Politicians invest heavily in communication strategies. Do such strategies succeed in engaging citizens, or does the collective impression of spin doctors at work instead foster cynicism and disengagement? What role can and should political communication play in bridging the gap between citizens and elites?
 
A panel discussion with:

• Mr Nick Lovegrove, Partner, Brunswick Group
• Mr Tim Dixon, Co-founder, Purpose Europe
• Dr Damian Tambini, Research Director, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics
• Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean, Blavatnik School of Government (Chair)

This discussion is part of the Challenges of Government Conference 2017 at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Politics across the world is in tumult. A new populism has emerged from both left and right. Globalisation is under attack. Across every continent, electorates have lost patience with the establishment elites who have traditionally run countries and international institutions. The ‘left behind’ are stepping forward. This year, the Blavatnik School of Government’s annual Challenges of Government Conference focuses on this revolution: the  breakdown in trust, the reasons behind it, and what an effective response might look like. Those taking part include global leaders and practitioners who are striving daily to address the crisis, as well as leading academics who will set out their latest cutting-edge ideas.