Populism, Aristotle and Hope - Rory Stewart OBE
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- The Annual Sir Thomas Gresham Lecture 2023
A lecture by Rory Stewart OBE recorded on 8 June 2023 at The Old Library, Guildhall, London
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
www.gresham.ac...
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The astonishing feat of delivering this lecture without notes, and answering complex questions brilliantly and succinctly on the fly, affirms Rory Stewart (once again) as perhaps our greatest statesman in waiting (ever). Let's hope he finds 'the angle' to cleave that block as soon as possible. Thank you Rory Stewart, and thank you Gresham College.
I could not agree more with your assessment above - an astonishing ability to speak coherently and with such interest with no visible notes or "prompts". A very fascinating and always interesting talk !!
but deep down a weak academic liberal, who is so out of touch with reality and 'real' people - not the loony lefty green liberal elites - it is alarming.
Boris just couldn't do this.
🙌🏻
I'd like to see him on the forefront of an ancient battlefield with a horse for a podium, delivering a speech for the men's moral. He'd need to have much velocity in the way he delivered it.
Love listening to Rory. He's erudite, intelligent, doesn't talk down to people and doesn't waffle. Just started reading his book and really enjoying it. I've never voted Conservative but would definitely have voted for Rory
Best PM we never had!
How did the Tory Party look at this man and decide he wasn't the Leader they needed? It's staggering, and quite upsetting that they chose as they did.
Just goes to show how the conservative mind works or more clearly doesn’t work that they chose Boris.
Because they decided that greed and avarice was the best way forward for our civilisation.
I remember the TV debate with Boris 🙈. Truly depressing.
Because the Tories (and now Labour) are the people that maintain this system where people like him can't get into office anyway. The system feeds itself.
Maybe because they saw through him?
A life long labour voter very disenchanted with politics I’d vote for you in an instant absolutely brilliant lecture thank you
A life long traitor and parasite who blames people who you envy
Which sums up this very confused man. For he didn’t stand for Labour but the Conservative Party which he mistook himself to belong in. He is a Blairite Labour man and if the party continues in that direction I won’t be surprised if he joins up.
If that's your appreciation of an absolutely brilliant lecture you are buried in a corpse somewhere remote.
@@JimOverbeckgenius well it seems many others agree with me
I listen to any politician who is intelligent and eloquent regardless of political affiliations - this chap is one, Rees-Mogg is another. Apart from that, I couldn't give a toss for today's politics. Listening to politicians of 50-60 years ago - Powell, Benn, Jenkins... etc,., one realises how far politicians have fallen.
A very well reasoned delivery. British politics is the poorer for his absence. He appears to be a very principled and empathetic man
'Appears to be', yes, he is a Tory politician so it's unlikely he genuinely has those qualities.
Yes, no, no understanding of what it’s like to be poor and British working class that actually go to work
Excellent lecture. From what I saw of UK politics from here in Australia, Mr Stewart leaving political life was a great loss for Britain. This lecture truly brings that home.
maybe he should have declared his holding the chair of ‘Le Cercle’ ...... oooooops ! ..... oh, yeah ...... sorry !!! Shhhhhh !
Can’t believe you had to edit that comment of yours 😂
Maybe he spelled truly as truely, as I sometimes but not in this case
@@khalidalali186
I never in my life thought I’d ever like a Tory, but this man is actually alright. I still disagree with some of what he says, but overall I find his allegiance strange given his wisdom and seemingly genuine care for people
I am truly amazed at the clarity of his thoughts so spoken with much conviction and passion! A true stateman in waiting!
In waiting ? He's already been an MP.
A World Class orator. Just brilliant.
Rory manner of speech exemplifies clarity and specificity with a framework of firm logical ordering we call logic and precise forms of argumentation. This is wonderful and beautiful to witness
I don’t have to agree with him, his arguments or his conclusions to be fully engaged by talks and leave far more informed than I was at the outset. Yes, I am biased by the evidence of his classical education and the effect of his study at Eton. Yes, these are the biographical roots of a Tory with the skill set of a Roman oratory such as Cicero or Quintiles. He is a stunningly effective commentator, thinking extraordinarily well on his feet and deeply prepared on his topic.
I deeply admire his oratorical accomplishments, humility and earnestness not withstanding my commoner roots and sentiments
Aye, he certainly can B/S with the best.
