A history of Eurovision and politics
Eurovision is meant to be apolitical, but over the years itβs been caught in controversy.
Amidst conflict in the Middle East, some people have been calling for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest. Now that Israelβs participation in the 2024 competition has been confirmed, critics are vowing to boycott the event in protest.
Eurovisionβs organisers say that the song contest is βa non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcastersβ, not between governments. But over the years, Eurovision has found itself caught up in controversy and geopolitics.
Adam Fleming charts this history with Dean Vuletic, historian and author of βPostwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contestβ.
Podcast
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AntiSocial
Peace talks for the culture wars.
