text: News from across the College Contensis: http://www.contentmanagement.co.uk http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 2015-12-02T00:13:03Z Explainer: what is going on in Mali? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson, Professor of African Politics. The hostage situation at a hotel in the Malian capital Bamako comes after months of sporadic violence. 2015-11-20T17:02:00Z 2015-11-20T16:56:00Z http://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-going-on-in-mali-51066 The Geneva summit thawed the Cold War – so why have we squandered its legacy? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler and Professor David H. Dunn, University of Birmingham. 30 years ago, Reagan and Gorbachev ushered in a new era of cordial relations. It's time to recapture that spirit. 2015-11-20T15:04:00Z 2015-11-20T14:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-geneva-summit-thawed-the-cold-war-so-why-have-we-squandered-its-legacy-50628 Podcast: Overcoming a lack of trust to facilitate peace agreements in divided societies Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Dawn Walsh (University of Birmingham). This paper focuses on peace agreements which include an element of territorial self-government (TSG). Using international examples including Northern Ireland and Bosnia this paper demonstrates that a lack of trust between conflict parties necessitated the inclusion of a range of guarantee mechanisms which increased confidence that the TSG element of the peace agreement would be respected. 2015-11-20T14:29:00Z 2015-11-20T14:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/11/p-overcoming-a-lack-of-trust.aspx Podcast: Russian adventurism under Putin: Lessons from Ukraine and Syria Nathan Johnson Speaker: Ambassador Jack Matlock. During his 35 years in the American Foreign Service (1956-1991), Jack Matlock served as Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1987 to 1991, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Senior Director for European and Soviet Affairs on the National Security Council Staff from 1983 until 1986, and Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1981 to 1983. Before his appointment to Moscow as Ambassador, Mr. Matlock served three tours at the American Embassy in the Soviet Union between 1961 and 1981. 2015-11-20T14:29:00Z 2015-11-20T15:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/11/p-jack-matlock.aspx Brokering peace in Nepal Nathan Johnson The Times Higher Education's John Elmes talks to Paul Jackson about the politics scholar's central role during negotiations between the Nepalese government and Maoist rebels. 2015-11-19T13:53:00Z 2015-11-19T13:37:00Z https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/brokering-peace-in-nepal Paris attacks: how effective has the military response been? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. After the terrorist atrocity, Western powers pledged to strike back at Islamic State. They will need to do more than rattle sabres. 2015-11-19T09:52:00Z 2015-11-19T09:33:00Z http://theconversation.com/paris-attacks-how-effective-has-the-military-response-been-50804 The life of 'Jihadi John': how one man became the symbol of Islamic State Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. US and UK claim the man who bragged about decapitating western hostages has probably been killed in an airstrike. 2015-11-16T09:30:00Z 2015-11-19T09:33:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-life-of-jihadi-john-how-one-man-became-the-symbol-of-islamic-state-50676 Our Voices: "Nuestras Voces": Photographic Exhibition, 19-25 November 2015, Foyer, Muirhead Tower Nathan Johnson The International Development Department is delighted to announce that an exhibition produced through a project led by Juany Murphy will be launched on Thursday 19th November at 5pm. Juany has just completed her MSc in Development Management with IDD and is a Director of the Otra Cosa Network. 2015-11-13T17:44:00Z 2015-11-13T17:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/11/our-voices.aspx IGS podcast: '"Lay Down Your Arms!" Anti-War Writing in German-Speaking Countries, 1905‒1924' Nathan Johnson Speaker: Professor Ritchie Robertson (University of Oxford) 2015-11-12T09:51:00Z 2015-11-12T09:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/news/2015/11/p-anti-war-writing-german-speaking-countries.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Governance and the Sustainable Development Goals: How did governance get into the SDGs and what does this mean? Nathan Johnson Speakers: Professor David Hulme (University of Manchester). 2015-11-09T16:41:00Z 2015-11-09T16:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/10/p-governance-sustainable-development-goals.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Transformative political leadership: Making a difference in the developing world Nathan Johnson Speakers: Professor Robert Rotberg (Harvard University). 2015-11-09T16:41:00Z 2015-11-09T16:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/11/p-transformative-political-leadership.aspx IDD academic awarded SCOPUS Young researcher of the year award for Social Science 2015 Nathan Johnson Dr Jonathan Fisher, Senior Lecturer in African Politics, International Development Department has been recognised with the SCOPUS Young researcher of the year award for Social Science 2015. Dr Fisher attended a ceremony on Thursday 05 November 2015 to accept his award. 2015-11-06T15:52:00Z 2015-11-25T11:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/11/scopus-young-reasercher-of-the-year.aspx Syria: is Putin preparing to dump Assad? Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. Moscow's mixed messages on the future of the Syrian president is fuelling speculation that it might be preparing to desert its long-term ally. 2015-11-06T15:51:00Z 2015-11-06T15:42:00Z http://theconversation.com/syria-is-putin-preparing-to-dump-assad-50164 POLSIS Welcomes Three New Members of Staff Nathan Johnson Three new appointments strengthen the department's coverage of British politics, political theory and foreign and security policy. 2015-11-04T09:17:00Z 2015-11-04T14:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/10/new-staff.aspx High Quality Publications Show POLSIS Staff Remain at the Cutting Edge of Research Nathan Johnson The last few months have witnessed the continuing flow of high quality publications from staff members in POLSIS demonstrating the department's position at the forefront of research. The books, articles and chapters cover political theory, international relations, security, British politics, rising powers, the European Union and developments in the former Soviet Union. 2015-11-04T09:17:00Z 2015-11-25T09:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/10/publications.aspx Recent Examples Highlight the Long Tradition of POLSIS Impact and Engagement with the Policy Making Community Nathan Johnson Staff and Doctoral Researchers in POLSIS are at the forefront of research in their respective fields. Their insights are highly valued in the policymaking community. 2015-11-03T14:08:00Z 2015-11-03T13:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/10/impact-engagement.aspx A "New Departure"? The legal bases of UK drone strikes in Syria Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler and Professor David Dunn. AMeeting to mark the first anniversary of the publication of the Birmingham Policy Commission on 'The Security Impact of Drones', discussion at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Drones was dominated by the UK's controversial Reaper strike against two UK nationals in Syria this summer. Cameron's decision to justify this action on grounds of self-defence of the UK was recognised as making a distinct break from previous UK rules of engagement. 2015-11-03T12:11:00Z 2015-11-04T09:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/10/ANewDeparture.aspx Why Indonesia can't stamp out fires that have cast a haze over South-East Asia Nathan Johnson Written by Scott Edwards. Leaders in Jakarta want to tackle the haze crisis but they don't have much authority over corrupt local elites. 2015-11-03T11:55:00Z 2015-11-03T11:50:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-indonesia-cant-stamp-out-fires-that-have-cast-a-haze-over-south-east-asia-50029 Greek election: Tsipras trounces his opponents, but at what cost? Nathan Johnson Written by Sotirios Zartaloudis. Syriza lives to fight another day, but the omens for Greece's future are as ominous as ever. 2015-11-03T11:54:00Z 2015-11-03T11:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/greek-election-tsipras-trounces-his-opponents-but-at-what-cost-47790 With Israeli-Palestinian tension running high, a third intifada is just a spark away Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. As Israel marked the 20th anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, fears of another surge in violence were as high as ever. 2015-11-03T11:54:00Z 2015-11-03T11:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/with-israeli-palestinian-tension-running-high-a-third-intifada-is-just-a-spark-away-49472 As powerbrokers gather at last, Russia races against time to save Assad Nathan Johnson Written by Scott Lucas. With Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the US all at the table, Russia's benighted Syria plan may at last have a chance of success. 2015-11-03T11:54:00Z 2015-11-03T11:42:00Z http://theconversation.com/as-powerbrokers-gather-at-last-russia-races-against-time-to-save-assad-49910 Podcast: International Relations Theory and European Security: We Thought We Knew Nathan Johnson Speakers: Lorenzo Cladi (POLSIS), Kamil Zwolski (Southampton). Discussant: Mark Webber (POLSIS/Government and Society). 2015-10-30T09:46:00Z 2015-10-30T09:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/10/p-international-relations-theory-european-security.aspx Podcast: Trust and Deception Workshop Nathan Johnson The workshop will bring together experts from a variety of disciplinary perspectives to discuss trust and deception in international politics. How do trust and deception affect each other? Why, when, and how do leaders and policy-makers attempt to deceive each other and their publics? What are the available tools to detect deception? Can trust be built in an environment in which deception is perceived to be the norm? Scholars will convene to tackle the theory and application of their current research. 2015-10-29T16:35:00Z 2015-10-29T16:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/10/p-trust-deception.aspx IGS podcast: Nietzsche's Cultural Revolutions Nathan Johnson Speaker: Professor Wilfried van der Will (University of Birmingham) 2015-10-28T11:30:00Z 2015-11-10T16:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/news/2015/10/p-nietzsches-cultural-revolutions.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Poor people's politics: A structural political economy approach Nathan Johnson Speakers: Professor Caroline Hughes (University of Bradford), Dr Jane Hutchison (Murdoch University). 2015-10-26T18:32:00Z 2015-11-09T16:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/10/p-poor-peoples-politics.aspx Podcast: Security, Ecology and Climate Change Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Matt McDonald (University of Queensland) 2015-10-20T14:45:00Z 2015-10-30T16:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/10/p-security-ecology-climate.aspx POLSIS researcher reveals major new findings about sex work in the UK Nathan Johnson A study by Nicola Smith and Sarah Kingston (Lancaster University) paints a surprising picture of the UK sex industry. 2015-10-17T12:18:00Z 2015-10-17T12:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/10/researcher-reveals-major-new-findings-sex-work-uk.aspx Building better collaboration Nathan Johnson The District Council's Network has commissioned INLOGOV to undertake a programme of research into collaborative and partnership working in local government. The project was mostly centred on partnership projects led by or promoted by districts, but contains many insights into good collaborative behaviour that will be of interest both to wider local government and to bodies that regularly partner with councils. 2015-10-16T17:22:00Z 2015-10-16T17:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/research/building-better-collaboration.pdf Podcast: Knowing how the other thinks: the brain and influence in international confrontations Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Nicholas Wright, Senior Research Fellow in the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security at the University of Birmingham. 2015-10-14T14:00:00Z 2015-10-30T16:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/10/p-nuclear-strategy.aspx Is fighting corruption like fighting zombies? Nathan Johnson If only we had magical blasters that could get rid of corruption, says Dr Heather Marquette. Sadly, more realistic approaches are needed. Written for The Guardian. 2015-10-14T13:18:00Z 2015-10-14T13:03:00Z http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/oct/13/fighting-corruption-zombies-development-anti-corruption? Podcast: Researching Trust: The Ongoing Challenge of Matching Objectives and Methods Nathan Johnson Speakers: Guido Möllering, Associate Professor of Organization and Management and holds the EWE Chair of Economic Organization and Trust at Jacobs University Bremen, Germany. Mark N.K. Saunders, Professor in Business Research Methods at the Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. 2015-10-06T15:00:00Z 2015-10-30T16:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/10/p-researching-trust.aspx Israel, Palestine and the US are giving up on the peace process Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. In a grim week at the UN General Assembly, the key partners in the Middle East peace process made it clear they've lost patience. 2015-10-05T11:45:00Z 2015-11-03T11:45:00Z http://theconversation.com/israel-palestine-and-the-us-are-giving-up-on-the-peace-process-48458 Why Putin gambled on airstrikes in Syria – and what might come next Nathan Johnson Written by Scott Lucas. Why has Vladimir Putin stepped up his Syrian game so radically – and is it really all as sudden as it seems? 2015-10-02T11:45:00Z 2015-11-03T11:41:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-putin-gambled-on-airstrikes-in-syria-and-what-might-come-next-48414 IGS podcast: Echoes and Aftermath: Legacies and Memories of the Past from the Twentieth Century Onwards Nathan Johnson A discussion of Aftermath: Legacies and Memories of War in Europe, 1918-1945-1989 and Echoes of Empires: Memory, Identity and Colonial Legacies 2015-10-01T11:30:00Z 2015-11-10T16:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/news/2015/10/p-echoes-aftermath.aspx IDD Impact case studies 2015 Nathan Johnson Research by IDD academics ranked in top 20 examples of UK research contributing to global development 2015-09-30T18:30:00Z 2015-09-30T18:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/09/idd-impact-case-studies.aspx Britain & Beyond Feature: How Dangerous are Drones to Aircraft? Nathan Johnson Questions have arisen over the safety of drone flights after a series of near-misses with aircraft in Britain. Ray Mann, a specialist on aerial systems, and David Dunn of the University of Birmingham join BBC West Midlands Radio to discuss the possible threat, as the US says there have been 700 near-misses in America in the past year. 2015-09-30T17:09:00Z 2015-09-30T16:57:00Z http://eaworldview.com/2015/09/britain-beyond-feature-how-dangerous-are-drones-to-aircraft/ ISIL and messaging to the Purpose-Driven Jihadi: Dr Nicholas Wright Contributes to Pentagon Joint Staff Whitepaper Nathan Johnson On 21 July a Pentagon Joint Staff Whitepaper was launched on "Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Underpinnings of ISIL Behavior and Implications for Strategic Communication, Messaging, and Influence". Nicholas Wright, Senior Research Fellow at the ICCS, contributed and spoke on a virtual panel broadcast to many across the US Government and strategic community. 2015-09-22T16:02:00Z 2015-09-22T15:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/09/nicholas-wright-contributes-pentagon-joint-staff-whitepaper.aspx Conference Report published on 'The Political Effects of UAVs' Nathan Johnson The Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security has published a report of a conference held at the Royal Aeronautical Society on 12 June 2015, which brought together experts from academia, policy, and industry, to discuss the interim findings of a research project on 'The Political Effects of UAVs on Conflict and Cooperation within and between States.' 2015-09-22T16:02:00Z 2015-09-22T15:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/09/the-political-effects-of-uavs.aspx Explainer: what is Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia? Madame System Administrator Written by Dr Galina Yemelianova. The death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has stirred debate about the future direction of the world's richest Arab state. That direction will be significantly coloured by how his brother and successor, King Salman, approaches Wahhabism – the religious sect that is at once an intrinsic part of the state and its biggest threat. 2015-09-18T10:50:00Z 2015-09-18T10:30:00Z http://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-wahhabism-in-saudi-arabia-36693 Funded PhD Studentship: Cybersecurity The Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) invites applications for a 3-year studentship to undertake a PhD within the area of Cybersecurity and global politics. 2015-09-18T10:49:00Z 2015-07-18T00:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/06/funded-phd-studentship-cybersecurity.aspx Podcast: Researching Drones: Perspectives, Practicalities, and Problems Nathan Johnson Key note: Peter Lee- Drone warriors and morality: Exploring the formation of ethical subjectivity in the UK's Reaper operators. 2015-09-16T15:15:00Z 2015-10-29T15:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/09/p-researching-drones.aspx ESRC PhD studentships Madame System Administrator The School of Government and Society invites applications for fully-funded ESRC studentships for postgraduate research beginning in September 2015. 2015-09-15T16:02:00Z 2015-09-15T15:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/12/esrc-phd-studentships.aspx Corbyn could save Labour from electoral wipeout Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer, INLOGOV. If Labour can turn its fiasco of a leadership election into a voter registration drive, it can push back against a rigged system. 2015-09-14T12:15:00Z 2015-11-03T12:13:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-forgotten-local-elections-conservatives-defy-predictions-in-council-votes-too-41627 Mission impossible: Juncker calls for a more political EU Nathan Johnson Written by George Kyris. The European Commission president believes more integration and cooperation is the solution to Europe's many problems. But it's hard to see this happening. 2015-09-14T11:30:00Z 2015-11-04T10:26:00Z http://theconversation.com/mission-impossible-juncker-calls-for-a-more-political-eu-47327 Cameron's Syria drone strike 'revelation' is a diversion Nathan Johnson Written by Scott Lucas. The Cameron government has announced it killed two British citizens in a drone strike in Syria. Was the announcement timed for maximum impact? 2015-09-11T11:30:00Z 2015-11-03T11:34:00Z http://theconversation.com/camerons-syria-drone-strike-revelation-is-a-diversion-47185 New book by Dr Fiona Nunan Madame System Administrator Dr Fiona Nunan's 'Understanding Poverty and the Environment: Analytical Frameworks and Approaches' has just been published by Routledge and is a must-read for students and scholars of environment and development. 2015-09-10T12:41:00Z 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/03/understanding-poverty-and-the-environment.aspx IAS Blog: Thinking politically - Part I Madame System Administrator 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. 2015-09-10T12:40:00Z 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/11/thinking-politically-part-i-thinking-and-working-politically-in-development-interventions-by-jonathan-fisher/ Doctoral Research profile: Charity Mbillah Madame System Administrator Title of Research: Prosperity gospel and adherent social mobility in Ghana 2015-09-10T12:39:00Z 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/doctoral-researchers/index.aspx POLSIS Alumnus Gives POLSIS Head of Department Special Tour of the United Nations Nathan Johnson Former POLSIS student, His Excellency Dr Percaya, the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations Gives POLSIS Head of Department a Special Tour of the UN Building in New York. 2015-08-31T11:15:00Z 2015-09-29T11:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/08/polsis-alumnus-un.aspx Former POLSIS Student Wins Diplomat of the Year Nathan Johnson Former POLSIS student, Kevin M. Isaac was awarded Diplomat of the Year for North America and the Caribbean at the Diplomat Magazine Annual Awards Ceremony. 2015-08-31T11:15:00Z 2015-09-29T11:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/08/former-polsis-student-wins-diplomat-of-the-year.aspx Why Alexis Tsipras has called a snap election in Greece Nathan Johnson Written by Sotirios Zartaloudis. After 206 turbulent days in power, Alexis Tsipras now presides over a coalition in tatters. 2015-08-24T11:30:00Z 2015-11-03T11:32:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-alexis-tsipras-has-called-a-snap-election-in-greece-46496 Call for Papers: Trust and Deception Workshop Nathan Johnson Proposals are invited for a workshop on Trust and Deception, hosted by the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham on Tuesday 06 October 2015. 2015-08-10T10:56:00Z 2015-08-10T10:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/08/trust-deception.aspx US election descends into a circus with first Republican debate Nathan Johnson Written by Scott Lucas. The ten candidates who made it onto Fox News's debate stage ranged from the serious to the seriously off-base. 2015-08-10T10:00:00Z 2015-11-03T10:59:00Z http://theconversation.com/syriza-risks-an-eu-exit-in-a-referendum-wracked-with-problems-44118 Lecture Report - British Military Leadership in the Iraq and Afghan Wars: Why was Success so Elusive? Nathan Johnson Dr Chris Wyatt, ICCS Research Fellow, recently attended the lecture above, which was given by Major-General (Rtd) Christopher Elliott under the auspices of the Changing Character of War Programme at Oxford University. 2015-08-07T15:47:00Z 2015-08-07T15:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/07/british-military-leadership-iraq-afghan-wars.aspx Sociology student wins prestigious award Nathan Johnson Graduating Sociology student Joe Taylor wins prestigious Michael Sheppard Award, for his academic and extra-curricular achievements at Birmingham. 2015-08-01T11:00:00Z 2015-11-13T15:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/08/sociology-student-wins-prestigious-award.aspx Why Gambia is not ideal to host Africa's human rights watchdog Nathan Johnson Written by Rosa Freedman and Jonathan Fisher. President Jammeh has ruled Gambia with an iron fist since he seized power more than two decades years ago. He is responsible for gross human rights abuses, yet he hosts Africa's human rights watchdog. 2015-07-31T10:00:00Z 2015-11-03T10:56:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-gambia-is-not-ideal-to-host-africas-human-rights-watchdog-45320 Startling new concessions made by Syria's desperate president Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. Assad is running out of options – and he seems to be admitting it for the first time. 2015-07-29T11:14:00Z 2015-07-29T11:05:00Z https://theconversation.com/startling-new-concessions-made-by-syrias-desperate-president-45249 Blog: Combined Authorities – Why Birmingham doesn't have a city region like Leeds Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. "Cornwall leapfrogs West Midlands in devolution race" was the headline over one report of the Government's recent devolution deal with Cornwall Council, giving the county greater control over adult skills spending and regional investment, and, with the Isles of Scilly, the prospect of integrating health and social care services. 2015-07-24T17:29:00Z 2015-07-24T17:23:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/07/24/combined-authorities-why-birmingham-doesnt-have-a-city-region-like-leeds/ Podcast: Smart, smart, and many versus few and bespoke: Will small drones shift the character of conflict? Nathan Johnson Speaker: Dr Thomas X Hammes, Distinguished Research Fellow, Center for Strategic Research, Institute of National Strategic Studies. The convergence of artificial intelligence, drone technology, and additive manufacturing are making the advent of swarms of small, autonomous drones a reality. Their debut on the battlefield will dramatically change the character of war in air, land, space, and sea domains. 2015-07-24T15:43:00Z 2015-10-30T16:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/07/p-will-small-drones-shift-character-conflict.aspx How Brazil and Argentina defused their nuclear rivalry Madame System Administrator Nicholas John Wheeler, University of Birmingham and Matias Spektor, Fundação Getúlio Vargas. Latin America's two biggest players spent much of the 1980s in a low-grade arms race – and they both had nuclear aspirations. How did they manage to diffuse the tension? 2015-07-20T11:36:00Z 2015-09-18T10:35:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-brazil-and-argentina-defused-their-nuclear-rivalry-44163 How Brazil and Argentina defused their nuclear rivalry Nathan Johnson Nicholas John Wheeler, University of Birmingham and Matias Spektor, Fundação Getúlio Vargas. Latin America's two biggest players spent much of the 1980s in a low-grade arms race – and they both had nuclear aspirations. How did they manage to diffuse the tension? 2015-07-20T11:36:00Z 2015-07-20T11:06:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-brazil-and-argentina-defused-their-nuclear-rivalry-44163 Iran nuclear deal is built on trust as well as verification Nathan Johnson Written by Joshua Baker and Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. Announcing the nuclear deal agreed this week between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the so-called E3+3 (the EU3 of France, Germany and the United Kingdom plus the United States, Russia, and China), US President Barack Obama declared: 'This deal is not built on trust, it is built on verification.' 