Thoughtful. Intelligent. Compassionate. You can see why Rory didn't get anywhere in politics.
Fantastic teacher. Wonderful to be able to listen to this for free - thank you Rory. I think people today are simply unable to tell facts from truths. That is a problem.
Yes, he should have been a teacher
@@fanfeck2844 He was. He was a professor at Yale University before going in to politics.
He had a short service commission in the Argyll &Sutherland Highlanders, ( I think) His oratory skills are in Churcillian class .
Imagine what the World would be like if a person like him had his hands on the levers of power.
He is a British Conservative. Is that ok?
Ex-conservative he's independent now!
@jasaa I would respectfully suggest that he is a Consevative, unlike the current Government and an unfortunately high proportion of the Parliamentary Conservative Party.
@@richardwoolnough5824 you know what you’re right! he is a true conservative and the values he holds deserves a lot more respect than the sorry excuse we have today
He actually started Labour. He was a civil servant so his starting point was service, not ideology.
The best prime minister Britain never had..
Not yet anyway.
He's far more interesting than his politics, which are no different to the status quo
@@OUTBOUND184 I respectfully disagree. He is far more to the left of the tory party than the likes of Johnson, Gove and all of the other Brent apologists.
@@exaisle That just makes him closer to the centre, meaning you agree with me
@@OUTBOUND184 If only it was the status quo….
The best insight I've ever listened to on the move away from the neo-liberalism and Washington Consensus of the 1990's to the populism of the early 21st century, presented by someone who is extremely well informed, a clear thinker and having a natural gift of oratory. An amazing talent that British politics currently is not utilizing. We have not heard the last of Rory Stewart.
How much are you willing to bet?
I've never heard this man waffle on any subject during any interview or lecture.
The last minute of this made me cry and I can’t articulate why. The fact that lectures and resources such as this are so widely available for pretty much free is utterly revolutionary.
So true, but the old proverb about taking horses to water comes to mind. :)
@@Fanakapan222It is a veritable golden age for those with refined interests in the arts and sciences.
@@transfo47 Agree entirely. However, its also an empowering age for those that wish to subvert the demos using the mantle of the information explosion. :)
He's intelligent, pragmatic and principled. I cannot envisage him telling a lie. I so hope that he returns to UK politics; people like him are desperately needed right now.
He was a politician, he's literally talked about having to compromise on his principles and consistently voted for austerity. If he has not put and out lied, he has definitely been ambiguous with the truth.
@@benjesterw It's hard to forgive any Tory politician but remember that he has left the Conservatives. He would probably be a natural LibDem. Yes, he was part of the austerity government and I guess he had to compromise his beliefs to tow the party line, as every politician has to do but I feel that he would put principle before persona interests if push came to shove. What I admire about Rory is his clarity of thought and the feeling that he would not lie to me.
Rational fluency is a lost art, real British gem
He is ANTI-British - As YOU ARE : Go back to Estonia!
Brilliant speech. I feel educated. Thank you.
Uk cannot loose people like this gentleman great speech
From a first time hearing of this speech my instinctive reaction is that basically if one brings Rory’s speech down to one word it is love.
nice chap but check out his voting record when a tory m.p
He talks about peace in the world,that’s laughable today and as for immigration today it’s out of control throughout Europe and it is going to get worse. He definetly missed the boat.
yes I agree, so much empathy and love!
listen to the interview with Navara Media, he's asked about this by the interviewer@@ianbrown8308
Always an interesting man and a superb orator.
But a pro war NeoCon.
Stunning lecture - deeply thoughtful and analytical. It is a sign of the weakness of modern politics that it could not make use of his analytical skills but forced him into a very narrow box. The biggest weakness in politics is that it doesn't allow room for thinkers but requires everyone to conform and almost become one-dimensional.
Excellent comment. Well put.
Brilliant, inspiring Rory Stewart
Erudite well educated well travelled honorable man. The Conservative s need someone like him so does Labour!
Think it's the country/nation as a whole that needs someone to inform and educate us all at this kind of level do generously provided by Rory Stewart. His political gifts were he to become Prime Minister under current conditions, as he himself intimated would be utterly wasted - a casting of pearls before swine, so to speak.
I'd like to hear his take on how it is that the Civil War Cry "No Taxation Without Representation" has led by all accounts to a Parliament largely run by "Reprentatives Without Taxation".
Go back to Latvia!
@@christinethomas6763 Stop trying to sound English! Go back to Lithuania!
