Politics
US ELECTIONS
Even before the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 race for the White House was certain to be highly contentious. The coronavirus, however, has now created profound uncertainties for the campaigns of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden: it is predicted to take hundreds of thousands of American lives, radically stall the US economy and result in deep recession and long-term unemployment.
The World in 2020: Hong Kong to Iran and Beyond
To mark the start of a new decade, Frontline brings together a panel of experts to discuss the future of Hong Kong, recent dramatic events involving Iran, the continuing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and other unfolding stories around the world. What are the common threads which tie them together? Are we headed for more unrest in 2020 and the decade ahead?
Jack Straw and The English Job: Why Iran Distrusts Britain
With tensions rising sharply between Iran and the west following President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal, we welcome Jack Straw to the Frontline Club for a timely discussion with journalist and author Ramita Navai about British-Iranian relations, his view of Iran’s internal politics and the culture, psychology and history of a much-misunderstood nation.
When Fracking Came to Town: In Conversation with Eliza Griswold
Drawing on seven years of immersive reporting, award-winning poet and journalist Eliza Griswold joins us to talk about her 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America, which explores the devastating effects of fracking on a small town in Pennsylvania through the eyes of one of its residents.
Frontline Fringe: The Big Lie, by Shaniaz Hama Ali + Q&A
The Big Lie makes us question our own morality. In Shaniaz’s shoes, would we take on the case?
The Future of Turkey and the EU
In the backdrop of Turkey’s April referendum, escalating tensions between Turkey and major European powers has signalled a new era of hostile relations. President Erdogan’s bid to radically remodel the parliamentary system in Turkey has led to opposition groups fearing the creation of one-man rule. The Turkish government, which has been carrying out brutal crackdowns on political dissenters following the failed coup last year, is now looking toward European countries as a stage to strengthen its agenda. Our panel will reflect on President Erdogan’s fraught relationship with the EU in the context of the country’s political future after the April referendum.
“Post-truth” and fake news: what about the rest of the world?
It is the news media’s major preoccupation – how can journalists best serve audiences in a world riddled with misinformation and ‘alternative facts’, and when the President of the United States makes baseless claims and labels accurate reporting as “fake news”? We will discuss how journalists new to these challenges learn from reporters elsewhere in the world who contend daily with misinformation and state hostility. This event, held to mark World Press Freedom Day 2017, will bring together journalists from a selection of countries to discuss these issues and explain how they are dealing with the “post-truth” environment.
Unreported World Preview: North Korea’s Reality TV Stars + Panel Discussion
Correspondent Seyi Rhodes and Director Kate Hardie-Buckley report from the set of the hit South Korean TV show that’s made defectors from North Korea into TV stars. More than 400 defectors have been interviewed on the show, and their stories chart the very latest about life under Kim Jong-un. For many South Koreans, it’s become a key source of information about their northern neighbour.
Covering Brexit: The View from Abroad
Of the many questions that remain to be addressed as Brexit negotiations commence are the status of EU nationals resident in the UK, and how Europeans will be economically and socially impacted by the UK’s exit of the EU. Meanwhile official reaction on the continent to the high court’s ruling on article 50 has been quiet, with national governments regarding the decision as an internal matter. We will be joined by EU correspondents and European journalists to discuss European reactions to Brexit negotiations and explore how UK press coverage matches up to sentiments on the continent.
African Democracy: Is Gambia an Exception or a Turning Point?
In a series of dramatic events, former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has headed into political exile, ending a 22-year authoritarian reign and a post-election political standoff that threatened to provoke a regional military intervention. President Adama Barrow has vowed to improve his country’s economy, free its political prisoners and create a commission to look into the brutal legacy of his predecessor. But is this really a new era for The Gambia? We will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss how Adama Barrow’s leadership could impact the country and the region.
Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World
From fashion magazines to social networking, the ‘Mipsterz’ to the ‘Haloodies’, halal internet dating to Muslim boy bands, ‘Generation M’ are making their mark. Shelina Janmohamed, award-winning author and leading voice on Muslim youth, investigates this growing cultural phenomenon at a time when understanding the mindset of young Muslims is critical. While responses to terrorism and Islamic extremism lead to discourse countering Islam and the West, these young leaders are countering stereotypical representations and flexing their economic muscles.
Al Jazeera Preview Screening: The Making and Breaking of Europe + Q&A
This special two-part series explores the interwoven history of the European project and the far right in postwar Europe – both East and West. Beginning with the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community from the ashes of World War II, we chart the trajectory of European integration, in tandem with the story of the European far right, recounting the series of shifts that have led to today’s critical juncture: a post-Brexit EU and a stark rise in support for far right parties across Europe.
Screening – All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, And The Spirit of I.F. Stone + Q&A
Independent journalists like Amy Goodman, Glenn Greenwald, Jeremy Scahill, and Matt Taibbi are changing the face of journalism, providing investigative, adversarial alternatives to mainstream, corporate news outlets. All Governments Lie follows them as they expose government and corporate deception – just as the groundbreaking independent journalist I.F. Stone did decades ago.
What Does Trump’s Presidency Mean for the Rest of the World?
In one of the most dramatic political upsets in modern American history, Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton to become President Elect of the United States. Trump’s presidency means radical change in America’s foreign policy. How will campaign talk compare to real world policy?
