British Academy Review• 26
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ISSN 2047-1866 B R itis BRITISH ACADEMY REVIEW • ISSUE 26 • SUMMER 2015 H aca British Academy Review • 26 DE The articles in this issue give a flavour of the range of 35 British Academy events M activities undertaken by the British Academy in the last six Y REV months. And there are also articles showcasing the work of 36 Fairy tales at the British Academy British Academy-supported early and mid career academics. Claire Pascolini-Campbell I EW 40 Under the microscope: 1 The British Academy New discoveries in British Renaissance art • Tarnya Cooper and Charlotte Bolland 26 2 An irresistible argument NEW Nicholas Stern 46 History books from the British Academy DISCOVERIES 5 Interview: Alun Evans 47 An Eastern Mediterranean region like never before Neophytos Loizides 12 The British Academy Debates IN BRITISH 50 Digital communication technologies 13 Understanding society and the Occupy movement Michaela Benzeval and Nick Buck Anastasia Kavada RENAISSANCE 17 Count us in! 54 Battling the gods ART Also Quantitative skills for a new generation Tim Whitmarsh 20 The Race Relations Act @ 50 conference: 58 A newly identified Scottish Boethius manuscript: Meeting Hitler’s Where were you? Rethinking Scotland’s intellectual and literary Iyiola Solanke culture in the Middle Ages biographer Kylie Murray 22 How terrorist groups ‘learn’: Innovation and adaptation in political violence 64 A history of early modern Catholicism in a single How Andrew Mumford object: John Hay’s manuscript Apologia (c.1598) Jan Machielsen 26 Ian Kershaw in conversation terrorists with Diarmaid MacCulloch Cover: Katherine Parr, c.1545, attributed to Master John. learn National Portrait Gallery (NPG 4451) Summer 2015 ISSN 2047-1866 B R itis BRITISH ACADEMY REVIEW • ISSUE 26 • SUMMER 2015 H aca British Academy Review • 26 DE The articles in this issue give a flavour of the range of 35 British Academy events M activities undertaken by the British Academy in the last six Y REV months. And there are also articles showcasing the work of 36 Fairy tales at the British Academy British Academy-supported early and mid career academics. Claire Pascolini-Campbell I EW 40 Under the microscope: 1 The British Academy New discoveries in British Renaissance art • Tarnya Cooper and Charlotte Bolland 26 2 An irresistible argument NEW Nicholas Stern 46 History books from the British Academy DISCOVERIES 5 Interview: Alun Evans 47 An Eastern Mediterranean region like never before Neophytos Loizides 12 The British Academy Debates IN BRITISH 50 Digital communication technologies 13 Understanding society and the Occupy movement Michaela Benzeval and Nick Buck Anastasia Kavada RENAISSANCE 17 Count us in! 54 Battling the gods ART Also Quantitative skills for a new generation Tim Whitmarsh 20 The Race Relations Act @ 50 conference: 58 A newly identified Scottish Boethius manuscript: Meeting Hitler’s Where were you? Rethinking Scotland’s intellectual and literary Iyiola Solanke culture in the Middle Ages biographer Kylie Murray 22 How terrorist groups ‘learn’: Innovation and adaptation in political violence 64 A history of early modern Catholicism in a single How Andrew Mumford object: John Hay’s manuscript Apologia (c.1598) Jan Machielsen 26 Ian Kershaw in conversation terrorists with Diarmaid MacCulloch Cover: Katherine Parr, c.1545, attributed to Master John. learn National Portrait Gallery (NPG 4451) Summer 2015 The British Academy he British Academy, established by Royal Charter in 1902, is the UK’s national academy for the humanities Tand social sciences. It is funded by a Government grant, through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Academy is an independent, self-governing organisation of 1,000 Fellows (with a further 300 overseas) elected for their distinction in research. The British Academy’s mission is: to inspire, recognise and support high achievement in the humanities and social sciences throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value. The British Academy’s work is shaped by six strategic priorities. 