Editor's note

What lies behind the crisis of contemporary democracy? David Held and Thomas Hale argue that we need to look back to the post-World War II settlement to find out. Conditions and values established then, they contend, have developed into an entrenched system of gridlock that lies behind issues such as the financial crisis, the refugee crisis, and our failure to address climate change – to name a few.

In 1000 BC, a strange anomaly in the Earth’s magnetic field occurred just over Jordan. Christopher Davies, who has studied this “geomagnetic spike”, explains how it challenges current theories about the dynamics and evolution of Earth’s hidden interior.

A Google search of the word “Americanisms” turns up claims that they are swamping, killing and absorbing British English. Paul Baker examines just how much the language is being influenced and finds that British English is remaining steadfast – when it comes to spellings. But gradable verbs like “frightfully” and “rather” – much used in classic English films like Brief Encounter – are on the wane, with a more direct, stripped down language emerging.

An estimated 22,000 people logged onto a flight tracker website to follow the progress of Priti Patel’s plane back from Nairobi yesterday, eager to find out her fate following her undeclared meetings in Israel. After a brief meeting at Downing Street upon landing, Patel handed in her resignation. This was a necessary move for a prime minister who desperately needs to show her strength, writes Andrew Scott Crines.

Josephine Lethbridge

Interdisciplinary Editor

Top story

Fitria Ramli/Shutterstock.com

The world is in economic, political and environmental gridlock – here's why

David Held, Durham University; Thomas Hale, University of Oxford

How can we sort out the crisis of contemporary democracy?

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