bbkThe Birkbeck magazine Issue 20, Summer 2006

Not a big fan? How the west wasn’t won over by the changing face of Japan bbk Issue 20 Part of the University of London, Birkbeck is a world-class research institution, a vibrant centre of academic engagement and excellence, and London’s leading provider of flexible evening education for mature students.

Welcome to the new look BBK. Contents We were delighted so many of you filled in the readers' survey. The design struck you as an TEACHING & RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS ALUMNI NEWS important factor in BBK's Full of eastern promise 1 Fry filming 13 success, with comments such as Innovative project to extend Stephen Fry visits Birkbeck to “very readable and user-friendly” teaching provision film for his new TV series and “professional and well- presented”, with one reader Passport to teaching 2 Gold standard 15 saying, “thanks to all concerned Teacher training for the refugee Julia Goldsworthy MP on how for taking such care over it”. community Birkbeck changed her life

For many, BBK provides a strong Class act 6 Open return 18 sense of community, with answers The only part-time theatre studies Graduates volunteer to give including “it's great to maintain degree in central London advice at Open Evening connections” and “it enables a feeling of camaraderie”. One summed it up with the line: “I like COLLEGE NEWS FEATURES feeling part of an academic family Green square 10 Those 'crazy' Japanese 22 I really admire.” Another said “it Torrington Square landscaping Voyeuristic obsession reduces confirms and continues my good completed Japanese culture to a freak show opinion of Birkbeck”. Fundraising financial boost 11 Culture clash or Asian cool? 26 In this issue we showcase the Birkbeck awarded grant to Avtar Brah explores our views innovative Birkbeck East project expand development work of the Asian community (page 1) and talk to Julia Goldsmith (page 15) about how Thumbs up for part-timers 11 Networked society 28 Birkbeck helped her into the London employers positive about New technologies change Liberal Democrat cabinet team. part-time study, says survey how we communicate

As always, we look forward to All hail the taxi 12 The limits of American Empire 30 hearing your comments. Please Birkbeck cab helps raise The imperial episode in US write to us at the address on awareness foreign policy has failed the inside back page.

Cover photograph: Geisha holding a folding fan (Jupiter Images) Full of eastern promise Innovative projects win £8.7m HEFCE funding to extend teaching provision in London

Birkbeck has been awarded £5m by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to take its flexible, evening teaching provision to east London, which has the lowest higher education participation levels in the London region. This ground-breaking project, known as Birkbeck East, aims to extend higher education into the heart of the 'hard to reach' communities by using Birkbeck's expertise to develop part-time, evening, undergraduate degrees offered locally in east London. Birkbeck will work closely with the University of East London (UEL), which enjoys excellent local partnerships and is recognised as a leader in widening participation. Birkbeck East will extend participation in east London by attracting new students who would not otherwise engage with higher develop pathways and credit academic programmes with paid education. Birkbeck and UEL will transfer agreements for students work and family responsibilities, it co-ordinate course development, across a number of further and is vital to offer effective part-time ensuring complementary provision higher education institutions. provision that meets the needs of by subject and time of day, The Master of Birkbeck, our communities. We are delighted increasing students' choice, and Professor David Latchman, says: to be working with our partners at enhancing opportunities for “We are delighted that HEFCE is Birkbeck on this exciting initiative.” retention and progression. A high demonstrating such support for Market research by Birkbeck priority will be the creation of new Birkbeck through the Birkbeck shows there is sufficient market structures to help students East and the Linking London potential of part-time students to progress between courses and initiatives. These new projects give achieve the Birkbeck East goal of levels of study. For example, routes contemporary meaning to George recruiting 200 FTE (full-time will be available from the new Birkbeck's original vision of higher equivalent) students in the 2007- Birkbeck Foundation Public Sector education for non-traditional 08 academic year. By 2011-2012 it Studies to the UEL BSc Social students. With our partners, is hoped there will be around 520 Policy Research. Programmes are particularly the University of East FTEs. The project will also aim to most likely to be in the subject London, we hope to make a recruit up to 1,000 continuing areas of management, IT and significant contribution to local education and professional community development. economic development by building development students, giving a Birkbeck is also the lead relationships with local employers, total of 1,700 by 2011-12. institution for the Linking including the public sector.” Initially Birkbeck East will rent London: Lifelong Learning Professor Michael Thorne, Vice- Above: Busy space, with a long-term aim to be Network (LLLLN), which has been Chancellor of the University of East commuters head based in a purpose-built facility to Stratford, as will awarded a further £3.7m by London, comments: “With more and Birkbeck in 2007 in Stratford, signalling Birkbeck's HEFCE. Linking London aims to more students balancing their (JD Moore) commitment to the area.

Teaching & research 1 Passport to teaching New graduate level programme set up for the refugee community with Home Office funding

