The Lancaster Tab tries Politics Society

Lancaster University Politics Society’s debate was accompanied by deranged rants and the occasional intellectual insight. Fittingly (and unfortunately) reflective of our heroic public servants in Westminster.

Our visit was presented with the question: “Is a weak democracy worse than humane dictatorship?”, which was nice and light for a cold and wet Thursday evening.

Before the meeting began, it was amazing to see the lack of partisan boundaries. Individuals from all over the political spectrum were all engaged in pre-debate chatter about political happenings and the newest confession on OnlyLancs.

As the meeting started, definitions were presented, meaning anyone could gain a foundational understanding. Contributors were selected were selected in a structured “hands-up” style that loud-mouthed politicians across the board could do with adopting.

The meeting

The first argument consistently emphasised the inability to have a human dictatorship. Many after many stood up and made their passionate speeches to their fellow members. Amongst the consensus was labelling the UK as a weak democracy due the inability to have representative governance. See, told you it was a nice and light topic!

Granted these points were made with a little more gravitas, with “Keir Stalin” and “theocracy over democracy” being thrown around.

Following this, a conservative individual surprisingly pledged his alliance to the Chinese Communist Party. Waving his membership card to the room and proudly stating China was truly free (censorship and human rights abuses aside of course). Later, a “Pol Soc” trip to North Korea was posed, so keep your eye out for that Instagram announcement, and subsequent the detention of most the members.

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Jokes and theatrics aside, members brought truly insightful and stimulating approaches to the question. One individual pointed to a perceived façade in democracy. He further drew attention to the idea that laws are written with corporations in mind, and parties are simply political pawns for these corporation. Furthermore, a member made a compelling assertion that a bi-decade election cycle does not guarantee democracy. Whilst the individuals are distracted on who to vote for, the corporations overwhelmingly run the true rule-making (and breaking).

Accessibility

No previous knowledge of politics is required to join the society. Party rigidity is not an issue and is actively discouraged, virtues of tolerance and understanding underpin the foundations of their meetings.

Meetings are advertised on the Lancaster University Politics Society Instagram page, with the questions being posted days before. Allowing for research, whether in-depth or just a 10-second acknowledgment during a doom-scroll, to take place.

Questions can be submitted in a Google document. Moreover, the society votes upon the question to select in the WhatsApp group chat. Furthermore, the group chat allows for members to keep in contact and up to date with ongoing political happenings.

What can you gain from this society?

LUPS and its meetings are built upon speaking, listening and understanding other perspectives. As a result, meetings are spaces in which respectful debate and jests are encouraged.

Lancaster University has its fair share of political party societies, yet here party members and non-party members come together to debate and listen, creating an environment of tolerance and nonpartisanship.

Events outside the sessions

Politics society is not just limited to a Thursday evening. Plenty of events happen outside the meetings, including cross-society socials with Law Society and many others. The flagship event recently has been “Tipsy Question Time” in which the conventional BBC One programme is replicated, along with the appropriate amount of alcohol that makes incoherent political debate somewhat bearable.

More recent events include the cross-party pub golf social, in which points will be awarded based certain drinks at certain venues.

Future events include a long-awaited politics ball in the Summer Term.  Yes, politics can now finally be informally and inappropriately debated in nice clothes, at a table, accompanied alcohol! Sounds like Christmas family gatherings.

But in all seriousness the abundance of socials is a testament that what LUPS has to offer isn’t just restricted to debate, but rather builds up much-needed cross-spectrum relations.

The royal Tab Tries assent on Politics Society

So finally, should you go to Lancaster University Politics Society?

Lancaster University Politics Society provides an abundance of fun, intriguing debate and cross-party chaos.

The society bridges ideological gaps and provides a place in which unlikely agreements and unsurprising disagreements are facilitated in a welcoming environment.

Parliamentarians, anarchists, environmentalists, communists, conservatives, liberals and much, much more are all welcome to meetings. If you have any interest in politics or are “politically-homeless” – Lancaster University Politics Society is a society you definitely won’t regret joining!

Meetings run every Thursday at 6:30pm and take place in Management School, Lecture Theatre 8.