By Dr Kayleigh Garthwaite, Birmingham Fellow Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham When a researcher at BBC’s Panorama got in touch with me to say they were making a programme about health inequalities in Stockton, I had mixed feelings. Just three years before, the second series of the popular ‘poverty porn’ … Continue reading “Lifestyle choice does not explain a 17-year life expectancy gap”
Can Adversaries Become Friends?
By Nicholas Wheeler, Professor of International Relations Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham ‘The past does not have to define the future. Yesterday’s conflict does not have to be tomorrow’s war. As history has proved over and over, adversaries can become friends’. US President Donald Trump spoke these words after his … Continue reading “Can Adversaries Become Friends?”
Friendship in the age of social media: Friend-collectors and well-wishers
By Dr Katy Dineen, Research Fellow Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham What does friendship mean in a world of clicks, likes, emojis and pokes? The idea of a ‘friend’ is becoming increasingly unrecognizable; from a noun denoting some form of sanctuary, sympathy and simpatico to a verb conferring social status (or, … Continue reading “Friendship in the age of social media: Friend-collectors and well-wishers”
Should we still ‘marvel’ at comic book heroes?
By Michael Fullard, Research Fellow Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham I can only hope that the thousands of fans attending the current Comic-Con convention, and the millions of other fans around the world, ‘marvel’ at these superheroes not only because of their extraordinarily feats of strength or speed, but because of … Continue reading “Should we still ‘marvel’ at comic book heroes?”
Trumpian Diplomacy and UK-US Relations
By David Dunn, Professor of International Politics Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham For Trump, however, both at the NATO summit in Brussels and in his criticism of the May government in The Sun, the apparent intention was to challenge the value of continued partnership; to chastise allies for their alleged … Continue reading “Trumpian Diplomacy and UK-US Relations”
Fake bonding? Will Trump and Putin’s Helsinki meeting replay Singapore?
By Nicholas Wheeler, Professor of International Relations Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham Professor Marcus Holmes, The College of William and Mary If Helsinki achieves this, or at least paves the way to an eventual agreement, then Trump will have some claim that he has forged a personal bond with Putin that … Continue reading “Fake bonding? Will Trump and Putin’s Helsinki meeting replay Singapore?”
A Political Count: Looking ahead to the 2021 Census
By Dr Laurence CooleyLecturer in Comparative Politics, Department of Political Science and International Studies While the 2021 census is the best part of three years away, it was making news last week, thanks to former Sinn Féin chair and Assembly speaker Mitchel McLaughlin. McLaughlin used his inaugural lecture as an honorary professor at Queen’s University … Continue reading “A Political Count: Looking ahead to the 2021 Census”
Racial displacements: learning (from) the city
By Dr Giovanni Picker, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Senior Researcher Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham Forced displaced populations, whether urban or global, are often racialised subjects viewed as less deserving Understanding global inequalities is no easy task. While income, wealth and gender (i.e. sex at birth) are measurable data, race and ethnicity are … Continue reading “Racial displacements: learning (from) the city”
VIDEO AND PODCAST: What does it mean to be British?
The 22 June marks 70 years since the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury docks. The ‘sons of the Empire’ came not as immigrants, but as British subjects exercising a form of “freedom of movement” within the borders of the British territories. But as we fast forward to today, three generations later, the Windrush scandal … Continue reading “VIDEO AND PODCAST: What does it mean to be British?”
On not helping refugees
By Rachel Humphris, Lecturer Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham Refugee Week offers us the opportunity to reflect on the ways that we can better support refugees. For me, there are three critical points to consider when looking at how we can welcome and help those often badged as ‘others’: Why … Continue reading “On not helping refugees”