CounterpointStimulating debate with the British Council

John Denham MP will be making another valiant attempt to shore up the credibility of the government's Prevent Violent Extremism (PVE) strategy today with a speech admitting that suspicion from British Muslims undermines anti-extremism projects.

The background to this saga is a front-page Guardian report several months ago that alleged PVE money was being used to spy on British Muslims. That story created a huge furore and only fed pre-existing ideas that public money from the government being poured into local community projects was 'tainted'.

During the 1930s and 40s, the British Council commissioned hundreds of short films detailing aspects of British life before, throughout and after World War Two. During the 'Welcome to the Social Planet' event, hosted on 3rd of December, Al Robertson introduced some of his favourite British Council films such as 'The Little Ships of England' and 'Women in Wartime'. Watch his introduction here.

Next week a group called the 'The Muslim Debate Initiative' will host a discussion with invited members from the far-right to "debate the contentions on Islam, the Muslim community in England/Europe, and the impact of immigration".

Cultural differences in individual identity can underpin the divides we cannot bridge. A psychoanalytic awareness lets us acknowledge the importance of these differences, and provides some of the tools we need to understand them.

Slavoj Zizek discusses the impact of technology on identity.

An excellent exhibition on identity

In the run-up to the launch of What is Radical Politics Today?, edited by Jonathan Pugh, Alastair Bonnet and Terrell Carver, two of the contributors, concisely sum-up the argument and train of thought of their chapters.

The BNP has its first non-white member. What now?