Overview

Today’s volatile political and social climate, is characterised by demagogues, populism, and increasingly AI driven misinformation, combined with growing global crises ranging from obesity to the environment. This eclectic collection brings together a diverse array of international contributors to tackle these crucial issues. These include leading thinkers, policymakers, and activists drawn from the world of business, politics, education, religion, law, the arts, science, medicine, health and social enterprise. The book explores how people engage with ideas, particularly the lure of dark ideas, and proposes innovative policy solutions to combat susceptibility to 'dark' ideas such as misinformation, conspiracy theories and science denial. Recent trends and events across the UK, US, and many European countries, including the war in Ukraine, Brexit, the election of Trump, numerous immigration crises, and the perceived lack of solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggest a shift away from an 'ideas-informed' democratic society. Demagogues, Populism and Misinformation examines two crucial factors that influence ideas engagement: the allure of 'dark ideas' and the necessary preconditions for effective engagement with ideas, such as tolerance, intellectual humility, intellectual empathy (a willingness to engage with other perspectives), and intellectual curiosity.

Full Product Details

Author:   Chris Brown (University of Southampton, UK) ,  Graham Handscomb (University College London (UCL), UK)
Publisher:   Emerald Publishing Limited
Imprint:   Emerald Publishing Limited
Dimensions:   Width: 13.80cm , Height: 1.60cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.373kg
ISBN:  

9781805921714

ISBN 10:   1805921711
Pages:   304
Publication Date:   28 October 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Foreword; Sir Anthony Seldon Tackling the foundations of Dark Ideas Chapter 1. Introduction: Striking back against the Dark Side; Chris Brown and Graham Handscomb Chapter 2. Why are some ideas easy to believe on little evidence?; Anna Stone Chapter 3. The lure of the shadow; Arif Anis Chapter 4. Can pro-climate advocates steal populism’s clothes?; Matthew Paterson Liberation through education Chapter 5. Getting Down To Earth; David Lambert Chapter 6. Science Literacy Beats Misinformation; Andrew Morris Chapter 7. Defeating Misinformation Through Classroom Deliberation; Lee Jerome Misinformation and the power of knowledge Chapter 8. Data-Driven Misinformation; Anna E. Premo, Alexander Ratkovsky, and Martina A. Rau Chapter 9. Confronting Media Outrage and Restoring Trust and Evidence Based Debate; Sir Les Ebdon CBE Chapter 10. Populism and its impact on the rule of law; Robin Ellison Chapter 11. It’s Darwin!: An evolutionary lens on knowledge and truth; Steven Warmoes Demagogues, democracy and political action Chapter 12. Extremism is the Point – How Our Society and Politics Fosters Dark Ideas; Sam Fowles Chapter 13. Preserving and sustaining democracy in an age of disinformation; Gopal Subramanium Chapter 14. Living with shade: ambiguity does not mean only darkness in world politics; Ben O’Laughlin and Alister McKimmon Chapter 15. What would the Suffragettes think?; Vivienne Porritt OBE FRSA FCCT Populism, faith and belief Chapter 16. Faith Communities and national populisms: seeking integrity in the grey areas; John P. Bradbury Chapter 17. Responding to (Christian) Nationalism; Andy Braunston Chapter 18. Embracing Uncertainty in a Chaotic Age; Beverley Clack Personally facing up to the dark Chapter 19. Writing into the Dark: Dementia and the Cultivation of Human(e)ness; Lesley Saunders Chapter 20. Taking Control - Be more selective in choice of media; Lynn Wood

Reviews

The chapters within this remarkable book stretch both the mind and the imagination. At times they seem almost too hopeful and ambitious; at other times, the ideas are so obviously sensible one cannot imagine why they are not widespread in our lives today ... reading this book will fill you as it does me with hope for the future.  -- Sir Anthony Seldon

Author Information

Chris Brown is Professor of Education, University of Southampton. He is Head of the Southampton Education School and Distinguished Visiting Professor at University of Tübingen. Chris has an interest in how people go about harnessing great ideas to improve the human condition. Graham Handscomb is Honorary Professor at University College, London (UCL) and Visiting Professor at Durham University and the University of Bolton. Graham also works as an educational and change consultant.

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