Subscriber extra: Left, Right and Wrong – How we got our binary politics Origin Story

The latest in our exclusive extra editions for supporters… Why are we so addicted to seeing politics in terms of left and right? From the origins of fascism to the rise of conspiracy theories, this binary has often been inadequate, if not actively confusing, but we can’t seem to find an alternative. In this bonus episode, Ian takes the lead and explains how the ad hoc seating arrangements in the French assembly during the Revolution produced the enduring spectrum of left, right and centre. This messy, unplanned process, born out of turmoil, bloodshed and a bewildering series of factional battle lines in 1790s France, spoke to a deep human need to slice the world in two.
It’s a dramatic story of cliques and quarrels, radicals and conservatives, us and them, and the instinctive pull of tribalism. Does the notion of left and right really help us make sense of political disagreements or does it obscure what is actually going on?
Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey and Ian Dunt. Music by Jade Bailey. Logo art by Mischa Welsh. Audio production by Simon Williams. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Origin Story is a Podmasters production