Contents Winter 2023

REGULARS

p. 3 Editor’s Note p. 6 The Q&A Navalny is Putin’s main opposition, but is he the dissident Russia needs?

p. 10 Witness Compiled by our team p. 71 Crossword Set by Chaliapin p. 73 Brainteaser Set by Chris Maslanka

COLUMNS

p. 8 Soapbox Rubens, Hals, Gentileschi: new exhibitions challenge how we look at women By Samira Ahmed p. 16 Cosmos On the bright future of neutrino astronomy By Marcus Chown p. 70 In a word “Ivory tower” By Michael Rosen p. 74 Shapchat Let’s rekindle the old art of talking to strangers By Shaparak Khorsandi

Robin Sheeran on ending religious segregation in Northern Ireland’s schools (page 38)

FE ATURE S

p. 18 Politics Alex Soros has taken on his father’s philanthropy – and his many enemies By Mike Rothschild p. 22 Science Let’s stop the war on antidepressants. As a psychiatrist, I can see it’s hurting the most vulnerable By Carmine Pariante p. 26 Inter view Dolly Parton on music, #MeToo and her personal philosophy By Graeme Green p. 30 Reportage Why Italy is at the centre of Europe’s “gender wars” By Gabriele Di Donfrancesco p. 34 Rights Celebrating a decade of same-sex marriage By Rachael Lennon p. 38 Society How do we end segregation in Northern Ireland’s schools? By Robin Sheeran p. 42 Technology Will sex have a role in the future of reproduction? By Pavan Amara

CULTURE

p. 48 Art Philip Guston’s retrospective is finally on, after years of controversy By David McAllister p. 52 Literature A tribute to Larkin’s most twisted poem. Why do we still love it? By Fiona Sampson p. 56 Television Food dramas like Lessons in Chemistry and The Bear need to bring more to the plate By Caroline Crampton

A L A M Y ST O C K P HO T O

4

New Humanist | Winter 2023