Monday: A Pretty Straight Sort of Guy:
Tony Blair (1997-2007)
Even in these
turbulent times, few political figures evoke more emotive reactions than Tony
Blair. To some, he is a great reformer who started significant devolution,
brought peace to Northern Ireland and oversaw major social reform. To others,
he is a foreign policy hawk who took the country into inadvisable interventions
and came to symbolise a much-distrusted establishment. Is it too early to judge
Blair's record or is he "fair game” for the political investigator?
Tuesday: Cautious Moderator: Angela
Merkel (2005-)
In the modern era,
few politicians have the staying-power of Angela Merkel. She has been a
consistently cautious leader and, through her chancellorship, has placed
herself at the heart of some of Europe's most contentious issues. She will
shortly leave office and the historians will begin to play the "legacy”
guessing game. However, has she been as successful as her favourable public
image suggests? How is she regarded in Germany itself? Will Europe miss her,
when she's gone?
Wednesday: From 'Bloody Difficult Woman' to Maybot:
Theresa May (2016-2019)
Perennial Tory
leadership hopeful, Ken Clarke, famously described May as a 'bloody difficult
woman' just before she became Prime Minister, in 2016. Her premiership
certainly presented very difficult problems and, ultimately, it ended in a
fractious departure (in 2019). How far was May's calling of the 2017 General
Election responsible for her subsequent difficulties? Was her personal style
lacking in "warmth”? Will her legacy get a more favourable hearing in the
long-term?
Thursday: Spill All: Julia Gillard
(2010-2013)
In recent years,
Australian politics has become notable for the high rate of turnover in its
premiership. One of its incumbents, Julia Gillard, took office in a
particularly brutal set of circumstances. This precipitated her having an
uneasy ride throughout her tenure. Eventually, Australia's first female Prime
Minister was thrown out by the man she had herself ousted. Did Gillard succeed
in implementing her agenda? Is subsequent coverage of her premiership sexist?
Is hers a story of wasted potential.
Friday: 'The Autocrat: Vladimir Putin'
Questions include: Is
Putin a dictator? How did Putin come to power? Why does Putin seek to project
such a "strong man” and masculinised image? Is he as secure in Russia as his
international media image suggests? What is the future for Russia under Putin?
