text: News from across the College Contensis: http://www.contentmanagement.co.uk http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 2014-12-29T16:47:16Z INLOGOV Call for evidence Nathan Johnson Your chance to showcase innovative, outcome focussed and collaborative new ways of working that your District Council is leading on or working in collaboration to deliver. 2014-12-16T16:21:00Z 2014-12-16T16:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/12/inlogov-call-for-evidence.aspx Huge Russian rate hike plays roulette with the economy Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Richard Connolly. Russia's Central Bank has raised its key interest rate from 10.5% to 17% in an emergency move that is designed to halt the ongoing collapse of the rouble, which has accelerated in recent weeks. The dramatic intervention comes after the rouble suffered its worst one-day fall since the August 1998 financial crisis. 2014-12-16T13:58:00Z 2014-12-16T13:37:00Z http://theconversation.com/huge-russian-rate-hike-plays-roulette-with-the-economy-35568 CREES staff member delivers talk at The National Defence Academy of Latvia Nathan Johnson Dr Derek Averre of CREES/POLSIS spoke about Europe and the Ukraine crisis at the National Defence Academy of Latvia, Riga, on 03 December 2014. 2014-12-15T15:24:00Z 2014-12-15T15:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/12/derek-averre-delivers-talk-national-defence-academy-of-latvia.aspx Blog: The journey to the common: what is the role of the voluntary sector? Nathan Johnson Written by Anna Coleman and Julia Segar. A recent publication by the New Local Government Network (NLGN) looked at how local councils are preparing for the future and suggests depressingly that "there is simply no way that local government can reach 2018 let alone 2020 while still delivering the full range and quality of services currently on offer"(p6). Simply put, we have an ageing population, with associated increasing demand for care services and draconian cuts in council budgets. 2014-12-12T11:44:00Z 2014-12-12T11:23:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/12/12/journey-to-the-common-what-is-the-role-of-the-voluntary-sector/ IGS podcast: Disobeying Hitler: German Resistance in the last year of WWII Nathan Johnson Speaker: Randall Hansen (University of Toronto). 2014-12-11T14:33:00Z 2014-12-11T14:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/12/disobeying-hitler.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: From the inside: A development academic's reflections on three years at the World Bank Nathan Johnson Speaker: Willy McCourt, Senior Public Sector Specialist, The World Bank. 2014-12-11T14:12:00Z 2014-12-11T14:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/12/development-academics-reflections-world-bank.aspx Podcast: Ethics in Syria: Analysing the International Response Nathan Johnson The Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security, in conjunction with the Centre for Global Ethics, organised this timely panel discussion of the ongoing crisis in Syria. Leading academics and human rights activists convened a panel to discuss the ethics of responding to the crisis in Syria. 2014-12-09T17:10:00Z 2014-12-09T17:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/12/ethics-in-syria.aspx Russia's economy is failing, but that gives it a chance to reform Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Richard Connolly. Since the summer, the global price of oil has plummeted. After hovering above the US$100 per barrel level since 2010, prices have declined by around 40% in the space of just a few months. Brent crude has fallen below the $70 a barrel mark, with OPEC's recent decision to leave production levels unchanged raising the possibility that oil prices may have further to fall. 2014-12-09T10:24:00Z 2014-12-09T10:01:00Z http://theconversation.com/russias-economy-is-failing-but-that-gives-it-a-chance-to-reform-35215 Mo Ibrahim Foundation MSc scholarship in Governance and State-building 2015 Nathan Johnson The International Development Department is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to undertake the MSc in Governance and State-building, followed by a six-month internship at IDD and six months with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in London with a full scholarship. Applicants must have the equivalent of a first class UK bachelors degree and be African nationals domiciled (or permanent residents) in an African country. Preference will be given to scholarship candidates living in Sub-Saharan Africa. 2014-12-08T10:57:00Z 2014-12-08T11:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/mo-ibrahim-foundation-msc-scholarship.aspx Blog: The LGC100: what it does and doesn't measure Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. I used, years ago, to have a whole Pol Sci 1 lecture about power and influence, their similarities and differences. By one of life's synchronicities, I've been reminded of it twice in the past week. Don't go – I'm not about to disinter it, although I will share the six-word summary that I could, if really pushed, get it down to: Power's a tool, Influence a skill. 2014-12-05T14:11:00Z 2014-12-05T14:10:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/12/05/the-lgc100-what-it-does-and-doesnt-measure/ Podcast: The New Challenges and Choices of the South Caucasus: Between Political, Cultural and Economic Priorities Nathan Johnson Dr Denis Dvornikov spoke on the current political situation in the South Caucasus region, focussing on the new challenges linked with geopolitical integration projects such as the Eurasian Economic Union and the Iran factor as well as the situation with the region's non-recognised states (Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh). He will also address recent events in Russia – Georgia dialogue and perspectives for economic development. 2014-12-05T12:22:00Z 2014-12-05T12:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/11/challenges-and-choices-of-the-south-caucasus.aspx FIFA offers a surprise lesson on how to reform post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Laurence Cooley. Bosnia and Herzegovina recently held its seventh general election since the end of the 1992-1995 war – a conflict that left more than 100,000 dead. On the face of it, the obvious victors of these elections appear to be the country's dominant nationalist parties, which have held power for almost two decades. 2014-12-05T11:38:00Z 2014-12-05T11:36:00Z http://theconversation.com/fifa-offers-a-surprise-lesson-on-how-to-reform-post-conflict-bosnia-and-herzegovina-34633 IDD Guest seminar podcast: Using aid as a sanctioning device: The case of budget support suspensions? Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Nadia Molenaers, Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Antwerp. 2014-12-05T10:39:00Z 2014-12-05T10:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/12/using-aid-as-a-sanctioning-device.aspx Focus on the Caucasus Nathan Johnson A roundtable on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, a presentation on the challenges and choices of the South Caucasus and participation at conferences in Baku highlight research strengths and interest in the Caucasus. 2014-12-04T16:18:00Z 2014-12-09T15:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/12/focus-on-the-caucasus.aspx Catherine Staite named in top 100 most powerful people in local government Nathan Johnson INLOGOV are delighted to announce that Catherine Staite, Director of INLOGOV has been included in the Local Government Chronicle's top 100 most powerful people in the world of local government. Catherine was placed at number 45 in the list, above notable politicians such as Mayor of London Boris Johnson, and Birmingham City Council Leader Sir Albert Bore. 2014-12-02T15:47:00Z 2014-12-02T15:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/12/catherine-staite-lgc.aspx Moldova's future in the balance after uncertain election result Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Moldova has gone to the polls in a vote seen as crucial for determining the country's future direction. Preliminary results indicate that the pro-European parties together achieved about 44% of the vote, while those parties considered to be more pro-Russia came in with just under 40% of the vote, on a turnout of around 56%. These headline figures, however, mask a more complicated picture. 2014-12-02T15:45:00Z 2014-12-02T14:45:00Z http://theconversation.com/moldovas-future-in-the-balance-after-uncertain-election-result-34895 IGS podcast: The Dark Side of EU-rope: Imperium Europaeum? Nathan Johnson Speakers: David Engels (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Hauke Brunkhorst (University of Flensburg). .Chair: Julian Pänke (IGS) 2014-12-02T12:30:00Z 2014-12-02T14:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/12/the-dark-side-of-eu-rope.aspx ESRC PhD studentships Nathan Johnson The School of Government and Society invites applications for fully-funded ESRC studentships for postgraduate research beginning in September 2015. 2014-12-02T11:33:00Z 2014-12-02T11:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/12/esrc-phd-studentships.aspx Blog: The future is Intercommunality – yes, but with whom? Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Rom com/date movies aren't really my thing, so my excuse for watching the recent Words and Pictures was that I was a captive plane passenger – and that the ever-watchable Juliette Binoche was playing a rheumatoid arthritic abstract painter and prep school art teacher. The title refers to the silly challenge she charily accepts from alcoholic poet turned plagiarising English teacher, Clive Owen, to 'prove' whether Words or Pictures are more meaningful. 2014-12-01T11:19:00Z 2014-12-03T12:35:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/12/01/the-future-is-intercommunality-yes-but-with-whom/ POLSIS Seminar Series Discusses Major Topical Issues Nathan Johnson The POLSIS seminar series this autumn focused on the implications of the Scottish referendum result, the state of the European Union, the 25th anniversary of the 1989 revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe, and the liberal quest for world order. 2014-11-28T14:00:00Z 2014-11-28T13:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/polsis-seminar-series.aspx CREES Annual Report Highlights Vibrancy of the Centre Nathan Johnson The 2013-14 annual report for the Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES) has just been published. 2014-11-28T09:51:00Z 2014-11-28T09:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/11/annual-report-2013-14.aspx Podcast: The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: The Uses and Misuses of History Nathan Johnson This round-table discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict which is one of the most complex and protracted ethno-territorial conflicts in the post-Soviet space. It focused on the role of historical narrative in the political discourse of all parties involved in the conflict. The round-table gathered together scholars and policy-makers with a lengthy empirical and political experience of this turbulent region. 2014-11-27T15:55:00Z 2014-12-03T10:23:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/11/nagorno-karabakh-conflict.aspx Iran nuclear deal will come down to economic pressure Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. Iran has failed to reach an agreement with six world powers about the future of its nuclear programme after talks. Talks in Vienna about the future of Iran's nuclear programme have failed for the time being. The countries involved have agreed to resume discussions in December with a view to reaching a political agreement by March 1 next year and a final deal by the end of June. 2014-11-27T09:59:00Z 2014-11-27T09:49:00Z http://theconversation.com/iran-nuclear-deal-will-come-down-to-economic-pressure-34668 Course on corruption from the grassroots Nathan Johnson DLP Research Fellow Dr Caryn Peiffer is lecturing at the ninth Afrobarometer / Centre for Social Science Research Summer School at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, which runs from 17 November - 12 December 2014. 2014-11-26T15:14:00Z 2014-12-05T15:14:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news/course-on-corruption-from-the-grassroots.php Podcast: Reflections On UK Africa Relations by Mark Simmonds MP Nathan Johnson This event entitled 'Reflections on UK Africa relations', covered Mark Simmonds time in office as well as his thoughts on the future of UK Africa relations in arenas including development, security and trade. The event was organised by the BISA Africa and International Studies Working Group, of which Dr Danielle Beswick is co-convenor, as part of a series of events around the UK during 2014 on 'Britain and Africa after 50.' 2014-11-26T13:47:00Z 2014-11-26T13:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/11/reflections-on-uk-africa-relations.aspx Podcast: NATO after the Wales Summit Nathan Johnson In response to the crisis in Ukraine, NATO's recent summit in Newport, Wales marked a seeming return to a traditional agenda of reassurance and deterrence. NATO has taken measures to shore up the defence of its eastern allies, but to what extent does the Alliance remain a useful tool of multilateral security cooperation in an era of defence austerity, cyber-attack and the collapse of order in Syria and Iraq? How important is NATO for American and British foreign policy? And what hope is their for a continuing dialogue with Russia? These issues were addressed by experts at this event. 2014-11-26T13:12:00Z 2014-11-26T13:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/nato-after-the-wales-summit.aspx Parliamentary strengthening: fix the car, or worry about the driver? Nathan Johnson In a guest post on Duncan Green's From Poverty to Power blog, DLP Senior Research Fellow Alina Rocha Menocal revisits the evidence on parliamentary strengthening that she and former colleague Tam O'Neill of ODI presented in mid-November 2014 to the UK's International Development Select Committee (IDC). 2014-11-24T15:09:00Z 2014-12-05T15:12:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news/parliamentary-strengthening-fix-the-car-or-worry-about-the-driver.php Blog: Ebola - where are the governments? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Andrew Nickson. The terrible Ebola tragedy has spawned massive coverage in the world's media of Sierra Leone and Liberia – with harrowing images of victims, relatives, health workers, doctors, and aid agency staff. Yet one key 'stakeholder' in the fight against Ebola has been notably missing from this coverage – the government of both countries. Most of us would be hard pressed to name the presidents of either country* as they have been almost invisible, and the same goes for their respective health ministers. 2014-11-21T15:45:00Z 2014-11-21T15:42:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/ebola-where-are-the-governments/ Tower Hamlets residents must be wondering why they bothered to vote Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. With a forced smile and through gritted teeth, Tower Hamlets' elected mayor, Lutfur Rahman, has announced himself willing to accept – and even "welcome" – the intervention package set out for his borough by Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government. 2014-11-21T13:33:00Z 2014-11-21T13:32:00Z http://theconversation.com/tower-hamlets-residents-must-be-wondering-why-they-bothered-to-vote-34440 Blog: The PwC report on Tower Hamlets highlights fundamental tensions in local democracy, not always thought through clearly in new mayoral systems Nathan Johnson Written by Michael Keith. Competent bureaucrats commonly believe they protect the public interest by delivering transparent decision making in public institutions. This is commendable. Politicians normally believe that they are elected to carry out the wishes of their voters. This is forgivable. But these imperatives rub against each other when politicians try reshaping things in an image they prefer and the bureaucrat wants to preserve an order they recognize. This is difficult. 2014-11-21T12:34:00Z 2014-12-03T12:34:00Z http://bit.ly/1yKtNgM Blog: Pickles' Tower Hamlets takeover: a sad affair all round Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. He kept Communities and Local Government Secretary, Eric Pickles, waiting until almost literally the 23rd hour of the 14th day of his two-week deadline. In the end, though, Tower Hamlets' elected mayor, Lutfur Rahman, having last Friday lost his second, and ill-advised, application for a judicial review, was left with little choice. 2014-11-20T16:49:00Z 2014-11-21T13:49:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/11/20/pickles-tower-hamlets-takeover-a-sad-affair-all-round/ Jerusalem attacks are no isolated incident: the third intifada is here Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. The attack on a Jerusalem synagogue in which four Jewish worshippers were killed and eight were injured has sparked new fears that fighting between Israel and Palestinian could flare up once more. The attack, by two Palestinians carrying meat cleavers and a gun, has the potential to kick off fresh religious confrontation and a third intifada. 2014-11-20T15:06:00Z 2014-11-20T15:00:00Z http://theconversation.com/jerusalem-attacks-are-no-isolated-incident-the-third-intifada-is-here-34395 IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Green State in Africa: Environmental politics, climate change and social movements Nathan Johnson Speaker: Carl Death, University of Manchester. 2014-11-20T14:28:00Z 2014-11-20T14:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/11/green-state-in-africa.aspx Podcast: Russia and the West since 1991: a tale of growing distrust Nathan Johnson The high level of trust that had been constructed between western and Soviet leaders in the late 1980s and early 1990s was not sustained when western leaders had to face an independent Russia, even though the new Russia began with every intention of transforming itself into a full participating member of the international institutions set up after 1945 to keep the peace. However, Russians – not just their government – had come to view international institutions with profound distrust as having deceived them in both the economic and diplomatic spheres. 2014-11-20T12:53:00Z 2014-11-20T12:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/11/russia-west-since-1991.aspx Abe can win Japan's snap election but he needs to win big Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Julie Gilson. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to call a snap election for December 14 comes after what has been a rather bad week for him. Japan has slipped back into recession for the first time since 2012 and Abe has seen his popularity ratings drop below 50% for the first time. 2014-11-19T17:28:00Z 2014-11-21T13:29:00Z http://theconversation.com/abe-can-win-japans-snap-election-but-he-needs-to-win-big-34438 Czechs and Slovaks still search for truth and love, 25 years after the Velvet Revolution Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Tim Haughton. At the top of Wencelas Square on the front of the Czech National Museum in Prague hangs a giant poster depicting the playwright dissident and former president Vaclav Havel. The poster has been hung, in part, to mark 25 years since the Velvet Revolution, or as it is known to Slovaks, the Gentle Revolution. 2014-11-17T13:42:00Z 2014-11-21T13:42:00Z http://theconversation.com/czechs-and-slovaks-still-search-for-truth-and-love-25-years-after-the-velvet-revolution-34260 Call for papers: DLP conference on the politics of inequality Nathan Johnson The 2015 Developmental Leadership Program Annual Conference will bring together the latest thinking on the politics of inequality. 2014-11-17T12:01:00Z 2014-11-17T11:48:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news/call-for-papers-dlp-conference-on-the-politics-of-inequality.php Deciphering Obama's letter to the Supreme Leader Nathan Johnson Earlier this week, it was reported by The Wall Street Journal that President Barack Obama had sent a secret letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging him to accept the terms of a comprehensive agreement with the United States and other major world powers on the issue of Iran's nuclear programme. 2014-11-17T11:14:00Z 2014-11-17T11:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/11/obama-letter-13-11-14.aspx 25 years after the Velvet Revolution, Czechs and Slovaks still search for truth and love Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Tim Haughton. It's now 25 years since the Velvet Revolution, or as it is known to Slovaks, the Gentle Revolution. At the time, Czechoslovak citizens congregated on the square to jangle their keys and express their support for change. They were ready to end communist rule and move towards democracy. 2014-11-17T10:56:00Z 2014-12-03T10:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/velvet-revolution.aspx Creating tomorrow's leading social scientists Nathan Johnson The Birmingham Doctoral Training Centre is one of only 21 across the UK to be accredited by the ESRC. It has 22 ESRC scholarships to fund doctoral research starting in 2015. 2014-11-17T10:54:00Z 2014-11-17T10:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/dr-fees/ESRC-research-council.aspx Hezbollah and the West unite to fight IS? Don't hold your breath Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. The Shia militant group Hezbollah has suggested its fight against Islamic State has given it a common purpose with the West. In an interview with the BBC, Mohammed Fneish, a Lebanese Hezbollah minister, said the Sunni group is bad for Muslims and kills more of them than his party's original enemy – Israel. 2014-11-14T14:39:00Z 2014-11-20T14:40:00Z http://theconversation.com/hezbollah-and-the-west-unite-to-fight-is-dont-hold-your-breath-34224 Blog: What legacy will the rush to build houses leave for the next generation? Nathan Johnson Written by Ian Briggs. Many rural and semi-rural localities are struggling to cope with the increasing number of applications for potential new housing developments, a proportion of which seem to defy logic and sound planning sense when matched against local knowledge and established patterns of socialisation. 2014-11-13T13:47:00Z 2014-11-21T13:47:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/11/12/what-legacy-will-the-rush-to-build-houses-leave-for-the-next-generation/ Fixing aid: we can't turn off the tap at the first sign of corruption Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Heather Marquette. Over the past 15 years, those working in aid have changed the way they talk about corruption. Detecting and measuring corruption when money is sent overseas has become a hot topic since the United Nations... 2014-11-11T08:56:00Z 2014-11-11T08:55:00Z http://theconversation.com/fixing-aid-we-cant-turn-off-the-tap-at-the-first-sign-of-corruption-33769 Undergraduate module: Introduction to Problems of World History in the 20th Century - Professor Scott Lucas Nathan Johnson The aim of this course is to consider political, economic, social, cultural, and ideological issues --- both in the past and the present --- through an overview of developments in global history in the 20th Century. 2014-11-10T17:24:00Z 2014-11-10T17:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/govsoc/modules/year-one/introduction-problems-world-history-twentieth-century.aspx Undergraduate module: End of Empire: Problems of International History - Professor Scott Lucas Nathan Johnson The aim of this course is to consider the notion of the "End of Empires" and what it means about power from 1900 to the present. That power is not only the power of empires --- past and current --- but also of those who challenge those empires and pursued their own political, social, economic, and ideological objectives. The course will intersect with ideas such as nationalism, decolonization, internationalism, and globalization. 2014-11-10T14:58:00Z 2014-11-10T14:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/govsoc/modules/year-one/end-empire.aspx Undergraduate module: International Security - Professor Stefan Wolff Nathan Johnson The aim of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the concepts and theoretical approaches central to understanding and analysing international security issues in the contemporary world. 2014-11-10T14:18:00Z 2014-11-10T14:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/govsoc/modules/year-two/international-security.aspx The big winner of the congressional elections is... Hillary Clinton Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. The new Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, proclaimed his party would 'turn the country around' after Republicans gained seven seats in the Senate and extended its advantage in the House of Representatives. However, beyond the rhetoric, there may be a far different story and a different victor from Tuesday night's vote: Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee for the 2016 presidential election. 2014-11-10T11:06:00Z 2014-11-10T10:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/hillary-clinton.aspx Researchers contribute to Guardian debate on fragile states Nathan Johnson IDD's Siân Herbert and Suda Perera were among the expert panellists for a live Q&A on approaches to development in conflict-affected states on The Guardian Development Professionals Network website. 2014-11-10T10:26:00Z 2014-11-10T10:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/11/researchers-contribute-to-guardian-debate-on-fragile-states.aspx In Ukraine, the start of a new Cold War that Russia can't win Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall that ushered in the end of communism in eastern Europe and the break-up of the Soviet Union, all the signs point to a new Cold War between Russia and the West. 2014-11-10T10:26:00Z 2014-11-10T10:16:00Z http://theconversation.com/in-ukraine-the-start-of-a-new-cold-war-that-russia-cant-win-33988 Research project: Network governance and low carbon transitions in European cities (Nov 2014 - Oct 2017) Nathan Johnson How can European cities transition to a low carbon future? What are the governance challenges in creating environmentally sustainable cities? Can ideas about 'network governance' enhance adaption to climate change by improving interaction between citizens, businesses, associations and governments? 2014-11-07T14:18:00Z 2014-11-07T14:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2014/network-governance-low-carbon-transitions-european-cities.aspx Research project: Do flexible institutions enhance democracy? A comparative analysis of public governance innovations in Brazil and the UK (Jul 2014 - Jul 2016) Nathan Johnson The purpose of this exploratory research is to bring complementary expertise from the UK and Brazil to the analysis of democratic innovations - the global search for new ways in which societal, economic and cultural problems can be resolved through the direct involvement of citizens, civil society organisations, and other parties. 2014-11-07T14:18:00Z 2014-11-07T14:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2014/do-flexible-institutions-enhance-democracy.aspx Podcast: Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries Lecture Nathan Johnson Speaker: Ms. Donna Guest, Senior Advisor on Southeast Asia at Institute for Human Rights and Business 2014-11-07T13:57:00Z 2014-11-07T15:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/11/corporate-social-responsibility-in-developing-countries.aspx Robert Keohane delivers lecture at the University of Birmingham Nathan Johnson Leading International Relations (IR) scholar, Robert Keohane (Princeton), visited Birmingham last week (29 October 2014) and delivered a lecture as part of the POLSIS Seminar Series. 2014-11-07T10:10:00Z 2014-11-07T11:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/robert-keohane.aspx A View from Zaporizhzhia, SE Ukraine Nathan Johnson Written by Duncan Leitch (CREES Doctoral Researcher). 2014-11-05T16:07:00Z 2014-11-10T08:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/11/a-view-from-zaporizhzhia-se-ukraine.aspx Was UK aid watchdog right to accuse DfID of failing to tackle corruption? Nathan Johnson Three academics give their thoughts on the Icai report, which said Britain is failing to address corruption in the countries it gives aid to. But what do you think? Written by Heather Marquette, Richard Mallett and Mick Moore. 2014-11-05T15:22:00Z 2014-11-05T15:09:00Z http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/nov/05/aid-watchdog-right-accuse-dfid-corruption Recent PhD Success Highlights Strength of POLSIS Doctoral Research Nathan Johnson Sixteen doctoral students gained a PhD in the past year in POLSIS. 2014-11-03T14:38:00Z 2014-11-03T14:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/phd-success.aspx Blog: Preaching to the choir: reflections on key leadership skills for local authority chief executives – part 3: courage Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Staite. Leadership is not a sprint – it's a marathon. You are in it for the long haul and that is why courage is so important. Maya Angelou argued that courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently and that is certainly evident in the role of chief executive. Not only do you need to keep yourself going through challenging times, you also need to be able to demonstrate courage to your staff and members. If you falter, so will they. 2014-10-31T15:59:00Z 2014-10-31T15:55:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/31/preaching-to-the-choir-reflections-on-key-leadership-skills-for-local-authority-chief-executives-part-3-courage/ Jerusalem, Israeli settlements and why a third intifada could be about to kick off Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. Does this month's escalation in violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank mean that a third intifada – a Palestinian uprising against the Israel's occupation, following those of 1987 and 2000 – is imminent? The latest events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict prove that the next round could kick off at any moment. 2014-10-31T11:19:00Z 2014-10-31T11:04:00Z http://theconversation.com/jerusalem-israeli-settlements-and-why-a-third-intifada-could-be-about-to-kick-off-33646 Jerusalem, Israeli settlements and why a third intifada could be about to kick off Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. Does this month's escalation in violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank mean that a third intifada – a Palestinian uprising against the Israel's occupation, following those of 1987 and 2000 – is imminent? The latest events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict prove that the next round could kick off at any moment. 2014-10-31T10:50:00Z 2014-11-10T10:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/jerusalem-israeli-settlements.aspx Blog: Achieving better outcomes for the troubled family of local government Nathan Johnson Written by Simon Parker. In this debate, Simon Parker (NLGN), Catherine Staite (INLOGOV) and Tony Bovaird (INLOGOV) agree that the current state of UK local government is unsustainable – but see different routes to rescuing a sustainable future. 2014-10-30T17:01:00Z 2014-10-30T17:00:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/29/achieving-better-outcomes-for-the-troubled-family-of-local-government/ Podcast: Hobbes's Dilemma and the Liberal Quest for World Order Nathan Johnson A joint POLSIS/ICCS distinguished lecture given by one of the world's leading experts on international relations. Chair: Dr Tim Haughton (POLSIS/CREES), Speaker: Robert O. Keohane (Princeton University), Discussant: Professor Nicholas Wheeler (ICCS, University of Birmingham). 2014-10-30T16:24:00Z 2014-10-30T16:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/10/hobbes-dilemma-liberal-quest-world-order.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Researching change and continuity in rural Ethiopia: 20 villages over 20 years – the WIDE research project Nathan Johnson Speaker: Catherine Dom, Mokoro Ltd, WIDE Research Team. 2014-10-28T15:11:00Z 2014-10-28T15:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/10/ethiopia.aspx Blog: Preaching to the choir: reflections on key leadership skills for local authority chief executives – part 2: charm Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Staite. Charm is shorthand for a sophisticated set of skills which enable you to make new connections and solve old problems. Charm is about much more than being nice in a superficial way – otherwise known as 'smarm'. If you don't have real charm then just be gruff and honest. Everyone will understand. Smarm, on the other hand, will simply breed distrust. 2014-10-28T14:35:00Z 2014-10-28T14:20:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/28/preaching-to-the-choir-reflections-on-key-leadership-skills-for-local-authority-chief-executives-part-2-charm/ CREES Staff and Students discuss their research on the Caucasus in Ireland and France Nathan Johnson Kataryna Wolczuk, Dr Derek Averre, Dr Kevork Oskanian and Nino Kemoklidze presented and discussed their research findings and ideas at the UACES 44th Annual Conference in Cork, Ireland and at a steering committee meeting of an international research project in Paris, France in September. 2014-10-28T08:08:00Z 2014-10-28T08:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/10/crees-staff-and-students-discuss-research-on-the-caucasus-in-ireland-and-france.aspx Pro-Western bloc set for majority in elections that expose deep divisions in Ukraine Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Ukrainians have voted for a new parliament. The exit polls, in line with earlier predictions, indicate that the Petro Poroshenko Bloc – which also includes the UDAR party of Kiev's mayor, former boxing champion Vitali Klichko – came out on top (predicted to achieve around 23% of the vote), but will need partners to form a stable coalition that will give Poroshenko a majority in parliament. 2014-10-27T16:01:00Z 2014-10-27T15:34:00Z http://theconversation.com/pro-western-bloc-set-for-majority-in-elections-that-expose-deep-divisions-in-ukraine-33450 Blog: Postcard from Tokyo: local government remorse, Japanese-style Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. I've had the good fortune to spend the past week in Tokyo, as Japan commemorates the 50th anniversary of arguably the most geo-politically transformative Olympic Games, in the city that underwent a scarcely credible urban transformation in order to stage them. 2014-10-27T11:00:00Z 2014-10-27T10:47:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/27/postcard-from-tokyo-local-government-remorse-japanese-style/ Assessing the State of the EU Nathan Johnson Dr Tim Haughton participated in a panel in Brussels discussing the past, present and future of European integration. 2014-10-24T13:12:00Z 2014-10-24T13:02:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/assessing-the-state-of-the-eu.aspx Drones are here to stay, but the government must do more to ensure greater public acceptance Nathan Johnson On 16 October, the Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, announced that part of the UK Reaper drone fleet would be deployed in Iraq to support coalition efforts against the terror group ISIL. This week, he confirmed they would also be flying surveillance missions over Syria. These events mark the first operational use of UK Reapers outside Afghanistan and represent a significant and timely development in the UK government's stated policy towards 'drone warfare'. 2014-10-24T10:43:00Z 2014-10-24T10:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/10/drones-are-here-to-stay-23-10-14.aspx Blog: Preaching to the choir: reflections on key leadership skills for local authority chief executives – part 1: creativity Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Staite. I have called this blog series 'preaching to the choir' as it is dedicated to local authority chief executives and they already know a great deal about leadership. They wouldn't survive and thrive in their posts if they didn't. 2014-10-24T10:06:00Z 2014-10-24T09:51:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/24/preaching-to-the-choir-reflections-on-key-leadership-skills-for-local-authority-chief-executives-part-1-creativity/ Blog: The Boko Haram ceasefire and violence in Nigeria Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. Amongst the violent international groups vying for our attention, Boko Haram in Nigeria has been one of the most persistent. Boko Haram declared an Islamic caliphate in Gwoza, along the Cameroon border, in August 2014, and the group has been raiding several cities across the north. 2014-10-24T09:46:00Z 2014-10-24T09:45:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/the-boko-haram-ceasefire-and-violence-in-nigeria/ Japan's Shinzo Abe will struggle to recover from ministerial scandal Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Julie Gilson. In a country that has had nine leaders since 2000, Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe appeared to have found the recipe for longevity. But the resignation of two ministers from his government has left him in serious trouble. 2014-10-23T10:46:00Z 2014-11-10T10:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/japan-ministerial-scandal.aspx Japan's Shinzo Abe will struggle to recover from ministerial scandal Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Julie Gilson. In a country that has had nine leaders since 2000, Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe appeared to have found the recipe for longevity. But the resignation of two ministers from his government has left him in serious trouble. 2014-10-22T15:31:00Z 2014-10-22T15:16:00Z http://theconversation.com/japans-shinzo-abe-will-struggle-to-recover-from-ministerial-scandal-33272 Ukraine steels itself for winter as Novorossiya forges ahead Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The EU-Asia Summit in Milan, Italy, delivered little, if any, tangible progress to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. Relations between Russia and Ukraine's major European allies remain just a few degrees above a new Cold War-style ice age. And with only a preliminary gas deal achieved between Kiev and Moscow this may be quite literally true for Ukrainians as winter approaches. 2014-10-20T10:24:00Z 2014-10-20T10:34:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-steels-itself-for-winter-as-novorossiya-forges-ahead-33151 POLSIS Welcomes New Members of Staff Nathan Johnson New Members of Staff in POLSIS Strengthen Coverage of European politics, international political economy and international relations. 2014-10-20T10:12:00Z 2014-10-20T10:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/new-members.aspx Albania-Serbia football drone farce shows Balkan nationalism is still a dangerous powder keg Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Gëzim Alpion. Few thought that Serbia's Euro 2016 qualifying fixture against Albania on October 14 2014 would be an easy match. But the depths to which it sank are shocking even to those familiar with the potency of anti-Albanian feeling among Serbia's nationalist factions. 2014-10-16T15:41:00Z 2014-10-20T10:35:00Z https://theconversation.com/albania-serbia-football-drone-farce-shows-balkan-nationalism-is-still-a-dangerous-powder-keg-33101 Bursaries for Postgraduate Study in POLSIS 2015/16 Nathan Johnson For the Academic year 2014-15, POLSIS is pleased to offer a range of full and partial bursaries for both domestic/EU and non-EU students. 2014-10-15T10:28:00Z 2014-10-15T10:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/courses/scholarships-bursaries.aspx ICCS Seminar Series 2014/15 Nathan Johnson ICCS hosts a number of seminars throughout the year which focuses on a number of different topics. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events. 2014-10-14T14:55:00Z 2014-10-14T14:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/events/seminar-series/2014-15/index.aspx International Development Forum, Autumn 2014 Nathan Johnson The International Development Forum is an initiative funded by the University of Birmingham Educational Enhancement Fund to provide an introduction to international development to students from across the University, at any level of study. 2014-10-14T14:39:00Z 2014-10-14T14:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/2014/international-development-forum/index.aspx Podcast: "The Responsibility to Protect" and the Unreasonable Veto Nathan Johnson The roots of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) are to be found in the international community's attempts to navigate a route through UN Security Council (UNSC) inaction in the face of mass human rights atrocities. The likelihood of such inaction is exacerbated by the ability of UNSC Permanent members to veto actions which they oppose, but given the level of human suffering which characterises such crises, should this right of veto, unfettered by the UN Charter, be subject to some degree of constraint? Issues relating to this question are considered in 'The Responsibility to Protect and the "Unreasonable" Veto'. 2014-10-14T14:22:00Z 2014-10-14T14:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/10/the-responsibility-to-protect.aspx Birmingham Sociologist Invited to Keynote Lecture at the Ikon Gallery Nathan Johnson Dr Will Leggett, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, has been invited to deliver a public lecture at the new Library of Birmingham as part of the Ikon Gallery's 'Those were the decades' 50th anniversary events. 2014-10-10T14:58:00Z 2014-10-10T14:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/wil-leggett-keynote-lecture-ikon.aspx Head of POLSIS Trains Diplomats in the Caribbean Nathan Johnson Professor David H Dunn participated in a diplomatic training programme for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for St Kitts and Nevis in Basseterre, in the Caribbean in late September 2014. 2014-10-10T14:36:00Z 2014-10-10T14:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/david-dunn-trains-diplomats-caribbean.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Hearing Local Voices in Peacebuilding Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr David Roberts, Loughborough University. 2014-10-10T12:27:00Z 2014-10-28T15:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/10/hearing-local-voices-peacebuilding.aspx China-India border tension risks escalating into more intense conflict Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Tsering Topgyal. "Earlier this month the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, concluded a three-day trip to India. As he set off to meet Narendra Modi, Xi wrote in The Hindu that China and India "need to become co-operation partners." 2014-10-08T10:43:00Z 2014-11-10T10:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/china-india.aspx Blog: Can smart maps improve local government? Nathan Johnson Written by Walter T. de Vries. Local governments are increasingly making use of internet-based applications and social media to provide services and to interact with citizens. Are these applications however really helping local governments? 2014-10-08T09:51:00Z 2014-10-08T09:47:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/08/can-smart-maps-improve-local-government/ Blog: Cinderella has been at the ball for more than a century and no one has noticed her! Nathan Johnson Written by Ian Briggs. Local government has struggled with the concept of localism for far longer than most of us might think. It has not just been the clarion call of localism from the Coalition Government since 2010 and the subsequence Localism Act that posed some pretty serious questions about the structure of our local democratic processes. The issue of connectivity between the citizen and the 'agent of the state' has been under academic scrutiny for a long time. 2014-10-07T10:35:00Z 2014-10-07T10:29:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/07/cinderella-has-been-at-the-ball-for-more-than-a-century-and-no-one-has-noticed-her/ Blog: Buying local votes? Campaign spending effects in Belgian local elections Nathan Johnson Written by Gert-Jan Put, Bart Maddens and Jef Smulders. In democratic countries worldwide, elections are being organized on an increasingly larger scale. This makes it more challenging for political parties and candidates to communicate with voters and reach their target groups. Alternatively, they resort to mass media and costly electoral campaigns, for which parties and candidates are often prepared to spend exorbitant amounts of money. 2014-10-06T14:15:00Z 2014-10-06T14:04:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/06/buying-local-votes-campaign-spending-effects-in-belgian-local-elections/ Britain's first air strikes in Iraq - is there a strategy? Nathan Johnson On 26 September, British parliament approved the Cameron government's request for authority to carry out air strikes inside Iraq on the Islamic State terror group. Four days later, two Tornado jets on an 'armed surveillance' mission dropped the first bombs, hitting a jihadist heavy-weapon position and an armed pick-up truck. 2014-10-03T16:02:00Z 2014-10-03T15:40:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/10/britains-air-strikes-in-iraq-02-10-14.aspx Why Brooks Newmark is a twit, but not a knit-wit Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Two topics now compete for the opening paragraph in MP Brooks Newmark's political obituary. One is of course his hubris in thinking that a 26-year old woman – be she Tory or not – would be interested in photos of his genitalia. The other, though, are his thoughts, as the short-lived minister for civil society, about charities and knitting. 2014-10-02T10:17:00Z 2014-10-20T10:39:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-brooks-newmark-is-a-twit-but-not-a-knit-wit-32291 CREES academic delivers talk at book launch Nathan Johnson Dr Derek Averre of CREES spoke about Europe and the Ukraine crisis at a book launch at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS) in Oslo. 2014-10-02T10:17:00Z 2014-10-02T10:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/crees-academic-delivers-talk-book-launch.aspx Blog: Local government: keepers of the moral compass? Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Staite. Barry Quirk's excellent article in the Local Government Chronicle highlighted the often overlooked role of local government as the guardian of pubic ethics. 2014-09-30T14:56:00Z 2014-09-30T14:49:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/09/30/local-government-keepers-of-the-moral-compass/ Research project: Evaluation of Community Organisers and Community First programmes (Nov 2012 - Feb 2015) Nathan Johnson The evaluation will assess the delivery and social impact of both programmes, providing continuous learning and relevant insights for programme development. 2014-09-30T10:39:00Z 2014-09-30T10:23:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2014/evaluation-community-organisers-community-first-programmes.aspx Research project: Translation across borders: exploring the use, relevance and impact of academic research in the policy process (Jan 2014 - Mar 2015) Nathan Johnson This project seeks to explore and suggest ways to address the frustrations which attempts to translate research into policy can bring. A focus of concern for academics is the fidelity of translation to their research findings. For policy-makers, the focus is often the function of the translation for the demands they are seeking to address. 2014-09-30T10:39:00Z 2014-09-30T10:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2014/translation-across-borders.aspx Blog: Local government - more appreciated than it often thinks Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Someone asked me recently if, in those opinion polls that regularly monitor these things, net satisfaction with the government's record was ever positive. In other words, are there ever nowadays more of us satisfied than dissatisfied with those who govern us, or have we become, on balance, a nation of malcontents, whoever we happen to have elected? 2014-09-30T09:44:00Z 2014-09-30T09:36:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/09/29/local-government-more-appreciated-than-it-often-thinks/ China and India's border dispute rises to dangerous new heights Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Tsering Topgyal. On September 19 the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, concluded a three-day trip to India. As he set off to meet Narendra Modi, Xi wrote in The Hindu that China and India "need to become co-operation partners." This does not explain why his soldiers entered Indian territory without authorisation on the first day of his visit. 2014-09-29T09:20:00Z 2014-10-20T10:36:00Z http://theconversation.com/china-and-indias-border-dispute-rises-to-dangerous-new-heights-32125 EU pragmatism has rewarded Russia's brazen trade bullying Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Kataryna Wolczuk and Rilka Dragneva-Lewers. Few bilateral agreements have ever had such turbulent history and implications as the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine. 2014-09-29T09:05:00Z 2014-10-20T10:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/eu-pragmatism-has-rewarded-russias-brazen-trade-bullying-32050 IDD Guest Seminar Series 2014-15 Nathan Johnson The International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events. 2014-09-26T14:23:00Z 2014-09-26T14:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/guest-seminar-series/2014-15/index.aspx Exit, Voice and Loyalty in the Public Sphere: On the Hollowing Out of Universities and the 'Trojan Horse' Attack on the Muslim Community in the UK, By Justin Cruickshank and Ioana Cerasella Chis Nathan Johnson Written By Dr Justin Cruickshank and Ioana Cerasella Chis. In the discussion below we will offer our definition of neo-liberalism as an elite project that hollows out education and communities; relating this to the questions of why academics are not usually public intellectuals and how the UK Coalition Government demonised a dialogic education offered by some schools in Birmingham with a majority of Muslim pupils. 2014-09-26T13:48:00Z 2014-09-26T13:39:00Z http://bit.ly/1rxLX3B Blog: What skills does a 21st Century fire service need? Nathan Johnson Written by Dave Cross. Over the past twenty years the fire service, like many other public sector agencies has undergone radical change. Whilst the public's expectation of the fire service as a response based fire and rescue service remains the same, the organisational expectations of fire fighters has increased markedly. To quote a senior Greater Manchester fire officer "The job of a fire fighter nowadays has changed from not just putting out fires… to almost being a semi social worker". 2014-09-26T11:29:00Z 2014-09-26T11:26:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/09/26/what-skills-does-a-21st-century-fire-service-need/ Blog: Devo max - what it is and why it won't happen Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Devo Max – it sounds like a 99% efficient toilet cleaner, or a dodgy West Country car dealer, but either way I visualise its initials in upper case. And that's its problem. It's undoubtedly the 'must use' expression of the month. It's not complicated, like 'full fiscal autonomy' or the Barnett formula, so anyone feels able to drop it authoritatively into even casual conversation. And everyone has their own idea of what it is. 2014-09-25T15:31:00Z 2014-09-25T15:15:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/09/25/devo-max-what-it-is-and-why-it-wont-happen/ Things will never be the same again: reflections on the Scottish referendum Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Colin Thain. Whatever the outcome of today's referendum of 3.5 million voters in Scotland, Friday 19 September 2014 will be an epoch-making day in the politics of these islands. For once, the hyperbole is justified. 2014-09-18T17:07:00Z 2014-09-18T16:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/09/reflections-on-the-Scottish-referendum-18-09-14.aspx Ban pre-election opinion polls at your peril Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. I really thought we might make it. We'd got past the publication of YouGov's potentially constitution-changing poll showing a minuscule lead for the Yes campaign without anyone grabbing for an easy headline by calling for opinion polls to be banned in the run-up to elections and referendums. 2014-09-18T11:36:00Z 2014-10-20T10:39:00Z http://theconversation.com/ban-pre-election-opinion-polls-at-your-peril-31762 Scotland vote appears to be defying usual referendum swing Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. It seems Scottish voters are warming to the whole independence idea, then – bucking the trend that the experts have been telling us for months they're almost bound to follow. 2014-09-15T15:04:00Z 2014-10-20T10:39:00Z http://theconversation.com/scotland-vote-appears-to-be-defying-usual-referendum-swing-31490 New students 2014/15 Nathan Johnson The staff at the School of Government and Society look forward to meeting all new students for the start of the 2014/15 academic year. All the information you'll need for starting at the University of Birmingham can be found on our Welcome homepage. 2014-09-12T11:20:00Z 2014-09-12T13:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Podcast: The Security Impact of Drone Warfare Nathan Johnson From counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, to Amazon delivery services, the use (and ownership) of drone technology has major implications for domestic and international security. But what are the legal and ethical implications of this technology, and can drones ever be fully autonomous? Join leading experts for a topical and timely debate on the civilian and military use of drones. 2014-09-11T16:49:00Z 2014-09-18T10:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/09/security-impact-of-drone-warfare.aspx POLSIS Seminar Series 2014-15 Nathan Johnson POLSIS hosts a number of seminars throughout the year which focuses on a number of different topics. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events. 2014-09-10T11:48:00Z 2014-09-10T11:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/events/seminar-series/2014-15/index.aspx Student Exchange and Year Abroad Nathan Johnson Dr Huw Macartney talks about why you should do a year abroad degree with the Department of Political Science and International Studies. All programmes offered in the POLSIS provide students with the opportunity to develop a broad disciplinary knowledge base and a range of analytical and transferable skills, as well as allowing them to build up expertise in specific areas of political life. 2014-09-10T11:29:00Z 2014-09-10T11:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/year-abroad.aspx Recent publications and conference presentations demonstrate the strength of research in POLSIS Nathan Johnson Several publications and conference presentations by academics in the Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) demonstrate the quality and vibrancy of research in the department 2014-09-09T16:27:00Z 2014-09-09T16:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/09/publications-conference-presentations.aspx BRICS keep supporting Russia in bid to rebalance world power Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Marco Vieira. While Western nations beef up economic sanctions and Nato discusses what stance to take toward Russia, the BRICS are maintaining tacit support for Moscow despite the Ukraine crisis. 