2015-07-17T11:07:00Z 2015-07-17T10:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/07/iran-nuclear-deal-16-07-15.aspx Iran nuclear deal is built on trust as well as verification Nathan Johnson Written by Joshua Baker and Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. Announcing the nuclear deal agreed this week between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the so-called E3+3 (the EU3 of France, Germany and the United Kingdom plus the United States, Russia, and China), US President Barack Obama declared: 'This deal is not built on trust, it is built on verification.' 2015-07-17T11:07:00Z 2015-07-20T11:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/07/iran-nuclear-deal-16-07-15.aspx What the Iran nuclear deal means – and what it doesn't Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. So there's now a real plan to sort out Iran's nuclear programme. What about all its other problems? 2015-07-16T11:00:00Z 2015-07-16T10:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/what-the-iran-nuclear-deal-means-and-what-it-doesnt-44685 Blog: Is a 120-member council really too big? Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. "This blog's main purpose is to place somewhere in the public domain some basic electoral data on council size. Basic, but not normally presented in a form that I've sometimes wanted for illustrative purposes. I'm hoping, therefore, there may be others who'll find the data of at least passing interest, so here goes." 2015-07-16T11:00:00Z 2015-07-16T10:35:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/06/11/recall-right-for-councillors-right-for-mayors/ Scores killed by bombs and bullets as Boko Haram struggle escalates Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. A week of carnage across northern Nigeria proves Boko Haram is alive and well. Can the Nigerian army get its act together? 2015-07-16T11:00:00Z 2015-07-16T10:45:00Z http://theconversation.com/scores-killed-by-bombs-and-bullets-as-boko-haram-struggle-escalates-44262 What the Iran nuclear deal means – and what it doesn't Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. So there's now a real plan to sort out Iran's nuclear programme. What about all its other problems? 2015-07-16T10:34:00Z 2015-07-16T10:25:00Z http://theconversation.com/what-the-iran-nuclear-deal-means-and-what-it-doesnt-44685 The Origins of Nuclear Cooperation: A Critical Oral History between Brazil and Argentina Nathan Johnson Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler, Director of the ICCS, Rodrigo Mallea (Argentine foreign ministry) and Dr Matias Spektor (Associate Professor of International Relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil have published The Origins of Nuclear Cooperation: A Critical Oral History between Brazil and Argentina. The book, a product of a four year collaboration between Spektor and Wheeler, and a major output of Wheeler's ESRC/AHRC Fellowship under RCUK's Global Uncertainties Programme, tells a unique and rich story about how two regional nuclear rivals de-escalated their nuclear rivalry in ways that promoted regional and international security. 2015-07-15T12:07:00Z 2015-07-20T15:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/07/origins-of-nuclear-cooperation.aspx Greece: a Europe forged in one crisis may have laid the foundations for the next Nathan Johnson Written by Dr George Kyris. What might feel like a victory this morning for eurozone leaders and lenders has only served to feed a eurosceptic beast. 2015-07-14T10:30:00Z 2015-07-16T10:23:00Z http://theconversation.com/greece-a-europe-forged-in-one-crisis-may-have-laid-the-foundations-for-the-next-44607 South Sudan's viability requires an honest answer to avert further disaster Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. South Sudan's independence in 2011, which ended half a century of deadly conflict, was met with much praise. But a descent into civil war has led to dismay and suggests fresh thinking is required. 2015-07-10T10:15:00Z 2015-07-16T10:21:00Z http://theconversation.com/south-sudans-viability-requires-an-honest-answer-to-avert-further-disaster-44368 Scores killed by bombs and bullets as Boko Haram struggle escalates Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. A week of carnage across northern Nigeria proves Boko Haram is alive and well. Can the Nigerian army get its act together? 2015-07-09T10:15:00Z 2015-07-16T10:19:00Z http://theconversation.com/scores-killed-by-bombs-and-bullets-as-boko-haram-struggle-escalates-44262 President Assad Will Fall in Syria - So Best to Prepare Now for What Happens Next Nathan Johnson Scholars at the University of Birmingham are calling for preparations for the likely fall of the Assad regime in Syria - and warning that failure to do so will lead to continuing political, economic, and humanitarian crises. 2015-07-06T15:37:00Z 2015-07-06T14:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/07/president-assad-will-fall-in-syria.aspx Greece votes No: experts respond Nathan Johnson Written by Costas Milas, University of Liverpool; George Kyris, University of Birmingham; James Arvanitakis, University of Western Sydney; Nikos Papastergiadis, University of Melbourne; Remy Davison, Monash University; Richard Holden, UNSW Australia; Ross Buckley, UNSW Australia, and Sofia Vasilopoulou, University of York. Academic experts respond to the No vote in Greece's referendum on whether or not to accept a bailout offer from their international creditors. 2015-07-06T13:36:00Z 2015-07-06T13:24:00Z http://theconversation.com/greece-votes-no-experts-respond-44231 Syriza risks an EU exit in a referendum wracked with problems Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Sotirios Zartaloudis. Greeks face a big dilemma in the July 5 referendum. It's been badly organised, democratically questionable and there's a great deal at stake. 2015-07-06T13:30:00Z 2015-07-06T13:29:00Z http://theconversation.com/syriza-risks-an-eu-exit-in-a-referendum-wracked-with-problems-44118 The dangerous gamble that could spark full-scale conflict in Ukraine Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Ukraine is giving Russia two options – and neither is likely to end well. 2015-07-03T13:15:00Z 2015-07-06T13:19:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-dangerous-gamble-that-could-spark-full-scale-conflict-in-ukraine-44115 Europe is heading towards constitutional crisis, with or without Greece Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Nicole Scicluna. Five years of turmoil shows the union rests on shaky legal foundations. 2015-07-03T13:15:00Z 2015-07-06T13:21:00Z http://theconversation.com/europe-is-heading-towards-constitutional-crisis-with-or-without-greece-44151 Day of terror reminds us that extremism must be a problem shared Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Attacks in France, Kuwait and Tunisia come against a backdrop of increasing extremist violence across the world. 2015-06-29T11:00:00Z 2015-07-29T11:02:00Z https://theconversation.com/day-of-terror-reminds-us-that-extremism-must-be-a-problem-shared-43964 Blog: Do 'sticky' institutions always survive? The demise of the Audit Commission Nathan Johnson Written by Katherine Tonkiss. "The Audit Commission played a central role in the audit, inspection, performance improvement and regulation of local authorities (and other public service providers) in England for over thirty years. Operating at arm's length from government, it thrived under the efficiency and performance improvement agendas of successive Conservative and Labour governments, growing into a large and powerful public body." 2015-06-24T15:37:00Z 2015-06-24T15:23:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/06/24/do-sticky-institutions-always-survive-the-demise-of-the-audit-commission/ Blog: Prizes for local government: Latin America or England? Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Andrew Nickson. Last week I was in Panama City to deliver the inaugural address at the 2nd Latin American seminar on good practices in municipal management. My topic was the challenges of sub-national governance in the region, after thirty years during which local political democracy has gradually become the norm, accompanied by a growing share of fiscal revenue devolved to local government. 2015-06-22T10:56:00Z 2015-06-22T10:33:00Z https://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/prizes-for-local-government-latin-america-or-england/ Syria's opposition is trapped in a life-threatening fuel crisis Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. With both Islamic State and Assad cutting off its fuel supplies, the Syrian opposition is struggling to survive. 2015-06-22T09:56:00Z 2015-06-22T09:39:00Z http://theconversation.com/syrias-opposition-is-trapped-in-a-life-threatening-fuel-crisis-43501 Birmingham academics present research findings in Parliament Nathan Johnson Leading academics from the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security presented findings from their research project on 'The Political Effects of UAVs' to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drones. 2015-06-19T11:46:00Z 2015-06-19T11:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/06/birmingham-academics-present-research-findings-in-parliament.aspx Birmingham academics present research findings in Parliament Nathan Johnson Leading academics from the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security presented findings from their research project on 'The Political Effects of UAVs' to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drones. 2015-06-19T11:40:00Z 2015-06-19T11:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/06/birmingham-academics-present-research-findings-in-parliament.aspx Why the UK doesn't mind if aid boosts military spending Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Jonathan Fisher. It's not a surprise that development aid frees up money for countries to spend on defence budgets. Why is the UK so shocked by its own policies? 2015-06-19T09:27:00Z 2015-06-19T09:08:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-the-uk-doesnt-mind-if-aid-boosts-military-spending-43073 Rogue bankers join the welfare cheats on Osborne hit list Nathan Johnson Written by Dr Huw Macartney. More than just a piece of clever rhetoric, the government is making genuine changes to regulating the financial services industry. 2015-06-19T09:06:00Z 2015-06-19T09:05:00Z http://theconversation.com/rogue-bankers-join-the-welfare-cheats-on-osborne-hit-list-43191 Blog: Recall – right for councillors, right for mayors Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. "The topical, and certainly most agreeable, purpose of this blog is to applaud the appointment of illustrator, cartoonist and writer, Chris Riddell, as the ninth Children's Laureate. The enviably talented Riddell has been The Observer's political cartoonist for 20 years and is also a writer and multi-award-winning illustrator of children's books. But before any of that fame and fortune, he generously provided easily the most eye-catching half-page in an INLOGOV undergraduate degree recruitment brochure. 2015-06-12T16:00:00Z 2015-06-12T15:51:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/06/11/recall-right-for-councillors-right-for-mayors/ POLSIS doctoral researcher wins prestigious Li Siguang Scholarship Nathan Johnson Ran Yan, a doctoral researcher starting in September 2015, has been awarded a highly competitive funded studentship offered by the university in partnership with the China Scholarship Council. 2015-06-12T11:41:00Z 2015-06-12T10:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/06/dr-wins-li-siguang-scholarship.aspx Blog: Metro mayors: this time at least feels different from 2012 Nathan Johnson Written by Chris Game. "Despite what service users doubtless feel on occasions, things can move quite fast in local government." 2015-06-05T16:37:00Z 2015-06-05T16:24:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/06/04/metro-mayors-this-time-at-least-feels-different-from-2012/ Jason Rezaian trial: journalists cannot expect justice in Iran Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Scott Lucas. The trial of an American journalist in Iran was a craven farce – and a reminder of the brutality with which Tehran still treats journalists. 2015-06-03T11:48:00Z 2015-06-03T11:25:00Z http://theconversation.com/jason-rezaian-trial-journalists-cannot-expect-justice-in-iran-42379 Central African Republic takes a small step towards peace – but a leap is what's needed Madame System Administrator Written by Professor Paul Jackson. The CAR is a phantom state that has barely existed for years. Even with a ten-way peace deal now signed, what future does it have? 2015-06-03T11:48:00Z 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://theconversation.com/central-african-republic-takes-a-small-step-towards-peace-but-a-leap-is-whats-needed-41640 Trust, Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation - 13-17 April 2015 Nathan Johnson The 2015 programme focused on how diplomats and negotiators can better develop empathy and trust through face-to-face encounters, and how this approach can lead to greater levels of success in transforming global conflicts. The programme examined a number of historical and contemporary examples of successful (and unsuccessful) face-to-face diplomatic encounters. In doing so, it explored the psychological context of how individuals signal intention, detect deception and assess the trustworthiness (or otherwise) of their diplomatic counterparts. 2015-06-03T10:24:00Z 2015-06-03T13:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/training/previous-programmes/2015.aspx IGS podcast: Is Germany to blame? Perceptions of Germany during the Eurocrisis Nathan Johnson As part of its research project, '(Not) Made in Germany? Imagining Germany from the Outside', the Institute for German Studies will be welcoming Joachim Schild and Dieter Berckvens (University of Trier), presented their work. 2015-05-29T16:38:00Z 2015-11-10T16:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/news/2015/05/is-germany-to-blame.aspx Blog: Central African Republic takes a small step towards peace – but a leap is what's needed Nathan Johnson Written by Professor Paul Jackson. The signing of a major peace agreement by ten rebel groups in the Central African Republic is a welcome step towards peace after years of violent chaos. 2015-05-28T11:26:00Z 2015-05-28T10:56:00Z https://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/central-african-republic-takes-a-small-step-towards-peace-but-a-leap-is-whats-needed/ Blog: As refugee crisis deepens, the world is losing patience with South Sudan Nathan Johnson Written by Jonathan Fisher, lecturer in IDD. South Sudan has now been at war since 2013, with no end in sight. And while the two sides focus on defeating each other, the humanitarian situation on the ground is only deteriorating. 2015-05-28T10:55:00Z 2015-05-28T10:51:00Z https://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/as-refugee-crisis-deepens-the-world-is-losing-patience-with-south-sudan/ Blog: Do select committees deserve 'universal praise'? In this post, Dr Stephen Bates and Dr Mark Goodwin argue that a more rounded evaluation of Select Committees is needed to assess whether they deserve 'universal praise'. 2015-05-22T12:08:00Z 2015-06-13T19:57:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/05/22/do-select-committees-deserve-universal-praise/ Podcast: Emancipation without agenda? – The recovery of non-Western subjecthood and its implications for the study of world politics Nathan Johnson This discussion assembled scholars from different fields and of diverse regional expertise to present the different forms of non-Western subjecthood that they identify or envisage in order to discuss the possibility and constellations of non-Western subjecthood and corresponding forms of agency. The event thus made an attempt to link recent theoretical debates about a 'post-Western' IR with insights from other disciplines to show how post-colonial agency operates both within the framework of the international state system, but also appears in more diffuse and less obvious ways that serve to challenge and re-shape this system. 2015-05-22T12:08:00Z 2015-09-30T18:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2015/05/emancipation-without-agenda.aspx Blog: A new typology of local government systems Written by Pawel Swianiewicz. "Typologies of the European systems of local government are important and frequent point of reference for many scholars. But the trouble for scholars from my part of Europe is that the most popular classifications concentrate on Western part of the continent, totally disregarding the post-communist Central and Eastern Europe." 2015-05-22T12:08:00Z 2015-06-13T13:43:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/05/22/a-new-typology-of-local-government-systems/ Blog: The Wedding of the Century: More Evidence of a Soft Exit for Chechnya? By Karena Avedissian. In Chechnya, the wedding of a 17-year old girl and a middle-aged policeman has put centre-periphery relations and the growing divergence of regional arrangements in Chechnya and the rest of the Russian Federation in the spotlight. 2015-05-22T12:08:00Z 2015-06-13T23:53:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/the-wedding-of-century-more-evidence-of.html IGS podcast: 50 Years of German-Israeli Relations: Reflections on History, Memory and International Politics Nathan Johnson IGS Symposium. Speakers: Lorena De Vita (Aberystwyth University); Harald Kindermann (former FRG Ambassador to Israel); Shimon Stein (former Israeli Ambassador to the FRG); Ruth Wittlinger (University of Durham). 2015-05-22T11:41:00Z 2015-11-10T16:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/news/2015/05/fifty-years-of-german-israeli-relations.aspx Podcast: Violence, Civilization and Humanity Speaker: Professor Andrew Linklater (Aberystwyth University). The ICCS Distinguished Lecture Series continues on the 18th May with a talk from Professor Andrew Linklater, arguably one of the 50 key thinkers writing in the field of International Relations today. Professor Linklater will discuss his recent research on 'Violence, Civilization and Humanity'. 2015-05-22T11:15:00Z 2015-06-14T05:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/05/violence-civilisation-humanity.aspx Podcast: Take A Chance: Trust-Building Across Identity Groups Speaker: Professor Andrew Kydd (University of Wisconsin). Trust is central to cooperation and it is often taken for granted that trust is higher among members of an identity group than between groups. However, apart from assimilation or creating new overarching identities, we lack a compelling explanation for trust-building. 2015-05-22T11:15:00Z 2015-06-14T05:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/05/trust-building-across-identity-groups.aspx Podcast: Take A Chance: Trust-Building Across Identity Groups Nathan Johnson Speaker: Professor Andrew Kydd (University of Wisconsin). Trust is central to cooperation and it is often taken for granted that trust is higher among members of an identity group than between groups. However, apart from assimilation or creating new overarching identities, we lack a compelling explanation for trust-building. 2015-05-22T10:52:00Z 2015-05-27T09:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/05/trust-building-across-identity-groups.aspx Podcast: Violence, Civilization and Humanity Speaker: Professor Andrew Linklater (Aberystwyth University). The ICCS Distinguished Lecture Series continues on the 18th May with a talk from Professor Andrew Linklater, arguably one of the 50 key thinkers writing in the field of International Relations today. Professor Linklater will discuss his recent research on 'Violence, Civilization and Humanity'. 2015-05-22T10:52:00Z 2015-06-07T17:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/05/violence-civilisation-humanity.aspx China and India sign US$22 billion in deals but tensions simmer under the surface Written by Dr Tsering Topgyal. Despite the emphasis on a mutually beneficial economic relationship, political and security concerns have the power to undermine cooperation between China and India. 2015-05-20T17:04:00Z 2015-06-13T19:56:00Z http://theconversation.com/china-and-india-sign-us-22-billion-in-deals-but-tensions-simmer-under-the-surface-41983 As refugee crisis deepens, the world is losing patience with South Sudan Written by Dr Jonathan Fisher. Africa's youngest country has been at war for 18 months, and its people are paying the price. Its neighbours and supporters aren't happy. 2015-05-20T17:04:00Z 2015-06-13T08:21:00Z http://theconversation.com/as-refugee-crisis-deepens-the-world-is-losing-patience-with-south-sudan-41696 Burundi teeters on the brink of civil war following coup attempt Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. An attempt by the incumbent president to change the constitution and run for a third term has exposed deep and dangerous divisions. 2015-05-18T12:05:00Z 2015-06-13T19:56:00Z http://theconversation.com/burundi-teeters-on-the-brink-of-civil-war-following-coup-attempt-41869 Blog: A day for devolution Written by Daniel Goodwin. "The Cities Devolution Bill, with careful attention to principle as well as expediency and in the context of wider constitutional renewal, could just be the way to start to make that happen and help to address the wider devolution challenges which the UK faces following the General Election". 2015-05-15T11:15:00Z 2015-06-13T13:42:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/05/14/a-day-for-devolution/ Blog: The emergence of city regions Written by Jon Bloomfield. The structures of sub-national government in the UK are about to undergo major change not just in Scotland but across the major conurbations. As George Osborne has said "In a modern, knowledge-based economy city size matters like never before." 2015-05-14T14:16:00Z 2015-06-13T13:45:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/05/14/the-emergence-of-city-regions/ Blog: The other 1215 Charter: 800 years of elected mayors Written by Chris Game. "You'd not have known it from the national media, either before Election Day or since, but the 650 parliamentary contests weren't the only ones taking place in the UK last Thursday. It was the year in local government's four-year election cycle that almost all English district and unitary councils – 279 of 293 – had elections, and there were votes too for six mayors, for many parish and town councils, plus the odd local referendum." 2015-05-12T16:44:00Z 2015-06-13T13:45:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/05/11/the-forgotten-local-elections-conservatives-defied-predictions-here-too/ The forgotten local elections – Conservatives defy predictions in council votes too Written by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer, INLOGOV. Gains for the Tories and obliteration for the Lib Dems as councils are selected — sound familiar? 2015-05-12T16:44:00Z 2015-06-13T13:45:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-forgotten-local-elections-conservatives-defy-predictions-in-council-votes-too-41627 Blog: The Ties that Bind: War, History and Power in and around Today's Russia By Dr. Kevork Oskanian. It is difficult indeed to overstate the importance of victory day in Russia. In its solemnity, it is as close to a religious festival as any secular event could be. The Soviet Union was adept at filling the void left by its Marxist atheism with ritual and symbolism, and, more than on other days of the contemporary calendar, its imprint was still palpable on May 9th, 2015. 2015-05-12T15:29:00Z 2015-06-13T23:52:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/the-ties-that-bind-war-history-and.html Blog: The other 1215 Charter: 800 years of elected mayors Written by Chris Game. "The LGA's Magna Carta web pages have recently featured a delightful homophone – sounds the same as another word, but different spelling and meaning. Among this summer's many MC commemorative events will reportedly be "a programme of inciteful lectures and talks" (my emphasis)." 2015-05-07T16:00:00Z 2015-06-13T13:46:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/05/06/the-other-1215-charter-800-years-of-elected-mayors/ Blog: Why the zero-carbon homes policy hasn't gone to plan In this post, Max Lempriere, PhD Researcher at The Department of Political Science and International Studies discusses why the zero-carbon home policy has not gone to plan. First Published on The Conversation 15th April 2015 2015-05-07T14:00:00Z 2015-06-13T19:59:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/05/05/why-the-zero-carbon-homes-policy-hasnt-gone-to-plan/ DevoManc: a shrewd political move that keeps Treasury control without the responsibility Written by Max Lempriere and Sam Warner, PhD Researchers in Political Science. Signed by the chancellor, George Osborne, and the leaders of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the latest twist in the DevoManc agenda was the unique agreement that purported to grant residents "more control over the decisions that affect their lives". Yet closer inspection suggests a more nuanced picture. 2015-05-07T12:46:00Z 2015-06-13T19:57:00Z http://theconversation.com/devomanc-a-shrewd-political-move-that-keeps-treasury-control-without-the-responsibility-41375 Blog: A marriage made in heaven? Written by Catherine Staite, Director of INLOGOV. The ESRC, LGA and SOLACE have created a new role – that of Research Facilitator for local government – with the aim of supporting strong and productive relationships between researchers, policy makers and practitioners. I'm very pleased to take on that role, with the active support of the INLOGOV team of academics and expert practitioners. 2015-05-07T12:46:00Z 2015-06-13T13:43:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/05/05/a-marriage-made-in-heaven/ Blog: Preparing future leaders: The Total Leadership Programme Written by Daniel Goodwin – Senior Associate Fellow. The Total Leadership Programme is an exciting new venture which is designed to help senior local government managers prepare themselves for a chief executive role. It's a partnership between INLOGOV and SOLACE, which fills a serious gap in provision nationally. It is open not only to directors in councils but also to people at a similar level within private sector firms who work in the public sector and who might be considering such a move too. 2015-05-07T12:25:00Z 2015-06-13T13:44:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/05/05/preparing-future-leaders-the-total-leadership-programme/ POLSIS Spring Seminar Series Discusses Major Topical Issues The 2015 POLSIS spring seminar series focused on the crisis in Greece, the rise of populism, rhetoric and leadership, security, ethnic minority representation and the impending British general election. 2015-05-01T15:14:00Z 2015-06-13T19:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/05/polsis-seminar-series.aspx Prestigious best article prize for Birmingham sociologist Dr Will Leggett, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, has been awarded the Best Article 2014 prize by the leading journal Policy & Politics. 