A part-time teacher training the military dictatorship when I programme for refugees has been was a university student. Many launched by Birkbeck. The Passport people were killed. It’s not a very to Teaching Plus programme – a nice experience, to be forced to nationally recognised postgraduate leave one’s home, but once you are level certificate in teaching in faced with that situation you have lifelong learning – enables refugees to make your own way.” in Greater London to access One of the students on Passport teaching opportunities in post- to Teaching Plus, and a class rep, compulsory education, both in the is Alem Mengesha, 34. She is also UK and overseas. from Ethiopia and hopes to In partnership with Reconnect, eventually teach IT. “This course a not-for-profit organisation changes people’s lives and it working for graduate refugees, means a lot to me,” she says. “It Birkbeck was awarded £50,000 has influenced me very much and from the Home Office Refugee built my confidence.” Integration Fund to launch the The second class rep, Albert one-year programme this year. Tadiesse Pokam, 31, says the Students spend one day a week course “gives you an atmosphere at Birkbeck, plus one day a week where you can easily discuss or equivalent on teacher practice things and we learn a lot from placement. each other”. Albert, originally from Course co-ordinator Jane Hoy Cameroon, adds: “I left my country the art department. “I lost my job submitted the proposal to the because I was involved in the and everything and I had to start Home Office in collaboration with political set-up after the election from the beginning, but I’m now Theodros Abraham, Birkbeck in 1997. I talked to journalists, getting some support, for example, lecturer and Director of Reconnect. which I wasn’t supposed to do in a this course is very helpful for me “We felt teaching should be given dictatorship. I was endangered but and we understand each other.” priority for this project because it’s I’m now settled in the UK.” Albert Theodros stresses that his work not an area where there has been is the first student on the course to with Birkbeck and Reconnect much investment within the be offered a teaching post. “tries to give refugees a voice. refugee community,” says Theodros. Similarly, John Morales, 38, is There is an international “There are 18 students on the happy in the UK, having lived here obligation to provide refuge to programme this year from nine for 12 years. “This course is very those who need to be protected, countries,” he says. “We’ve done a important for me because I’m but on the one hand, those who lot of work to spread the word in thinking more specifically about advocate on behalf of refugees the refugee community, and we’re how to prepare a class,” he says. often ask people to feel sorry for hoping that people can help “The opportunity to get a proper refugees, or emphasise the support it in the future because qualification is a big issue.” contribution refugees are making we need resources for the second- Georgette Ahia Fausino Roro, 38, to the country. On the other hand, and third-year programmes.” from Sudan, says that empathising the tabloids write sensational Theodros left Ethiopia, his home with fellow classmates is a key news ignoring the underlying country, in the late 1970s and lived factor. “That’s one of the best issues, so they are not doing as a refugee in Kenya until 1979. things about it. We are working justice to their readers. The issues He came to the UK on a scholarship our way through together because have to be looked at within the Above: Theodros and completed a BA in Economics we’ve had similar experiences.” Abraham (Jerry Mason). wider context of the problem we and MA in Development Economics Her classmate, Mojgan For details, email have between developed and [email protected] at Liverpool and East Anglia. Fakharjan, used to be a university or visit developing countries and its “I left Ethiopia in the midst of teacher in Iran for eight years in www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/lll impact on global displacement.”

2 Teaching & research Birkbeck tops research league The College beats all UK universities in research funding league table

Birkbeck has beaten such Honour and prestigious universities as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and UCL to glory for become the top higher education institution in a league table of crystallographer research funding success*. Research Fortnight analysts from Professor Helen Saibil FRS has the Research Research newspaper been elected a Fellow of the Royal monitored how good institutions Society – an honour that is the are at attracting funding for their UK equivalent of receiving the research based on 2004-5 data Nobel Prize. from seven research councils, The Royal Society is the world’s including the Medical Research oldest scientific academy in Council, the Arts and Humanities continuous existence, at the Research Council and the forefront of enquiry and discovery Biotechnology and Biological since its foundation in 1660. Sciences Research Council. “The Fellowship mainly reflects Birkbeck was successful in 48% the work I’ve done since arriving of its grant applications – well at Birkbeck and owes a great deal above the national average of 25% to my present and former for universities. Next in line was colleagues at the College,” says the University of St Andrews and Professor Saibil from the School Goldsmith’s College, both with of Crystallography. “As soon as I 44%, with Oxford coming in at 35% arrived, around 1989, interesting and UCL at 30%. things started to happen. My Professor Fiona Macmillan, the colleagues were enthusiastic Pro-Vice-Master for Research, they owe a great debt of gratitude about developing the field of says: “We are very proud of this to our Research Grants and electron microscopy and several latest affirmation of the high Contracts Office, under the people approached me about their quality research carried out at leadership of Liz Francis, who projects. In particular, a first look Birkbeck, which comes hot on the works with great professionalism at the molecular chaperone heels of the Queen’s Anniversary and grace in order to support protein GroEL changed the Prize for the Centre for Brain Birkbeck’s vibrant academic direction of my research. It Function and Development.” research culture.” continues to be a major theme of “It is very pleasing to see that The research councils decided my work on protein folding and this success is not confined to to publish individual success misfolding, which underlie basic senior members of academic rates for the first time this year processes in health and disease.” staff,” she continues. “More junior with the aim of cutting down on Professor Saibil adds that the colleagues have also made unnecessary waste due to the friendly and supportive significant contributions to this processing of poor quality environment, and good students, achievement, which is consistent submissions for research funding. postdocs and collaborators, have with Birkbeck’s policy of allowed her research to flourish. supporting and developing the * This is comparing Birkbeck with “It is a huge pleasure to get such research potential of our other higher education Above: Crystals of a recognition, but also a bit institutions and excludes research academics at all stages of their DNA repair protein overwhelming. I don’t publish a institutes. To view the full league attached to a piece of research careers.” table as a PDF, visit damaged DNA. huge amount – I think it is more “Warm congratulations are due For details about important to have something www.bbk.ac.uk/news/researchfort Crystallography at to all our grant holders. However, night.pdf Birkbeck, visit significant to say before academic staff also know that www.cryst.bbk.ac.uk completing a paper.”

Teaching & research 3 Student dig explores secrets of ancient Ewell Local MP visits the site thought to be a religious complex