2014-09-09T12:49:00Z 2014-10-20T10:36:00Z https://theconversation.com/brics-keep-supporting-russia-in-bid-to-rebalance-world-power-31122 Blog: In case you missed it: the Local Government (Independence) Bill Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. It was partly the timing. In combination, the suddenly increased likelihood of both Scottish independence and a Coalition break-up were bound to eclipse last Friday's scheduled Second Reading of the Local Government (Independence) Bill. It was unfortunate, though. After all, local government independence would be a pretty big deal too, wouldn't it? 2014-09-09T12:31:00Z 2014-09-09T12:26:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/09/09/in-case-you-missed-it-the-local-government-independence-bill/ Why 'fools rush in' is Obama's watchword in Iraq and Syria Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Adam Quinn. US president Barack Obama has yet to work out exactly what America's strategy is in confronting Islamic State (IS), and has been foolish enough to say so in public. Cue the foreseeable torrent of point-scoring from opponents. 2014-09-05T10:43:00Z 2014-10-20T10:35:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-fools-rush-in-is-obamas-watchword-in-iraq-and-syria-31267 Student Enhancement Fund profiles 2014 Nathan Johnson Find out how our undergraduate and postgraduate students have used the School of Government and Society student enhancement fund throughout 2013/14 and read about their experiences. 2014-09-04T10:42:00Z 2014-09-04T10:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/funding/student-enhancement-fund.aspx Patrick Pitts, Internship at the US Congress, Washington, D.C. (Summer 2014) Nathan Johnson My internship was by far the hardest experience I've ever underwent; when you're working for someone whose schedule frequently includes "meeting with POTUS" (President of the United States), you know that a lot is expected of you. 2014-09-04T10:10:00Z 2014-09-04T10:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/patrick-pitts-internship.aspx Tomislav Korman, SIPRI International Development Conference, Stockholm (March 2014) Nathan Johnson Tomislav Korman, a Masters student in Public Administration in the International Development Department of the School of Government and Society, attended the 2014 Stockholm Forum on Security and Development, organized by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation. 2014-09-04T10:10:00Z 2014-09-04T10:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/idd/2013-14/tomislav-korman-se-report.aspx NATO Must Look Forward to the Past Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Mark Webber and Heidi Reisinger (Senior Analyst at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy). NATO's intent to follow America's lead and pivot towards Asia is illogical and unrealistic. The Ukraine crisis has served to bang their heads together and remind them that although the connection to the US is crucial, NATO business is in Europe. 2014-09-03T10:40:00Z 2014-09-03T10:36:00Z https://ip-journal.dgap.org/en/ip-journal/topics/nato-must-look-forward-past Forgotten South Sudan tangled in factionalism and failed politics Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Jonathan Fisher. Largely knocked out of the news by the crises in Ukraine, Iraq, Syria and Gaza (to name a few), a civil war has nonetheless devastated South Sudan since December 2013. It has left thousands dead, and more than a million have been internally displaced or forced into refugee camps. 2014-09-03T10:25:00Z 2014-10-20T10:51:00Z http://theconversation.com/forgotten-south-sudan-tangled-in-factionalism-and-failed-politics-30994 Blog: Councils should have the power NOT to tax supermarkets Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. There's no shortage of reasons to dislike supermarkets generally and Tesco in particular – their flimsy carrier bags, their irritating BOGOFs and BOGOHOs (Buy One, Get One Half Off), their unpoliced disabled parking bays, their Everyday Value instant coffee granules. Then there are all the economic, environmental and social reasons – the ones understandably more emphasised in Derby City Council's recent proposal that local authorities be given the power to introduce a levy of 8.5% of rateable value on large retail outlets: a supermarket or Tesco tax, as it was instantly labelled by the media. 2014-09-01T17:05:00Z 2014-09-03T11:06:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/09/01/councils-should-have-the-power-not-to-tax-supermarkets/ Douglas Carswell by-election is a rare and honourable event Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. The least surprising part of Douglas Carswell's defection to UKIP was surely his decision to resign his Clacton seat and seek re-election in a by-election. 2014-08-29T16:30:00Z 2014-10-20T10:40:00Z http://theconversation.com/douglas-carswell-by-election-is-a-rare-and-honourable-event-31060 Nationalism sparks a summer of deadly violence in the Caucasus Nathan Johnson Written by Kevork Oskanian. The world has been brutally reminded of the unresolved conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in the South Caucasus which Armenia and Azerbaijan have locked horns over for more than 25 years. While the situation is clearly at a low ebb, the facts of what is happening are far from clear. 2014-08-28T16:30:00Z 2014-10-20T10:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/nationalism-sparks-a-summer-of-deadly-violence-in-the-caucasus-30933 If lauding Thatcher was cause to recall parliament, why not Iraq? Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. MPs from all parties have called in recent weeks for parliament to be reconvened to enable them to debate the ongoing crisis in Iraq. They have met with unbending opposition. But David Cameron's decision to bring everyone back last year to eulogise Margaret Thatcher might make it difficult for him to resist indefinitely. 2014-08-21T16:30:00Z 2014-10-20T10:40:00Z http://theconversation.com/if-lauding-thatcher-was-cause-to-recall-parliament-why-not-iraq-30697 Creating Change, Expanding Opportunity - IDD Annual Report 2013-14 Nathan Johnson Welcome to a special anniversary Annual Report. Browse an overview of IDD's recent research, teaching, consultancy and publications. 2014-08-21T15:14:00Z 2014-08-21T15:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/idd/annual-report/2013-14.pdf Inside Donetsk, a city at war, while the jaw-jaw over Ukraine continues Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University) and Professor Stefan Wolff. The past few days have seen another round of the seemingly endless cycle of escalation and de-escalation that has characterised the crisis in Ukraine for several months. 2014-08-19T11:00:00Z 2014-10-20T10:37:00Z http://theconversation.com/inside-donetsk-a-city-at-war-while-the-jaw-jaw-over-ukraine-continues-30486 Sino-Indian Relations in the 21st Century: Economic and Security Implications and Responses Nathan Johnson This conference hosted by the University of Birmingham took place on Thursday 10 July 2014. The conference brought together leading scholars from China, India and the UK to address the following questions: what are the key drivers of Sino-Indian relations, particularly their economic and security relations? What are the cooperative and competitive elements in their economic and security strategies towards their Asian neighbours and beyond? What kind of regional and extra-regional responses are provoked by the increasing capabilities and expanding ambitions and activities of these rising powers? 2014-08-18T16:18:00Z 2014-10-14T16:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/08/sino-indian-relations-21st-century.aspx Masters taught module: Theories of Global Cooperation - Professor Nicholas Wheeler Nathan Johnson This exciting taught module is offered as part of our new Global Cooperation and Security MSc. Taught by Professor Nicholas Wheeler this module provides advanced theoretical training in how to think about the challenges of building security in an uncertain world characterised by multi-level interactions and unprecedented levels of global interconnectedness. 2014-08-18T12:09:00Z 2014-08-18T12:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/modules/fear-cooperation-trust-world-politics.aspx Masters taught module: Global Cooperation in Practice - Professor Mark Webber Nathan Johnson This exciting taught module is offered as part of our new Global Cooperation and Security MSc. Taught by Professor Mark Webber Global Cooperation in Practice examines how academic debates on cooperation and policy-making stand up against the actual experience of implementation. 2014-08-18T12:09:00Z 2014-08-18T12:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/modules/global-cooperation-in-practice.aspx Research video: Dr Stephen Jeffares - #Hashtag Politics Nathan Johnson Dr Stephen Jeffares talks about his current research on Hashtag Politics. 2014-08-18T12:08:00Z 2014-08-18T12:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/02/stephen-jeffares-hashtag-politics.aspx Contemporary Violence: Postmodern War in Kosovo and Chechnya Paperback version of book released Nathan Johnson The monograph by Cerwyn Moore, Contemporary Violence: Postmodern War in Kosovo and Chechnya (Manchester: MUP, 2014), is released in paperback. 2014-08-18T11:50:00Z 2014-08-18T11:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/08/contemporary-violence-postmodern-war-kosovo-chechnya.aspx Blog: On Reporting the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Kamala Imranli-Lowe and Dr Galina Yemelianova. In early August 2014 the British media reported an escalation in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This has brought the conflict, which has been less covered since the cease-fire of May 1994, back to the media's attention. This blog is intended to shed some light on the role of the British, and the wider Western, media in shaping particular attitudes among the public, as well as policy-makers involved in the negotiation process over this conflict. 2014-08-18T11:05:00Z 2014-08-18T11:02:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/on-reporting-nagorno-karabakh-conflict.html Is Boris Johnson a sop to the Tories' UKIP tendency? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Peter Kerr. There is a certain section of the Conservative Party – and not necessarily a minority – which has a penchant for self-destruction. This is the same section which takes its leadership cues from Nigel Farage rather than David Cameron; that section which has repeatedly frustrated the latter's attempts to modernise the party, while steadfastly drawing the leadership back towards the types of agenda, on Europe and immigration and so on, which proved so electorally damaging for the party throughout the noughties. 2014-08-11T09:53:00Z 2014-10-20T10:37:00Z http://theconversation.com/is-boris-johnson-a-sop-to-the-tories-ukip-tendency-30279 The secret economic slowdown behind Putin's strategy for Russia Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Richard Connolly. If you want to understand the sometimes confounding moves played by Russian premier Vladimir Putin, then you could do worse than look at the accounts. On the face of it the country has seen 14 years of growth in the past 15, but that hides a persistent slowdown in the rate of growth. And although sanctions imposed over Ukraine have grabbed the headlines, the truth is that economic weakness in Russia is homegrown. 2014-08-11T09:35:00Z 2014-10-20T10:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-secret-economic-slowdown-behind-putins-strategy-for-russia-30183 Self-styled people's governor of Donetsk tells us: these areas have always been Russian Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University) and Professor Stefan Wolff. There are two competing and irreconcilable narratives about the crisis in eastern Ukraine that divide public opinion and media coverage in the region and the country – as much as they divide Russia and the West. 2014-08-07T13:24:00Z 2014-10-20T10:37:00Z http://theconversation.com/self-styled-peoples-governor-of-donetsk-tells-us-these-areas-have-always-been-russian-29708 New Head of College takes up post Madame System Administrator We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Saul Becker to the post of Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences. Saul will join us in August 2014. 2014-08-05T12:36:00Z 2014-08-05T15:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/08/new-head-coss-announced.aspx Podcast: ASPA Roundtable on US Political Science Nathan Johnson Roundtable with Professor Steven R. Smith, the American Political Science Association (APSA) Executive Director and a leading scholar on the non-profit sector, 29 July 2014, Chaired by Professor Chris Skelcher, INLOGOV, University of Birmingham. 2014-08-01T15:22:00Z 2014-08-01T15:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/07/aspa-roundtable.aspx INLOGOV Summer Symposium 2014 Nathan Johnson This summer symposium brought together distinguished UK and international academics and leaders in the field of local government to share new ideas, creativity, evidence and experience on some of the major challenges for local government. 2014-07-31T11:04:00Z 2014-07-31T13:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/07/summer-symposium.aspx IDD 50 faces #12 - Professor Paul Jackson (1993-) Nathan Johnson IDD, or DAG as it was then, was a very different place when I joined in 1993. Many of the members of the department had been there for a long time and I was part of a drive to bring some youth in. I came in as a 'Teaching assistant' on a contract that funded a PhD and gave me a minimum number of teaching hours. 2014-07-30T09:56:00Z 2014-07-30T09:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/paul-jackson.aspx Lack of trust and tit-for-tat escalation brings Ukraine to the brink of all-out war with Russia Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The renewed escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, shows no sign of abating. Fighting in the east has continued both in and around the rebel stronghold of Donetsk and at the Russian-Ukrainian border where, according to reports, Russia has now started shelling Ukrainian military positions. 2014-07-29T10:41:00Z 2014-08-06T10:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/ukraine-russia-conflict.aspx Podcast: Israel is the only state taking the drone threat seriously – Professor David Dunn Nathan Johnson Professor David Dunn talks to The Bureau of Invesigative Journalism on a recent podcast saying that the biggest threat of drone technology is its potential use by terrorists and other non-state actors with "malign intent". 2014-07-28T10:39:00Z 2014-07-28T16:00:00Z http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2014/07/17/podcast-israel-is-the-only-state-taking-the-drone-threat-seriously-professor-david-dunn/ The Conversation: Lack of trust and tit-for-tat escalation brings Ukraine to the brink of all-out war with Russia Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The renewed escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, shows no sign of abating. Fighting in the east has continued both in and around the rebel stronghold of Donetsk and at the Russian-Ukrainian border where, according to reports, Russia has now started shelling Ukrainian military positions. 2014-07-28T10:23:00Z 2014-07-28T10:14:00Z http://theconversation.com/lack-of-trust-and-tit-for-tat-escalation-brings-ukraine-to-the-brink-of-all-out-war-with-russia-29707 Blog: Predictably Unpredictable: The 2014 parliamentary elections in Slovenia Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Alenka Krašovec, University of Ljubljana and Dr Tim Haughton, University of Birmingham. Parliamentary elections and party politics in Slovenia are becoming predictable in their unpredictability. For the first two decades of the country's independence party politics was largely stable. True, in the second decade the once mighty force of Slovene politics, Liberal Democracy, saw its support drop, the Social Democrats emerged as a powerful force, but only really for one election in 2008, and there were a stream of new parties... 2014-07-28T08:47:00Z 2014-07-28T08:45:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/predictably-unpredictable-2014.html School of Government and Society hosts Foreign Office Seminar on EU Enlargement Nathan Johnson The University of Birmingham organized a seminar with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as part of the Balance of Competences Review in the field of EU Enlargement. 2014-07-25T15:20:00Z 2014-07-25T15:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/07/fco-eu-enlargement.aspx 50 faces of CREES #53 - Dr Tim Haughton Nathan Johnson I arrived in CREES in September 2003 initially on a three year contract to cover for Judy Batt, but have been here ever since, serving most recently as Director of CREES from 2012-14. In that post, it was a pleasure and an honour to initiate and lead the 50th anniversary celebrations (including arranging the 50+ faces of CREES!), particularly the special annual conference which so many CREESniki attended. 2014-07-25T14:44:00Z 2014-07-25T14:37:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/tim-haughton.aspx Dr Tim Haughton hands over the Directorship of CREES to Dr Richard Connolly and Dr Jeremy Morris Nathan Johnson After two years as the Director of CREES, Tim Haughton hands the Directorship of the Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies to Richard Connolly and Jeremy Morris. 2014-07-25T14:44:00Z 2014-07-25T14:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/07/new-crees-directors.aspx The Conversation: How harsher sanctions could help Putin turn Russia back into the Soviet Union Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Richard Connolly. The downing of flight MH17 has caused attention to shift once again to the prospect of even harsher penalties being imposed upon Russia by Western countries. Up to this point, sanctions have been limited to individuals within or close to Russia's ruling elite, as well as a few associated companies. 2014-07-24T09:26:00Z 2014-07-24T09:26:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-harsher-sanctions-could-help-putin-turn-russia-back-into-the-soviet-union-29615 IGS podcast: Ethics and the Holocaust Nathan Johnson Speakers: Professor Marc Silberman, University of Wisconsin - Madison "The Ethics of Teaching Holocaust Violence". Justin Court, University of Wisconsin – Madison "The Ethics of Viewing Holocaust Violence". 2014-07-23T12:41:00Z 2014-07-23T12:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/07/ethics-holocaust.aspx IGS podcast: From Wars of Liberation to Star Wars: Friedrich Schiller's Pop Culture Legacy Nathan Johnson Speaker: Professor Jeffrey L. High (California State University Long Beach), "From Wars of Liberation to Star Wars: Friedrich Schiller's Pop Culture Legacy" 2014-07-23T12:41:00Z 2014-07-23T12:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/07/from-wars-liberation-to-star-wars.aspx CREES renamed the Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies Nathan Johnson The Centre for Russian and East European Studies has been renamed the Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies. 2014-07-23T09:41:00Z 2014-07-23T09:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/07/crees-renamed.aspx Flight MH17 and Russia's 'little green men' Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Kataryna Wolczuk. "The shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 in Eastern Ukraine on 17 July has placed the conflict which has engulfed that part of Ukraine into an entirely new context. It has transformed the event from a localised, regional rebellion into a crisis that brings Russia's role into the open, writes Kataryna Wolczuk, of the Centre for Russian and European Studies." 2014-07-23T08:45:00Z 2014-07-23T08:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/russia-mh17.aspx The Conversation: As Russia votes with Security Council, could MH17 be providing a wake-up call? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. The unanimous vote in the UN Security Council on the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over rebel-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine is a welcome step. The resolution, drafted by Australia which lost 37 people in the tragedy, condemns the downing of the aircraft and calls for all states to co-operate with the investigation and demands that armed groups allow open access to the crash site. 2014-07-23T08:45:00Z 2014-07-23T08:44:00Z http://theconversation.com/as-russia-votes-with-security-council-could-mh17-be-providing-a-wake-up-call-29522 New book series: Global Political Economies of Gender and Sexuality Nathan Johnson Dr Nicola Smith, Senior Lecturer in POLSIS, has recently signed a book series. The book series is called 'Global Political Economies of Gender and Sexuality', is being published by Rowman & Littlefield International and is edited by Nicola Smith, Adrienne Roberts (University of Manchester) and Juanita Elias (University of Birmingham). The series has just started and they will have a big launch once the first books have been commissioned. 2014-07-21T16:00:00Z 2014-07-21T15:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/03/global-political-economies-gender-sexuality.aspx Blog: From repression to co-production with citizens: Why we need behaviour change in healthcare Nathan Johnson Written by Jörgen Tholstrup. What's the mission of health care? I've been working as a physician and gastroenterologist both in Denmark and Sweden for more than 30 years. Over time, I've become more and more puzzled about our healthcare system and how otherwise responsible human beings can tolerate the way that common behaviourial rules are suspended when you access healthcare. 2014-07-21T09:53:00Z 2014-07-21T09:52:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/07/21/from-repression-to-co-production/ The Conversation: How far were Russia's 'little green men' involved in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Kataryna Wolczuk. The shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 in Eastern Ukraine on 17th June has placed the conflict which has engulfed that part of Ukraine into an entirely new context. It has transformed the event from a localised, regional rebellion into a crisis that brings Russia's role into the open. 2014-07-21T09:33:00Z 2014-07-21T09:17:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-far-were-russias-little-green-men-involved-in-the-downing-of-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-29422 Blog: Masters students on Kenya study tour 2014 Nathan Johnson Written by Freyja Oddsdottir. For the past couple of years, the IDD has organised a field research trip to assist IDD Masters students with the logistics of field research, which is an optional component of their MSc degree. Last year, the destination was Kerala in South India. In June this year, a group of 16 students travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, along with Dr Jonathan Fisher and Freyja Oddsdottir, where they stayed for three weeks to conduct field research for their dissertation. 2014-07-21T09:33:00Z 2014-07-21T11:06:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/masters-students-on-kenya-study-tour-2014/ The Israeli-Palestinian crisis: A distressing déjà vu Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. The most depressing aspect of the current round of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, beyond the death toll and the human suffering, is the sheer predictability of this crisis. As far as contemporary armed conflicts go, few could match the intensity, inevitability and perpetuity of the ongoing struggle between the militant group Hamas and the Israeli government. 2014-07-17T17:02:00Z 2014-07-17T16:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/07/israeli-palestinian-crisis.aspx The Conversation: Thaw in UK-Iran relations will depend on Rouhani's actions, not his words, say MPs Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Adam Quinn. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's new report on policy towards Iran contains no surprises – startling new departures aren't in the nature of such documents – but does help crystallise a couple of important features of the present posture of the Western coalition's posture towards Iran. 2014-07-17T10:22:00Z 2014-07-17T10:11:00Z http://theconversation.com/thaw-in-uk-iran-relations-will-depend-on-rouhanis-actions-not-his-words-say-mps-29111 The Conversation: The BRICS plan for a new world order begins with a bank Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Marco Vieira. Could history one day judge the latest BRICS summit as significant as the Bretton Woods conference of 1944? That is the hope of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as they meet in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil to establish a new institutional architecture to counter (or maybe complement) the Western-controlled finacial system. 2014-07-17T10:22:00Z 2014-07-17T10:16:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-brics-plan-for-a-new-world-order-begins-with-a-bank-29251 INLOGOV MSc brochure 2014 Nathan Johnson Read the latest MSc brochure from INLOGOV. At INLOGOV, we recognise that everyone's needs are different. To ensure that your course is right for you, we have designed our programmes with this mind and have created flexible and adaptable programmes to meet the needs of both you and your organisation. 2014-07-15T16:12:00Z 2014-07-16T09:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/degrees/inlogov-pg-courses.pdf Blog: A view from Barnet's Chris Naylor: how the class of 2014 are responding to perma-austerity Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Naylor. Two weeks ago I gave the lunchtime pep talk to a dozen young hopeful students each vying for a coveted place on Barnet's graduate programme. Furiously clever, ambitious for Barnet and public services more generally – I didn't envy those with the task of making a final selection. Like the alumni who have come through the Council's programme before them, many of whom a decade on, as senior managers, continue to make a profound contribution to the success of the borough, the Class of '14 will truly be the 21st Century Public Servants. 2014-07-15T16:12:00Z 2014-07-15T16:02:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/07/15/a-view-from-barnets-chris-naylor-how-the-class-of-2014-are-responding-to-perma-austerity/ Blog: How can the 21st century public servant survive an era of perma-austerity? Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Mangan. We are launching the first theme from our 21st Century Public Servant project – the need to survive a seemingly unending period of austerity – to coincide with the Local Government Association conference, where austerity is a central theme. Our research with local government and other public service delivery organisations found that 'perma-austerity' is both inhibiting and catalysing change, as organisations struggle to balance short-term cost-cutting and redundancies with a strategic vision for change. 2014-07-14T09:35:00Z 2014-07-14T09:30:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/07/09/how-can-the-21st-century-public-servant-survive-an-era-of-perma-austerity/ Blog: 21st century public servant: the discussion phase Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Needham. This post is based on a provocation which I posed at INLOGOV's recent Summer Symposium. It is an attempt to move on the conversation about engagement between local government, other public institutions, citizens and communities. 2014-07-08T16:06:00Z 2014-07-08T15:46:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/07/08/21st-century-public-servant-the-discussion-phase/ INLOGOV briefing paper: What happened to the NOC councils after May 2014? Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer at INLOGOV. Most of the results – and effectively the outcomes – of May's local elections were in the media the following day. For a fifth of councils, though – the black holes in this Briefing Paper's cover map – while the results, in terms of seat numbers, were available, the all-important outcomes – who will actually run the authority – weren't, often for weeks. The Briefing Paper's main purpose is to fill in those black holes, detailing who's now running what and how. 2014-07-04T14:05:00Z 2014-07-08T10:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/2014-local-election-results.pdf A rigorous review of the role and impact of private schools in developing countries Nathan Johnson A new review analyses recent evidence on the role and impact of private schools on education for children in developing countries, focusing on the delivery of education for the poor. 2014-07-04T14:05:00Z 2014-07-04T13:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/07/private-schools-developing-countries.aspx Blog: What happened to the NOC councils after the May elections: a moan and a puff Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. 'Five Days in May': the time it took in 1940 for Churchill to manoeuvre the War Cabinet into a five-year World War, in 2010 to form Britain's first post-war peacetime coalition – and in 2014 for Tower Hamlets LBC to announce its local election results. OK, I've exaggerated – it was actually 119 hours after the polls closed, so only 4.96 days, but still not good, even discounting the malpractice allegations. 2014-06-30T14:17:00Z 2014-06-30T14:04:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/30/what-happened-to-the-noc-councils-after-the-may-elections-a-moan-and-a-puf/ Field Study to Istanbul: Turkish delight for IDD students Nathan Johnson This April more than 30 IDD masters students flew to Istanbul, Turkey, to participate in a field study organised with the help of IDD alumnus Dr Ali Ercan Ozgur, founder of IDEMA consulting. During this five-day study programme, more than fourteen speakers and nine host organizations shared their experience of government systems, business and public administration with the group. 2014-06-27T15:27:00Z 2014-07-21T09:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/idd/2013-14/tomislav-korman-field-study-mpa.aspx INLOGOV briefing paper: Reflections on 'Bridging the gap' Nathan Johnson Written by Daniel Goodwin, June 2014. The Inlogov Symposium, Bridging the Gap, was designed to encourage the sharing of new ideas,creativity, evidence and experience on some of the key challenges for local government. This post expands on an earlier blog piece, reflects on the discussions and suggests points and questions for the future. 2014-06-26T11:00:00Z 2014-06-26T12:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/reflections-on-bridging-the-gap.pdf Blog: Politics shape services; and services shape politics Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Richard Batley. In governance circles, service delivery is often discussed as if it raised common issues across service sectors as diverse as health, education, water and sanitation. Yet within sectors, debates about governance issues are quite distinct. 2014-06-25T14:41:00Z 2014-06-25T14:37:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/06/24/politics-shape-services-and-services-shape-politics/ Blog: Strengthening democracy and participation: routes to re-connection and engagement - a provocation Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Durose. This post is based on a provocation which I posed at INLOGOV's recent Summer Symposium. It is an attempt to move on the conversation about engagement between local government, other public institutions, citizens and communities. 2014-06-20T14:30:00Z 2014-06-20T14:15:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/strengthening-democracy-and-participation-routes-to-re-connection-and-engagement-a-provocation/ Blog: Re-valuing The Public Nathan Johnson Written by Teresa L. Córdova. When we are on the ground getting the policies implemented, or perhaps even making the policies, we focus on doing what we can get done. One of our first questions is, "what are the constraints, the limits of what is possible (or probable), given current fiscal conditions, regulatory structures, or political dynamics." 2014-06-20T11:21:00Z 2014-06-20T11:19:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/re-valuing-the-public/ Podcast: Challenges to emerging and established powers: Brazil and the United Kingdom in the contemporary global order Nathan Johnson This workshop organised by Dr Marco Vieira and Dr Jonathan Grix (30-31 May 2014) and hosted by the University of Birmingham aimed to critically examine the prospects of either cooperation or competition between Brazil and the United Kingdom in several dimensions of contemporary global order. 2014-06-20T09:40:00Z 2014-11-28T09:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/brazil-united-kingdom-contemporary-global-order.aspx 3-year PhD Studentships available in the ICCS Nathan Johnson The Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) was recently awarded a major grant to develop a new research stream in social neuroscience and international security, building on its vibrant research culture in the fields of trust and cooperation. As part of this project, the ICCS is seeking to appoint a series of new posts, including two new PhD studentships in the areas of Cybersecurity and Social Neuroscience and Security. 2014-06-19T17:41:00Z 2014-06-20T10:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/06/iccs-funded-phd-studentship.aspx Research profile: Dr Huw Macartney Nathan Johnson Dr Huw Macartney is a political economist whose work is broadly concerned with the politics of banking and financial services. Huw's current research focuses on two big themes: UK and European banking reform following the global financial crisis; and depoliticisation and its relationship to the Eurozone debt crisis. 2014-06-19T12:45:00Z 2014-06-19T12:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/research-video-huw-macartney.aspx Research profile: Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler Nathan Johnson Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler is Professor of International Relations and Director of the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation, and Security at the University of Birmingham. 2014-06-19T12:30:00Z 2014-06-19T12:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/research-video-nicholas-wheeler.aspx Video: Dr Christalla Yakinthou at TEDxUniversityofBirmingham Nathan Johnson Dr Christalla Yakinthou, Birmingham Fellow in the POLSIS gave a talk on "Reaching out to enemy communities after conflict" at the recent TEDx University of Birmingham based around the theme of Throwing Caution to the Wind -- or in other words, risk taking. 2014-06-19T12:26:00Z 2014-06-19T13:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/christalla-yakinthou-tedx-uob.aspx Research profile: Dr Christalla Yakinthou Nathan Johnson Dr Christalla Yakinthou is a political scientist specialising in conflict transformation in deeply divided and post-war countries. She has specific expertise in transitional justice, conflict within societies, and constitutional design. 2014-06-19T11:57:00Z 2014-06-19T12:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/research-video-christalla-yakinthou.aspx Research profile: Professor Stefan Wolff Nathan Johnson A political scientist by background, Professor Stefan Wolff specialises in the management of contemporary security challenges, especially in the prevention and settlement of ethnic conflicts and civil wars and in post-conflict state-building in deeply divided and war-torn societies. 2014-06-19T11:38:00Z 2014-06-19T12:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/research-video-stefan-wolff.aspx Research profile: Professor Paul Jackson Nathan Johnson Paul Jackson is a political economist working predominantly on conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. A core area of interest is decentralisation and governance and it was his extensive experience in Sierra Leone immediately following the war that led him into the area of conflict analysis and security sector reform. 2014-06-19T11:37:00Z 2014-06-19T12:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/06/research-video-paul-jackson.aspx POLSIS Academic Researches European Elections in Central and Eastern Europe Nathan Johnson Tim Haughton undertook a research trip during the recent European elections visiting party offices, interviewing politicians and activists and collected campaign material in Central and Eastern Europe. 2014-06-18T12:24:00Z 2014-06-18T12:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/tim-haughton-european-elections.aspx Annual CREES Conference Demonstrates the Strength of CREES Expertise Nathan Johnson Staff, students and alumni of CREES plus some specially invited guests gathered at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park for the annual conference of the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) in June 2014. 2014-06-18T12:06:00Z 2014-10-14T16:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/06/annual-conference.aspx The Conversation: Bush's folly has left Obama out of options as ISIS surges in Iraq Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Adam Quinn. Since 2003 (and, really, for years before that) Iraq has become, with only the most fleeting exceptions, a source of nothing but the most exquisitely awful sort of news. But even by its own standards, the events of the past 72 hours have surely exceeded the expectations of even connoisseurs of tactical disaster. 2014-06-16T09:13:00Z 2014-06-17T09:13:00Z http://theconversation.com/bushs-folly-has-left-obama-out-of-options-as-isis-surges-in-iraq-27949 Blog: Building communities to bridge the gap Nathan Johnson Written by Daniel Goodwin. England is around halfway through significant reductions in public expenditure and heading for a 'new normal' at much lower levels, whilst seeing demographic and other pressures rise. Local Government is currently projected to see a £10.5bn funding drop between 2010and 2020. 2014-06-13T11:24:00Z 2014-06-20T11:25:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/12/building-communities-to-bridge-the-gap/ Blog: Democracy in The Circle: a route to reconnection and engagement? Nathan Johnson Written by Frank Hendriks. One of the theme's at INLOGOV's 2014 summer symposium is "Strengthening democracy and participation: routes to re-connection and engagement." One of the possible routes is tellingly sketched in Dave Eggers's recent novel The Circle (2013). 2014-06-13T11:04:00Z 2014-06-13T10:58:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/democracy-in-the-circle/ Blog: Towards a people-centred language of demand management Nathan Johnson Written by Gavin Jones. I'm regularly asked to make presentations to groups of people (the last one being to 22 Deputy Lord Lieutenants!) to set out the issues and opportunities facing local government in the light of increasingly painful budget cuts. Of the pictorial slides I use to tell the story, the one guaranteed to have the greatest impact and make people hold their heads in their hands and mutter depressing words of despair is my 'motivational' slide that alarmingly shows demand outstripping resources at a frightening pace – often known as the '' or 'Map of Misery'. 2014-06-11T09:01:00Z 2014-06-20T11:20:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/people-centred-demand-management/ IDD recruiting Teaching Fellow Nathan Johnson Applications are invited for a ten-month position of Teaching Fellow with the International Development Department. 2014-06-11T09:01:00Z 2014-06-11T08:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/06/recruiting-teaching-fellow.aspx DLP consolidates its partnership with La Trobe University Nathan Johnson DLP consolidates its partnership with La Trobe University, Australia, this week. On 13 June, DLP's directors, Dr Heather Marquette and Dr David Hudson, will meet with members of La Trobe's Institute for Human Security and Social Change to share research findings and plan future collaboration. 2014-06-11T08:46:00Z 2014-06-11T08:41:00Z http://dlprog.org/news/dlp-consolidates-its-partnership-with-la-trobe-university.php The Conversation: Watered-down recall bill proves MPs just don't get it Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. "Meaningless", "a stitch-up", "a breathtakingly cynical attempt to convey an impression of democratic reform" – this was how Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith reacted to his own government's announcement in the Queen's Speech that ministers would, after all, be introducing a recall of MPs Bill before the 2015 election. 2014-06-10T10:22:00Z 2014-06-13T10:22:00Z http://theconversation.com/watered-down-recall-bill-proves-mps-just-dont-get-it-27732 Birmingham academic injects new life in to civil society in Albania Nathan Johnson Significant improvements to the economy of the Balkans region can be made if the Albanian government invests in a new €350 million road, argues an academic from the University of Birmingham. Dr Gëzim Alpion, Lecturer in Sociology, has instigated a petition for state leaders to meet their election promises and construct a highway linking Tirana with Dibra, one of the most impoverished regions in Albania. 2014-06-06T16:37:00Z 2014-06-06T16:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2014/06/birmingham-academic-injects-new-life-in-to-civil-society-in-Albania.aspx Saving Humans blog: Why transitional justice proponents say the field is important: The risk of leaving things as they are Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Continuing on from yesterday, generally, regardless of the focus, TJ presupposes that there is a significant risk in leaving things the way they are, after conflict. 2014-06-06T16:13:00Z 2014-06-10T09:13:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/06/06/why-transitional-justice-proponents-say-the-field-is-important-the-risk-of-leaving-things-as-they-are/ Podcast: The terrible, horrible, no good, very bad European elections edition Nathan Johnson The Politics @ Birmingham Podcast: Episode 04. This episode, we talk about the European elections of 22-25 May, which saw record highs for Eurosceptic and populist parties in several countries, including UKIP in the United Kingdom and the National Front in France. We discuss the reasons for this result, the extent to which it represents a Europe-wide backlash against Brussels, and its consequences for European politics. 2014-06-06T16:02:00Z 2014-06-06T15:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/european-elections-podcast-04.aspx Saving Humans blog: Confronting legacies of violence after conflict: What is Transitional Justice? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Transitional justice (TJ) is essentially a field that grew around a single question: how do you address the legacy of conflict-related violence and widespread human rights abuses? The first time that we as an international community really had to think about how to address the mess of war and the impact of genocide and what consequently became known as crimes against humanity was of course at the Nuremburg Trials in relation to the holocaust in the wake of World War Two. 2014-06-05T11:35:00Z 2014-06-06T11:36:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/06/05/confronting-legacies-of-violence-after-conflict-what-is-transitional-justice/ Saving Humans blog: Consultation, Respect, and Inclusivity: DIY Democracy in Turkey Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Last week marked the first-year anniversary of the Gezi Park protests in Turkey. The following piece reflects on the protests and their meaning. 2014-06-04T11:56:00Z 2014-06-04T11:46:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/06/04/consultation-respect-and-inclusivity-diy-democracy-in-turkey/ Saving Humans blog: The concept and realities of post-revolution reform in Tunisia Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Tunisian society has been engaging with both the concept and realities of post-revolution reform for the last three years. As last week's attack at the Tunisian minister of interior's house shows, the process has been hard going. 2014-06-03T16:43:00Z 2014-06-04T11:43:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/06/03/the-concept-and-realities-of-post-revolution-reform-in-tunisia/ Guardian League Tables 2015 Nathan Johnson In the latest Guardian University Guide 2015 The School of Government and Society performed very well with Politics appearing in the top 5 in the Guardian Politics league table. 2014-06-03T16:16:00Z 2014-06-03T15:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/06/guardian-league-tables-2015.aspx INLOGOV briefing paper: Social Value Survey Report Nathan Johnson This report outlines the findings of a joint survey (carried out between August to mid October 2013) by the Society of Procurement Officers (SOPO), the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) and the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham on the impact of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. 2014-06-02T16:10:00Z 2014-06-05T16:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/social-value-survey-report.pdf Blog: Depoliticisation and the Father's Clause in Parliamentary debates Nathan Johnson Dr Stephen Bates, Dr Laura Jenkins and Fran Amery, use work on in vitro fertilisation to think through depoliticisation. Our article argues that (de)politicisation may occur outside of formal governmental arenas and should not be regarded simply as a form of statecraft. Specifically, we explore in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and the parliamentary debates surrounding the addition and eventual removal of the Father's Clause of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Acts. 2014-05-29T10:11:00Z 2014-06-03T09:53:00Z http://polsis.org/2014/05/28/depoliticisation-and-the-fathers-clause-in-parliamentary-debates/ The Conversation: Both Labour and the Tories are pursuing a cynical 15% strategy Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. The "35% strategy" – the idea that a party could win the 2015 general election on 35% of the vote – entered political discourse last year, generally as a Conservative taunt directed at Labour. The 35% comprised Labour's supposed "core vote": the 29% it managed in 2010 and brought it 258 or nearly 40% of Commons seats – plus a guesstimated 6% for Lib Dem defectors. 2014-05-29T09:44:00Z 2014-06-03T09:45:00Z http://theconversation.com/both-labour-and-the-tories-are-pursuing-a-cynical-15-strategy-27409 The Conversation: NATO must take responsibility for spiralling violence in Libya Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. Libya has drifted out of our news recently, swamped and obscured by other conflicts. But the repercussions of the NATO intervention, and the subsequent failure of any credible central government to control the powerful militias, have led to a series of increasingly serious incidents. 2014-05-28T09:50:00Z 2014-06-03T09:50:00Z http://theconversation.com/nato-must-take-responsibility-for-spiralling-violence-in-libya-27050 Blog: Building communities to bridge the gap Nathan Johnson Written by Daniel Goodwin. England around halfway through significant reductions in public expenditure and heading for a 'new normal' at much lower levels, whilst seeing demographic and other pressures rise. Local Government is currently projected to see a £10.5bn funding drop between 2010 and 2020. Pressures on services are projected to rise by around £6bn, resulting in a £16.5bn total gap, under-resourcing services by around 30%. This average masks a wide variation – the LGA predicts that some of the poorest areas are projected only to be around 55% funded by 2020, whilst some shire districts will be 100% funded. 2014-05-27T12:35:00Z 2014-05-27T12:30:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/building-communities-to-bridge-the-gap/ Ash Green, Professional Development Module - Case Study Birmingham Children's Hospital (2014) Nathan Johnson Careers Network Professional Development Module - Case Study Birmingham Children's Hospital. BA History and Political Science. 2014-05-27T10:52:00Z 2014-05-27T10:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/ash-green-professional-development-module.aspx Frederick Gulliford, Professional Development Module - Case Study House of Lords (2014) Nathan Johnson Careers Network Professional Development Module - Case study House of Lords. BA Political Economy. 2014-05-27T10:52:00Z 2014-05-27T10:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/frederick-gulliford-professional-development-module.aspx Eveniya Chalakova, Professional Development Module - Case Study Chamber of Commerce (2014) Nathan Johnson Careers Network Professional Development Module - Case study Chamber of Commerce. BA International Relations with German. 2014-05-27T10:52:00Z 2014-05-27T10:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/evgeniya-chalakova-professional-development-module.aspx Saving Humans blog: 'Face-to-Face Encounters of the Diplomatic Kind' Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. ). In my final blog today, I want to explore the proposition that I am developing at length in my new book that face-to-face encounters between leaders and top-level diplomats hold out the possibility of building trust across the enemy divide. 2014-05-27T08:51:00Z 2014-05-27T08:51:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/05/23/face-to-face-encounters-of-the-diplomatic-kind/ Blog: The Politics of Broken Relationships? Croatia on the Eve of the European Parliament Elections Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Kevin Deegan-Krause and Dr Tim Haughton. A short walk from the Croatian parliament is the Museum of Broken Relationships. Zagreb's quirkiest museum displays countless artefacts donated by couples from around the world symbolizing the end of their love. The results of Sunday's elections to the European Parliament may make the long-standing political parties in Croatia and their voters suitable for exhibition. 2014-05-27T08:40:00Z 2014-05-27T08:53:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-politics-of-broken-relationships_24.html The Conversation: 'Chocolate King' Poroshenko wins Ukraine presidency but violence continues Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). With the outright victory of Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine's presidential elections on May 25 now confirmed, hopes are running high for a new beginning that will deliver a swift way out of a protracted crisis. 2014-05-26T11:45:00Z 2014-05-27T11:45:00Z http://theconversation.com/chocolate-king-poroshenko-wins-ukraine-presidency-but-violence-continues-27203 The Conversation: Whoever wins Ukraine election faces an uncertain mandate and no easy path to peace Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The presidential elections in Ukraine on May 25 were meant to offer the country the beginning of a way out of a protracted crisis. Some of the signs were quite positive. Presidential candidates were stressing the need for unity and dialogue. Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, a powerful tycoon based in eastern Ukraine, took a strong public stance against the separatists there. 2014-05-25T11:44:00Z 2014-05-27T11:44:00Z http://theconversation.com/whoever-wins-ukraine-election-faces-an-uncertain-mandate-and-no-easy-path-to-peace-27145 The Conversation: Meriam Ibrahim death sentence: West needs to give Sudan a bit of face time Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Jonathan Fisher. The case of Meriam Ibrahim, a pregnant woman sentenced to death for apostasy by a Khartoum court, has rightly refocused international attention on the dire state of human rights in Sudan. 2014-05-23T16:53:00Z 2014-05-23T16:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/meriam-ibrahim-death-sentence-west-needs-to-give-sudan-a-bit-of-face-time-27005 The Conversation: The other pivot to Asia and why success in China is not all it seems for Putin's Russia Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Richard Connolly. The headline accomplishment of Vladimir Putin's trip to China is hard to deny: a 30-year deal estimated to be worth US$400 billion for Russia to deliver gas to China. But it isn't the unqualified win that Putin's supporters might claim. For Russia has been backed into a corner. 2014-05-23T16:53:00Z 2014-05-23T16:40:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-other-pivot-to-asia-and-why-success-in-china-is-not-all-it-seems-for-putins-russia-27039 The Conversation: London aside, Farage's UKIP now has its imprint on England Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. You'll be expecting, understandably, UKIP stuff – and there will be, but later. These were elections to determine the political and policy control of 161 English local authorities. Working for a department known in the wider world as the Institute of Local Government Studies, it would be inappropriate for me not to look first at those councils where we know control has changed hands, none of which directly involve UKIP – almost inevitably, given its almost baseline starting point. 2014-05-23T16:32:00Z 2014-05-23T16:26:00Z http://theconversation.com/london-aside-farages-ukip-now-has-its-imprint-on-england-27131 Saving Humans blog: Building "A Spiral of Trust" through GRIT Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. Our last blog explored how peaceful/defensive self-images and ideological fundamentalist beliefs can generate security competition, even between states with peaceful motives and intentions. How, then, might a spiral of distrust be substituted for a 'spiral of trust'. 2014-05-23T10:24:00Z 2014-05-23T10:18:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/05/21/building-a-spiral-of-trust-through-grit/ Saving Humans blog: 'Frame-Breaking Conciliatory Moves between Enemies' Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. The Red October vignette is the stuff of fiction and Hollywood, and the question is whether it has any relevance to building trust in the contemporary world. Kupchan used the story to argue in his book that it was dramatic, frame-breaking moves of this kind that are necessary for adversaries to begin a process of diplomatic accommodation, but the cases he discussed in the second part of his book (especially the Anglo-American rapprochement in the late 19th Century) provide little evidence for this claim. 2014-05-23T10:01:00Z 2014-05-23T09:59:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/05/22/frame-breaking-conciliatory-moves-between-enemies/ The Conversation: Labour should be the biggest local winner – this year anyway Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Two countries have synchronised their EU election and local election dates this cycle: Greece and parts of the UK (England and Northern Ireland). 