By Dr Adam Quinn, Department of Political Science and International Studies, School of Government, University of Birmingham The question going into Tuesday’s debate was which candidate could more successfully exploit the format to expose their opponent’s biggest weaknesses in front of the largest audience of the campaign. By that standard, Donald Trump performed extremely poorly … Continue reading “Harris baits Trump into self-sabotage”
Author: Guest editor
Social housing repairs and maintenance: challenges, consequences, and a way forward
By Dr Hannah Absalom, University of Birmingham Social housing is meant to provide secure and affordable homes for those who need them most, but residents often face significant hurdles with repairs and maintenance. These issues impact not only the physical state of the property but the wellbeing of residents, leading to stress, health problems, and … Continue reading “Social housing repairs and maintenance: challenges, consequences, and a way forward”
Homes, not just houses: How social housing can lead the fight against domestic abuse
By Dr Hannah Absalom, University of Birmingham The social housing sector has long been seen as a vital safety net, providing affordable homes to millions across the UK. However, in today’s social and political climate, the sector faces an urgent need to reassess its social purpose, particularly in light of Labour’s ambitious goal to halve … Continue reading “Homes, not just houses: How social housing can lead the fight against domestic abuse”
From Protest to Power: Will Bangladesh’s student victory lead to national transformation?
By Dr Md Shajedur Rahman, Research Fellow, School of Education, University of Birmingham Bangladesh recently faced one of its most intense political crises, with nearly 500 people killed in student-led anti-government protests. The unrest forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, long criticized for her increasingly autocratic rule, to resign and flee to India. In her absence, … Continue reading “From Protest to Power: Will Bangladesh’s student victory lead to national transformation?”
Indigenous migrants in the Americas draw on grass-roots strategies and digitalization to defend their rights
By Dr Jennifer Allsopp Birmingham Fellow, School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham The migration of Indigenous communities is often far from safe and, to date, States have failed to deliver adequate protections for these populations. A new report has found that Indigenous communities have therefore developed their own strategies to respond to rights violations. … Continue reading “Indigenous migrants in the Americas draw on grass-roots strategies and digitalization to defend their rights”
Beneficial constraints: stronger workers’ rights can underpin better work in left-behind UK regions
By Professor Tony Dobbins Professor of Work and Employment Relations, Birmingham Business School The King’s Speech 2024 commits to legislating for an Employment Rights Bill, reflecting promises in Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay-New Deal For Working People. The extensive policy proposals include: creating a single enforcement body (Fair Work Agency); a new Fair Pay … Continue reading “Beneficial constraints: stronger workers’ rights can underpin better work in left-behind UK regions”
King’s Speech: Will government’s more active role in housing improve availability and affordability?
By Dr Jacob Salder Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Organisation, Birmingham Business School Housing availability, housing affordability, and access to housing and the housing market have been a critical issue for many people in the UK in recent years. Seeking to resolve these issues has therefore become a priority for successive UK governments. The success of … Continue reading “King’s Speech: Will government’s more active role in housing improve availability and affordability?”
Is AI’s future in the past?
By Professor Stephanie Decker Department of Strategy and International Business, Birmingham Business School Much of the buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI), and more specifically Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), focuses on what the widespread access to these new technologies will mean for the future of society, professions and the workplace. But AI also has the potential … Continue reading “Is AI’s future in the past?”
How can universities use GenAI?
By Dr Kamilya Suleymenova & Dr Mary Dawood Department of Economics, Birmingham Business School The first open-to-general-public GenAI tool was launched in November 2022 and headlines ranged from exceptionally optimistic to dramatically alarmist. The ability to generate text (as well as code, and later images, audio, and video) was immediately spotted by those involved in … Continue reading “How can universities use GenAI?”
What does Labour’s “sandcastle majority” mean for the new government?
By Dr Nathan Critch Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS), University of Birmingham Whilst the relatively low vote share Labour achieved in the 2024 general election was enough to secure a landslide in terms of parliamentary seats, a lack of real popular enthusiasm for their governing project is sure to cause problems for … Continue reading “What does Labour’s “sandcastle majority” mean for the new government?”