Fabulous podcast, can't understand why he wasn't elected as mayor of London but shouldn't be put off by it. His time will come.
He’s the best PM we didn’t have as far as I’m concerned. I’m a natural socialist but he makes Toryism look almost credible and rational
He never stood for election
He defends an evil regime and doesn't even bother trying to make a proper defense of it. Rotherham, you hopeless island cucks.
@@clarehaven6068 yes he did. He was one of the Tory options when Boris was elected Tory leader. If he’d won that he’d have been PM. The 2019 round of Tory leadership votes to replace May I think
@@kreek22 how do you expect people to agree with you when you don’t explain what you mean? Who’s regime and what’s Rotherham got to do with the price of fish?
Wonderful! Worth listening every minute. Thank you, Mr. Rory Stewart
Thank you, Rory, and Gresham College.
Interesting, thought provoking analysis. So much information, I need to listen to it again… and again. Grateful thanks.
Rory addresses so many immensely important issues here with such precision and articulacy. I didn’t know enough about him until I heard him talking to Jordan Harbinger on his podcast. Rory recently walked through Afghanistan and made friends everywhere he went. What a guy.
❤ Mr Stewart is incredible smart, I am a fan of his and Alistair Campbell popular podcasts where Rory shows time and time again his broad knowledge of the world. He would be the most amazing leader of the UK. Great speech.
Yes, what a spectacular talk. Addressing the needs of the world in any age is not just based in politics or technology but at its core the governance of spiritual laws and principles, as valid today as they were in the time of Aristotle. It amazes me how inspiring it is to read and hear the words of these ancient Greek philosophers.
So useful to have the recent hisotry set out - living through it makes analysis hard - but as you spoke it all fell into place. I sincerely hope there will be a swing against extremes and a shift back into the centre - compromise is so important.
I would recommend this lecture to anyone and everyone - thank you Mr Stewart
It was great to hear someone starting their populist narrative with the rise of Modi instead of just looking to Atlantic cases. It is really not the standard even within populist research.
Dear Gresham… if you had a lighter coloured, perhaps mid-grey, stage curtain, you would not have difficulties with camera exposure. The daylight on light skin against a dark curtain is a lot of contrast for any camera.
Stupendous speaker. I think he'd be wasted as an MP for any current party, hobbled by electoral constraints. Mr S can do more to influence our thinking and voting away from our parliamentary circus for now and the freedom of their podcast seems to be doing just that. Meanwhile, he's getting remarkable things done with the Give Directly (?) work.
Fantastic orator . He makes complex political processes accessible.
Instead of Rory, the UK got Boris. How things could have been different.
The mob always selects Barrabus.
It is a great pity that more of the current MPs don't have the intellectual capacity of Rory Stewart.
They have all been purged from both the British ruling party and its occasional understudy.
I recently read his book and I'm quite in awe of Rory. He is an intelligent and wonderful human being who I wish would re-enter the Conservative Party. Government needs principled people like him.
Rory is a class act. One of the very few who has real experience outside the British political party career path. He would have made an excellent Prime Minister but would not have lasted long. I fear he would have been too honest and conciliatory to survive the political knives and sharp elbows of his political enemies and his political party “friends”
I recommend everyone reads his books.
My thoughts too, in a different era without the twisting of words etc Rory would have made a fantastic PM and held the post but now it’s all about lying and that’s just not Rory.
He does come across as a very thoughtful and even compassionate human being. But the thought that everything was rosy in the garden in the 1990’s is just insane. The 1990’s and the total abandonment of the post war consensus are the very reason for the rise of populism, as anyone at the sticky end of the lollipop would understand! Rory is well meaning, I think, but astonishingly lacking in reality. A true academic wrapped in cosy warmth and protection far from the everyday realities of the millions who were thrown on the scrap heap after they’d served any useful purpose, during his idyllic decade when history supposedly stopped.
@@mick947You understand he walked across Afghanistan? He understands the meaning of poverty better than 99+% in this country.
I agree he’s an act alright.
@@mick947He’s not arguing for historical rose gardens. None of his statistics are incorrect. You’ve adroitly missed his entire point.
great lecture - i appreciate the depth & breath of his historical geopoitical context - "for the love of learning "
What a gem this man is. As a Dutchman I look with admiration and a bit of envy I must say because we lack a person with the qualities that Rory Stewart OBE has.