2014-05-22T16:24:00Z 2014-05-23T16:24:00Z http://theconversation.com/labour-should-be-the-biggest-local-winner-this-year-anyway-27038 Blog: Notes on the 'Worthless Dowry' of Soviet Industrial Modernity Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Jeremy Morris. The monotown, or 'town-forming enterprise', was, and remains a key organisation of urban space in the former Soviet Union. Bound up with such a specifically socialist-conception of space is a host of social and cultural signifiers relating to class, kinship, social networks, local identity, and more. 2014-05-21T10:56:00Z 2014-05-23T11:12:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/notes-on-worthless-dowry-of-soviet.html Saving Humans blog: Psychological Drivers of Distrust Between Adversaries Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. I concluded yesterday's blog by suggesting that perhaps our values and beliefs lead us astray when it comes to thinking about the possibilities for building trust in International politics. I want to pursue this theme today by exploring two key beliefs that promote distrust, and hence fuel security competition. 2014-05-20T15:15:00Z 2014-05-20T14:52:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/05/20/psychological-drivers-of-distrust-between-adversaries/ Saving Humans blog: Trust as a Path to De-Escalation and Frame-Breaking in International Politics Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. 'There is little room for trust among states', so wrote the Chicago based professor of International Relations, John Mearsheimer, in his 2001 opus, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. Trust, Mearsheimer argued, is virtually impossible because states coexist in a condition of international anarchy (defined in the field of International Relations as the absence of a global government) that generates a perpetual competition for security. 2014-05-20T10:03:00Z 2014-05-20T09:54:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/05/19/trust-as-a-path-to-de-escalation-and-frame-breaking-in-international-politics/ Blog: Could Russia Repeat a Ukraine Scenario in Belarus? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Matthew Frear. Russia's intervention in Ukraine has often been justified in terms of defending the interests of ethnic Russians. According to the 2009 national census, almost 800,000 Russians live in Belarus – 8.3% of the population. As the titular nationality, Belarusians are actually in quite a strong position – ethnic Belarusians make up a larger proportion of the population of Belarus than Ukrainians do in Ukraine or Russians do in the Russian Federation. 2014-05-19T11:10:00Z 2014-05-23T11:10:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/could-russia-repeat-ukraine-scenario-in.html Dr Jeremy Morris shortlisted for prestigious BBC Radio 4 Thinking Allowed Award for Ethnography Nathan Johnson You can hear about his nominated article "Beyond coping? Alternatives to consumption within a social network of Russian workers" on BBC Radio 4's website. 2014-05-16T11:04:00Z 2014-05-23T11:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/05/jeremy-morris-shortlisted-thinking-allowed-award-for-ethnography.aspx Dr Jeremy Morris announced as Visiting Research Fellow, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki Nathan Johnson Jeremy Morris was one of a few outstanding international scholars to be awarded this prestigious appointment for 2014-15, against record competition of 176 applications. 2014-05-16T11:04:00Z 2014-05-23T11:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/05/jeremy-morris-visiting-research-fellow.aspx MA Studentship at the Institute for German Studies, University of Birmingham Nathan Johnson The Institute for German Studies at the University of Birmingham is seeking to support a one-year MA studentship in the context of the DAAD-funded project: Weltanschauungen: The German Past and the Contemporary World. 2014-05-15T14:51:00Z 2014-05-15T14:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/institute-german-studies/courses/index.aspx Blog: Under what conditions are decisions best made? Football managers and the public sector Nathan Johnson Written by Ian Briggs. I am not much of a football follower, but I am becoming increasingly bemused by the fascination for premiership clubs in becoming so closely associated with their managers. You can hardly fail to notice that the headlines stories on the back pages of newspapers concentrate a great deal on the relative merits of the approaches taken by the current crop of managers. Am I alone in thinking that they get more attention now than the players? 2014-05-14T10:22:00Z 2014-05-14T10:08:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/football-managers/ University of Birmingham and IPEG workshop: Global Economic Crisis - Which economy and what crisis? An exploration of alternative frameworks Nathan Johnson This workshop (Wednesday 02 April 2014) was set up with the aim of facilitating discussion across different critical approaches to political economy, to develop and clarify the conceptual assumptions that alternative positions have and hence to sharpen our understanding of similarities and substantive differences. The aim was to initiate a research project that moved beyond the current situation of 'parallel conversations' and begins a more systematic understanding and synthesis of political economic approaches to the global financial crisis. 2014-05-13T15:14:00Z 2014-05-13T16:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/05/global-economic-crisis.aspx IDD 50 faces #10 - Professor Ken Davey, OBE (1969-2000) Nathan Johnson I never dreamt that I would be involved in major reforms in countries as diverse as Indonesia, Slovakia and Ukraine. My time at Birmingham has been rich in opportunity and experience and rich in the friendship of likeminded colleagues both here and abroad. 2014-05-12T16:15:00Z 2014-05-12T16:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/ken-davey.aspx IDD 50 faces #11 - Dr Rosamund Thomas (1970-71) Nathan Johnson Perhaps it was unusual but nevertheless at Birmingham University, in my time, I cross-read between several disciplines. At INLOGOV, my Master's degree (1970-71) permitted me to study not only UK central and local government, but also administration in developing countries. In addition, I read aspects of social policy and social administration in another department. 2014-05-12T16:15:00Z 2014-05-12T16:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/rosamund-thomas.aspx Blog: Can the CIS Survive the Ukraine Crisis? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Rilka Dragneva. The death of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has been foretold many times during its history of (now) more than 20 years. Dissatisfaction with its weak and confusing institutional structure and a failure to promote effective regional integration has become an almost permanent background to its existence. Despite the remarkable resilience of the CIS, there are several signs suggesting that the current crisis is more fundamental and extreme than previous shake-ups. 2014-05-12T11:14:00Z 2014-05-23T11:14:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/can-cis-survive-ukraine-crisis.html The Conversation: Ukraine separatists engaged in high-risk game as they press on with referendum plan Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Vladimir Putin's statements giving qualified support for presidential elections in Ukraine on May 25, calling on separatists in eastern Ukraine to postpone their planned referendums and announcing a pull-back of troops from Ukraine's border, has been greeted with scepticism in Kiev, Brussels, London and Washington. 2014-05-09T10:31:00Z 2014-05-14T10:31:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-separatists-engaged-in-high-risk-game-as-they-press-on-with-referendum-plan-26279 Blog: Gerrymandering in Northern Ireland local government? Surely not. Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. It seemed obvious from the outset that Gerry Adams' arrest in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville was a momentous event with potentially massive implications: long-term, short-term, north and south of the border. So I was slightly surprised the following morning to hear a Sinn Fein spokesperson, protesting about the timing of the arrest, highlight its impact specifically on the Northern Ireland local elections. 2014-05-08T16:02:00Z 2014-05-13T16:04:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/gerrymandering-in-northern-ireland/ Blog: Public data: saleable asset or national resource? Nathan Johnson Written by Tom Barrance. Recent announcements by two government agencies, the HMRC and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), regarding the sale of information has thrown a spotlight upon government information and the attendant debates of privacy verses exploitation. What is the ownership of information collected by the state? Held in trust for the citizen, or seen as assets like 3/4G mobile phone licences to be sold by government to the highest bidder? Or should all government data be treated as open data that is made freely available to all? 2014-04-30T17:22:00Z 2014-05-06T09:22:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/public-data/ Blog: The 2014 local elections – a preview Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Two EU countries this May will hold local elections that coincide with their European parliamentary elections: Greece and ourselves. On Sunday 25 May Greeks vote in the second, 'run-off' round of elections to all their 13 regions and 325 municipalities. England, though nearly five times as populous as Greece, also has 325 lower-tier and unitary authorities. We, however, will elect mostly only fractions of fewer than half of our councils, yet still it takes seven lines of a table to summarise the 161 authorities whose voters on Thursday 22 May will probably have both a local and Euro vote. We bemoan our disappointing local turnouts, but we don't make the system exactly voter-friendly. 2014-04-29T14:39:00Z 2014-04-29T14:06:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/the-2014-local-elections-a-preview/ POLSIS Seminar Series 2013-14 Nathan Johnson POLSIS hosts a number of seminars throughout the year which focuses on a number of different topics. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events. 2014-04-29T11:59:00Z 2014-04-29T11:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/events/seminar-series/2013-14/index.aspx IDD Guest Seminar Series 2013-14 Nathan Johnson The International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events. 2014-04-29T11:26:00Z 2014-04-29T11:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/guest-seminar-series/2013-14/index.aspx 2nd Public Service Academy Speed Networking Employability Event Nathan Johnson The Schools of Government and Society and Social Policy, in conjunction with the Public Service Academy (PSA) and the College of Social Science Careers Network, held its second employability event on 26 February 2014. 2014-04-28T16:54:00Z 2014-04-29T10:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/applied-social-studies/news-and-events/2014/04/psa-speed-networking-employability-event.aspx Saving Humans Blog: When facing down Putin, don't let him choose your ground Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Adam Quinn. American presidents often grow to enjoy foreign-policymaking more than the domestic kind as their time in office goes on. One reason is that they find that the comparative lack of interest it holds for both Congress and the general public allows them scope to make decisions with less need to bend to short-term political pressure. Sometimes, however, events come together in such a way as to thrust foreign policy into the spotlight of the 24-hour news cameras, as they did in Ukraine in February with the overthrow by popular uprising of President Viktor Yanukovych. 2014-04-28T16:32:00Z 2014-05-06T09:32:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/04/28/when-facing-down-putin-dont-let-him-choose-your-ground/ The Conversation: With Geneva deal dead Ukraine could be pivotal moment for international relations Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The Geneva Agreement appears to be dead in the water. Achieved only a week ago, it was widely considered a surprising breakthrough, albeit one which offered major concessions to Russia. 2014-04-25T11:31:00Z 2014-04-29T11:32:00Z http://theconversation.com/all-eyes-on-russia-as-ukraine-hurtles-towards-civil-war-25400 50 faces of CREES #52 - Paul Barton, B.Com (Russian Studies) 1964-67 Nathan Johnson When I arrived in 1964, the Social Sciences buildings were very new. I returned in 1999, when my daughter was visiting potential universities, and it looked very down-at-heel. One of the great advantages of CREES was having our own library, which served as both a study area and a social centre - a common room of sorts - where students from all the years mixed and chatted. 2014-04-24T09:51:00Z 2014-04-24T09:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/paul-barton.aspx Blog: Should I stay or should I go? Why the UK should stay out of the Crimea issue Nathan Johnson Iván Farías, Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Political Science and International Studies argues why the UK should stay out of the Crimea issue. 2014-04-24T09:26:00Z 2014-04-24T09:05:00Z http://polsis.org/2014/04/17/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-why-the-uk-should-stay-out-of-the-crimea-issue/ Blog: Déjà Vu? Regionalism and Separatism in Ukraine in a Longer Term Perspective Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Kataryna Wolczuk. In 1991 Ukraine emerged as an independent country with strong regional differences. The reconciling of these differences has since represented one of the most profound challenges that Ukraine has faced and failed to address. A lack of effective and systematic efforts to tackle regional diversity has repeatedly presented grave ramifications for Ukraine's political cohesion and territorial integrity. 2014-04-21T09:20:00Z 2014-04-29T09:26:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/deja-vu-regionalism-and-separatism-in.html#more The Conversation: Breakthrough in Ukraine talks is a win-win situation, especially for Russia Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. The four-party talks on the crisis in Ukraine have apparently produced a significant breakthrough towards the diffusion of an increasingly dangerous situation. 2014-04-18T16:41:00Z 2014-04-24T09:52:00Z http://theconversation.com/breakthrough-in-ukraine-talks-is-a-win-win-situation-especially-for-russia-25346 DLP to present at UNDP/KPMG conference 'Leadership and the Challenge of Change' Nathan Johnson DLP will give a major presentation of its findings at UNDP/KPMG's 2014 International Development Conference in Singapore on 30 April 2014. 2014-04-17T10:15:00Z 2014-04-17T09:56:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news-events/dlp-to-present-at-undp-kpmg-conference-leadership-and-the-challenge-of-change-.php The Conversation: Ukraine crisis: is the West powerless to stop Russian aggression? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. As the situation in Ukraine rapidly spins out of control, various Western leaders have stepped up their verbal warnings to Russia. 2014-04-15T17:50:00Z 2014-04-24T09:52:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-crisis-is-the-west-powerless-to-stop-russian-aggression-25347 IDD 50 faces #09 - Ashok Kumar Jain (1990) Nathan Johnson My time at the IDD (1990) had been most enriching. I especially enjoyed learning how to organize thoughts, lateral thinking, information, time and resource management, converting ideas and academics into practice and gender sensitive development with the people especially the poor. 2014-04-15T16:10:00Z 2014-05-21T07:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/ashok-kumar-jain.aspx The Conversation: Now Crimea's in the bag, where next for Putin and Russia? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The Ukrainian government has announced that it will mount a full-scale military operation to regain control of the east of the country and has set a deadline of 6am on Monday morning for occupied government buildings to be evacuated by armed protesters. 2014-04-15T09:47:00Z 2014-04-15T09:21:00Z http://theconversation.com/all-eyes-on-russia-as-ukraine-hurtles-towards-civil-war-25400 New Centre for Russian and East Eurpean Studies Blog Nathan Johnson This blog will provide its readers with short articles aimed at stimulating thought and debate on current events, emerging research, and broader issues related to Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, written by members of the CREES community, including current and former academics, researchers, PhD students and alumni. Aiming to both provide 'advice to the prince' and 'speak truth to power' from within the social sciences and humanities, it will allow its contributors greater leeway than formal academic writing in expressing their opinions on subjects of acute concern to a wider audience. 2014-04-15T09:26:00Z 2014-04-29T10:38:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/welcome-to-centre-for-russian-and-east.html INLOGOV briefing paper: The 2014 local elections – a preview Nathan Johnson By Chris Game. This year's English local elections have been postponed to Thursday 22nd May to coincide with those to the European Parliament. There are all-out elections in the London boroughs, elections by thirds in the metropolitan boroughs, and a mixture of the two in some unitaries and shire districts. This preview will lead you through this potential confusion, and also provide a guide to those councils most likely to change political control. 2014-04-14T15:01:00Z 2014-04-15T12:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/2014-local-elections.pdf IGS podcast: "Anglifizierung" und "Globalisierung" Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Falco Pfalzgraf (QMUL). '"Anglifizierung" und "Globalisierung": Aktuelle Diskurse zu Entlehnungen und moderner Sprachpurismus'. 2014-04-14T09:22:00Z 2014-04-14T15:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/anglifizierung-globalisierung.aspx IGS podcast: British society, Georgian Monarchy and the Anniversaries of the 'German Connection' (1814 – 2014) Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Torsten Riotte (Goethe-Universitat, Frankfurt-am-Main). Not a Dynastic Centenary: British society, Georgian Monarchy and the Anniversaries of the 'German Connection' (1814 – 2014). 2014-04-14T09:22:00Z 2014-04-14T15:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/british-society-georgian-monarchy.aspx IDD PGR podcast: The Ownership of Official Development Assistance in Jamaica 2005-2013 Nathan Johnson Speaker: Vaughn Graham (PhD researcher, University of Birmingham). The Ownership of Official Development Assistance in the Security and Justice Sector in Jamaica 2005-2013: How the Nature of Sectoral Policymaking Reflects and Challenges International Aid Policy. 2014-04-14T09:22:00Z 2014-04-14T15:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/ownership-security-justice-sector-jamaica.aspx ICCS seminar series podcast: Peace Negotiations and Peacebuilding in the Middle East Nathan Johnson Peace Negotiations and Peacebuilding in the Middle East: The Role of Religion and Culture in Processes of Reconciliation. Guest Speaker: Professor Kamel Abu Jaber (Director, Jordan Institute for Middle East Studies). Chair: Professor Nicholas Wheeler, Discussants: Professor Stefan Wolff, Dr Josef Boehle, Dr Christalla Yakinthou, Dr Asaf Siniver. 2014-04-14T09:22:00Z 2014-04-14T14:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/peace-negotiations-peacebuilding-middle-east.aspx ICCS seminar series podcast: Chemically Massacring Civilians Nathan Johnson Speaker: Paul Schulte. This talk examines and assesses the effectiveness of emerging international responses to chemical attacks during the Syrian Civil War. It considers historical context, attitudes towards WMD possession and use, and recurrent structural aspects of Great Power interest, affecting the choices and legitimate knowledge available to international organisations. 2014-04-14T09:22:00Z 2014-04-14T14:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/chemically-massacring-civilians.aspx IGS podcast: Imagining Violence in Women in 1970's West Germany Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Claire Bielby (University of Hull) presented a lecture on 'Imagining Violence in Women in 1970's West Germany'. 2014-04-14T08:57:00Z 2014-04-14T14:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/imagining-violence-women-1970-west-germany.aspx The Conversation: Ukraine crisis: are Moldova and its Transnistrian region next on Moscow's to-do-list? Nathan Johnson NATO foreign ministers have agreed to suspend all cooperation with Russia and bolster their defence posture in the Baltic states and Poland. This move reflects the continuing perception of a Russian threat to Ukraine, a point made abundantly clear in a statement by the German chancellor Angela Merkel – which is particularly significant given that Germany is usually seen as Russia's closest ally in the West. 2014-04-10T13:55:00Z 2014-04-14T14:57:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-crisis-are-moldova-and-its-transnistrian-region-next-on-moscows-to-do-list-25181 The Conversation: Ukraine a pawn in high-stakes global game with no quick win in sight for EU, US or Russia Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Ukraine appears to be heading towards another crisis. Protests in the eastern cities of Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk have turned violent and pro-Russian protesters occupied government buildings, calling for a referendum on independence. In Donetsk, in an eerie echo of events in Crimea, separatists went one step further and have now proclaimed their own independent Donetsk People's Republic and asked Russia for support. 2014-04-10T13:55:00Z 2014-04-14T14:56:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-veers-closer-to-collapse-as-activists-in-donetsk-proclaim-peoples-republic-25351 Remembering Rwanda: can we ever say 'never again'? Nathan Johnson This week marked the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. More than 800,000 Rwandans, mostly from the minority ethnic Tutsi group, were killed by their Hutu neighbours while the UN force in the country and Western powers looked on. 2014-04-10T13:26:00Z 2014-04-10T13:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/04/remembering-rwanda-can-we-ever-say-never-again.aspx IDD 50 faces #07 - Lenni Montiel Nathan Johnson Studying and living at the University of Birmingham has been for me one of the more rewarding experiences in my life. I got a PhD in Public Policy that allowed me to move forward in my career in international development. I was privileged to joint the Department when it was still the Development Administration Group (DAG) and was able to see and experience its day to day transformation into the International Development Department (IDD) 2014-04-10T12:19:00Z 2014-04-10T11:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/lenni-montiel.aspx IDD 50 faces #08 - Matthew Craig Nathan Johnson I joined IDD in 2009 to complete an MSc in 'International Development, Conflict & Security' under the guidance of Paul Jackson, Danielle Beswick and Heather Marquette. Prior to the MSc, and on the advise of Paul Jackson, I had taken up a 12 month post with a Liberian NGO, in a Project Development role, with a focus on rehabilitating and repatriating Liberian child soldiers from the Buduburum Refugee Camp in Ghana. 2014-04-10T12:19:00Z 2014-04-10T11:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/matt-craig.aspx New article: When does service delivery improve the legitimacy of a fragile state? Nathan Johnson Claire Mcloughlin's new article in Governance takes stock of the theory and evidence on the relationship between service delivery and state legitimacy in fragile and conflict-affected states, challenging received wisdom. 2014-04-09T15:33:00Z 2014-04-17T09:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/when-does-service-delivery-improve-legitimacy-fragile-state.aspx Special CREES/POLSIS Seminar: The production of Migrants in Contemporary Capitalism Nathan Johnson Reflecting the significant interest in the theme of migration among doctoral researcher, CREES/POLSIS organized a special seminar, The Production of Migrants in Contemporary Capitalism 2014-04-09T15:33:00Z 2014-04-09T14:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/04/production-migrants-contemporary-capitalism.aspx Prestigious research programme makes its home at IDD Nathan Johnson A prestigious international research initiative, the Developmental Leadership Program, is to make its home at IDD with funding in place to continue its work for the next three years. 2014-04-09T15:33:00Z 2014-04-10T14:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/prestigious-research-programme-makes-home-at-idd.aspx IDD 50 faces #06 - David Cobley (2006-) Nathan Johnson I joined IDD in 2006 as a part-time Masters students on the Poverty Reduction & Development Management programme. The two years passed by so quickly that I was disappointed when it all came to an end. Since then, however, I have managed to avoid leaving the Department by adopting various guises, including Teaching Assistant, PhD student, Visiting Lecturer and now Teaching Fellow. 2014-04-09T14:47:00Z 2014-04-10T11:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/david-cobley.aspx IDD 50 faces #05 - Hussein A. Salad Nathan Johnson When I first joined the University of Birmingham I came from field work in the humanitarian sector and not so much from an academic background, therefore learning, books, doing assignments and participating in actual academic work scared me a lot. 2014-04-09T08:47:00Z 2014-04-09T14:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/hussein-ali.aspx IDD 50 faces #04 - Ahmed Moghazy Ibrahim (2009-10) Nathan Johnson I joined IDD in 2009 for a MSc in Governance & Development Management. Simply, I would describe the time that I spent there as the unforgettable best time ever I had. My eyes were opened to new things, I met amazing people from all over the world and I was well-equipped to the market. I got a job only one month after my graduation ceremony. 2014-04-08T14:46:00Z 2014-04-15T15:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/ahmed-moghazy-imrahim.aspx IDD 50 faces #03 - Maureen Achieng (1993-94) Nathan Johnson I was always passionate about development studies, which is why I ended up at the IDD in 1993. Promptly upon graduation (1994), I was fortunate to land a job as a United Nations Volunteer in Haiti, seconded to the International Organization for Migration, to work on a countrywide community development programme. It was an experience I treasure to this day. 2014-04-07T14:45:00Z 2014-04-09T14:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/maureen-achieng.aspx IDD 50 faces #02 - Professor Mohit Bhattacharya Nathan Johnson Professor Mohit Bhattacharya who was the first graduate of IDD/INLOGOV. Until recently he was Vice Chancellor of Burdwan University in West Bengal and National Fellow of the Indian Council of Social Science Research. He remains an active writer in public administration and governance. 2014-04-04T14:45:00Z 2014-04-09T14:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/mohit-bhattacharya.aspx IDD Distance Learning Scholarships available 2014 Nathan Johnson The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission has awarded the IDD MSc in International Development (Conflict, Security and Development) DL up to five (full-fee) scholarships for 2014. 2014-04-04T13:46:00Z 2014-04-04T13:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/dl-scholarship.aspx The Conversation: 20 years on, Rwanda exhausts its 'genocide credit' with donors Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Danielle Beswick. On 7 April 2014, Rwanda commemorates the 20th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi. The events of 1994 continue to cast a long shadow over both Rwanda and the international community. As the world remembers along with Rwanda, it is important to reflect not only on the lessons and legacies of the genocide itself, but also the role of Western donors in supporting Rwanda's transition to a peaceful and more prosperous future. 2014-04-04T13:28:00Z 2014-04-04T13:25:00Z http://theconversation.com/20-years-on-rwanda-exhausts-its-genocide-credit-with-donors-25112 IDD 50 faces #01 - Professor Richard Batley Nathan Johnson I joined IDD in November 1978, at roughly the same time as Nick Devas and Andrew Nickson. This was a time of expansion of IDD (then the Development Administration Group – DAG), backed by a 'development fund' that Ken Davey had won from the University of Birmingham. I am forever grateful that Ken who was then the director of DAG took time out to visit me at the University of Sussex and encouraged me to apply. 2014-04-03T14:44:00Z 2014-04-09T14:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/50-anniversary/profiles/richard-batley.aspx POLSIS seminar series podcast: Britain and the EU: Towards Brexit? Nathan Johnson The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speakers: Tim Bale (Queen Mary), Isabelle Hertner, Tim Haughton (POLSIS) and Nathaniel Copsey (Aston University). 2014-04-02T09:09:00Z 2014-04-14T15:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/britain-eu-brexit.aspx The Conversation: Can the US and Russia talk their way out of crisis in Ukraine? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Talks between US secretary of state John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Paris, followed after a week of high-level diplomacy, including a phone call between presidents Obama and Putin. 2014-04-01T17:29:00Z 2014-04-14T14:59:00Z http://theconversation.com/can-the-us-and-russia-talk-their-way-out-of-crisis-in-ukraine-25044 Blog: The Great NHS Robbery - and the great fraud headline con Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Some social phenomena are exceptionally tricky to measure: the black economy, white-collar crime, illegal immigration. So when someone claims to have done so, no matter how flaky their findings, they attract huge, and largely uncritical, media attention. Like last week's excitement about the scale of NHS fraud. 2014-04-01T17:29:00Z 2014-04-01T17:19:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/great-nhs-robbery/ Blog: Why do some PPPs fail to meet objectives? Evidence from Ireland Nathan Johnson Written by Eoin Reeves. Governments around the world are seeking new ways of meeting the challenges of renewing and providing new infrastructure. Factors such as disenchantment with traditional procurement methods and increasing pressures on public finances (intensified by the global economics crisis) have encouraged governments to look to public-private partnerships (PPP) for the purpose of meeting these challenges. 2014-03-31T16:40:00Z 2014-04-15T11:40:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/ppps-objectives-ireland/ Blog: Special CREES/POLSIS Seminar - The production of Migrants in Contemporary Capitalism Nathan Johnson The special CREES/POLSIS Seminar on The Production of Migrants in Contemporary Capitalism presented the work of two young scholars: Dr Nikolaos Xypolytas (University of Cyprus) and Dr Bahar Baser (University of Warwick). 2014-03-31T16:38:00Z 2014-05-06T09:39:00Z http://polsis.org/2014/03/31/special-creespolsis-seminar-the-production-of-migrants-in-contemporary-capitalism/ Blog: Councillors and their disappearing pensions Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. There's no doubt about the domestic conversation topic of the past week: pension pots. Which for many councillors, following a budget with little good news for local government – unless you're a pothole hoping for a makeover under the Chancellor's 'potholes challenge fund' – must have felt like being kicked when already down. 2014-03-27T19:38:00Z 2014-04-15T11:38:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/councillors-pensions/ The Conversation: Despite the rumble of Russian tanks the main weapon in Ukraine is information Nathan Johnson Written by recent CREES PhD graduate Victoria Hudson. In the information age, success is not merely the result of whose army wins, but also of whose story wins." The words of Harvard scholar Joseph Nye have been borne out in Ukraine. 2014-03-26T10:28:00Z 2014-03-26T10:18:00Z http://theconversation.com/despite-the-rumble-of-russian-tanks-the-main-weapon-in-ukraine-is-information-24437 How do you study a problem like Mother Teresa? Nathan Johnson Dr Gezim Alpion posted on the Hindustan Times, 23 March 2014. Compiling a bibliography on Mother Teresa is a daunting task even for her avid title-spotters. And yet, the most written about woman in modern times is finding it rather difficult to become a serious topic of academic enquiry. 2014-03-24T16:15:00Z 2014-03-24T16:09:00Z http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/analysis/how-do-you-study-a-problem-like-mother-teresa/article1-1199556.aspx POLSIS students take part in Model NATO in Washington D.C. (2014) Nathan Johnson This year, the University of Birmingham delegation had the pleasure of representing the United States at the 29th Model NATO Conference, held in Washington D.C. in February 2014. 2014-03-24T09:54:00Z 2014-04-29T10:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/03/model-nato.aspx Blog: Rebalancing Britain Nathan Johnson The Scottish referendum campaign is having an interesting knock-on impact on English political debate. The position and dominance of London – the place Scots most dislike about the United Kingdom in its present form – is being looked at more critically. There have been a couple of think tank reports recently, but the debate has moved quite a way beyond the narrow audiences that these reports usually attract. That in itself is a reflection of the way the ground is shifting. 2014-03-24T09:13:00Z 2014-03-24T09:06:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/rebalancing-britain/ Blog: The impact agenda and political agency Nathan Johnson Written by Matthew Wood. Why should we, as political scientists, 'bother' with impact? My answer is that as social actors we cannot avoid 'impacting' on society in one way or another, just like any other profession. The question is how we should choose to influence society. As British political scientists our choices are, thankfully, quite broad. 2014-03-21T12:30:00Z 2014-03-21T12:12:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/impact-agenda-agency/ Blog: Reclaiming the impact agenda: making impact work for you Nathan Johnson Written by Helen Louise Turton. When encountering the 'impact agenda' the ease of engagement is often dependent upon your discipline and/or the type of research being conducted. Certain forms of research don't lend themselves to be easily compatible with the requirements of the impact agenda as it is currently defined. 2014-03-20T10:14:00Z 2014-03-20T09:48:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/reclaiming-the-impact-agenda/ Blog: The French local elections – and a quiet revolution? Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. This Sunday, March 23, the French will be voting in their local / municipal elections, an occasion about as different from our forthcoming local elections on May 22 as it's possible to be. 2014-03-20T09:49:00Z 2014-03-20T09:40:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/french-local-elections/ Blog: Three problems with the impact agenda Nathan Johnson Written by Katherine Tonkiss. In a recent post for the LSE Impact of Social Sciences Blog, I argued with Catherine Durose that while the idea of delivering policy relevant research is positive, too often our claims to relevance do not deliver genuine impact. 2014-03-19T10:47:00Z 2014-03-19T10:37:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/three-problems-with-impact/ The Conversation: Now Crimea's in the bag, where next for Putin and Russia? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has now apparently formalised the annexation by announcing two new laws that make Crimea and Sevastopol subjects of the Russian Federation and has signed a treaty to this effect with Crimea's pro-Russian leaders. 2014-03-19T09:55:00Z 2014-03-26T09:55:00Z http://theconversation.com/now-crimeas-in-the-bag-where-next-for-putin-and-russia-24521 Blog: Embarking on impact: why do it and what to consider Nathan Johnson Written by Katharine Dommett. The impact agenda has emerged as a prominent component of academic life. Over the last few years alongside the pressures of writing, teaching and administration scholars have been encouraged (if not expected) to conduct impact and public engagement activities. 2014-03-18T15:28:00Z 2014-03-18T15:11:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/embarking-on-impact/ The Conversation: Crimea votes to secede from Ukraine as EU considers sanctions against Russia Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Crimeans have voted by a huge margin to secede from Ukraine. According to early reports released after 50% of the ballots had been counted more than 95% of votes were in favour of joining Russia. 2014-03-18T15:28:00Z 2014-03-18T15:21:00Z http://theconversation.com/crimea-votes-to-secede-from-ukraine-as-eu-considers-sanctions-against-russia-24426 Blog: Sustainable construction and local authorities: a failed experiment Nathan Johnson Written by Max Lempriere. Sustainable housing policy is a hot-topic at the minute. The autonomy that local authorities have had from central government since 2007 to require local energy efficiency and sustainable construction that supersede those in national building regulations is set to be revoked. 2014-03-17T10:44:00Z 2014-03-17T10:35:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/sustainable-construction-and-local-authorities-a-failed-experiment/ Blog: Public service motivation: Love or money? Nathan Johnson Written by Sumedh Rao, Research Fellow in the GSDRC, working on governance in situations of conflict and fragility, statebuilding and state fragility, political economy analysis, aid architecture, anti-corruption reforms, and civil service reform. 2014-03-17T09:32:00Z 2014-03-17T09:15:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/public-service-motivation-love-or-money/ New Research Fellows Join CREES Nathan Johnson New Research Fellows Join CREES/POLSIS strengthening expertise on the Caucasus. 2014-03-14T15:50:00Z 2014-03-14T15:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/03/new-research-fellows.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Power In-Between: Youth's Subaltern Agency and the Post-Conflict Everyday Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Sukaynya Podder, Department of Management and Security, Cranfield University. 2014-03-13T10:33:00Z 2014-03-13T10:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/03/youth-subaltern-agency-post-conflict.aspx The Conversation: How can Ukraine, Crimea and Russia secure a stable future? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The situation in Ukraine is still highly volatile, especially in relation to Crimea and continuing uncertainty about Russia's intentions. But there is a need to consider what a longer-term solution might look like in light of the different demands being made. 2014-03-12T07:36:00Z 2014-03-13T10:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-can-ukraine-crimea-and-russia-secure-a-stable-future-23947 The Conversation: Seizing EU and US assets won't help Russia – it needs the investment Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Richard Connolly. With the Crimean parliament voting to join Russia, and EU leaders discussing potential sanctions, the Ukrainian crisis continues to escalate. But what if Russia's next seizure wasn't further territory but rather Exxon Mobil's gas fields, or Volkswagen's factories? 2014-03-12T07:36:00Z 2014-03-12T07:28:00Z http://theconversation.com/seizing-eu-and-us-assets-wont-help-russia-it-needs-the-investment-24080 Win:Win network: empowering women in leadership - 26 March 2014 Nathan Johnson We are delighted to announce that Norma Jarboe OBE, Director of Women Count and author of a recent report on gender and leadership in higher education will be joining us on 26 March 2014 to discuss her work and the potential benefits for colleagues. The Win:Win network offers a space primarily for academic women at the University of Birmingham to come together, share experiences, develop reciprocal support and facilitate action on issues of gender, diversity, employment, career development and leadership. 2014-03-11T15:15:00Z 2014-03-11T15:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/events/2014/winwin-network.aspx The Conversation: A divided Ukraine could see two radically different states emerge Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Richard Connolly. It is increasingly difficult to predict what the future holds for Ukraine. One scenario sees the country becoming divided along roughly ethnic lines, with an ethnic Ukrainian western state and a more Russia-oriented eastern state comprising today's southern and eastern Ukraine. So what would the economies of these potential new states look like? 2014-03-11T07:32:00Z 2014-03-13T12:40:00Z http://theconversation.com/a-divided-ukraine-could-see-two-radically-different-states-emerge-23946 Cooperation in the Contemporary World: University of Birmingham unveils latest MOOC Nathan Johnson Experts from the the School of Government and Society including the International Development Department, Department of Political Science and International Studies and the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security at the University of Birmingham have introduced a free, open online course today offering a taste of higher education to learners worldwide. Registration is now live for this online course which is scheduled to start in May 2014. 2014-03-10T16:30:00Z 2014-07-21T10:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/03/cooperation-contemporary-world-mooc.aspx Alumni profile: Ana Speed, BA Sociology Nathan Johnson Investment Analyst, Bond Dickinson (formerly Dickinson Dees LLP). I have always had a keen interest in social structures and interactions and studying social sciences at the University of Birmingham provided me opportunity to critically engage with key political, social and economic issues facing contemporary societies. 2014-03-10T10:29:00Z 2014-07-17T15:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/ana-speed.aspx Alumni profile: Nadine Baldwick, BA Sociology and Philosophy Nathan Johnson HR Manager, NHS. My advice to anyone considering studying at Birmingham would be to make the most of your time at university by supplementing your degree with other activities. 2014-03-10T10:29:00Z 2014-07-17T15:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/baldwick-nadine.aspx Alumni profile: Laurin Weissinger, BA Sociology Nathan Johnson Graduate Student and IT Administrator. Currently, I am staying in Oxford and preparing my PhD research that I hope to start this year. Before coming to Oxford, I worked for a while, both at an executive recruitment consultancy in London and full-time in IT. 2014-03-10T10:29:00Z 2014-07-17T15:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/weissinger-laurin.aspx Alumni profile: Olga Fraczek, Sociology graduate Nathan Johnson Account Executive, Harvard Public Relations. 2014-03-10T10:29:00Z 2014-07-17T15:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/fraczek-olga.aspx Blog: The Political Colour of an English Parliament Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. One of the closing questions put to Professor Eastwood following his recent Distinguished Lecture on The British State: Past, Present and Future concerned the place, if any, of an English Parliament in the kind of future federal or quasi-federal Britain about which the lecture had speculated. 2014-03-07T11:26:00Z 2014-03-11T12:38:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/the-political-colour-of-an-english-parliament/ IRiS Podcast: Conviviality, Encounter, Diversity, Migration: But Where Did Race Go? Nathan Johnson Speaker: Sarah Neal, University of Surrey. Migration, Citizenship and Diversity: Questioning the Boundaries Seminar Series. 2014-03-07T11:25:00Z 2014-03-11T08:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/03/conviviality-encounter-diversity-migration.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Risks of African Military Capacity Building: Lessons From Rwanda Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Danielle Beswick (IDD, University of Birmingham). 2014-03-07T10:59:00Z 2014-03-11T09:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/03/risks-african-capacity-building.aspx Professor Henry Maddick Nathan Johnson Henry Maddick, the founder of INLOGOV died at the age of 98 on the 27th of January, after a lifetime of achievement. 2014-03-07T10:39:00Z 2014-03-07T10:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/03/professor-henry-maddick.aspx Alumni profile: Veronika Fafienski, BA Sociology Nathan Johnson Studying at The University of Birmingham has been such an exciting and rewarding experience. When I first arrived, I was instantly captivated by the campus atmosphere. All the things you need as a freshly baked student – department, the library, student union and all the friends you made along the way – were in one place. Of course everyone is unique but for my part I can say that at Birmingham I have been able to set the foundations for both career and personal development. 2014-03-07T09:56:00Z 2014-07-17T15:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/fafienski-veronika.aspx Alumni profile: Ursula Houston, Sociology BA Nathan Johnson Since graduating with a first class degree in Sociology, I have been lucky enough to secure two different internships in the public sector. Both internships were advertised by the careers service solely for University of Birmingham students. 2014-03-07T09:50:00Z 2014-07-17T15:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/houston-ursula.aspx Blog: Migration, citizenship and diversity: questioning the boundaries Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Katherine Tonkiss and Dr Nando Sigona. In recent decades, a significant transformation in the meanings, practices and experiences of membership in contemporary Western democracies has taken place. These transformations have challenged traditional conceptions of state membership which have typically assumed the existence of a nation-state, with a burgeoning line of scholarship challenging the significance of the nation-state in determining membership and endowing rights. This literature argues that recent trends in globalisation, human rights and multiculturalism have made state borders less important. 2014-03-06T11:14:00Z 2014-03-07T11:17:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/migration-citizenship-and-diversity-questioning-the-boundaries/ Sociology - Speed Networking Event Nathan Johnson Sociology hosted a careers networking event on the (01 February 2014). This event provided current students with the opportunity to meet students who have recently graduated from Sociology at Birmingham and learn first-hand from them about the kinds of careers they have followed since then. 2014-03-05T14:27:00Z 2014-04-29T10:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/03/sociology-careers-event.aspx A divided Ukraine could see two radically different states emerge Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Richard Connolly. "It is increasingly difficult to predict what the future holds for Ukraine. One scenario sees the country becoming divided along roughly ethnic lines, with an ethnic Ukrainian western state and a more Russia-oriented eastern state comprising today's southern and eastern Ukraine. So what would the economies of these potential new states look like?" 2014-03-05T13:07:00Z 2014-04-29T14:03:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/divided-ukraine.aspx The Conversation: Putin calling all the shots in Ukraine: what next for relations between Russia and the West? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). After days of heightening tensions and increasingly aggressive rhetoric, Russian president Vladimir Putin requested, and was promptly granted, authorisation to deploy Russian troops in Ukraine until the situation there had "normalised". Yet, after further diplomatic efforts, including a 90-minute telephone call between presidents Obama and Putin, there has so far been no actual military escalation, even though the increased presence of Russian troops in Crimea and Ukraine's announcement to call up military reservists have heightened the potential for serious violence. 2014-03-04T11:02:00Z 2014-03-13T10:36:00Z https://theconversation.com/putin-calling-all-the-shots-in-ukraine-what-next-for-relations-between-russia-and-the-west-23867 Tim Haughton reappointed joint editor of the JCMS Annual Review of the EU Nathan Johnson CREES Director Tim Haughton and Nathaniel Copsey (Aston University) have been reappointed as the editors of the Journal of Common Market Studies Annual Review of the European Union. 2014-03-04T11:02:00Z 2014-03-13T16:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/03/joint-editor-jcms-annual-review-eu.aspx The Conversation: Crimea flashpoint raises stakes in Russia's regional power play Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). As events in Crimea escalate and become a focal point in the broader struggle within Ukraine, between Ukraine and Russia, and between Russia and the West, one key question is about Russia's larger game plan. 2014-03-03T10:43:00Z 2014-03-13T10:37:00Z https://theconversation.com/crimea-flashpoint-raises-stakes-in-russias-regional-power-play-23863 The Conversation: Crimea: the polarised peninsula threatening to rip Ukraine apart Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). These are dangerous times in Crimea. While the ongoing crisis in Ukraine has exposed the division between the country's pro-Western and pro-Russian populations, another divide is more clear-cut and arguably more imminently threatening: the divide between supporters and opponents of separatism in Crimea. 2014-02-28T10:41:00Z 2014-03-12T07:36:00Z https://theconversation.com/crimea-the-polarised-peninsula-threatening-to-rip-ukraine-apart-23739 Saving Humans Blog: What is to be done? Nathan Johnson Written by Jonna Nyman. The blog posts this week have raised a series of questions about energy security. Conventional political thinking on energy security has a narrow focus which emphasises the need to secure state energy supplies. Sustainability is largely ignored, as short-term economic benefit is continually prioritised. The political and military survival of states is prioritised over environmental or climate stability, and human security. So what is to be done? 2014-02-28T09:04:00Z 2014-02-28T09:00:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/28/what-is-to-be-done/ IDD PGR podcast: Cultural Trauma, Youth and Class: Reflections on Fieldwork with Tibetan Refugee Youth Nathan Johnson Speaker: James Connell, PhD researcher, International Development Department, University of Birmingham 2014-02-27T15:18:00Z 2014-03-11T09:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/02/cultural-trauma-youth-class.aspx Saving Humans Blog: Energy security as human security Nathan Johnson Written by Jonna Nyman. Not only are current patterns of energy exploitation a key contributor to climate instability, they also affect human security directly. 2014-02-27T11:58:00Z 2014-02-27T11:45:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/27/energy-security-as-human-security/ ICCS seminar series podcast: Strategy a History Nathan Johnson On the 24th February 2014 Sir Lawrence Freedman launched his latest book (Financial Times book of the year 2013) as part of our ICCS Seminar Series. This event took place in the Business School at the University of Birmingham. 2014-02-26T10:45:00Z 2014-03-13T10:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/strategy-a-history.aspx The Conversation: Ukraine a pawn in high-stakes global game with no quick win in sight for EU, US or Russia Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). It was just last Friday that the Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych and three leaders of the parliamentary opposition – Vitaliy Klichko, Oleh Tyahnibok, and Arsenij Yatseniuk – signed an agreement on how to end the two-month crisis that has engulfed Ukraine. They did so as the protests turned increasingly violent, with up to 100 people killed in the days immediately before the agreement. 2014-02-26T10:39:00Z 2014-03-12T07:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-a-pawn-in-high-stakes-global-game-with-no-quick-win-in-sight-for-eu-us-or-russia-23670 Saving Humans Blog: Energy security vs climate security Nathan Johnson Written by Jonna Nyman. It is clear that energy security opens up some difficult questions about what or whose security should be prioritised. At the centre of this is the growing conflict between the focus of much energy security policy and discussion on fossil fuels, and the human need for a stable climate and environment. Energy security as currently understood by most policymakers is incompatible with a stable climate. We see perhaps the biggest conflict between energy and climate security today in China. 2014-02-26T10:31:00Z 2014-02-26T10:22:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/26/energy-security-vs-climate-security/ Blog: Body / State in An Age of Austerity Nathan Johnson On Saturday 22nd February, the University of Birmingham's Gender and Feminist Theory Research Group were delighted to co-sponsor and host the PSA Women in Politics Specialist Group 's bi-annual conference. The conference was oriented around feminist scholarship that has sought to illuminate the ways in which states and bodies are intertwined both in general and in an age of austerity in particular. 2014-02-25T18:13:00Z 2014-02-25T17:54:00Z http://polsis.org/2014/02/25/body-state-in-an-age-of-austerity-saturday-22nd-february-2014/ Podcast: Foucault, Sexuality, and Sustainable Development by Dr Emma Foster Nathan Johnson In this talk, Dr Foster applies the Foucauldian concepts of biopower and governance to ecology. She describes the rhetoric of the UN's sustainable development policy documents as both gender conservative and heteronormative. She shows how demography itself is a biopolitical instrument and and imagines how a queer approach to ecology might understand nature differently, and outside of the 'resources versus people' dichotomy. 2014-02-25T17:51:00Z 2014-02-25T17:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/foucault-sexuality-sustainable-development.aspx Blog: Policing the journey along the low road Nathan Johnson Written by Alan Doig. Up to the 1980s, crime control in the UK was widely seen as virtually the sole domain and responsibility of law enforcement. Nearly all police forces had, for example, a fraud squad whose purpose was laid out in a 1970 Home Office circular (apparently 115/1970 since you ask) and who traditionally dealt with criminalised aspects of local government misconduct. 2014-02-25T10:00:00Z 2014-02-25T09:52:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/policing-the-low-road/ Saving Humans Blog: Energy security and saving humans Nathan Johnson Written by Jonna Nyman. Energy security is increasingly the subject of headlines around the world. Most states rely heavily on fossil fuels to serve their energy needs, and as these fuels are finite they will eventually run out. There is an ongoing debate over whether or not we already have or will hit 'peak oil' in the near future, but either way there is increasing worry over the availability of, and access to, energy in years to come. 2014-02-25T10:00:00Z 2014-02-25T09:57:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/24/energy-security-and-saving-humans/ Saving Humans Blog: Saving humans or saving states? Nathan Johnson Written by Jonna Nyman. For some states, growing concern over energy security is turning them inwards as they attempt to maximise their own energy supplies. Much of the US energy security debate is centred around the desire for energy 'independence', an enticing dream of a United States which does not need to depend on anyone else. A key part of the solution presented by policy makers is to maximise domestic fossil fuel production... 