How right-wing activists use 'Western civilisation'

When an art exhibition featuring stickers made to look like graffiti opened in Canterbury Cathedral, there was a surprisingly loud reaction from right-wing activists in the US - even JD Vance, the American vice-president, chimed in. Many on the political right see cathedrals, churches, and monuments in Europe as a grand cultural heritage which they feel they have to defend. And many of Donald Trump's supporters believe that Britain is under attack from multiculturalism, and that the UK is a country in decline because of its alleged failure to uphold Western values. The BBC's Mike Wendling, who’s written books investigating the US far-right, explains to Adam Fleming how the concept of the "decline of the West" has crossed the Atlantic.

An art exhibition in Canterbury Cathedral has enraged traditionalists who believe that it doesn’t fit with the holy site’s beauty or the church’s mission. The works consist of a set of temporary vinyl stickers with questions like “Why did you create hate when love is by far more powerful?” and “Does our struggle mean anything?” The questions for God were devised after artist Alex Vellis and curator Jacquiline Creswell consulted a series of marginalised groups. The organisers say the stickers were tested to make sure they did not damage the cathedral’s ancient walls. But they have faced criticism on artistic grounds and questions about the appropriateness of the art and the values behind it. Among the outraged were Vice President JD Vance, who called the stickers “ugly”, and Elon Musk, who called it an affront to western civilisation They in turn were faced with supporters of the exhibition who argued it reflected the church’s mission and spread a message of inclusiveness and tolerance. Art has always been intrinsically tied to religion and the Anglican Church, so how far back does this culture war battle really go – and why did political leaders in America jump into the controversy? Presenter: Adam Fleming Production team: Natasha Fernandes, Ellie House, Mike Wendling Studio manager: Andy Mills Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard Vadon

Are middle aged white men angry and if so why and how does that affect our politics? Professor of political science at the University of Manchester, Rob Ford, speaks to Adam Fleming about what is driving this anger from financial insecurity to broader social and cultural attitudes. He covers everything from the motte-and-bailey fallacy to measuring how tolerant someone is based on whether they’d be happy if a family member brought someone with a different political belief home.

Football pundit and former Manchester United star Gary Neville posted a video that he pitched as a call to national unity. But was greeted by a wave of online vitriol for one line in which he blamed “angry middle-aged white men” for creating political division. Many middle-aged white men took to social media – to deny they are angry, to describe their anger as justified, or to call Neville’s comments the out-of-touch ramblings of a “champagne socialist”. But the footballer has his supporters too, with some saying he put his finger on a specific group that has been pulling at the fault lines of British politics by hoisting flags and protesting against immigration. What do polling and history tell us about the political divides within our society – and when it comes to our political divisions, who’s really to blame? Presenter: Adam Fleming Production team: Emma Close, Natasha Fernandes, Mike Wendling Studio manager: Andy Mills Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Richard Vadon

Patriotism is a concept that’s been used throughout history. From rallying the troops in wartime to acting as the “glue” that brought revolutionaries together in 18th Century France; the idea of loving one’s civilisation and supporting its values, dates all the way back to Ancient Greece. Georgios Varouxakis, professor of the history of political thought at Queen Mary University of London, runs Adam Fleming through a potted history of patriotism and how it’s evolved over time.

It seems like everyone wants to be a patriot this week, from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to people hoisting flags up British lampposts. But what does patriotism really mean?At the Labour Party conference there was lots of talk of 'progressive patriotism' - a definition of the term that emphasises Britain's tolerance and multiculturalism. Others invoke patriotism when seeking a return to the past. Others reject the word entirely because of its links to nationalism.We find out why Keir Starmer and the Labour Party are trying to formulate 'progressive patriotism', examine the history of the concept going back to the ancient Greeks, and ask what polling tells us about how patriotic British people feel.Presenter: Adam Fleming Production team: Lucy Proctor, Natasha Fernandes, Mike Wendling, Tom Gillet Studio manager: Andy Mills Production coordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Bridget Harney

When people come to the UK seeking asylum they’re supposed to be placed in homes all over the country while their claims are processed – not hotels. Jonathan Darling, professor of human geography at Durham University, tells Adam Fleming where this policy of dispersal came from, how it’s evolved, and why it’s broken down.

Anger has flared outside hotels used to house asylum seekers. Protestors say they are worried about illegal migration, cost to the taxpayer and a lack of consultation, but one issue seems to spark even more concern - the safety of women and children. Opponents have accused protestors of racism and whipping up hate.Is there any evidence that asylum seekers are more likely to commit sexual offences? We trace the clamour for more data to answer that question. Police have been given new guidance on disclosing the ethnicity and nationality of suspects in criminal cases - especially high profile ones. What might be the effect? And why are so many asylum seekers currently housed in hotels anyway? We hear how the system is supposed to work and how it’s evolved.Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Natasha Fernandes, Emma Close and Tom Gillett Editor: Penny Murphy Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio engineer: Annie Gardiner

At first it was about creating an image that people could aspire to. Then, in the 2000s, brands started promoting their products based on values. Now marketers have entered the ‘dark mode shift’ where the only aim is to ‘ruthlessly’ make money. So says Eugene Healey, brand strategy consultant. He talks to Adam Fleming about the thought process behind branding and how it has evolved over time.

A jeans advert featuring the American actress Sydney Sweeney talking about her good genes provoked fierce reaction - and then came the backlash to the backlash.Some people say the advert promotes a eugenicist ideal of blonde hair and blue eyes. Others say it's a sign that the days of diversity in the advertising industry are over. Is 'woke' dead? And what does the controversy tell us about how brands use culture to get our attention?Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Lucy Proctor, Natasha Fernandes, Mike Wendling Editor: Penny Murphy Production coordinator: Janet Staples Studio engineer: Annie Gardiner