Centrism

These small guides to (very) big ideas are an antidote to confusion and conspiracism, bringing clarity to the conversations we have about politics. Centrism: ideological cop-out, or coherent political strategy. Pragmatic way forward through our polarised political sphere, or cynical strategy used to stifle valid debate. From Henry VIII to Margaret Thatcher, our political figures have long invoked the centre ground as both a term of disparagement (Thatcher) and a badge of pride (Henry - when it suited him, of course). So-called centrists - both alleged and avowed - can be found leading governments and political parties in countries across the world. But for a term that purports to describe the middle ground, it's ironic just how little agreement there is over what 'centrism' actually means. In Centrism: The Story of an Idea. , Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey take us back to the origins of centrism, journeying from the dawn of Western civilisation to the headlines of the twenty-first century to unpack exactly what it is we mean when we use the word today.