2014-02-25T10:00:00Z 2014-02-25T09:59:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/25/saving-humans-or-saving-states/ Blog: The Coalition's mishandling of recall: worse than Baldrick's war poem Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Seeking an arresting phrase to convey the protracted abjectness of the events described in this blog, my first thought was Education Secretary Michael Gove's 'misbegotten shambles' – his accusatory summary of how certain historians and popular TV programmes like Blackadder have depicted the First World War. 2014-02-24T11:06:00Z 2014-02-24T10:53:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/the-coalitions-mishandling-of-recall/ POLSIS European Studies workshop: Broadening Approaches to the European Crisis Nathan Johnson On Tuesday 11 February the POLSIS European Studies Research Group hosted a day-long workshop titled, 'Broadening Approaches to the European Crisis: History, Theory, Responses'. The workshop aimed to bring together scholars currently working on the European/Eurozone crisis – based both within and outside of the University of Birmingham. 2014-02-24T10:44:00Z 2014-02-24T10:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/european-studies-workshop.aspx IDD Launch New Module on Disability Nathan Johnson IDD launches new PG module in 'Disability and Development' on campus and via distance learning. 2014-02-21T17:19:00Z 2014-03-11T09:37:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/02/module-on-disability.aspx Joint Birmingham-ULB Seminar on Political Parties in Post-Communist Europe Nathan Johnson Two scholars from Birmingham, Dr Tim Haughton and Dr David White, travelled to Brussels to participate in the first seminar of a joint series with Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) on 04 February 2014. 2014-02-21T11:20:00Z 2014-02-21T11:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/02/political-parties-post-communist-europe.aspx Saving humans Blog: World Government: Not Quite an Idea Whose Time has Come, but No Longer So Far from the Academic Mainstream Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Luis Cabrera. I can say without much reservation that I am one of the most avid students of world government alive today. Of course, I'm careful when and where I say that… 2014-02-21T11:04:00Z 2014-02-21T11:00:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/21/world-government-not-quite-an-idea-whose-time-has-come-but-no-longer-so-far-from-the-academic-mainstream/ Saving humans Blog: Democracy, Rights and European Hopes in Turkey Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Luis Cabrera. Today I want to shift the focus from India and the Dalit (former untouchables) human rights struggle to Turkey. The two may not be obvious cases to treat in the same book or blog series, but in fact, some important issues intersect in both. In the Dalit human rights case, activists struggling on behalf of a category of persons within a country assert that those persons' rights are being systematically violated. 2014-02-20T14:57:00Z 2014-02-21T10:58:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/20/democracy-rights-and-european-hopes-in-turkey/ Saving humans Blog: Applying Global Pressure to Domestic Justice Issues: India's National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Luis Cabrera. Yesterday I wrote about field research I had conducted among unauthorized immigrants in the US and Europe, as well as with immigration authorities and activists. I thought it could be appropriate to follow that up with a brief discussion of some current field research which intersects in some significant ways with the concerns of the Saving Humans initiative. 2014-02-19T14:55:00Z 2014-02-21T10:56:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/19/applying-global-pressure-to-domestic-justice-issues-indias-national-campaign-for-dalit-human-rights/ INLOGOV briefing paper: Bridging the gap Nathan Johnson Bridging the gap: can demand management, behaviour change and coproduction improve outcomes and reduce costs in public services?. Lecture delivered at the University of Illinois at Chicago, October 2013. This paper focuses on public services in England. 2014-02-19T09:38:00Z 2014-02-19T09:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/bridging-the-gap.pdf Saving humans Blog: Studying Global Ethics in its Lived Contexts: Unauthorized Migration and Global Citizenship Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Luis Cabrera. I started my professional (post-university) career as a journalist in Seattle for The Associated Press, the global newswire service. Wire service work has a reputation in the trade as a bit of grind, and there were indeed plenty of overnight shifts spent rewriting local newspaper copy for the wire. 2014-02-19T09:38:00Z 2014-02-19T09:35:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/18/studying-global-ethics-in-its-lived-contexts-unauthorized-migration-and-global-citizenship/ Blog: Devolution's biggest hurdle: Whitehall's culture of comtempt Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Labour published its draft 2015 local government manifesto recently. Entitled Labour and localism: perspectives on a new English deal, the core of the deal is a radical new approach to the financing of local government. 2014-02-17T11:54:00Z 2014-02-17T11:33:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/culture-of-contempt/ A gay rights mountain to climb? Nathan Johnson On 29 June 2013, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, signed a law banning the 'propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations' among people below the age of consent (18 years). For breaking the law, especially in the mass media or on the internet, individuals can be fined up to 1 million roubles. Foreign citizens can be detained for up to 15 days and deported back to their country, in addition to being fined up to 100,000 roubles. 2014-02-17T11:14:00Z 2014-02-17T11:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/02/a-gay-rights-mountain-to-climb.aspx 50 faces of CREES #51 - Liz Wyman (Nee Armitage) 1989-1994 Nathan Johnson I am one of a small group of CREES undergraduates. I studied for a BA in Russian and Russian Studies so my time in CREES was combined with language and literature in the Russian Department. I floated between the Ashley Building and the Muirhead Tower with just a few stop offs in the Mermaid Bar in between. 2014-02-13T17:14:00Z 2014-02-13T16:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/liz-wyman.aspx Blog: It wouldn't be honest! Will closing the high road lead to congestion on the low road? Nathan Johnson Written by Alan Doig. Only a few weeks after my recent article on addressing fraud, corruption and conflict-of-interest in local government from the enforcement and public ethics perspectives – the low road and high road approaches – the EU produced an overview report on corruption. 2014-02-13T14:58:00Z 2014-02-13T14:52:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/it-wouldnt-be-honest-will-closing-the-high-road-lead-to-congestion-on-the-low-road/ Blog: Directly elected mayors in England: leading local government? Nathan Johnson Written by John Fenwick and Howard Elcock. The first directly-elected executive mayors in England took office more than a decade ago. Drawing inspiration from European and American experience, the directly elected mayor appealed to New Labour and Conservative policy-makers alike, offering an apparent solution to perceived problems of weak local leadership and bureaucratic stagnation. 2014-02-13T14:39:00Z 2014-02-13T14:37:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/leading-local-government/ IGS podcast: "Wir sind das Volk": 1989 and East German Memorials. Nathan Johnson Anna Saunders (University of Bangor), '"Wir sind das Volk": The Dominance of 1989 in Memorialising the GDR'. Seminar co-hosted with the Department of Modern Languages (German Studies). 2014-02-13T14:00:00Z 2014-03-13T10:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/wir-sind-das-volk.aspx IRiS Podcast: Struggles against subjection: the consequences of the criminalization of migration on migrants' everyday lives Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Agnieszka Kubal (University of Oxford). Migration, Citizenship and Diversity: Questioning the Boundaries Seminar Series. 2014-02-13T13:06:00Z 2014-03-11T08:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/02/struggles-against-subjection.aspx CREES Podcast: Bribes that are Gifts? Theorising Informality from the ground up in Russia Nathan Johnson Speaker: Jeremy Morris (Centre for Modern Lanuages). Joint seminar by the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) and the Centre for Modern Lanuages. 2014-02-13T12:48:00Z 2014-07-28T15:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/02/bribes-gifts.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Development Strategies and Theories - A Perspective from Tanzania Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Andrew Coulson, Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham. 2014-02-12T09:47:00Z 2014-03-11T09:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/02/development-strategies-theories-tanzania.aspx Student Report: Paula Stoleru, Internship at the Birmingham City Council (2013) Nathan Johnson I feel that any career in the public sector requires an understanding of the complexities hidden within every society. When I started the internship at the Birmingham City Council I realised I knew nothing about what makes Birmingham so unique although it had been two years since I first moved to this city. 2014-02-11T15:00:00Z 2014-02-11T14:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/paula-stoleru-report.aspx Student Report: Sajidah Ali, Level 1 Ibn Jabal Arabic course (2013) Nathan Johnson Over the summer, I undertook a three week Level 1 Ibn Jabal Arabic course, with the financial help of POLSIS. In a nutshell, the course redefined for me the meaning of the word intense. 2014-02-11T15:00:00Z 2014-02-11T14:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/sajidah-ali-report.aspx Student Report: Anna Goodman, The Civitatis International Global Thinking Summer School (2013) Nathan Johnson This summer I was accepted on to a five day programme with the global policy think tank- Civitatis. The Global Thinking Summer School was aimed at future leaders, and was design to help prepare and equip us for a career in policy and politics. There were no more than 10 students per summer school and it was based in the centre of the City of London with one day on the 37th floor of One Canada Square in Canary Wharf (incredible views). 2014-02-11T14:59:00Z 2014-02-11T14:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/anna-goodman-report.aspx Student Report: Charlie Winch, internship at the Westminster based think-tank the Institute of Economic Affairs (2013) Nathan Johnson The IEA is the UK's original free-market thinktank and its mission statement is "to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems". Andrew Marr credited the institute with being "...undoubtedly the most influential think tank in modern British history". 2014-02-11T14:59:00Z 2014-02-11T14:37:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/charile-winch-report.aspx Blog: Partnerships and service integration - is it all just hot air? Nathan Johnson Written by Axel Kaehne. Since the 1990s, policy makers and academics have had a pet project in public service reform. Over time, they have called it differently but always meant essentially the same: public services collaborating with each other to improve service quality. At some point, it was called partnerships (remember the Partnership Agenda under Tony Blair's government?), then it was service integration, a term particularly popular amongst health care professionals. 2014-02-11T13:24:00Z 2014-02-11T13:02:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/partnerships-hot-air/ Mother Teresa: the 'demon' saint Nathan Johnson The late Mother Teresa, one of the world's highest-profile religious figures, was accused of being mad, vain, evil, and also of having an inappropriate relationship with a priest who was her spiritual director, according to newly published research from the University of Birmingham. 2014-02-10T13:48:00Z 2014-03-12T07:37:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2014/02/mother-teresa-demon-saint.aspx Amy Binstead, BA Education and Sociology (1st year) Nathan Johnson Current student Amy Binstead talks about her experience on the BA (Hons) Education and Sociology undergraduate course in the University of Birmingham. 2014-02-06T15:42:00Z 2014-02-06T15:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/edu/education-sociology.aspx The Conversation: Al-Qaeda: thinking local in regional turmoil spells trouble for the West Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama noted that the threat from al-Qaeda had evolved with affiliates of the terror group taking root in places as diverse as Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Mali. 2014-02-06T15:42:00Z 2014-02-06T15:37:00Z http://theconversation.com/al-qaeda-thinking-local-in-regional-turmoil-spells-trouble-for-the-west-22677 Blog: The 21st century public servant - drivers of change Nathan Johnson Written by Maria Katsonis and Helen Sullivan. In 2013 the Melbourne School of Government and the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet began collaborating on a project to explore the roles, skills and characteristics of the 21st century public servant. This blog piece describes some of the key drivers of change we identified, most of which are relevant across a range of contexts, though their impact will be shaped by local political and economic contexts. 2014-02-06T12:55:00Z 2014-02-06T12:38:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/06/21st-public-servant-drivers/ POLSIS seminar series podcast: Deliberative leadership Nathan Johnson The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: John Parkinson (Warwick) Discussant: Andrew Knops. 2014-02-06T12:38:00Z 2014-02-06T12:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/deliberative-leadership.aspx Blog: The Big Society lasted 1000 days. Will we ever see ideas of its like again? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Stephen Jeffares. "This is not the first time in the last year we have heard reports of "big ideas" "biting the dust". The same has been levelled at Cameron's purported big idea in politics: The Big Society." 2014-02-05T11:17:00Z 2014-02-05T14:18:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/big-society/ Blog: Who is in control of the sandbags? Nathan Johnson Written by Philip Whiteman and Ian Briggs. "The recent news that the Minister for the Environment, Owen Patterson, has visited flood torn Somerset and the Environment Agency, has had a bit of a tough time in the media. It has started to open up a few interesting questions and issues around who is actually accountable and who is responsible for flood response." 2014-02-04T14:19:00Z 2014-02-06T12:39:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/sandbags/ Blog: When will they ever learn? Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Staite. The news of the death of Pete Seeger has reminded me again of his old song 'Where have all the flowers gone?' The line 'oh when will they ever learn?' has been running through my head since I saw an item on the local news about police officers and mental health professionals working together to prevent people with mental health problems ending up in police cells for want of the right support. 'Good stuff!' you might think. Indeed it is - but it is also profoundly depressing to hear such a venture being reported as 'new'. 2014-02-03T17:19:00Z 2014-02-03T17:05:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/when-will-they-ever-learn/ IDD Recruiting Research Fellow Nathan Johnson Applications are invited for the position of Research Fellow with the International Development Department to work on a two year Leverhulme Trust research project, 'Networking for fisheries co-management on Lake Victoria, East Africa', working alongside Dr Fiona Nunan. 2014-01-31T13:25:00Z 2014-03-11T09:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/01/recruiting-research-fellow.aspx CREES Podcast: Red Nations: the Nationalities Experience in and after the USSR Nathan Johnson This event was a book launch of a monograph written by former CREES member of staff Jeremy Smith. His account of the role of nationality policy and nationalities in the USSR and its successor states in his new book discussed by Arfon Rees and Galina Yemelianova. 2014-01-31T12:31:00Z 2014-07-28T15:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/01/red-nations.aspx Blog: The prospects for a dramatically more representative Parliament post 2015 are bleak Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Durose, Liz Richardson, Ryan Combs, Francesca Gains and Christina Eason. Whilst the likely outcome of the next election maybe still far too close to call, one feature of the next Parliament is very predictable. The 2015 Parliament is likely to remain as deeply unrepresentative of the make-up of the UK population as the current legislature. 2014-01-31T10:48:00Z 2014-01-31T10:36:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/the-prospects-for-a-dramatically-more-representative-parliament-post-2015-are-bleak/ Full fee bursaries available for postgraduate study in POLSIS 2014-15 Nathan Johnson For the Academic year 2014-15, POLSIS is pleased to offer a range of full and partial bursaries for both domestic/EU and non-EU students. Bursaries are competitive and awarded on the basis of academic merit and the potential to achieve academic excellence. 2014-01-30T17:45:00Z 2014-01-30T17:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/courses/scholarships-bursaries.aspx POLSIS seminar series podcast: In a Cross-Fire of Integration: Russia, Europe and Political Crisis in Ukraine Nathan Johnson The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speakers: Sarah Whitmore (Oxford Brookes), Rilka Dragneva-Lewers (Birmingham Law School), Kataryna Wolczuk (CREES/POLSIS). 2014-01-30T12:18:00Z 2014-02-13T14:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/01/political-crisis-ukraine.aspx Blog: The impact of media logic on democratic legitimacy in local governance networks Nathan Johnson Written by Iris Korthagen and Ingmar van Meerkerk. Many policy- and decision-making processes in today's democracies increasingly take place in governance networks, these are interactive or network forms of governance. This raises an important question of how democratic legitimacy is being shaped in these networks and which factors impact upon this. 2014-01-30T10:10:00Z 2014-01-30T10:09:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/impact-media-logic/ The Conversation: Ugandan intervention holds little hope for South Sudan conflict Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. As the rival factions in the current conflict in South Sudan are about to sign a ceasefire deal in Addis Ababa, concerns remain that Uganda's military intervention in the South Sudanese civil war continue to threaten further regional escalation along well-established and predictable patterns. 2014-01-29T15:05:00Z 2014-01-29T14:27:00Z http://theconversation.com/ugandan-intervention-holds-little-hope-for-south-sudan-conflict-22371 Blog: Can local government govern in the digital age? Nathan Johnson Written by Paul Hepburn. The digital age continues to bring policy challenges for local government. From harnessing 'big data' for the public good to developing 'smart' cities the policy expectation is that local authorities will deliver appropriate governance without which, it is argued, urban life in the 21st century is likely to be rendered more complicated, fragmented , unequal and potentially dystopian through ad hoc technological fixes. 2014-01-29T09:59:00Z 2014-01-29T09:46:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/local-government-digital-age/ Blog: The theft of the open primary: can we pin it on Jeffrey Archer? Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. It's rather late for a New Year's confession, but I need to get it off my conscience: I confess I read Jeffrey Archer books. I'm advised it only ranks as a venial, rather than mortal, sin, and it's not an addiction; I don't buy hardbacks, or sneak them on to student reading lists. 2014-01-29T09:27:00Z 2014-01-29T09:14:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/jeffrey-archer/ Blog: Babies, bathwater and baths Nathan Johnson Written by Alan Dolg. It came as no surprise that the incoming Conservative government was quick to abolish the Standards Board for England after its 2010 election victory. Media comments and party policy briefs made it plain that the government had no time for what it perceived to be an over-zealous, heavy-handed and centralised regulator that added little value to local government. 2014-01-29T09:27:00Z 2014-01-29T09:17:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/babies-bathwater-and-baths/ Blog: Health and wellbeing boards: a new type of partnership? Nathan Johnson Written by Anna Coleman. A great deal rests on Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs), a new type of local partnership. These were established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, to act as a forum in which leaders from the local health and care system could work together to improve the health and wellbeing of their local population and promote integrated services. 2014-01-29T09:27:00Z 2014-01-29T09:19:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/health-and-wellbeing-boards/ Blog: Crime on the high street goes missing Nathan Johnson Written by Professor John Raine. For almost two decades now the statistics for recorded crime in England and Wales have been falling. And even though there has always been a difference, of some magnitude, between the numbers gathered through the British Crime Survey – a large-scale sample of the public's experiences of crime victimisation - and the (persistently smaller) statistics compiled by the police, there has been broad agreement at least in the downward trend. 2014-01-29T09:26:00Z 2014-01-31T12:20:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/crime-on-the-high-street/ What you need to know about the causes of the Ukrainian protests Nathan Johnson Written by Kataryna Wolczuk (University of Birmingham) and Roman Wolczuk (University of Wolverhampton) on The Monkey Cage. 2014-01-29T09:08:00Z 2014-02-13T14:13:00Z http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2013/12/09/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-causes-of-the-ukrainian-protests/ Crime on the high street goes missing Nathan Johnson Written by Professor John Raine. For almost two decades now the statistics for recorded crime in England and Wales have been falling. And even though there has always been a difference, of some magnitude, between the numbers gathered through the British Crime Survey – a large-scale sample of the public's experiences of crime victimisation – and the (persistently smaller) statistics compiled by the police, there has been broad agreement at least in the downward trend. 2014-01-29T09:08:00Z 2014-01-29T09:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/01/crime-on-the-high-street-goes-missing.aspx What kind of Eurasian Union might Ukraine be joining? Nathan Johnson Written by Rilka Dragneva and Kataryna Wolczuk (Elgar Blog). Ukraine is again at the centre of global attention after its government failed to sign the Association Agreement with the EU. This failure was interpreted as succumbing to Putin's pressure to join the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus instead of re-orienting westward. There is little doubt that Ukraine's full accession to this Union would be a major trophy for Putin, both domestically and internationally. 2014-01-28T09:53:00Z 2014-02-13T14:15:00Z http://elgarblog.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/what-kind-of-eurasian-union-might-ukraine-be-joining-by-rilka-dragneva-and-kataryna-wolczuk/ IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Spread of the Birmingham Mafia: The Development of In-Country Programmes Nathan Johnson Speaker: Professor Ken Davey OBE, Emeritus Professor, International Development Department, University of Birmingham. 2014-01-27T13:45:00Z 2014-03-11T09:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/01/development-in-country-programmes.aspx Ariel Sharon dies at 85 after decades as polarising presence Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. "Described by Ronald Reagan as 'a bellicose man who seemed to be chomping at the bit to start a war' and by George W Bush as "a man of peace", few contemporary figures could match Sharon's talent for invoking such contradictory sentiments by two American presidents." 2014-01-24T12:32:00Z 2014-01-31T12:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/ariel-sharon.aspx Understanding Society: Guest post by Justin Cruickshank on critical realism Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Justin Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Sociology. This contribution is a response to a lively recent discussion at Understanding Society over the status of transcendental ontology in critical realism, including two posts on Cruickshank's critique of Bhaskar and comments and criticisms offered by Dave Elder-Vass, Mervyn Hartwig, Ruth Groff and Daniel Little. 2014-01-22T12:53:00Z 2014-01-22T15:09:00Z http://understandingsociety.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/guest-post-by-justin-cruickshank-on.html Problem-Solving and the Social Production of Knowledge: A Reply to Isaac Reed, Justin Cruickshank Nathan Johnson Written By Dr Justin Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Sociology. I would like to thank Isaac Reed for his careful consideration of the issues that stemmed from my discussion of Popper and Rorty. Here I hope to address those issues and to discuss my view of Popper's approach to science that was left mostly unaddressed in the original article. 2014-01-22T12:53:00Z 2014-09-26T13:38:00Z http://social-epistemology.com/2014/01/14/problem-solving-and-the-social-production-of-knowledge-a-reply-to-isaac-reed-justin-cruickshank/ Blog: Local democracy at the sharp end: diary from a Parish Council Nathan Johnson Written by Ian Briggs. It starts in the autumn of 2013. The Secretary of State knocks back the latest submission of the Core Strategy from the District Council – more homes needed please. Suddenly, the Parish Council becomes inundated with requests for meetings from developers – the story here being that this rural village has the postcode where houses change hands on the market the fastest for miles around, and for the highest possible price. 2014-01-22T12:46:00Z 2014-01-22T09:41:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/local-democracy-at-the-sharp-end/ Blog: Reason, myth and migration Nathan Johnson Written by Phillip Cole. One of the dominant features of public debate about immigration in the United Kingdom is the absence of reason. Many political commentators have begun to notice the reluctance of people to abandon basic myths about immigration, despite the prevalence of evidence that shows those myths to be false. 2014-01-21T16:39:00Z 2014-01-21T16:18:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/reason-myth-migration/ IRiS Podcast: Beyond Reason: The Philosophy and Politics of Immigration Nathan Johnson Speaker: Philip Cole, University of the West of England. Migration, Citizenship and Diversity: Questioning the Boundaries Seminar Series. 2014-01-21T11:46:00Z 2014-03-11T08:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/01/beyond-reason.aspx Blog: The English question Nathan Johnson Written by Martin Stott. It is worth contemplating the possibility of a scenario in which Scotland votes for independence in September and a new Government holds an 'in/out' referendum on the remainder of the UK's membership of the EU in 2017 – and the vote produces an 'out' result. Whether it is of the social democratic variety espoused by the SNP in Scotland, or the populist nationalism of UKIP in England, nationalism is having a profound effect on British politics. 2014-01-17T17:16:00Z 2014-01-17T17:01:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/the-english-question/ Graduate internship: Geraldine Tovey, Health Exchange (2014) Nathan Johnson Geraldine studied International Relations and graduated in 2012. During her degree she focused on the political side of the course and completed internships within MP's offices in Birmingham, as well as part time jobs in retail. 2014-01-17T13:49:00Z 2014-01-17T13:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/geraldine-tovey-internship.aspx Student profile: Lauren Boon, International Relations with French (Year Abroad) Nathan Johnson I spent the third year of my degree studying abroad, at France Sciences Po, in Lyon, France. 2014-01-17T13:35:00Z 2014-01-17T13:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/lauren-boon-ya.aspx Student profile: Evgeniya Chalakova, International Relations with German (Year Abroad) Nathan Johnson As part of the study abroad scheme I spent the third year of my degree studying in Berlin, Germany at the Free University of Berlin. 2014-01-17T13:32:00Z 2014-01-17T13:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/evgeniya-chalakova-ya.aspx Blog: Violence in South Sudan illustrates the perils of state building Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. The Christmas period in the newest nation in the world, South Sudan, has been a violent one. More than 1,000 people are believed to have died (BBC) with more than 120,000 forced to flee ethnic clashes (BBC) in one of the least developed countries in the world. The President of the UN Security Council, Gerard Arnaud, has warned that this could lead to a fully fledged ethnic war in the country and around 7,500 UN peacekeeping troops have deployed to the country. In a country that is awash with guns and with a long history of violence between ethnic groups, populist political rhetoric along ethnic lines is dangerous. 2014-01-15T08:44:00Z 2014-03-11T09:39:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/violence-in-south-sudan-illustrates-the-perils-of-state-building/ The Conversation: Ariel Sharon dies at 85 after decades as polarising presence Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. To his critics he will forever be the "Butcher of Beirut", the master of Israel's disastrous invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and the man responsible for the horrendous massacre of hundreds of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. His supporters will celebrate him as one of the most daring and ingenious military commanders in Israel's history and the prime minister who engineered the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, bringing an end to 38 years of military occupation. Ariel "Arik" Sharon, Israel's 11th prime minister, was certainly a controversial figure. 2014-01-14T10:52:00Z 2014-10-31T11:06:00Z http://theconversation.com/ariel-sharon-dies-at-85-after-decades-as-polarising-presence-21903 Katherine Nichol, Intern Birmingham City Council (2013) Nathan Johnson During my four-week summer placement at Birmingham City Council, my role was based around shadowing the Director of Local Services. 2014-01-10T15:25:00Z 2014-01-10T15:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/katherine-nichol-internship.aspx Blog: Where have all the politics gone? On wildebeest, lions and other political animals Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Staite. "One benefit of spending many days mass catering and washing up over Christmas has been the companionship of Radio 4 news programmes. Sadly, I now feel a bit like those women who decide on divorce just after Christmas. Prolonged exposure to political reporting has left me feeling betrayed and irritated in equal measure." 2014-01-10T12:17:00Z 2014-01-10T12:04:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/political-animals/ Student profile: Jenny Akers, Sociology BA Nathan Johnson My enjoyment of the course has stemmed from my personal academic progress as well as the opportunity to explore a plethora of sociological, historical and contemporary concerns, such as; gender, ethnicity, technological innovation and class stratification. 2014-01-10T12:16:00Z 2014-01-10T11:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/jenny-akers.aspx Student profile: Ioana Cerasella Chis, Political Science and Sociology BA (3rd year) Nathan Johnson Being interested in both Sociological and Political ways of understanding the dynamics within societies, I chose to do a Joint Honours course which has not ceased to impress me with its variety of modules and other opportunities. 2014-01-10T12:16:00Z 2014-01-10T11:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/ioana-cerasella-chris.aspx A Day in the Life of an International Relations Student Nathan Johnson Current undergraduate Sarah Heta take you on a tour of a typical day in the life of an International Relations student at the University of Birmingham. 2014-01-07T14:47:00Z 2014-01-08T09:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/sarah-heta-day-in-life.aspx POLSIS Student profiles Nathan Johnson With over 4,000 international students from more than 150 countries, the University of Birmingham has one of the largest international student communities in the UK, so whether you are a UK student or travelling to Birmingham from overseas, you will work alongside fellow students with differing perspectives. 2014-01-07T13:19:00Z 2014-01-07T13:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/teaching/student-profiles.aspx Student profile: Katherine Nichol, Sociology BA (3rd Year) Nathan Johnson As a mature student I was attracted to study sociology at the University of Birmingham by its great reputation, course content and campus. Birmingham is also a great place to live, with amazing food, music and opportunities which you can only get in a big city. 2014-01-07T12:19:00Z 2014-01-07T11:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/katherine-nichol.aspx RUSI Analysis 'The Volgograd Bombings: the Latest Chapter in Putin's War in the Caucasus' Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Cerwyn Moore. The latest bombings in Russia is part of an ongoing war between Putin and Islamist rebels who feed upon a anti-federal, pan-Turkic and pan-Islamist narrative. 2014-01-06T11:00:00Z 2014-08-20T11:01:00Z https://www.rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C52C6F0A75426B/#.U_OoFspARhh Exciting, Forward Thinking Undergraduate Degrees Nathan Johnson Choose to study political science, international studies, sociology or european politics and take the opportunity to examine some of the most important political issues that we as citizens face in the 21st century. 2014-01-02T15:38:00Z 2014-03-11T08:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/undergraduate.aspx CREES doctoral researcher's first-hand impressions of the crisis in Ukraine, December 2013 Nathan Johnson I have been in Kyiv since Wednesday and have been to Maidan everyday for a couple of hours or so. The first day was freezing and snowing and I got cold walking around, let alone standing listening to rallying speeches which is what a lot of people were doing. Each day the crowd has got bigger, building for the weekend. 2013-12-20T14:21:00Z 2013-12-20T14:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/12/dr-impressions-of-the-crisis-in-ukraine.aspx International Collaboration map Nathan Johnson The College of Social Sciences is proud of its extensive links with universities and other strategic partners throughout the world. Through our network of global partnerships, we engage in a wide range of activities including staff and student exchange and collaboration in research and teaching. 2013-12-19T13:51:00Z 2014-03-11T08:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/collaboration/index.aspx CREES Celebrates its 50th Anniversary Nathan Johnson The Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) turned 50 years old in 2013. To celebrate this landmark and to showcase the expertise and contributions of CREES staff and alumni, the Centre organized a series of special seminars and an expanded annual conference. 2013-12-19T10:31:00Z 2014-01-10T15:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/12/50th-anniversary.aspx Doctoral Researchers Yearbook 2013 Nathan Johnson The Yearbook showcases the innovative and cutting edge work of the Doctoral Researchers in the Schools of Business, Education, Government and Society and Social Policy. The quality of the research being undertaken within our Doctoral Research Community is outstanding and this Yearbook highlights the impressive scope, depth and breadth of the research being undertaken. 2013-12-18T07:36:00Z 2014-03-11T08:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/dr-yearbook-2013.pdf Podcast: Making Politics Practical II: Development Politics and the Changing Aid Environment Nathan Johnson This workshop - which was held at the University of Birmingham and co-hosted between IDD and the PSA Development Politics Group - thus takes the 2007 event forward and explores the '(re)politicisation' of development studies and the need for constructive, rather than merely critical, engagement with policy makers. 2013-12-18T07:19:00Z 2013-12-18T07:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/12/making-politics-practical.aspx POLSIS seminar series podcast: Living in Interesting Times: Russian Politics and Economics in Putin's Third Term Nathan Johnson CREES 50th Anniversary Seminar Series. Speakers: Joshua Tucker (New York University), Julian Cooper (CREES/POLSIS) and David White (CREES/POLSIS). 2013-12-10T13:04:00Z 2013-12-19T10:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/12/living-in-interesting-times.aspx Video: International students at the University of Birmingham Nathan Johnson International students from Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia at the University of Birmingham talk about their time at Birmingham, including their experiences living in a vibrant and multicultural UK city. 2013-12-10T12:14:00Z 2014-03-11T08:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/international/students/index.aspx The Conversation: Peace and Security in Africa: from summitry to solutions Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. The death last night of Nelson Mandela serves as a reminder of the enormous potential of African leaders to bring positive and lasting change to the continent. It is a reminder also of the obligations that African leaders have towards their own countries and citizens. 2013-12-10T12:07:00Z 2014-03-13T10:36:00Z http://theconversation.com/peace-and-security-in-africa-from-summitry-to-solutions-21199 Autumn Statement 2013 - Response Nathan Johnson We asked six leading academics for their response to the government's Autumn Statement and the likely impact it could have on everything from taxes to local service provision, the high street to personal wealth. 2013-12-10T10:05:00Z 2014-03-11T08:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/autumn-statement-2013-response.aspx Blog: What does the Autumn Statement mean for local government? Nathan Johnson This December, in contrast to the previous two years of worse than expected news, the Chancellor has revised his growth forecasts upwards and revised his debt forecasts downwards. 2013-12-09T10:49:00Z 2013-12-09T10:46:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/autumn-statement-lg/ Ukraine and Europe: challenges ahead Nathan Johnson Following the failure of the Ukrainian government to sign an Association Agreement (AA), a pillar of the European Union's much-vaunted Eastern Partnership with Ukraine at its heart, protestors spilled onto the streets of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities to demand the rescinding of this decision. 2013-12-09T10:39:00Z 2013-12-09T10:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/12/ukraine-and-europe-challenges-ahead.aspx Blog: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918-2013 Nathan Johnson Heather Marquette, Reader in Development Politics at IDD, and David Hudson, Senior Lecturer in Political Economy at UCL, are directors of research for the Developmental Leadership Program (DLP). They reflect on the inspirational achievements of Nelson Mandela – who embodied developmental leadership. 2013-12-06T20:00:00Z 2013-12-10T13:32:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/nelson-rolihlahla-mandela-1918-2013/ Autumn Statement 2013 - Expert Opinions Nathan Johnson We asked six leading academics for their expert opinions on this week's Autumn Statement and the likely impact it could have on everything from taxes to local service provision, the high street to personal wealth. 2013-12-04T07:22:00Z 2014-03-11T08:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/autumn-statement-2013.aspx ICCS seminar series podcast: Security Cosmopolitanism: Case, Critiques, and Future Nathan Johnson Speakers: Dr Anthony Burke, Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Cooperation, Conflict and Security, and Reader in Political and International Studies at the University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia. 2013-12-03T11:57:00Z 2014-03-13T10:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/12/security-cosmopolitanism.aspx The Conversation: Obama must face down hawks and Israel over Iran deal Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Adam Quinn. The nuclear deal reached between the United States and Iran represents both a breakthrough and a risk for Barack Obama. A breakthrough because it stalls Iran's progress towards nuclear weapons capability for six months, in exchange for only moderate concessions on sanctions, while a bigger final settlement is haggled over. 2013-11-29T14:18:00Z 2014-03-13T11:01:00Z http://theconversation.com/obama-must-face-down-hawks-and-israel-over-iran-deal-20749 ICCS seminar series podcast: US medical assistance and smart power strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan Nathan Johnson 'Health for Health's Sake, Winning for God's Sake: US medical assistance and smart power strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan'. Speaker: Simon Rushton is a Faculty Research Fellow in Department of Politics at the University of Sheffield. 2013-11-29T11:27:00Z 2013-11-29T11:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/us-medical-assistance-smart-power-strategies.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Development of Development: A Personal View Nathan Johnson Speaker: Professor Richard Batley, International Development Department, University of Birmingham. The International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone. 2013-11-29T11:18:00Z 2014-03-11T09:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/11/development-personal-view.aspx The Conversation: Iran's nuclear weapons deal will rebalance the Middle East Nathan Johnson Written by Stefan Wolff. Signed by the P5 + Germany and mediated by the EU's foreign policy chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton, the deal achieved with Iran on the latter's nuclear programme has important implications for regional and international security dynamics that go well beyond nuclear weapons. 2013-11-27T14:06:00Z 2014-03-13T11:01:00Z http://theconversation.com/irans-nuclear-weapons-deal-will-rebalance-the-middle-east-20748 The Conversation: Joseph Kony peace talks may be just another tactic Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. The government of the Central African Republic claims to be in talks with one of the world's most enigmatic African guerrilla leaders, Joseph Kony. But Kony has entered talks before with no intention of backing down. This latest announcement follows all the same patterns and should be treated with scepticism. 2013-11-25T09:17:00Z 2013-11-25T09:12:00Z http://theconversation.com/joseph-kony-peace-talks-may-be-just-another-tactic-20662 Listen to our latest podcasts Nathan Johnson Listen to the latest podcasts from across the School of Government and Society. Recent podcasts include "Hobbes's Dilemma and the Liberal Quest for World Order" by Robert O. Keohane; "The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: The Uses and Misuses of History"; "Hearing Local Voices in Peacebuilding" and many more from POLSIS, IDD, ICCS, CREES and IGS. 2013-11-22T14:15:00Z 2014-12-09T17:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/podcasts/index.aspx Blog: Electoral reform: STV for local elections and first-time compulsory voting Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Two research-based reports on electoral reform appeared almost simultaneously last week. Great for anoraks, but for a local government blog a dilemma. Only one report directly concerns local government, and here, therefore, it properly leads off. But the second is – how to put this – at least methodologically the more interesting and will receive the greater attention. 2013-11-22T10:58:00Z 2013-11-22T10:27:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/stv-local-elections/ Students vote Birmingham as a top UK University for Politics Nathan Johnson POLSIS has been voted as one of the top departments in the country for studying Politics in the UK. The survey, carried out by Which? University Guide canvassed the views of over 16,000 students across the UK. 2013-11-21T17:51:00Z 2014-03-13T11:03:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/which-university-guide.aspx POLSIS seminar series podcast: The Eurocrisis and Democratic Legitimacy Nathan Johnson The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speakers: Huw Macartney (POLSIS), David Bailey (POLSIS) and Greig Charnock (Manchester). 2013-11-21T11:51:00Z 2013-11-22T10:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/eurocrisis.aspx The Conversation: Hard Evidence: is it possible to forecast HS2's benefits? Nathan Johnson Written by Rebecca O'Neill, INLOGOV PhD researcher. The recent publication of the government's strategic case for HS2 has added to mounting concerns about the strength and validity of evidence put forward to support the project. Previously, the business case report written by KPMG stated that the high-speed rail link could benefit the UK by £15 billion a year – a claim made just days before a critical vote in parliament that secured further funding. 2013-11-21T09:23:00Z 2013-11-25T09:30:00Z http://theconversation.com/hard-evidence-is-it-possible-to-forecast-hs2s-benefits-20164 Two PhD Studentships Available for CREES Students Nathan Johnson The Centre for Russian and East European Studies invite applications from high-quality applicants for PhD study funded by our ESRC Doctoral Training Centre. 2013-11-20T15:12:00Z 2013-11-20T14:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/esrc-phd-scholarships.aspx 50 faces of CREES #50 - Stefanie Harter (1993-1997) Nathan Johnson I arrived at CREES after studying economics in Dortmund and a Master's degree at SSEES in London. Being a German student of the 1980s, I was inspired by both the peace movement and Gorbachev's policy of konversiya. After four years of studying under the close supervision of Julian Cooper, I left with a PhD and an enthusiasm for Russian military aircraft. 2013-11-20T13:13:00Z 2013-11-20T12:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/stefanie-harter.aspx 50 faces of CREES #49 - Jelena Obradovic-Wochnik (2004-2008) Nathan Johnson I joined CREES in October 2004 to start my PhD on post-conflict Serbia. This was a very interesting time for the Western Balkan region and pursuing a research project on the topic at a place like CREES was very rewarding. PhD students received excellent supervision and research training, but above all we felt we were a part of a lively intellectual community. 2013-11-20T12:54:00Z 2013-11-20T12:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/jelena-obradovic-wochnik.aspx The Conversation: Recovery from the Arab Spring will take a generation or more Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. At a meeting at the Wall Street Journal this week, Martin E Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the United States' ability to exercise influence in the Middle East had significantly diminished over the course of the Arab Spring. He noted in particular that there are fewer and fewer good options left for dealing with the conflict in Syria. 2013-11-20T09:22:00Z 2013-11-25T09:22:00Z http://theconversation.com/recovery-from-the-arab-spring-will-take-a-generation-or-more-20522 ESRC grant success for Birmingham Nathan Johnson We are delighted to announce that the University of Birmingham has risen to third in the UK with Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) grant success in terms of values of award according to the Times Higher statistics. 2013-11-20T07:50:00Z 2014-03-11T08:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/11/esrc-success.aspx Blog: Making 'climate compatible development' possible in coastal areas Nathan Johnson Fiona Nunan is Lecturer in Environment and Development in IDD, specialising in natural resource governance and management in developing country settings, particularly within inland fisheries and coastal locations in East and Southern Africa, and in exploring the links between poverty and the environment. 2013-11-19T11:15:00Z 2013-11-19T11:14:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/making-climate-compatible-development-possible-in-coastal-areas/ IDD Academic interviewed for Sky News on David Cameron's Sri Lanka trip Nathan Johnson On Saturday 16 November Dr Danielle Beswick, IDD Lecturer and Director of Research, was interviewed live on Sky News about UK Prime Minister David Cameron's trip to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). From 2010-12 Danielle undertook British Academy funded research into the politics of identity in post conflict Sri Lanka, delivering a briefing on this for a donor roundtable at the British High Commission in 2011. 2013-11-19T10:37:00Z 2013-11-19T10:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/11/david-camerons-sri-lanka-trip.aspx Blog: A reply to Frazer Nelson: the only thing astonishing is how little power local authorities have Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Staite. Fraser Nelson's article on Birmingham City Council last Friday was a very disappointing offering from an experienced journalist and a reputable paper – more Daily Mail then Daily Telegraph. It was riddled with inaccuracies. 2013-11-18T16:36:00Z 2013-11-18T16:29:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/frazer-nelson/ IAS Blog: Thinking and working politically in development interventions. Workshop round-up from Jonathan Fisher Nathan Johnson Written by Jonathan Fisher. Friday's workshop – and Sam Hickey's keynote which followed it – saw a mammoth amount of discussion, presentation and critical reflection packed in to one day. Podcasts of the 14 – yes 14! – presentations which took place will shortly be available to listen to for those who couldn't attend; keep an eye on #mpolprac for this where you can also follow the discussion courtesy of our live-tweeters from the day. 2013-11-18T10:41:00Z 2013-11-18T10:29:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/18/thinking-and-working-politically-in-development-interventions-workshop-round-up-from-jonathan-fisher/ IAS Blog: Making politics practical Nathan Johnson Today's blog is – I am afraid – something of a place-holder. As we speak, academics, policy-makers and practitioners from across the globe are meeting at Birmingham University to discuss how to turn 'thinking politically' into 'working politically'. 2013-11-15T15:30:00Z 2013-11-15T15:18:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/15/making-politics-practical/ The Conversation: After a slow start, police commissioners hit their stride Nathan Johnson The "plebgate" saga has once again raised questions about police integrity and dented public trust and confidence in policing more generally. Building such trust was, of course, one of the coalition government's arguments for introducing police and crime commissioners (PCCs). Elections for the first PCCs took place exactly a year ago and despite initial criticisms, they do appear to be making a difference. 2013-11-15T09:34:00Z 2013-11-25T09:35:00Z http://theconversation.com/after-a-slow-start-police-commissioners-hit-their-stride-20277 IAS Blog: From "thinking politically" to "working politically" Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Jonathan Fisher. Most people involved in the development enterprise, however, are 'doers' as well as 'thinkers' – far more of my students hope to work for donor agencies, NGOs or charities than within university faculties or think tanks. A key challenge for proponents of the 'thinking politically' agenda, therefore, comes with the 'operationalization' of said agenda. 2013-11-14T16:23:00Z 2013-11-14T16:08:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/14/from-thinking-politically-to-working-politically/ POLSIS seminar series podcast: Tolstoy's Question: The Ecological Preconditions of Global Justice Nathan Johnson The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: Simon Caney (Oxford University); Discussant: Luis Cabrera (POLSIS) co-sponsored by Global Ethics. 2013-11-14T15:25:00Z 2013-11-14T15:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/tolstoys-question.aspx IAS Blog: Thinking politically - Part III Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Jonathan Fisher. Another way in which 'politics' has often been understood by donor officials has been as a 'problem' – as Laura Routley and David Hulme have recently pointed out (Routley and Hulme 2013: 15-16). The introduction of 'political economy analyses' (see tomorrow's blog) of development programmes and interventions in recent years has – for many donors – simply flagged-up all the obstacles 'politics' poses to the successful implementation of an otherwise well-designed project. 2013-11-13T16:20:00Z 2013-11-13T16:31:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/13/thinking-politically-part-iii/ 50 faces of CREES #48 - Jeremy Smith Nathan Johnson After taking an MA and PhD at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies in London, I defected to the Midlands to teach Russian History at CREES in 1999. After taking over responsibility for first the Masters programme, and then the PhD programme at CREES, I grew increasingly envious of the students and ex-students (including many of my colleagues) who were able to include the fantastic Russian language programmes in their studies and hence reached a far better level of Russian than I have ever managed. 