Really? I look at the Dutch with so much admiration for your inventiveness and pragmatism.
@@crippsuniverseI think he was referring to the Dutch political class!
@@dubbelhelix What’s the difference?
@@JupiterThunder Ah, a fan of Farage I gather.
@@crippsuniverse Luckily you're not Belgian.
I’d vote for him in a heartbeat.
Greatly missed by all sides in the house of commons, the standards in the house were visibly diminished since he left it. He is like the historic conscience that makes us look back and learn.
Well there was Dorries
An absolute master of public oratory. I could listen to the man all day. Bravo
What a phoney
For providing a lens on the current political, moral and logistical topography, my profound thanks.
Excellent lecture. He is so much better than any of our current political leaders.
Yes I agree. The best prime minister we never had
My wonder at the value of intellect is returned. Today I offer heavy thanks for what you have bestowed upon we, of indifferent intellect, and bless us with your exceptional insight.
This guy should be leader of the Conservative party. It proof that the best don’t always ride to the top.x
Excellent analysis. WE need this in-depth reflection and awareness of our world, of the forces, the philosophies, the critical awareness of popularism, the abuse of the political and media classes. We need to restored the Leveson inquiry into the MET, the Media and Politicians that was cancelled at the cost of obscene corruption and cronyism, symbolised by the PPE scandals. We must rebalance the need for Accountability and Scrutiny - We need to address the normalisation of injustice. We need people of Vision, of integrity, Compassion and above all Hope.
How could we all get together to get this absolute font of knowledge and humanity as our prime minister. Definitely the only person I would vote for.
Truth to be told, sadly the current political system is not conducive to this quality of analysis. However, this for me indicates just how much we need thinking people like Rory, to give a lead to a better way of doing politics.
For anyone reading this and finding Mr Stewart interesting, I highly recommend his book The Places In Between, about his walk across Afghanistan shortly after the invasion following 9/11. A fascinating book.
The man is clearly very intelligent, wonderfully articulate, a great orator, he's honest, he knows a lot about the world around him, he's concerned with facts and truth rather than tribalism, he cares about people, he's reported to be conversant in at least 9 languages. That he has not made it to the top of British politics is profoundly sad, a tragedy on a scale that dwarfs even Brexit.
Exceptional oration.
Rory you are a "Rock Star" and I am a lifelong Labour supporter.
Brilliant !!!
Fantastic lecture and genuine nice chap.
Spectacularly literate, populism and short termism is our collrctive road block
I loved "Because we knew that history had ended".
A privilege indeed! Rory Stewart has dared to suggest what has seemed to me, a very ordinary person, as glaringly obvious, that financial growth is not actually sustainable in today's world. I am in my 90s, and therefore was brought up during a period which has included a world war and the subsequent period of austerity, when the plethora of consumer goods available today did not exist for most people. Consequently, life was simpler and therefore less stressful. Having less, and living more simply is not a disaster. It is as Gandhi famously said, essential that we should live more simply so that others may simply live. I had almost forgotten how exhilarating it is to hear a speaker of such erudition, incisiveness and clarity. One of the reasons that people have lost respect for politicians is not just the abject failure of their policies but the poverty and inelegance of their discourse. The watchwords of any future government need to be truth, integrity, sustainability and simplicity. These are testimonies of Quakers and are not just spiritual but practical guidelines.
Absolutely brilliant. Thank you
It is necessary to deal with real world problems with real world solutions. Philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle helped direct the development of Western Civilization. We should not forget that the Hellens of Antiquity believed the Gods influenced world events. More than 2000 years later we have a better understanding for the real world. Place our efforts and resources into dealing with real problems and real challenges with real solutions. Thank you, Rory.
"Populism is a term used by centrist liberals to describe political blowback from the disruption of society produced by their policies.”
- John Gray
Yep, the main problem with liberal democracy isn't the democracy. It is the globalized "free" market policies and unchecked exploitative capitalism that are destabilizing the globe. Corporate capture of governments and regulatory agencies are a feature of neo-liberalism, not a bug, and that is why we are in our current situation. The massive inequality is what made the current version of western government unpopular. People are trying to imagine a different system and if the current power structure is unwilling to change we should expect unrest.
clever by half
Particularly mass replacement migration
@evolassunglasses4673
Yes of course a shadowy back room conspiracy makes far more sense than a set of political decisions with intended and unintended outcomes pushed by big business to keep wages low and drive up profits.