A Birkbeck training excavation in make a step-change in their career Ewell sought to reassess evidence without having the often great of Roman activity found in the difficulty of giving up work.” 1970s. The work focused on Hatch One such student is Claire Cock- Furlong, where earlier digging Starkey (28), in the third year of her revealed pottery, glass and coins, BA History and Archaeology and a together with traces of a stone full-time as an assistant editor. building and a 14-foot deep chalk “I chose Birkbeck because I could shaft containing the bones of study and have a full-time job,” dogs, which may have been offered says Claire. “The first time I did a to the Roman gods as sacrifices. degree I regretted not doing history These discoveries hint at the and archaeology, so I thought I’d go existence of a religious complex on back and do what I wanted to do.” the higher ground overlooking Then there are people who simply Stane Street – the Roman main road signed up for the practical dig from London to Chichester – and experience, such as Tessa Gittens: the Roman settlement of Ewell. “I’m enjoying it enormously. It is a Co-director of the site, Birkbeck’s wonderful interest in retirement Harvey Sheldon says: “Our aims and it’s nice to be part of it.” Sally were to locate the find spots Redhead, also retired, adds: precisely and characterise the site. “What’s really impressive is how There appear to be a good number the local community is so involved. of shafts and other pits with ritual It’s a real collaborative effort.” placed deposits. The stone wall “There is a good crowd of found previously seems to be part students here,” continues Harvey. of a large Late Roman oven. It does “Some are tasting archaeology for look like there were shrines and the first time and some are more deliberate attempts to experienced. They find it Above: The bearded communicate with the underworld: interesting and obviously that face of Silenus, one of Grant boost the lost gods of Roman feasts and ceremonies would not enthusiasm communicates itself.” Ewell, looks out from be unexpected. A report is being The dig was carried out between this pottery fragment for labs prepared and the National Trust 22 April and 7 May, led by Harvey found in the area Geography research was given a will use the findings to manage Sheldon of Birkbeck and Jon Cotton welcome boost with the opening Hatch Furlong’s archaeology.” of the Epsom and Ewell Local of joint Birkbeck/UCL The local Conservative MP for History and Archaeology Society/ thermodynamics and fluids Epsom and Ewell and shadow Museum of London. The excavation laboratories at UCL in March. transport secretary, Chris Grayling, was funded by grants from Surrey Dr Diane Horn, a senior lecturer visited the dig, along with a County Council, Epsom and Ewell in Birkbeck’s School of Geography, number of local school children History and Archaeology Society, shares the facilities, which were and visitors to site open days. Surrey Archaeological Society and funded by a £850,000 Science Chris says he was “intrigued” by the Council for British Archaeology Research Investment Fund II the work. “Something like this South East. The work was completed grant. New equipment for the lab brings local history to life in a way on behalf of the National Trust, who will measure waves and current that no text book could ever do.” own the site. velocities. “It’s exciting that He was equally impressed by the For details about Archaeology at geography students have access Birkbeck students on the site. Birkbeck, call 020 7631 6627, to the labs,” says Dr Horn. “I hope “Birkbeck is a wonderful email [email protected] these state-of-the-art facilities institution, it’s unique and a great or visit lead to increased interest in www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/archaeology way of giving people the chance to physical geography at Birkbeck.”

4 Teaching & research Lawful behaviour A deep sense of the sacred nature of life prevents debate of the theoretical issues, says Rosi Braidotti

Distinguished feminist philosopher, ways of dying. There are obvious Rosi Braidotti, is visiting Birkbeck health issues to look at, for as a Leverhulme Trust Professor at example HIV, but also traditional the School of Law until October. diseases like malaria and TB, plus Born in Italy, raised in Australia, the more silent epidemics, such as educated in Paris and based at the eating disorders, depression and University of Utrecht in the suicide. It is very interesting to see Netherlands, she is delighted with how complicated it is for the her appointment. policy-makers to relate to these “I just love Birkbeck. I was not issues. I see it as a structural prepared for the intellectual problem that challenges our Above: Leverhulme the questions. It also corners all Trust Professor, content of the School of Law. It’s political economy and shows the Rosi Braidotti the oppositions into a position of very much a community of limitations of our modes of alleged immorality and nihilism, On 14 October Rosi will scholars and there is a great governance. So it became a project convene an event at which is not what I am defending synergy with the Birkbeck Institute on new ways of dying, which the Tate Modern with at all. I want more complexity in Donna Haraway as the for the Humanities,” says Rosi, sounds depressing but it isn’t.” lead speaker, on the this discussion about ways of whose Transpositions: On “I would also like to look at the isssue of ‘forensic dying. There is a great deal of Nomadic Ethics was published by variations round the theme of futures and ways of horror being done in the name dying’. For details, see Polity in February this year. suicide, including youth suicide. If the Tate Modern talks of the sacredness of life. This Her Leverhulme research at not active suicide, then a desire to programme translates into extra pressure to Birkbeck with Dr Patrick Hanafin step aside from life: disaffection, pull through whatever trauma, is focusing on ways of dying. She apathy, melancholia. Our entire depression or difficulty people explains: “It looks at how modes of way of thinking about one’s right have – as if it was a moral flaw regulating the body – also known to ‘make something of your life’ is to be depressed. In fact, I think at in philosophy as ‘bio-politics’ and saturated with Christian times it is the only decent reaction in my work get approached in assumptions. There is a deep to the world we are living in. We terms of gender and ethnicity – sense of the sacred nature of life need to look at death as a multi- engender new relationships to that prevents proper discussion of layed phenomenon.”

QUEEN’S PRIZE

The Queen presented Birkbeck with its Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education on 16 February. She is pictured with Professor Martin Eimer (far right) and PhD students (right to left) Evelyne Mercure, Dagmara Annaz, Caspar Addyman and Sarah Snoxall. It was awarded to the Centre for Brain Function and Development for ‘Neuro- psychological work with the very young: understanding brain function and cognitive development’. (Paul Mellor Photography)

Teaching & research 5 working on a monograph on the politics of costume and make-up. “We’ve grown used to the dullness of realism in which actors play people like themselves, and it’s easy to forget how central cross-dressing is to the practice of theatre,” says Dr Monks. “Theatre’s attraction to the dangerous, the fantastical, is perfectly expressed through the act of crossing. What is more fabulously theatrical than Garbo in a tuxedo, and indeed, more dangerous than J Edgar Hoover in a basque and fishnets?” “Cross-dressing harnesses what is already an intrinsic part of theatre – the conspiracy of imagination between audience and performer,” she continues. “It celebrates the ability to see what is not there. Cross-dressing is perfectly suited to the vagaries of the theatrical imagination, and clothing and make-up become magic talismans in the evocative and provocative exchanges between actor and audience.” Dr Monks adds: “We are structuring courses around Class act theatre trips (which students schedule) and visits from guest Birkbeck launches only part-time theatre speakers. Our location in central studies degree in central London London means we can really engage with the cutting edge and the historical simultaneously: it’s Birkbeck is offering theatre fans such as Shunt’s Tropicana at an amazing opportunity.” the unique opportunity to study London Bridge station; and the The programme (BA Theatre BA Theatre Studies combined with Globe’s new artistic directorship Studies and English, and BA English or Humanities part-time in are all changing the theatrical Theatre Studies and Humanities) the evenings in central London. landscape of the city.” will be of interest to those who The BA introduces students to the BA Theatre Studies is aimed at work in the profession as concepts that form the basis of people who are passionate about performers, directors, designers theatre practice, and explores a theatre and live performance and and administrators, as well as to diverse range of theatre histories, want to know more. Topics of people who wish to move into practices, companies and contexts, study include the West End, the another career, such as teaching or with a focus on contemporary ethics of directing, censorship and media work. The modules will also theatre in London. anti-theatricality, political theatre, interest those who want a “This is an amazing time to histories and theories of the University of London degree and study in London, when theatre has audience and cross-dressing in Above: Sir Ian are interested in the arts and become more vibrant than ever,” performance – Dr Monks’ area of McKellen as Widow theatre. The course is run by the Twankey in the says Dr Aoife Monks, programme research expertise. In particular, London Old Vic’s School of English and Humanities, director. “Verbatim theatre, such her work focuses on the use of production of Aladdin where the teaching is rated as (Manuel Harlan). as Bloody Sunday at the Tricycle cross-dressing in the plays of For more details, visit excellent and its research has been Theatre; site specific theatre, female theatre directors and she is www.bbk.ac.uk/eh awarded the top grade of 5-star.

