Tag: Antagonist

These people do have a right to protest. So, while conflict is inevitable, it is also essential for the health of our democracy that the conflicting sides recognise each other’s right to exist and their right to hold and defend an opposing view. This is the difference between “agonism”, which is defined by Mouffe as a struggle between adversaries who still recognise each other’s rights, and “antagonism”, which is a struggle between enemies. Those who mobbed Soubry on Monday demonstrated the increasingly antagonistic nature of Brexit politics. This is the politics of pure antagonism, the politics of populism. Brexit and antagonism Examples of this antagonism have been evident in different forms since the referendum. The headline, complete with pictures of the judges, presented the “people” as a homogenous group who were in an antagonistic struggle with their “enemies” who posed an existential threat. While far-right groups and some in the pro-Brexit media are clearly using highly antagonistic language, it should be noted that some Remainers have not been averse to ratcheting up the tension either, referring to pro-Brexiteers as “gammons” – a clearly pejorative term. One need only look at Tommy Robinson, the former leader of far-right group the English Defence League, to see how clashing with the establishment can actually help your message resonate with supporters. The highly public abuse of Soubry should serve as a reminder to those of us who truly value our democracy that, unlike the mob outside parliament, we need to listen as well as to speak.