Exclusive poll: how to fix schools issue 2013 | february 203 www.prospect-magazine.co.uk february 2013 | £4.50 New new britain hard politics Britain Hard politics Plus Salmond’s blind leap JOHN KERR Israel: last chance for a two-state solution? HENRY SIEGMAN On feminism JAGDISH BHAGWATI The genius dead at 26 A C GRAYLING How to end a civil war MEERA SELVA ISSN 1359-5024 Go fund yourself: 02 Raising cash online KEVIN REDMON 9 771359 502057 prospect february 2013 1 Foreword Another country 2 bloomsbury place, London wc1a 2qa Publishing 020 7255 1281 Editorial 020 7255 1344 Fax 020 7255 1279 Email [email protected] [email protected] Website www.prospectmagazine.co.uk Editorial Editor and chief executive bronwen Maddox Editor at large David Goodhart Deputy editor James elwes britain has become a different country in just a decade. Politics editor James Macintyre Books editor David Wolf that is the message of the census, which showed the largest Creative director David Killen Production editor Jessica abrahams growth in the population since the survey began 200 years Online editor Daniel cohen Editorial assistants ed frankl, tim Wigmore, ago. politicians are in flight from the implications. No party robin McGhee has addressed the five serious questions arising from this Publishing President & co-founder Derek coombs change, as philip collins argues (p26). the first is where Commercial director alex stevenson parties should seek their voters, given that the old politics Publishing consultant David Hanger Circulation marketing director yvonne of identity, based on religion or class, have broken down. Dwerryhouse Digital marketing: tim De La salle the second is what to do about immigration; public concern Director of sales Iain adams 020 7255 1934 Advertising sales manager is high, although the youthfulness of the new arrivals Dan Jefferson 020 7255 1934 makes easier the third problem, the ageing of the population. but immigration Events manager adam bowie 020 7255 1934 Finance manager pauline Joy exacerbates the fourth, the pressure on housing and the end, for many, of the Editorial advisory board dream of owning a home. the fifth challenge—of how to reshape the economy to David cannadine, clive cowdery, AC Grayling, peter Hall, John Kay, peter Kellner, compete in the modern world—is arguably easier during such change (although Nader Mousavizadeh, toby Mundy, robin Niblett, Jean seaton Michael Gove will not draw much comfort from peter Kellner’s poll, p18). Associate editors as philip collins argues, britain has accommodated the changes with Hephzibah anderson, tom chatfield, James crabtree, andy Davis, edward Docx, astonishing calm, although the rise of uKIp is a sign of unease. and the speed David edmonds, sam Knight, Ian Irvine, sam Leith, emran Mian, elizabeth pisani, of change is forcing politicians finally to face those hard questions.a year ago, Wendell steavenson, James Woodall we ran on the cover of Prospect the question “tax the aged?”, which leading Contributing editors philip ball, anthony Dworkin, Josef Joffe, politicians described to us at the time as a taboo they dared not break; now, it is anatole Kaletsky, Michael Lind, Joy Lo at the centre of Westminster debate. Dico, erik tarloff Annual subscription rates the bigger question is one that confronts any country of more than one UK £49; Student £27 ethnic group, whether that has been its character throughout its history or Europe £55; Student £32.50 Rest of the World £59.50; Student £35 acquired through immigration: how to define the rights of minorities clearly prospect subscriptions, 800 Guillat avenue, Kent science park, sittingbourne, me9 8gu and generously enough to allow people to live in peace. few get it right, and not Tel 0844 249 0486; 44(0)1795 414 957 Fax 01795 414 555 quickly; that is one theme of this issue of Prospect, which includes arguments Email [email protected] from those who have dedicated years to trying to broker peace or shape a Website www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/subscribe cheques payable to prospect publishing constitution. the “bad peace” of sri Lanka is the subject of Meera selva’s report Ltd. subscription refunds must be made in writing to prospect within four weeks of a (p42), while Marc Weller, a professor in international law who was a uN senior new order or renewal, and are subject to an mediation expert, asks whether peace has come at the expense of justice (p46). administration charge of £15. No refunds are paid on quarterly subscriptions. Henry siegman (p38), executive director of the american Jewish congress for the views represented in this magazine are more than 15 years, and a close observer of two decades of Israeli-palestinian not necessarily those of prospect publishing Ltd. best endeavours have been taken in all negotiations, asks whether there is a last chance to save the “two-state solution.” cases to represent faithfully the views of all even in britain, questions of minority and regional rights are hardly settled. contributors and interviewees. the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors, David Goodhart, who has written extensively on multiculturalism, argues (p30) omissions or the consequences thereof. that the appearance of harmony conceals separation. John Kerr (p32), former Newstrade distribution comag specialist, tavistock road, head of the foreign and commonwealth office, who orchestrated the drafting of West Drayton, ub7 7qe, tel: 01895 433716 the european union constitution, warns scotland that if it becomes independent, Images Cover image: Martyn Vickery/alamy it cannot assume that joining the EU would be easy, quick or cheap. Cartoons by: aaron, Nick, Mazurke, AT, Mike turner, royston, chris Madden such questions will only increase as people move around the globe. politicians Additional design by: Jennifer owens who dare to confront them now will find that their parties survive in that fluid ISSN: 13595024 future. those who fail will find that their voters leave them—or that whole regions do. We explore further. Aberdeen Investment Trusts ISA and Share Plan At Aberdeen, we believe there’s no substitute for getting to know your investments face-to-face. 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Request a brochure: 0500 00 40 00 www.invtrusts.co.uk Issued by Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited, 10 Queen’s Terrace, Aberdeen AB10 1YG, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Telephone calls may be recorded. www.aberdeen-asset.co.uk Please quote G PM 05 0113 Prospect G PM 05.indd 1 17/01/2013 11:34 prospEct februAry 2013 3 Contents February 2013 This month Features Life 5 If I ruled the world peter singer 26 New Britain: five hard questions 68 Stretching the truth 6 Recommends politicians are running scared. A history of dating since 1695. philip collins 8 Diary mary fitzgerald plus Segregation: our new problem 69 Leith on life 10 Letters david goodhart I’m an education hypocrite. sam leith Opinions 70 Matters of taste Britain goes Korean style. 12 How to help feminism oliver thring jagdish bhagwati 71 Wine 13 We are all in it together Drinking with spice. paul johnson barry smith 14 The Tories’ real women problem rachel wolf Arts & Books 16 Tell us about the shadowy advisers 72 Learning to love Spielberg ruth levitt and william 32 Dark master of the blockbuster. solesbury Scotland’s blind leap Don’t count on rejoining the Eu. francine stock plus stephen collins’s cartoon strip. john kerr 17 Kenya’s democratic curse michela wrong Politics 20 Don’t fix our schools, Michael Gove Exclusive new poll. peter kellner 38 Last chance for the two-state solution? The real test of any new talks. Science henry siegman 75 Not like a novelist Sheila Heti’s challenge to writers. 58 “No hurricane tonight” 42 A bad peace richard beck could Sri Lanka’s war start again? Why can’t we forecast the weather? 78 Punk at the theatre meera selva philip ball The rebel of British drama. plus Peace versus justice michael coveney 59 The month ahead marc weller anjana ahuja 79 Wittgenstein’s teacher 48 Go fund yourself The genius who died at 26. How to raise money online. ac grayling kevin charles redmon 80 The month in books 52 The new Stone Age rachel sylvester Lessons from traditional societies. walter russell mead Fiction 82 Fittest Special report: investment A short story inspired by global warming. 60 The west’s last chance janice galloway nick carn Endgames 64 No smooth ride gayle schumacher 84 The generalist didymus 66 Buying into inflation 84 Enigmas & puzzles ian stewart mike amey 86 The Prospect List Our pick of events. 66 No such thing as free advice 88 The way we were Financial crises. andy davis ian irvine The App If you’re a subscriber, get our app FrEE at www. prospectmagazine.co.uk/apps. If you’re not, you can buy single Applestore issues, a subscription or back issues.