2013-11-13T16:04:00Z 2013-11-14T11:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/jeremy-smith.aspx The Conversation: Back towards the brink in Iraq as old tensions are renewed Nathan Johnson Written by Stefan Wolff. Things have not been going well in Iraq for a while. Sectarian violence is on the increase, having reached levels last seen in 2008. As a consequence, the government of Nouri al-Maliki is in dire straits. The same prime minister who negotiated a restrictive status-of-forces agreement with the United States in 2008, now comes begging to Washington for military aid and support. 2013-11-13T15:33:00Z 2014-03-13T11:00:00Z http://theconversation.com/back-towards-the-brink-in-iraq-as-old-tensions-are-renewed-19787 Economic and Social Research Council funding Nathan Johnson We are able to offer 22 ESRC scholarships to fund postgraduate training and doctoral research, with both +3 (PhD) and 1+3 (Masters and PhD) funding available. A full ESRC scholarship comprises research fees, relevant bench fees, and an annual Research Council stipend (£13,726 in 2013/14). Applications for ESRC funding beginning in October 2014 are now being accepted. 2013-11-13T14:10:00Z 2014-03-11T08:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/dr-fees/ESRC-research-council.aspx 50 faces of CREES #47 - Kataryna Wolczuk (1993-2013) Nathan Johnson Having spent the last 20 years at CREES, arriving there in 1993 to do a part-time M.Sc, I have witnessed people come and go, academic structures evolve, buildings go up, décor date and hairs grey. But one thing has endured: the relentless commitment of my colleagues, past and present, to this complex and still misunderstood part of the world. 2013-11-12T14:47:00Z 2013-11-12T14:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/kataryna-wolczuk.aspx Tim Haughton Writes on the Czech Parliamentary Election for the Washington Post Nathan Johnson CREES Director Tim Haughton (POLSIS) co-wrote an analysis of the Czech Elections for the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog explaining the second electoral earthquake to hit the Czech Republic in three years. 2013-11-12T14:12:00Z 2013-11-12T13:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/11/czech-parliamentary-election-washington-post.aspx CREES involved in NATO Advanced Research Workshop Nathan Johnson Dr Derek Averre, Centre for Russian and East European Studies, co-organising a NATO-funded workshop 'Towards Common Perceptions of Emerging Security Challenges' with the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Europe. 2013-11-12T13:55:00Z 2013-11-12T13:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/11/nato-advanced-research-workshop.aspx CREES academic delivers public lecture Nathan Johnson Dr Derek Averre of CREES is to deliver a talk on Russia's foreign policy and its role in the Syria conflict to the Warwick District Branch of the UN Association. 2013-11-12T13:54:00Z 2013-11-12T13:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/11/averre-public-lecture.aspx IAS Blog: Thinking politically - Part I Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Jonathan Fisher. The 'age of austerity' has not been kind to Western aid agencies and their staff or to those who would defend them. Though Britain's Department for International Development (DFID) has had its budget 'ring-fenced' since 2010 its counterparts elsewhere in Europe have not been so lucky while its equivalent in Australia – AusAID – has disappeared altogether as an independent entity, subsumed into the country's foreign ministry only weeks ago. 2013-11-12T11:25:00Z 2013-11-12T11:17:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/11/thinking-politically-part-i-thinking-and-working-politically-in-development-interventions-by-jonathan-fisher/ IAS Blog: Thinking politically - Part II Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Jonathan Fisher. What, however, do we mean by 'political' in the context of development policy and thinking? Almost absent from development discourse prior to the 2000s – as scholar and practitioner Sue Unsworth points out (2009:883) – the word 'politics' has now become an integral part of development language albeit without ever having been clearly defined. Along with terms like 'ownership', 'agency' and even 'development' itself, 'politics' seems to mean something so intuitive and obvious to all that exploring its actual meaning seems like ivory tower navel-gazing to many policy-makers. 2013-11-12T11:25:00Z 2013-11-13T16:25:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/12/thinking-politically-part-ii/ INLOGOV Postgraduate Taster Days Nathan Johnson 12 December 2013 and 16 January 2014. Are you an individual planning to invest in your future with a postgraduate qualification? Or are you you an organisation planning to invest in building capacity within your organisation? If the answer is yes – then register for an INLOGOV Taster Day to find out more about what INLOGOV can offer you or your organisation. 2013-11-08T13:37:00Z 2013-11-08T13:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/taster-days/index.aspx New Executive Programme in Collaborative Strategy Nathan Johnson 12, 13 December 2013 and 16, 17 January 2014. This module gives you the tools to develop genuinely collaborative strategies, so that your partnerships deliver better outcomes at lower cost. 2013-11-08T11:45:00Z 2013-11-08T11:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 New Executive Programme in Outcomes, Performance and Resources Nathan Johnson 06, 07 March and 03, 04 April 2014. At a time of public sector austerity, value for money takes on a greater-than-ever priority. This course addresses key questions in efficiency and performance and shows how services can be defended against retrenchment budgeting by clear evaluation of outcomes. 2013-11-08T11:44:00Z 2013-11-08T11:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 New Executive Programme in Public Management and Leadership Nathan Johnson 15, 16 May and 05, 06 June 2014. This programme will give you a firm grounding in the theories of leadership and management in the context of a fast-changing public sector. You will learn new ways of looking at old problems and gain invaluable insights from the experience of successful leaders. 2013-11-08T11:44:00Z 2013-11-08T11:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 ESRC PhD Scholarships Nathan Johnson The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) and the School of Government and Society invite applications from high-quality applicants for PhD study funded by our ESRC Doctoral Training Centre. Interested parties should contact Dr Adam Quinn, firstname.lastname@example.com as soon as possible to discuss their application. Formal applications must be submitted to the Department by 6pm on Tuesday December 10 2013 to be considered for ESRC funding. 2013-11-07T11:31:00Z 2013-11-07T11:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/esrc-phd-scholarships.aspx ICCS seminar series podcast: Empathy Dynamics in Conflict Transformation Nathan Johnson Speakers: Professor Lynne Cameron (Open University) and Simon Weatherbed (Responding to Conflict). The talk reported on a case study of empathy in conflict transformation and peace building initiatives in northern Kenya, implemented as part of the Conflict Sensitivity Consortium and Diocese of Maralal Integrated Peace and Livelihood project (funded by CAFOD). 2013-11-07T10:58:00Z 2013-11-07T11:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/empathy-dynamics-conflict-transformation.aspx The Conversation: Obama's soft power a hard sell after NSA revelations Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Adam Quinn. For presidents, like sports team managers, the tough weeks tend to outnumber the jubilant. But even by the standards of an unforgiving job, Barack Obama could be forgiven for feeling unusually buffeted of late. Many of the blows have come on the domestic front, with the all-consuming stand off of the government shutdown segueing into frantic efforts to defend and repair the roll-out of Obamacare amid charges of fatal technological incompetence. 2013-11-07T10:11:00Z 2014-03-13T11:01:00Z http://theconversation.com/obamas-soft-power-a-hard-sell-after-nsa-revelations-19572 Blog: The paradoxical nature of being successful Nathan Johnson Written by Ian Briggs. The world of social science can be an odd place at times. Much is quite rightly being made of the impact of severe reductions in public spending, but when social scientists look at the levels of satisfaction with public services, many see the general quality of services remaining high. 2013-11-06T11:25:00Z 2013-11-06T11:16:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/paradoxical-success/ IDD 50th anniversary event: Taking politics seriously: from development to social justice? Nathan Johnson 15th November 2013, 18.00 - 19.00. Speaker Professor Sam Hickey, Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester. A lecture to be given as part of the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the International Development Department and on the eve of the 2013 Development Studies Association conference to be hosted at the University of Birmingham 2013-11-06T09:45:00Z 2013-11-07T09:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/guest-seminar-series/2013-14/13-11-15-taking-politics-seriously.aspx Postgraduate Open Day - 27 November 2013 Nathan Johnson The next Postgraduate Open Day will be held on Wednesday 27 November 2013. You can now book your place. 2013-11-05T13:00:00Z 2014-03-11T08:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/events/visit-open-day.aspx Bespoke postgraduate programmes Nathan Johnson The Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) is a leading provider of tailored training delivered locally to an individual local authority or group of local authorities. We can help you with any training that your authority needs. 2013-11-05T10:16:00Z 2013-11-05T09:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Building trust in public policing? The contribution of Police and Crime Commissioners, one year on Nathan Johnson Written by Professor John Raine. The 'Plebgate' saga, which has now drawn apologies to Andrew Mitchell from three chief constables, has once again raised questions about police integrity and dented public trust and confidence in policing more generally. 2013-11-05T10:16:00Z 2013-11-05T10:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/10/building-public-trust-in-policing-the-contribution-of-police-and-crime-commissioners-one-year-on.aspx Blog: Delivery of public services and economies of scale: Cooperation as an alternative for small municipalities Nathan Johnson Written by Germà Bel. The economic crisis has strongly affected many developed countries, and has caused serious tensions in government finances. These constraints are particularly important at the local level, because local governments have limited taxing bases, and fiscal competition is stronger. Policy discussion on local government reform and local cost reductions, as well as increasing efficiency in local service delivery, is widespread. 2013-11-05T10:16:00Z 2013-11-05T10:06:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/delivery-of-public-services-and-economies-of-scale-cooperation-as-an-alternative-for-small-municipalities/ Blog: Want a 50% turnout in a local election? Try Neighbourhood Planning Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Yes, there were other news stories last weekend – Grangemouth, St Jude, Plodgate, Merkel's mobile, Lady Gaga's new album. Still, a more than 50% turnout in something local governmenty surely merited some kind of headline. 2013-11-01T18:12:00Z 2013-11-06T11:14:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/neighbourhood-planning/ POLSIS seminar series podcast: Brazil in the global nuclear order Nathan Johnson A discussion on Brazil and nuclear weapons within a wider discussion of nuclear cooperation and trust building. Speaker: Matias Spektor (King's College London); Discussant: Nick Wheeler (POLSIS); Chair: Marco Vieira (POLSIS). 2013-10-31T14:56:00Z 2013-11-01T09:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/10/brazil-global-nuclear-order.aspx GSDRC / DLP job vacancy: Research Administrator Nathan Johnson IDD is looking for a talented administrator to support the management of two high-profile research initiatives: GSDRC and the Developmental Leadership Program (DLP). Apply by 04 November 2013. 2013-10-28T15:24:00Z 2014-03-11T09:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/10/dlp-research-administrator.aspx Developmental Leadership: Does Leadership Really Matter for Development? Nathan Johnson On 21 October 2013 the UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence hosted academics and top officials for a rich exchange of views and experience with the Developmental Leadership Program (DLP) – one of the world's leading research programmes looking into governance challenges in international development. 2013-10-28T15:23:00Z 2013-10-28T14:38:00Z http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/capacitybuilding/publicservice/convening-hub/DLPevent.html IDD Guest seminar podcast: Revisiting the Inequality and Conflict Nexus Nathan Johnson Speaker: Professor Mansoob Murshed, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University of Rotterdam and Coventry University. The International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone. 2013-10-25T14:17:00Z 2014-03-11T09:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/10/revisiting-inequality-conflict-nexus.aspx DLP job vacancy: Communications Support Officer Nathan Johnson The Developmental Leadership Program (DLP) is recruiting a Communications Support Officer to help make DLP's research findings more accessible to decision-makers. This is a varied and flexible part-time role with an application deadline of 04 November 2013. 2013-10-24T16:32:00Z 2013-10-24T16:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/10/communications-support-officer.aspx What has worked in foreign aid to service delivery in fragile situations? Nathan Johnson GSDRC researcher Claire Mcloughlin has taken part in a high-profile debate about the challenges and trade-offs development agencies encounter when trying to support service delivery in fragile and conflict-affected states. 2013-10-24T16:03:00Z 2013-10-24T15:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/10/foreign-aid-service-delivery-fragile-situations.aspx Blog: Innovation in social care: it's the how as much as the what Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Needham. People with personal budgets need to have something to buy. For some people the money will be spent on a personal assistant. But there will be lots of people who don't have a big enough budget to employ someone, or don't want to take on employer responsibilities. For them a more attractive option may be to buy some support from within the community. 2013-10-22T12:49:00Z 2013-10-22T12:34:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/innovation-in-social-care-its-the-how-as-much-as-the-what/ Exciting, Forward Thinking Undergraduate Degrees Nathan Johnson Choose to study political science, international studies, sociology or european politics and take the opportunity to examine some of the most important political issues that we as citizens face in the 21st century. 2013-10-22T11:18:00Z 2013-10-22T11:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/undergraduate.aspx Undergraduate Open Day: 26 October 2013 Nathan Johnson Our Undergraduate Open Days offer you the perfect opportunity to hear first-hand from our current undergraduates and teaching staff about living and learning at Birmingham. 2013-10-22T11:18:00Z 2013-10-29T07:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/events/visit-open-day.aspx The Conversation: Electoral deadlock means no end to Republican extremism Nathan Johnson After 16 days of anxiety, grandstanding and acrimonious finger-pointing, the experiment in American democracy that was the government shutdown has been run, and for the Republicans, the results were devastating. 2013-10-21T16:15:00Z 2013-10-21T16:00:00Z http://theconversation.com/electoral-deadlock-means-no-end-to-republican-extremism-19313 Blog: Planning and the new (new) localism - what chance of success? Nathan Johnson Written by Nancy Holman. Planning in a time of austerity is never easy – budgets are cut, needs are great and regulation can be seen as stifling growth. In England we are in just such a position and in the midst of a reformulation of planning that is on the one hand meant to deliver growth and on the other designed to empower communities. Most of these reforms are being couched in the language of localism with community participation at the forefront of policy. 2013-10-21T14:33:00Z 2013-10-21T14:11:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/planning-localism/ The true impact of migration for the UK Nathan Johnson As immigration tops the news agenda yet again, three University of Birmingham academics examine the real issues behind the headlines and the true impact of migration for the UK. 2013-10-21T11:16:00Z 2013-10-21T10:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/immigration.aspx Testing the Diplomatic Path with Iran in Geneva Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. "Speaking before the UN General Assembly on 24 September, US president Barack Obama said that he was 'encouraged' that Iran's new president Hassan Rouhani was charting a course that could lead to a 'meaningful agreement' on the nuclear issue. But Obama cautioned that 'conciliatory words will have to be matched by actions that are transparent and verifiable.'" 2013-10-21T11:16:00Z 2013-10-21T11:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/iran-diplomacy-wheeler.aspx Undergraduate Student Exchange and Year Abroad Nathan Johnson The University of Birmingham is committed to producing global citizens by providing students with as many opportunities as possible internationalise their degree. Each year from within POLSIS up to a quarter of our students have the opportunity to complete a year abroad as part of their degree program and benefit tremendously from increased confidence and different academic perspective of having studied a politics based degree in a foreign country. 2013-10-21T09:51:00Z 2013-10-22T10:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/year-abroad.aspx IAS Saving Humans Blog: …and in conclusion Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Rita Floyd. Over the course of this week I have looked at some detail at the Nobel Peace Prize. I have argued that the prize committee does not always simply passively award the prize to obvious persons after their good deeds are done; for example, to the likes of Mr Mandela or Mr Gorbachev after apartheid or after the end of the Cold War. Instead I have argued that the actions of the committee can be understood as agenda-setting and deeply political. 2013-10-21T09:38:00Z 2013-10-21T09:32:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/18/and-in-conclusion/ Undergraduate Open Day: 26 October 2013 Nathan Johnson Our Undergraduate Open Days offer you the perfect opportunity to hear first-hand from our current undergraduates and teaching staff about living and learning at Birmingham. 2013-10-21T09:00:00Z 2013-10-21T09:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/events/visit-open-day.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Addressing Tough Challenges in State-building One Step at a Time Nathan Johnson Speaker: Anne-Marie Brinkman, Independent Consultant, former advisor to UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nairobi. The International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone. 2013-10-18T15:55:00Z 2014-03-11T09:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/10/addressing-tough-challenges-state-building.aspx IAS Saving Humans Blog: The biggest losers and the biggest winners Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Rita Floyd. Today I want to look at those individuals who have missed out on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Most prominently mentioned in this context is Mahatma Gandhi, whose non-violent struggle against British rule in India is practically synonymous with peaceful change. 2013-10-17T13:26:00Z 2013-10-17T13:10:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/17/the-biggest-losers-and-the-biggest-winners/ IAS Saving Humans Blog: Nobel Peace Prize. Agenda-setting continued Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Rita Floyd. Having working in the area of environmental security studies for the past ten years I am all too familiar with the linkage between war and/or insecurity and climate change/large scale environmental degradation. Yet at the time of the award I remember reading many editorials asking what the linkage between peace and climate change is, and whether the IPCC was the right choice. 2013-10-16T11:17:00Z 2013-10-16T11:05:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/16/nobel-peace-prize-agenda-setting-continued/ Blog: Could a lack of trust between professionals undermine health and social care integration? Nathan Johnson Written by Catherin Mangan. The latest guidance on the health and social care integration transformation fund emphasises the need for 'genuine commitment to partnership and recognition of the challenges' to ensure success. We all know that successful integration will rely on genuine, positive relationships between health and social care professionals in the system. But are we taking these positive relationships for granted? 2013-10-16T11:02:00Z 2013-10-16T10:55:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/trust-health-social-care/ A Successful Bid for European Funding for Research on the Caucasus Nathan Johnson Dr Kataryna Wolczuk and Dr Derek Averre from the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) in POLSIS have been successful in winning research funding as part of a consortium with French and other European partners for the project on the 'Security-Democracy Nexus in the Caucasus' (CASCADE). 2013-10-15T12:34:00Z 2013-10-15T12:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/10/european-funding-research-caucasus.aspx IAS Saving Humans Blog: Most popular? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Rita Floyd. The Nobel Peace Prize's official website includes a list of the most popular Peace laureates of all time. It does not mention how popularity is measured. And indeed many of the entries in the top ten do not beg that question. Martin Luther King Jr. leads the list. He was awarded the Prize in 1964 for his legendary struggle against racism and for equality and human rights. Jane Addams is number two. Less well known than Mr King she founded the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in 1919, and worked for many years to get the great powers to disarm and conclude peace agreements. 2013-10-15T11:32:00Z 2013-10-16T11:02:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/15/most-popular/ Blog: Fast scholarship is not always good scholarship: relevant research requires more than an online presence. Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Durose and Katherine Tonkiss. Blogging and social media are tools to facilitate engagement, but are they in danger of being treated as ends in themselves? Catherine Durose and Katherine Tonkiss argue for more awareness on how the research process can democratise knowledge. Rather than quickly responding to recent events, scholars should look towards sustained engagement with the participants of research and those affected by it. 2013-10-15T11:31:00Z 2013-10-15T10:24:00Z http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/10/11/fast-scholarship-is-not-always-good-scholarship/ The Conversation: Trust crucial in high-stakes nuclear talks with Iran Nathan Johnson Written by Nicholas J. Wheeler. Talks begin in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss with Iran the thorny issue of its nuclear program, an area that has previously proved to be a stumbling block in normalising relations between the Islamic Republic and the West. But this time Iran has a new president – the moderate Hassan Rouhani – and hopes for progress towards a deal are high. 2013-10-15T11:31:00Z 2014-03-13T11:50:00Z http://theconversation.com/trust-crucial-in-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-with-iran-19170 Podcast: The EDL, Tommy Robinson and the British Far Right Nathan Johnson The Politics @ Birmingham Podcast: Episode 03. On this week's podcast we talk about the shock resignation of Tommy Robinson as leader of anti-Islam protest group the English Defence League, and whether he or the movement now have a political future. We also discuss the fortunes and prospects of the British far right more generally, as well as those who seek to thwart it. 2013-10-15T09:20:00Z 2013-11-22T11:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/10/edl-podcast-03.aspx Conference: What's the business case for co-production in public services? - 24th October 2013 Nathan Johnson 10th Meeting of the West Midlands Co-Production Network hosted by INLOGOV, LARIA and Governance International. The central issue for the day will be: What is the evidence on when and how co-production can be a cost effective solution for local government services? The conference will be hosted by three of the leading UK organisations in the field of co-production: INLOGOV, LARIA and Governance International. 2013-10-14T17:03:00Z 2014-10-14T16:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/2013/business-case-for-co-production-in-public-services.aspx IAS Saving Humans Blog: And the winner is… Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Rita Floyd. On Friday last week this year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) 'for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons', and for rendering the use of chemical weapons a taboo under international law. The use of chemical weapons is prohibited under international law since the 1925 Geneva Convention, however, only since the 1992-93 Chemical Weapons Convention is the production and storage of such weapons prohibited. 2013-10-14T10:32:00Z 2013-10-16T11:00:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/14/and-the-winner-is/ Blog: It's been 30 years coming, but Clause 38 is still really bad news Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. Sometimes you hear "All things", but the ancient proverb and the modern Guinness advert agree that it's "Good things come to those who wait". Unfortunately, bad things do as well, and for local government Clause 38 of the Local Audit and Accountability Bill is a bad thing that's been waiting to happen for 30 years and now finally has. 2013-10-14T10:14:00Z 2013-10-14T10:12:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/clause-38/ The Conversation: Progress on Syrian WMDs but real test for UN lies ahead Nathan Johnson Written by Nicholas J. Wheeler. The Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has announced it is sending a second team of weapons inspectors to Syria where, director-general Ahmet Üzümcü reports, destruction of al-Assad's chemical stockpile has commenced with the co-operation of regime officials in what he describes as a "constructive beginning". 2013-10-11T17:14:00Z 2014-03-13T11:50:00Z http://theconversation.com/progress-on-syrian-wmds-but-real-test-for-un-lies-ahead-18966 The Conversation: Morsi indictment shows failure of transitional justice in Egypt Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Transitional justice, a common feature of most regime changes whether they are the result of a civil war or a revolution, has been practised in different ways in the course of the Arab Spring. In Tunisia, we have seen the indictment and sentencing in absentia of exiled ex-president Ben Ali; in Libya, the lynching of dictator Muammar Gaddafi and the on-going uncertainty over the trial of his son, Saif and in Yemen, the quasi-blanket amnesty for ex-President Ali Abduallah Saleh. 2013-10-11T17:11:00Z 2014-03-13T11:47:00Z http://theconversation.com/morsi-indictment-shows-failure-of-transitional-justice-in-egypt-19120 Video: Saving Humans: Risk, Intervention, Survival Nathan Johnson 'Saving Humans' is an innovative and timely theme which consolidates existing University research agendas, provides opportunities for creating novel and exciting partnerships, transcends divides between arts, social sciences and natural sciences and, most importantly, addresses broader issues of social, political and moral concern for humanity's future. 2013-10-11T14:35:00Z 2014-03-11T08:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/ias/saving-humans/index.aspx Blog: Leading a Council: insights from Warwickshire Nathan Johnson Written by Izzi Seccombe. "May 2nd 2013 was a greatly significant day. Not only was I appointed leader of Warwickshire County Council, but, as the first female leader, I felt incredibly proud and honoured to be steering our county borough into the future." 2013-10-11T09:45:00Z 2013-10-11T09:32:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/leading-a-council/ Blog: Tommy Robinson Quits the English Defence League: Damascene Conversion or a Cynical Tactic? Nathan Johnson This week EDL leader Tommy Robinson quit from the English Defence League and began collaborating with the counter extremist Quilliam Foundation, however, POLSIS researcher Alex Oaten argues that there is little for us to be positive about. 2013-10-10T14:45:00Z 2013-10-10T14:28:00Z http://polsis.org/2013/10/10/tommy-robinson-quits-the-english-defence-league-damascene-conversion-or-a-cynical-tactic/ Blog: If I asked you to describe a 21st century public servant, what would you say? Nathan Johnson Written by Catherine Mangan. I read with interest the recent announcement from Birmingham City Council that they did not intend to recruit a replacement chief executive, but would instead create a 'lead officer' role. A few years ago it would have been unthinkable not to have a chief executive at the head of a council. Now, with councils debating what their role is, and the need to seize an opportunity to make savings, more and more councils are making the decision to remove the chief executive post entirely. 2013-10-10T14:45:00Z 2013-10-10T14:34:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/21st-century-public-servant/ Blog: The managerial-political interface: strong relationships prosper in difficult times Nathan Johnson Written by Andrew Muter, Chief Executive of Newark and Sherwood District Council. "The Chief Executive's leadership position in Local Government operates in a different context to simple hierarchies. We all manage at the political interface – what some have termed a grey area between the hurly-burly of big P Politics and the general management of the organization. And the relationship at the core is that between the Leader and Chief Executive." 2013-10-10T14:45:00Z 2013-10-10T14:36:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/managerial-political-interface/ Jamie Vickery, International Political Economy MA Nathan Johnson From my undergraduate experience, I already knew that the level of support that I would receive from the department would be high and I was also excited about the introduction of environmental governance and climate change politics modules (the political area that I did eventually want to focus on) helped to persuade me to come back. 2013-10-10T13:15:00Z 2013-10-10T12:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/polsis/2012-13/jamie-vickery-loyalty-discount.aspx Neema Begum, Political Science (British Politics and the State) MA Nathan Johnson After completing my undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Relations at POLSIS, I chose to continue studying at Birmingham at postgraduate level. I knew that by studying with POLSIS, I would continue to be challenged and encouraged in my studies; I also knew that I would benefit from both the expertise within the department and from the excellent academic teaching and a solid research base. 2013-10-10T12:58:00Z 2013-10-10T12:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/polsis/2012-13/neema-begum-loyalty-discount.aspx POLSIS Bursary: Edward Li, International Relations (Contemporary Asia-Pacific) MA Nathan Johnson I chose to study with POLSIS as the University of Birmingham has a rather high ranking in the subject field of Political Science. Before I applied to Birmingham I also read about the profiles of the professors and lecturers on the POLSIS website and learned that they have brilliant qualifications and experiences. 2013-10-09T10:15:00Z 2013-10-22T10:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/polsis/2012-13/edward-li-bursary.aspx Megan Baxter, International Relations (Gender) MA Nathan Johnson In addition to the full fee bursary that POLSIS offer, in 2013 we were also able to offer a £500 Masters fee reduction to a small number of final year Birmingham POLSIS students who had applied for postgraduate study with POLSIS. Megan Baxter(BA History and Political Science) was one of the recipients of this fee discount and is now studying for an MA in International Relations (Gender). 2013-10-09T10:15:00Z 2013-10-09T10:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/polsis/2012-13/megan-baxter-loyalty-discount.aspx Blog: Closing the loop: bridging the gap between provision and implementation of feedback Nathan Johnson 'Closing the loop: bridging the gap between provision and implementation of feedback' is a project funded by a Higher Education Academy collaborative Teaching Development Grant. Running from June 2013 through December 2014, it brings together four researchers – Dr Helen Williams, Dr Bettina Renz, Dr Nicola Smith and Dr Hardeep Basra – in the politics departments at the University of Nottingham and the University of Birmingham. 2013-10-09T08:57:00Z 2013-10-09T08:50:00Z http://polsis.org/2013/10/08/closing-the-loop-bridging-the-gap-between-provision-and-implementation-of-feedback/ Victims vs Villains: The 3rd Annual Student Conference Nathan Johnson The 3rd Annual Government and Society/POLSIS Conference, Victims vs. Villains, was held in June 2013 and, once again, the event was a great success thanks to all the students, staff and outside speakers who got involved. 2013-10-08T12:08:00Z 2014-10-14T16:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/10/victims-vs-villains-3rd-annual-student-conference.aspx Blog: Relational leadership, group dynamics and personal identity. Nathan Johnson Written by Kim Ryley. Kim Ryley is a recent Past President of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and a Trustee of the Leadership Centre. He has 14 years experience as a Chief Executive in four upper tier local authorities. Kim is currently a freelance Leadership Development Consultant and Director of Torque Leadership Associates Ltd. 2013-10-08T10:16:00Z 2013-10-08T10:05:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/relational-leadership/ Student report: Ioana Cerasella Chis, Policy Intern in the Corporate Resources department at Birmingham City Council (2013) Nathan Johnson This summer I have been a Policy Intern in the Corporate Resources department at Birmingham City Council (BCC). As a Political Science and Sociology student, I have been interested in working in a Local Government institution. That was because I wanted to find out more about the possibilities and limitations of the public sector in collaborating with, and supporting community organisations. Given my current interests and knowledge generated from my two years of study at Birmingham I found that the internship met my expectations and provided valuable insights. 2013-10-08T09:18:00Z 2014-03-13T11:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/ioana-cerasella-chis-internship.aspx Exciting, Forward Thinking Undergraduate Degrees Nathan Johnson Choose to study political science, international studies, sociology or european politics and take the opportunity to examine some of the most important political issues that we as citizens face in the 21st century. 2013-10-08T08:34:00Z 2013-10-08T09:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/undergraduate.aspx Seminar Debates Autumn 2010 Information on Seminar Debates Autumn 2010 2013-10-08T07:45:00Z 2013-10-08T07:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/igs/news-events/zeitgeist-seminar-series-autumn-2010.pdf Seminar Debates Autumn 2011 Information on Seminar Debates Autumn 2011 2013-10-08T07:45:00Z 2013-10-08T07:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/igs/news-events/zeitgeist-seminar-series-autumn-2011.pdf Seminar Debates Summer 2011 Information on Seminar Debates Summer 2011 2013-10-08T07:45:00Z 2013-10-08T07:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/igs/news-events/zeitgeist-seminar-series-summer-2011.pdf Seminar Debates Spring 2011 Information on Seminar Debates Spring 2011 2013-10-08T07:45:00Z 2013-10-08T07:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/igs/news-events/zeitgeist-seminar-series-spring-2011.pdf Seminar Debates Spring 2012 Information on Seminar Debates Spring 2012 2013-10-08T07:45:00Z 2013-10-08T07:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/igs/news-events/Zeitgeist-seminar-series-spring-2012.pdf The Conversation: Black Hawk Down returns: how local conflicts become regional Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Twenty years ago, on 3 and 4 October 1993, the so-called Battle of Mogadishu, also referred to as Black Hawk Down, raged in the Somali capital. Two decades on, this region of East Africa still suffers from the instability anchored by the collapsed Somalian state, and the inability of local and international actors to deal with it effectively. 2013-10-07T15:31:00Z 2014-03-13T11:04:00Z http://theconversation.com/black-hawk-down-returns-how-local-conflicts-become-regional-18850 Executive Programme in Strategic Commissioning (5 day course) Nathan Johnson 3, 4 and 5 March and 28, 29 April 2014. This Executive Programme in Strategic Commissioning focuses directly on the current challenge of coping with public service funding cuts at a time of rising service needs and expectations. 2013-10-07T11:16:00Z 2014-03-11T12:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/accredited-short-courses/strategic-commissioning.aspx Executive Programme in Collaborative Strategy (4 day course) Nathan Johnson 12, 13 December 2013 and 16, 17 January 2014. Everyone in the public sector needs to understand why successful collaboration is crucial to success in transformation, costreduction and improved outcomes. But it isn't easy. Each partner will have a different culture and different imperatives and you need to understand what drives them before you can work in partnership effectively. How can you harness the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of collaboration? This module gives you the tools to develop genuinely collaborative strategies, so that your partnerships deliver better outcomes at lower cost. 2013-10-07T10:32:00Z 2013-10-07T10:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/accredited-short-courses/strategic-commissioning.aspx Blog: Keeping the door open to new ideas on leadership: Why the public sector may be leading the way Nathan Johnson Written by Ian Briggs. In 1981, Ralf Stogdill published with Bernie Bass a taxonomy of leadership research. To scholars of leadership this Magnus opus has performed two vital functions: firstly, it has been invaluable in keeping open cathedral doors in a gale; and secondly as a work of undoubted scholarly value that it is has served to demonstrate how often confused and misplaced a great deal of leadership research in the past has been. 2013-10-07T10:32:00Z 2013-10-07T10:29:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/keeping-the-door-open/ Blog: Following the UN route on Syria Nathan Johnson Written by Nicholas J. Wheeler. After two years of paralysis in the face of the growing humanitarian catastrophe engulfing Syria, the UN Security Council finally took centre-stage last Friday. Resolution 2118 that was adopted unanimously on 27 September at ministerial level broke new ground in the Council's history. For the first time, the fifteen-member body agreed 'that the use of chemical weapons anywhere constitutes a threat to international peace and security.' The significance of this language is that as the body responsible for maintaining 'international peace and security', such a determination is a prior condition for the Council activating the use of coercive enforcement measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. 2013-10-04T10:36:00Z 2013-10-04T10:32:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/02/professor-nicholas-j-wheeler-following-the-un-route-on-syria/ Blog: George Osborne's budget surplus: paid for by local government Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. In his party conference speech on Monday, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced that a Conservative Government would seek, by the end of the 2015-20 Parliament, to have eliminated completely the roughly £120 billion national deficit and be running a budget surplus. 2013-10-04T10:35:00Z 2013-10-04T10:24:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/budget-surplus/ Blog: It's all about the governance - and elections don't always solve anything Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. In early 2012 a group of Salafi-Jihadi militant groups took control of northern Mali's major population centres prompting a French-led international intervention that incorporated the African Union and other regional militaries. On January 11th 2013, French forces started a successful offensive that stopped Mali's complete collapse, allowing sufficient leeway to hold elections in July 2013 during which democracy was held to be the victor with many people openly defying threats of violence to cast their votes. Largely forgotten in the wake of the horrors of Islamic terrorism in Kenya and the continuing conflagration in Syria, could Mali offer a model of successful intervention in conflict? 2013-10-04T10:35:00Z 2013-10-04T10:29:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/03/its-all-about-the-governance-and-elections-dont-always-solve-anything-2/ Blog: A new response to the 'jaws of doom' Nathan Johnson Catherine Staite responds to Local Government Chronicle's anonymous 'Insider' columnist about the 'jaws of doom' and INLOGOV's New Model of Public Services. 2013-10-03T13:27:00Z 2013-10-03T12:03:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/a-new-response-to-the-jaws-of-doom/ Blog: Caught in the crossfire: local authority outsourcing and the murky world of employment law Nathan Johnson Written by Ian Briggs. Given the extent of legislation affecting officers and members in local government, it can be rather misleading to see the influence of Westminster solely through the lens of direct local government legislation. Wider legislation on employment has arguably had as big an impact on the way that local government and local government services are delivered. 2013-10-03T13:27:00Z 2013-10-03T12:05:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/employment-law/ The Conversation: Boehner risks his reputation in Obamacare shutdown Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Adam Quinn. Republican Speaker John Boehner faced a choice between two unappetising gambles on Monday night. One option was to cut a deal with Democrats to continue federal government spending at present levels, and in so doing trigger a revolt from the radical wing of his own party that might end his speakership. The other was to dig in, precipitate a partial shut-down of the government, and risk the public assigning the blame to congressional Republicans. 2013-10-03T13:27:00Z 2013-10-03T12:09:00Z http://theconversation.com/boehner-risks-his-reputation-in-obamacare-shutdown-18801 50 faces of CREES #46 - Mike Berry CREES (1966-) Nathan Johnson I came to CREES in 1966 to work on the OECD project on "Science Policy in the USSR" with Ron Amann under the leadership of Bob Davies. 2013-10-02T12:34:00Z 2013-11-12T14:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/mike-berry.aspx 50 faces of CREES #45 - Matthew Frear (2005-2013) Nathan Johnson I arrived at CREES in 2005 with the intention of just taking a career break to indulge my interest in Russia and Eastern Europe for a year on the Masters programme. Little did I know at the time I would end up staying for eight years and developing an expertise on Belarusian politics and society! 2013-10-02T12:13:00Z 2013-10-02T11:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/matthew-frear.aspx Blog: The unintended consequences of foreign intervention Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. After the horrors of the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, there will be inevitable questions about the nature of Islamic terrorism in East Africa. However, the attack itself is part of an on-going conflict in Kenya that in turn is part of a bigger regional conflagration based on Somalia. In fact the attack on the mall can be traced back to an international intervention that produced a number of unintended consequences, one of which has been the transformation of the group that perpetrated the attack, Al-Shabaab. 2013-10-01T18:36:00Z 2013-10-04T10:36:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/01/professor-paul-jackson-the-unintended-consequences-of-foreign-intervention/ Blog: The Butler 1944 Education Act: both milestone and millstone Nathan Johnson A 'Legislative game-changer' was what we were asked for. Or was it 'Legislative Game-changer'? No matter; this one was both. It's exactly a half-century since the summer of '63: Profumo and Keeler, Philby, the Great Train Robbery, the Beatles, Sindy dolls, and my leaving the boys' grammar school, to which I'd 'won' a place seven years earlier by passing the compulsory 11-plus exam, and going to university. Statement of fact, but also declaration of interest. 2013-10-01T10:01:00Z 2014-03-11T12:15:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/education-act/ The Conversation: There are no positive outcomes for military intervention in Syria Nathan Johnson Professor Stefan Wolff recently wrote an article for politics.co.uk. As Western resolve to 'do something' over the use of chemical weapons in Syria hardens, military intervention has emerged as the last resort. 2013-09-27T17:54:00Z 2014-01-14T10:45:00Z https://theconversation.com/commons-vote-on-syria-is-a-first-step-in-the-right-direction-17558 Podcast: The German election edition: Merkel wins big – why, and what now? Nathan Johnson The Politics @ Birmingham Podcast: Episode 02. On this week's podcast we talk about the results of Germany's national election, which took place on Sunday Sep 22. Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats emerged victorious with an increased share of the vote, but she still needs partners to form a governing coalition after her Free Democrat partners fell below the 5% threshold required for representation. We discuss the reasons for Merkel's victory, the state of politics in Germany, and the consequences of the result for the rest of Europe. 2013-09-26T18:09:00Z 2013-11-22T11:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/09/german-elections-podcast-02.aspx The Conversation: Kenya is Somalia's latest victim in region of failed states Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. The terrorist attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, has come to an end now with five more terrorists killed and eleven in custody. The attack raises a number of questions over security and stability in East Africa that need to be asked and answered. This region has suffered from a prolonged crisis primarily connected to the collapse of any semblance of order in Somalia more than two decades ago. 2013-09-25T14:36:00Z 2013-09-26T14:36:00Z http://theconversation.com/kenya-is-somalias-latest-victim-in-region-of-failed-states-18582 50 faces of CREES #44 - Paul Holtom (1997-2003) Nathan Johnson I arrived at CREES in the autumn of 1997 and left at the beginning of 2003 with an MA and a PhD in Russian and East European Studies. I am currently director of the arms transfers programme at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). 2013-09-25T12:45:00Z 2013-09-25T12:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/paul-holtom.aspx Blog: The Housing Acts of 1980: a watershed in housing policy Nathan Johnson Alan Murie and Chris Watson are former Directors of the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies at the University of Birmingham. Alan Murie is Emeritus Professor of Urban and Regional Studies and Chris Watson is Honorary Senior Lecturer. Both are members of the Housing and Communities Research Network in the University's School of Social Policy. 2013-09-25T11:41:00Z 2013-09-25T11:14:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/the-housing-acts-of-1980-a-watershed-in-housing-policy/ Blog: Empire without End? Nathan Johnson Adrian Campbell is a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham's International Development Department. He is an organizational theorist with longstanding interests and experience in the associated fields of leadership and human resource management and he has researched, taught and consulted in these fields for over thirty years. 2013-09-24T18:29:00Z 2013-09-24T15:33:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/empire-without-end/ Blog: Direct Payments Act 1996: a legislative game-changer on a slow burn Nathan Johnson By Catherine Needham. Some legislative game-changers have a high-profile passage through Parliament, with much media fanfare about how things will never be the same again: gay rights legislation, for example, fits into this category. Other game-changers proceed more quietly, with their immediate implications limited to a relatively small number of people. This latter type can be characterised as 'valve' legislation, in the sense that once passed there is no going back, even if this is not fully appreciated at the time. 2013-09-24T10:15:00Z 2013-09-24T10:13:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/direct-payments-act/ The Conversation: Prepare for more drones, and less all-out war Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Much of the current debate about drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) is about whether their deployment to countries such as Pakistan and Yemen is legal or ethical. This debate is predominantly focused on armed drones and their use to carry out targeted and signature strikes against known or suspected terrorists and insurgents. 2013-09-23T14:47:00Z 2013-09-23T14:32:00Z http://theconversation.com/prepare-for-more-drones-and-less-all-out-war-18380 The Conversation: Odds on Merkel to head grand coalition in German election Nathan Johnson By Isabelle Hertner. Germans go to the polls this weekend to elect a new four-year parliament – the Bundestag. Barring something extraordinary a coalition headed by Angela Merkel will be returned. 2013-09-23T14:46:00Z 2013-09-23T14:27:00Z http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-birmingham Blog: The Health Act 2006: Behaviour change in action? Nathan Johnson By Catherine Staite. The Health Act 2006 is a very dull title for an Act of Parliament which has had such a profound and universally beneficial impact on all our lives. It enacted the ban on smoking in enclosed places to which the public have access. 2013-09-23T09:39:00Z 2013-09-23T09:33:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/the-health-act-2006/ The ethics of warfare part 3: How does drone warfare change the debate? Nathan Johnson Professor Stefan Wolff: "Much of the current debate about drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) is about whether their deployment to countries like Pakistan and Yemen is legal or ethical. This debate is predominantly focused on armed drones and their use to carry out targeted and signature strikes against known or suspected terrorists and insurgents." 2013-09-23T08:55:00Z 2013-09-23T09:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/drones.aspx Birmingham announced as University of the Year Nathan Johnson The University of Birmingham has been named University of the Year 2014 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. 2013-09-21T05:02:00Z 2014-03-11T08:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/09/20-sep-Birmingham-announced-as-University-of-the-Year.aspx Doctoral researcher profile: Sabarinath Krishnan Nathan Johnson Public Private Partnerships for rural development 2013-09-21T05:01:00Z 2013-09-20T15:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/doctoral-researchers/profiles/krishnan-sabarinath.aspx 50 faces of CREES #43 - Marea Arries (1986-) and Tricia Carr (1989-) Nathan Johnson Between us we have a total of 51 years of service in CREES, which seems quite fitting for celebrating CREES's 50th Anniversary. Over this time we have interacted with so many people – students, staff and visitors to CREES – and this has made it a fascinating experience. These experiences have not only shaped CREES, but our lives too. 2013-09-21T05:00:00Z 2013-09-23T08:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/marea-arries-tricia-carr.aspx Blog: Who'll work with the Lib Dems? Nathan Johnson By Chris Game. One of the few perks of my first paid research job was visiting the major party conferences. This was in the early 1970s, when policies were genuinely debated, votes were taken and mattered, and leaders' speeches didn't have to be delivered without visible notes. 2013-09-20T10:45:00Z 2013-09-20T10:30:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/wholl-work-with-the-lib-dems/ The security impact of drones: challenges and opportunities for the UK Nathan Johnson When President George W. Bush handed over the reins of US foreign policy to Barack Obama, he reportedly made two requests. First, that the incoming US president maintains the covert cyber attacks against Iran, and secondly, that he continues the counter-terrorist drone campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Not only did Obama follow through on this request, but during his time in office US drone strikes have more than doubled. 2013-09-20T10:24:00Z 2013-09-20T10:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/09/The-security-impact-of-drones-challenges-and-opportunities-for-the-UK.aspx Podcast: Syria on the precipice, Obama in crisis, Britain in search of a role (again) Nathan Johnson The Politics @ Birmingham Podcast: Episode 01. On this week's podcast we talk about Barack Obama's erratic handling of the Syria crisis, the legal and political questions surrounding international intervention in the civil war there, and the consequences for Britain's world role of parliament's vote against participation in any military strikes. 2013-09-16T10:51:00Z 2013-11-22T11:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/09/syria-politics-podcast-01.aspx Alexei Navalny and the battle for Moscow Nathan Johnson Ahead of Moscow's mayoral elections, Dr David White discusses the prospects of candidate Alexei Navalny, the only serious contender to challenge the pro-Putin incumbent, Sergei Sobyanin. Portrayed glowingly in the Western media, and with his sights set on the presidential elections of 2018, he divides opinion among Russia's disparate and fragmented opposition. 2013-09-13T15:41:00Z 2013-09-13T15:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/russian-mayoral-election.aspx The Conversation: Syria and the wider crisis of international diplomacy Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Two weeks ago airstrikes against the Syrian regime in retaliation to its assumed use of chemical weapons seemed a foregone conclusion, despite Russian and Chinese resistance. US-led Western resolve, albeit against a groundswell of public opinion and rather underwhelming backing from major allies, appeared unstoppable. 