2015-05-01T14:55:00Z 2015-06-13T19:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/05/best-article-prize-will-leggett.aspx Birmingham Pre-election debate on Immigration co-hosted by The Guardian The Department of Political Science and International Studies/School of Government and Society co-host a pre-election debate on immigration with The Guardian. 2015-05-01T14:55:00Z 2015-06-13T19:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/05/guardian-debate-immigration.aspx Pollsters v bookies: who's on the money in election 2015? Written by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer, INLOGOV. "Polls Apart!" used to be the cliché newspaper headline whenever two opinion polls about an impending election reported fractionally differing findings. For the 2015 election, they're rapidly running out of puns. The sense of frustration is palpable. Those polls keep coming, and none gives a clear idea of who will win. 2015-05-01T14:12:00Z 2015-06-13T13:44:00Z http://theconversation.com/pollsters-v-bookies-whos-on-the-money-in-election-2015-40933 Blog: The West Midlands – a bellwether for the election? In this post, Cherry Miller discusses the key battleground seats and issues in the West Midlands. The original version of this post was published as part of the General Election 2015 series on the LSE British Politics and Policy Blog on 14th April 2015. 2015-04-24T14:58:00Z 2015-06-13T19:53:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/04/22/the-west-midlands-a-bellwether-for-the-election/ What Britain should learn from Syriza and Greek eurosceptics Written by Dr George Kyris, Lecturer in International and European Politics. The last few years have been remarkable for Greece's relationship with the EU. The bail-out agreements between the country and the EU-IMF, the interference of the latter two in domestic affairs and the imposition of austerity have caused a sharp rise in euroscepticism. 2015-04-24T14:58:00Z 2015-06-13T19:54:00Z http://theconversation.com/what-britain-should-learn-from-syriza-and-greek-eurosceptics-40653 Why the zero-carbon homes policy hasn't gone to plan Written by Max Lempriere, PhD Researcher in Political Science. One of the UK's flagship sustainability policies is in big trouble. Less than a year from now, the theory goes, all new homes will be "zero-carbon". The reality is rather different. Economic meltdown, a housing crisis, pressure from developers and poorly designed legislation have all combined to leave the country way behind schedule. 2015-04-24T14:58:00Z 2015-06-13T19:54:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-the-zero-carbon-homes-policy-hasnt-gone-to-plan-40650 Blog: Deaths in the Mediterranean are a direct result of ongoing crisis in north Africa Madame System Administrator Written by Professor Paul Jackson, 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. 2015-04-24T14:57:00Z 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z https://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2015/04/22/deaths-in-the-mediterranean-are-a-direct-result-of-ongoing-crisis-in-north-africa/ Blog: Make elections work for you: check the polls, but follow the money Written by Chris Game. "Spoiler alert: this is a blog about elections, but not local elections – mainly because it's about election betting, and, with one conspicuous exception, which will be mentioned, our modern-day local election contests and candidates are rarely of sufficiently general interest to attract much serious fixed odds betting." 2015-04-24T14:57:00Z 2015-06-13T13:42:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/04/22/make-elections-work-for-you-check-the-polls-but-follow-the-money/ Deaths in the Mediterranean are a direct result of ongoing crisis in north Africa Written by Professor Paul Jackson. The rapid escalation this year in the numbers of people drowned as they flee in leaky boats across the Mediterranean is a direct consequence of the conflict in Iraq, Syria and north Africa, specifically Libya – where the implications of the Western intervention are playing out in the deaths of thousands, whether from the violence itself or as they try desperately to escape to safety. 2015-04-21T09:19:00Z 2015-06-13T08:20:00Z http://theconversation.com/four-years-after-west-bombed-gaddafi-chaos-rules-in-libya-40492 Why the British election should be more like a student ballot Written by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer, INLOGOV. Wednesday April 15 is Democracy Day. It's the start of the final coordinated push before the 2015 voter registration deadline on April 20. It was organised, like February's National Voter Registration Day, by Bite the Ballot, a not-for-profit community movement that aims to encourage young people in particular to reject Russell Brand's baleful "stop voting" gospel and make their votes count. 2015-04-20T15:26:00Z 2015-06-13T13:42:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-the-british-election-should-be-more-like-a-student-ballot-40195 IDD Guest seminar podcast: Research and risk-aversion in conflict-affected societies Speaker: Dr Suda Perera, Developmental Leadership Program. This seminar discusses the political and physical constraints affecting research within conflict-affected environments, and the growing trend towards remotely gathered data, through an autoethnography of research on armed group dynamics in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 2015-04-20T13:46:00Z 2015-06-13T08:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/04/research-and-risk-aversion-in-conflict-affected-societies.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Policy integration and synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation in forest and agriculture Speaker: Dr Monica Di Gregorio, University of Leeds. This study assesses the level of policy integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation in the forestry and agricultural sectors in Brazil and Indonesia, and explores barriers and opportunities to address trade-offs and achieve mutual benefits. 2015-04-14T10:26:00Z 2015-06-13T08:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/04/climate-change.aspx Hillary Clinton announces presidential campaign: expert reaction Written by Inderjeet Parmar, City University London; Clodagh Harrington, De Montfort University; Rosa Freedman, University of Birmingham; Russell Bentley, University of Southampton; Scott Lucas, University of Birmingham, and Tom Packer, University of Oxford. The worst-kept secret in American politics is finally out in the open. What now? 2015-04-13T09:48:00Z 2015-06-13T19:51:00Z http://theconversation.com/hillary-clinton-announces-presidential-campaign-expert-reaction-39831 Blog: Seventh Annual POLSIS Postgraduate Colloquium This all day 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 ongoing research. 2015-04-13T09:48:00Z 2015-06-13T19:53:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/04/11/seventh-annual-polsis-postgraduate-colloquium/ Kenya attack: al-Shabaab's violent radicalism can't be tackled by force alone Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. The terrorist group al-Shabaab has claimed an attack on Garissa University College in eastern Kenya, in which an unclear number have been killed and many others taken hostage. 2015-04-10T14:29:00Z 2015-06-13T19:52:00Z http://theconversation.com/kenya-attack-al-shabaabs-violent-radicalism-cant-be-tackled-by-force-alone-39714 Iran celebrates historic nuclear deal – all eyes now on supreme leader Written by Professor Scott Lucas. Finally, after years of diplomacy and brinkmanship, the long-awaited nuclear deal with Iran has been done. There is jubilation in the streets as Iran's people, who have struggled under the weight of western sanctions for decades, are waking up to the prospect of a brighter economic future. 2015-04-10T14:11:00Z 2015-06-13T19:52:00Z http://theconversation.com/iran-celebrates-historic-nuclear-deal-all-eyes-now-on-supreme-leader-39528 Blog: Council Tax Support – anatomy of a Pickles' localism triumph Written by Chris Game. Shortly before the dissolution of Parliament, Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles issued an apparently self-penned eulogy of his ministerial record, entitled on the Government's own website, in characteristic, cod Churchillian, style: Local Government: Delivering for England. It makes an interesting document, as would be hoped of one requiring two separate links. 2015-04-10T11:33:00Z 2015-06-13T13:41:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/04/09/council-tax-support-anatomy-of-a-pickles-localism-triumph/ Are the Conservatives really about to increase minority representation? Written by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer, INLOGOV. The Sunday Times recently ran a pretty incredible headline, claiming that in the 2015 election, "Tories may secure most ethnic MPs". This would represent a huge turnaround. Ten years ago – and 18 years after the all-Labour quartet of Dianne Abbott, Paul Boateng, Bernie Grant, and Keith Vaz had become the UK's first post-war black and minority ethnic (BME) MPs – the Conservatives didn't have a single one. 2015-04-02T14:56:00Z 2015-06-13T13:41:00Z http://theconversation.com/are-the-conservatives-really-about-to-increase-minority-representation-39605 Sociology Society Careers Conference 2015 The Sociology Society hosted a careers conference on 04 February 2015. This event provided current students with the opportunity to meet alumni from a variety of careers including HR, PR/Marketing, Consultancy, Social Work, Law (in particular a postgraduate qualification) and Education. 2015-04-02T10:58:00Z 2015-06-13T19:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2014-15/sociology-society-careers-conference.aspx Blog: Authoritarianism and the securitization of development in Africa Written by Jonathan Fisher, lecturer in IDD. Jonathan Fisher and David M. Anderson published the article: Authoritarianism and the securitization of development in Africa this January, 2015. We asked Jonathan what drives his research interest in this field and to address some of the issues captured in the article. 2015-04-02T09:56:00Z 2015-06-13T08:18:00Z https://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/authoritarianism-and-the-securitization-of-development-in-africa/ Germanwings crash: the ins and outs of the two-person rule Written by Daniel Rio Tinto, Doctoral Researcher in POLSIS. It takes two people to launch a nuclear missile - it's time the same level of safety returned to the cockpit. 2015-03-30T10:15:00Z 2015-06-13T19:43:00Z http://theconversation.com/germanwings-crash-the-ins-and-outs-of-the-two-person-rule-39453 Blog: The cyber threat to the United Kingdom Written by Gavin Hall, Doctoral Researcher in POLSIS. When the new government takes office in May 2015 one of the first tasks will be to initiate a Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). 2015-03-30T09:11:00Z 2015-06-13T19:42:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/03/27/the-cyber-threat-to-the-united-kingdom/ Blog: Queen Cersei and the evaporating Revenue Support Grant Written by Chris Game, Visiting Lecturer at INLOGOV. Next week is the last week of Hilary Term, or revision week at the end of Spring Term, as it's known here at the UoB and most other universities who feel no great affinity to the probably inappropriately named 4th Century St Hilarius of Poitiers. Over the many years in which I lectured undergraduates, I used rather to like it: end of the course/module in sight, legitimate chance to share and spread gossip about approaching local elections, lecture attendances boosted by students desperate for exam hints. Plus, nowadays, plenty of discussion-prompting visual aids – one of which is the pretext for this blog. 2015-03-20T15:06:00Z 2015-06-13T13:39:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/03/20/queen-cersei-and-the-evaporating-revenue-support-grant/ Understanding the Post-Crisis Landscape: Assessing Change in Economic Management, Welfare, Work and Democracy This seminar introduced a 6-seminar ESRC seminar series: Understanding the Post-Crisis Landscape: Assessing Change in Economic Management, Welfare, Work and Democracy. It highlighted and contested contemporary political economy approaches to macroeconomic management, welfare, work, and democracy, in the light of the global economic crisis - thereby setting the scene for four subsequent seminars to explore each of these themes in more depth. 2015-03-20T10:39:00Z 2015-06-13T19:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/03/assessing-change-in-economic-management-welfare-work-and-democracy.aspx Ghana's democracy is driving great progress in health and education Written by Alina Rocha Menocal, a senior research fellow at the Developmental Leadership Program. Despite weaknesses in accountability, Ghana's newly established political system has overseen dramatic improvements in basic services. 2015-03-19T12:57:00Z 2015-06-13T08:13:00Z http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/mar/18/ghana-democracy-progress-health-education INLOGOV Informs, Issue 7 - Spring 2015 Research, Advice and support, Executive development and Postgraduate programme news from the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham. 2015-03-19T12:14:00Z 2015-06-13T13:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/informs/issue-7.pdf He's back – but the power struggle around Vladimir Putin continues behind the scenes Written by Dr Adrian Campbell. The apparent disappearance of Russian president Vladimir Putin between March 5 and 16 provoked a festival of Kremlinological speculation on a scale not seen since the temporary ousting of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the abortive coup of 1991. 2015-03-19T11:32:00Z 2015-06-13T08:13:00Z http://theconversation.com/hes-back-but-the-power-struggle-around-vladimir-putin-continues-behind-the-scenes-38868 Blog: In Crimea, Time for Pressure By Liana Fix - Associate Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations and Visiting PhD Researcher at the University of Birmingham. Forgetting about Crimea and the fate of the Crimean Tatars means implicitly acknowledging Russia's claim to the region. Instead, the international community must demonstrate to Russia that its arbitrary interpretation of international law regarding Crimea has long-term consequences. We are not yet in a post-Crimea phase. 2015-03-19T11:32:00Z 2015-06-13T23:51:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/in-crimea-time-for-pressure.html Success of Sociology Highlights the Breadth of Expertise in POLSIS Sociology is an integral part of POLSIS and has demonstrated innovation, student engagement and high levels of student satisfaction 2015-03-17T16:58:00Z 2015-06-13T19:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/03/success-sociology.aspx Alumni profile: Following her heart led her to Helping Hands in Cambodia A final year POLSIS lecture sparked Lisa Morris's (BA Political Science and Sociology, 2008) interest in Cambodia and she now spends her days amongst the rice fields and coconut palms managing the NGO Helping Hands Cambodia. 2015-03-17T16:58:00Z 2015-06-13T19:40:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/lisa-morris.aspx 28 PhD theses successfully completed in the past year in POLSIS Twenty eight Doctoral Researchers completed their PhDs during the past year in POLSIS. The theses covered topics in British politics, international studies, security, political economy, political thought and European politics. 2015-03-17T16:28:00Z 2015-06-13T19:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/03/phd-successes.aspx Nemtsov murder: Chechen theories shouldn't take heat off Putin Written by Dr David White. Despite the detention of five suspects, speculation about who is responsible for the brutal assassination of Russia's former deputy prime minister and prominent opposition politician Boris Nemtsov continues unabated. 2015-03-17T09:09:00Z 2015-06-13T23:52:00Z http://theconversation.com/nemtsov-murder-chechen-theories-shouldnt-take-heat-off-putin-38736 DLP Annual Conference 2015: The Politics of Inequality On Thursday 12 February 2015, the Developmental Leadership Program (DLP) held its 2015 Annual Conference on the theme of the politics of inequality, at the University of Birmingham. 2015-03-16T15:49:00Z 2015-06-13T08:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/03/dlp-conference-the-politics-of-inequality.aspx IDD's researchers in 'the field' Academics from IDD are continuing to conduct important research across the globe. Current research focuses on Maoist combatant's transition to becoming civilians or soldiers in Nepal and mapping the personal networks of people working in the fisheries of Lake Victoria to investigate which personal relations influence fishing behaviour and knowledge. 2015-03-16T14:42:00Z 2015-06-13T08:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/03/idds-researchers-in-the-field.aspx Blog: Grubby-handed local politicians? It's called local democracy and devolution, Sarah! Written by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer, INLOGOV. The BBC's Radio 4 Today programme isn't what Americans would call a Hot Talk show, and nicely spoken presenter Sarah Montague, even in her own fantasies, is no shock jock. So listeners must have been slightly surprised to hear her, while questioning the proposed devolution of NHS funding to Greater Manchester's combined authority, talk of "local politicians sticking their grubby hands into the decision-making process". 2015-03-13T14:49:00Z 2015-06-13T13:38:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/03/13/grubby-handed-local-politicians-its-called-local-democracy-and-devolution-sarah/ Prize Winning and Published Undergraduate and MA student in POLSIS One former undergraduate and MA student in POLSIS has not just won prizes, he has also published in a peer review journal before beginning his PhD. 2015-03-13T13:49:00Z 2015-06-13T19:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/03/prize-winning-published-student.aspx Outside Experts Enhance Teaching at Birmingham A former UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU, a recently retired MEP and a current leading official from the European Parliament contribute to the teaching of students in POLSIS. 2015-03-12T16:21:00Z 2015-06-13T19:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/03/outside-experts-enhance-teaching-birmingham.aspx Podcast: Making sense of the Afghan Taliban and why they still matter Nathan Johnson The talk by Michael Semple provided an introduction to the thinking and politics of the Afghan Taliban Movement. It suggested that flawed understanding of the movement by other conflict actors has helped prolong the conflict in Afghanistan. It explored linkages between the Afghan conflict and the broader conflict in the Middle East and South Asia and consider the prospects for conflict transformation in Afghanistan. Michael drew on his experience as a UN and EU official and as a mediator as well as current research. 2015-03-11T10:00:00Z 2015-10-30T11:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/03/making-sense-of-the-afghan-taliban-and-why-they-still-matter.aspx Gender gap shame leaves little to celebrate this International Women's Day Written by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer, INLOGOV. We're celebrating International Women's Day for the 107th time. It has a longer history than is often supposed and, as reflected in its still occasionally used Leninist title – International Working Women's Day – a more socialist one. 2015-03-10T09:36:00Z 2015-06-13T13:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/gender-gap-shame-leaves-little-to-celebrate-this-international-womens-day-38448 IDD Guest seminar podcast: Succeeding to failure: Hybrid organizations and institutional complexity Speaker: Professor Royston Greenwood, University of Alberta. 2015-03-06T15:27:00Z 2015-06-13T08:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/03/hybrid-organizations-and-institutional-complexity.aspx IGS podcast: DEFA's Last Gasp: Melancholy and the End of East German Filmmaking Nathan Johnson Speaker: Nick Hodgin (University of Lancaster) 2015-03-06T15:27:00Z 2015-11-10T16:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/news/2015/03/melancholy-and-the-end-of-east-german-filmmaking.aspx Blog: International Women's Day and Britain's gender gap of shame Written by Chris Game. Sunday sees the 107th celebration of International Women's Day (IWD), and for the 102nd year on March 8. It's a longer history than is often supposed and, reflected in its still occasionally used Leninist title – International Working Women's Day – a more socialist one. 2015-03-06T13:53:00Z 2015-06-13T13:39:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/03/06/international-womens-day-and-britains-gender-gap-of-shame/ POLSIS MA Study tour visit Brussels, January 2015 Every year all MA students based within POLSIS have the opportunity to take part in an study trip to Brussels. This year, Dr Derek Averre led a party of 30 master's students on the Brussels study tour to visit EU institutions and NATO on 18-21 January 2015. 2015-03-06T12:42:00Z 2015-06-13T19:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/02/brussels.aspx IGS podcast: The Germanification of European policy towards Russia: New German Power in the making? Nathan Johnson Speaker: Liana Fix (Justus Liebig University, Giessen) 2015-03-06T11:22:00Z 2015-11-10T16:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/news/2015/03/the-germanification-of-european-policy-towards-russia.aspx Why Iran's Supreme Leader may yet swallow a bitter nuclear deal Written by Professor Scott Lucas. Iran is being pushed to the edge by sanctions over its nuclear programme. Will its dying Supreme Leader cave to the pressure? 2015-03-06T11:15:00Z 2015-06-13T19:51:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-irans-supreme-leader-may-yet-swallow-a-bitter-nuclear-deal-38244 Blog: What is local government for? Written by Howard Elcock. Do we know what local government is for? Is it just a device for providing services to people at the behest of the central government, or does it provide local citizens with a means of making policy choices about what they want their councils to do? 2015-03-05T16:35:00Z 2015-06-13T13:40:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/03/04/what-is-local-government-for/ Blog: Gender & the Research Excellence Framework: An Analysis of the Politics & International Studies Unit of Assessment (I) Written by Dr Fran Amery, Dr Stephen Bates and Professor Steve McKay . Ever wondered about the gendered dimensions of the REF returns and rankings for the Politics & International Studies Unit of Assessment? Well wonder no longer. 2015-03-05T15:39:00Z 2015-06-13T19:43:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/03/03/gender-the-research-excellence-framework-an-analysis-of-the-politics-international-studies-unit-of-assessment-i/ Blog: Gender & the Research Excellence Framework: An Analysis of the Politics & International Studies Unit of Assessment (II) Written by Dr Fran Amery, Dr Stephen Bates and Professor Steve McKay. This is the second of two posts on gender and the Research Excellence Framework (you may also be interested in this post on what titles of outputs submitted to the Politics & International Studies Unit of Assessment tell us about (sub-)disciplinary trends). 2015-03-05T15:39:00Z 2015-06-13T19:43:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/03/05/gender-the-research-excellence-framework-an-analysis-of-the-politics-international-studies-unit-of-assessment-ii/ Blog: A Corpus-Based Analysis of REF Output Titles for Politics and International Studies* Written by Dr Stephen Bates. Have you ever wondered what the titles of outputs submitted to the REF tell us about disciplinary trends, foci and boundaries? Well, thanks to the wonder of corpus linguistics and Laurence Anthony's AntConc, wonder no longer. 2015-03-04T14:56:00Z 2015-06-13T19:40:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/03/03/a-corpus-based-analysis-of-ref-output-titles-for-politics-and-international-studies/ Russia has lost an opposition leader of substance Written by Dr David White. "The key challenge for Russia's broad opposition movement is to maintain consistently high levels of protest by mobilising passive opponents of the regime – not just as a response to specific events and outside of election periods." 2015-03-04T12:32:00Z 2015-06-13T23:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/boris-nemtsov-murder.aspx Iraq government cuts threaten its brightest students abroad Written by Professor Scott Lucas. Iraqis pursuing postgraduate study abroad face a difficult future, after the country's higher education minister signed two measures cutting their stipends by up to 50% and limiting support to three years. 2015-03-04T10:33:00Z 2015-06-13T19:44:00Z http://theconversation.com/iraq-government-cuts-threaten-its-brightest-students-abroad-38187 Netanyahu's address to Congress was more about politics than Iran Written by Dr Asaf Siniver. Until Tuesday, Winston Churchill was the only foreign leader to have addressed the US Congress on three separate occasions. Now Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has joined this very exclusive club. 2015-03-04T10:33:00Z 2015-06-13T19:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/netanyahus-address-to-congress-was-more-about-politics-than-iran-38145 In death, Boris Nemtsov embodies the hope of a better Russia Written by Dr Adrian Campbell. For Russia to make peace with its troubled post-Communist history, it needs a 1990s hero to remember. Boris Nemtsov could be just that. 2015-03-02T17:19:00Z 2015-06-13T08:14:00Z http://theconversation.com/in-death-boris-nemtsov-embodies-the-hope-of-a-better-russia-38242 Blog: The expansion of arms-length government is not necessarily at odds with democratic accountability How democratic is arms-length government? Catherine Durose, Jonathan B. Justice and Chris Skelcher argue that those who consider it to be an undemocratic phenomenon over-simplify, and make the case for assessing the question in a more citizen and community focussed manner. 2015-03-02T16:45:00Z 2015-06-13T13:37:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/03/02/the-expansion-of-arms-length-government-is-not-necessarily-at-odds-with-democratic-accountability/ IDD Guest seminar podcast: Corporate influence on institutional development in an emerging economy: The case of China Speaker: Professor John Child, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. This seminar examines the role of large corporations in shaping institutional development, with particular reference to China. Although institutions are potentially powerful actors in the Chinese business environment, reflecting considerable control by government and Party, there has been scope for non-Chinese corporations to influence the development of their regulations and policies. 2015-02-27T12:20:00Z 2015-06-13T08:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/02/corporate-influence-on-institutional-development-in-an-emerging-economy-china.aspx New World Development article by Fiona Nunan Newly published article in World Development examines how different types of institutions impact on the co-management of fisheries, drawing on research on inland fisheries in East Africa and Malawi. 2015-02-26T15:39:00Z 2015-06-13T08:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/02/new-world-development-article.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Programming the poor for the global market Speaker: Paul Cammack, Professor of Global Political Economy, City University of Hong Kong. 2015-02-26T15:37:00Z 2015-06-13T08:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/02/programming-the-poor-for-the-global-market.aspx Podcast: Trouble in the Neighbourhood? The future of the EU's Eastern Partnership Birmingham Seminar This Birmingham seminar for the Trouble in the Neighbourhood? The future of the EU's Eastern Partnership project, in partnership with the European Commission Representation in the UK and the University of Birmingham, took stock of recent developments in the EU's relationship with the countries in its eastern neighbourhood: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine. 2015-02-26T14:54:00Z 2015-06-13T23:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2015/02/future-of-the-eu-eastern-partnership.aspx IGS podcast: The Greenest Nation on Trial: German Environmentalism in Perspective Nathan Johnson Speakers: Axel Goodbody (University of Bath), Silke Mende (Centre d'Histoire de Sciences Po, Paris), Frank Uekötter (University of Birmingham). 2015-02-26T14:53:00Z 2015-11-10T16:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/news/2015/02/greenest-nation-on-trial.aspx Blog: The future is analogue – confirms local government's Honey Man Written by Chris Game is a Visiting Lecturer at INLOGOV. Of all the reactions to Northamptonshire County Council's controversial 'Next Generation Model' – abandoning service provision in favour of outsourcing everything to 'specialist social enterprises' – few can have been as measured and dispassionate as my colleague Ian Briggs' reflections on the merits or otherwise of Public Interest Companies (PICs). 2015-02-26T11:35:00Z 2015-06-13T13:37:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/02/19/pickles-shock-horror-news-biggest-councils-have-biggest-tax-arrears/ How Israel's military stopped Netanyahu attacking Iran Written by Professor Scott Lucas. A release of top-secret documents indicates that Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has exaggerated – and possibly lied – with his repeated claims that Iran is on the brink of a nuclear bomb. 2015-02-26T09:14:00Z 2015-06-13T19:36:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-israels-military-stopped-netanyahu-attacking-iran-38009 Blog: All eyes on Manchester Written by Catherine Needham, Reader in Public Policy and Public Management at the Health Services Management Centre. If you live in Birmingham, like I do, you could be forgiven for feeling slightly green-eyed at what is going on in Manchester at the moment. After the unprecedented devolution package that the city secured at the end of 2014, it has today been announced that Greater Manchester will be given complete control of its £6 billion NHS budget. 2015-02-26T09:14:00Z 2015-06-13T13:35:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/02/25/all-eyes-on-manchester/ Blog: Getting to Grips with Public Interest Companies Written by ian Briggs. The recent announcement by Northamptonshire County Council heralding a move towards a 'next generation model' where four public interest companies are to be established to deliver front line services and leaving a core client organisation of around 150 employees adds to the growing number of councils (and other parts of the public sector) who are seeking to adopt this model. What is interesting here is that is goes far beyond the tired rhetoric of what is best, direct public provision or privatisation? 2015-02-24T16:27:00Z 2015-06-13T13:36:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/02/23/getting-to-grips-with-public-interest-companies/ New International Development masters degree in Environment, Sustainability and Politics The International Development Department is pleased to announce the launch of a new MSc International Development pathway in Environment, Sustainability and Politics, delivered in conjunction with the Department of Political Science and International Studies. 2015-02-24T13:27:00Z 2015-06-13T08:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/02/new-degree-environment-sustainability-politics.aspx After 75 years, the Dalai Lama is more important than ever Written by Dr Tsering Topgyal. It is three quarters of a century since the Dalai Lama's coronation as the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet. He is now almost 80-years-old and still presents a dilemma for Western leaders, who routinely come under pressure from Beijing not to meet him whenever he visits their countries. 2015-02-24T10:05:00Z 2015-06-13T19:33:00Z http://theconversation.com/after-75-years-the-dalai-lama-is-more-important-than-ever-37499 Moscow holds aces as bombing rattles shaky Ukraine ceasefire Written by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). . Just as the latest peace deal to stabilise Ukraine was being put into place, a bomb exploded in the city of Kharkiv, killing two people and injuring at least ten, while another was found and defused in Odessa. 2015-02-23T14:16:00Z 2015-06-13T19:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/moscow-holds-aces-as-bombing-rattles-shaky-ukraine-ceasefire-37879 Podcast: The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Current Discourses and Future Perspectives This one day conference 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 local and regional actors and the current political and academic discourses on the conflict. 2015-02-20T17:24:00Z 2015-06-13T23:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2015/02/nagorno-karabakh-conflict-event-feb.aspx Blog: Pickles' Shock-horror News: Biggest Councils Have Biggest Tax Arrears Written by Chris Game, Visiting Lecturer at INLOGOV. Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles is famed for his sensitive news antennae. I wonder therefore just what – in a week dominated by revelations of his party's and government's moral flakiness on the whole tax collection business – persuaded those antennae that it would be a good time to attack local authorities' tax collecting record. 2015-02-20T15:07:00Z 2015-06-13T13:36:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/02/19/pickles-shock-horror-news-biggest-councils-have-biggest-tax-arrears/ The Handbook of International Security and Development The handbook is designed to give a comprehensive survey of the state of the art in current thinking on this issue and combines practitioners experiences with academic approaches. The Handbook includes a wide range of contributors, many of whom have links to IDD, such as Honorary Professor, Mark Duffield, and also several members of IDD and UoB staff, including Paul Jackson, Danielle Beswick, Laurence Cooley, Nicolas Lemay-Hebert, Heather Marquette and Rosa Freedman. 2015-02-20T14:38:00Z 2015-06-13T08:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/02/handbook-of-international-security-and-development.aspx Blog: Core Activities: notes from the Core Cities Summit, February 2015 Written by Daniel Goodwin, Associate Fellow of INLOGOV. On the 11th February over 300 people from across the public sector met for the Core Cities Summit in Glasgow. This post summarises the point reached so far and some of the conference's live issues, and suggests three areas for further consideration: how to involve MPs and MSPs more fully, engaging communities in the debate and considering what kind of country the UK should become. 2015-02-20T13:46:00Z 2015-06-13T13:36:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/02/13/core-activities-notes-from-the-core-cities-summit-february-2015/ The Soviet Union is dead! Long live the Russian economic union Written by Dr Richard Connolly. Plummeting oil prices, conflict over Ukraine and the West's imposition of sanctions have contrived to send the Russian economy into a tailspin. But it is not just Russia that is suffering – the economic downturn is having a ripple effect well beyond its borders. 2015-02-17T09:56:00Z 2015-06-13T23:50:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-soviet-union-is-dead-long-live-the-russian-economic-union-37678 Labour talks tough on banking reform, but little will change Written by Dr Huw Macartney. Given the scandals, bonus increases and plummeting lending to small and medium-sized British businesses, reform of the banking system is likely to be a hot topic in the run-up to the general election. It is not surprising then that Labour has launched its plan on banking reform, which proposes measures to improve competition within the banking sector, lending to smaller businesses, and the culture of banking itself. 2015-02-17T09:56:00Z 2015-06-13T19:37:00Z http://theconversation.com/labour-talks-tough-on-banking-reform-but-little-will-change-37674 POLSIS Seminar on Greek Elections Highlights Expertise in POLSIS A Special POLSIS Departmental Seminar Showcases the expertise of two new members of staff. 2015-02-13T16:40:00Z 2015-06-13T19:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/02/greek-elections-seminar.aspx Ukraine ceasefire announced at Minsk summit – what next? Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. After all night talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk, the outcomes of the four party talks in the so-called Normandy format (Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany) have neither brought a major breakthrough or a complete disaster. As a deal, it is not a solution, but perhaps a step towards one. 2015-02-13T10:00:00Z 2015-06-13T19:39:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-ceasefire-announced-at-minsk-summit-what-next-37532 The international media is failing to report the Syrian war properly Written by Professor Scott Lucas. February 2015 has already seen some major developments in Syria's four-year conflict. At the start of February, rebels launched more than 100 rockets into Damascus and the Assad regime fired mortars on areas of its own capital, hoping to discredit the insurgents. At least six people were killed in the attacks. 2015-02-10T10:31:00Z 2015-06-13T19:36:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-international-media-is-failing-to-report-the-syrian-war-properly-37290 Why peace in Ukraine won't save the Russian economy Written by Dr Richard Connolly. Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande's push for peace in Moscow has helped fuel optimism about the prospects for Russia's spluttering economy. On the morning of the meeting, the rouble had strengthened against the dollar and the euro, and both the dollar and rouble-based sections of the Russian stock exchange saw sharp gains. Unfortunately for those in the Kremlin, however, Russia's economic woes are so deep-rooted that peace in Ukraine is likely to offer only temporary respite at best. 2015-02-09T09:40:00Z 2015-06-13T23:51:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-peace-in-ukraine-wont-save-the-russian-economy-37302 Greek Election 2015 Dr George Kyris and Dr Sotirios Zartaloudis reflect on Syriza's victory in the Greek election and discuss what it might mean for the rest of Europe. 2015-02-05T17:55:00Z 2015-06-13T19:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/greece-election.aspx The cyber threat to the United Kingdom Written by Gavin E L Hall (Doctoral Researcher in POLSIS). When the new government takes office in May 2015 one of the first tasks will be to initiate a Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). 2015-02-05T17:38:00Z 2015-06-13T19:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/02/cyber-threat-uk-05-02-15.aspx Podcast: The Greek Elections: Results and Implications The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speakers: George Kyris and Sotirios Zartaloudis (POLSIS) 2015-02-05T16:02:00Z 2015-06-13T19:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/02/greek-elections.aspx As its power grows, is the ECB overstepping its mandate? Written by Dr Nicole Scicluna. The European Central Bank (ECB) symbolises the strange mix of politics and technocracy that marks EU governance. The bank was pushed to centre stage by the eurozone debt crisis and the unwillingness or inability of Europe's national governments to come up with timely solutions. Its rise as a political actor started while it was led by Jean-Claude Trichet, but it has become much clearer under his successor, Mario Draghi. 2015-02-05T15:42:00Z 2015-06-13T19:37:00Z http://theconversation.com/as-its-power-grows-is-the-ecb-overstepping-its-mandate-36997 Ed Balls pledges £30 billion to English regions – and that's not all Written by Chris Game. Two noteworthy things happened in Milton Keynes on Monday morning. Ed Miliband chaired the first meeting of Labour's English Regional Shadow Cabinet – comprising mainly leaders of councils and combined authorities. And, as a curtain-raiser, shadow Chancellor Ed Balls announced that, if Labour forms the next government, it will transfer £30 billion-worth of funding for housing, transport, business support, employment and skills training to England's regions. 2015-02-05T15:42:00Z 2015-06-13T13:35:00Z http://theconversation.com/ed-balls-pledges-30-billion-to-english-regions-and-thats-not-all-37138 International court upholds Srebrenica massacre verdicts Written by Louis Monroy Santander. In 1995 the Bosnian Serb army killed more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in what was known as the Srebrenica massacre. And after nearly 20 years and a ten-year legal battle, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has upheld its guilty verdicts against five of the men involved, confirming sentences of between 18 years and life for what has been judged to be a crime against humanity involving genocide. 2015-02-05T10:45:00Z 2015-06-13T08:09:00Z http://theconversation.com/international-court-upholds-srebrenica-massacre-verdicts-37003 Prime Evil: why South Africa is releasing Eugene De Kock Written by Professor Paul Jackson. The release of Eugene de Kock, former commander of the notorious Vlakplaas counterinsurgency unit responsible for numerous clandestine assassinations in apartheid South Africa, raises a number of critical issues with respect to justice in societies in transition. 2015-02-04T13:33:00Z 2015-06-13T08:11:00Z http://theconversation.com/prime-evil-why-south-africa-is-releasing-eugene-de-kock-37007 Blog: International court upholds Srebrenica massacre verdicts Written by Louis Monroy Santander, PhD student in IDD, focusing on issues of reconciliation, post-conflict peace-building and social reconstruction in the Western Balkans (Bosnia and Kosovo). 2015-02-02T13:02:00Z 2015-06-13T08:05:00Z https://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/international-court-upholds-srebrenica-massacre-verdicts/ How stable is Saudi monarchy after King Abdullah's death? Written by Professor Scott Lucas. On 23 January, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah died at the age of 90 and was succeeded by his half-brother Salman, 79, one of the last sons of Saudi Arabia's founder Ibn Saud. The regime is keeping a watchful eye on dissent, including in the mainly Shia Eastern Province, and on internal security amid concerns over returning fighters from conflicts such as the Syrian crisis. 2015-01-30T12:11:00Z 2015-06-13T19:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/01/how-stable-is-saudi-monarchy-29-01-15.aspx Podcast: EU as an international security actor The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: Adrian Hyde-Price (Gothenburg), Discussant: Derek Averre (POLSIS/CREES). 2015-01-30T11:37:00Z 2015-06-13T19:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/01/eu-as-an-international-security-actor.aspx Podcast: International Relations: All That Matters Nathan Johnson The talk introduced Professor Ken Booth's latest book, which seeks to provide an accessible but sophisticated understanding of international relations for those with no specialised knowledge of the field (which is almost everybody in the world). 2015-01-30T09:59:00Z 2015-10-30T11:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/01/international-relations-all-that-matters.aspx Lebanon is cracking under the pressure from Syria and Iraq Written by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Lebanon has always been a complicated jigsaw, but despite years of war, regional conflict, and meddling in its affairs, it has displayed a tremendous ability to absorb tension. But the threads that hold this fragile country together are rapidly starting to fray. 2015-01-28T10:50:00Z 2015-06-13T19:29:00Z http://theconversation.com/lebanon-is-cracking-under-the-pressure-from-syria-and-iraq-36167 Putin's plan to fight recession in Russia also increases Kremlin's control of the economy Written by Dr Richard Connolly. The Russian rouble started 2015 in much the same way it finished 2014: badly. After losing nearly 50% of its dollar value between July and the end of the year, the rouble lost a further 7% in January. The primary cause of this continued decline is the falling price of oil: Brent crude has dropped from US$53 dollars per barrel at year end to just under US$48 per barrel, a decline of nearly 10% for the year so far. 2015-01-26T10:34:00Z 2015-06-13T23:48:00Z http://theconversation.com/putins-plan-to-fight-recession-in-russia-also-increases-kremlins-control-of-the-economy-36655 Ukraine sliding towards all-out war despite mediation efforts Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Over the past few days, Ukraine has taken a significant turn for the worse. Fighting between rebels and government forces has intensified, the civilian death toll has increased, and the war of words between Ukraine and Russia has further escalated. 2015-01-26T10:24:00Z 2015-06-13T19:32:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-sliding-towards-all-out-war-despite-mediation-efforts-36608 Why the fight against Islamic State is not the success we're told it is Written by Professor Scott Lucas. Ministers from 21 countries gathered in London on January 22 to discuss the fight against Islamic State (IS). They had their photo opportunity and issued their statements. US secretary of state, John Kerry, told them that almost 6,000 jihadists had been killed, and almost 700 square kilometres of Iraqi territory retaken. 2015-01-26T10:23:00Z 2015-06-13T19:32:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-the-fight-against-islamic-state-is-not-the-success-were-told-it-is-36619 Blog: Shuffling the decks: quick fixes versus long-term stability Development Progress Blog. Ahead of the launch of our case studies on security progress in Liberia and Timor-Leste, Suda Perera writes on the risk that 'quick fixes' to violent conflict pose to development in the long-term. Taking the example of the Democratic Republic of Congo, she outlines the pitfalls of empowering warring parties and the challenging reality that good elections do not necessarily result in good democracy. 2015-01-23T16:55:00Z 2015-06-13T08:08:00Z http://www.developmentprogress.org/blog/2015/01/22/shuffling-decks-quick-fixes-versus-long-term-stability Oil crisis: can short-term pain lead to economic gain for Russia? Written by Dr Richard Connolly. The recent crash in oil prices is causing much anxiety in oil-producing states. From Iran to Venezuela, many have come to rely on elevated oil prices to fuel economic growth and support government spending. 2015-01-23T16:55:00Z 2015-06-13T19:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/01/oil-crisis-22-01-15.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Local governance in the Commonwealth: Existing practices and emerging trends Speaker: Munawwar Alam, Commonwealth Local Government Forum 2015-01-23T15:57:00Z 2015-06-13T08:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/01/local-governance-commonwealth.aspx Podcast: Ethnic minority political representation in Britain: the end of the Race Relations Paradigm? The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: Maria Sobolewska (Manchester), Respondant: Dr Chris Allen (University of Birmingham. 2015-01-22T11:44:00Z 2015-06-13T19:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/01/ethnic-minority-political-representation-in-britain.aspx Blog: Do Local Authorities Really Want Sustainable Construction Powers? Written by Max Lempriere, Third year PhD student in POLSIS. National planning policy and building regulations have undergone considerable reform in recent years. The latest incarnation is embodied in the Housing Standards Review, (HSR) published in 2014. The HSR sought to consolidate the plethora of standards into national building regulations whilst making it harder to local authorities (LAs) to introduce standards that supplement these national regulations in response to local needs or priorities. One area where local powers have been significantly curtailed by the HSR is in the sustainability and energy efficiency of homes. 2015-01-21T14:53:00Z 2015-06-13T19:26:00Z http://polsis.org/2015/01/20/do-local-authorities-really-want-sustainable-construction-powers/ Blog: The fairness (or otherwise) of the 2015-16 local government finance settlement Written by Chris Game. In choosing to announce the 2015-16 local government finance settlement just eight days before Christmas, ministers presumably hoped – as, indeed, I'd expected – that the argument about the presentation of funding and spending cut statistics for local authorities, both collectively and individually, would have died away by mid-January. However, it hasn't, which is why I too am returning to the topic, which had its importance re-emphasised several times over the past week. 2015-01-21T14:39:00Z 2015-06-13T13:33:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/01/21/the-fairness-or-otherwise-of-the-2015-16-local-government-finance-settlement/ Podcast: Trust, technology and salvation: An investigation of President Reagan's nuclear speech Laura Considine is a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Leeds. She received her PhD in International Politics from Aberystwyth University in 2014 and was a John W. Kluge Fellow at the Library of Congress in Washington DC in 2011. 2015-01-21T10:20:00Z 2015-06-13T19:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/01/investigation-of-president-reagans-nuclear-speech.aspx Podcast: Trust, technology and salvation: An investigation of President Reagan's nuclear speech Laura Considine is a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Leeds. She received her PhD in International Politics from Aberystwyth University in 2014 and was a John W. Kluge Fellow at the Library of Congress in Washington DC in 2011. 2015-01-21T10:20:00Z 2015-06-07T16:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2015/01/investigation-of-president-reagans-nuclear-speech.aspx The arrival (and departure) of the parliamentary single-termers Written by Chris Game. Chris reflects on those MPs leaving the Commons, adding to the standard categories of Seniority, Sin, or Stash. 2015-01-20T11:55:00Z 2015-06-13T13:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/parliamentary-single-termers-game.aspx Obama's National Security Strategy: Predicting US Policy in the Context of Changing Worldviews While the National Security Strategy (NSS) is a good predictor of an administration's policy, its declared strategic priorities are necessarily tempered by external reality, writes Dr Adam Quinn in a recent paper published by Chatam House. 2015-01-20T11:40:00Z 2015-06-13T19:30:00Z http://www.chathamhouse.org/publication/obamas-national-security-strategy-predicting-us-policy-context-changing-worldviews Is Chechnya facing wave of jihadist violence? On 19 December 2014 BBC Europe News published an article by Dr Galina Yemelianova on recent Chechen bombing. 2015-01-20T11:16:00Z 2015-06-13T23:47:00Z http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/30476381 Blog: Playwright, Prisoner and President: the Life of Vaclav Havel Written by Dr Tim Haughton, A review of Michael Zantovsky, Havel: a Life, London: Atlantic Books (2014). You only really appreciate someone when they have left. The death of Vaclav Havel in December 2011 provoked a week of mourning, warm and generous words from his political foes, and for many 'perhaps a rediscovery' of the man who had played so many different roles in his life: playwright, political prisoner and president (p. 14). 2015-01-20T11:16:00Z 2015-06-13T23:49:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/playwright-prisoner-and-president-life.html At last, a show of force tips odds against Boko Haram Written by Professor Paul Jackson. Suspected Boko Haram militants have attacked Northern Cameroon in another escalation of their now regional war against Nigeria, Cameron, Chad and Niger. In a cross-border attack, the militants kidnapped around 80 people. 2015-01-20T10:06:00Z 2015-06-13T08:05:00Z http://theconversation.com/at-last-a-show-of-force-tips-odds-against-boko-haram-36448 Research video: Dr Tim Haughton Dr Tim Haughton is a political scientist with a particular interest in electoral and party politics, the relationship between politics and government, the interaction between domestic and European sources of change, the relationship between Britain and the EU, the role of the past in the politics of the present and the domestic politics of Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. 2015-01-19T17:15:00Z 2015-06-13T19:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/01/research-video-tim-haughton.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: The world of our unmaking: Rethinking peacebuilding intentions, events and consequences Speaker: Dr. Gëzim Visoka, Dublin City University 2015-01-19T12:19:00Z 2015-06-13T08:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/01/rethinking-peacebuilding.aspx Blog: Do Local Authorities Really Want Sustainable Construction Powers? Written by Max Lempriere. When it comes to setting sustainable construction standards new research reveals English local authorities favour national regulation over local powers. 2015-01-19T09:53:00Z 2015-06-13T13:33:00Z http://inlogov.com/2015/01/19/sustainable-construction-powers/ The arrival (and departure) of the parliamentary single-termers Written by Chris Game. All university admissions tutors know about single-termers. They are those students – some badly advised and intellectually bewildered, others more devious – who decide around mid-November that they want to change degrees, study elsewhere or just drop out. They're a pain, but higher education is a complex world and, after all, they are young. MPs, you might suppose, would be different. But in this parliament anyway, you'd be dead wrong. 