Post-Truth and Revolution
Amol Rajan discusses post truth with Matthew D'Ancona, Claire Wardle, China Mieville and Lijia Zhang.
On Start the Week Amol Rajan seeks the truth in a post-truth world. The political columnist Matthew D'Ancona paints a dystopian picture in which trust has evaporated, conspiracy theories thrive, and feelings trump fact. He argues that the very foundations of democracy are under threat. Claire Wardle is hoping her organisation First Draft will equip users to verify the sources of stories and tackle misinformation online. But what happens when the peddlers of misinformation are state-sponsored? The Chinese writer Lijia Zhang spent a decade working in a rocket factory and her memoir, Socialism is Great!, reflects the great social transformation in China since the 1980s, and the shifts in trust and truth which mirrored such changes. The writer China MiΓ©ville, who is best known for his stories of urban surrealism, turns his attention to the story of the Russian Revolution.
Producer: Kirsty McQuire.
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Matthew D'Ancona
Post-Truth: The New War on Truth and How to Fight BackΒ is published by Ebury.
Claire Wardle
China Mieville
October: The Story of the Russian Revolution is published by Verso
Lijia Zhang
Lotus is published byΒ Henry Holt and Co.
Lijia is giving a on her book at Asia House, London on May 15.Β
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Amol Rajan |
Interviewed Guest | Matthew d'Ancona |
Interviewed Guest | Claire Wardle |
Interviewed Guest | China MiΓ©ville |
Interviewed Guest | Lijia Zhang |
Producer | Kirsty McQuire |
Broadcasts
- Mon 15 May 2017 09:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Mon 15 May 2017 21:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Podcast
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Start the Week
Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday