About this episode
The episode explores the political dynamics and conflicts surrounding appeasement before and after the Second World War.
Sea Change Drama on 3 By John Fletcher. This is the story of the battle between appeasers and anti-appeasers in the period before - and just after - the start of the Second World War, and the formation of a coalition which, like the election of 2010, abruptly ruptured all previous political alignments. New political alliances and social organizations - which had first arisen in the Bridgwater by-election of 1938, but which had been ignored by the London-based political and media establishments - united in their fight against appeasement. Suddenly and dramatically, in May of that year, this new united front rose against the government and, in the space of only three days, overthrew it. Somewhat surprisingly, the magnificent story behind this overthrow is little known. It is a story of ferocious loyalty and betrayal, outrageous media manipulation, blackmail, prejudice - and not a little courage. The appeasers are principally represented by Neville Chamberlain and his ruthless, over-protective spin doctor Joseph Ball - a man who would have eaten Alistair Campbell for breakfast. The anti-appeasers, battling through various foreign policy crises, are a disparate group: an Australian…
Topics covered
- political alliances
- appeasement
- Second World War
- media manipulation
- betrayal
Keywords
- appeasement
- political alliances
- Neville Chamberlain
- Joseph Ball
- Bridgwater by-election
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Sea Change, Drama on 3
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