2015-01-19T09:52:00Z 2015-06-13T13:34:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-arrival-and-departure-of-the-parliamentary-single-termers-36374 Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch adds Paris attacks to list of successes Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. Al-Qaeda's most active and notorious branch – the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) – has claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris. While some questions remain about the full credibility of the claim, it is not entirely implausible: it's been established that some of the attackers had been trained in Yemen, and at least one of them had met AQAP's former chief ideologue, Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born jihadist killed in a US drone strike in 2011. 2015-01-19T09:32:00Z 2015-06-13T19:25:00Z http://theconversation.com/al-qaedas-yemen-branch-adds-paris-attacks-to-list-of-successes-36308 New book chapter: contribution to 'The Politics of Inclusive Development' Senior researcher Claire Mcloughlin is one of the contributors to 'The Politics of Inclusive Development', published this month by OUP. The book is dedicated to the memory of the late Adrian Leftwich, DLP's founding Director of Research. 2015-01-15T17:16:00Z 2015-06-13T08:06:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news/new-book-chapter-contribution-to-the-politics-of-inclusive-development.php Ukraine steels for more unrest as Donetsk bus attack kills 12 Written by Professor Stefan Wolff. The deadly attack on a bus carrying civilians near Donetsk, killing at least 12 of them and wounding many more, comes in the wake of yet another round of failed talks among the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France. It also follows a pattern of persistent violence between rebels and government forces that has made a mockery of a ceasefire agreement brokered between the two sides back in September 2014. 2015-01-15T09:26:00Z 2015-06-13T19:26:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-steels-for-more-unrest-as-donetsk-bus-attack-kills-12-36266 New book chapter: contribution to the 'Routledge Handbook of Political Corruption Madame System Administrator The newly-published 'Routledge Handbook of Political Corruption' includes a contribution from DLP Director Heather Marquette in its section on new directions emerging in corruption research. 2015-01-13T17:06:00Z 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news/new-book-chapter-contribution-to-the-routledge-handbook-of-political-corruption.php Blog: New ways of working for district councils Written by Anthony Mason. My primary school history teacher always taught that the shires of England were mapped out by Alfred the Great. For me, that story was confirmed by an illustration in my treasured Ladybird book on the great man (Alfred – not the teacher) that shows four burly Saxons knocking in a waymark post as they lay out the boundary pattern. I still have that book. I later learned that while the reality was much more complicated, it is essentially true that much of our shire county structure would be familiar to a returning Anglo Saxon – even if not much else would be. 2014-12-19T16:21:00Z 2015-06-13T13:31:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/12/18/newwaysofworkingfordistrictcouncils/ Putin meets the press – as state takes tighter grip of economy Written by Dr Richard Connolly. Vladimir Putin has delivered his annual press conference and at the top of the agenda was the Russian economy, reflecting that the turmoil buffeting the Russian rouble has reached critical levels. 2014-12-18T16:34:00Z 2015-06-13T23:45:00Z http://theconversation.com/putin-meets-the-press-as-state-takes-tighter-grip-of-economy-35680 Blog: Typhoon Haiyan One Year On: Reflections on Disability Research in the Philippines Written by David Cobley. Super Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda), the strongest typhoon on record ever to make landfall, ripped across the heavily-populated central Philippine provinces on 8th November 2013, leaving a trail of death, devastation and shattered lives in its wake. One year on, at the time of my visit to the Philippines, many people were still struggling to cope with the catastrophic consequences of Haiyan. 2014-12-18T16:19:00Z 2015-06-13T08:04:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/typhoon-haiyan-one-year-on-reflections-on-disability-research-in-the-philippines/ Huge Russian rate hike plays roulette with the economy 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 2015-06-13T23:45:00Z http://theconversation.com/huge-russian-rate-hike-plays-roulette-with-the-economy-35568 Blog: The journey to the common: what is the role of the voluntary sector? 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 2015-06-13T13:31:00Z 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 Speaker: Randall Hansen (University of Toronto). 2014-12-11T14:33:00Z 2015-06-13T19:22:00Z 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 Speaker: Willy McCourt, Senior Public Sector Specialist, The World Bank. 2014-12-11T14:12:00Z 2015-06-13T08:03:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:23:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/12/ethics-in-syria.aspx Podcast: Ethics in Syria: Analysing the International Response 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 2015-06-07T16:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/12/ethics-in-syria.aspx Russia's economy is failing, but that gives it a chance to reform 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 2015-06-13T23:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/russias-economy-is-failing-but-that-gives-it-a-chance-to-reform-35215 Blog: The LGC100: what it does and doesn't measure 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 2015-06-13T13:32:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/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 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 2015-06-13T08:04:00Z 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? Speaker: Dr Nadia Molenaers, Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Antwerp. 2014-12-05T10:39:00Z 2015-06-13T08:05:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:23:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/12/focus-on-the-caucasus.aspx Moldova's future in the balance after uncertain election result 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 2015-06-13T19:23:00Z http://theconversation.com/moldovas-future-in-the-balance-after-uncertain-election-result-34895 IGS podcast: The Dark Side of EU-rope: Imperium Europaeum? Speakers: David Engels (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Hauke Brunkhorst (University of Flensburg). .Chair: Julian Pänke (IGS) 2014-12-02T12:30:00Z 2015-06-13T19:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/12/the-dark-side-of-eu-rope.aspx Blog: The future is Intercommunality – yes, but with whom? 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 2015-06-13T13:32:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/12/01/the-future-is-intercommunality-yes-but-with-whom/ POLSIS Seminar Series Discusses Major Topical Issues 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 2015-06-13T19:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/polsis-seminar-series.aspx Podcast: The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: The Uses and Misuses of History 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 2015-06-13T23:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/11/nagorno-karabakh-conflict.aspx Iran nuclear deal will come down to economic pressure 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 2015-06-13T19:17:00Z http://theconversation.com/iran-nuclear-deal-will-come-down-to-economic-pressure-34668 Course on corruption from the grassroots 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 2015-06-13T08:00:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news/course-on-corruption-from-the-grassroots.php Podcast: NATO after the Wales Summit 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. 2014-11-26T14:29:00Z 2015-06-07T16:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/nato-after-the-wales-summit.aspx Podcast: Reflections On UK Africa Relations by Mark Simmonds MP 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 2015-06-13T08:01:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:18:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T08:02:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news/parliamentary-strengthening-fix-the-car-or-worry-about-the-driver.php Blog: Ebola - where are the governments? 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 2015-06-13T08:00:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/ebola-where-are-the-governments/ Tower Hamlets residents must be wondering why they bothered to vote 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 2015-06-13T13:28:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:28:00Z http://bit.ly/1yKtNgM Blog: Pickles' Tower Hamlets takeover: a sad affair all round 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 2015-06-13T13:27:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:17:00Z 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 Speaker: Carl Death, University of Manchester. 2014-11-20T14:28:00Z 2015-06-13T08:01:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/11/russia-west-since-1991.aspx Podcast: Russia and the West since 1991: a tale of growing distrust 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 2015-06-07T16:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/11/russia-west-since-1991.aspx Abe can win Japan's snap election but he needs to win big 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 2015-06-13T19:15:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:43:00Z 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 The 2015 Developmental Leadership Program Annual Conference will bring together the latest thinking on the politics of inequality. 2014-11-17T12:01:00Z 2015-06-13T07:59:00Z http://www.dlprog.org/news/call-for-papers-dlp-conference-on-the-politics-of-inequality.php Deciphering Obama's letter to the Supreme Leader 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 2015-06-13T19:18:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/velvet-revolution.aspx Creating tomorrow's leading social scientists 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 2015-06-14T05:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/dr-fees/esrc/index.aspx Hezbollah and the West unite to fight IS? Don't hold your breath 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 2015-06-13T19:16:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T13:29:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T08:01:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:21:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/govsoc/modules/year-one/end-empire.aspx Undergraduate module: International Security - Professor Stefan Wolff 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 2015-06-13T19:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/govsoc/modules/year-two/international-security.aspx The big winner of the congressional elections is... Hillary Clinton 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 2015-06-13T19:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/hillary-clinton.aspx Researchers contribute to Guardian debate on fragile states 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 2015-06-13T08:02:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:22:00Z http://theconversation.com/in-ukraine-the-start-of-a-new-cold-war-that-russia-cant-win-33988 Research project: Do flexible institutions enhance democracy? A comparative analysis of public governance innovations in Brazil and the UK (Jul 2014 - Jul 2016) 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 2015-06-13T13:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/research/projects/2014/do-flexible-institutions-enhance-democracy.aspx Research project: Network governance and low carbon transitions in European cities (Nov 2014 - Oct 2017) 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 2015-06-13T13:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/research/projects/2014/network-governance-low-carbon-transitions-european-cities.aspx Podcast: Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries Lecture Speaker: Ms. Donna Guest, Senior Advisor on Southeast Asia at Institute for Human Rights and Business 2014-11-07T13:57:00Z 2015-06-13T07:59:00Z 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 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. 2014-11-07T10:29:00Z 2015-06-07T16:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/robert-keohane.aspx Robert Keohane delivers lecture at the University of Birmingham 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 2015-06-13T19:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/robert-keohane.aspx Recent PhD Success Highlights Strength of POLSIS Doctoral Research Sixteen doctoral students gained a PhD in the past year in POLSIS. 2014-11-03T14:38:00Z 2015-06-13T19:19:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:25:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:12:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/jerusalem-israeli-settlements.aspx Blog: Achieving better outcomes for the troubled family of local government 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 2015-06-13T13:22:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/10/hobbes-dilemma-liberal-quest-world-order.aspx Podcast: Hobbes's Dilemma and the Liberal Quest for World Order 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 2015-06-07T16:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/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 Madame System Administrator Speaker: Catherine Dom, Mokoro Ltd, WIDE Research Team. 2014-10-28T15:11:00Z 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:25:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/28/preaching-to-the-choir-reflections-on-key-leadership-skills-for-local-authority-chief-executives-part-2-charm/ Pro-Western bloc set for majority in elections that expose deep divisions in Ukraine 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 2015-06-13T19:13:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:24:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/10/27/postcard-from-tokyo-local-government-remorse-japanese-style/ Assessing the State of the EU Dr Tim Haughton participated in a panel in Brussels discussing the past, present and future of European integration. 2014-10-24T13:12:00Z 2015-06-13T19:06:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:09:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:25:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:58:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/japan-ministerial-scandal.aspx Japan's Shinzo Abe will struggle to recover from ministerial scandal 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 2015-06-13T19:11:00Z http://theconversation.com/japans-shinzo-abe-will-struggle-to-recover-from-ministerial-scandal-33272 Ukraine steels itself for winter as Novorossiya forges ahead 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 2015-06-13T19:14:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-steels-itself-for-winter-as-novorossiya-forges-ahead-33151 POLSIS Welcomes New Members of Staff New Members of Staff in POLSIS Strengthen Coverage of European politics, international political economy and international relations. 2014-10-20T10:12:00Z 2015-06-13T19:13:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:06:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/courses/masters/fees-funding.aspx ICCS Seminar Series 2014/15 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 2015-06-13T19:10:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/events/seminar-series/index.aspx International Development Forum, Autumn 2014 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 2015-06-13T07:58:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/10/the-responsibility-to-protect.aspx Podcast: "The Responsibility to Protect" and the Unreasonable Veto 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 2015-06-07T16:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/10/the-responsibility-to-protect.aspx Birmingham Sociologist Invited to Keynote Lecture at the Ikon Gallery 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 2015-06-13T19:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/wil-leggett-keynote-lecture-ikon.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Hearing Local Voices in Peacebuilding Speaker: Dr David Roberts, Loughborough University. 2014-10-10T12:27:00Z 2015-06-13T07:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/10/hearing-local-voices-peacebuilding.aspx 2 Funded PhD Studentships in International Relations and Psychology The Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) invites applications for two 3-year studentships to undertake a PhD within the area of International Relations and Psychology. 2014-10-08T14:48:00Z 2015-06-07T16:41:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/10/funded-phd-studentship-international-relations-psychology.aspx China-India border tension risks escalating into more intense conflict 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 2015-06-13T19:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/china-india.aspx Blog: Can smart maps improve local government? 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 2015-06-13T13:23:00Z 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! 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 2015-06-13T13:23:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:22:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T19:06:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:26:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-brooks-newmark-is-a-twit-but-not-a-knit-wit-32291 CREES academic delivers talk at book launch 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 2015-06-13T19:08:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T13:19:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T13:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/research/projects/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) 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 2015-06-13T13:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/research/projects/2014/translation-across-borders.aspx Blog: Local government - more appreciated than it often thinks 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 2015-06-13T13:20:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:01:00Z http://theconversation.com/china-and-indias-border-dispute-rises-to-dangerous-new-heights-32125 EU pragmatism has rewarded Russia's brazen trade bullying 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 2015-06-13T23:41:00Z http://theconversation.com/eu-pragmatism-has-rewarded-russias-brazen-trade-bullying-32050 IDD Guest Seminar Series 2014-15 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 2015-06-13T07:56:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:02:00Z http://bit.ly/1rxLX3B Blog: What skills does a 21st Century fire service need? 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 2015-06-13T13:22:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:18:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:04:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:17:00Z http://theconversation.com/ban-pre-election-opinion-polls-at-your-peril-31762 Podcast: The Security Impact of Drone Warfare 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. 2014-09-18T11:11:00Z 2015-06-07T16:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/09/security-impact-of-drone-warfare.aspx Scotland vote appears to be defying usual referendum swing 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 2015-06-13T13:21:00Z http://theconversation.com/scotland-vote-appears-to-be-defying-usual-referendum-swing-31490 New students 2014/15 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 2015-06-14T05:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/welcome/index.aspx Podcast: The Security Impact of Drone Warfare 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 2015-06-13T19:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/09/security-impact-of-drone-warfare.aspx POLSIS Seminar Series 2014-15 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 2015-06-13T19:03:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/courses/undergraduate/year-abroad.aspx Recent publications and conference presentations demonstrate the strength of research in POLSIS 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 2015-06-13T19:03:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:01:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:19:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:05:00Z http://theconversation.com/why-fools-rush-in-is-obamas-watchword-in-iraq-and-syria-31267 Student Enhancement Fund profiles 2014 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 2015-06-14T05:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/funding/student-enhancement-fund.aspx Tomislav Korman, SIPRI International Development Conference, Stockholm (March 2014) 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 2015-06-13T07:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/idd/2013-14/tomislav-korman-se-report.aspx Patrick Pitts, Internship at the US Congress, Washington, D.C. (Summer 2014) 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 2015-06-13T19:02:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/patrick-pitts-internship.aspx NATO Must Look Forward to the Past 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 2015-06-13T19:02:00Z https://ip-journal.dgap.org/en/ip-journal/topics/nato-must-look-forward-past Forgotten South Sudan tangled in factionalism and failed politics 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 2015-06-13T07:55:00Z http://theconversation.com/forgotten-south-sudan-tangled-in-factionalism-and-failed-politics-30994 Blog: Councils should have the power NOT to tax supermarkets 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 2015-06-13T13:18:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:16:00Z http://theconversation.com/douglas-carswell-by-election-is-a-rare-and-honourable-event-31060 Nationalism sparks a summer of deadly violence in the Caucasus 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 2015-06-13T23:40:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T13:16:00Z http://theconversation.com/if-lauding-thatcher-was-cause-to-recall-parliament-why-not-iraq-30697 Creating Change, Expanding Opportunity - IDD Annual Report 2013-14 Welcome to a special anniversary Annual Report. Browse an overview of IDD's recent research, teaching, consultancy and publications. 2014-08-21T15:14:00Z 2015-06-13T07:55:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:59:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T19:00:00Z 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 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 2015-06-14T05:15:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-15T15:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/modules/global-cooperation-in-practice.aspx Research video: Dr Stephen Jeffares - #Hashtag Politics Dr Stephen Jeffares talks about his current research on Hashtag Politics. 2014-08-18T12:08:00Z 2015-06-13T12:55:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:59:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:39:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/on-reporting-nagorno-karabakh-conflict.html Is Boris Johnson a sop to the Tories' UKIP tendency? 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 2015-06-13T19:00:00Z http://theconversation.com/is-boris-johnson-a-sop-to-the-tories-ukip-tendency-30279 The secret economic slowdown behind Putin's strategy for Russia 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 2015-06-13T23:40:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:59:00Z 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 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 2015-06-14T05:16:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/07/aspa-roundtable.aspx INLOGOV Summer Symposium 2014 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 2015-06-13T13:15:00Z 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-) 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 2015-06-13T07:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/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 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 2015-06-13T18:56:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:55:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:56:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:38:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/predictably-unpredictable-2014.html School of Government and Society hosts Foreign Office Seminar on EU Enlargement 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 2015-06-14T05:06:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/tim-haughton.aspx Dr Tim Haughton hands over the Directorship of CREES to Dr Richard Connolly and Dr Jeremy Morris 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 2015-06-13T23:37:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/07/new-crees-directors.aspx The Conversation: How harsher sanctions could help Putin turn Russia back into the Soviet Union 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 2015-06-13T23:37:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-harsher-sanctions-could-help-putin-turn-russia-back-into-the-soviet-union-29615 IGS podcast: From Wars of Liberation to Star Wars: Friedrich Schiller's Pop Culture Legacy 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 2015-06-13T18:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/07/from-wars-liberation-to-star-wars.aspx IGS podcast: Ethics and the Holocaust 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 2015-06-13T18:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/07/ethics-holocaust.aspx Flight MH17 and Russia's 'little green men' 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 2015-06-13T23:38:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T18:57:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:28:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:14:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/07/21/from-repression-to-co-production/ Blog: Masters students on Kenya study tour 2014 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 2015-06-13T07:54:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/masters-students-on-kenya-study-tour-2014/ The Conversation: How far were Russia's 'little green men' involved in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17? 