Event

Rhetoric, disorder and the crisis of democracy

This event hosted by UK think tank the Foreign Policy Centre discusses translating cutting-edge scholarship and policy innovation into practical strategies that support inclusive political discourse.

Rising polarisation and inflammatory rhetoric in the public realm from political members across the left-right spectrum is placing strain on democratic institutions, deepening societal divides, and diverting attention away from solutions to political problems. The challenge of rhetoric has been further amplified by the rapid expansion of AI-driven misinformation, disinformation, fragmented media networks, and algorithmic bias.

FPC’s 2025 Drivers of Global Disorder Today mini-series, published in collaboration with the Global Disorder Group, identified these trends as significant and growing threats to democratic resilience and stability. At the same time, the APPG on Political and Media Literacy has highlighted the urgent need for policy reform to address the monetisation and amplification of online misinformation, including through its recent policy brief on the Representation of the People Bill. 

Together, these interventions point to a pressing need for research and policymaking to move beyond diagnosis towards actionable solutions that equip parliamentarians, policymakers, and communities with the tools to navigate today’s complex information landscape. While academic research provides critical insights into the role of rhetoric power politics: from narratives of American exceptionalism (as in the case of the tariff wars) to China and Russia’s framing of a “crisis of the West” – these insights often remain siloed within academia and underutilised in policy and public debate. 

This parliamentary event will bring together researchers, policymakers, parliamentarians, and practitioners to bridge that gap, translating cutting-edge scholarship and policy innovation into practical strategies that strengthen democratic resilience, improve political and media literacy, and support informed, constructive, and inclusive political discourse.

Speakers

Dr Sasikumar Sundaram – Senior Lecturer at the Department of International Politics at City St George’s, University of London, and FPC Research Fellow

Professor Inderjeet Parmar – Professor of International Politics at City St George’s, University of London

Susan Coughtrie – Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Centre

Effie Webb – Reporter at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ)

Matt Bishop MP – Chair of APPG on Political and Media Literacy

Closing intervention from floor: Matteo Bergamini MBE – Founder and CEO of Shout Out UK