2013-09-13T10:48:00Z 2014-01-14T10:41:00Z http://theconversation.com/syria-and-the-wider-crisis-of-international-diplomacy-18133 Doctoral Research profile: Charity Mbillah Nathan Johnson Title of Research: Prosperity gospel and adherent social mobility in Ghana 2013-09-12T14:30:00Z 2013-09-12T14:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/doctoral-researchers/index.aspx New Publication on the EU co-edited by Birmingham academic with keynote by Russian Foreign Minister Nathan Johnson The JCMS Annual Review of the European Union in 2012 co-edited by Dr Tim Haughton (CREES/POLSIS) has just been published and includes an article on Russia-EU relations by Sergey Lavrov. 2013-09-12T08:25:00Z 2013-09-12T08:23:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/09/new-publication-eu.aspx Blog: The role of social value outcomes in commissioning services Nathan Johnson William Jabang is a Doctoral Researcher at INLOGOV. His PhD research is focused on commissioning and procuring social value. 2013-09-10T15:48:00Z 2014-03-11T12:16:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/social-value-commissioning/ Global ranking reinforces Birmingham's position as a world-class university Nathan Johnson The University of Birmingham has made an impressive 15 place rise to 62nd in this year's QS World University Rankings, cementing its position in the top 100 universities globally and placing it 10th in the UK. 2013-09-10T12:37:00Z 2014-03-11T08:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/09/10-Sept-Global-ranking-reinforces-Birminghams-position-as-a-world-class-university.aspx What's at stake for Russia in Syria Nathan Johnson Dr Richard Connolly recently contributed to a CNBC report on Russia's interests in Syria. 2013-09-10T12:37:00Z 2013-09-10T12:31:00Z http://www.cnbc.com/id/101004539 Blog: Bankruptcies, scofflaws and aldermen: differentiated by a common language Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. It must have happened to you. You come across a word for, as far as you're aware, the first time in your life, you learn its meaning, and then read or hear it again in a quite different context just a few days later. 2013-09-09T17:39:00Z 2013-09-09T14:37:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/bankruptcies-scofflaws-aldermen/ Accredited short course: Executive Programme in Strategic Commissioning Nathan Johnson Accredited five day programme - This course has grown out of INLOGOV's longstanding experience of research and development programmes for officers, board members and politicians involved in strategic commissioning across a wide range of public service organisations. It examines the strengths and limitations of models of commissioning across levels of government, as well as in specific service sectors. 2013-09-09T12:16:00Z 2013-09-10T13:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/accredited-short-courses/strategic-commissioning.aspx The Conversation: Obama v Putin as G20 meets in Syria's shadow Nathan Johnson By Dr Adam Quinn. The G20 begins today and whether this is the best or the worst of times depends on how important one considers Syria to be. Because the manoeuvring and diplomacy surrounding the increasingly vicious civil war – and the prospect of international intervention – is likely to consume a good deal of the oxygen in the environs of St Petersburg. 2013-09-05T11:56:00Z 2013-09-05T11:44:00Z https://theconversation.com/obama-v-putin-as-g20-meets-in-syrias-shadow-17866 DLP Research Fellow Vacancy Nathan Johnson The Developmental Leadership Program (DLP) are looking for a Research Fellow to join them in exploring the role of political processes, agency and leadership in development. 2013-09-04T16:46:00Z 2013-09-05T14:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/09/dlp-research-fellow-vacancy.aspx 50 faces of CREES #42 - Luke March (1994 - 1999) Nathan Johnson Judging by some of the other comments here, John Barber should have been paid for his recruitment services to CREES! I am just one of many steered towards Birmingham by his advice. I already had a casual curiosity towards Russia, but it was only after travelling there in 1992 and taking John's fascinating course at Cambridge that it really became a major interest. 2013-09-02T10:57:00Z 2013-09-20T15:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/luke-march.aspx 50 faces of CREES #41 - Donald Male (1955) Nathan Johnson When I came to study at Birmingham the B.Com (Russian Studies) seemed an interesting proposition with the attraction of learning a new language and studying what in 1955 was the 'other half'' of the world. 2013-09-02T10:52:00Z 2013-10-08T06:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/don-male.aspx The Conversation: Commons vote on Syria is a first step in the right direction Nathan Johnson Yesterday's debate and vote in the British House of Commons on Syria has demonstrated how little common ground there is between supporters and opponents of military action against the Assad regime in response to the use of chemical weapons last week. 2013-08-30T18:50:00Z 2013-09-03T09:50:00Z https://theconversation.com/commons-vote-on-syria-is-a-first-step-in-the-right-direction-17558 Commons vote on Syria is a first step in the right direction Nathan Johnson Professor Stefan Wolff discusses the debate and vote in the British House of Commons on Syria and how it has demonstrated how little common ground there is between supporters and opponents of military action against the Assad regime in response to the use of chemical weapons. 2013-08-30T17:18:00Z 2013-09-03T10:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/syria-vote.aspx Military Intervention in Syria: the worst or just one among many bad options? Nathan Johnson "As Western rhetoric and resolve to 'do something' over the use of chemical weapons last week in Syria harden, one of the increasingly dominant logics is that with all other means exhausted, a military intervention of some sort is the last resort." 2013-08-30T15:23:00Z 2013-09-03T10:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/syria-military.aspx CREES scholars discuss Eurasian Integration at a high-profile seminar at Chatham House in London Nathan Johnson CREES experts presented their research on Eurasian economic integration at a policy-oriented seminar organised under the auspices of Chatham House in London. 2013-08-29T18:15:00Z 2013-09-03T10:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/08/crees-scholars-discuss-eurasian-integration.aspx Blog: Improve your prospects by studying with INLOGOV Nathan Johnson There has never been a better time to invest in your future. Local government – and the wider public sector- needs creative, agile and intelligent leaders who can respond to a fast-changing and challenging environment. But – more people are competing for fewer jobs. 2013-08-29T16:02:00Z 2013-09-03T14:24:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/improve-your-prospects/ The Conversation: From Egypt to Syria, this could be the start of the Arab Winter Nathan Johnson Last week violence in Syria intensified again with new allegations of the large-scale use of chemical weapons. Western leaders, still seeking confirmation of President Assad's culpability, debated an appropriate response. 2013-08-26T17:47:00Z 2013-09-03T09:48:00Z https://theconversation.com/from-egypt-to-syria-this-could-be-the-start-of-the-arab-winter-17335 50 faces of CREES #40 - Peter Kneen (1969-1976) Nathan Johnson From 1969 until 1971 I was a research student at CREES and from 1974 to 1976 a temporary lecturer in Political Science and research fellow on the social history element of the Soviet industrialisation project. In between I spent two periods in the Soviet Union as a British Council exchange student at the universities of Tbilisi and Moscow. 2013-08-23T12:25:00Z 2013-08-23T12:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/peter-kneen.aspx Video: Masters degrees by distance learning at IDD Nathan Johnson Study with the International Development Department (IDD) from anywhere in the world with practitioners in government, civil society and the private sector, as well as with people new to development. 2013-08-23T11:32:00Z 2013-08-23T11:40:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/courses/distance-learning.aspx Video: Study a Masters degree at IDD Nathan Johnson The International Development Department (IDD) offers three main programmes of study with a number of pathways giving you a wide range of options to address your specific needs and interests. 2013-08-23T11:31:00Z 2013-08-23T11:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/masters.aspx Research on Accountability, Local Government and Public Finance in Brazil Nathan Johnson IDD will receive the following Brazilian visitors from 01 September for 10 days: Professors André Busanelli de Aquino, Vinicius Aversari Martins and EugênioSilva Bitti of the University of São Paulo, and Professor Ricardo Lagos of the Fundação Getulio Vargas (São Paulo) 2013-08-23T11:10:00Z 2013-08-23T11:02:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/08/research-accountability-brazil.aspx Blog: In search of a new paradigm for international interventions Nathan Johnson Nicolas Lemay-Hébert is a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham's International Development Department. He is interested in peacebuilding and statebuilding, humanitarian interventions in post-conflict or post-disaster contexts, and local narratives of resistance to international interventions. Nicolas co-convenes the postgraduate module on Governance and Statebuilding. 2013-08-21T12:55:00Z 2013-08-21T12:38:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/in-search-of-a-new-paradigm-for-international-interventions-2/ 50 faces of CREES #38 - Paul Hare (1971-1972) Nathan Johnson I was actually only at CREES for one year, academic year 1971-72, when I was a temporary lecturer in economics while someone was away on sabbatical in the US. During my year, I took advantage of the brilliant Russian for Social Scientists course at CREES, then run by Dave Adshead. 2013-08-19T17:08:00Z 2013-08-19T15:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/paul-hare.aspx 50 faces of CREES #39 - Melanie Ilic Nathan Johnson I joined CREES in 1983 as a postgraduate student in history, and remain at CREES today as an Honorary Research Fellow. 2013 for me, then, marks both CREES's 50th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of my contact with the Centre. 2013-08-19T17:08:00Z 2013-08-19T15:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/melanie-ilic.aspx 50 faces of CREES #37 - Peter Rodgers (1998-2005) Nathan Johnson Peter Rodgers, CREES Master's student, 1998-1999, ESRC PhD Student, 2001-2005. Current position: Lecturer in Strategy and International Business, Management School, University of Sheffield. 2013-08-19T17:07:00Z 2013-08-19T15:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/peter-rodgers.aspx The Conversation: Syria casts its shadow as G8 leaders gather Nathan Johnson President Obama's confirmation that the United States would begin arming Syrian rebels has prompted an urgent debate about both the legality and the effectiveness of the decision. The announcement, ahead of the G8 leader's summit in Northern Ireland that starts today, closely followed a joint statement by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and the UK foreign secretary, William Hague, that their priority remains to see a diplomatic process "that succeeds in reaching a negotiated end to the conflict". 2013-08-17T17:21:00Z 2013-08-08T10:22:00Z http://theconversation.com/syria-casts-its-shadow-as-g8-leaders-gather-15218 The Conversation: Tears and terror as Egypt slides towards civil war Nathan Johnson More than 300 dead and many thousands more injured since June. An elected president in custody. Army units using deadly force to clear protesters off the streets. Egypt appears to be spiralling out of control. 2013-08-15T09:15:00Z 2013-08-15T09:06:00Z https://theconversation.com/tears-and-terror-as-egypt-slides-towards-civil-war-17077 CREES involved in EU-funded staff exchange scheme Nathan Johnson CREES staff are to participate in a Marie Curie Action International Research Staff Exchange scheme (IRSES) entitled 'EUinDepth— European Identity, Cultural Diversity and Political Change'. 2013-08-12T10:00:00Z 2013-08-12T09:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/08/eu-funded-staff-exchange-scheme.aspx The Conversation UK Nathan Johnson The Conversation is an independent source of news and views, sourced from the academic and research community and delivered direct to the public. Academics from all over the world contribute to discussion on The Conversation, including those here in the School of Government and Society. 2013-08-09T16:34:00Z 2014-03-11T08:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/the-conversation.aspx Complete our Online Survey and win an iPad Nathan Johnson This online survey is now closed. If you would still like to contribute your views please contact Carrie Bennett, University of Birmingham email: firstname.lastname@example.com 2013-08-09T10:00:00Z 2013-09-02T09:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2013/08/online-survey.aspx 50 faces of CREES #36 - David Clegg (1964-1966) Nathan Johnson "We were in the old building near the Chamberlin Tower for my first year, and we were the first occupants in the brand new Muirhead Tower in the following academic year 1964-5. I remember Miss Kouttaisoff and Prof Davies very well." 2013-08-09T08:59:00Z 2013-08-08T15:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/david-clegg.aspx Blog: "Birmingham City Council Bans New Payday Lending" - that's Birmingham, Alabama, of course Nathan Johnson I was reminded recently, as the Archbishop of Canterbury was skirmishing with Wonga, and Plymouth City Council banning payday loan advertising on bus shelters and city centre hoardings, of an internet headline from a couple of years ago: "Birmingham City Council Bans New Payday Lending". It naturally got my attention, if only for the few seconds it took to realise that, regrettably, it simply had to be the 'other' Birmingham, the one in the southern American state of Alabama. Written by Chris Game. 2013-08-08T12:58:00Z 2013-08-08T10:38:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/payday-lending/ The Conversation: West has key role to play amid Yemen's al-Qaeda resurgence Nathan Johnson Yemen is once again at the centre of a major terrorist threat. The Yemeni government has announced the uncovering of a major Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) plot aimed at the country's critical oil and port infrastructure and deployed armed forces to protect potential target sites (including Western embassies in the capital, Sana'a). 2013-08-08T09:56:00Z 2013-08-08T09:47:00Z https://theconversation.com/west-has-key-role-to-play-amid-yemens-al-qaeda-resurgence-16794 The Conversation: Mixed messages from the EU won't help solve Egypt's crisis Nathan Johnson The stand-off in Egypt continues. A sit in by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi has been put on notice that they will be cleared out by force if necessary. 2013-08-08T09:56:00Z 2013-08-08T09:51:00Z https://theconversation.com/mixed-messages-from-the-eu-wont-help-solve-egypts-crisis-16595 Blog: Fracking: the latest challenge in the Tory heartlands Nathan Johnson Martin Stott joined INLOGOV as an Associate in 2012 after a 25 year career in local government. He is National Policy Adviser on minerals planning for the Royal Town Planning Institute. 2013-08-07T08:28:00Z 2013-08-07T08:22:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/fracking/ The Future of UK Aid in an Age of Austerity Nathan Johnson This event debates the future of UK Aid in an Age of Austerity. It is organised by Dr Danielle Beswick and is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences. 2013-07-31T14:45:00Z 2013-07-31T14:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/07/future-uk-aid.aspx 50 faces of CREES #35 - Dennis Biggs Nathan Johnson "My memories of my studies at Birmingham University have somewhat faded but I recall spending 3 happy and productive years from 1961 to 1964 in the Department of Russian Studies of the Faculty of Commerce. 2013-07-31T14:44:00Z 2013-08-01T11:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/dennis-biggs.aspx Student funding opportunities Nathan Johnson Study with us at Birmingham and you'll have the opportunity to access a range of funding and bursaries to enhance your student experience! 2013-07-31T12:26:00Z 2014-03-11T09:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/funding/student-funding-opportunities.aspx Student report: Nipa Ghosh, Summer School in Prague on the subject of Crime, Law and Psychology, Prague, July 2013 Nathan Johnson The summer school engendered a systematic learning of a topic that is not taught traditionally as part of the syllabus of a law degree. Undergraduates, post-graduates and doctoral candidates from all over the world from various disciplines, cultivated an abundance of ideas, discourse and learning styles which would not have been obtainable in any other setting. 2013-07-31T12:25:00Z 2013-07-31T11:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/crees/2012-13/ghosh-nipa-report.aspx Student report: Eleanor Johnston, Internship at the GUIDE Consultancy (2013) Nathan Johnson This summer, having just finished my Second year in Political Science, I had the fantastic opportunity to intern at GUIDE, a public affairs/ Government relations company in London. I was lucky enough to arrange the internship having been mentored on the university's mentor scheme. 2013-07-31T12:25:00Z 2013-07-31T14:03:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/eleanor-johnston-report.aspx Orchestrating the possible for integrated care Nathan Johnson New report entitled 'Health and Wellbeing Boards: Orchestrating the possible for integrated care' has been published. 2013-07-29T17:33:00Z 2014-03-11T12:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-centre/news/2013/06/orchestrating-the-possible-for-integrated-care.aspx Upgrading Your Existing Postgraduate Qualification Nathan Johnson You can upgrade your existing postgraduate qualifications with us to study for either a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate or one-off accredited modules. 2013-07-26T15:23:00Z 2013-07-26T16:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/courses/upgrading-qualification.aspx Masters taught module: Germany's Foreign Policy Nathan Johnson Germany's foreign policy has undergone significant changes since 1989. Once described as being guided by a general "culture of restraint" and a set of firm bonds with its European neighbours, recent events have called these traditional parameters of Germany's post-WW II foreign policy into question... 2013-07-26T13:52:00Z 2013-07-26T13:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/modules/germanys-foreign-policy.aspx Masters taught module: Foreign Policy Analysis Nathan Johnson The course serves as an introduction to ways of thinking critically about foreign policy analysis. The content of the course shall help students to unlock the 'black box' of the state in international affairs and to dismantle the state into a set of institutions and agents whilst considering their respective influence on foreign policy making. 2013-07-26T13:52:00Z 2013-07-26T13:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/modules/foreign-policy-analysis.aspx Blog: Dr Foster's day out in the sun: the use and abuse of hospital mortality rates Nathan Johnson Chris Game is a Visiting Lecturer at INLOGOV interested in the politics of local government; local elections, electoral reform and other electoral behaviour; party politics; political leadership and management; member-officer relations; central-local relations; use of consumer and opinion research in local government; the modernisation agenda and the implementation of executive local government. 2013-07-25T10:23:00Z 2013-07-25T10:14:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/dr-fosters-day-out/ Blog: Picturing place: citizen participation in the age of social media Nathan Johnson Katherine Tonkiss is a Research Fellow at INLOGOV. She is currently working on a three year, ESRC funded project titled Shrinking the State, and is converting her PhD thesis, on the subject of migration and identity, into a book to be published later this year with Palgrave Macmillan. 2013-07-24T14:26:00Z 2013-07-24T14:24:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/picturing-place-2/ INLOGOV MSc Dissertations Nathan Johnson Recently we had a week of Postgraduate posts on the INLOGOV blog - five of our MSc students wrote blogs based on their dissertations. 2013-07-23T10:25:00Z 2013-07-23T10:20:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/category/msc-dissertation/ Blog: The 'Detroit question' and Parish Councils Nathan Johnson Ian Briggs is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Local Government Studies. He has research interests in the development and assessment of leadership, performance coaching, organisational development and change, and the establishment of shared service provision. 2013-07-23T09:47:00Z 2013-07-23T09:44:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/detroit-question/ INLOGOV Postgraduate programmes Nathan Johnson Build a new career with an MSc from the Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV). Our programmes provide a challenging and inspiring study experience for both existing and aspiring practitioners in local public and voluntary sector organisations. They equip participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence to develop their careers and to make a significant contribution within the fast-changing world of public service. 2013-07-22T12:53:00Z 2013-11-05T09:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/courses/index.aspx Accredited short course: Certificate in Overview and Scrutiny Nathan Johnson This three day programme works through the stages and techniques of the scrutiny process, and the ways in which it may be used both to hold executives to account and to develop policy. It may be used as an induction and training in the principles of good scrutiny for those who are new or relatively new to the topic (including an update on issues for scrutiny raised by new legislation and the Coalition's approach to local government). It will also assist those with experience of scrutiny to develop their skills and improve their practice. 2013-07-22T10:34:00Z 2013-07-22T10:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/accredited-short-courses/overview-scrutiny.aspx Accredited short course: Certificate in Scrutiny Methods and Investigations Nathan Johnson Accredited short course (accreditation is subject to University approval) - This programme is designed for those involved or interested in scrutiny in local government, but the material covered here, i.e. applied research techniques for policy analysts, is extremely relevant to policy analysts, or those aspiring to become policy analysts, interested in learning about practical research and information gathering techniques. 2013-07-22T10:04:00Z 2013-07-22T10:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Blog: Examining citizen participation: theory and practice Nathan Johnson Laurens de Graaf is a lecturer at Tilburg School of Politics and Public Administration, Tilburg University, The Netherlands. In the last ten years he conducted theoretical and empirical research with regard to citizens participation and in a broader sense: the functioning of local democracy. He is often in the field moderating workshops and trainings for councillors, mayors, active citizens and (neighbourhood) professionals about their role and their potential added value to local democracy. 2013-07-22T10:04:00Z 2013-07-22T10:51:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/citizen-theory-practice/ Blog: Reflecting on the doctoral take-over Nathan Johnson Over the last ten days the INLOGOV blog has reflected some of the great talent we currently have within our PhD cohort. INLOGOV has 28 students, a quarter of which are part time and working in public service. We like to think this gives a distinct flavour to our programme. The blog over recent days profiled some of the great work among current students and reflections from previous INLOGOV graduates of our doctoral programme. 2013-07-19T14:58:00Z 2013-07-19T14:49:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/doctoral-take-over/ Blog: Finding an academic home Nathan Johnson Mark Roberts is a Research Fellow in the Department of Politics and Public Policy at De Montfort University, Leicester. His research interests include citizen participation, neighbourhood working, new institutional theory, interpretive analysis and the influence of religion and race in urban politics. Before completing his PhD at INLOGOV, Dr Roberts worked in local authority social work for twenty nine years, with his last post being Deputy Director of Social Services in Sandwell MBC in the West Midlands. 2013-07-19T09:57:00Z 2013-07-19T14:54:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/academic-home/ The Conversation: EU ban on Israeli settlements could be a game changer Nathan Johnson Asaf Siniver, Senior Lecturer in International Security at University of Birmingham recently wrote and article for The Conversation: "EU ban on Israeli settlements could be a game changer". After years of declarations, warnings and internal bickering, the European Union has finally done it. On Friday, Brussels is expected to announce that future agreements between the EU (or any of its member states) and Israel will include a clause which explicitly excludes the funding of and co-operation with Israeli institutions that operate in territory seized by Israel in the Six Day War of 1967. 2013-07-19T09:28:00Z 2013-07-19T09:29:00Z http://theconversation.com/eu-ban-on-israeli-settlements-could-be-a-game-changer-16158 Testimonials - CREES Annual Conference Nathan Johnson Listen to our alumni, honorary and associate staff share their views on the recent 50th anniversary annual conference at the Cumberland Lodge. 2013-07-18T16:23:00Z 2013-07-18T15:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/07/testimonials-conference.aspx CREES celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Annual Conference in Windsor Great Park Nathan Johnson The Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) is 50 years old this year. To mark the occasion the department held an expanded annual conference at Cumberland Lodge. 2013-07-18T14:49:00Z 2014-10-14T16:23:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/07/50th-anniversary-annual-conference.aspx Blog: Different expectations and different contexts Nathan Johnson Dr Thom Oliver is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Oxford Brookes Business School. He completed his PhD, exploring the representative role of councillors on appointed bodies, at INLOGOV in 2011. He currently lives in Bristol and has recently rejoined INLOGOV as an Associate. 2013-07-18T14:44:00Z 2013-07-19T14:51:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/expectations/ The Conversation: Little cause for celebration on South Sudan's birthday Nathan Johnson Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security at University of Birmingham recently wrote and article for The Conversation: "Little cause for celebration on South Sudan's birthday". The second anniversary of South Sudan's independence is overshadowed by the release of the annual State Failure Index by the Fund for Peace, which ranks the country as the world's fourth most failed state. It is a sobering balance sheet after two years for a state born of two civil wars and a "comprehensive peace agreement" that was all but comprehensive. 2013-07-17T12:16:00Z 2013-07-19T09:33:00Z http://theconversation.com/little-cause-for-celebration-on-south-sudans-birthday-15783 PhD video profile: Victoria Hudson Nathan Johnson Victoria Hudson, PhD Doctoral Research talks about why she chose to study with CREES. 2013-07-17T12:15:00Z 2013-07-16T13:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/crees/2012-13/hudson-victoria-phd.aspx PhD video profile: John Kennedy Nathan Johnson John Kennedy, PhD Doctoral Research talks about why he chose to study with CREES. 2013-07-17T12:15:00Z 2013-07-16T13:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/crees/2012-13/kennedy-john-phd.aspx PhD video profile: Nino Kemoklidze Nathan Johnson Nino Kemoklidze, PhD Doctoral Research talks about why she chose to study with CREES. 2013-07-17T12:15:00Z 2013-07-16T14:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/crees/2012-13/kemoklidze-nino-phd.aspx Blog: HS2: the importance of evidence Nathan Johnson Rebecca O'Neill is a doctoral student looking at the role of evidence within High Speed Two. She has an interest in the conceptualisation of evidence, evidence-based policy making, the claims-making framework and interpretive approaches to research. 2013-07-17T09:41:00Z 2013-07-19T14:52:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/hs2/ Blog: Leaping from campus to council Nathan Johnson Mark Ewbank is currently the service lead for Overview & Scrutiny in the City of Westminster. He graduated from his PhD studies at INLOGOV in 2011, with a thesis focused on party group organisation and behaviour within and outside legislatures, especially in relation to the roles of political actors as part of groups/select or scrutiny committees. Mark also taught classical political theory at an undergraduate and postgraduate level at the University of Birmingham. 2013-07-17T09:36:00Z 2013-07-19T14:53:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/campus-to-council/ Blog: Why you should be academic blogging as a PhD student Nathan Johnson Pete Redford is a former Parliamentary researcher currently undertaking his PhD researching the 'underclass' at the University of Birmingham. He holds a BA (Hons) British Politics and Legislative Studies and MA Global Political Economy from the University of Hull. 2013-07-16T09:08:00Z 2013-07-16T08:59:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/blogging-phd-student/ The Birmingham Perspective Nathan Johnson Read the latest perspectives from our academics across the School of Government and Society. Including debates, pespectives and research diaries. 2013-07-15T12:19:00Z 2014-03-11T09:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/perspective.aspx Blog: Re-establishing the relationship between citizens and politicians in Greece Nathan Johnson George Despotidis is a first year Doctoral Researcher in INLOGOV. He completed an MSc in Public Management, also at INLOGOV, in 2012. His research interests include citizen involvement in policy-making, and decision-making processes with a specific focus on citizen participation. 2013-07-15T10:49:00Z 2013-07-15T09:40:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/citizen-participation-greece/ International Collaboration map Nathan Johnson The College of Social Sciences is proud of its extensive links with universities and other strategic partners throughout the world. Through our network of global partnerships, we engage in a wide range of activities including staff and student exchange and collaboration in research and teaching. 2013-07-15T09:30:00Z 2014-03-11T09:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/collaboration/index.aspx Who is accountable in localism? Nathan Johnson The drive for localism seeks to open up decision-making to citizens with the aim of developing local public services better informed by the priorities and needs of communities and empowering them to contribute to achievable solutions and improved outcomes. But this ambition raises some real questions for accountability: who should be taking decisions and for what, and how and to whom are they accountable? These conversations are taking place in council chambers, wards and neighbourhoods across the country and are not easily resolved, with councillors, officers, community organisations and local people often taking strongly-felt but different views. In a policy review funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council's Connected Communities programme, Liz Richardson (University of Manchester) and Catherine Durose (University of Birmingham) address these challenges and provide tools for reflection and debate. For more information please contact Catherine Durose, firstname.lastname@example.com 2013-07-12T13:57:00Z 2013-07-29T10:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/who-is-accountable-localism.pdf Transforming local public services through co-production Nathan Johnson The fiscal crisis together with demographic change has prompted demands for radical new approaches to designing and delivering local public services. Co-production is one response that has seemed to capture the imagination of policy-makers, politicians and practitioners. This policy review, commissioned by the AHRC's Connected Communities programme and conducted by a research team from the University of Birmingham, explores the tensions in thinking about co-production as a response to austerity and consider when, where and how citizens and professionals can work together to deliver transformation in local public services. For more information please contact Catherine Durose, firstname.lastname@example.com 2013-07-12T13:57:00Z 2013-07-29T10:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/transforming-local-public-services-co-production.pdf Blog: The impact factor Nathan Johnson Katherine Tonkiss completed her PhD in 2012, and is now a Research Fellow at INLOGOV. Her first book, Migration and Identity in a Post-national World, will be published later this year with Palgrave Macmillan. Her research interests are focused on the changing nature of migration, citizenship and democracy in a globalising world, the local experience of such transformations, and the intersection between normative and empirical research. 2013-07-12T09:22:00Z 2013-07-12T09:35:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/the-impact-factor/ Blog: Wherever I lay my highlighter, that's my home Nathan Johnson Tatum Matharu completed her PhD at INLOGOV in 2012. She is a Research Fellow at Birmingham Business School, working on a project (described above) funded by the National Institute for Health Research, partnered with the University's Health Services Management Centre. 2013-07-11T17:49:00Z 2013-07-12T11:19:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/highlighter-home/ Undergraduate clearing 2013 Nathan Johnson We have a limited number of places available to students through clearing, for those looking to begin their studies in 2013. Places are available to students from the UK/EU and to international students, find out if you might be eligible and the process for applying. 2013-07-11T16:27:00Z 2014-03-11T09:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Quango state reconfigured rather than abolished Nathan Johnson Less than 10 per cent of quangos axed by the Coalition government have actually been totally abolished, new research shows. 2013-07-11T12:20:00Z 2013-07-11T12:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/07/11-Jul-13-Quango-state-reconfigured-rather-than-abolished.aspx Blog: It's not easy (but not too hard) to be a PhD student Nathan Johnson Pobsook Chamchong is a Thai Government Scholarship PhD student at INLOGOV. Before coming to Birmingham, she previously worked as a researcher for the Thailand Political Development Councils and for the Thailand Reform Committee. 2013-07-10T17:54:00Z 2013-07-12T08:55:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/not-easy-not-too-hard/ Alumni: Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Public Administration and Development by distance learning MSc (2013) Nathan Johnson Samuel Ofosu Ampofo describes his experience of studying an MSc Public Administration and Development by distance learning at the International Development Department, University of Birmingham during his recent graduation. 2013-07-10T15:53:00Z 2014-07-17T15:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/samuel-ofosu-ampofo.aspx Alumni: Sarah Jeffries, Public Management MSc Nathan Johnson Sarah Jeffries describes her experience of studying a MSc in Public Management at the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham during her recent graduation. 2013-07-10T15:38:00Z 2014-07-17T15:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/jeffries-sarah.aspx The Conversation: Morsi's authority ebbed away, but Egypt is dangerously divided Nathan Johnson Dr Michelle Pace, Reader in Politics and International Studies at POLSIS recently wrote and article for The Conversation: "Egypt is split" is how many Egyptians describe the current crisis rippling through the country. Before Wednesday night's apparent military coup, journalists had reported on pro and anti-Morsi demonstrations, the battle between liberal secularists and Islamists (symbolised by Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood) and the fight between secularism and religion. 2013-07-10T09:25:00Z 2013-07-10T16:40:00Z http://theconversation.com/morsis-authority-ebbed-away-but-egypt-is-dangerously-divided-15774 The Conversation: Weary Lebanon licked by the flames engulfing Syria Nathan Johnson Dr Christalla Yakinthou, Birmingham Fellow wrote an article in The Conversation: The fighting that has engulfed the Lebanese city of Sidon over the past week, leaving at least 15 soldiers dead and more than 70 injured, has raised tension across the country. The clashes come on the back of growing sporadic violence in Lebanon; each incident cracking the veneer of its separation from the civil war in Syria. 2013-07-10T09:15:00Z 2013-07-10T09:10:00Z http://theconversation.com/weary-lebanon-licked-by-the-flames-engulfing-syria-15530 Blog: Homo subjectivo: Do western public management ideas work for people in the Middle East? Nathan Johnson Abena Dadze-Arthur is a researcher and public policy adviser with ten years experience of developing user-centric public policy for Western and non-Western governments across a wide range of public service areas. Abena is currently pursuing her doctoral research on social practices and cultural schemas that shape public management reform in Abu Dhabi Government. 2013-07-09T13:58:00Z 2013-07-12T08:58:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/western-public-management/ POLSIS success and fame expert speaks to the Brazilian media on the royal baby Nathan Johnson Dr Gëzim Alpion, Lecturer in Sociology in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, whose specialisms include 'success' and 'fame capital', was interviewed on 7 July 2013 by the UK based Brazilian reporter Melissa Becker on the significance of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child to the House of Windsor. The interview has appeared in a number of media outlets in Brazil and the Portuguese speaking world. 2013-07-09T09:41:00Z 2013-07-09T09:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/07/royal-baby.aspx Blog: All in this together? Can citizens help transform public outcomes through co-production? Nathan Johnson Elke Loeffler is CEO of Governance International. Tony Bovaird is Professor of Public Management and Policy at INLOGOV. He worked in the UK Civil Service and several universities before moving to the University of Birmingham in 2006. He recently led the UK contribution to an EU project on user and community co-production of public services in five European countries, and is currently directing a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council on using 'nudge' techniques to influence individual service co-producers to participate in community co-production. 2013-07-08T17:03:00Z 2013-07-12T11:21:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/coproduction/ Blog: Can Gov 2.0 transform Local Government? Nathan Johnson Tom Barrance is a part time Doctoral Researcher looking at Gov 2.0 in UK Local Government, and full time Business Analyst/Project Manager at the London Borough of Hackney. He has worked in the public sector for the past 13 years, at a number of different local councils in a range of roles in Economic Development, business change and delivering ICT solutions. 2013-07-08T16:00:00Z 2013-07-12T09:01:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/gov-2-0/ PhD opportunity: The Governance of Migration: Policy-making in an age of superdiversity Nathan Johnson An exciting opportunity has arisen to study for a PhD with joint supervision from the School of Government and Society and the new Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS). 2013-07-08T10:00:00Z 2014-03-11T09:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/applied-social-studies/news-and-events/2013/07/phd-opportunity.aspx Success at Edgbaston hits the wickets at Westminster: Why efforts to increase the number of women MPs seems to have been stumped. Nathan Johnson Edgbaston, best known for cricket, is politically interesting for two reasons – it was once the seat of the then Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, and this week, it is celebrating the fact it is the only UK constituency to have returned a female MP to Parliament for 60 consecutive years. 2013-07-08T09:46:00Z 2013-07-08T09:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/07/Success-at-Edgbaston-hits-the-wickets-at-Westminster-Why-efforts-to-increase-the-number-of-women-MPs-seems-to-have-been-stumped.aspx Blog: Reducing Public Risk and Improving Public Resilience: What's to Be Done? Nathan Johnson Tony Bovaird, Professor of Public Management and Policy, INLOGOV and Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham. Barry Quirk, CEO, London Borough of Lewisham. 2013-07-08T09:08:00Z 2013-07-12T11:23:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/bovairdquirk/ Blog: Why do we need a new model of public services? Nathan Johnson This blog post summarises some of the key messages in: Why do we need a new model for public services? By Catherine Staite. Ch. 1 in Staite, C. (ed.)(2013). Making sense of the future: can we develop a new model for public services? (Birmingham: University of Birmingham/INLOGOV). Catherine Staite is the Director of INLOGOV. 2013-07-05T19:28:00Z 2013-07-12T09:28:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/staite/ Blog: Beyond Nudge is behaviour change and demand management Nathan Johnson This blog summarises some of the key messages in: Beyond Nudge – How can behaviour change help us to do less with less? By Daniel Goodwin and Catherine Mangan in Staite, C. (ed.)(2013). Making sense of the future: can we develop a new model for public services? (Birmingham: University of Birmingham/INLOGOV). Catherine Mangan is a Senior Fellow at INLOGOV. 2013-07-05T16:24:00Z 2013-07-12T09:24:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/goodwin_mangan/ Investing in future leaders Nathan Johnson This article was published in the MJ (Municipal Journal) for the LGA Conference 2013. Ensuring that your workforce meets the needs of the organisation and your residents in changing times is a significant challenge for any Council, as is ensuring that current and potential managers continue to develop their skills and knowledge and that organisational talent is identified and nurtured. 2013-07-05T15:23:00Z 2013-07-11T08:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/news-events/mj-article-investing-future-leaders.pdf The Conversation: Egypt: where turmoil comes with the constitution Nathan Johnson Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security at University of Birmingham recently wrote and article for The Conversation: "Egypt: where turmoil comes with the constitution". The military coup in Egypt that ended the reign of the country's first democratically elected president was, in part, triggered by increasingly large protests of Egyptians who were deeply dissatisfied with the policies of the president, Mohamed Morsi. 2013-07-05T15:18:00Z 2013-07-19T09:30:00Z http://theconversation.com/egypt-where-turmoil-comes-with-the-constitution-15816 INLOGOV and HSMC jointly evaluate the Home Truths Project Nathan Johnson The Home Truths project is a joint health and council initiative exploring different approaches to improving relationships between adult social care and GPs. 2013-07-05T12:02:00Z 2014-03-11T12:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-centre/news/2013/07/inlogov-and-hsmc-evaluate-home-truths-project.aspx New INLOGOV book: Making sense of the future: do we need a new model of public services Nathan Johnson Read INLOGOVs new book: Making sense of the future: do we need a new model of public services. 2013-07-04T11:50:00Z 2014-05-15T14:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2013/07/new-book.aspx Alumni: Joshua Gimba, MSc International Political Economy and Development (2011) Nathan Johnson I chose to study in the UK because I was drawn to the excellent combination of academics and practical experience the University of Birmingham provided. 2013-07-04T10:44:00Z 2013-07-10T15:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/gimba-joshua.aspx Blog: A relational revolution in local public services Nathan Johnson This blog draws on ideas in Chapter 2 of a new book 'Making Sense of the Future'. Chris Lawrence Pietroni joined INLOGOV as an Associate in September 2012. His work focuses on achieving sustainable systems change cross public services in the UK and the US. 2013-07-01T17:38:00Z 2013-07-12T11:24:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/relational-revolution/ Blog: The role of the third sector in delivering public services: what we know and what we'd like to know Nathan Johnson James Rees is a Research Fellow at the Third Sector Research Centre at the University of Birmingham. His recent research concentrates on transformations in UK public services including the role of the third sector, but his longer term interests have been in the governance of urban and regional governance, with a particular focus on the politics of city-regionalism; critical perspectives on urban housing market restructuring and housing policy; and more broadly on issues in urban regeneration, neighbourhoods and community. 2013-07-01T17:30:00Z 2013-07-12T11:30:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/third-sector-public-services/ 50 faces of CREES #33 - Mike Pushkin Nathan Johnson I arrived at CREES as a postgraduate in autumn 1966. The first person I met in the old Baykov Library on the first floor of the Ashley Building was fellow-postgrad Greg Andrusz. I recall thinking how refreshing it was that CREES had people working on such topics as the sociology of housing in the USSR – the first of many surprises induced by the breadth of the CREES engagement with its subject area. 2013-07-01T17:19:00Z 2013-07-01T16:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/mike-pushkin.aspx 50 faces of CREES #34 - Ann Helgeson Nathan Johnson I came to CREES in 1979, quite unexpectedly, when Chris Davis (another American) was going on leave for some reason or other and there was a need for someone to teach the Social Work students in Soviet social policy. 2013-07-01T17:19:00Z 2013-07-05T16:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/ann-helegeson.aspx Latest research: Saving Humans: Risk, Intervention, Survival Nathan Johnson 'Saving Humans' is an innovative and timely theme which consolidates existing University research agendas, provides opportunities for creating novel and exciting partnerships, transcends divides between arts, social sciences and natural sciences and, most importantly, addresses broader issues of social, political and moral concern for humanity's future. 2013-07-01T13:55:00Z 2014-03-11T09:02:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/ias/saving-humans/index.aspx Blog: Towards a model of sector-led improvement in UK local government Nathan Johnson This post is based on Iain Taylor-Allen's MSc dissertation, which he completed at INLOGOV earlier this year. Iain Taylor-Allen is an Adult Social Care Performance Manager. He has a keen interest in public management – specifically focusing on leadership, organisational culture and transformation; sector-led approaches to improvement; and the use of qualitative and quantitative measures to drive service / contract / organisational performance. 2013-06-28T10:00:00Z 2013-07-23T10:12:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/28/sector-led-improvement-2/ Blog: How do undergraduates construct their view of a public service professional? Nathan Johnson This post is based on Sarah Jeffries' MSc dissertation, which she completed at INLOGOV earlier this year. Sarah Jeffries has just completed a part-time MSc in Public Management with INLOGOV. She works for the Careers Network at the University of Birmingham, managing the University's optional employability programme: the Personal Skills Award. Sarah also chairs the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services' Skills Award Task Group. 2013-06-27T09:57:00Z 2013-07-23T10:14:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/public-service-professional/ Diverse and original PhD research showcased at fifth annual postgraduate colloquium Nathan Johnson The fifth annual School of Government and Society postgraduate colloquium recently took place (Wednesday 13 March 2013), giving PhD researchers an opportunity to share their ideas with students and staff. 2013-06-26T13:44:00Z 2014-04-29T10:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/06/annual-postgraduate-colloquium.aspx Weighing up the real value of the G8 summit Nathan Johnson It is easy to be cynical over the value of summits such as the G8 meeting recently concluded in Northern Ireland. After all, this year's meeting was preceded by the erection of fake shop fronts in Northern Ireland to disguise empty businesses, and when Birmingham played host in 1998 the city council sprayed the grass verges green. 2013-06-26T11:27:00Z 2013-06-26T11:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/06/g8-summit-2013.aspx Blog: Harnessing the resources of social enterprises for local authority savings Nathan Johnson This post is based on Sam Tappenden's MSc dissertation, which he completed at INLOGOV earlier this year. Sam Tappenden started his career in local government in 2010 through Hertfordshire County Council's Graduate Training scheme. As part of the training scheme, Sam read for an MSc in Public Management at INLOGOV. Sam is now seconded to Hertfordshire Community Meals as a Business Development Manager where his role is focussed on improving the efficiency of the current business model and assessing options for business diversification. 2013-06-26T09:53:00Z 2013-07-23T10:14:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/social-enterprise/ Defence and Security in an Independent Scotland Nathan Johnson On Monday 24 June the Scotland Institute published the most comprehensive investigation of the defence implications of Scottish independence ever conducted. Professor Mark Webber, Head of the School of Government and Society was the Chief Researcher on this project. The report – overseen by a panel of experts – concludes that an independent Scotland would be less prepared and less able than the UK to discharge the fundamental responsibility of protecting its citizens. 2013-06-25T17:13:00Z 2014-03-11T09:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/06/defence-security-independent-scotland.aspx LGA Conference 2013 (02 - 04 July 2013) Nathan Johnson Come visit us on Stand G50 and see what INLOGOV can do for you 2013-06-25T12:38:00Z 2013-07-11T08:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/2013/lga-conference.aspx Blog: Street-level bureaucrats and the UK's Better Regulation agenda: are the two compatible? Nathan Johnson This post is based on Harry Barton's MSc dissertation, which he completed at INLOGOV earlier this year. Harry Barton has worked in local government and for different regulatory bodies. His research interests include the construction of public policy, participative democracy, project, programme and change management. The biggest motivator in choosing this topic for his research project was to understand more about how the public sector should go about developing the skills and personnel it needs to be effective in the future. 2013-06-25T09:50:00Z 2013-07-23T10:13:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/street-level-bureaucrats-regulation/ Blog: Citizen participation through the looking glass Nathan Johnson This blog post is based on Catherine Jackson-Read's MSc dissertation, which she completed at INLOGOV earlier this year. Cathy Jackson-Read is an experienced facilitator and organisational development consultant who has worked at strategic and operational levels with a variety of statutory service providers, regional and sub-regional agencies and voluntary and community organisations, to enable cross sector liaison and collaborative working. Cathy currently works as a senior manager with Onside Independent Advocacy, a Worcester based charity providing services and support to vulnerable and disadvantaged adults. 2013-06-24T09:47:00Z 2013-07-23T10:11:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/citizen-participation-through-the-looking-glass/ Alumni: Michael Uzoigwe, MSc and PhD in International Development Nathan Johnson The exposure was great and the UK environment provided just the right amount of challenges. The facilities were outstanding, especially the library, and with students from almost every part of the world, IDD provided the best possible platform for my course of study. 2013-06-21T18:17:00Z 2013-06-21T18:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/uzoigwe-michael.aspx Alumni: Oluwapelumi Okuyemi, MSc International Development (Conflict, Security and Development) Nathan Johnson Having done my research on the course I wanted to study for my post-graduate degree, I was immediately drawn to the University of Birmingham whose international development department is one of the best practise centres for politics and international development in the United Kingdom. I also practically fell in love with the module structure as it fitted in perfectly with how I had envisioned the programme. 2013-06-21T18:17:00Z 2013-06-21T18:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/okuyemi-oluwapelumi.aspx Video: POLSIS Departmental Overview, Contact time and Academic Staff Nathan Johnson Head of POLSIS Dr David Dunn gives an overview of the Department of Political Science and International Studies and what you can expect when studying in POLSIS including careers, student activities,contact time and academic staff. 2013-06-21T16:49:00Z 2013-06-21T16:37:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/teaching/index.aspx Syria casts its shadow as G8 leaders gather Nathan Johnson Professor Stefan Wolff: Where does all this leave Syria and its people? The short answer is "on their own". The pursuit of self-interest by powerful outsiders overlaps only marginally with what Syrians need in order to achieve an end to the violence they have suffered for more than two years now. 2013-06-21T16:48:00Z 2014-03-11T09:02:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/syria-stefan-wolff.aspx Alumni Roundtable Event Nathan Johnson Alumnus, Miguel Castro Coelho (Senior Economist at the Institute for Government) hosted a roundtable at the University of Birmingham on Monday 10th June, 2013. Miguel gave current students and a fellow alumnus the opportunity to ask him questions about his time at Birmingham, his career to date as well as his thoughts on economic policies. 