Breaking Point: The EU Referendum and its Aftermath
Prime Minister Theresa May has announced she will trigger the formal Brexit negotiation process by the end of March 2017. Drawing on analysis of official and off-the-record meetings with senior politicians as well as with ordinary voters, we will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss where post-referendum Britain is heading, how we got here, and what lessons might be learned.
Film Series: U.S. Under the Lens
Leading up to the 2016 presidential elections, our U.S. Under the Lens film series presents bold new documentaries tackling the most polarising and hotly-debated issues set to determine the outcome of the 2016 campaign.
BBC Preview Screening: Inside Obama’s White House + Q&A
This screening will be followed by a Q&A with series producer Norma Percy and producer/director Paul Mitchell, moderated by journalist and author Jonathan Freedland.
In this landmark series by Norma Percy, Brian Lapping and Paul Mitchell, four one-hour programmes capture key moments when policy was made, including contribution from Obama’s Chief of Staff and insiders within the administration.
Marikana: Politics, Power and Platinum
By Amy McConaghy On 16 August 2012, South African police shot and killed 34 striking miners from the Marikana platinum mine owned by Lonmin. They were on strike for a living wage, trapped in a life of desperate poverty. With the Marikana Commission having recently released their report into what happened, the Frontline Club hosted a two-part event […]
South Africa: Politics, Power and Platinum
On 16 August 2012, South African police opened fire on a large crowd of men who were on strike from the Marikana platinum mine. The police action resulted in 112 people being shot and 34 killed. Nearly three years on from the massacre and as the Marikana Commission are due to publish their inquiry into what happened, we will be holding a special event in two parts to explore politics, power and platinum in South Africa.
Election Night 2015 at the Frontline Club
With election night fast approaching where better to watch the results come in than in the comfort of our clubroom. With screens generously provided by Sky News, we will be showing the coverage on a selection of channels. Snacks will be served throughout the evening to keep you going, and drinks will kindly be supplied by Chivas Brothers.
The Leaders’ Debate 2015
With the leaders’ debates finally announced we would like to invite you to join us to watch the seven-way ITV debate on the big screen. Anchored by ITV News’ Julie Etchingham the evening will see David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood go head to head.
The clubroom will be open for drinks from 7:00 PM and the debate will run from 8:00 – 10:00 PM. There is no charge to attend but please register if you would like to join us.
A Divided Country, A President’s Legacy
After a devastating defeat in the midterm elections, which saw the Democrats lose control of the Senate, what can we expect from President Barack Obama as he enters his final two years in office? With events in Ferguson, Missouri highlighting the deep racial divides that still exist in the US, we will be asking what the legacy will be of the country’s first African-American president.
Insight with Jonathan Powell: Talking to Terrorists
The rise of the Islamic State (IS) has once again thrown into question how governments deal with the threat of terrorist organisations. Around the world governments consistently proclaim that they will never ‘negotiate with evil’. And yet is the public rhetoric always in line with what is actually going on behind closed doors? Jonathan Powell has spent nearly two decades mediating between governments and terrorist organisations. He will be joining us in conversation with roving foreign correspondent for The Times, Anthony Loyd, to reflect on the current situation and what we can learn from a history of clandestine communication.
Erdogan lined up for victory in presidential polls
By Richard Nield Turkey’s prime minister Racep Tayyip Erdogan will win next month’s presidential elections and become the country’s first directly elected president, according to a panel of experts assembled at the Frontline Club on 22 July 2014. The Frontline Club event was chaired by Murat Nisancioglu, the head of Turkish Service at BBC Global […]
Tough road ahead for Egypt
By Richard Nield In the aftermath of victory for Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in recent presidential elections, Egypt’s government faces a huge challenge to unite a fragmented society behind difficult economic reforms, agreed a panel of experts speaking at the Frontline Club on 10 June 2014, chaired by Rasha Qandeel, presenter and journalist at BBC Arabic.
The Battle for Turkey’s Presidency
It is just over a year since protests to save Istanbul’s Gezi Park escalated after being met by an uncompromising stance from the government and a police crackdown. As the protests continue and with the country due to vote in the first round of the presidential elections in early August, we will be bringing together a panel to gauge the political climate. With accusations of cronyism and mass corruption inside the government, we will explore what the protestors are fighting for and how much support they have across the country.
Egypt’s Roadmap
As Abdel Fattah al-Sisi takes his place as Egypt’s second democratically elected leader, we will be looking at his roadmap for the country. Are we seeing a return to military dominance of politics and what does that signal for Egypt?
South Africa after Nelson Mandela
As the ceremonies to mark the passing of Nelson Mandela come to a close and South Africa prepares for a national election, we will be bringing together a panel to look at the political future of the country.
With wide-spread corruption, unemployment rising and slow economic growth under the ANC, who will the people of South Africa turn to in 2014? The ANC is still the dominant political force but without change will this still be the case following another term? We will be looking at the political make-up of the country, where the divisions lie and how these might develop.
State Builders: the making of South Sudan
By Richard Nield On 31 May, the Frontline Club hosted a screening of State Builders, a unique film documenting the immense challenges faced by the new state of South Sudan, which became the world’s newest nation on 9 July 2011. Directed by Florence Martin-Kessler and Anne Poiret, the film gives a penetrating insight into what was […]