6 Teaching & research The right path Arts management master’s degree adapts to the changing needs of the creative sector

Birkbeck is expanding its MA in general and specialist skills to Arts Management programme in meet the far reaching challenges autumn 2006 to provide new of arts education, urban renewal, specialist pathways in curating, exhibition development and arts education, arts marketing and community engagement.” cultural policy. The highly The master’s degree, which can be respected MA continues to provide studied part-time or full-time, students with a firm foundation in allows students to combine theory arts policy and arts management, and practice through a combination as well as offering new modules, of hands-on projects, essays, site such as Writing for Curators, Arts visits and work placements in arts Education in Action, Managing the organisations. There is also the Digital Arts and Arts Management opportunity for postgraduate First woman and Urban Renewal. doctoral research. “Arts management is a rapidly A full range of arts management receives Left: Professor growing and changing field,” says courses from access level to Donna Dickenson Godfrey Brandt, programme continuing professional Spinoza Lens (Geoff Wilson) Below: Godfrey director, who is expanding the MA development are also available, Donna Dickenson, Professor of Brandt, director of with Cameron Cartiere. “The including a new Foundation Degree the expanding MA Medical Ethics and Humanities, Arts Management cultural industries are booming in Arts and Cultural Industries has become the first female programme and new arts managers need both Management. This new type of academic to win the international undergraduate degree is designed Spinoza Lens award. A frequent to equip students with the practical high-profile commentator on ethics, skills demanded by the sector, she has had direct influence on along with the academic knowledge public education and health policy. to continue onto the final years of The Spinoza prizes are well the honours degree if desired. known in the scientific community, The two and a half year with the Spinoza Lens awarded in programme features compulsory recognition of commitment to modules on Living London: Arts, furthering public debate. It is Culture and Social Policy, and named after the Dutch philosopher, Lifelong Learning and Professional Baruch de Spinoza, a strong Development Planning: Learning supporter of tolerance. for Life, Work and Study. Professor Dickenson, Executive The creative sector is the third Director of the Birkbeck Institute biggest London employer, behind for the Humanities, says: “It was tourism and the City, with a good the most affirming event of my reputation for creating new jobs. academic career. I am very deeply honoured to become the first For details, call 020 7631 6691, female recipient.” email [email protected] The award jury stated: “Time and or visit again, Dickenson strives to express www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/artsmanage the diversity of human values. Her Arts Management Summer criticism of universal notions ... is School: A summer school on no reason to abandon them. On the Contemporary Exhibition Creation contrary, by assigning them other takes place between Monday 10–Friday 14 July, see inside meanings, she aims to give existing back cover for details discourses a different turn.”

Teaching & research 7 character; and as a singing actor, this is no less the case. On the eve of the first show, a sense of excitement is a component of any live performance: however, I can honestly say that singing from one of Verdi’s great works was simultaneously thrilling and terrifying. What if I fall off my podium? What if my knees buckle under the pressure? What if I open my mouth and nothing comes out? All these questions racing through one’s head just prior to the raising of the curtain, and then – the first note, and the search deep inside one’s core to give of oneself to the music and the expectant audience. The Diploma in Performance Studies: Opera at Birkbeck is unique in the UK, and the performances at the Cochrane are the culmination of The smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd Grainne Gillis – a student of the Diploma in Performance Studies: Opera – on playing the Egyptian Princess in Aida for Birkbeck’s From Britten to Verdi showcase

Nothing can quite prepare you for accomplished and experienced this unique status. Opera is the only that first moment when you step répétiteur, she continually art form which comprises all the into a theatre and onto a stage as a inspired each and every one of us major performance practices: performer. As a professional actress, to never settle for anything less acting, music and movement. At the I have walked out hundreds of than our own personal best – and beginning of the course we were times onto dozens of different that changed and grew every time 20 students with varying degrees of stages, and that first step, with its we had to stand up and perform. experience and ambitions. However, subsequent adrenalin rush, is now Our operatic training was for three nights only from 11-13 almost like an immediate reflex composed of several different May, we all stepped beyond action which prepares one for the elements, each vital to performance. ourselves to experience a different ensuing rehearsals and From professionals with years of realm of being; and, whatever our performances. The moment I experience, we had sessions in post-Birkbeck experience, all of us stepped into the auditorium of the movement, acting and languages. now have known what it truly Cochrane Theatre for the first Presiding over the performance were means to transform. rehearsal of From Britten to Verdi Liz and opera director, Stuart Barker. it felt right. And so it should have. The collaboration between our The Performance Studies programme, in the Faculty of To say that our preparation for course and the graduating design Continuing Education, comprises a the showcase was thorough is the students at Central St Martins suite of part-time courses understatement of the century. College of Art and Design was designed to develop key performance skills, expand integral to our performances, Our indefatigable course director, knowledge and encourage clarity Liz Rowe, had left no stone beyond the months of intensive in expression in a range of areas: unturned in her mission to and exhaustive preparation. As Above: Birkbeck currently dance, opera or acting. performers on stage prepare us for the realities of an actor, costume is often the key For details, call 020 7631 6640 or at the Cochrane visit www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/ps operatic performance. An ingredient in inhabiting a Theatre (Jerry Mason)

8 Teaching & research Shining bright Research success and outreach projects keep the College in the spotlight, writes the Master of Birkbeck, Professor David Latchman