@masonotron
To be fair, yours is a bit of a weird comment, which makes less sense than the great replacement conspiracy theorist who just commented.
You may not like and may disagree with the observation made by John. Conversely, you may find it an astute observation.
Either way, it is better to make oneself clear in objection/approval.
This man is so knowledgeable on global politics, history and geosociology!
An epitome of decency in politics. Always makes excellent use of syllogisms in such symposiums. Love listening to the man!
Open-mindedness (learning) at work!!! Awesomely cerebral!
Wow - what a delivery from Rory - no prompter needed !
Excellent talk, notwithstanding the whiplash created by the very different answers to two questions at 1 hour or so. The defense of liberal democracy because it forces politicians to listen, then the answer to the next question about whether he will return to politics stating that (veteran) politicians don't listen to anyone. Perhaps, it is in the long run that liberal democracy forces politicians to listen.
Great talk. Everything is about policies. We as individuals orders must be more involved in politics as far as asking for what we want and demanding that government delivers must be aware of what we want and how will affect our future you cannot just blindly elect people and hope for the best and then complain that nothing has been done. You can never take your hands off the steering wheel.
A great talk by a chap who is probably too clever to be a politician. A true polymath and they do not do well in the bearpit of parliament.
Brilliant speech …. I agree with one of the other comments. Why this man is not our leader I have no idea.
A brilliant ethical man.
Thank you and to him!
Well done Rory Stewart🥰
Many thanks for an outstanding presentation. Your clarity of thought and reasonableness are sorely needed at present and much appreciated!
Excellent!!
Great philosophers and geniuses act and think independently from their time. This man is a great thinker and storyteller. Mentioning and explaining all societal failures that, amongst other issues, prevented him from becoming PM. Pitty, he has a great insight in human nature.
Only one T squire.
Rory, with Alistair, start a centre left party. Build it and they will come. Imagine: honesty, integrity, common sense, logic, humility, empathy, & most of all, intelligence, all encompassed in the embodiment of a political party. I’d vote for it, christ I’d canvass for it. You’re both wasted on the best podcast social media has to offer. Please, please, please, save our souls…
An incredible talk and delivery. A genius man who also, little known fact, speaks 11 different languages
What an amazing orator. Imagine someone like him having to leave the conservative party because he didn't fit in!! That speaks volumes.
Listen to what we have lost! BUT I do hope you will continue to exercise your brilliance as only you know how❤
A brilliant presentation from one of the few (ex-) conservatives I like to listen to. I can see why he was thrown out of the conservative party by BoJo : his ability to think and explain was clearly the reason.
He was never a conservative, that’s why they hate white peoples as much as the Labour voting vermin
Fully on board with austerity and the demonisation of the working class, and somehow Boris Johnson is the antithesis of that? Tories are very strange people.
Along with his refusal to blatantly lie.
No idea how Rory managed to be around such vile politicians
@@duncansteedman9986 I think he took a while to realise how many bad apples there were. He then tried to change it by running for PM, then found he lost to populism.
Great lecture!
A delight to listen to.
Rory you're right. You are better suited to being a lecturer than a Politician. Thank you for the talk.
Brilliant speech! Resonates with my 2018 professorial lecture but better. One small point of disagreement; 2008 financial crisis was caused in large part by selling a financial product (credit default swaps), which were not a sound product.
beautiful...thank you....sir....
Such a wonderful speaker. very cohesive, very well presented.
Wow!
Thank you Rory and the staff at Gresham College for arranging a sublime presentation.
We must encourage Rory Stewart to find a way back into UK politics. I think he should start a new political party and I would bet that many of the best MP’s would join him, whatever their current allegiances.
Thank you!
Excellent analysis
The spokesman for yesterday's men
Exceptional, a clarity and analysis of thought sadly missing in all our politicians at this time.
Brilliant synthesis
Incredible fluency of thought and speech.
Go back to Latvia
Wow! What an interesting and insightful talk. More, please.
Great!
Very insightful
I hope the conservatives rebuild with people like Rory.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote." B.F.
@48'', one may appreciate the effort, clarity, unmistakable will to deconstruct post modern capitalism. 🙏 Congrats.
Rory Stewart OBE. Czar for Public Assemblies! Maybe he could still like himself and influence in a constructive none partisan role. Thank you both, for educating the great unwashed.