Eurovision or tunnel vision?

The Boar has recently revealed that the University of Warwick will yet again not be screening the Eurovision Final in the piazza this year. We have been given the official justification for this move: according to the University, its recent The Big Ask project has highlighted that there are alternative events the University wishes to hold. They have claimed that, working closely with half a dozen student societies, they want to “reimagine student community experiences for 2025 and beyond”. This would include putting on events that deal with equality, diversity, and inclusion.

However, on closer inspection, the justification for cancelling the piazza screening seems awfully strange. The introduction of events that The Big Ask mentions does not necessarily mean that current events have to be cancelled. While Term Three does usually feel like the shortest term, there are still enough days for all these different events to occur.

Warwick Action For Palestine and other groups have highlighted that 52,800 have been killed by Israel’s assault on Gaza since 7 October 2023

So the question is, “What is the actual reason Warwick cancelled the screening?” A simple dive into our shared Instagram culture shows us an answer. On 2 May, the Warwick Action for Palestine Instagram account posted the following statement:

“VICTORY: EUROVISION CANCELLED AT WARWICK

We have pressured the University into setting the precedent that Eurovision will never be screened on campus while it assists and normalises genocide and apartheid.

This is a testament to the power of collective student action for Palestinian liberation.

There is no pride in genocide, no pride in settler-colonialism. PRIDE MEANS LIBERATION!”

Warwick Action For Palestine and other groups have highlighted that 52,800 have been killed by Israel’s assault on Gaza since 7 October 2023, as of the time of writing. These groups have also pointed out the University of Warwick’s connections to arms companies in contract with Israel.

The Christmas lights ceremony is notoriously busy, yet the event has never been cancelled for safety reasons

Admittedly, there are other reasons that the University could have cancelled the event. For example, there have previously been concerns about student safety and behaviour at the 2023 screening.

However, this is unlikely to be the true justification because if the piazza is really that unsafe, then why are there still so many student events still hosted there? The Christmas lights ceremony is notoriously busy, yet the event has never been cancelled for safety reasons relating to overcrowding and behaviour.

Clearly, the elephant in the room is the political connotations of displaying the Eurovision Final on campus. So, what is the political dilemma here?

Well, Warwick Action for Palestine believes that Eurovision as a concept is ‘pinkwashing’, which is the practice of using LGBTQ+ issues and imagery in a positive way while simultaneously engaging in dangerous and oppressive practices.

However, the argument that Eurovision is completely non-political seems highly flawed

The charge of pinkwashing against Eurovision is that the promotion of LGBTQ+ imagery while allowing Israel to compete is a propaganda attempt to permit the crimes committed by Israeli military forces in Gaza.

The alternative argument offered by the Eurovision organisers is that the competition is “a non-political event that unites audiences around the world through music”.

However, the argument that Eurovision is completely non-political seems highly flawed. Anyone at Warwick doing a degree in history or political science knows that the very concept of a nation-state is political, and Eurovision is a contest that is defined by nation-states.

Moreover, what is even more politically charged than the concept of the Eurovision Song Contest is the actions of the Eurovision Song Contest. For example, Russia was banned in 2022 due to its invasion of Ukraine.

The point that needs to be made is that there needs to be consistency and honesty

Meanwhile, on the flip side, both Ukraine and Israel, despite being countries in vastly different political situations, still receive a large vote share from Eurovision voters. Indeed, at last year’s screening in Leamington Spa, these two countries received great applause from the general public at the end of their performances, mostly for political reasons rather than the actual content of the performance.

The purpose of this article is not to determine who should compete in Eurovision. Instead, the point that needs to be made is that there needs to be consistency and honesty. Political discussions aside, no one would argue against the concepts of consistency and honesty in decision-making processes. Therefore, both the University of Warwick and the European Broadcasting Union should always tell the truth to their audiences, no matter the political connotations.

Despite the cancelled screening in the piazza this year, Warwick District Council screened the Eurovision Final on 17 May in Leamington. Doubtless, there were plenty of Warwick students of a variety of political opinions at the screening. Whether we like it or not, the Eurovision Song Contest will continue to go ahead, and anyone has the right to watch if they really want to. However, while certain institutions are perhaps not consistent in their justifications, everyone reading this piece should do their own research to come to their own conclusion on whether to participate in the incredibly political Eurovision Song Contest.