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 2015-06-13T23:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-far-were-russias-little-green-men-involved-in-the-downing-of-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-29422 The Israeli-Palestinian crisis: A distressing déjà vu 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 2015-06-13T18:55:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/07/israeli-palestinian-crisis.aspx The Conversation: The BRICS plan for a new world order begins with a bank 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 2015-06-13T18:53:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-brics-plan-for-a-new-world-order-begins-with-a-bank-29251 The Conversation: Thaw in UK-Iran relations will depend on Rouhani's actions, not his words, say MPs 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 2015-06-13T18:58:00Z http://theconversation.com/thaw-in-uk-iran-relations-will-depend-on-rouhanis-actions-not-his-words-say-mps-29111 Blog: A view from Barnet's Chris Naylor: how the class of 2014 are responding to perma-austerity 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 2015-06-13T13:14:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/07/15/a-view-from-barnets-chris-naylor-how-the-class-of-2014-are-responding-to-perma-austerity/ INLOGOV MSc brochure 2014 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 2015-06-13T13:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/degrees/inlogov-pg-courses.pdf Blog: How can the 21st century public servant survive an era of perma-austerity? 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 2015-06-13T13:13:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:12:00Z http://inlogov.com/2014/07/08/21st-century-public-servant-the-discussion-phase/ A rigorous review of the role and impact of private schools in developing countries 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 2015-06-13T07:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/07/private-schools-developing-countries.aspx INLOGOV briefing paper: What happened to the NOC councils after May 2014? 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 2015-06-13T13:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/2014-local-election-results.pdf Blog: What happened to the NOC councils after the May elections: a moan and a puff 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 2015-06-13T13:09:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:52:00Z 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' 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 2015-06-13T13:10:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:52:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:11:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/strengthening-democracy-and-participation-routes-to-re-connection-and-engagement-a-provocation/ Blog: Re-valuing The Public 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 2015-06-13T13:10:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:47:00Z 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 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 2015-06-14T05:05:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/06/iccs-funded-phd-studentship.aspx Funded PhD Studentship: Social Neuroscience and Security The Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) invites applications for a 3-year studentship to undertake a PhD within the area of Social Neuroscience and Security. 2014-06-19T17:26:00Z 2015-06-07T16:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/06/funded-phd-studentship-social-neuroscience-and-security.aspx Research profile: Dr Huw Macartney 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 2015-06-13T18:51:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:51:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:48:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:50:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:51:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:53:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:52:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/06/annual-conference.aspx The Conversation: Bush's folly has left Obama out of options as ISIS surges in Iraq 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 2015-06-13T18:48:00Z http://theconversation.com/bushs-folly-has-left-obama-out-of-options-as-isis-surges-in-iraq-27949 Blog: Building communities to bridge the gap 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 2015-06-13T13:08:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/12/building-communities-to-bridge-the-gap/ Blog: Democracy in The Circle: a route to reconnection and engagement? 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 2015-06-13T13:08:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/democracy-in-the-circle/ Blog: Towards a people-centred language of demand management 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 2015-06-13T13:09:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/people-centred-demand-management/ DLP consolidates its partnership with La Trobe University 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 2015-06-13T07:51:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:11:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:47:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:53:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:50:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T18:52:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:49:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:49:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/06/03/the-concept-and-realities-of-post-revolution-reform-in-tunisia/ Guardian League Tables 2015 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 2015-06-14T05:04:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:10:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:41:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:07:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:51:00Z http://theconversation.com/nato-must-take-responsibility-for-spiralling-violence-in-libya-27050 Blog: Building communities to bridge the gap 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 2015-06-13T13:05:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/building-communities-to-bridge-the-gap/ Frederick Gulliford, Professional Development Module - Case Study House of Lords (2014) Careers Network Professional Development Module - Case study House of Lords. BA Political Economy. 2014-05-27T10:52:00Z 2015-06-13T18:43:00Z 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) Careers Network Professional Development Module - Case study Chamber of Commerce. BA International Relations with German. 2014-05-27T10:52:00Z 2015-06-13T18:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/evgeniya-chalakova-professional-development-module.aspx Ash Green, Professional Development Module - Case Study Birmingham Children's Hospital (2014) Careers Network Professional Development Module - Case Study Birmingham Children's Hospital. BA History and Political Science. 2014-05-27T10:52:00Z 2015-06-13T18:40:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/ash-green-professional-development-module.aspx Saving Humans blog: 'Face-to-Face Encounters of the Diplomatic Kind' 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 2015-06-13T18:43:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:35:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:45:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/whoever-wins-ukraine-election-faces-an-uncertain-mandate-and-no-easy-path-to-peace-27145 The Conversation: The other pivot to Asia and why success in China is not all it seems for Putin's Russia 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 2015-06-13T23:35:00Z http://theconversation.com/the-other-pivot-to-asia-and-why-success-in-china-is-not-all-it-seems-for-putins-russia-27039 The Conversation: Meriam Ibrahim death sentence: West needs to give Sudan a bit of face time 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 2015-06-13T07:50:00Z http://theconversation.com/meriam-ibrahim-death-sentence-west-needs-to-give-sudan-a-bit-of-face-time-27005 The Conversation: London aside, Farage's UKIP now has its imprint on England 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 2015-06-13T13:07:00Z http://theconversation.com/london-aside-farages-ukip-now-has-its-imprint-on-england-27131 Saving Humans blog: Building "A Spiral of Trust" through GRIT 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 2015-06-13T18:41:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/05/21/building-a-spiral-of-trust-through-grit/ Saving Humans blog: 'Frame-Breaking Conciliatory Moves between Enemies' 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 2015-06-13T18:43:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/05/22/frame-breaking-conciliatory-moves-between-enemies/ The Conversation: Labour should be the biggest local winner – this year anyway 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 2015-06-13T13:06:00Z http://theconversation.com/labour-should-be-the-biggest-local-winner-this-year-anyway-27038 Blog: Notes on the 'Worthless Dowry' of Soviet Industrial Modernity 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 2015-06-13T23:35:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/notes-on-worthless-dowry-of-soviet.html Saving Humans blog: Psychological Drivers of Distrust Between Adversaries 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 2015-06-13T18:45:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:46:00Z 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? 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 2015-07-17T15:01:00Z http://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/could-russia-repeat-ukraine-scenario-in.html Dr Jeremy Morris announced as Visiting Research Fellow, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki 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 2015-06-13T23:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/05/jeremy-morris-visiting-research-fellow.aspx Dr Jeremy Morris shortlisted for prestigious BBC Radio 4 Thinking Allowed Award for Ethnography 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 2015-06-13T23:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/05/jeremy-morris-shortlisted-thinking-allowed-award-for-ethnography.aspx MA Studentship at the Institute for German Studies, University of Birmingham 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 2015-06-13T18:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/igs/courses/index.aspx Blog: Under what conditions are decisions best made? Football managers and the public sector 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 2015-06-13T13:06:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:44:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T07:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/ken-davey.aspx IDD 50 faces #11 - Dr Rosamund Thomas (1970-71) 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 2015-06-13T07:51:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/rosamund-thomas.aspx Blog: Can the CIS Survive the Ukraine Crisis? 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 2015-06-13T23:32:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:47:00Z 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. 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 2015-06-13T13:06:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/gerrymandering-in-northern-ireland/ Blog: Public data: saleable asset or national resource? 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 2015-06-13T13:04:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/public-data/ Blog: The 2014 local elections – a preview 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 2015-06-13T13:05:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/the-2014-local-elections-a-preview/ POLSIS Seminar Series 2013-14 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 2015-06-13T18:37:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:23:00Z 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 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 2015-06-14T04:59:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/social-policy-social-work/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 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 2015-06-13T18:35:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/04/28/when-facing-down-putin-dont-let-him-choose-your-ground/ ICCS seminar series podcast: Chemically Massacring Civilians 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. 2014-04-28T12:51:00Z 2015-06-07T16:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/04/chemically-massacring-civilians.aspx ICCS seminar series podcast: Peace Negotiations and Peacebuilding in the Middle East 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. 2014-04-28T12:51:00Z 2015-06-07T16:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2014/04/peace-negotiations-peacebuilding-middle-east.aspx The Conversation: With Geneva deal dead Ukraine could be pivotal moment for international relations 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 2015-06-13T18:36:00Z http://theconversation.com/all-eyes-on-russia-as-ukraine-hurtles-towards-civil-war-25400 Trust, Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation - 31 March - 04 April 2014 Nathan Johnson The first day introduced participants to the obstacles to cooperation and trust that so often lead to the entrenchment of conflict, and the role that empathy and interpersonal dynamics between leaders and diplomats can play in opening up new possibilities for cooperation and conflict-transformation. Guest Speakers included Andrew Barlow from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and Paul Schulte, an expert on nuclear non-proliferation. In the evening Lord Hannay of Chiswick delivered a keynote speech on settling disputes, building trust and reaching compromises. 2014-04-24T10:15:00Z 2015-06-03T10:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/training/previous-programmes/2014.aspx 50 faces of CREES #52 - Paul Barton, B.Com (Russian Studies) 1964-67 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 2015-06-13T23:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/paul-barton.aspx Blog: Should I stay or should I go? Why the UK should stay out of the Crimea issue 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 2015-06-13T18:40:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:32:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:34:00Z 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' 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 2015-06-13T07:45:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T18:39:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-crisis-is-the-west-powerless-to-stop-russian-aggression-25347 IDD 50 faces #09 - Ashok Kumar Jain (1990) 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 2015-06-13T07:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/ashok-kumar-jain.aspx The Conversation: Now Crimea's in the bag, where next for Putin and Russia? 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 2015-06-13T18:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/all-eyes-on-russia-as-ukraine-hurtles-towards-civil-war-25400 INLOGOV briefing paper: The 2014 local elections – a preview 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 2015-06-13T13:03:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/2014-local-elections.pdf IGS podcast: "Anglifizierung" und "Globalisierung" Speaker: Dr Falco Pfalzgraf (QMUL). '"Anglifizierung" und "Globalisierung": Aktuelle Diskurse zu Entlehnungen und moderner Sprachpurismus'. 2014-04-14T09:22:00Z 2015-06-13T18:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/anglifizierung-globalisierung.aspx IDD PGR podcast: The Ownership of Official Development Assistance in Jamaica 2005-2013 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 2015-06-13T07:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/ownership-security-justice-sector-jamaica.aspx ICCS seminar series podcast: Chemically Massacring Civilians 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 2015-06-13T18:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/chemically-massacring-civilians.aspx IGS podcast: British society, Georgian Monarchy and the Anniversaries of the 'German Connection' (1814 – 2014) 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 2015-06-13T18:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/british-society-georgian-monarchy.aspx ICCS seminar series podcast: Peace Negotiations and Peacebuilding in the Middle East 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 2015-06-13T18:37:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/peace-negotiations-peacebuilding-middle-east.aspx IGS podcast: Imagining Violence in Women in 1970's West Germany 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 2015-06-13T18:36:00Z 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 a pawn in high-stakes global game with no quick win in sight for EU, US or Russia 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 2015-06-13T18:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-veers-closer-to-collapse-as-activists-in-donetsk-proclaim-peoples-republic-25351 The Conversation: Ukraine crisis: are Moldova and its Transnistrian region next on Moscow's to-do-list? 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 2015-06-13T18:39:00Z http://theconversation.com/ukraine-crisis-are-moldova-and-its-transnistrian-region-next-on-moscows-to-do-list-25181 Remembering Rwanda: can we ever say 'never again'? 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 2015-06-13T07:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/04/remembering-rwanda-can-we-ever-say-never-again.aspx IDD 50 faces #08 - Matthew Craig 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 2015-06-13T07:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/matt-craig.aspx IDD 50 faces #07 - Lenni Montiel 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 2015-06-13T07:45:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/lenni-montiel.aspx New article: When does service delivery improve the legitimacy of a fragile state? 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 2015-06-13T07:49:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/when-does-service-delivery-improve-legitimacy-fragile-state.aspx Prestigious research programme makes its home at IDD 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 2015-06-13T07:47:00Z 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-) 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 2015-06-13T07:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/david-cobley.aspx IDD 50 faces #05 - Hussein A. Salad 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 2015-06-13T07:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/hussein-ali.aspx IDD 50 faces #04 - Ahmed Moghazy Ibrahim (2009-10) 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 2015-06-13T07:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/ahmed-moghazy-imrahim.aspx IDD 50 faces #03 - Maureen Achieng (1993-94) 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 2015-06-13T07:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/maureen-achieng.aspx IDD 50 faces #02 - Professor Mohit Bhattacharya 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 2015-06-13T07:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/mohit-bhattacharya.aspx IDD Distance Learning Scholarships available 2014 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 2015-06-13T07:44:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:49:00Z http://theconversation.com/20-years-on-rwanda-exhausts-its-genocide-credit-with-donors-25112 IDD 50 faces #01 - Professor Richard Batley 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 2015-06-13T07:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/about/50-anniversary/profiles/richard-batley.aspx POLSIS seminar series podcast: Britain and the EU: Towards Brexit? 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 2015-06-13T18:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/britain-eu-brexit.aspx Blog: The Great NHS Robbery - and the great fraud headline con 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 2015-06-13T13:04:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/great-nhs-robbery/ The Conversation: Can the US and Russia talk their way out of crisis in Ukraine? 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 2015-06-13T18:40:00Z http://theconversation.com/can-the-us-and-russia-talk-their-way-out-of-crisis-in-ukraine-25044 Blog: Why do some PPPs fail to meet objectives? Evidence from Ireland 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 2015-06-13T13:00:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/ppps-objectives-ireland/ Blog: Special CREES/POLSIS Seminar - The production of Migrants in Contemporary Capitalism 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 2015-06-13T18:31:00Z http://polsis.org/2014/03/31/special-creespolsis-seminar-the-production-of-migrants-in-contemporary-capitalism/ Blog: Councillors and their disappearing pensions 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 2015-06-13T12:57:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/councillors-pensions/ The Conversation: Despite the rumble of Russian tanks the main weapon in Ukraine is information 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 2015-06-13T23:30:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T18:30:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T18:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/03/model-nato.aspx Blog: Rebalancing Britain 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 2015-06-13T13:02:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/rebalancing-britain/ Blog: The impact agenda and political agency 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 2015-06-13T12:59:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/impact-agenda-agency/ Blog: Reclaiming the impact agenda: making impact work for you 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 2015-06-13T13:02:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/reclaiming-the-impact-agenda/ Blog: The French local elections – and a quiet revolution? 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 2015-06-13T12:58:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/french-local-elections/ Blog: Three problems with the impact agenda 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 2015-06-13T13:03:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T18:26:00Z http://theconversation.com/now-crimeas-in-the-bag-where-next-for-putin-and-russia-24521 The Conversation: Crimea votes to secede from Ukraine as EU considers sanctions against Russia 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 2015-06-13T18:28:00Z http://theconversation.com/crimea-votes-to-secede-from-ukraine-as-eu-considers-sanctions-against-russia-24426 Blog: Embarking on impact: why do it and what to consider 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 2015-06-13T12:58:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/embarking-on-impact/ Blog: Sustainable construction and local authorities: a failed experiment 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 2015-06-13T13:03:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/sustainable-construction-and-local-authorities-a-failed-experiment/ Blog: Public service motivation: Love or money? 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 2015-06-13T07:41:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/public-service-motivation-love-or-money/ IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Power In-Between: Youth's Subaltern Agency and the Post-Conflict Everyday Speaker: Dr Sukaynya Podder, Department of Management and Security, Cranfield University. 2014-03-13T10:33:00Z 2015-06-13T07:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/03/youth-subaltern-agency-post-conflict.aspx The Conversation: Seizing EU and US assets won't help Russia – it needs the investment 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 2015-06-13T23:30:00Z http://theconversation.com/seizing-eu-and-us-assets-wont-help-russia-it-needs-the-investment-24080 The Conversation: How can Ukraine, Crimea and Russia secure a stable future? 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 2015-06-13T18:28:00Z http://theconversation.com/how-can-ukraine-crimea-and-russia-secure-a-stable-future-23947 Win:Win network: empowering women in leadership - 26 March 2014 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 2015-06-14T04:56:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/events/2014/03-26-winwin-network.aspx The Conversation: A divided Ukraine could see two radically different states emerge 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 2015-06-13T23:28:00Z 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 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 2015-06-14T04:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/03/cooperation-contemporary-world-mooc.aspx Alumni profile: Olga Fraczek, Sociology graduate Account Executive, Harvard Public Relations. 2014-03-10T10:29:00Z 2015-06-13T18:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/fraczek-olga.aspx Alumni profile: Nadine Baldwick, BA Sociology and Philosophy 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 2015-06-13T18:30:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/weissinger-laurin.aspx Alumni profile: Ana Speed, BA Sociology 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 2015-06-13T18:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/alumni/profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/ana-speed.aspx Blog: The Political Colour of an English Parliament 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 2015-06-13T13:00:00Z 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? Speaker: Sarah Neal, University of Surrey. Migration, Citizenship and Diversity: Questioning the Boundaries Seminar Series. 2014-03-07T11:25:00Z 2015-06-14T04:52:00Z 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 Speaker: Dr Danielle Beswick (IDD, University of Birmingham). 