1. Championing the Humanities and Social Sciences Our objective is to take a lead in representing the humanities and social sciences, promoting their interests and vigorously upholding their value. Officers and Senior Staff of the British Academy 2. Advancing Research Our objective is to provide distinctive and complementary President: Lord Stern of Brentford funding opportunities for outstanding people and Vice-Presidents: innovative research. • Professor Ash Amin, Foreign Secretary • Professor John Baines, Vice-President 3. Fostering Excellence (British Academy Sponsored Institutes and Societies) Our objective is to strengthen, extend and diversify ways • Professor Alan Bowman, Vice-President (Humanities) of recognising and celebrating high achievement in the • Professor Dame Vicki Bruce, Vice-President humanities and social sciences. (Public Engagement) 4. Strengthening Policy Making • Professor Colin Crouch, Vice-President (Social Sciences) Our objective is to provide independent contributions to • Professor Michael Fulford, Treasurer (until Nov. 2015) public policy development, enhancing the policy making • Professor Roger Kain, Vice-President process. (Research and HE Policy) • Professor Iain McLean, Vice-President (Public Policy) 5. Engaging with the Public • Professor Mary Morgan, Vice-President (Publications) Our objective is to stimulate public interest in and • Professor Sarah Worthington, Treasurer (after Nov. 2015) understanding of the humanities and social sciences, and to contribute to public debate. Chief Executive: Alun Evans 6. Promoting Internationalism Director of Communications and External Relations: Our objective is to promote UK research in international Tim Brassell arenas, to foster a global approach across UK research and Director of Finance and Corporate Services: to provide leadership in developing global research links Robert Hopwood and expertise. Director of Research Funding and Policy: Vivienne Hurley Further information about the work of the Academy can be found via www.britishacademy.ac.uk Director of Communications and External Relations: Tim Brassell Director of Development: Jo Hopkins 1 An irresistible argument NICHOLAS STERN a powerful story to tell about the importance of research In his address to the Annual General Meeting on for innovation, growth and quality of life. Research is, 16 July 2015, Lord Stern of Brentford presented the of course, important in its own right as well as for its case for continued investment in the humanities and practical benefits. It is natural that governments will social sciences. This article is an edited version of that want to prioritise those benefits, especially at a time of Presidential Address. major economic challenges. Here our argument is surely irresistible: it is knowledge that drives innovation and growth, and enables us to prosper wisely. It is important major event this year was, of course, the General to stress that prosperity has many dimensions, not all of Election. Following the outcome of the Election, I them easily measurable, and not to forget the ‘wisely’. A have sought to engage with the new Government This is not just about economic growth, important as and its policies. I have exchanged correspondence with that is – it is about quality of life and community and the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, the full range of human flourishing – the things that are and it is clear that the role of the British Academy and at the front of the humanities and social sciences. its ability to contribute the best of scholarship to help In the past few weeks I can report that – in consultation examine the great issues of our time is well understood. with the Cabinet Secretary – the British Academy has There was a special Budget last week. The Chancellor drawn together senior policy-makers, Fellows and affirmed continued support for research excellence. other experts to discuss ways in which policy could We know that he is personally committed to science be developed to tackle two major national challenges: and research – and that can only be encouraging – as how to improve the UK’s productivity (on which the is the Prime Minister, as I know from my membership Government released a policy paper last week),2 and how of the Council for Science and Technology, the highest to respond to rising levels of obesity, especially among advisory body on science and research. the young. We plan to engage further with both issues We will not know the outcome for the ‘science this coming autumn. budget’ – which funds research in universities, including humanities and social sciences, and also the national academies1 – until the Government Spending Review Building a stronger future in the autumn. The new Minister for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson, has declined to be drawn on Yesterday I joined with Presidents of our sister national likely funding levels, but it was encouraging that the academies in an appearance before the new Commons science budget was excluded from in-year cuts recently Science and Technology Committee. We followed the announced. BIS – the Department for Business, Inno- Minister, in what to my mind was powerful symbolism, vation and Skills, which funds universities and research recognising that the four academies speak for the research – has to shoulder major cuts in its budget. I understand community, and that they speak with one voice. We were that efforts are being made within BIS to accommodate able to reinforce the message