Lance Spencer Davies, a Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Birmingham, provides an update on recent developments in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. On the face of it, the conflict in Ukraine seems to have stabilised somewhat. Sporadic shelling aside, the last few months of 2015 saw … Continue reading “What Is Going on in Ukraine Now?”
Category: Comment and analysis
The Importance of Scooby-Doo to the Provision of Security in the Cyber Environment
In the first week of July I was fortunate enough to attend the annual Cyber Conference at Chatham House, writes Gavin Hall. Two significant trends became apparent, which enable the exploration of a long muted metaphor, of mine, for cyber-security: at the end of every episode of Scooby-Doo the ‘monster’ is unmasked and a human … Continue reading “The Importance of Scooby-Doo to the Provision of Security in the Cyber Environment”
Jakarta Attacks: Is Islamic State’s Presence in South-East Asia Overstated?
In this article Scott Edwards, a Doctoral Researcher and part of the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security, explores the perceived rise of Islamic State in Indonesia and South-East Asia more broadly. A series of deadly suicide bombings and shootings in Jakarta have killed at least seven people, and been claimed by Islamic State (IS). … Continue reading “Jakarta Attacks: Is Islamic State’s Presence in South-East Asia Overstated?”
Neoliberalism and its Forgotten Alternative
Criticisms of neoliberalism are proliferating, not just within the political and academic left, but within mainstream public opinion as well. Everywhere, people are beginning to seriously doubt whether markets will be able to produce another extended period of sustained growth, or whether they will solve the world’s current problems or merely exacerbate them. Liberal economists … Continue reading “Neoliberalism and its Forgotten Alternative”
#Gymlife: does Instagram’s fitness trend have the potential to negatively impact female body image?
In this post Milly Morris examines #Gymlife and whether all the self-infatuation on Instagram help to reinforce stereotypes of the perfect female form. I watch the two women from the treadmill as they stand in front of the large mirror at my local gym. They take it in turns to pose whilst the other takes … Continue reading “#Gymlife: does Instagram’s fitness trend have the potential to negatively impact female body image?”
Dr Jonathan Grix on the Olympics
The Olympic Games are now less than two weeks away. In this podcast for the University of Birmingham’s Ideas Lab, POLSIS’s Dr Jonathan Grix discusses the Olympic ‘legacy’, the impact of the Games outside the capital, and parallels with the 1948 Austerity Olympics, which were also held in London. [soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/53007407″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”81″ iframe=”false” /]
Only Vatican can change the Catholic Church
On Friday, POLSIS’s Gëzim Alpion, Lecturer in Sociology, was interviewed by the Slovakian newspaper PRAVDA on recent developments in the Vatican. While there is no English translation of the newspaper article, the editor Andrej Matisak has uploaded details of those he interviewed on his blog. Gëzim’s contribution is reproduced here: Andrej Matisak: We have seen some strong actions … Continue reading “Only Vatican can change the Catholic Church”
Why the EU should say ‘no’ to Tory blackmail
The UK Prime Minister last weekend opened the door to a possible referendum on the UK’s relationship with the EU. POLSIS’s David Toke argues that from a progressive perspective, it would be better for the UK to leave the EU altogether than for it to undermine the democratic basis of the Union by renegotiating its … Continue reading “Why the EU should say ‘no’ to Tory blackmail”
Reflections on Egypt’s new president
Egypt’s new president Dr Mahamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood was sworn into office on Saturday. International reaction to his victory has been remarkably upbeat, in sharp contrast with the reaction to the electoral win of Palestine’s Hamas movement in January 2006, writes POLSIS’s Michelle Pace. On Sunday 24 June 2012, Egypt’s presidential election commission … Continue reading “Reflections on Egypt’s new president”
Colin Thain argues for new direction in economic policy making
The current state of the economy is like the 1930s, says Professor Colin Thain of POLSIS. We should support Nobel laureate Paul Krugman’s new ‘economic manifesto’ and demand a change of direction in UK and Western economic policymaking. Paul Krugman’s ‘Manifesto for Economic Sense’ has been signed by a huge range of economists and political economists around the world, including: Charles … Continue reading “Colin Thain argues for new direction in economic policy making”