AntiSocial Folgen

Amidst conflict in the Middle East, some people have been calling for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest. Now that Israel’s participation in the 2024 competition has been confirmed, critics are vowing to boycott the event in protest. Eurovision’s organisers say that the song contest is “a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters”, not between governments. But over the years, Eurovision has found itself caught up in controversy and geopolitics. Adam Fleming charts this history with Dean Vuletic, historian and author of ‘Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest’.

One of the UK’s biggest Eurovision parties has been cancelled in protest at Israel’s inclusion, so how worthwhile is a boycott of the event as a response to the war in Gaza? The song contest’s organisers say the event is non-political, but this isn’t the first time global events have had an impact on participation and even lyrics - we chart the key moments. And it’s not the first time Israel’s participation has sparked debate - a Eurovision expert talks us through the ups and downs of its long association with the event. We’ll also hear about the controversy around Israel’s song this year and how it’s changed, plus the view from the Middle East on what Israelis and Palestinians are saying. Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Simon Tulett, Simon Maybin, Ellie House and Paige Neal-Holder Editor: Penny Murphy

In anticipation of new hate crime legislation in Scotland, people have been arguing about whether misgendering - for example referring to a trans woman as a man - should be against the law. Adam Fleming speaks to Sharon Cowan, professor of feminist and queer legal studies at the University of Edinburgh, to find out how this question has been handled elsewhere in the UK.