Ep.99 The New Age of Political Influence

We are entering a new era of political influence characterised by the relationship between financial resources and public attention, where the former cultivates the latter, leading to significant sway. In this evolving landscape, traditional regulations governing lobbying and advertising have become inadequate, allowing figures such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to dominate the scene. This raises the question: what measures can be implemented? 

To explore this issue, Jane Kinninmont welcomes back Peter Geoghegan, an Irish writer, journalist, and director of "Democracy for Sale." Together, they examine the extensive impact of financial contributions on UK politics, the mechanism by which money secures attention and subsequently exerts influence, and the broader implications of this dynamic for democratic processes. Peter shares insights on the emergence of super donors within UK politics and the role of social media algorithms in fostering disorder. 

In conclusion, they discuss potential strategies to restore order amidst this chaos. Peter advocates for greater transparency in governance and urges Keir Starmer to impose a cap on individual political donations.

Hear our previous episode with Peter Geoghegan

Peter Geoghegan’s website

Peter Geoghegan’s Substack

RUSI’s Centre for Finance and Security specialises in the intersection of finance and global security. Their research includes work exploring the nature of the threat from global illicit flows, the harm they cause and how best to respond.

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