In this issue I’m delighted to report four Fellowships across the whole which invited Birkbeck to prepare a number of research successes. breadth of the College, with the an application to lead a Lifelong Firstly, we topped a new league School of English once again Learning Network (LLN). This table which records the success successful and Fellowships also would bring together research- rate of each university in its going to the Schools of Earth intensive institutions, such as UCL applications for research funding Sciences, History and Psychology. and King’s College, with to the government-supported Alongside these successes, I institutions with a widening Research Councils (page 3). It is, want to congratulate Professor participation agenda. of course, immensely impressive Helen Saibil (Crystallography) on The aim would be to smooth that our score exceeds that of any becoming a Fellow of the Royal progression routes among London other higher education institution. Society (page 3). This is an institutions in the network, The strength of our research enormous distinction and a highly enabling students to move easily across a number of different areas appropriate recognition of Helen’s from further to higher education, was also demonstrated in the research excellence. between different universities, and results of our application for Of course, Birkbeck is unique in from part-time to full-time or vice- externally funded Research Council combining research excellence versa, as their needs developed. Academic Fellowships. This scheme with an agenda of outreach and Led by Professor John Annette, aims to pump prime academic widening participation normally this Linking London LLN has careers by providing five-year only found in the new universities become a reality with the award Fellowships. In the first round of that do not have a culture of of £3.7 million from HEFCE to Below: Birkbeck this highly competitive scheme, we continues to achieve intensive research. This unique establish progression routes. obtained a single Fellowship for impressive results combination has been recognised At the same meeting, Birkbeck across a number of our School of English and research areas by the Higher Education Funding was also awarded £5 million to Humanities. This time, we achieved (Birkbeck Photo Unit) Council for England (HEFCE), develop our new Birkbeck East project (page 1). This continues the Birkbeck tradition of bringing higher education to those who are in greatest need of it. In response to a detailed business plan, HEFCE gave Birkbeck almost £1 million to begin immediately on outreach in east London to recruit students who would not otherwise enter university but who could be attracted by part-time study. Initially these students would be taught in leased accommodation, but it is our ultimate aim to open a purpose-built facility in the Stratford area, and HEFCE has provided £4 million towards this. It is vital that we continue to demonstrate we are serious about our mission. This is particularly true as we continue our campaign for proper resourcing of the part- time sector to parallel increased resources for the full-time sector from deferred top-up fees.

Master’s report 9 GREEN SQUARE

The redesign of Torrington Square was celebrated on 15 May. Unveiling a commemorative plaque, Sir Graeme Davies, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, thanked Birkbeck and the other colleges which had contributed to the project, the Institute of Education; the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; the School of Oriental and African Studies; Royal Holloway and University College.

Professor David Latchman, the Master of Birkbeck, thanked Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas – who was chair of the Governors at the start of the project – the University of London, as well as the building designers, Nick Evans Architects, the landscape designers, Elizabeth Banks Associates, and the contractor, Calabasas, for what he called “a magnificent development”. The event closed with Lord Marshall, Chair of Governors, planting a tree plaque in memory of Birkbeck student, Benedetta Ciaccia, who died in the 7July bombings.

Researcher wins award at House of Commons Dr Carolyn Moores awarded De Montfort Medal at the eighth National Science Week

Dr Carolyn Moores is this year’s called neurons. During brain microscopy. “Using electron winner of the prestigious development, they undertake an microscopy, we are able to De Montfort Medal for excellence amazing journey so they can make calculate a molecular map of in science communication. the correct connections. Various doublecortin bound to Dr Moores, based at the School molecules are needed to help microtubules and this helps us of Crystallography, competed with neurons find their way. In to understand how they work her peers at the House of particular, components of the together. Our results help to Commons in a research cytoskeleton – the skeleton of cells explain why doublecortin is an presentation competition. The – are involved. Mutations in the essential molecule during brain event on 13 March formed part doublecortin gene severely affect development.” of National Science Week for this migration and cause She continues: “I’m lucky to be Britain’s top younger scientists, lissencephaly in humans, resulting part of a great team of scientists engineers and technologists. in mental retardation and working in this field of research Dr Moores, a BBSRC David epilepsy. Therefore, doublecortin, and we all rely on and learn from Phillips Fellow, says: “I was a component of the microtubule each other. It is exciting for our surprised and delighted to receive cytoskeleton, is essential but its work to be recognised and I am this award. I learnt a lot from exact function is unclear.” proud to be able to raise the other presenters, so I am sure the To understand its function profile of research at Birkbeck. judges’ decision was difficult.” better, Dr Moores and her team For information about “It is important to take every Describing her work, Dr Moores have used a number of research at Birkbeck, opportunity to talk about what visit adds: “The human brain is built experimental approaches that www.bbk.ac.uk/about/ we do and why we do it to a from billions of specialised cells include biochemistry and electron worldclass non-scientific audience.”

10 Report back Fundraising financial boost A quarter of a million is awarded to Birkbeck to expand development initiatives