2013-06-21T16:04:00Z 2014-04-29T10:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/06/alumni-roundtable-event.aspx The Conversation: Taliban talks are at centre of bid for joined-up peace deal Nathan Johnson The announcement by the United States that it intends to enter into direct negotiations with the Afghan Taliban represents a significant opportunity to manage the Western "exit" from the country by the end of 2014. The fact that the announcement was made at the G8 meeting and that the Taliban have not rejected it is relatively promising. 2013-06-20T10:18:00Z 2013-08-08T10:23:00Z http://theconversation.com/taliban-talks-are-at-centre-of-bid-for-joined-up-peace-deal-15359 50 faces of CREES #32 - Sarah Dorr, CREES Annual Conference (June 2013) Nathan Johnson The CREES 50th Anniversary Conference was an intellectual, social, and cultural experience. It is an event that I recommend all future "Creesniks" take advantage of, and one that I hope to partake of again, in upcoming years. 2013-06-18T11:11:00Z 2013-06-18T11:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/sarah-dorr.aspx Video: Professor Nicholas Wheeler, Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security Nathan Johnson Professor Nicholas Wheeler, Professor of International Relations at the University of Birmingham talks about the newly established Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security and our exciting new MSc in Global Cooperation and Security. 2013-06-18T08:59:00Z 2013-06-18T08:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/courses/postgraduate/taught/govsoc/global-cooperation-security.aspx New Masters module: Disability and Development Nathan Johnson This new module from the International Development Department which will be taught on our Masters and Distance Learning degrees will explore historical and current debates around the various perceptions of disability, and will consider their impact on international policy and practice, particularly in the areas of education, health, livelihoods and conflict recovery. 2013-06-13T16:59:00Z 2013-07-11T08:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/modules/disability-development.aspx Guardian League Tables 2014 Nathan Johnson In the latest Guardian University Guide 2014 Birmingham ranked 15th out of 128 institutions surveyed. The School of Government and Society performed well both with Politics and Sociology appearing in the top 10 in their respective fields. 2013-06-07T15:46:00Z 2014-03-11T09:02:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/06/guardian-league-tables-2014.aspx The Conversation: From Arab Spring to regional sectarian war Nathan Johnson The promise by Syrian rebel leader Selim Idriss this week that "we are allowed to fight Hezbollah fighters inside [Lebanese] territory" was a chilling intimation of what may lie ahead for the region. 2013-06-07T10:24:00Z 2013-08-08T10:24:00Z http://theconversation.com/from-arab-spring-to-regional-sectarian-war-15009 Blog: Helping donors to 'think politically': Going beyond the orthodoxy. Nathan Johnson This post marks the first of the series of papers that were presented by some members of IDD staff who attended the International Studies Association Conference at San Francisco in April 2013. Dr. Heather Marquette and Dr. Jonathan Fisher at the conference organised a panel called 'Politicising or Depoliticising Aid? The Political Economy of Political Economy Analysis', and presented a joint paper on 'Donors Doing Political Economy Analysis: From Process to Product (and back again?). 2013-06-06T08:45:00Z 2013-07-19T14:58:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/helping-donors-to-think-politically-going-beyond-the-orthodoxy/ 50 faces of CREES #30 - Hilary Pilkington (1987-2005) Nathan Johnson The academic performance and reputation of CREES is thoroughly evidenced (something to thank the over-regulated British academic system for…?). Less easy to measure or brand is the feeling in CREES, passed down through generations of scholars attached to it, of belonging to a warm and caring family. 2013-06-04T08:17:00Z 2013-06-04T08:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/hilary-pilkington.aspx 50 faces of CREES #31 - David Wedgwood Benn Nathan Johnson There is no space to record the full extent of my debt to CREES which goes back to the late 1960s. Therefore I shall give only one specific example. 2013-06-04T08:17:00Z 2013-06-04T08:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/david-wedgwood-benn.aspx IDD academic was invited to speak at the OECD-DAC 17th GovNet Network on Governance Plenary Meeting Nathan Johnson Dr Heather Marquette, IDD's Director of Research and Academic Director of the GSDRC, was an invited speaker on 'Political Economy Analysis: Challenging the Orthodoxy?' at the OECD-DAC 17th GovNet Network on Governance Plenary Meeting, Paris, 24-25 April 2013. 2013-06-03T11:39:00Z 2013-06-03T11:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/05/heather-marquette-political-economy-analysis.aspx Foreign aid and whether breaking the 0.7% promise really matters Nathan Johnson "At the last UK general election all three main parties pledged to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on foreign aid. The 2010 Coalition government's agreement not only ratified this figure but vowed to "enshrine this commitment in law". Three years on, this bill has still not been enacted by parliament and was notably missing from the 2013 Queen's Speech." 2013-05-31T15:06:00Z 2013-05-31T14:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/foreign-aid-jiesheng-li.aspx Podcast: Putin and the Russian Economy Nathan Johnson This event brought together two of the world's most respected specialists on the Russian economy to discuss the most important issues relating to economic policy and performance in Russia today. 2013-05-30T11:35:00Z 2014-03-12T07:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/05/putin-russian-economy.aspx POLSIS Mother Teresa Expert on a Sister Act Mission Nathan Johnson Dr Gëzim Alpion, Lecturer in Sociology in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, was interviewed by the Australian Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Radio on 23 May 2013. 2013-05-30T11:21:00Z 2013-06-03T11:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/05/mother-teresa-sister-act-mission.aspx Student profile: Jose Van Oosten, MSc International Development Nathan Johnson I chose to study at Birmingham because for me it offered a great balance between being at the heart of a dynamic city, having a really large campus, a really large university with lots of activities, the politics department which I'm involved in is in the top ten of the country and of course, Birmingham is in the top three of the British University sports rankings, which is a big seller for me. 2013-05-21T16:15:00Z 2013-05-21T16:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/idd/2012-13/jose-van-oosten-msc-idd.aspx POLSIS academic is announced as BBC Radio 3 New Generation Thinker Nathan Johnson After a nationwide search, BBC Radio 3 and the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) have today unveiled the ten academics that have been named New Generation Thinkers 2013. The list includes Dr Rebecca Steinfeld, Visiting Lecturer and Teaching Fellow with the Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) at the University of Birmingham. 2013-05-21T11:13:00Z 2013-05-21T11:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/05/bbc-radio-three-new-generation-thinker.aspx New Masters degree: MSc Global Cooperation and Security Nathan Johnson This exciting degree programme is offered exclusively through the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS), comprised of a number of leading scholars in the field of security who regularly produce cutting edge, internationally renowned research. 2013-05-21T08:54:00Z 2014-03-11T09:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/global-cooperation-security.aspx Evaluating the impact of aid: which way forward? Nathan Johnson IDD's Claire Mcloughlin was part of a panel of experts who took part in a Guardian Live debate on the best ways to evaluate the impact of development assistance. 2013-05-17T15:03:00Z 2013-05-17T14:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/05/evaluating-impact-aid.aspx CREES academic organises conference in Moscow Nathan Johnson CREES academic organises conference 'Russia and the EU: the Future of Europe and Eurasia' at the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Europe in Moscow 2013-05-17T11:48:00Z 2013-05-17T11:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/05/russia-european-union.aspx Russian Politics from Below Nathan Johnson David White attended a conference in Edinburgh at the end of April organised under the auspices of UACES. Speakers at the conference came from the UK and Russia. 2013-05-14T12:32:00Z 2013-05-14T12:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/05/russian-politics-below.aspx Free breakfast workshop - Supporting health and wellbeing boards to be the new conductors of integrated care Nathan Johnson This free workshop offers you the opportunity to hear the learning gained from our work with over 70 health and wellbeing boards across the country and to find out how they can improve integrated care. 2013-05-14T10:58:00Z 2014-03-11T12:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/2013/breakfast-workshop.aspx Blog: African donors and Somali ownership: The elephant at the Somalia Conference Nathan Johnson And so it ends. After months of preparation, fretting over guest lists, measuring flags and re-drafting seating arrangements, the Somalia Conference is over. The final communiqué has been issued, the speeches uploaded to YouTube and the attendees prepped for the next leg of the reconstruction roadshow. Jonathan Fisher is a lecturer in international development, researching the relationship between Western aid donors and developing states. 2013-05-14T08:41:00Z 2013-07-19T14:59:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/african-donors-and-somali-ownership-the-elephant-at-the-somalia-conference/ Philosophy of the Social Sciences at Birmingham Nathan Johnson Justin Cruickshank had an article on Popper and Rorty published early / online for the prestigious journal Social Epistemology in May. Earlier in the year he was invited to become a 'Contributing Editor' by Oxford University Press, for their online Annotated Bibliography in Sociology. His 12,000 word peer reviewed article on 'epistemology' was accepted by OUP for publication later in the year. 2013-05-10T17:15:00Z 2013-05-10T17:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/05/philosophy-social-sciences-birmingham.aspx ESRC Seminar Series: 'The Future of American Power' Nathan Johnson On Friday April 19 Dr Adam Quinn of POLSIS convened the first event of the ESRC Seminar Series on 'The Future of American Power', on which he is principal investigator. 2013-05-09T10:00:00Z 2013-05-09T09:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/05/future-american-power.aspx European Politics During the Crisis: Developing Research Agendas Nathan Johnson The POLSIS European Studies Research Group hosted a research workshop on Wednesday 01 May. The workshop, titled "European Politics During the Crisis: Developing Research Agendas" 2013-05-09T09:54:00Z 2013-05-09T09:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/05/european-politics-during-crisis.aspx IDD staff attended the International Studies Association Conference, San Francisco, 3-6 April 2013 Nathan Johnson Heather Marquette and Jonathan Fisher organised a panel called 'Politicising or Depoliticising Aid? The Political Economy of Political Economy Analysis', and presented a joint paper on 'Donors Doing Political Economy Analysis™: From Process to Product (and back again?). Claire Mcloughlin gave a paper on '(Re-) building State Legitimacy via Service Delivery: Beyond Institutional Approaches'. Nicolas Lemay-Hebert gave a paper on 'The Unfulfilled Potential of the Light Footprint Approach for Peace Missions'. 2013-05-09T09:08:00Z 2013-05-09T09:03:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/05/international-studies-association-conference.aspx UK should revisit its decision on South Africa and its concept of aid Nathan Johnson Ending support for middle-income countries shows a misunderstanding about the role aid can play in increasingly better-off areas. Guardian "Poverty matters blog" written by Siân Herbert and John Glennie. 2013-05-03T13:01:00Z 2013-05-03T12:58:00Z http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/may/02/uk-revisit-decision-south-africa-aid Why national politics is a mixed blessing in today's local elections Nathan Johnson Local elections will be held today in 34 councils, for 2,362 seats in 27 county councils and seven mainland unitaries. There are also two mayoral elections. Gains and losses will be measured in terms both of seats won and which parties have overall control of which councils. 2013-05-03T07:28:00Z 2013-05-03T07:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/05/BirminghamBrief0105.aspx Local Elections 2013 Nathan Johnson Voters in 27 county councils and seven unitary authorities will head to the polls on Thursday 02 May. With 2,362 seats up for grabs, four INLOGOV academics examine the key issues. 2013-05-02T08:02:00Z 2014-03-11T12:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/local-elections-2013.aspx The Sverdlovsk Saga Nathan Johnson Dr Elena Denezhkina, an Honorary Research Fellow of CREES, with the support of the Centre presented a paper at the 2013 BASEES conference, entitled 'the Sverdlovsk Saga'. 2013-04-26T08:08:00Z 2013-05-09T08:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/04/sverdlovsk-saga.aspx The Telegraph 'Analysis: Chechnya Casts a Long Shadow Over the Boston Marathon' Nathan Johnson Cerwyn Moore of the University of Birmingham looks at the troubled history of Russia's Muslim republics. 2013-04-22T10:56:00Z 2014-08-20T10:57:00Z http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10008084/Analysis-Chechnya-Casts-a-Long-Shadow-Over-the-Boston-Marathon-Bombings.html Calculation and Miscalculation on the Korean Peninsula Nathan Johnson While it is sometimes tempting to see the regime of Kim Jong-eun as superficially comical, with its extravagant uniforms, dynastic worship and wild rhetoric, it is also important not to underestimate the serious risk of miscalculation and military escalation inherent within the current crisis. While there are many aspects of the present situation that are familiar to observers of the hermit state, there are also enough differences to give concern that this manufactured crisis could end differently. 2013-04-19T12:16:00Z 2013-04-19T11:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/04/Calculation-and-Miscalculation-on-the-Korean-Peninsula.aspx INLOGOV Informs, Issue 6 - Spring 2013 Nathan Johnson Research, Advice and support, Executive development and Postgraduate programme news from the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham. 2013-04-18T16:28:00Z 2013-04-18T15:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2013/04/inlogov-informs-issue-6.aspx Brazil Workshop on accounting, accountability and service delivery (15-19 April 2013) Nathan Johnson From 15-19 April, the University of São Paulo (Ribeirao Preto campus) and the University of Birmingham are collaborating in a one week workshop which considers the development of new approaches to public accountability and accounting in service delivery. 2013-04-11T16:58:00Z 2013-04-11T16:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/2013/brazil-workshop-accounting-accountability-service-delivery.aspx #AskAnAlum - What's it like to study at Birmingham? Nathan Johnson To give you an idea of what it's like to study in the Department of Political Science and International Studies we are running two live twitter chats for offer holders over the next two weeks. These chats will give you the opportunity to ask three of our most recent graduates about their experiences in the department and university life in general. 2013-04-11T16:01:00Z 2013-04-11T15:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Thatcherism: A phrase coined here in Birmingham Nathan Johnson The debate over Mrs Thatcher's legacy is one of the most important political debates of our time. At stake is not simply an evaluation of recent history; it is as much about the current and future direction of Britain as it is about the past. Birmingham perspective by Dr Peter Kerr. 2013-04-11T11:34:00Z 2013-07-11T11:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/thatcher-peter-kerr.aspx Research project: Community governance in a context of decentralisation (November 2012 - April 2013) Nathan Johnson This review will explore why these crucial concerns remain unresolved and consider creative responses to issues of demand, mobilisation, equity and risk. 2013-04-11T10:59:00Z 2013-04-11T10:40:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2013/community-governance-context-decentralisation.aspx Research project: Towards transformative co-production in local public services (November 2012 - April 2013) Nathan Johnson This review explore the tensions in thinking about co-production as a substitutive response to austerity and consider when, where and how citizens and professionals can work together to deliver transformation in local public services. 2013-04-11T10:59:00Z 2013-04-11T10:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2013/towards-transformative-co-production-in-local-public-services.aspx Research project: Ways of Knowing: Exploring the different registers, values and subjectivities of collaborative research (February 2013 - January 2014) Nathan Johnson This diverse inter-disciplinary project will draw together different perspectives produced through collaborative research generating a range of resources aimed at different audiences to inform the development of creative and reflexive collaborative practice. 2013-04-11T10:58:00Z 2013-04-11T10:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2013/ways-knowing.aspx 50 faces of CREES #10 - Paul Lewis (1963 - 71) Nathan Johnson My dates at CREES were 1963-66 as undergraduate, 1968-71 post grad. Am now retired, or at least not being paid a salary. Also Professor Emeritus of Politics at the Open University, and Visiting Professorial Fellow at the University of Sussex. 2013-04-11T10:41:00Z 2013-04-11T10:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/paul-lewis.aspx 50 faces of CREES #11 - Robert Davies (1963 - present) Nathan Johnson When CREES was established on October 1, 1963, Britain and British universities were very different from today. Both the Conservative and Labour parties assumed that coal, electricity and the railways had been nationalised for ever; most capital investment was in the hands of the state. There were far less students than today, but it was taken for granted that the student population would rise rapidly, that higher education was free of charge, and that children of parents who were not well-off would receive a maintenance grant. 2013-04-11T10:41:00Z 2013-04-11T10:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/professor-robert-davies.aspx Profile: Riona Mulherin, BA International relations and Political Science (2012) Nathan Johnson Studying International Relations with Political Science gives a brilliant insight into how the world works; it shows you how politics, history, geography, economics, ethics and law are all interconnected at an international level, and the course allows you to look in close detail at all of these topics. I personally really enjoyed modules relating to economics and international development, and the great thing about this course is that you are encouraged to follow these interests. 2013-04-09T17:06:00Z 2013-04-09T16:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/mulherin-riona.aspx Profile: Sean Finch, BA International relations and Political Science (2012) Nathan Johnson I would advise those looking to study in POLSIS to make the most of the broadness of the subject as it gives you so many options and avenues to pursue your interests. Make the most of the specialisms of staff members and don't be apprehensive about asking them for help. The department is really supportive and can help you achieve your degree goal. 2013-04-09T17:06:00Z 2013-04-09T16:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/finch-sean.aspx Profile: Nancy Gray, BA Political Science (2012) Nathan Johnson To those looking to study Political Science, I would definitely recommend attending all the different career events held by both the department and the Politics Society; they are worth heading along to. Also, read the emails circulated, it is how I found this internship! 2013-04-09T17:06:00Z 2013-04-09T16:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/gray-nancy.aspx Research highlight: The Political Effects of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles on Conflict and Cooperation within and between States (2013 -) Nathan Johnson This project will examine the impact of a recent and on-going development in science and technology (drones) on prospects for conflict and cooperation in countries where drones are deployed. Professor Nicholas Wheeler (PI). 2013-03-26T15:16:00Z 2013-03-26T14:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/polsis/2013/unmanned-aerial-vehicles.aspx Birmingham Teaching Heroes: Luis Cabrera Nathan Johnson Experts who are shaping the world for future generations. With you. 2013-03-26T15:09:00Z 2014-03-11T09:03:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/03/luis-cabrera.aspx Call for papers: Making Politics Practical II: Development Politics and the Changing Aid Environment Nathan Johnson We welcome papers that further our understanding of the politics of development, whether this is within developing countries or the development community. Although we would like to keep this call for papers as open as possible, we have preference for papers that address one of the following: the politics of aid; political settlements within developing countries; political analysis/political economy analysis; new governance challenges; the politics of service delivery; state-building; and the challenges of delivering aid in fragile states. 2013-03-22T15:36:00Z 2013-03-22T15:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/2013/making-politics-practical.aspx Pyone Kyaw, MSc International Development (2012) Nathan Johnson Pyone Kyaw describes her experience of studying an MSc in Development Management at the International Development Department, University of Birmingham during her recent graduation. 2013-03-21T14:30:00Z 2014-07-17T16:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/kyaw-pyone.aspx Maria Anna Belka, MSc Development Management (Public Economic Management and Finance) (2012) Nathan Johnson Maria Anna Belka describes her experience of studying an MSc in Development Management at the International Development Department, University of Birmingham during her recent graduation. 2013-03-21T14:30:00Z 2014-07-17T16:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/maria-anna-belka.aspx Chris Woods, MSc Development Management (2012) Nathan Johnson Chris Woods describes her experience of studying an MSc in Development Management at the International Development Department, University of Birmingham during her recent graduation. 2013-03-21T14:30:00Z 2014-07-17T16:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/woods-chris.aspx Andrew Reid, MA Social and Political Theory (2012) Nathan Johnson Andrew Reid describes his experience of studying an MA Social and Political Theory at the Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham during his recent graduation. 2013-03-21T13:54:00Z 2014-07-17T16:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/reid-andrew.aspx Erik Fredrikson, MA International Relations (Terrorism and Political Violence) (2012) Nathan Johnson Erik Fredrikson describes his experience of studying an MA International Relations (Terrorism and Political Violence) at the Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham during his recent graduation. 2013-03-21T13:54:00Z 2014-07-17T16:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/fredrikson-erik.aspx Ingrid Daude van Troastwÿk, MA Politics and Religion (2012) Nathan Johnson Ingrid Daude van Troastwÿk describes her experience of studying an MA in Politics and Religion at the Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham during her recent graduation. 2013-03-21T13:54:00Z 2014-07-17T16:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2013-14/ingrid-doude-van-troostwijk.aspx Leisl Algeo, MSc Poverty, Inequality and Development by distance learning (2012) Nathan Johnson Leisl Algeo describes her experience of studying an MSc Poverty, Inequality and Development by distance learning at the International Development Department, University of Birmingham during her recent graduation. 2013-03-21T12:10:00Z 2014-07-17T16:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/algeo-leisl.aspx Anna Townsend, MSc Poverty, Inequality and Development by distance learning (2012) Nathan Johnson Anna Townsend describes her experience of studying an MSc Poverty, Inequality and Development by distance learning at the International Development Department, University of Birmingham during her recent graduation. 2013-03-21T12:10:00Z 2014-07-17T15:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/townsend-anna.aspx Anthony Gething, MSc Public Administration and Development by distance learning (2012) Nathan Johnson Anthony Gething describes his experience of studying an MSc Public Administration and Development by distance learning at the International Development Department, University of Birmingham during his recent graduation. 2013-03-21T12:10:00Z 2014-07-17T15:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/gething-anthony.aspx 50 faces of CREES #09 - Professor Julian Cooper (1968 - 2013) Nathan Johnson I joined CREES in the autumn of 1968 as a Masters student. This was a turbulent time, with a student occupation of the Great Hall for over a week in my first term, an action in which several students of the Centre were actively involved, in particular the late Pete Gowan, who went on to become a nationally known political activist of the International Marxist Group. 2013-03-21T10:43:00Z 2013-03-21T10:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/julian-cooper.aspx Birmingham Fellows: Full Circle - Episode One Nathan Johnson Dr. Kostas Nikolopoulos (School of Physics and Astrology) interviews Dr. Sara Jones (Department of Political Science and International Studies) about her research analysing the political, social and cultural processes of remembering state socialism. Birmingham Fellows are outstanding post-doctoral researchers at the University of Birmingham, recruited from around the world. Early-career researchers, they are poised to become the academic and research leaders of tomorrow. 2013-03-21T10:43:00Z 2013-03-21T15:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/03/birmingham-fellows-full-circle.aspx 50th Anniversary Seminar on Eastern Europe after 1989 Nathan Johnson At the invitation of Dr Deema Kaneff, Prof. D. Segert from the University of Vienna came to CREES to present a talk in the 50th Anniversary Seminar Series on 'Eastern Europe after 1989 - a laboratory for the sustainability of democracy?' 2013-03-20T15:01:00Z 2013-03-21T10:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/03/eastern-europe-after-1989.aspx Yemen's national dialogue: the challenges and opportunities ahead Nathan Johnson After several months of delay, Yemen's National Dialogue Conference will begin on Monday 18 March 2013 amid tight security in a country that is beset by multiple crises—from a humanitarian crisis to two ongoing insurgencies, and the active presence of an al-Qaeda affiliate, to name but three. 2013-03-18T17:16:00Z 2013-03-18T16:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/03/yemen.aspx Libya two years on: the African Union perspective Nathan Johnson Professor Paul Jackson's perspective piece, reflecting on Libya two years after the NATO's military intervention in the country. 2013-03-18T09:52:00Z 2013-07-11T09:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/libya-two-years-on.aspx Libya two years on: The management of contemporary security challenges Nathan Johnson Professor Stefan Wolff's perspective piece, reflecting on Libya two years after the NATO's military intervention in the country. 2013-03-18T09:52:00Z 2013-07-11T11:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/stefan-wolff-libya-perspective.aspx DSA Conference 2013 Nathan Johnson IDD is pleased to announce that the 2013 conference of the Development Studies Association will be held at the University of Birmingham on 16th November. 2013-03-11T11:34:00Z 2013-03-11T11:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/03/dsa-conference-2013.aspx 50 faces of CREES #08 - Richard Sakwa (1984) Nathan Johnson Initially a graduate student on the MSocSci, I converted to a PhD (supervised by R. W. Davies and awarded in July 1984). I am now Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent. 2013-03-11T11:33:00Z 2013-03-11T11:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/richard-sakwa.aspx POLSIS academic says Canadian researchers criticizing Mother Teresa miss the point Nathan Johnson Dr Gëzim Alpion, Lecturer in Sociology in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, who is considered "the most authoritative English-language author" on Mother Teresa, was interviewed by Nikolaj Krak of the Danish daily newspaper "Kristeligt Dagblad" on 08 March 2013 to comment on a controversial study authored by three Canadian researchers on the Albanian-born nun. 2013-03-11T10:35:00Z 2013-03-11T09:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/03/canadian-researchers-criticizing-mother-teresa-miss-the-point.aspx Blog: Doing local politics differently: learning from an inspiring community campaign against the cuts Nathan Johnson For the second time in as many years, the south Manchester neighbourhood of Levenshulme where I live, has faced the closure of vital public facilities. This time, the library and swimming pool have been targeted. Both these facilities are community hubs which bring people in a diverse, and in many ways disadvantaged, community together. Written by Catherine Durose. 2013-03-08T16:00:00Z 2013-03-08T14:05:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/doing-politics-differently/ NGO Seminar Series podcast: What's Hot and What's Not: what's changed in development thinking in the last five years? Nathan Johnson Dr. Duncan Green, Director of Research, Oxfam and author of 'From Poverty to Power' gave a talk on 'What's Hot and What's Not: what's changed in development thinking in the last five years?' at the NGO Seminar Series, Spring term 2013. 2013-03-08T09:36:00Z 2013-11-22T11:22:00Z http://www.download.bham.ac.uk/idd/podcasts/2013/ngo/duncan-green.mp3 50 faces of CREES #07 - Sarah Whitmore (1996-2003) Nathan Johnson The academic and peer support networks at CREES were incredible and I look back at my CREES years with enormous gratitude to all those who shared their time, expertise, experience and very amusing anecdotes. 2013-03-06T14:24:00Z 2013-03-06T14:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/sarah-whitmore.aspx School of Government and Society Annual Postgraduate Colloquium Nathan Johnson This event is a brilliant opportunity for staff and students to find out what the School's PhD students are working on, as well as an opportunity for all our PhD students and staff to get together and discuss on-going research. 2013-03-06T14:04:00Z 2014-04-29T10:48:00Z https://www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/social-sciences/schools/government-society/events/public/2013/03/annual-postgraduate-colloquium.aspx Former Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova Speaks on the European Union at CREES Nathan Johnson Former Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Iveta Radicova, delivered a lecture, "The EU Crisis What Next" as part of the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES)'s 50th Anniversary Seminar Series and was held in conjunction with the Graduate Centre for Europe, the European Research Institute and the School of Government and Society. 2013-03-05T20:16:00Z 2013-03-05T09:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/03/iveta-radicova.aspx 50th Anniversary Seminar on Authoritarianism and Democracy in the Post-Soviet Space Nathan Johnson Professor Sarah Birch from the University of Essex joined CREES scholars Dr Kataryna Wolczuk and Dr Matthew Frear to discuss electoral practice and malpractice in former Soviet republics. 2013-03-05T20:15:00Z 2014-03-12T07:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/03/authoritarianism-democracy-post-soviet-space.aspx Blog: Shocking but not surprising: the problem is not with women but with the political parties Nathan Johnson EHRC research exploring the under-representation of women and other groups protected under the Equality Act (2010) has been used to support a call for the Coalition to act to address the issue of women's representation in Parliament. Women from the Political Studies Association's Women and Politics group challenge the government to accept the logic of sex quotas and introduce legislation for elected institutions in Great Britain. Written by Catherine Durose. 2013-03-05T20:14:00Z 2013-03-04T16:57:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/women-and-politics/ 50 faces of CREES #05 - Daniel Franklin (1978-1981) Nathan Johnson My attachment to CREES was somewhat unusual: I was formally at Aston University (1978-81), but it quickly became clear that the expertise I needed for my research on Soviet and East European foreign trade was at CREES, and Phil Hanson very kindly agreed to supervise my PhD, on foreign trade in centrally planned economies; that made all the difference. 2013-03-04T10:50:00Z 2013-03-04T10:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/daniel-franklin.aspx CREES scholar speaks at Chatham House Nathan Johnson Richard Connolly presents his views on the prospects for the Russian economy at a corporate event for members at Chatham House (Royal Institute for International Affairs) in London on Wednesday 28th February. 2013-03-01T15:24:00Z 2013-03-01T15:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/03/scholar-speaks-chatham-house.aspx Sistine Chapel chimney could get sootier Nathan Johnson Benedict XVI told the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square on 24 February 2013 that his retirement 'doesn't mean abandoning the church'. Many Catholics, though, including those who are not church goers, consider his unexpected resignation as the Vicar of Christ, an ill-thought out decision that will lead to an irreparable desacralization of the role. 2013-03-01T13:16:00Z 2013-03-01T13:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/03/sistine-chapel-chimney-could-get-sootier.aspx Blog: Council tax: the new poll tax Nathan Johnson The Poll Tax riots in 1990 famously brought down Mrs Thatcher and led to the hasty introduction of the Council Tax. Twenty three years later are the reforms to Council Tax (due for implementation in less than a month) about to bring the Poll Tax back from the grave? Written by Martin Stott. 2013-03-01T10:20:00Z 2013-03-01T13:25:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/council-tax-the-new-poll-tax/ Scandals, cover-ups and resignations: Is Eastleigh the by-election to reinvigorate British politics? Nathan Johnson A high profile political resignation following a legal scandal, allegations of sexual misconduct, two political 'partners' tearing at each other's throats, controversial candidates grabbing the headlines for the wrong reasons and the future positions of the Prime Minister and his Deputy placed under the microscope. 2013-02-28T17:04:00Z 2013-07-11T09:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/02/eastleigh-by-election.aspx Birmingham and Yale to establish global justice programme in India Nathan Johnson The University of Birmingham is joining forces with Yale to support the development of a pioneering global justice programme at the University of Delhi. 2013-02-28T10:14:00Z 2014-03-11T09:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/02/27FebBirmingham-and-Yale-to-establish-global-justice-programme-in-India.aspx Blog: Council officers as local democracy makers Nathan Johnson To what extent does the lack of training and development of senior officers at local councils impact on the practice of local democracy? Can 'democracy' even be taught? It's a question that has been with me for a while. I have no answers but can offer some personal reflections following research I undertook into the role of senior officers in managing local democracy. Written by Philip Lloyd-Williams. 2013-02-27T11:35:00Z 2013-02-27T10:57:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/local-democracy-makers/ 50 faces of CREES #03 - Dr Bettina Renz (1999-2006) Nathan Johnson I studied and worked at CREES from 1999 until 2006, first as a PhD student and then as an ESRC postdoctoral fellow. Following a year as a lecturer with King's College London at the Royal Air Force College I am now a lecturer in International Security at the University of Nottingham's School of Politics & International Relations. 2013-02-26T12:58:00Z 2013-02-26T12:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/bettina-renz.aspx 50 faces of CREES #04 - Douglas Sutherland (1992-1997) Nathan Johnson CREES was an extraordinarily vibrant place to study. The interchange between all the different members of the centre, staff and students alike, was one aspect. But also having a focal point like the Baykov library coupled with regular seminars and the annual conference exposed you to a bewildering array of ideas and research. 2013-02-26T12:58:00Z 2013-02-26T13:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/douglas-sutherland.aspx Blog: Reflections on the paradoxes of public sector leadership development Nathan Johnson The question of how we play a part in encouraging future generations of leaders has never really been more acute than at the present. The question has been around for quite a while now but perhaps never really satisfactorily answered. Some years ago a PhD study looked at the career paths of Local Authority Chief Executives and the startling conclusion appeared to be that actually wanting to be a chief executive was the only real common feature. Written by Ian Briggs. 2013-02-26T12:17:00Z 2013-02-26T11:54:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/02/26/leadership-developmen/ Blog: Happy Anniversary, Greens – especially from local government Nathan Johnson An unambiguously positive title, I trust you'll agree – not least because I plan to stick a gentle boot in later on. We must start, though, with full credit where it's due. This weekend, the Green Party of England and Wales celebrates its 40th anniversary – a remarkable achievement indeed for a party that, in its own folklore anyway, owes its origins to a guy in Coventry picking up a Playboy magazine. Written by Chris Game. 2013-02-21T10:20:00Z 2013-02-21T10:02:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/greens/ Student profile: Felix Cairns, International Model NATO Conference 2013 Nathan Johnson All delegations stayed in the same hotel, so were advised to remain "in-role" throughout the conference. And we found ourselves becoming embroiled in fascinating debates over meals and drinks with some very capable students from universities across America, Canada and Europe. It became evident to me that diplomacy requires a constant engagement in and consideration for major world issues, and that productive discussion can occur anywhere, from the formal debates in the conference, to the less formal encounters in lifts and at the bar! 2013-02-20T17:54:00Z 2014-03-24T09:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/felix-cairns-model-nato.aspx Student profile: Brami Van Crombrugge, International Model NATO Conference 2013 Nathan Johnson The general aura that surrounded the ongoing debates in the Defense Planning Group was indescribable. While certain delegates were returning to their 2nd/3rd Model NATO conference, others (such as Felix and I) were experiencing our very first. It was an absolute honour to be part of such an invaluable event and to be able to learn from such a diverse variety of students. 2013-02-20T17:45:00Z 2014-03-24T09:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/brami-van-crombrugge-model-nato.aspx Blog: Horse-meat in beefburgers? Who says we are over-regulated? Nathan Johnson A recurrent theme of the political rhetoric from successive governments in recent times has been 'deregulation', 'cutting bureaucracy and red-tape'. Indeed the notions of 'Smaller Government' and of 'curbing the nanny state' have been key elements in the present Coalition Government's programme since the outset in 2010. 2013-02-18T17:28:00Z 2013-02-18T17:13:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/horse-meat/ Video profile: Professor Nicholas Wheeler Nathan Johnson Professor Nicholas Wheeler, Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science and International Studies as well as Director of the newly established Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security talks about why he came to the University of Birmingham. 2013-02-13T16:45:00Z 2013-03-13T14:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/02/nicholas-wheeler.aspx The Pope's resignation is a courageous act, says POLSIS academic Nathan Johnson Dr Gëzim Alpion, Lecturer in Sociology in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, who specializes in the Sociology of Religion, was interviewed on the significance of Pope Benedict XVI's sudden resignation by the BBC WM's Pete Morgan on his Breakfast Show on Tuesday, 12 February 2013. 2013-02-13T08:23:00Z 2013-02-13T08:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/02/popes-resignation.aspx POLSIS MA Study tour visit Brussels, January 2013 Nathan Johnson Every year all MA students based within POLSIS have the opportunity to take part in an study trip to Brussels. This year, Dr David Bailey and Dr Luis Cabrera led a group of around 30 MA students to Brussels. The study group visited the NATO headquarters, and a number of the European Union institutions (European Parliament, Council, and European Commission), and also attended the University's own office based within Brussels. 2013-02-13T08:00:00Z 2014-09-16T13:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/02/brussels.aspx Video: Tim Haughton - Europe's role in the world Nathan Johnson Dr Tim Haughton Director of the Centre for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Birmingham talks about Europe's role in the world. 2013-02-12T18:32:00Z 2014-03-12T07:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/02/europes-role-in-the-world.aspx Video: Catherine Needham - Politics, government and public policy Nathan Johnson Dr Catherine Needham Senior lecturer in Public Policy talks about Politics, government and public policy. 2013-02-12T18:32:00Z 2013-02-12T18:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2013/02/politics-government-and-public-policy.aspx POLSIS Academic appears on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour Nathan Johnson Dr Stephen Bates, Lecturer in Political Science, appeared on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour, on Sunday 10th February. Dr Bates spoke about his research undertaken about Prime Minister's Questions, carried out with fellow POLSIS member of staff, Dr. Peter Kerr. 2013-02-12T11:24:00Z 2013-02-12T11:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/02/westminster-hour.aspx Blog: Political Activism, Legal Discourses and Sexual violence in India: What Does the Delhi Rape Case Reveal? Nathan Johnson The brutal incident of rape and murder in December 2012 of a 23 year old student on a bus in Delhi has been the catalyst of intense social and political activism against sexual violence in India. Written by Geetanjali Gangoli and Martin Rew. 2013-02-11T08:38:00Z 2013-07-12T08:39:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/political-activism-legal-discourses-and-sexual-violence-in-india-what-does-the-delhi-rape-case-reveal/ Students convene in Delhi to explore international security challenges Nathan Johnson The evolving international security agenda, with particular reference to South Asia, is the focus of an exciting joint module for students from the Universities of Delhi, Birmingham and Melbourne next week. 2013-02-08T12:54:00Z 2014-04-29T11:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/02/7Feb-Students-convene-in-Delhi-to-explore-international-security-challenges-.aspx Blog: Activating collective and individual co-production: Some policy implications Nathan Johnson Recently we have been publishing the findings of an in-depth statistical analysis of user and community co-production, based on responses to a survey of 5000 citizens in five EU countries in 2008, funded by the French Presidency of the EU. Written by Tony Bovaird 2013-02-07T13:30:00Z 2013-02-11T13:31:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/activating-coproduction/ 50 faces of CREES #02 - General Sir Mike Jackson Nathan Johnson To celebrate CREES's 50th anniversary, over the course of the year we will be highlighting 50 faces of distingushed individuals who have contributed to CREES's past and present... 2013-02-05T11:35:00Z 2014-07-17T16:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/mike-jackson.aspx CREES scholar invited to Balkan conference at CERI-Sciences Po, Paris Nathan Johnson Dr Deema Kaneff was invited to present a paper at a conference at CERI-Sciences Po, Paris on the 23rd January 2012. 2013-02-04T12:45:00Z 2013-03-21T10:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/02/conference-creation-masters-university-vienna.aspx 50 faces of CREES #01 - Professor Ron Amann Nathan Johnson To celebrate CREES's 50th anniversary, over the course of the year we will be highlighting 50 faces of distingushed individuals who have contributed to CREES's past and present... I entered CREES as a postgraduate student in 1964, quite soon after it had been founded. At that time, Bob Davies was building the Centre up into the intellectual powerhouse it was to become, and the resources still flowing from its special Hayter status were abundant. Looking back, it seems like a golden age. 2013-02-04T11:25:00Z 2013-02-26T12:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/profiles/ron-amann.aspx Blog: Birmingham – second city's acceptable, but second most unequal? Nathan Johnson Google "Birmingham – Britain's second city" and you get 110,000 results; for "Birmingham – Britain's third city" just three – all ignorant, obviously prejudiced, or both. By contrast, "Manchester – Britain's second city" gets 895 results, only just outscoring "Manchester – Britain's third city" with 866. QED – unofficial as the title is, if there's going to be a second city, it's Birmingham. Simples! Written by Chris Game 2013-02-02T15:40:00Z 2013-02-11T15:41:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/birmingham-second-unequal/ Professor John Makumbe (1950 - 2013) Nathan Johnson Professor John Makumbe died on 24 January aged 63. Professor Makumbe was a member of the Department of Political and Administrative Studies of the University of Zimbabwe. The University of Birmingham awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2004 on the strength of his brave and principled commitment to truth and integrity in Zimbabwe and in Africa more broadly. 2013-02-01T16:55:00Z 2013-02-01T16:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/02/john-makumbe.aspx Profile: Ioana-Cristina Moraru, Human Rights Internship, Argentina Nathan Johnson Iona-Cristina's two month placement focused primarily on practical work within the Fundacion Ciudadanos del Mundo organisation in Argentina. 2013-02-01T14:40:00Z 2013-02-01T14:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/ioana-cristina-moraru.aspx Profile: Sociology 'Prize Pitch' Video Project Nathan Johnson The aim of this project was to boost the employability, presentation skills and confidence of undergraduate Sociology students. 2013-02-01T14:40:00Z 2013-02-01T14:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/sociology-prize-pitch-video-project.aspx Profile: Ayesha Harris, Microfinance Internship, Opportunity International, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Nathan Johnson During the internship Ayesha's role was to create factsheets that would enable head office and the branch managers to better understand the characteristics of the small businesses that they lend to. She analysed data from the client applications as well as their stock information and loan data. 2013-02-01T14:40:00Z 2013-02-01T14:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/ayesha-harris.aspx Blog: How can communities mobilise to shape public policy and service delivery in new and creative ways? Nathan Johnson Community organising and co-production can shape public policy making and service delivery in new and creative ways, providing an alternative to privatisation and the outsourcing of public services. This is the claim made in our new pamphlet, 'Beyond the state: mobilising and co-producing with communities'. Written by Catherine Durose, Jonathan Justice and Chris Skelcher. 2013-02-01T12:31:00Z 2013-02-01T11:48:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/beyond-the-state/ CREES celebrates 50 years Nathan Johnson The year of 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES). To celebrate this milestone we are holding a series of special seminars culminating in an annual conference. We will also be highlighting 50 faces of distinguished individuals who contributed to CREES's past and present. 2013-02-01T12:29:00Z 2013-02-01T11:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/50-anniversary/index.aspx Blog: In favour of the mundane: citizenship testing and participation Nathan Johnson This weekend saw the announcement that the Government has completed its revisions to the 'Life in the UK' citizenship test, refocusing the questions on British culture, history and sport. According to the Government, there will be no more 'mundane' questions about water meters, job interviews, the internet and public transport. Written by Katherine Tonkiss. 2013-01-30T18:44:00Z 2013-02-01T11:45:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/in-favour-of-the-mundane-citizenship-testing-and-participation/ Beyond the State - mobilising and co-producing with communities Nathan Johnson Written with community activists and policy researchers, the pamphlet provides case studies and analysis of UK and US experience in community organising to solve problems and improve public services. The pamphlet is one output from an ESRC seminar series on 'Government beyond the State', which brought together researchers from across the world with people involved in making policy, delivering public services and working with communities. The pamphlet features contributors from CitizensUK, Locality and Scope and a Chicago-based organisation, Pilsen Alliance. 2013-01-29T11:26:00Z 2013-01-29T11:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/beyond-the-state.pdf Blog: The forgotten last chapters of localism Nathan Johnson "Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance", George Bernard Shaw once wrote – it seems to sum up some extraordinary lessons that the recent winter weather is offering us. What really gets people off their backsides and make representations to local councils are things that affect them immediately. Written by Ian Briggs 2013-01-29T10:30:00Z 2013-01-29T12:39:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/last-chapters-localism/ Blog: Councillors: Engage more and engage differently, but not at the expense of the basics Nathan Johnson This month saw the 'Communities and Local Government Committee' release its report on the role of the modern councillor. Focusing on the impact of the Localism Act (and associated developments in recent years), Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Committee, suggested that local representatives are now spending less time in council and more in the community. Written by Karin Bottom, Catherine Mangan and Thom Oliver. 2013-01-28T17:49:00Z 2013-01-29T12:50:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/councillors-engage/ Experts discuss EU enlargement in CREES 50th anniversary Seminar Nathan Johnson In the latest event in the CREES 50th anniversary series, in the annual European Politics and Society and Economics (EPSE) seminar, Honorary Director General of the European Commission Graham Avery and Lara Scarpitta of the EU Delegation in Ankara provided students and staff an insight into the challenges and prospects of EU enlargement. 2013-01-28T13:03:00Z 2013-01-31T16:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/01/experts-discuss-eu-enlargement.aspx Blog: The bonfire of the quangos has thus far only smouldered Nathan Johnson Quangos, non-departmental public bodies, or arm's length bodies (ALBs), as they are variably termed, are a category of public organisations that operate with a degree of independence from ministers. These bodies have become an established feature of government, created to deliver policy, offer expertise and regulation (among other functions). Written by Katherine Tonkiss and Katharine Dommett. 2013-01-25T15:47:00Z 2013-01-29T12:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2013/01/quangos.aspx Feeding Renewability Conference Presentations Nathan Johnson Presentations to the Feeding Renewables Conference held at the University of Birmingham on Friday January 18th 2013 2013-01-24T11:46:00Z 2014-10-14T16:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/01/feeding-renewability-conference.aspx Blog: Local politics: An essential part of local government Nathan Johnson I always struggle when local Councillors say to me that they are 'not political'. For me politics is part of everyday life as well as life in local government. To some extent I cannot see that we can operate without it and perhaps it's like the cod liver oil mother used to give me – it's not very tasty but good for you. Written by Philip Lloyd-Williams. 2013-01-24T11:45:00Z 2013-01-29T12:45:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/local-politics-essential/ Creating Change, Expanding Opportunity - IDD Annual Report 2012-13 Nathan Johnson Browse an overview of IDD's recent research, teaching, consultancy and publications. 2013-01-24T08:28:00Z 2013-01-24T08:27:00Z http://www.download.bham.ac.uk/idd/pdfs/idd-annual-report-2012-13/0.html Blog: On silos and why we thought joint commissioning was a good idea Nathan Johnson I heard it again - in a discussion on last Tuesday's BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Nick Herbert's piece about the civil service - the problem is that silos remain. Written bu Stephen Jeffares. 2013-01-23T18:43:00Z 2013-01-29T12:43:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/silos-joint-commissioning/ Blog: A small blow for people's history: the Paraguay Reader Nathan Johnson This post is based on the introduction to The Paraguay Reader: History, Culture, Politics (Duke University Press, 2012), edited with Peter Lambert. Andrew Nickson has extensive worldwide experience of teaching, research and consultancy on public administration reform, decentralisation, and the reform of basic service delivery and regulation of privatised public utilities. 