For the best part of a decade, a new type of anti-systemic, nationalistic politics has been emerging from different corners of the online world. In Britain, this has united with older forms of cultural conservatism to propel Nigel Farage and Reform UK to within apparent touching distance of power. In this episode, James is joined by political theorist Alan Finlayson to try to understand what’s driving these changes and the ways in which different styles of online rhetoric, on both the left and right, are shaping our political discourse. They also consider whether the distinction between left and right is still meaningful and why the way we understand equality has become the fundamental political dividing line. Alan Finlayson is professor of political and social theory at the University of East Anglia. Read more on politics in the LRB: https://lrb.me/lrbpolitics From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: ⁠https://lrb.me/crlrbpod⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod⁠ Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: ⁠https://lrb.me/storelrbpod⁠ Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk