Thinking Matters 2017

POLITICS Events, dear boy, events! – Harold Macmillan may have found the political cycle and the ever-changing nature of the political environment a source of apprehension but it is the lifeblood of the Dulwich College Politics Society.

This past 18 months have ushered in an unlikely Conservative majority and a decision to leave the EU that would have seemed barely conceivable in the not-too-distant past. It’s certainly an interesting time to be a teacher or student of Politics and that’s before you consider the 45th US President being a reality television star named Trump! The Politics Society meets weekly to discuss a range of topical issues but also the overarching thematic concepts such as the moral dimension of foreign policy and broader constitutional questions. We strive to expose the students to nascent policy areas and movements and have welcomed guest speakers involved in policy making from across the political spectrum. To this end, Adam Klug from Momentum recently gave a detailed account of the genesis and direction of the Corbyn-supporting

faction while Daniel Mahony from the Centre for Policy Studies presented a warmly-received set of policy proposals on areas such as our future relationship with the single market and the question of funding the NHS. The politicians that have spoken at the society have been consistently impressed by the measured scrutiny that they have been exposed to; Nigel Farage’s talk in May 2016 will live long in the boys’ memory for both the prescience of its content and the extraordinary level of scrutiny his views on EU membership were subject to from his alma mater. Simon Hughes’ visit in November 2016 provided a unique insight into the ConDem coalition administration and a chance to consider the Liberal Democrats! next steps in the post-Brexit scene.

Dulwich boys represent the USA and Argentina at the Edinburgh MUN conference.

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