The New Culture Forum

Peter is the founder and director of The New Culture Forum

In the last quarter of the 20th century, the Right decisively won the important economic arguments. But in the so-called Culture Wars, the liberal Left have continued to dominate. The triumph of cultural relativism and political correctness in the opinion-forming fields of the media, academia, education and culture has meant that these attitudes have become even more deeply entrenched. What started out as a counter-culture has become the reigning orthodoxy.

This orthodoxy now goes virtually unchallenged. And with the recent movement of the political right towards the so-called 'centre ground', even fewer dissenting voices are heard. The liberal establishment sets the terms of debate. At a time of civilisational threat from extremists, the West finds itself besieged from within and without. Too often our enemies and our opinion formers appear to agree that Western culture is an indefensible horror, that we are, in Susan Sontag's words, 'the cancer of human history.'

This is nonsense. The West is in fact a unique bastion of reasoned freedom. Britain in particular should be proud of the great role it has played in Western education, art and culture. In June 2006, we formed the New Culture Forum as a response to this situation. An association of people who work in the media and cultural arenas, the NCF is the first body of its kind to draw specifically on these areas.

We believe it is a mistake to assume that people are, as is often claimed by politicians, politically disengaged. Increasing numbers of us are very passionate about political and cultural issues, but feel there is no outlet within an atmosphere which is dominated by the existence of a liberal/left group-think.

Speakers at New Culture Forum events have included:

Martin Amis Novelist, Richard Bean Playwright, author of England People Very Nice, Dame Vivienne Westwood Fashion designer, Pascal Bruckner Philosopher, author of The Tyranny of Guilt, Natalie Clein Cellist, Michael Gove MP Secretary of State for Education, Jeremy Hunt MP Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Ruth Mackenzie Director, 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Ed Vaizey MP Minister for the Arts, Roger Wright Director, BBC Promenade Concerts, Katharine Birbalsingh Teacher and author.