Truth and lies, talking to yourself, immigrants on immigration

Editor's note

For all the talk about the “post-truth” condition we live in, it’s not always clear how we’re supposed to push back. But many political thinkers have grappled with these questions in the darkest of times. Philip Boobbyer revisits the writings of the eastern bloc’s Cold War dissidents to explore what it means to “live in truth” – and how we can do it today.

We all have inner, silent conversations with ourselves, and research has found that they help keep our minds fit. But why do some people talk to themselves out loud when they clearly don’t need to? Paloma Mari-Beffa explains what these natterings mean, and whether they could be a sign of mental illness.

Britons who want immigration brought down often raise concerns about immigrants taking their jobs. But what do immigrants themselves think? In a recent study, John Wildman, Muhammad Waqas and Nils Braakmann found that their attitudes depend on how long they’ve been living in the UK: the longer their stay, the more hardline their views.

And at 1.30pm today, we’ll be hosting a Facebook Live session on our Facebook page with two academics who’ve published research about Star Wars and are ready to answer your nerdiest questions. May the 4th be with you.

Andrew Naughtie

International Editor

Top story

Gone but not forgotten: Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s funeral, 2008. EPA/Yuri Kochetkov

What eastern bloc dissidents can teach us about 'living in truth'

Philip Boobbyer, University of Kent

As Solzhenitsyn saw it, simple truths are always a threat to totalitarianism.

Science + Technology
Is talking to yourself a sign of mental illness? An expert delivers her verdict Paloma Mari-Beffa, Bangor University What you say may matter more than how you say it. Online security won't improve until companies stop passing the buck to the customer Steven J. Murdoch, UCL If security advice from government agencies doesn't ring true, customers won't take it – which puts us all at risk.

Politics + Society

Election Weekly: a new podcast from The Conversation UK

Laura Hood, The Conversation

A weekly hit of the information you need to get to grips with the last-minute UK election.
What immigrants in Britain think of immigration

John Wildman, Newcastle University; Muhammad Waqas, University of Sheffield; Nils Braakmann, Newcastle University

It depends on how long they have been in the UK.
Why Theresa May seems so rattled by the Liberal Democrats

Matthew Cole, University of Birmingham

There's a good reason why the PM is acting like a party with only nine MPs is a major threat.
A Conservative landslide in Wales should come as no surprise ... if it actually happens

Sam Blaxland, Swansea University

Is Wales about to be shaken by a Conservative earthquake?
Le Pen's PM: an 11th hour alliance to woo right-wing voters

Paul Smith, University of Nottingham

By promising a top job to Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, the Front National leader is hoping to catch a few more votes. But is it too little too late?
Why civil and political rights have been easier to secure than social and economic ones

Peter Roderick, Newcastle University

An argument over what will happen to an important EU charter post-Brexit has repercussions for social protections, including the right to health.
Europe’s wall against African migrants is almost complete

Martin Plaut, School of Advanced Study

A deal to secure the southern Libyan border aims to stop migrants from attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
Deadly Kabul bombing heralds a new Western surge in Afghanistan

Paul Rogers, University of Bradford

The West's strategy in Afghanistan has demonstrably failed. Is the stage now set for a much more intense war?

Health + Medicine

Two simple questions that have changed the way people hear inner voices

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Trinity College Dublin

The Maastricht Interview has helped hearers understand why voices are speaking to them.
How children under pressure can lose confidence

Ya-Hsin Lai, University of Bath

Parents need to focus on context and consistency.
People with autism can hear more than most – which can be a strength and a challenge

Anna Remington, UCL

A noisy environment can be hell for a person with autism. On the plus side, they are more likely to have perfect pitch than a non-autistic person.

Business + Economy
Getting rich is largely about luck – shame the wealthy don't want to hear it Danny Dorling, University of Oxford A new report confirms how the rich become deluded about their talents, but also hints at a growing acknowledgement of inequality.