POLITICS – WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Mithu Sanyal delivers one of this year’s Goethe Annual Lectures at the Goethe-Institut London. In her talk, the author, cultural scientist, and journalist explores the pitfalls and promises of a politics of love in times of ever-growing divisions.

The post-lecture Q&A is moderated by Nastaran Tavakoli-Far, journalist and radio/podcast/TV host.

As part of the Goethe-Institut London's 60th anniversary celebrations, we are inviting you to three Goethe Annual Lectures this year featuring author Mithu Sanyal, academic Mercedes Bunz and musician Matthew Herbert.

It’s a preconceived idea that love and politics don’t go together. That they are polar opposites. Moreover, love has become a dirty word in politics. We can talk on social media about sex till the cows come home – but love is... too cute, too lovey-dovey, and too unpolitical.
This has not always been the case. Most movements for social justice had a love of ethics. Gandhi placed love at the centre of his campaign to free India. Martin Luther King preached and practised love. And James Baldwin called for a politics of love.

What has happened to marginalise love in the political discourse? And what can politics informed by love look like?