Book review: political rhetoric: ‘a mildly dirty word’ because of its association with deception, or a linguistic tool with which to draw out the truth?

In Political Writing, Adam Garfinkle demonstrates how political rhetoric can be communicated through blogs, speeches, and reports, it provides a valuable assessment and guide on how a message can be conveyed in a convincing and insightful manner. Andrew S. Crines finds that it provides an insightful introduction to rhetorical theory, the character of political elites, and the intellectual heritage of rhetoric. Political Writing: A Guide to the Essentials. Adam Garfinkle. M.E. Sharpe. May 2012

'A conservatism that keeps the British dream alive' - the rhetoric of Theresa May's conference speech

During her conference speech, Theresa May was subjected to events which were out of her control - a cold, a prankster, and falling letters. But this explanation may mean little to those who were not in the conference chamber, writes Andrew S. Crines. He analyses the speech and concludes that the PM could pay a high price for the events that took place around her

If they want to prove to voters that they are ‘just like us’,politicians must embrace their flaws

UKIP’s victory at the Clacton by-election underlined the growing distance between mainstream politicians and a cynical and distrustful electorate. In the first of our post-party conference blogs on political and democratic reform, Andrew S. Crines from the University of Leeds argues that politicians need to rediscover the classic art of political rhetoric

Book Review: The dictionary of conservative quotations

"The Dictionary of Conservative Quotations." Iain Dale. Biteback Publishing. September 2013. --- In this book, Iain Dale presents an assembly of more than 2000 key-quotes from famous Conservatives, ranging from Aquinas to Bagehot, Churchill to Cameron, Shakespeare to Thatcher. The author provides an interesting insight into how broadly defined conservative sympathisers see their ideology in the early part of the 21st century, writes Andrew S Crines

Shallow, hostile, toxic: Corbynism's social media problem

Social media creates a bubble in which Jeremy Corbyn's supporters validate each other but convince few others, writes Andrew S. Crines. At the same time, debates on Labour's future currently lack the intellectual justification which writers of the left previously enjoyed. This combination renders Labour unable to articulate a clear message about its vision for the country

Big Society? Disabled people with the label of learning disabilities and the queer(y)ing of civil society

This paper explores the shifting landscape of civil society alongside the emergence of ‘Big Society’ in the UK. We do so as we begin a research project Big Society? Disabled people with learning disabilities and Civil Society [Economic and Social Research Council (ES/K004883/1)]; we consider what ‘Big Society’ might mean for the lives of disabled people labelled with learning disabilities (LDs). In the paper, we explore the ways in which the disabled body/mind might be thought of as a locus of contradictions as it makes problematic Big Society notions of: active citizenship and social capital. Our aim is to queer(y), or to trouble, these Big Society ideas, and to suggest that disability offers new ways of thinking through civil society. This leads us to three new theoretical takes upon civil society: (1) queer(y)ing active citizenship, (2) queer(y)ing social capital and (3) shaping, resisting and queer(y)ing Big Society. We conclude by suggesting that now is the time for disabled people with LDs to re-enter the fray in a new epoch of crip civil society

In any walk of life effective communication relies on credibility, emotion, and logic. George Entwistle failed on each count

The BBC’s difficulties were compounded by a profound failure of communication on the part of George Entwistle. Andrew S. Crines offers an analysis of these failings and argues that it now falls to his acting successor to restore the BBC’s relationship with its audience