Blackwell’s is delighted to welcome Maya Goodfellow and Alex Niven, who will be in conversation together exploring their new books Hostile Environment and New Model Island. Focusing on Britain now as we know it, Maya and Alex will be discussing immigration policy, English identity and the need for change.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maya-goodfellow-and-alex-niven-hostile-environment-tickets-71778682973
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Hostile Environment: How Immigrants Became Scapegoats

The UK government proudly calls the aim of its immigration policy to be the creation of a “hostile environment, ” while refugees drown in the Mediterranean and Britain votes to leave the EU against claims that “swarms”of migrants are entering Britain. Meanwhile, study after study confirms that immigration is not damaging the UK’s economy, nor putting a strain on public services, but immigration is blamed for all of Britain’s ills. Yet concerns about immigration are deemed “legitimate” across the political spectrum, with few exceptions. How did we get here?

Maya Goodfellow is a writer, researcher and academic. She has written for the New York Times, Guardian, the New Statesman, Al Jazeera, the Independent, Labour List and Media Diversified. She is completing a PhD at SOAS, University of London.
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New Model Island: How to Build a Radical Culture Beyond the Idea of England

A provocative text examining the strange feeling of emptiness and soullessness at the heart of English identity — an emptiness that arises ultimately from British capitalism and imperialism.

Alex Niven is a writer and editor from Northumberland. Formerly assistant editor at New Left Review and currently lecturer in English at Newcastle University, his books include Folk Opposition and Definitely Maybe 33 1/3. His writing has also appeared in, The Guardian, The New Statesman, The Independent, Pitchfork and LA Review of Books.
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Tickets for this special event cost £5.

Doors will open at 6.45pm and there will be a small bar available to purchase drinks. For more information, please contact our customer service desk on 01865 333 623 or email events.oxford@blackwell.co.uk