2013-01-22T08:34:00Z 2013-07-12T08:35:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/a-small-blow-for-peoples-history-the-paraguay-reader/ Full fee bursaries available for postgraduate study in POLSIS Nathan Johnson Full fee bursaries are available for study in the Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS), for 2013-14. Bursaries are available for both domestic/EU students and non-EU students; you must apply for a programme by the end of April 2013 and fill in the bursary application form. 2013-01-21T17:25:00Z 2014-07-25T09:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/01/postgraduate-bursaries.aspx Blog: Neighbourhood governance: Community empowerment or containment? Nathan Johnson In the UK, the deprived neighbourhood has long been a site and scale for intervention and action, giving rise to a variety of forms of neighbourhood governance to achieve a range of purposes. The four predominant rationales for neighbourhood governance are defined by Lowndes and Sullivan (2008): the empowerment of citizens and communities (the civic rationale); partnership to take a holistic approach to an area (social); government through new forms of representation and participation (political); and management in terms of more effective local service delivery (economic). Written by Madeleine Pill 2013-01-21T10:17:00Z 2013-01-21T10:10:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/neighbourhood-governance/ Blog: You couldn't make it up – except DCLG just did Nathan Johnson Did you see manager Arsène Wenger's explanation of Arsenal's feeble performance against Manchester City last Sunday? While most players are galvanised by home supporters and see playing at home as an advantage, Arsenal's apparently are scared by theirs. "They have a great desire to do well, so maybe they're a bit too anxious that they don't respond completely to the expectation level of the crowd." Written by Chris Game 2013-01-18T15:34:00Z 2013-01-21T10:34:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/you-couldnt-make-it-up-except-dclg-just-did/ Blog: PCCs and appointments - When the word 'fire' is a verb! Nathan Johnson This week, the news media is full of concern for certain newly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) making personal appointments to their staff. At face value it does seem rather strange that we are replacing one partially elected body with a handful of appointees with another, but perhaps a more serious issue does sit behind this rather ticklish situation. Written by Ian Briggs 2013-01-18T13:11:00Z 2013-01-18T13:05:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/pccs-appointment/ IDD and ODI researchers examine the politics of public services in conflict-affected countries Nathan Johnson How can politics enable, as opposed to constrain, better public services in conflict-affected countries? IDD and ODI researchers have collaborated to examine the politics of progress on water and sanitation in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 2013-01-17T12:28:00Z 2013-01-17T12:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/01/researchers-examine-the-politics-of-public-services-in-conflict-affected-countries.aspx Blog: City deals: A missed opportunity? Nathan Johnson Today is the deadline for the submission of the second round of 'City Deals'. Twenty cities and city regions are putting proposals to DCLG based around four ambitious objectives. Written by Martin Stott 2013-01-15T16:25:00Z 2013-01-17T12:26:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/city-deals/ Blog: Jo Moore was right - councillors' pensions finally are bad news Nathan Johnson There's an album track by the heavy metal band, Skyclad, inspired by the most infamous civil service email ever – the 'good day to bury bad news' message by Jo Moore, special adviser to Local Government Minister, Stephen Byers, at 2.55 p.m. on September 11th 2001, an hour after al-Qaeda terrorists crashed their hijacked jets into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. I'm no metalhead anyway, but there are two things about the track that especially grate. Written by Chris Game 2013-01-14T18:32:00Z 2013-01-17T12:32:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/14/jo-moore-was-right-councillors-pensions-finally-are-bad-news/ University of Birmingham delegation visits the Balkans Nathan Johnson A University of Birmingham delegation visited the Balkans from 04-08 December 2012. The delegation was headed by Professor Mark Webber, Head of the School of Government and Society, and its members included Professor Stefan Wolff, Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer (College of Social Sciences), Dr Graham Timmins, Director of Education in the School of Government and Society, and Dr Gëzim Alpion Director of Joint Honours Programmes (POLSIS). 2013-01-11T17:20:00Z 2014-03-11T09:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/01/balkans-visit.aspx Steve Buckler: an appreciation Nathan Johnson It is with great sadness that we learnt that Steve Buckler passed away on Thursday 03 January 2013. Steve was senior lecturer in political theory and was the longest serving member of staff in POLSIS having joined the department in 1989. 2013-01-11T15:20:00Z 2013-01-11T16:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/01/steve-buckler.aspx Electricity Market Reform: All power to the Big Six! Nathan Johnson The Electricity Market Reform (EMR) has been billed as a measure to decarbonise the electricity economy whilst at the same time stopping the electricity system collapsing as old coal and nuclear power stations come off line. Unfortunately the Government is selecting policy mechanisms that give a market advantage to the electricity majors. 2013-01-10T10:32:00Z 2013-01-10T10:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/01/Electricity-Market-Reform-All-power-to-the-Big-Six!.aspx Blog: To what extent is it reasonable to profit from the public purse? Nathan Johnson By 1830 the East India Company had grown in size and influence to be a government in all but name. It had control over a population that was at the time ten times greater than that covered by the British Crown and amounted in economic terms to over one third of the then British economy. The power of the company was such that it has led to a deep seated suspicion of the profit motive in the private sector and individuals that has remained in national and local government ever since – whichever political party has been in control. Written by Ian Briggs 2013-01-09T17:29:00Z 2013-01-17T12:29:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/profit-public-purse/ Size Matters: Two Decades after the Break-Up of Czechoslovakia Nathan Johnson New Year's Eve is traditionally a time for celebration, reflection and looking forward with optimism. As Czechs and Slovaks mark what they call 'silvestr/silvester' by popping champagne corks and setting off fireworks, some will reflect not just on the dawn of a new year, but twenty years of separate statehood. 2013-01-08T10:08:00Z 2013-07-11T09:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/01/Size-Matters-Two-Decades-after-the-Break-Up-of-Czechoslovakia.aspx Blog: Disability Hate Crime: An Agenda for the New PCCs? Nathan Johnson One thing about the BBC that really irritates me - up there with its inane Diamond Jubilee reporting, expensively inept management, and the Today programme's 'Thought for the Day' – is its pathetic practice of basing programmes on what it claims are new, exclusively revealed and/or cunningly researched data, when in fact they are nothing of the kind. Written by Chris Game 2013-01-07T13:27:00Z 2013-01-07T13:23:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/disability-hate-crime-statistics/ CREES Annual Report for 2011-12 highlights its vibrant research activity Nathan Johnson The CREES Annual Report for 2011-12 has just been published demonstrating the activities of the Centre and its staff. 2012-12-21T11:45:00Z 2014-03-12T07:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/12/annual-report-2011-12.aspx CREES Academic discusses parliamentary elections in Ukraine Nathan Johnson Kataryna Wolczuk (CREES) has commented on the conduct and outcomes of the parliament elections in Ukraine to UK and international audiences. 2012-12-18T12:10:00Z 2012-12-18T11:52:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/12/academic-discusses-parliamentary-elections-in-ukraine.aspx Blog: Welcome to the Neighbourhood? Participation and Inclusion at a Local Level Nathan Johnson Earlier this month, a group from the Birmingham Social Inclusion Process (People Key Line of Inquiry) held a one day workshop with representatives from across the voluntary and community sectors in the city, to explore the notion of 'welcome'. As part of its Social Inclusion Inquiry (Giving Hope, Changing Lives), the partnership is considering options for making local communities more welcoming to new entrants (anyone moving into a neighbourhood), in a drive to improve levels of social inclusion. Written by Katherine Tonkiss 2012-12-18T11:33:00Z 2012-12-18T11:31:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/welcome-to-the-neighbourhoo/ Blog: Bring Me the Head of George Ferguson: Is Bristol the Last Stand for Elected Mayors? Nathan Johnson The ultimate Zombie Idea of Local Government lives on in the West of England but will budgetary and party political challenges spell an end for the directly elected mayoral model? Written by Thom Oliver 2012-12-14T16:18:00Z 2012-12-14T16:00:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/george-ferguson-bristo/ IDD Policy Brief: Rethinking the Institutional Approach to Statebuilding Nathan Johnson Nicolas Lemay-Hébert highlights the importance of a neglected question: what type of state does statebuilding seek to promote? 2012-12-14T15:42:00Z 2014-03-11T09:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/12/rethinking-the-institutional-approach-to-statebuilding.aspx UK universities embrace the free, open, online future of higher education Nathan Johnson Students from the UK and around the world will have free access to some of the country's top universities thanks to FutureLearn Ltd, an entirely new company being launched by The Open University (OU). The universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Anglia, Exeter, King's College London, Lancaster, Leeds, Southampton, St Andrews and Warwick have all signed up to join FutureLearn. 2012-12-14T15:16:00Z 2014-03-11T09:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2012/12/UK-universities-embrace-the-free,-open,-online-future-of-higher-education-.aspx University of Birmingham launches new China Institute Nathan Johnson The University of Birmingham's China Institute celebrates its official opening today in the presence of His Excellency Mr Liu Xiaoming, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the UK. 2012-12-14T15:08:00Z 2014-03-11T09:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2012/12/12Dec-University-of-Birmingham-launches-new-China-Institute-.aspx CREES scholar speaks at Russian Banking Forum Nathan Johnson Richard Connolly speaks alongside Goldman Sachs' Jim O'Neill on the prospects for the Russian financial system. 2012-12-12T17:10:00Z 2012-12-12T17:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/12/russian-banking-forum.aspx Economic and Social Research Council Scholarships Nathan Johnson The University of Birmingham is now accepting nominations for ESRC funding starting in October 2013. The University of Birmingham ESRC Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) is one of 21 across the UK that has been accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). 2012-12-12T16:33:00Z 2014-03-11T09:06:00Z https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/studentservices/graduateschool/funding/competitions/esrc.aspx Blog: An Arsène Wenger perspective on West Somerset Nathan Johnson In her recent blog on financially distressed councils in general and West Somerset DC in particular, Catherine Staite suggested that we should be talking more about "streamlining the machinery of local government … merging smaller councils", and in effect institutionalising some of the multiplying numbers of apparently cost-saving shared service and shared staffing arrangements. Written by Chris Game 2012-12-12T08:36:00Z 2014-03-11T11:58:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/wenger-on-west-somerset/ What should we vote for? Nathan Johnson Is there an ideal electorate system? As a recent Birmingham Brief demonstrated, we are often faced with a simple binary choice: do we want 'strong government' which can claim an empowering mandate, or do we want a government that represents, however messily, 'the will of the people'? If we want the former, in the UK at least, we have persisted with a first-past-the-post system. From time-to-time, though, we have had a dark night of the soul, wondered at the fairness of governments' claiming a mandate from a minority of voters actually supporting them, and flirted with alternatives. 2012-12-11T11:10:00Z 2014-03-11T09:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2012/12/What-should-we-vote-for.aspx CREES Scholar work acclaimed by the Slovenian Research Agency Nathan Johnson Illustrating the high quality research in CREES a co-authored article of Dr Tim Haughton has been singled out for praise by the Slovenian Research Agency. 2012-12-10T15:41:00Z 2012-12-10T15:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/12/slovenian-research-agency.aspx Student review: Introduction to Law for Non-Law Students Event Nathan Johnson Organised by the Politics Society and the Radcliffe Club, the Introduction to Law for Non-Law Students Event (12 November 2012) was an ideal opportunity for those considering a conversion into law after the completion of their current degrees - to get a taste of the law profession. 2012-12-05T17:48:00Z 2012-12-05T17:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2012/11/introduction-to-law-for-non-law-students-event.aspx Legal, Legitimate, and Effective Drone Warfare: Grand Illusion or Future Reality? Nathan Johnson On 14 November, 2012, an Israeli drone strike killed Ahmed Jabari, the head of the military wing of Hamas in Gaza. The sharply escalating violence in the aftermath of this so-called targeted killing, while particularly costly in human life, is part of a seemingly unending violent confrontation in the region: according to a timeline of the conflict, over the past almost four years (since the conclusion of Israel's ground offensive in Gaza) more than 300 Palestinians and 20 Israelis have been killed, while in the past two years, some 800 missiles have been launched from Gaza into southern Israel. 2012-12-05T16:18:00Z 2013-07-11T15:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2012/12/Legal,-Legitimate,-and-Effective-Drone-Warfare-Grand-Illusion-or-Future-Reality.aspx Georgia's Parliamentary Elections - Democracy in Action? Nathan Johnson On 01 October 2012 Georgia, a small post-Soviet state on the Black Sea coast with a population of 4.6 million people, conducted its 8th Parliamentary elections since 1990. The pre-election campaign was closely watched by the West and the number of international observers monitoring the elections was allegedly the country's largest-ever. 2012-12-05T16:10:00Z 2013-07-11T15:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2012/12/Georgias-Parliamentary-Elections-–-Democracy-in-Action.aspx Autumn Statement 2012 Nathan Johnson Ahead of the government's Autumn Statement on Wednesday December 5, we ask six leading academics what they hope will be included and what the impact might be for everything from business and manufacturing to the high street and personal wealth. 2012-12-04T17:34:00Z 2014-03-11T09:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/autumn-statement-2012.aspx Blog: Making Ends Meet: What Aren't We Talking About? Nathan Johnson Last month West Somerset District Council sent up a distress flare. They can't make ends meet and it is only going to get worse. At the other end of the scale, the Leader of Birmingham City Council has announced £600m of cuts and declared that the changes which are coming will be 'the end of local government as we know it'. LB Barnet's 'graph of doom' demonstrates how rising social care costs will eat up their resources until there is no capacity to do anything else but social care and emptying the dustbins. Written by Catherine Staite. 2012-12-04T17:26:00Z 2012-12-04T17:25:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/making-ends-mee/ Georgian Ambassador Visits CREES Nathan Johnson Highlighting the deep interest in the politics, society and history of the Caucasus at the University of Birmingham and the strong links between the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) and the diplomatic community, CREES hosted Georgia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland Giorgi Badridze on Wednesday 21 November 2012. 2012-11-29T13:51:00Z 2013-01-31T16:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/11/georgian-ambassador-visits-crees.aspx Birmingham perspective: Georgia's Parliamentary Elections - Democracy in Action? Nathan Johnson "There is no doubt that the Parliamentary elections held in Georgia this autumn yielded to a new era in the country's politics. Despite the fact that it was the 8th Parliamentary elections conducted in the small post-Soviet state since 1990, they have been dubbed as 'landmark' and 'historic' since it is the first time that the transfer of power in Georgia has occurred through free and fair elections." Written by Nino kemoklidze, CREES PhD researcher. 2012-11-29T13:28:00Z 2014-03-12T07:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/georgias-parliamentary-elections-kemoklidze2.aspx Blog: Managing the consequences of Joanna Lumley's campaign: Gurkhas and development in Nepal Nathan Johnson Both Jeremy and I were aware that the decision to allow Gurkhas to settle in the UK following their service in the British Army, famously fought for by Joanna Lumley, had had a negative impact on Nepal. Gurkhas now look towards their future in the UK and therefore no longer send large amounts of money home to Nepal to be invested there. Anna Townsend is a military wife and founder of Women Without Roofs – Nepal. She recently completed an MSc in Poverty Reduction and Development Management with IDD. 2012-11-26T12:47:00Z 2014-03-11T09:56:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/managing-the-consequences-of-joanna-lumleys-campaign-gurkhas-and-development-in-nepal/ Blog: Bristol: The Start of an Independents Revolution? Nathan Johnson As the only city to hold a mayoral referendum last May and vote in favour, Bristol confirmed its reputation as a city that marches to the beat of a different drum. The mayoral election in November reinforced this maverick status with electors decisively (albeit on a turnout of only 27.9%) electing Independent candidate George Ferguson as Mayor. Post written by Martin Scott. 2012-11-23T17:06:00Z 2014-03-11T11:57:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/bristol-independents-revolutio/ Conference: Feeding Renewable Policy, 18 January 2013 Nathan Johnson This event coincides with the passage through Parliament of the Energy Bill implementing Electricity Market Reform (EMR) which is concerned with giving priority to a low-carbon electricity strategy. This event will focus on policies needed to underpin a feed-in tariff system for funding renewable energy and also the sort of policy environment that is needed to ensure maximised expansion of renewable energy. 2012-11-22T10:23:00Z 2012-11-22T10:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/events/2013/feeding-renewable-policy.aspx All in this together? Interrogating U.K. 'austerity' through gender lenses Nathan Johnson In April, 2012, the Gender and Feminist Theory Group hosted a Symposium on the financial crisis and the UK Coalition Government responses. This provided a space for participants- academics, policymakers, third sector organisations and advocates- to interrogate the crisis and responses through gender lenses. 2012-11-21T12:35:00Z 2012-11-21T11:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2012/11/all-in-this-together-gender.aspx Video: Brigid Jones, Birmingham City Councillor Nathan Johnson As a councillor in Birmingham I represent Selly Oak which is a very heavily populated student area. About 1 in 3 of the residents there are students so having lived the student lifestyle there as it were, but also lived the settled lifestyle in that area as well, it's sort of given me a good knowledge of both sides of the community and how I can serve them both. 2012-11-19T12:33:00Z 2014-07-17T16:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2012/11/brigid-jones-alumni.aspx Blog: Elected Mayors: The Wrong Solution to the Wrong Problem Nathan Johnson Only one eligible voter in every three participated in the local elections in May 2012, the lowest turnout since 2000 and despite a context of austerity and swingeing public spending cuts. The recent elections for Police and Crime Commissioners saw turnout slump to a record low for a national poll, averaging at 15%. To quote a Guardian editorial, 'lack of engagement is the most eloquent of all the political messages… Blog post written by Catherine Durose. 2012-11-19T11:40:00Z 2012-11-19T11:04:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/elected-mayors-problem/ Blog: Who Will Really Commission the Police? Nathan Johnson By the end of this month, 41 newly elected Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales will be facing the challenge of filling their diaries with appointments to help them get to grips with a role that is both new and controversial. Whatever their mandate from the electorate, their role will open up some very interesting possibilities around public involvement in policing. Blog post written by Ian Briggs. 2012-11-16T11:24:00Z 2012-11-16T10:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2012/11/who-will-really-commission-the-police.aspx Blog: Equal Pay: Birmingham's Seriously Disagreeable Christmas Sprout Nathan Johnson You probably caught Monday's headlines: "Country's largest authority hit by £757 million equal pay bill"; "Birmingham taxpayers face massive service cuts to pay for growing compensation bill"; "Council bankrupt if Government withholds borrowing permission". Written by Chris Game. 2012-11-13T19:46:00Z 2012-11-16T10:46:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/equal-pay/ Elite Doctoral Researcher Scholarships 2013 - 2014 Nathan Johnson The University Graduate School is pleased to announce that it has ten Doctoral Elite Researcher Scholarships which will commence in the 2013-2014 academic year. 2012-11-12T14:17:00Z 2014-03-11T09:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2012/10/elite-doctoral-researcher-scholarships.aspx Uzbek Ambassador Visits CREES Nathan Johnson Uzbek Ambassador, Mr. Otabek Akbarov, visits the Centre for Russian and East European Studies and Uzbek Colleagues in the School of Law. 2012-11-12T14:03:00Z 2012-11-12T13:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/11/uzbek-ambassador-visits-crees.aspx Blog: What Difference Might Police and Crime Commissioners Make? Nathan Johnson The elections on 15th November 2012 of 41 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) for the police force areas of England and Wales (outside London) represents the start of one of the biggest experiments in democratic governance. The new office of PCC, for which there is no known precedent in policing around the world, surely represents the most significant change in at least fifty years in how the police in England and Wales are governed and held to account. Written by john RAine and Paul Keasey. 2012-11-12T11:41:00Z 2012-11-12T10:51:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/what-difference-might-police-and-crime-commissioners-make/ Undergraduate Open Day - Saturday 24 November 2012 Nathan Johnson Our November Open Day will support students who are making their university choices for 2013 entry. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the campus, view accommodation and attend talks on the University Experience, Student Life and Tips for UCAS Applications. 2012-11-09T11:37:00Z 2014-03-11T09:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/visit/ug-opendays.aspx CREES academic provides series of lectures at the Kazakh British Technical University Nathan Johnson Dr Deema Kaneff presented a series of lectures at the Kazakh British Technical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan in the period 29th Oc tober to 2nd November. 2012-11-05T13:00:00Z 2014-03-12T07:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/11/lectures-at-the-kazakh-british-technical-university.aspx The New Trident Debate Nathan Johnson According to Sir Humphrey Appleby in the 1980s BBC sitcom "Yes Prime Minister", the Trident missile system was "the Rolls Royce of nuclear weapons, the sort of deterrent that one would buy from Harrods." As the decision point looms for the replacement of this capability, questions are being asked whether Britain can afford a new Rolls, whether it should instead go for a more modest system, perhaps more of a Ford Mondeo deterrent, or whether indeed it should go green and eschew the need for such a costly and controversial system altogether. 2012-11-05T12:28:00Z 2013-07-11T15:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2012/11/The-New-Trident-Debate.aspx CREES scholar is invited to participate in conference on the creation of a new MA programme in Area Studies at the University of Vienna Nathan Johnson Dr Deema Kaneff was invited to present a paper at a conference hosted by The University of Vienna aimed at the exchange of teaching experiences in Area Studies Departments across Europe. 2012-11-02T16:20:00Z 2014-03-12T07:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/11/new-ma-programme-in-area-studies-university-of-vienna.aspx We want to hear your views! Nathan Johnson We are very keen to hear feedback from you about our Public Management programme. We are very grateful to anyone who is able to provide us with a few minutes of their time to complete a short survey regarding this, to help us capture your ideas and views. 2012-11-01T17:17:00Z 2014-03-11T11:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2012/11/public-management.aspx CREES scholars offer views on likely effects of Russia's accession to the WTO Nathan Johnson Dr Richard Connolly and Emeritus Professor Philip Hanson delivered a public lecture to the WTO Scholars' Forum on Russia's recent accession to the World Trade Organisation on Wednesday 25th October 2012 at the University College London Faculty of Laws. 2012-11-01T14:12:00Z 2014-03-12T07:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/10/russias-accession-to-the-wto.aspx Blog: Council Tax Benefits: A Case of Seriously Muscular Localism Nathan Johnson I noticed recently that, among the links on the right-hand side of this page, we still listed the We Love Local Government blog – which, despite its having been wound up, in characteristic style, several months ago, rather pleased me. It deserves to live on, and, should its belatedly unveiled authors, Glen Ocsko and Gareth Young, happen to see this blog, they may take it as a small personal tribute to them and their … I was going to type 'baby', but that would make them filicidists … creation. Written by Chris Game. 2012-10-31T16:26:00Z 2014-03-11T11:55:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/muscular-liberalism/ The 2012 US Presidential Election: Who is going to win and why. What will it mean for the next 4 Years? Nathan Johnson On the 17 October Dr Adam Quinn and Jonna Nyman participated in seminar hosted by the Department of American and Canadian Studies other speakers included Dr Steve Hewitt and Professor Scott Lucas. 2012-10-31T14:31:00Z 2012-11-12T14:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/edacs/departments/acs/events/2012/scott-lucas-seminar.aspx Blog: Workshop on research and evidence in international development Nathan Johnson On 17 October 2012, the International Development Department at the University of Birmingham brought together leading experts on research communication to share experiences and lessons learned about managing knowledge and evaluating the uptake and impact of research and evidence on policy and practice. 2012-10-24T09:59:00Z 2014-03-11T09:56:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/workshop-on-research-and-evidence-in-international-development/ INLOGOV attend SOLACE Summit 2012 Nathan Johnson INLOGOV Director Catherine Staite, Catherine Mangan, Chris Lawrence Pietroni and Karin Bottom attended the SOLACE summit at The Welcome Centre in Coventry, 16 - 18 October 2012. 2012-10-23T11:05:00Z 2014-03-11T11:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2012/10/solace.aspx Birmingham Perspective: UK aid to Rwanda Nathan Johnson "The question that must be answered is this: on what basis did Andrew Mitchell make the decision to restore UK aid to Rwanda?" by Dr Danielle Beswick, lecturer in International Development 2012-10-17T14:27:00Z 2013-07-11T12:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/andrew-mitchell-dbeswick2.aspx A Night at the Movies Nathan Johnson David White and Richard Connolly of CREES participate in the West Midlands Human Rights Film Festival at Birmingham Central Library Theatre. 2012-10-17T14:27:00Z 2012-10-17T14:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/10/night-at-the-movies.aspx Public lecture at British-Russian Society (Midlands) Nathan Johnson Dr Derek Averre delivered a public lecture to the British-Russian Society (Midlands) on 'Russia and Security in the 21st Century' on 05 October 2012. 2012-10-17T14:27:00Z 2012-10-17T14:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/10/public-lecture-at-british-russian-society.aspx CREES academic contributes to definitive publication Nathan Johnson CREES academic Derek Averre contributes to definitive four-volume collection of works on post-Soviet politics 2012-10-17T14:27:00Z 2012-10-17T14:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/10/academic-contributes-to-definitive-publication.aspx Discussion paper: A New Model for Public Services? Nathan Johnson This discussion paper will form the first chapter of a book exploring the idea of a new model of public services to be published by INLOGOV in the autumn. Other chapters will explore co-production, behaviour change and how to build better relationships between local government and communities. 2012-10-17T12:23:00Z 2014-03-11T11:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/discussion-papers/new-model-discussion-paper-1012-2.pdf Discussion paper: Beyond Nudge - How can behaviour change help us to do less with less? Nathan Johnson In this chapter we set out our belief that behaviour change alone is helpful but will not be sufficient because it focuses too heavily on individuals and not on the system and community as a whole. There is too much reliance on service users choosing to do something different when actually the need is for the individual and the community to think differently. 2012-10-17T12:23:00Z 2014-03-11T11:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/discussion-papers/bc-chapter-solace.pdf Discussion paper: We're all in this together: User and community co-production of public outcomes Nathan Johnson In this chapter, we set out what co‐production is, why it matters and its implications for public services, as part of the INLOGOV model. We argue that the movement towards co‐production can be conceptualized as a shift from 'public services FOR the public' towards 'public services BY the public', within the framework of a public sector which continues to represent the public interest, not simply the interests of 'consumers' of public services. 2012-10-17T11:58:00Z 2014-03-11T11:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/discussion-papers/inlogov-co-production-chapter.pdf Blog: Can I Vote, Please? Councillors, Budgets and Illegality Nathan Johnson This week, there is plenty of news about granting 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote. You may therefore be surprised to learn that another group may have their right to vote withdrawn. Okay, I am being slightly flippant here, but there is a potentially serious oversight on whether councillors should be allowed to vote at the full council budget setting meeting. By Philip Whiteman. 2012-10-15T14:41:00Z 2012-10-17T14:41:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/can-i-vote-please-councillors-budgets-and-illegality/ Blog: The Council Tax Freeze, Part 3: Who'll Be On This Year's Roll of Shame? Nathan Johnson East Cambridgeshire, East Hampshire, East Northamptonshire, South Hams, South Ribble, West Devon – anything you reckon they might have in common, apart from 'compass point' names that for most of us require translation to make much sense: Ely/Newmarket, Petersfield/Alton, Rushden, Totnes, Leyland, Tavistock/Okehampton, if you were wondering. By Chris Game. 2012-10-15T14:38:00Z 2012-10-17T14:38:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/the-council-tax-freeze-part-3-wholl-be-on-this-years-roll-of-shame/ Dr Brinkerhoff international public management visiting fellow Nathan Johnson Dr Derick Brinkerhoff will join the College of Social Science for one week from 15th October as a Visiting Fellow under the Advanced Social Science Collaborative (ASSC) scheme. He will be hosted by the International Development Department (IDD) and the Centre for International Education and Research (CIER). 2012-10-08T13:59:00Z 2014-03-11T09:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2012/09/brinkerhoff-visiting-fellow.aspx University of Birmingham sees impressive league table rise Nathan Johnson The University of Birmingham has been shortlisted as University of the Year in The Sunday Times University Guide 2013 and ranked at 13th overall in the UK, a rise of 12 places. 2012-10-02T11:37:00Z 2014-03-11T09:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2012/10/university-league-table-rise.aspx Postgraduate Open Day - Tuesday 20 November 2012 Nathan Johnson The next University of Birmingham Postgraduate Open Day will be held on Tuesday 20 November 2012 from 11.00am. 2012-10-02T11:19:00Z 2014-03-11T09:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit/pg-opendays.aspx Blog: How the Celtic Tiger stepped over Finglas Nathan Johnson Jack Copley, who graduated from POLSIS in July 2012 with a first class degree in Political Science, has recently had an article published on the Irish current affairs website Politico. The article, which is based on his prize-winning undergraduate dissertation, analyses the impact of the Celtic Tiger phenomenon on a working class district of Dublin. 2012-09-28T17:00:00Z 2012-10-02T10:55:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/09/28/how-the-celtic-tiger-stepped-over-finglas/ Blog: Local Government and the Democratic Mandate: An Outdated Model? Nathan Johnson Local government could never be described as fashionable, yet today there is more talk than ever about the importance of 'the local'. However, this has converted into less, rather than more, freedom to act locally. Written by Martin Scott. 2012-09-26T10:10:00Z 2012-09-26T09:38:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/local-government-and-the-democratic-mandate-an-outdated-model/ Blog: Welcome, UKIP – the future's bright, but do clear out those defeated councillors Nathan Johnson One of the minor hypotheses in Chris Game's general theory of local elections concerns the correlation between a party's rating of its own current fortunes and the accuracy of its councillor listings on its national website. In brief: the greater the optimism, the greater the accuracy. Written by Chris Game. 2012-09-26T10:07:00Z 2012-09-25T16:19:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/ukip-councillors/ Blog: Strawberry-Tasting Chief Exec Gets Top Civil Service Post Nathan Johnson UK local authorities are among the largest in Europe, spending billions of pounds annually on hundreds of diverse services. Yet it is the fate of some to be associated in the public consciousness, almost solely and seemingly forever, with a single image. Written by Chris Game. 2012-09-20T16:14:00Z 2012-09-20T15:43:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/strawberry-tasting-chief-exec-gets-top-civil-service-post/ Blog: Trust, Cooperation and the Global Nuclear Future Nathan Johnson On Tuesday 04 September 2012, the University of Birmingham hosted the Third Annual Symposium on "The Challenges to Trust Building in Nuclear Worlds" entitled "Trust, Cooperation and the Global Nuclear Future". 2012-09-20T16:13:00Z 2012-09-20T15:34:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/09/20/trust-cooperation-and-the-global-nuclear-future/ Blog: Roaming Buffalos, High Speed Trains and Localism? Nathan Johnson As the government seeks to develop measures that stimulate the economy through the relaxation of the local planning processes, should we stop for one moment and think about some pretty fundamental issues about the relationship that we, as citizens, have with the locality where we reside – issues that localism may be ignoring? Written by Ian Briggs. 2012-09-20T15:46:00Z 2012-09-20T15:30:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/roaming-buffalos-high-speed-trains-and-localism/ Blog: Statebuilding challenges for the future Timorese government Nathan Johnson Nicolas Lemay-Hébert is a Marie Curie Experienced Researcher at the International Development Department, University of Birmingham and research group leader, "State-building, Security and Development," at the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security, University of Birmingham... 2012-09-11T15:49:00Z 2012-09-12T08:53:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/statebuilding-challenges-for-the-future-timorese-government/ Blog: The EU must focus on human insecurity in the Arab World Nathan Johnson Human insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) arises from the intersection of diverse threats, including environmental problems, food and water scarcity, and ethnic and cultural conflicts. If the European Union is to pursue comprehensive security in the MENA, it must learn from its past mistakes of endorsing authoritarian regimes and develop a new approach in its relations with the polities and societies emerging from the so-called 'Arab Spring', writes POLSIS's Michelle Pace. 2012-09-10T10:55:00Z 2012-09-10T09:49:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/09/08/the-eu-must-focus-on-human-insecurity-in-the-arab-world/ Somalia workshop podcast: 'AMISOM's Challenges: A Hybrid Solution to an International Problem?' Nathan Johnson This podcast was part of the workshop on Somalia: Negotiating the balance between 'African Solutions' and international responses. This presentation by Professor Paul Williams (George Washington University) focused on how actors outside the continent have responded to crises in Somalia and particularly their support for AMISOM, outlining the challenges to AMISOM which remain for the most part unresolved. 2012-09-04T17:41:00Z 2013-11-22T11:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/08/somalia-paul-williams.aspx Somalia workshop podcast: 'Kenya's Somalia invasion: local indications, regional implications' Nathan Johnson This podcast was part of the workshop on Somalia: Negotiating the balance between 'African Solutions' and international responses. This presentation by Professor David Anderson (Oxford University) explored the reasons for Kenya's decision to intervene militarily in Somalia in January 2012 and subsequently to join AMISOM. 2012-09-04T17:41:00Z 2013-11-22T11:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/08/somalia-david-anderson.aspx Blog: Nothing to declare. A troubled time for parishes? Nathan Johnson Philip Whiteman writes about Chaddesley Corbett Parish Councils decision not to sign a declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and how it could affect other small parish councils. 2012-09-04T10:02:00Z 2012-09-04T09:33:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/nothing-to-declare-a-troubled-time-for-parishes/ POLSIS Postgraduate induction Nathan Johnson Induction for all new postgraduate students to POLSIS will take place from 10.00am 21 September 2012, in the Muirhead Tower Lecture Theatre G15, by Starbucks. From Monday 17th September, please pick up information about your degree programme from room 350 3rd floor Muirhead Tower. 2012-08-31T15:41:00Z 2012-08-31T15:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/welcome/index.aspx Blog: Facing the Future Nathan Johnson To face the future is no easy task for local government. There are deep uncertainties in society challenging government generally. The unknown impact of continuing austerity, the revitalising of the economy barely begun, the neglected issues of climate change and growing inequality all demand a response from government in what could be an increasingly troubled society. Written by Professor John Stewart. 2012-08-31T14:04:00Z 2012-08-31T11:06:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/facing-the-future/ CREES academic advises HMG Whitehall Departments on Security in Central Asia Nathan Johnson Dr Yemelianova, CREES, met officials from FCO and DfID to discuss security risks in Central Asia with the aim of preparing a Joint Analysis on Conflict and Stability on Central Asia, including Afghan angle, for HMG Whitehall Departments. 2012-08-31T14:03:00Z 2012-08-31T10:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/08/academic-advises-hmg-whitehall-departments-on-security-in-central-asia.aspx Somalia: Negotiating the balance between 'African Solutions' and international responses Nathan Johnson The School of Government and the Institute of Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) recently (11 July 2012) hosted an event on Somalia: Negotiating the balance between 'African Solutions' and international responses. 2012-08-30T13:57:00Z 2012-09-04T16:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/08/somalia.aspx Somalia workshop podcast: 'Reflections on "African Solutions" in Somalia and beyond' Nathan Johnson This podcast was part of the workshop on Somalia: Negotiating the balance between 'African Solutions' and international responses. This presentation by Dr Knox Chitiyo (Chatham House) reflected on African involvement in responding to crises in four case studies. 2012-08-30T13:57:00Z 2013-11-22T11:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/08/somalia-knox-chitiyo.aspx Somalia workshop podcast: 'Uganda in Somalia: Five years on, still the same story?' Nathan Johnson This podcast was part of the workshop on Somalia: Negotiating the balance between 'African Solutions' and international responses. This presentation by Jonathan Fisher (Research Fellow, IDD, University of Birmingham) linked to a previously published paper by Jonathan in African Affairs (July 2012) which explored the reasons for Uganda's 2007 intervention in Somalia as part of AMISOM. 2012-08-30T13:57:00Z 2013-11-22T11:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/08/somalia-jonathan-fisher.aspx Blog: Having a holiday may deliver more than you expect! Nathan Johnson "It is surprising what a holiday can do for you" started the telephone conversation with a senior manager this week. Written by Ian Briggs 2012-08-29T16:21:00Z 2012-08-30T09:21:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/having-a-holiday-may-deliver-more-than-you-expect/ Video: PhD Doctoral Reseach at INLOGOV Nathan Johnson Stephen Jeffares discusses studying doctoral research at the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham. 2012-08-28T16:34:00Z 2012-08-28T15:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/courses/doctoral-research.aspx Blog: Police and Crime Commissioner elections – where the 18.5% turnout figure came from Nathan Johnson Getting exciting, isn't it? Just 78 days and 21 hours (at the time of typing) till polling stations open for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections on 15th November. At least, that's what Birmingham City Council newsroom's dedicated website says - It's been running for nearly three weeks now and, given the dearth of information emanating from the Government, is well worth a visit. By Chris Game 2012-08-28T13:01:00Z 2012-08-28T16:02:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/police-and-crime-commissioner-elections-where-the-18-5-turnout-figure-came-from/ Alumni video profile: Christophe Laarman, MSc Contemporary Russian and East European Studies (2011) Nathan Johnson Christophe Laarman describes his experience of studying an MSc in Contemporary Russian and East European Studies at the Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Birmingham during his recent graduation. 2012-08-28T12:41:00Z 2014-07-17T16:03:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/alumni/profiles/christophe-laarman.aspx Masters video profile: Sonia Boddie, Masters in Public Administration Nathan Johnson Sonia Boddie, who is studying a Masters in Public Administration, talks about her experiences at Birmingham and the opportunities she has has whilst studying for her Masters. 2012-08-24T10:06:00Z 2014-03-11T09:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/idd/2011-12/sonia-boddie.aspx Masters video profile: Rhys Crilley, MA in International Relations (Terrorism and Political Violence) Nathan Johnson Rhys Crilley talks about his choice to continue his studies at Birmingham after completing his Undergraduate study here and how the future looks for him in Postgraduate study. 2012-08-23T17:37:00Z 2012-08-24T09:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/polsis/2011-12/crilley-rhys.aspx Blog: There's still time to negotiate Nathan Johnson Giving up on international negotiations over the Iranian nuclear issue would be a tragic mistake, write Dani Nedal and Nicholas J. Wheeler. This article is part of our securities studies research agenda series. 2012-08-23T12:27:00Z 2012-08-29T12:28:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/08/22/theres-still-time-to-negotiate/ New book on the EU co-edited by CREES Academic published Nathan Johnson The JCMS Annual Review of the European Union in 2011 co-edited by Dr Tim Haughton (CREES, Government and Society) has just been published. 2012-08-22T11:24:00Z 2014-03-12T07:02:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/08/new-book-on-the-EU-co-edited-by-crees-academic-published.aspx Blog: Whose budget is it – the mayor's or the council's? Nathan Johnson Earlier in the year, during the mayoral referendum debates, I remember using the example of North Tyneside to illustrate how the constant attempts to compare our elected mayors with those in the US were seriously misleading, as ours had and would have considerably more constrained powers than their American counterparts. Written by Chris Game. 2012-08-20T15:21:00Z 2012-08-20T14:42:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/whose-budget-is-it-the-mayors-or-the-councils/ INLOGOV Professor joins Olympic Legacy Project Evaluation Team Nathan Johnson Professor Tony Bovaird of INLOGOV has joined the research team of Grant Thornton and ECOTEC Research and Consulting (now Ecorys), which has been commissioned by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to conduct a three-year Meta-Evaluation of the Impacts and Legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. 2012-08-16T17:45:00Z 2012-08-16T11:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2012/08/professor-joins-olympic-legacy-project-evaluation-team.aspx Blog: Sudan and South Sudan's unresolved post-independence issues Nathan Johnson Little more than a year after its secession from Sudan, South Sudan remains crippled by twin economic and security crises. Leaders north and south of the new international border need to rise to the challenge of reaching a comprehensive settlement, writes Professor Stefan Wolff. 2012-08-15T17:03:00Z 2012-08-16T11:03:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/08/15/sudan-and-south-sudans-unresolved-post-independence-issues/ CREES Academic publishes paper on the EU with leading think tank Nathan Johnson Dr Tim Haughton (CREES) wrote an article entitled, An SUV on a Road to Nowhere? Solidarity, Unanimity and Vulnerability in the European Union for the Johns Hopkins University SAIS's Center for Transatlantic Relations. 2012-08-14T13:21:00Z 2012-08-16T11:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/08/academic-publishes-paper-on-the-eu-with-leading-think-tank.aspx Expanded 'Professional Evidence and Applied Knowledge Services' for DFID Nathan Johnson The IDD-led Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (GSDRC) team has been selected by DFID to provide an expanded range of evidence and knowledge services. 2012-08-13T16:13:00Z 2012-08-16T11:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/08/expanded-professional-evidence-applied-knowledge-services-dfid.aspx IDD Policy Brief: Why Legitimacy Matters to NGO Peacebuilding Nathan Johnson Donor support for national NGOs engaged in peacebuilding can damage NGOs' reputations. Oliver Walton suggests how donors could help to maintain NGO legitimacy and promote locally appropriate peacebuilding strategies. 2012-08-09T16:34:00Z 2014-03-11T10:00:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/08/why-legitimacy-matters-to-ngo-peacebuilding.aspx Special Issue on the Politics and Governance of Public Services in Developing Countries Nathan Johnson A special of the journal Public Management Review edited by Richard Batley (IDD) and Willy McCourt (World Bank) examines how political factors affect the provision of public services such as health-care, water, social insurance and cash transfers. The special issue carries an article by the editors with Claire Mcloughlin (IDD). 2012-08-09T13:53:00Z 2014-03-11T09:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/08/politics-governance-public-services-developing-countries.aspx Alumni video profile: Katherine Tonkiss, PhD Local Government Studies (2012) Nathan Johnson Katherine Tonkiss describes her experience of studying a PhD in the Institute of Local Government Studies during her recent graduation. 2012-08-09T13:14:00Z 2014-07-17T16:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/tonkiss-katherine.aspx Alumni video profile: Alyson Nicholds, PhD Local Government Studies (2012) Nathan Johnson Alyson Nicholds describes her experience of studying a PhD in the Institute of Local Government Studies during her recent graduation. 2012-08-09T13:13:00Z 2014-07-17T16:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/nicholds-alyson.aspx Alumni video profile: Claire Kueh, MSc Public Management (2012) Nathan Johnson Claire Kueh describes her experience of studying a MSc in Public Management at the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham during her recent graduation. 2012-08-09T12:58:00Z 2014-07-17T16:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2012-13/kueh-claire.aspx Blog: R2P: Implications for World Order (Part 1) Nathan Johnson The West's intervention in Libya and the on-going violence in Syria have placed a renewed spotlight on the principle of the responsibility to protect (R2P) human life. In this first post of a two part series, Dr Edward Newman argues that far from emerging into an new international 'norm', R2P is exposing fissures in a changing global order. 2012-08-03T14:48:00Z 2012-08-03T14:29:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/08/03/r2p-implications-for-world-order-part-1/ Blog: The LGA are Right – In the Team Benchmarking Stakes, Residents' Panels Don't Even Medal Nathan Johnson Credit where it's due – in this case to the Local Government Association's recent decision that data gathered from local residents' panels about their views of and satisfaction with their councils cannot be used for benchmarking purposes. Written by Chris Game. 2012-08-03T14:21:00Z 2014-03-11T11:52:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/the-lga-are-right-in-the-team-benchmarking-stakes-residents-panels-dont-even-medal/ Blog: Sport Under Communism – Dr Jonathan Grix discusses his new book Nathan Johnson POLSIS's Dr Jonathan Grix appeared on BBC Radio 4's Thinking Allowed this week to discuss his new book Sport under Communism: Behind the East German 'Miracle', co-authored by Mike Dennis from the University of Wolverhampton. 2012-07-27T09:00:00Z 2012-07-30T09:00:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/07/26/sport-under-communism-dr-jonathan-grix-discusses-his-new-book/ Briefing paper: The World Will Be Your Oyster? - Updated (Chapters) Nathan Johnson Perspectives from the Institute of Local Government Studies on the Localism Bill. Read the updated individual chapters. 2012-07-23T09:55:00Z 2014-03-11T11:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2012/07/oyster-chapters.aspx Blog: Lessons from the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Nathan Johnson To highlight the breadth of the research going on within POLSIS, the POLSIS Blog is today launching a series of month-long 'Research Agendas'. Each month, the blog will feature a series of posts showcasing some of the exciting theories and issues that POLSIS staff and PhD candidates are working on. The Research Agendas will be based around the Department's research groups and thematic research clusters. The first will highlight some of the diverse issues that our scholars of Security Studies are focused on. Here, Professor Stefan Wolff discusses his views on the continuing relevance of the OSCE High commissioner on National Minorities for the future of conflict prevention and management. 2012-07-19T14:57:00Z 2012-07-23T11:03:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/07/19/lessons-from-the-osce-high-commissioner-on-national-minorities/ 2nd Interdisciplinary Gender and Sexuality Postgraduate Colloquium Nathan Johnson The Interdisciplinary Gender and Sexuality Postgraduate Colloquium was the second annual conference that brings together postgraduate researchers in gender and sexuality from a wide range of disciplines. 2012-07-18T17:10:00Z 2012-10-24T10:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2012/05/gender-sexuality-postgraduate-colloquium.aspx Prestigious guest-edited special issue journal published Nathan Johnson A special issue of the journal. East European Politics (formerly the Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics), guest-edited by David White, is published this summer. 2012-07-17T08:58:00Z 2014-03-11T17:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/07/prestigious-guest-edited-special-issue-journal-published.aspx Blog: Dr Jonathan Grix on the Olympics Nathan Johnson The Olympic Games are now less than two weeks away. In this podcast for the University of Birmingham's Ideas Lab, POLSIS's Dr Jonathan Grix discusses the Olympic 'legacy', the impact of the Games outside the capital, and parallels with the 1948 Austerity Olympics, which were also held in London. 2012-07-16T09:43:00Z 2012-07-16T09:38:00Z http://polsis.org/2012/07/16/dr-jonathan-grix-on-the-olympics/ CREES Scholars Brief Outgoing British Ambassadors Nathan Johnson Drs Kataryna Wolczuk and Matthew Frear participated in briefing seminars at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for the new British ambassadors to Ukraine and Belarus. 2012-07-13T09:00:00Z 2014-03-11T17:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/07/crees-scholars-brief-outgoing-british-ambassadors.aspx CREES scholar speaks on Russia's role in the global economy Nathan Johnson During the last six weeks, Dr. Richard Connolly has presented his research on the role of Russia in the global economy to a variety of