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I once witnessed Anthony Joshua’s victory in the IBF heavyweight championship of the world at the O2 Arena. This month, two men with a combined age of 118 sold out the same venue for a night of political banter. The success of The Rest Is Politics podcast, featuring former Labour adviser Alastair Campbell and one-time Tory MP Rory Stewart, has sparked various explanations. Many attribute its popularity to centrism, emphasizing its commitment to the middle ground in a time of polarization.
However, I disagree with this characterization. Campbell leans towards the left, while Stewart is more of a rural romantic and paternalist. Despite their listeners considering Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn as similar villains, the actual election results showed a different story, with Corbyn facing a significant defeat. So, why label them as centrist when their views align differently? The term “centrist” now seems to equate to “left-liberal” for those unaware of the national median.
Why am I defending the center ground so passionately? Why do I sound like I want to protect it as a unique and valuable position? Well, being a centrist can often feel lonely. Genuine centrists are rare, and it’s challenging to find common ground with most people. If you haven’t truly embraced centrism, then don’t claim the label.
Centrism is a courageous stance in the political spectrum. Being in the middle means you are seen as an outsider by both sides. While centrists may not represent the first choice for a majority of voters, they often embody what people can tolerate. This tolerance ultimately leads to electoral success, even though it may not please anyone. Emmanuel Macron exemplifies this, being both re-elected and widely criticized.
Contrary to popular belief, centrism is not a weak or diluted position. It requires strength to navigate the political landscape without aligning completely with either side. While the left and right have strong social movements to support them, centrists often find themselves in a precarious position. If The Rest Is Politics truly leans towards the soft-left, what is the equivalent for dead-center centrism? The numbers simply don’t add up.
So, who qualifies as a centrist? It’s not necessary to take a middle stance on every issue, but a good starting point is whether you have supported both main parties in national elections. Many seemingly rational individuals have not done so, revealing their lack of true centrism. This test may not apply perfectly in all countries, but it reveals a lot about one’s political inclinations.
For me, the year 2002 marked the peak of centrism before the Iraq war debacle. I still believe in a Blair-esque, Economist-inspired approach to governing high-income societies. The trajectory of Britain post-2016 deviation from this agenda only reinforces my conviction. However, I acknowledge that my views may be influenced by my generation. Regardless, there is a strong gravitational pull towards the center, akin to a black hole, yet unappealing to many.
Email Janan at [email protected]
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