The term post-truth politics first emerged in the political blockbuster year of 2016. The shift from facts and knowledge towards a culture that champions simplicity and sensationalism is now firmly embedded in our politics. Two years on from huge political decisions being shrouded in post-truth mystique, how has it affected our politics?
Post-truth politics broke into the public lexicon during the 2016 EU Referendum and US Presidential election. The Oxford English Dictionary named it word of the year, defining it as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief”. From a wider perspective, it appears that the rise of mass communication and resurgence of populist ire have combined to inspire a form of politics based on values, narratives and emotion.