Birkbeck has been successful in securing nearly £250,000 to Thumbs up for expand the work of its part-timers development team. The money was made available Employers in London are more in by Universities UK (UUK), a favour of part-time study for their lobbying group for the sector, workers than has been previously to support universities in their thought, says London Higher, an capacity to fundraise more umbrella group of universities professionally and effectively. that promotes higher education. Eighty-four institutions bid for the London Higher’s research report, money, only 27 were successful. ‘Attitudes to part-time study – the The Head of Development and perspective of London employers’, Alumni, Anna Murphy, will now be reveals that 90% of employers able to build her team and surveyed believe that undertaking increase its ability to support the part-time study has a positive College. The money will be payable effect on their employees. Bosses over a three-year period and one also reported that 90% of of the conditions of the grant is employees who undertake part- that the College itself increases staff members and to improve the time study complete their course. investment in its development programme of development activity. The report states that the staff and activity. “The UUK funds will enable us to majority of firms in London Birkbeck went through a identify more potential high-value provide often generous funding two-stage process to secure this donors, whether they are to support their staff who take funding, submitting a three-year individuals or trusts and corporate the part-time route. However, strategic statement for sponsors,” Anna continues. “It will while employers are willing to development, as well as a detailed also allow us to increase the fund job-specific, management, budget and statements of support number of former students IT and health and safety courses, from the Master, the Governors supporting the Alumni Fund.” they are less likely to finance and the Finance Committee. Anna says the development and language and well-being courses. “The College was a strong alumni industry is currently Although most firms allow contender for UUK funding for undergoing huge growth employees time off for part-time many reasons,” says Anna. throughout the UK. study, nearly a third of bosses “Development is supported at the “An effective development and suggest that government subsidies very highest levels, with the Master alumni office can make an would make them more willing to having close involvement with the invaluable contribution to any encourage this mode of study. work of the team. Secondly, university. It can ensure that Some 88% of employers who have students in the part-time sector alumni remain engaged with the tried finding part-time courses for are under-funded in comparison to College and provide mechanisms their employees are successful, their full-time counterparts and for them to support it – whether but the report also shows that therefore need more support from financially or by using their employers’ policies are informal Birkbeck. In addition, the recently influence to promote the College in and often formulated on an ad hoc announced Birkbeck East project is the media or politically. The office Above: Anna Murphy, basis, if policies exist at all. Birkbeck’s Head of unique and innovative, and could can find funds for projects which Development and A telephone survey was benefit significantly from increased are not supported by statutory Alumni (Christina conducted of 385 employers in Panagi) fundraising capacity in the College.” income, and generate funds to Greater London. For employers Birkbeck will use the grant and ensure that the College can support For details about the interested in finding out more Development and the College’s increased investment students from a wide range of Alumni Office, visit about Birkbeck, visit in development to employ four new social and financial backgrounds.” www.bbk.ac.uk/alumni www.business.bbk.ac.uk

Report back 11 Birkbeck campaign wins international marketing award

Birkbeck won a coveted Heist award for the ‘Birkbeck changed my life’ campaign at a gala dinner on 4 April. The international awards are the ‘Oscars’ of higher education marketing, recognising best practice in the profession. The Best Press Advertisement Award was given to Birkbeck because the campaign was “honest, genuine and clever, evoking an emotional response in the audience and positioning All hail the Birkbeck taxi Birkbeck in the mind of the reader” said the judges. The panel Birkbeck cab revs recruitment campaign up a gear were “impressed with how the institution had illustrated a thorough knowledge of its target It is well known that Birkbeck leads Birkbeck’s mission to educate busy Above: The Birkbeck audience – busy Londoners who taxi with the Master, the way on the road to lifelong Londoners. Hopefully its presence Professor David are exposed to multiple marketing learning in London. Now the College in the capital will put Birkbeck in Latchman, in the propositions on a daily basis”. driving seat, in has its very own taxi spreading the the driving seat as London’s only Torrington Square With an increase in Open word about its specialist part-time specialist provider of flexible, (Birkbeck Photo Unit) Evening attendance of almost 35%, higher education on the streets of evening higher education and shift Below: A poster from the results speak for themselves. the award winning the capital for three months, ending student recruitment up a gear in ‘Birkbeck changed Tricia King, Director of External at the beginning of August. time for September.” my life’ campaign Relations, says: The campaign was (JD Moore) The Birkbeck taxi is part of a The taxi driver, Simon Woods, memorable and bold. We are lucky wider marketing campaign says: “I’m getting quite a few to have such a talented group of involving all the London transport people asking about Birkbeck, so staff in External Relations. This is networks, bus, tube and rail. I give them a receipt with the well deserved recognition from The Master of Birkbeck, Professor College’s contact details on the our international peer group.” David Latchman, hailed the arrival back for them to find out more.” of the taxi as a “great vehicle to For those hoping to spot the highlight Birkbeck’s unparalleled Birkbeck taxi, Simon says he track record of successfully spends a lot of time up and down teaching part-time, adult students Euston Road and Tottenham Court face-to-face in the evenings.” Road, and often has his break at Birkbeck’s Marketing Officer, the Russell Square taxi hut. Jonah Duffin, says: “Advertising Birkbeck on a taxi is a great way of Spot the Birkbeck taxi competition: reaching our audience and if you see the taxi, tell us who you are and where you saw it by increasing awareness about what emailing [email protected]. If you Birkbeck has to offer Londoners. are able to take a photo of it too, The image of the London taxi has email us and we will publish it on our website. All emails will be become synonymous with London’s entered into a prize draw urban landscape and fits in with

12 Report back Alumni news

New benefits In praise of scholarships The Development and Alumni Office has secured a new range Following a highly successful of benefits for Birkbeck Society career in property development, members. Visit bbk.ac.uk/alumni Naim Dangoor created the Dangoor or call 020 7631 6563 for details. scholarships. Birkbeck received Book Fri, Sat or Sun night at The £50,000 to disburse as 100 awards Montague Hotel on the Gardens, of £500 to undergraduate students Bloomsbury, for £99 incl VAT. Book for the 2005/6 year. two nights for a free bottle of The College organised an event on champagne. Call 020 7958 7731 30 March to thank Naim Dangoor’s quoting GV Weekend Special. son, David, for his family’s support. 16% off at UCL gym, Bloomsbury Mr Dangoor told the reception he Fitness. Email [email protected] was delighted to see the difference for a letter to take to the gym. his support is making. “He took the Birkbeck alumni are members of time to speak to each student at the National Car Rental Affinity the reception, keen to hear about Scheme. Call 0870 191 6950 their studies and backgrounds,” quoting A099704 for UK hire or says Christopher Benjamin, student 020 857 6166 for international. financial support officer. “It was London Zoo and Whipsnade evident that the scholarship had Wild Animal Park: 20% off for given them a significant boost. alumni and their families when One student described how it had you book 7 days in advance. Call ‘taken a great weight’ off their 020 7449 6235 quoting Birkbeck. shoulders at a time where money 10% off all holidays in Cox and worries may have, otherwise, Kings Travel’s India, Africa, Latin restricted their ability to study.” America, Far East, Middle East, Family Explorer and Eastern Europe brochures. Call 0870 225 Fry filming Zoo’s double 0322 quoting Birkbeck, or visit www.coxandkings.co.uk Birkbeck welcomed Stephen Fry Above: Cordelia Birkbeck College FC marked its Feldman and Stephen People Tree: 10% off Fair Trade to the College on 11 March for Fry take a break from 110th birthday by lifting the clothing. For a catalogue and to his BBC2 series about manic filming (JD Moore) first piece of silverware for two order, call 0845 450 4595 / 020 depression. decades when it beat Pegasus FC 7739 0660, quoting Birkbeck. He was filming a segment about 1-0 in the West End London AFA Visit www.peopletree.co.uk Cordelia Feldman, an MA Creative Divisional Cup 05-06 on 2 April. 50% off at golf courses in the UK Writing student who has manic Originally called Birkbeck and Ireland with Open Fairways depression, to explore the link Crystal Zoo FC, the Zoo faced more membership for £89 (normally between her condition and her cup final action on 14 May and £120). Quote Birk06. Call 028 9076 creativity. Birkbeck’s library staff secured its second trophy of the 9111, visit www.openfairways.com kindly agreed to open its doors season by beating AFC Angel. Cottages4you has 10% off at an hour early to accommodate The team is sponsored by 15,000 self-catering holidays. the production team. External Relations and is funded Visit www.cottages-4-you.co.uk/ Stephen Fry on Manic by the Students’ Union. birkbeck or call 0870 192 1622, Depression will be screened For details, visit the website at quoting BBK10. on BBC2 in the autumn. www.birkbeckcollegefc.co.uk

