Post-truth refers to reporting in the media and elsewhere, where ‘facts’ are presented as the truth but may not be true at all, and it influences how people think.
This is a growing concern with social media becoming the go-to place for information; post-truth information sharing can influence public opinion and policy decisions. In UK politics, post-truth has become increasingly common.
Post-truth politics: where did it come from?
What is the truth? That’s a hard question to answer. We’re all aware of ‘fake news’. Did Trump incite a riot? Is global warming real? Facts need to be verified, examined, confirmed. In 1946, presidential advisor Bernard Baruch said: “Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.”
Post-truth politics began to grow in the UK after important political events such as the Brexit referendum and later general elections. During these events, we heard divisive speeches, misleading campaigns, and a huge amount of misinformation through various channels, including social media platforms.
The spread of post-truth narratives has increased because of the rise of populist political movements and declining trust in traditional institutions. People are looking for validation of their beliefs and find it in sources that match their own opinions. The result is a tendency to ignore or disagree with information that is valid and objective.
Post-truth in UK politics: manipulating emotions
The most obvious example of post-truth in UK politics is how political figures deliberately spread misinformation to sway public opinion or discredit opponents.
This can range from distortion of statistics and cherry-picking data to outright lies in digital media and political speeches. The public has slowly lost trust in traditional media and this has also led to alternative narratives multiplying at an alarming rate – and these often have no basis in fact. This is a post-truth age.
In addition, politicians use tactics to appeal to our emotional side rather than talking rationally about objective facts. This makes it easier to manipulate voters to support them. These tactics can include fearmongering, scapegoating, and encouraging tribalism, where people gather in groups to oppose others. (Football team supporters on opposite sides are good examples of tribalism.) In politics, feeling afraid and insecure, blaming and tribalism mean that more important national issues receive less attention.
In this way, political actors can keep power and influence but at the same time they are damaging our democratic institutions.
Consequences of post-truth politics
Post-truth politics has deeply serious consequences, with significant challenges to democracy and society. At the heart of these consequences is how people have lost trust in political institutions and public debate, as they become increasingly sceptical of information presented by mainstream sources.
Another consequence is that this not only undermines the integrity of elected officials but also gets in the way of developing evidence-based policies necessary for addressing complex issues in society.
Misinformation in political discourse also contributes to the rapid increase of conspiracy theories and extremist ideologies. This puts people in opposition to one another and lessens the chance of constructive dialogue. Where ‘facts’ are subjective and truth is relative, the foundations of democracy are under threat and leads to authoritarian ideology and demagoguery.
The rise of post-truth politics creates division in society; people are divided by their ideology, their ethnic groups, and their socio-economic status. This makes our society less likely to be united, and more unequal. There’s also a tendency for politicians to plan for short-term gains rather than thinking about the long-term future for the wellbeing of our population. The risk is that this damages democracy and the hopes for a more equal and inclusive future society.
Fighting post-truth politics
It’s not an easy job to fight against post-truth politics; efforts are needed by institutions and by society as a whole.
Firstly, political institutions need to change. Steps must be taken to improve transparency. Fact-checking must be carried out to make statements accountable, to establish the truth as far as possible. We have to make stronger regulations for political advertising, promote media literacy and educate for critical thinking skills. The government, the people, and tech companies must work together against the spread of misinformation online.
It’s equally important for political leaders to lead by example. They should show this by following the principles of honesty, integrity, and decision-making, backed by evidence, in their communication with the public. They should commit to truthfulness and transparency, even when it may be politically inconvenient. They should show a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and compromise to address complex challenges facing society.
A second approach happens at the grassroots level. Efforts must be made to promote media literacy, critical thinking skills and civic engagement. This means investing in education programmes that teach digital literacy and critical thinking when engaging with the media, so that students leave school with the power to tell the difference between fact and fiction and feel motivated to participate actively in the democratic process.
Summary
The rise of post-truth politics means there are significant challenges to democracy in government and society in the UK.
Addressing this phenomenon requires a concerted effort at both the institutional and grassroots levels. Being truthful, showing integrity, and making decisions based on evidence are essential. Then the UK can find its way through complex post-truth politics to uphold the principles of democracy and engage its citizens in politics for future generations.
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