Bust? by Robert Peston

Has the West gone bust – economically, politically and socially? Or is there another way? We in the West appear to be at a year zero, with the seeming end of the relative peace and prosperity we took for granted. The pandemic, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, growing tension with China, a rolling back of globalisation, Brexit, the return of inflation and painful interest rates – all these have shattered the illusions of the world as we knew it. For years our politicians have said they were going for growth and would ensure that those with least would benefit disproportionately from the proceeds of that growth. They’ve failed. Growth has vanished. The poorest are desperately struggling to heat their homes and to eat. ‘Bust?’ doesn’t have all of the answers. But it will start an important debate, about how to allow us all to hope again.