Alumni news 13 Great expectations Dr Holly Furneaux on how she progressed from an MA to a PhD at Birkbeck and never looked back

Having had a totally positive practical support from the School. experience of Birkbeck’s MA This, and the edited collection that Victorian Studies, I went on to do developed from the conference, was a PhD entitled ‘Homoeroticism in some of the most rewarding the Novels of Charles Dickens’. outcomes of my doctoral study. Staying in the School of English I was also offered training which and Humanities allowed me to helped me to give papers at other continue to work with Sally events. Most notably, I was Ledger, who was wonderfully selected to represent Birkbeck at supportive. It also meant I could the University of California’s get straight into research in an annual ‘Dickens Universe’, a week- (www.19.bbk.ac.uk), under the environment where I was already long retreat in the hilltops of UC editorship of Professor Hilary comfortable, as one of a vibrant Santa Cruz. Sun, sea, sand and Fraser, who set it up to community of postgraduates. Dickens – my personal heaven! disseminate the work of the Although I had been concerned These activities were hugely Centre for Nineteenth-Century that my thesis would be too much beneficial when I came to look for Studies to a wider academic of a solitary activity, I found that an academic job after gaining my audience. the number of postgraduate PhD. In a notoriously competitive I am now in a permanent post as reading groups and departmental job market, I’ve found Birkbeck’s a lecturer in Victorian Studies at lectures kept any feelings of provision of a wider range of the University of Leicester, where isolation and loneliness at bay. necessary skills, beyond the I am working on a book called The School provided lots of scope thesis, invaluable. I particularly Queer Dickens. Already Birkbeck and support for supplementing enjoyed the pleasures of teaching and Leicester have joined up for a research. Along with a fellow Birkbeck’s unique undergraduates. one-day conference on Our Mutual postgraduate, Anne Schwan, I I was also able to work as an Friend, to be held in London on Above: Holly Furneaux organised a successful editorial assistant on the College’s (Birkbeck Photo Unit). Saturday 14 October. For details, international conference on new academic web journal For information about or to talk about any aspect of the School of English ‘Dickens and Sex’, for which we 19: Interdisciplinary Study in and Humanities, visit postgraduate or post-doctoral life, had enormous financial and the Long Nineteenth Century www.bbk.ac.uk/eh contact me at [email protected]

SUPPORTING ROLE Lord Wolfson of Marylebone (pictured) was honoured with a Birkbeck Fellowship at the graduation day for postgraduates on 29 March. He is Chairman of the Trustees of the Wolfson Foundation – a charitable foundation for the advancement of health, education, the arts and humanities. The Wolfson Foundation has a long history of supporting Birkbeck, including funding towards a project to relocate Birkbeck's Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development (CBCD). This will further strengthen Birkbeck's leading status in developmental neuroscience. Also made Fellows at the March ceremonies were art historian Professor Francis Ames-Lewis, and Baroness Sharp of Guildford, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for higher education.

14 Alumni news GOLD STANDARD

Julia Goldsworthy MP talks to BBK about Charles Kennedy, appearing on reality TV and how Birkbeck helped her rise through the ranks to the Liberal Democrat cabinet team

Whether it’s responding to Gordon medal, coming second to singer Brown’s budget as Shadow Chief Javine, and raising over £20,000. Secretary to the Treasury or Fellow contestants included performing gymnastics on national former EastEnders actress TV wearing a green leotard, Julia Michelle Gayle and singers Bernie Goldsworthy doesn’t do things by Nolan and Javine. The women halves. Sometimes, she successfully battled it out for sporting achieves both activities on the supremacy in hammer throwing, same day, thanks to a helicopter swimming, hurdling, sprinting, and good choreography. archery, cycling, kayaking and The youngest MP in England at floor gymnastics – for which Julia 27, Julia was promoted in the memorably danced to ‘I Predict a recent reshuffle from Treasury Riot’ by the Kaiser Chiefs. adviser to the shadow cabinet to “No, I didn’t ever think I’d be on work with Vince Cable, the Lib national television dancing in a Dem Shadow Chancellor. green leotard,” laughs Julia, MP This promotion presented itself for Falmouth and Camborne. “I after Julia agreed to embark on actually had nightmares about it, three months of intensive training especially after seeing George for The Games, a celebrity reality Galloway on Celebrity Big Brother TV sports programme for charity, in a red leotard.” in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance. When asked which of the two The Channel Four show culminated politicians she thinks came off in eight days of competition with best, Julia is diplomatic. “Well I live shows in mid-March, with suppose I was wearing a leotard Julia going home with the silver because I was doing gymnastics. No, I didn’t ever “think I’d be on national television dancing in a green leotard.„

