The state of democracy: Panel discussion

How have government policies, corporate media, restrictions on protest and lack of voter choice affected democracy in the UK?

Hosted by SOAS ICOP, a panel of experts explores recent attacks on our democracy, from government policies to corporate media narratives, restrictions on protest, and the lack of political alternatives for voters. They will also discuss ways to move forward.

About the speakers

• Matt Kennard, Journalist, Declassified UK
• Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition Convenor
• James Schneider, Political organiser, Author
• Chair: Dr Deepa Driver, Trade Unionist

Matt Kennard is Head of Investigations at Declassified UK. He was a fellow and then director at the Centre for Investigative Journalism in London. He is author of Irregular Army & Silent Coup, and his new book The Racket is out now.

Lindsey German is a political activist and a founding member and convenor of the Stop the War Coalition. She has written several books, including two on women's rights and A People's History of London.

James Schneider is a political organiser and writer currently serving as Communications Director for Progressive International. He co-founded the left-wing grassroots movement Momentum, and was public relations advisor to the former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

About ICOP

The Influencing the Corridors of Power (ICOP) project promotes the impact of ongoing university based research. The project aims to bring researchers and Westminster closer together, to address the democratic deficit which they believe is a result of encroaching government control on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly on SOAS and other university campuses. 

The project is born out of the 5-year AHRC/ESRC funded project, “Representing Islam on Campus”, and the follow-up project, “Voices of Dissent”. They intend that this project will serve as a model for the higher education sector and democracy more generally.