School of Social and Political Science

Description

Professor Ben Rosamond Inaugural Lecture

Conservative economic policy discourse since the global financial crisis: from BS to deepfake.

‘The economy’ is often the central focus of political exchange. While different claims about the economy may reflect alternative ideological perspectives on how scarce resources should be distributed, a notable feature across advanced democracies in recent decades has been the ‘depoliticisation’ of economic policy. Depoliticisation is visible both in the practice of economic governance and through the emergence and propagation of ‘expert’ understandings of the economy. Using the case of the UK since the global financial crisis, Ben Rosamond explores how these two facets have interacted in governing discourses about the proper management and orientation of the economy. He shows how, during the short span of time that witnessed the phase of post-crisis austerity budgeting, Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the strange episode of ‘Trussonomics’, Conservative economic discourse became increasingly detached from both mainstream technocratic understandings of the economy and everyday citizen experiences of the economy. Meanwhile, certain claims about the economy – especially the tendency to fetishise deficits and debts – have remained remarkably resilient, despite the collapse in public confidence in Conservative stewardship of the economy.

Please note that this event may be filmed.

Timings:

17.15-18.30/18.45: welcome, and inaugural lecture, in Meadows Lecture Theatre (Doorway 4 of Medical School, Teviot Place, or access through Chrystal Macmillan Building)

after, until 19.30: drinks reception in Chrystal Macmillan Building (adjoining building)