By Jason Metcalfe, Research Associate Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham Star Wars resonated with a worldwide audience, and there is no doubt this was due to the array of moral and spiritual elements present throughout the films. For those out of the loop, May 4th is Star Wars Day, selected as … Continue reading “Star Wars Day: Virtues in a Galaxy, far far away…”
Star Wars, democracy and elites
By Paul Jackson, Professor of African Politics Department of International Development, University of Birmingham The Star Wars franchise is one of the most successful sets of films in the history of cinema. It deals with a range of complex issues including a hero’s journey, good versus evil, tolerance versus oppression, however one of the most … Continue reading “Star Wars, democracy and elites”
Luke, Obi-Wan, US Foreign Policy: Thoughts on Star Wars Day
By Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham It was the magical moment- well, if you consider nuclear weapons magical – when Hollywood and US foreign policy embraced. Ronald Reagan, former President of the United States and star of films such as Bedtime for Bonzo, told … Continue reading “Luke, Obi-Wan, US Foreign Policy: Thoughts on Star Wars Day”
Is there a plastic crisis and what can be done about it?
By Dr Johannes Lohse, Lecturer in Economics The Department of Economics, University of Birmingham As for all environmental problems, there is a problem of unknown unknowns, which could significantly increase the social costs of plastic pollution. Plastic has come a long way. From being predicted a ‘great future’ in the 1967 film The Graduate, to … Continue reading “Is there a plastic crisis and what can be done about it?”
The gender pay gap is linked to broader wage inequality – and both require urgent action
By Karen Rowlingson, Professor of Social Policy Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham According to data from the recent gender pay-gap reporting exercise almost eight out of 10 companies and public-sector bodies in the UK pay men more than women, with women being paid a median hourly rate in 2017 that … Continue reading “The gender pay gap is linked to broader wage inequality – and both require urgent action”
Trust in Face-to-Face Diplomacy
By Nicholas J. Wheeler, Professor of International Relations Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham President Donald Trump and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, are due to meet for a historic summit in an as yet undisclosed location to try and resolve the nuclear stand-off on the Korean peninsula. For academics … Continue reading “Trust in Face-to-Face Diplomacy”
20 Years since the Good Friday Agreement: What we can learn from Northern Ireland’s Peace Process
By Dr Giuditta Fontana, Leverhulme Fellow Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS), University of Birmingham On 10th of April 2018, former negotiators gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The Agreement put an end to three decades of what are known as Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’, which resulted in over 3,500 deaths … Continue reading “20 Years since the Good Friday Agreement: What we can learn from Northern Ireland’s Peace Process”
Criticality not Commemoration: responding to the BBC airing Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech
By Chris Allen, Lecturer in Social Policy Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham The decision by the BBC to air Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech in full, in commemoration of its 50th anniversary, is nothing less than bewildering. Widely acknowledged as one of the most provocative and racist public speeches in … Continue reading “Criticality not Commemoration: responding to the BBC airing Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech”
The adoption itch: time to scratch below the surface
By Simon Cardy, School of Social Policy Associate Social Work Teaching Partnership, a partnership between University of Birmingham and other local authorities Controversies in adoption, particularly around race, have been an issue since the Major government, in what Paul Garrett describes in his recent book Welfare Words as an ‘itching’ pre-occupation of governments with child adoption. … Continue reading “The adoption itch: time to scratch below the surface”
Citizens UK pledge, a catalyst for social change and community benefit
By Dr Catherine Durose, Institute of Local Government Studies Reader in Policy Sciences at the University of Birmingham “The use of pledges in community organising provide a different way of doing politics, a set of political tactics to build community power…” Citizens UK bring together locally-rooted member institutions, in the fields of education, community, trade union … Continue reading “Citizens UK pledge, a catalyst for social change and community benefit”