fine thing. But there’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Critique, Democracy, Philosophy, Political theory, Sortition and citizens’ juries | 23 Comments

Centrist strategic voting

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Nicholas Gruen

This is my response to Peter Dempster’s proposals. I can see one important merit of them. Electoral politics is inherently polarising because electoral politics involves politicians beating other politicians to qualify to be politicians in the first place – by getting into … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Political theory, Politics - international, Politics - national | 27 Comments