PPE: the Oxford degree that runs Britain
PPE: the Oxford degree that runs Britain
The Long Read: An extraordinary number of Britain’s elite studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford. But does it produce an out-of-touch ruling class?
If they think the number of politicians that studied politics is noteworthy, wait until they find out how many doctors studied medicine.
I am completely satisfied with the idea that all doctors should be career doctors who have dedicated a large part of their life to the study and practice of medicine.
I am not entirely as satisfied with the idea that all politicians should be career politicians who have dedicated a large part of their life to the study and practice of politics.
Parliament would be a much richer and more effective place if it were populated by people from a range of backgrounds and specialisms. I don't think it's a good thing that a sizeable fraction of them all studied the same politics degree at the same two universities.
Politicians in a democracy are supposed to be representatives of the electorate, as such there is no "qualification" needed, nor should there be. That there is such an academic pathway, and from a single institution, is fundamentally anathema to representative democracy.
I think it’s more a commentary on the fact its all from Oxford, rather than just the subject. Not “They all have PPE degrees” but “They all have PPE degrees from oxford”
Old article, recently reposted on The Other Place, but a good long read.