Division in society. The spread of misinformation. The rise of extremism. Centrism holds the answers, according to The Centre Must Hold, a new book edited by Yair Zivan.

Far from being an arbitrary middle point between left and right, centrism offers a coherent set of political ideas, principles and approaches – the importance of moderation and pragmatism; the embrace of complexity; the deep commitment to liberal democracy; the belief in equality of opportunity; and the belief that through balancing the tensions that exist in every nation we can make people’s lives better.

Drawing together politicians, thought leaders and social commentators – from Tony Blair to Michael Bloomberg, from Matteo Renzi to Kathryn Murdoch – The Centre Must Hold contains a series of essays from those who have led from the centre.

The Henry Jackson Society is delighted to invite you to a conversation between Yair Zivan and HJS Research Fellow Theo Zenou about the ideas contained within the book.

Photo credit: Elad Malka

Yair Zivan is a committed centrist. He has served as foreign policy advisor to Yair Lapid, leader of Israel’s largest centrist political party since 2014 throughout his tenures as finance minister, leader of the opposition, foreign minister and prime minister of Israel. Before working for Mr. Lapid, he was international media spokesperson for President Shimon Peres. His work has been published in media outlets across the world.

Dr Theo Zenou is a Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. He has a PhD in history from Cambridge University and has written for The Washington Post, The Economist and Sunday Times.

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EVENT SUMMARY

The discussion centred on the concept of centrism as a political philosophy that emphasises liberal democracy, free speech, and liberal patriotism. Yair Zivan, a former Israeli politician, highlighted the importance of defending liberal democracy, including an independent judiciary and free press, and the need for a balanced approach to globalisation and capitalism. He criticised both the political left and right for their inconsistencies and advocated for compromise and pragmatism. Yair also discussed his experience in Israel’s centrist coalition and the challenges of governing with diverse political parties. He emphasised the need for a positive vision and effective communication to counter extremism and polarisation.

You can purchase The Centre Must Hold HERE.

Please note this event can only be watched ONLINE.

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