Debate societies: Elocution in action

Political debates have become ruthless battlegrounds for politicians. Candidates insult their opponents, [calling them the “devil,”]( and engage in screaming matches that [resemble food fights](. Historically though, the debate podium has been a place for enlightened discussion and even courtesy. Since their [origins in mid-18th century London]( debate societies have been an important forum for religion, gender equality, and philosophy, providing the public with lofty ideas and entertainment to boot. This style of debate is alive and well at countless educational institutions around the world, continuing the tradition of eloquence and inquisitive thought. 🐦 [Tweet this!]( 🌐 [View this email on the web]( [Quartz Obsession] Debate Societies July 30, 2019 Subject to debate --------------------------------------------------------------- Political debates have become ruthless battlegrounds for politicians. Candidates insult their opponents, [calling them the “devil,”]( and engage in screaming matches that [resemble food fights](. Historically though, the debate podium has been a place for enlightened discussion and even courtesy. Since their [origins in mid-18th century London]( debate societies have been an important forum for religion, gender equality, and philosophy, providing the public with lofty ideas and entertainment to boot. This style of debate is alive and well at countless educational institutions around the world, continuing the tradition of eloquence and inquisitive thought. 🐦 [Tweet this!]( 🌐 [View this email on the web]( A new place to talk about the news --------------------------------------------------------------- We’re tired of all the shouting matches and echo chambers on social media. On the new Quartz app, we’ve gathered a community of curious thinkers and doers to have high-quality discussions about the most important stories each day. It’s like an ongoing conversation with CEOs like Richard Branson, Punit Renjen, Arianna Huffington, and many more. [Try the Quartz app]( By the digits [35:]( Debate societies in London in 1780 [300:]( Advertisements publicizing debates in London newspapers in 1780 [1,200:]( Maximum people attending each debate in 1780s London [Six pence:]( Entry fee for debates in mid-18th century London [64:]( Countries that participated in the 2018 World Schools Debating Championship for high school students [536:]( Speaker participants in the World Universities Debating Championship 2019 [>900:]( University debate organizations across the world [350:]( Words per minute that speakers can reach in Policy Debate, an “esoteric” form Giphy Pop quiz Which Muppet addressed the Oxford Union debate society? Kermit the FrogMiss PiggyAnimalElmo Correct. According to the Guardian, his speech was attended by more people than former US president Ronald Reagan’s address to the body. Incorrect. If your inbox doesn’t support this quiz, find the solution at bottom of email. Origin story A tale of enlightened discussion --------------------------------------------------------------- Debate societies first appeared in mid-18th century London. Similar to Parisian salons, they encouraged people to form “[public opinions]( Debates were [held in pubs and taverns]( for a small entry fee; participants included shopkeepers, artisans, clerks and craftsmen. Despite their location, they weren’t raucous and drunken. They adhered to the enlightenment concept of reason, feeding an [elocutionary movement in Britain](. In the 1780s they moved from taverns to larger halls, while encouraging women to also participate. The inclusion of women allowed for radical thoughts on sex and gender to be openly discussed, such as [“Can friendship subsist between the two sexes, without the passion of love?”]( and helped redefine the role of women in society. But the debate societies were silenced by the government in the 1790s with the Seditious Meetings Act, due to fears that these enlightened discussions could lead to a revolution, as had happened in France. The [French Revolution showed that these debates were not solely abstract ideas]( but could create massive social upheaval. It wasn’t until 1825 when the Seditious Meetings Act was repealed that debate societies were able to flourish again and expand worldwide. Watch this! In 1975 the Oxford Union questioned whether the [UK should continue to participate in the European Community]( in a debate titled “This House would say yes to Europe.” It was televised on the BBC just days before a referendum vote, and is considered to have [greatly influenced the UK’s decision to remain](. Watch liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe give his statement in favor of staying in Europe. Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes How we debate now The debate society that gave us Brexit --------------------------------------------------------------- Debate societies continue to flourish around the world, especially in academia. The World Universities Debating Championship is the [largest debate competition in the world]( and one of the largest annual international student events. But nowhere is it more important than in Britain, cradle of the debate society. The Brexit-era power structure is dominated by former Oxford debaters. Theresa May, who just stepped down as Britain’s prime minster, argued that [sex is better than success]( at the prestigious Oxford Union as a student in 1978. (May’s husband was a Union president; they were [introduced by Union president Benazir Bhutto]( former prime minister of Pakistan.) Boris Johnson, the new PM, was [a president]( as was Michael Gove, a prominent Brexiteer who challenged both May and Johnson for the PM job in 2016. Jacob Rees-Mogg, current leader of the House of Commons, was a member; his father was a president. [According to Oxford alum Simon Kuper]( Johnson believed that becoming president of the Oxford Union was the first step to being prime minister. Johnson’s star-is-born charisma was not enough to secure victory, but on his second attempt, the conservative politician won by “disguising” himself as a Social Democrat, picking up even more lessons that would lead him to the PM’s office. Kuper also blames the Brexit mess in part on Oxford’s debating culture, which relied on charm, presence, and argument structure, imparting lessons in “how to speak without much knowledge.” It’s the opposite of the [technocratic, bureaucratic European Union]( a rule-bound and policy-oriented institution from which a series of Oxford-educated politicians have not yet figured out how to extract their country. Have a friend who would enjoy our Obsession with Debate Societies? [ [Forward link to a friend](mailto:?subject=Thought you'd enjoy.&body=Read this Quartz Obsession email – to the email – Brief history [1726:]( Clergyman John Henley founded an Oratory in London, which later influenced the creation of debate societies. [1730s:]( The Robin Hood Society forms as the first debate society in London—and the world. [1755:]( The Society of Cogers, the longest running debate society, forms in London. [1780:]( The Carlisle House Debates for Ladies Only is one of four women’s debate societies that forms in London. [1795:]( The Seditious Meetings Act is enacted in Britain, restricting the size of public meetings to 50 people and causing most debate societies to disband. [1815:]( The Cambridge Union Society forms; today it is one of the oldest student debate societies in the world. [1823:]( The Oxford Union Society forms. [1825:]( The Seditious Meetings Act is repealed, encouraging debate societies to emerge again. [1858:]( Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas participate in seven political debates across Illinois for a senate seat. [1925:]( Bruno E. Jacob, of Ripon College in Wisconsin, founds the National Speech and Debate Association in the US (formerly called the National Forensic League) to encourage middle and high school students to participate in debate activities. [1981:]( The first World Universities Debating Championship is held in Glasgow. [1982:]( Crossfire, a debate show, debuts on CNN. [1999:]( The Cambridge Union hosts the “Kosovo Forum” during the height of the Kosovo crisis and it is televised on BBC, CNN and Sky News. [2007:]( Demonstrators storm the Oxford Union free speech debate and protest the inclusion of Holocaust denier David Irving and Nick Griffin, a far-right politician. Giphy Fun fact! [British Parliamentary style]( (pdf) is the main form of academic debate, used by the most prominent debate societies as well as at the World Universities Debating Championship. Million-dollar questions A brief list of early debate topics --------------------------------------------------------------- “Which is the most powerful obligation of nature, Parental Affection, Filial Duty, or Conjugal Love?” —[January 21, 1789 Westminster Forum]( “Whether sudden joy or sudden grief hath the greater effect on the human mind? And is it possible that the people of an extensive empire (like Great Britain) can be equally represented?” —[September 8, 1777 Robin Hood]( “Would it not be for the interest of Great Britain, to end the present contest with America, by declaring the Colonies independent of the Mother Country?” —[October 31, 1777 Society for Free Debate]( “Which is the greater Misfortune, a Man to be born without Sense, or a Woman without Beauty?” —[November 7, 1796 London Forum]( “Is it possible to foretell good or evil Fortune, Marriage, Death, the Elevation of Poverty, the Depression of Greatness, by the Science of Judicial Astrology?” —[October 20, 1796 Westminster Forum]( take me down this 🐰 hole! In 2016, two Harvard students and winners of the World Universities Debate Championships shared with Quartz readers their strategies for [how to win a debate](. Giphy Poll Do you prefer political debates or debate societies? [Click here to vote]( Political, they’re a disaster, which makes it fun to watch.Debate societies, I can actually learn something after watching one for an hour.Debates are boring and a bunch of nonsense. 💬let's talk! In yesterday’s poll about [fika]( 48% of you said that while you like the idea of taking twice daily coffee breaks, your workplace just doesn’t have that kind of culture. Another 40% of you are already happily fika-ing, and just 12% said that fika sounds like a waste of time and money. 🤔 [What did you think of today’s email?](mailto:obsession%2Bfeedback@qz.com?cc=&subject=Thoughts%20about%20debate%20societies&body=) 💡 [What should we obsess over next?](mailto:obsession%2Bideas@qz.com?cc=&subject=Obsess%20over%20this%20next.&body=) [🎲 Show me a random Obsession]( Today’s email was written by [Stevie Borrello]( edited by [Whet Moser]( and produced by [Luiz Romero](. The correct answer to the quiz is Kermit the Frog. Enjoying the Quartz Obsession? 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