Re-opening Schools– why I think it is too much of a risk to all

By Colin Diamond CBE, Professor of Education Leadership School of Education, University of Birmingham “The best school leaders will want to do the right thing: balancing the needs of children and the well-being of staff in the full knowledge of how their local community is faring under lockdown.” This week the narrative to get our … Continue reading “Re-opening Schools– why I think it is too much of a risk to all”

Are leaders immune from coronavirus failure?

By Professor David Hudson, Director, Developmental Leadership Program  International Development Department, University of Birmingham Originally posted as a blog piece for DLP. All eyes are on national leaders and their administrations and advisors at the moment. To be clear, in such a complex, global emergency, this is not the only space of leadership – leadership … Continue reading “Are leaders immune from coronavirus failure?”

Birmingham Strikes Back

By Professor Paul Jackson and Professor Scott Lucas, School of Government Dr Amaury Triaud, School of Physics and Astronomy Dr Luisa Orsini, School of Biosciences  Last November, at the University of Birmingham we held a Star Wars themed event as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.  Our academics brought to light areas of … Continue reading “Birmingham Strikes Back”

How do we get out of lockdown? The five Cs of a realistic exit strategy

By Professor Peter Hupe, Honorary Senior Research Fellow School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham In times of crisis, people tend to look upward. They expect that elected leaders will get them out of the crisis. In turn, political authorities and public officials tend to adopt a straightforwardly top-down approach when exercising control. This ‘hierarchical … Continue reading “How do we get out of lockdown? The five Cs of a realistic exit strategy”

3 ways Covid-19 is helping to shine a spotlight on care workers

By Nick Le Mesurier and  Dr Denise Tanner  Department of Social Work and Social Care, University of Birmingham “The care worker may be the only person they see all day or even all week. It is not just the help with the basics of personal care that is important – getting washed, dressed and to … Continue reading “3 ways Covid-19 is helping to shine a spotlight on care workers”

Britain’s “Police State” and the Dangers of Everyday Authoritarianism

By  Dr Jonathan Fisher, International Development Department  School of Government, University of Birmingham The Covid-19 crisis is exposing the shape and character of authoritarianism across the globe, including in some of the world’s most longstanding democracies. It is critical for us to rethink how we see, and respond to, “authoritarianism” as practice in light of … Continue reading “Britain’s “Police State” and the Dangers of Everyday Authoritarianism”