2014-03-07T10:59:00Z 2015-06-13T07:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/03/risks-african-capacity-building.aspx Professor Henry Maddick 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 2015-06-13T13:01:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:33:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:05:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T13:00:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/migration-citizenship-and-diversity-questioning-the-boundaries/ Sociology - Speed Networking Event 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 2015-06-13T18:31:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:28:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T18:32:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/03/joint-editor-jcms-annual-review-eu.aspx The Conversation: Crimea flashpoint raises stakes in Russia's regional power play 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 2015-06-13T18:27:00Z https://theconversation.com/crimea-flashpoint-raises-stakes-in-russias-regional-power-play-23863 The Conversation: Crimea: the polarised peninsula threatening to rip Ukraine apart 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 2015-06-13T18:10:00Z https://theconversation.com/crimea-the-polarised-peninsula-threatening-to-rip-ukraine-apart-23739 Saving Humans Blog: What is to be done? 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 2015-06-13T18:24:00Z 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 Speaker: James Connell, PhD researcher, International Development Department, University of Birmingham 2014-02-27T15:18:00Z 2015-06-13T07:40:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:14:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/27/energy-security-as-human-security/ ICCS seminar series podcast: Strategy a History 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 2015-06-13T18:21:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:23:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:14:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/26/energy-security-vs-climate-security/ Blog: Body / State in An Age of Austerity 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 2015-06-13T18:08:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:16:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/foucault-sexuality-sustainable-development.aspx Saving Humans Blog: Energy security and saving humans 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 2015-06-13T18:13:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/24/energy-security-and-saving-humans/ Blog: Policing the journey along the low road 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 2015-06-13T12:53:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/policing-the-low-road/ Saving Humans Blog: Saving humans or saving states? 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 2015-06-13T18:20:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2014/02/25/saving-humans-or-saving-states/ Blog: The Coalition's mishandling of recall: worse than Baldrick's war poem 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 2015-06-13T12:56:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/the-coalitions-mishandling-of-recall/ POLSIS European Studies workshop: Broadening Approaches to the European Crisis 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 2015-06-13T18:16:00Z 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 IDD launches new PG module in 'Disability and Development' on campus and via distance learning. 2014-02-21T17:19:00Z 2015-06-13T07:41:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/02/political-parties-post-communist-europe.aspx Blog: Devolution's biggest hurdle: Whitehall's culture of comtempt 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 2015-06-13T12:51:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/culture-of-contempt/ A gay rights mountain to climb? 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 2015-06-13T23:26:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/liz-wyman.aspx Blog: It wouldn't be honest! Will closing the high road lead to congestion on the low road? 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 2015-06-13T12:50:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T12:52:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/leading-local-government/ IGS podcast: "Wir sind das Volk": 1989 and East German Memorials. 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 2015-06-13T18:24:00Z 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 Speaker: Dr Agnieszka Kubal (University of Oxford). Migration, Citizenship and Diversity: Questioning the Boundaries Seminar Series. 2014-02-13T13:06:00Z 2015-06-14T04:51:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/02/bribes-gifts.aspx IDD Guest seminar podcast: Development Strategies and Theories - A Perspective from Tanzania Speaker: Dr Andrew Coulson, Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham. 2014-02-12T09:47:00Z 2015-06-13T07:40:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/02/development-strategies-theories-tanzania.aspx Student Report: Sajidah Ali, Level 1 Ibn Jabal Arabic course (2013) 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 2015-06-13T18:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/sajidah-ali-report.aspx Student Report: Paula Stoleru, Internship at the Birmingham City Council (2013) 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 2015-06-13T18:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/paula-stoleru-report.aspx Student Report: Anna Goodman, The Civitatis International Global Thinking Summer School (2013) 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 2015-06-13T18:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Student Report: Charlie Winch, internship at the Westminster based think-tank the Institute of Economic Affairs (2013) 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 2015-06-13T18:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/charile-winch-report.aspx Mother Teresa: the 'demon' saint 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 2015-06-13T18:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2014/02/mother-teresa-demon-saint.aspx Amy Binstead, BA Education and Sociology (1st year) 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 2015-06-13T18:06:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:05:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:48:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/06/21st-public-servant-drivers/ POLSIS seminar series podcast: Deliberative leadership The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: John Parkinson (Warwick) Discussant: Andrew Knops. 2014-02-06T12:38:00Z 2015-06-13T18:11:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T12:48:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/big-society/ Blog: Who is in control of the sandbags? 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 2015-06-13T12:55:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/sandbags/ Blog: When will they ever learn? 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 2015-06-13T12:57:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/when-will-they-ever-learn/ CREES Podcast: Red Nations: the Nationalities Experience in and after the USSR 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 2015-06-13T23:25:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/01/red-nations.aspx Blog: The prospects for a dramatically more representative Parliament post 2015 are bleak 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 2015-06-13T12:44:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:54:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/courses/masters/fees-funding.aspx POLSIS seminar series podcast: In a Cross-Fire of Integration: Russia, Europe and Political Crisis in Ukraine 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 2015-06-13T23:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2014/01/political-crisis-ukraine.aspx Blog: The impact of media logic on democratic legitimacy in local governance networks 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 2015-06-13T12:41:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/impact-media-logic/ The Conversation: Ugandan intervention holds little hope for South Sudan conflict 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 2015-06-13T18:03:00Z http://theconversation.com/ugandan-intervention-holds-little-hope-for-south-sudan-conflict-22371 Blog: Can local government govern in the digital age? 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 2015-06-13T12:43:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T12:46:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/jeffrey-archer/ Blog: Babies, bathwater and baths 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 2015-06-13T12:37:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/babies-bathwater-and-baths/ Blog: Health and wellbeing boards: a new type of partnership? 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 2015-06-13T12:40:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/health-and-wellbeing-boards/ Blog: Crime on the high street goes missing 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 2015-06-13T12:37:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/crime-on-the-high-street/ Crime on the high street goes missing 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 2015-06-13T12:39:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/01/crime-on-the-high-street-goes-missing.aspx What you need to know about the causes of the Ukrainian protests Written by Kataryna Wolczuk (University of Birmingham) and Roman Wolczuk (University of Wolverhampton) on The Monkey Cage. 2014-01-29T09:08:00Z 2015-06-13T23:26:00Z http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2013/12/09/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-causes-of-the-ukrainian-protests/ IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Spread of the Birmingham Mafia: The Development of In-Country Programmes Speaker: Professor Ken Davey OBE, Emeritus Professor, International Development Department, University of Birmingham. 2014-01-27T13:45:00Z 2015-06-13T07:39:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:53:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/ariel-sharon.aspx Understanding Society: Guest post by Justin Cruickshank on critical realism 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 2015-06-13T18:04:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T18:02:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:42:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/local-democracy-at-the-sharp-end/ Blog: Reason, myth and migration 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 2015-06-13T12:44:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/reason-myth-migration/ IRiS Podcast: Beyond Reason: The Philosophy and Politics of Immigration Speaker: Philip Cole, University of the West of England. Migration, Citizenship and Diversity: Questioning the Boundaries Seminar Series. 2014-01-21T11:46:00Z 2015-06-14T04:48:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/01/beyond-reason.aspx Blog: The English question 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 2015-06-13T12:39:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/the-english-question/ Graduate internship: Geraldine Tovey, Health Exchange (2014) 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 2015-06-13T17:56:00Z 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) I spent the third year of my degree studying abroad, at France Sciences Po, in Lyon, France. 2014-01-17T13:35:00Z 2015-06-13T18:00:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T17:55:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:40:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:54:00Z http://theconversation.com/ariel-sharon-dies-at-85-after-decades-as-polarising-presence-21903 Katherine Nichol, Intern Birmingham City Council (2013) 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 2015-06-13T18:00:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:46:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/political-animals/ Student profile: Ioana Cerasella Chis, Political Science and Sociology BA (3rd year) 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 2015-06-13T17:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/ioana-cerasella-chris.aspx Student profile: Jenny Akers, Sociology BA 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 2015-06-13T17:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/jenny-akers.aspx A Day in the Life of an International Relations Student 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 2015-06-13T17:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2013-14/sarah-heta-day-in-life.aspx POLSIS Student profiles 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 2015-06-13T18:01:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/teaching/student-profiles/index.aspx Student profile: Katherine Nichol, Sociology BA (3rd Year) 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 2015-06-13T17:58:00Z 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' 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 2015-06-13T18:02:00Z https://www.rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C52C6F0A75426B/#.U_OoFspARhh Exciting, Forward Thinking Undergraduate Degrees 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 2015-06-14T04:50:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/undergraduate/index.aspx International Collaboration map 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 2015-06-14T04:46:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/collaboration/index.aspx CREES Celebrates its 50th Anniversary 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 2015-06-13T23:23:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/12/50th-anniversary.aspx Doctoral Researchers Yearbook 2013 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 2015-06-14T04:44:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T23:23:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/12/living-in-interesting-times.aspx Video: International students at the University of Birmingham 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 2015-06-14T04:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/international/index.aspx The Conversation: Peace and Security in Africa: from summitry to solutions 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 2015-06-13T17:51:00Z http://theconversation.com/peace-and-security-in-africa-from-summitry-to-solutions-21199 Autumn Statement 2013 - Response 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 2015-06-14T04:43:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/autumn-statement-2013-response.aspx Blog: What does the Autumn Statement mean for local government? 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 2015-06-13T12:36:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/autumn-statement-lg/ Ukraine and Europe: challenges ahead 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 2015-06-13T23:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/12/ukraine-and-europe-challenges-ahead.aspx Blog: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918-2013 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/nelson-rolihlahla-mandela-1918-2013/ Autumn Statement 2013 - Expert Opinions 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 2015-06-14T04:42:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/autumn-statement-2013.aspx The Conversation: Iran's nuclear weapons deal will rebalance the Middle East 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. 2013-12-02T14:41:00Z 2015-06-07T16:10:00Z http://theconversation.com/irans-nuclear-weapons-deal-will-rebalance-the-middle-east-20748 The Conversation: Obama must face down hawks and Israel over Iran deal 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. 2013-12-02T14:41:00Z 2015-06-07T16:11:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator '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 the Department of Politics at the University of Sheffield. 2013-12-02T14:14:00Z 2015-09-18T10:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/iccs/news/2013/11/us-medical-assistance-smart-power-strategies.aspx The Conversation: Obama must face down hawks and Israel over Iran deal 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 2015-06-13T17:46:00Z 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 '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 2015-06-13T17:49:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:30:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/irans-nuclear-weapons-deal-will-rebalance-the-middle-east-20748 The Conversation: Joseph Kony peace talks may be just another tactic Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://theconversation.com/joseph-kony-peace-talks-may-be-just-another-tactic-20662 Listen to our latest podcasts 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 2015-06-14T05:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/podcasts/index.aspx Blog: Electoral reform: STV for local elections and first-time compulsory voting 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 2015-06-13T12:27:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/stv-local-elections/ Students vote Birmingham as a top UK University for Politics 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 2015-06-13T17:50:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:45:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T12:29:00Z http://theconversation.com/hard-evidence-is-it-possible-to-forecast-hs2s-benefits-20164 Two PhD Studentships Available for CREES Students 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 2015-06-13T23:19:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T23:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/stefanie-harter.aspx 50 faces of CREES #49 - Jelena Obradovic-Wochnik (2004-2008) 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 2015-06-13T23:20:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/jelena-obradovic-wochnik.aspx The Conversation: Recovery from the Arab Spring will take a generation or more 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 2015-06-13T17:47:00Z http://theconversation.com/recovery-from-the-arab-spring-will-take-a-generation-or-more-20522 ESRC grant success for Birmingham 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 2015-06-14T04:40:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/11/david-camerons-sri-lanka-trip.aspx The Conversation: Back towards the brink in Iraq as old tensions are renewed 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. 2013-11-18T18:40:00Z 2015-06-07T16:08:00Z http://theconversation.com/back-towards-the-brink-in-iraq-as-old-tensions-are-renewed-19787 Blog: A reply to Frazer Nelson: the only thing astonishing is how little power local authorities have 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 2015-06-13T12:28:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/frazer-nelson/ IAS Blog: Thinking and working politically in development interventions. Workshop round-up from Jonathan Fisher 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 2015-06-13T07:36:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/18/thinking-and-working-politically-in-development-interventions-workshop-round-up-from-jonathan-fisher/ IAS Blog: Making politics practical 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 2015-06-13T07:36:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/15/making-politics-practical/ The Conversation: After a slow start, police commissioners hit their stride 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 2015-06-13T12:33:00Z http://theconversation.com/after-a-slow-start-police-commissioners-hit-their-stride-20277 IAS Blog: From "thinking politically" to "working politically" 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 2015-06-13T07:36:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:48:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:35:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/13/thinking-politically-part-iii/ The Conversation: Back towards the brink in Iraq as old tensions are renewed 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 2015-06-13T17:42:00Z http://theconversation.com/back-towards-the-brink-in-iraq-as-old-tensions-are-renewed-19787 Economic and Social Research Council funding 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 2015-06-14T04:38:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/dr-fees/ESRC-research-council.aspx 50 faces of CREES #47 - Kataryna Wolczuk (1993-2013) Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-18T10:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/kataryna-wolczuk.aspx Tim Haughton Writes on the Czech Parliamentary Election for the Washington Post 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 2015-06-13T23:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/11/czech-parliamentary-election-washington-post.aspx CREES involved in NATO Advanced Research Workshop 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 2015-06-13T23:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/11/nato-advanced-research-workshop.aspx CREES academic delivers public lecture Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-18T10:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/11/averre-public-lecture.aspx IAS Blog: Thinking politically - Part II Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/11/12/thinking-politically-part-ii/ INLOGOV Postgraduate Taster Days 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 2015-06-13T12:35:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/taster-days/index.aspx New Executive Programme in Collaborative Strategy 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 2015-06-13T12:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 New Executive Programme in Public Management and Leadership 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 2015-06-13T12:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 New Executive Programme in Outcomes, Performance and Resources 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 2015-06-13T12:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 ESRC PhD Scholarships 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 2015-06-13T17:44:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/esrc-phd-scholarships.aspx The Conversation: Obama's soft power a hard sell after NSA revelations 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 2015-06-13T17:46:00Z http://theconversation.com/obamas-soft-power-a-hard-sell-after-nsa-revelations-19572 Blog: The paradoxical nature of being successful 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 2015-06-13T12:32:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/paradoxical-success/ IDD 50th anniversary event: Taking politics seriously: from development to social justice? Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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 The next Postgraduate Open Day will be held on Wednesday 27 November 2013. You can now book your place. 2013-11-05T13:00:00Z 2015-06-14T04:40:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/events/visit-open-day.aspx Building trust in public policing? The contribution of Police and Crime Commissioners, one year on 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 2015-06-13T12:25:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:26:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/delivery-of-public-services-and-economies-of-scale-cooperation-as-an-alternative-for-small-municipalities/ Bespoke postgraduate programmes 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 2015-06-13T12:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Blog: Want a 50% turnout in a local election? Try Neighbourhood Planning 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 2015-06-13T12:30:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/neighbourhood-planning/ POLSIS seminar series podcast: Brazil in the global nuclear order 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 2015-06-13T17:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/10/brazil-global-nuclear-order.aspx Developmental Leadership: Does Leadership Really Matter for Development? Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:28:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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? Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:17:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/innovation-in-social-care-its-the-how-as-much-as-the-what/ Exciting, Forward Thinking Undergraduate Degrees 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 2015-06-14T04:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/undergraduate/index.aspx Undergraduate Open Day: 26 October 2013 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 2015-06-14T04:36:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/events/visit-open-day.aspx The Conversation: Electoral deadlock means no end to Republican extremism 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 2015-06-13T17:30:00Z http://theconversation.com/electoral-deadlock-means-no-end-to-republican-extremism-19313 Blog: Planning and the new (new) localism - what chance of success? 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 2015-06-13T12:21:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/planning-localism/ Testing the Diplomatic Path with Iran in Geneva 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 2015-06-13T17:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/iran-diplomacy-wheeler.aspx The true impact of migration for the UK 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 2015-06-13T12:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/immigration.aspx Undergraduate Student Exchange and Year Abroad 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 2015-06-13T17:40:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/courses/undergraduate/year-abroad.aspx IAS Saving Humans Blog: …and in conclusion 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 2015-06-13T17:31:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/18/and-in-conclusion/ Undergraduate Open Day: 26 October 2013 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 2015-06-14T04:35:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T07:24:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:25:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/17/the-biggest-losers-and-the-biggest-winners/ IAS Saving Humans Blog: Nobel Peace Prize. Agenda-setting continued 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 2015-06-13T17:38:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T12:23:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/trust-health-social-care/ IAS Saving Humans Blog: Most popular? 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 2015-06-13T17:36:00Z http://savinghumans.org/2013/10/15/most-popular/ Blog: Fast scholarship is not always good scholarship: relevant research requires more than an online presence. 