Zadie Smith discusses economic inequality at London Literature Festival

During a conversation with Dua Lipa at the Southbank Centre's London Literature Festival, novelist Zadie Smith argued that rising economic inequality in the United Kingdom has transformed cultural differences into “existential” threats.

Smith noted that the decline of Britain’s historic welfare system has deepened social divisions. She explained that while cultural differences once felt merely interesting or bothersome, the current lack of housing, employment, and the deterioration of schools and hospitals have made these distinctions feel existential.

The discussion also touched upon Smith’s debut novel, “White Teeth,” which explores identity and multiculturalism through the stories of three families in Northwest London. Smith reflected on her own upbringing in Kilburn and Willesden, noting that while her state education once provided a strong foundation for social mobility and communication, the conditions in those same neighborhoods have significantly worsened.