Wales’s political future

Wales’s political future will come under scrutiny in a Cardiff University-led debate next week.

Ideas of Wales, organised byDr Huw Williams of the University’s School of English, Communication and Philosophy, and Dr Dan Evans of the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD), will bring together academics, politicians and journalists to look at ways of increasing political engagement and awareness, and building a more inclusive political sphere.

Speakers for the debate include Dr Williams, who is a Coleg Cymraeg lecturer at the School, and Dr Evans - also of Desolation Radio - AMs Vikki Howells and Jeremy Miles, and Chair of Youth Cymru, Helen Mary Jones.

A growing divide between the people and the elite

Topics covered include the issue of political education in schools and the potential of compulsory voting for building political engagement.

Dr Huw Williams, who has organised the event said: “The tumultuous political times in which we live have seen a rise in populist politics, characterised by perceptions of a growing divide between the people and the elite, and a more extreme, less tolerant political discourse. Wales has not, of course, been immune to some of these symptoms; there is a general recognition here that we must address weaknesses in our political culture.”

The debate takes place on Tuesday 18 July at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay, starting at 6.10pm. Places are free but registration for the event is essential and can be done here.

The debate is sponsored by Cardiff University’s Cardiff Speaks project, an initiative which brings together humanities and a social science researchers to collaboratively explore and comment on issues relevant to contemporary society.