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 2015-06-13T12:16:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:38:00Z http://theconversation.com/trust-crucial-in-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-with-iran-19170 Podcast: The EDL, Tommy Robinson and the British Far Right 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 2015-06-13T17:28:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:04:00Z 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… 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 2015-06-13T17:24:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:13:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/clause-38/ The Conversation: Progress on Syrian WMDs but real test for UN lies ahead 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 2015-06-13T17:39:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:35:00Z http://theconversation.com/morsi-indictment-shows-failure-of-transitional-justice-in-egypt-19120 Video: Saving Humans: Risk, Intervention, Survival '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 2015-06-14T04:30:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/ias/saving-humans/index.aspx Blog: Leading a Council: insights from Warwickshire 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 2015-06-13T12:19:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/leading-a-council/ Blog: The managerial-political interface: strong relationships prosper in difficult times 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 2015-06-13T12:20:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/managerial-political-interface/ Blog: Tommy Robinson Quits the English Defence League: Damascene Conversion or a Cynical Tactic? 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 2015-06-13T17:41:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T12:11:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/21st-century-public-servant/ Jamie Vickery, International Political Economy MA 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 2015-06-13T17:34:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:37:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/polsis/2012-13/neema-begum-loyalty-discount.aspx Megan Baxter, International Relations (Gender) MA 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 2015-06-13T17:34:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/polsis/2012-13/megan-baxter-loyalty-discount.aspx POLSIS Bursary: Edward Li, International Relations (Contemporary Asia-Pacific) MA 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 2015-06-13T17:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/polsis/2012-13/edward-li-bursary.aspx Blog: Closing the loop: bridging the gap between provision and implementation of feedback '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 2015-06-13T17:39:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:42:00Z 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. 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 2015-06-13T12:22:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T17:32:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/ioana-cerasella-chis-internship.aspx Exciting, Forward Thinking Undergraduate Degrees 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 2015-06-14T04:31:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/undergraduate/index.aspx The Conversation: Black Hawk Down returns: how local conflicts become regional 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 2015-06-13T17:25:00Z http://theconversation.com/black-hawk-down-returns-how-local-conflicts-become-regional-18850 Executive Programme in Strategic Commissioning (5 day course) 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 2015-06-13T12:22:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Executive Programme in Collaborative Strategy (4 day course) 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 2015-06-13T12:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Blog: Keeping the door open to new ideas on leadership: Why the public sector may be leading the way 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 2015-06-13T12:18:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/keeping-the-door-open/ Blog: Following the UN route on Syria 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 2015-06-13T17:31:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:12:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/budget-surplus/ Blog: It's all about the governance - and elections don't always solve anything Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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' 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 2015-06-13T12:11:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:15:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/employment-law/ The Conversation: Boehner risks his reputation in Obamacare shutdown 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 2015-06-13T17:26:00Z http://theconversation.com/boehner-risks-his-reputation-in-obamacare-shutdown-18801 50 faces of CREES #46 - Mike Berry CREES (1966-) 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 2015-06-13T23:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/mike-berry.aspx 50 faces of CREES #45 - Matthew Frear (2005-2013) 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 2015-06-13T23:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/matthew-frear.aspx Blog: The unintended consequences of foreign intervention Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T12:06:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/education-act/ The Conversation: There are no positive outcomes for military intervention in Syria 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 2015-06-13T17:19:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T17:20:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:20:00Z http://theconversation.com/kenya-is-somalias-latest-victim-in-region-of-failed-states-18582 50 faces of CREES #44 - Paul Holtom (1997-2003) 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 2015-06-13T23:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/paul-holtom.aspx Blog: The Housing Acts of 1980: a watershed in housing policy 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 2015-06-13T12:09:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/the-housing-acts-of-1980-a-watershed-in-housing-policy/ Blog: Empire without End? Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/empire-without-end/ The Conversation: Prepare for more drones, and less all-out war 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 2015-06-13T17:22:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:21:00Z http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-birmingham Blog: The Health Act 2006: Behaviour change in action? 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 2015-06-13T12:08:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/the-health-act-2006/ The ethics of warfare part 3: How does drone warfare change the debate? 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 2015-06-13T17:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/drones.aspx Birmingham announced as University of the Year 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 2015-06-14T04:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/09/20-sep-Birmingham-announced-as-University-of-the-Year.aspx Doctoral researcher profile: Sabarinath Krishnan Madame System Administrator Public Private Partnerships for rural development 2013-09-21T05:01:00Z 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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-) 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 2015-06-13T23:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/marea-arries-tricia-carr.aspx Blog: Who'll work with the Lib Dems? 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 2015-06-13T12:10:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/wholl-work-with-the-lib-dems/ The security impact of drones: challenges and opportunities for the UK 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 2015-06-13T17:22:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T17:23:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-18T10:19:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/russian-mayoral-election.aspx The Conversation: Syria and the wider crisis of international diplomacy 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 2015-06-13T17:23:00Z http://theconversation.com/syria-and-the-wider-crisis-of-international-diplomacy-18133 New Publication on the EU co-edited by Birmingham academic with keynote by Russian Foreign Minister 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 2015-06-13T23:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/09/new-publication-eu.aspx Blog: The role of social value outcomes in commissioning services William Jabang is a Doctoral Researcher at INLOGOV. His PhD research is focused on commissioning and procuring social value. 2013-09-10T15:48:00Z 2015-06-13T12:06:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/social-value-commissioning/ What's at stake for Russia in Syria Madame System Administrator Dr Richard Connolly recently contributed to a CNBC report on Russia's interests in Syria. 2013-09-10T12:37:00Z 2015-09-18T10:19:00Z http://www.cnbc.com/id/101004539 Global ranking reinforces Birmingham's position as a world-class university 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 2015-06-14T04:26:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/09/10-Sept-Global-ranking-reinforces-Birminghams-position-as-a-world-class-university.aspx Blog: Bankruptcies, scofflaws and aldermen: differentiated by a common language 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 2015-06-13T12:04:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/bankruptcies-scofflaws-aldermen/ Accredited short course: Executive Programme in Strategic Commissioning 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 2015-06-13T12:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 The Conversation: Obama v Putin as G20 meets in Syria's shadow 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 2015-06-13T17:21:00Z https://theconversation.com/obama-v-putin-as-g20-meets-in-syrias-shadow-17866 DLP Research Fellow Vacancy Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T23:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/luke-march.aspx 50 faces of CREES #41 - Donald Male (1955) 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 2015-06-13T23:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/don-male.aspx The Conversation: Commons vote on Syria is a first step in the right direction 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 2015-06-13T17:16:00Z https://theconversation.com/commons-vote-on-syria-is-a-first-step-in-the-right-direction-17558 Military Intervention in Syria: the worst or just one among many bad options? "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 2015-06-13T17:18:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-18T10:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/08/crees-scholars-discuss-eurasian-integration.aspx Blog: Improve your prospects by studying with INLOGOV 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 2015-06-13T12:03:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:18:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T23:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/peter-kneen.aspx Video: Masters degrees by distance learning at IDD Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/courses/distance-learning.aspx Video: Study a Masters degree at IDD Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/courses/masters/index.aspx Research on Accountability, Local Government and Public Finance in Brazil Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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 Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:27:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T23:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/paul-hare.aspx 50 faces of CREES #39 - Melanie Ilic 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 2015-06-13T23:11:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/melanie-ilic.aspx 50 faces of CREES #37 - Peter Rodgers (1998-2005) 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 2015-06-13T23:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/peter-rodgers.aspx The Conversation: Syria casts its shadow as G8 leaders gather 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 2015-06-13T17:11:00Z http://theconversation.com/syria-casts-its-shadow-as-g8-leaders-gather-15218 The Conversation: Tears and terror as Egypt slides towards civil war 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 2015-06-13T17:17:00Z https://theconversation.com/tears-and-terror-as-egypt-slides-towards-civil-war-17077 CREES involved in EU-funded staff exchange scheme Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-18T10:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/08/eu-funded-staff-exchange-scheme.aspx The Conversation UK 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 2015-06-14T04:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/the-conversation.aspx Complete our Online Survey and win an iPad 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 2015-06-13T12:01:00Z 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) "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 2015-06-13T23:09:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/david-clegg.aspx Blog: "Birmingham City Council Bans New Payday Lending" - that's Birmingham, Alabama, of course 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 2015-06-13T12:02:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/payday-lending/ The Conversation: Mixed messages from the EU won't help solve Egypt's crisis 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 2015-06-13T17:17:00Z https://theconversation.com/mixed-messages-from-the-eu-wont-help-solve-egypts-crisis-16595 The Conversation: West has key role to play amid Yemen's al-Qaeda resurgence 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 2015-06-13T17:19:00Z https://theconversation.com/west-has-key-role-to-play-amid-yemens-al-qaeda-resurgence-16794 Blog: Fracking: the latest challenge in the Tory heartlands 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 2015-06-13T12:00:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/fracking/ The Future of UK Aid in an Age of Austerity Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-10T12:26:00Z 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 "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 2015-06-13T23:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/dennis-biggs.aspx Student funding opportunities 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 2015-06-14T04:21:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/funding/student-funding-opportunities.aspx Student report: Eleanor Johnston, Internship at the GUIDE Consultancy (2013) 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 2015-06-13T17:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/undergraduate/2012-13/eleanor-johnston-report.aspx Student report: Nipa Ghosh, Summer School in Prague on the subject of Crime, Law and Psychology, Prague, July 2013 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 2015-06-13T23:07:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/crees/2012-13/ghosh-nipa-report.aspx Orchestrating the possible for integrated care New report entitled 'Health and Wellbeing Boards: Orchestrating the possible for integrated care' has been published. 2013-07-29T17:33:00Z 2015-06-13T11:27:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T11:57:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/courses/upgrading-qualification.aspx Masters taught module: Foreign Policy Analysis 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 2015-06-13T17:13:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/modules/foreign-policy-analysis.aspx Masters taught module: Germany's Foreign Policy 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 2015-06-13T17:14:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/govsoc/modules/germanys-foreign-policy.aspx Blog: Dr Foster's day out in the sun: the use and abuse of hospital mortality rates 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 2015-06-13T11:40:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/dr-fosters-day-out/ Blog: Picturing place: citizen participation in the age of social media 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 2015-06-13T11:51:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/picturing-place-2/ INLOGOV MSc Dissertations 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 2015-06-13T11:49:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/category/msc-dissertation/ Blog: The 'Detroit question' and Parish Councils 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 2015-06-13T11:38:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/detroit-question/ INLOGOV Postgraduate programmes 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 2015-06-13T12:33:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/courses/index.aspx Accredited short course: Certificate in Overview and Scrutiny 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 2015-06-13T11:28:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/events/accredited-short-courses/overview-scrutiny.aspx Blog: Examining citizen participation: theory and practice 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 2015-06-13T11:36:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/citizen-theory-practice/ Accredited short course: Certificate in Scrutiny Methods and Investigations 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 2015-06-13T11:29:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Blog: Reflecting on the doctoral take-over 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 2015-06-13T11:39:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/doctoral-take-over/ Blog: Finding an academic home 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 2015-06-13T11:33:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/academic-home/ The Conversation: EU ban on Israeli settlements could be a game changer 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 2015-06-13T17:13:00Z http://theconversation.com/eu-ban-on-israeli-settlements-could-be-a-game-changer-16158 Testimonials - CREES Annual Conference Madame System Administrator 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 2015-09-18T10:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/07/testimonials-conference.aspx CREES celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Annual Conference in Windsor Great Park 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 2015-06-13T23:03:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/news/2013/07/50th-anniversary-annual-conference.aspx Blog: Different expectations and different contexts 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 2015-06-13T11:41:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/expectations/ The Conversation: Little cause for celebration on South Sudan's birthday 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 2015-06-13T17:16:00Z http://theconversation.com/little-cause-for-celebration-on-south-sudans-birthday-15783 PhD video profile: Nino Kemoklidze Nino Kemoklidze, PhD Doctoral Research talks about why she chose to study with CREES. 2013-07-17T12:15:00Z 2015-06-13T23:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 PhD video profile: Victoria Hudson Victoria Hudson, PhD Doctoral Research talks about why she chose to study with CREES. 2013-07-17T12:15:00Z 2015-06-13T23:08:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/crees/2012-13/hudson-victoria-phd.aspx PhD video profile: John Kennedy Madame System Administrator John Kennedy, PhD Doctoral Research talks about why he chose to study with CREES. 2013-07-17T12:15:00Z 2015-09-18T10:17:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/teaching/student-profiles/postgraduate/crees/2012-13/kennedy-john-phd.aspx Blog: HS2: the importance of evidence 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 2015-06-13T11:44:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/hs2/ Blog: Leaping from campus to council 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 2015-06-13T11:47:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/campus-to-council/ Blog: Why you should be academic blogging as a PhD student 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 2015-06-13T11:34:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/blogging-phd-student/ The Birmingham Perspective 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 2015-06-14T04:15:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/perspective.aspx Blog: Re-establishing the relationship between citizens and politicians in Greece 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 2015-06-13T11:36:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/citizen-participation-greece/ International Collaboration map 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 2015-06-14T00:58:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/collaboration/index.aspx Who is accountable in localism? 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 2015-06-13T11:59:00Z 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 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, email@example.com 2013-07-12T13:57:00Z 2015-06-13T11:57:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T11:45:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/the-impact-factor/ Blog: Wherever I lay my highlighter, that's my home 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 2015-06-13T11:58:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/highlighter-home/ Undergraduate clearing 2013 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 2015-06-14T04:24:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=2 Quango state reconfigured rather than abolished 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 2015-06-13T11:52:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T11:50:00Z 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) 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 2015-06-13T07:16:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T11:54:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:15:00Z http://theconversation.com/morsis-authority-ebbed-away-but-egypt-is-dangerously-divided-15774 The Conversation: Weary Lebanon licked by the flames engulfing Syria 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 2015-06-13T17:14:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T11:43:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/western-public-management/ POLSIS success and fame expert speaks to the Brazilian media on the royal baby 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 2015-06-13T17:15:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T11:37:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/coproduction/ Blog: Can Gov 2.0 transform Local Government? 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 2015-06-13T11:43:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/gov-2-0/ PhD opportunity: The Governance of Migration: Policy-making in an age of superdiversity 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 2015-06-14T04:18:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/social-policy-social-work/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. 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 2015-06-13T11:54:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T11:35:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/bovairdquirk/ Blog: Why do we need a new model of public services? 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 2015-06-13T11:50:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/staite/ Investing in future leaders 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 2015-06-13T11:46:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:12:00Z http://theconversation.com/egypt-where-turmoil-comes-with-the-constitution-15816 INLOGOV and HSMC jointly evaluate the Home Truths Project 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 2015-06-13T11:47:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-centre/news/2013/07/inlogov-and-hsmc-evaluate-home-truths-project.aspx Weary Lebanon licked by the flames engulfing Syria Written by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. 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. 2013-07-02T10:48:00Z 2015-06-13T18:58:00Z http://theconversation.com/weary-lebanon-licked-by-the-flames-engulfing-syria-15530 Blog: A relational revolution in local public services 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 2015-06-13T11:53:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T11:55:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/third-sector-public-services/ 50 faces of CREES #33 - Mike Pushkin 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 2015-06-13T23:06:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/mike-pushkin.aspx 50 faces of CREES #34 - Ann Helgeson 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 2015-06-13T23:04:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/centres/crees/about/50-anniversary/profiles/ann-helegeson.aspx Latest research: Saving Humans: Risk, Intervention, Survival '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 2015-06-14T04:12:00Z http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/ias/saving-humans/index.aspx Blog: Towards a model of sector-led improvement in UK local government 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 2015-06-13T11:31:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/28/sector-led-improvement-2/ Blog: How do undergraduates construct their view of a public service professional? 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 2015-06-13T11:29:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/public-service-professional/ Diverse and original PhD research showcased at fifth annual postgraduate colloquium 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 2015-06-14T01:00:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T17:10:00Z 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 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 2015-06-13T11:31:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/social-enterprise/ Defence and Security in an Independent Scotland 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 2015-06-14T04:04:00Z 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) Come visit us on Stand G50 and see what INLOGOV can do for you 2013-06-25T12:38:00Z 2015-06-13T11:26:00Z 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? 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 2015-06-13T11:32:00Z http://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/street-level-bureaucrats-regulation/ Blog: Citizen participation through the looking glass