It was one of the events I was raise money for local charities.” destructive. This made his position dreading the most but enjoyed “I didn’t go in to make a big untenable, rather than anything the most.” political statement,” she else. It was very sad and it wasn’t Julia’s participation was in continues. “If I wanted to make taken lightly.” doubt after her promotion because any statement at all it was that “The first couple of months of the show clashed with the Budget. politicians aren’t all middle-aged this year were pretty eventful,” However, the producers changed white men, and that sometimes says Julia, who went on to vote the schedule to fit round Julia’s they can have fun. Hopefully I for Menzies Campbell in the duties and transported her by came across as a normal human leadership election, “but I think helicopter to Westminster to being. A lot of younger people in morale is pretty high and everyone respond to the Budget and then my constituency are more aware is enthusiastic.” back up to Sheffield Ice Arena for of who I am and what I’m doing, The first major challenge in her the live curling competition. so that’s a good thing.” new role is the Finance Bill, “I made it clear at the start that Julia was in the spotlight for introduced by the government if there was a clash, my work another reason earlier in the year shortly after the Budget to bring would take priority, and that I when she put her name to a its tax proposals into law. Says could be called out if something Liberal Democrat statement by Julia: “It is hundreds of clauses critical came up – which did in the Ed Davey MP on 6 January saying and pages long and covers every end, and I got out for the day.” that she and 24 other Liberal topic from venture capitalism to “I agreed to take part before Democrat MPs would no longer vehicle excise duty. It’s a steep Celebrity Big Brother was on TV, be prepared to serve under the learning curve trying to and having seen what happened leadership of Charles Kennedy. understand all those issues and to George Galloway, I did have “It was a really difficult decision debate through every clause of for all of us and nobody took it reservations. However, I had Previous page and the legislation.” spoken to MPs who have put on with any relish,” she says. “It was right: Julia Goldsworthy “Another big challenge is our five stone in their first Parliament, about the effect that a leadership at Portcullis House in spending review, which involves central London. so on a personal level I thought an contest – in which the existing (JD Moore) going through each department opportunity to get into some good leader was standing as a candidate Above: The MP goes and deciding how we would do aerial during her exercise habits was a good thing. – would have on the party. I felt participation in Channel things differently. It’s interesting Also, it was a great opportunity to very strongly that it would be very 4’s The Games (Getty) because you get your fingers in

16 Alumni news lots of pies and it’s a good exercise Cornwall constituency of Falmouth If I wanted to make any statement in financial rigor. I’m pretty and Camborne in last year’s “at all it was that politicians aren’t all confident there will be at least £15 General Election, coming from middle-aged white men, and that billion worth of things that as a third position to win, ousting sometimes they can have fun. „ party we will want to change, and Labour with a swing of 10.4%. given what the overall spending On why she chose Birkbeck for envelope of government is, it her Postgraduate Certificate in should be pretty manageable.” Economics, Julia says: “I ended up She continues: “Unlike the at Birkbeck because I felt it would Conservatives, this is not a way of be a good way of polishing up trying to find money for tax cuts. some skills in economics. It’s a For example, we recognise that really good set-up: because it was crime and disorder is a major issue, part-time in the evenings, I was but we don’t think that spending able to fit it in without having to billions of pounds on identity cards give up my work. And it was is a way of overcoming that affordable because I could pay as problem. Money would be better I go, so I worked for the party in spent on policing the streets. It’s the day as an education adviser about spending differently rather and boned up on economics in the than spending more.” evening. I really enjoyed it and I When assessing her ability to think Birkbeck is brilliant.” critique Labour’s financial policy, “My favourite tutor was probably For more details about economics, visit the School of Julia’s age often seems to be an Professor Ron Smith – he has an Economics, Mathematics and Statistics at issue with the media, even with amazing mind. His statistics www.ems.bbk.ac.uk or call 0845 601 0174 for a some fellow politicians, and Julia course was the first chance to prospectus admits that she has had her fair apply practically what we’d been share of encounters with learning. Suddenly it’s not just patronising colleagues in theoretical, it became relevant to Parliament. “For some MPs it is issues in my work.” probably to do with your age, for She adds: “Tony Humm was also some it might be because you are great. If you didn’t understand a woman, and for others it’s just something he could bring it down because you are a Liberal a level, and another level, and Democrat. You have to have a thick another. I have GCSE maths but I skin. If it was a big problem I haven’t done anything beyond probably wouldn’t be here now.” that, and he brought us up to the Julia Goldsworthy was born and standard of someone who has brought up in Camborne, where graduated with a full-time degree. her mother was a teacher. She won To do that in basically two terms a scholarship to Truro School, and is pretty amazing.” went on to read History at Julia says the skills she learnt Cambridge. She spent a year on an at Birkbeck helped her rise exchange scholarship in Japan, through the ranks into the becoming fluent in Japanese and shadow cabinet. “Without the honing her judo skills. Taking a Birkbeck course I wouldn’t have research job for Truro Liberal become Treasury adviser, and Democrat MP Matthew Taylor on without that experience, I her return, she enrolled at Birkbeck probably wouldn’t have been in for a Postgraduate Certificate in the Treasury team now, or it Economics, graduating in 2003. would certainly have made my During her studies she worked as role more difficult. I applied what education adviser, later becoming I’d learnt practically in my job Treasury adviser, thanks to her straight away, every day, and still Birkbeck course. She stood as a now. Now I’m on the Treasury parliamentary candidate in the team it is even more important.”

Alumni news 17 Obituaries Arnolfo John Caraffi and Jeremy Willoughby, OBE

Left: Arnolfo John Caraffi (painting by Open return Edward Hall, 1980)

Prior to working at Only Birkbeck graduates know Birkbeck, he held the post of Assistant exactly what it means to take Secretary at King’s advantage of Birkbeck’s part-time College. courses while juggling other commitments such as work or family. They also know how daunting this may seem initially. A number of former students are volunteering their time to talk to Birkbeck’s Open Evening visitors to offer advice to those thinking of studying at the College, helping to give an insight into how embarking on a Birkbeck course can change their lives too. One volunteer, Jenny Davenport, graduated with MSc Organisational Behaviour in 1998. “I decided to take part because I wanted to give something back. I am a strong believer in ongoing learning and in Birkbeck,” says Jenny, the director of management consultancy firm Arnolfo John Caraffi served with the Royal Corps of People in Business. Birkbeck was saddened to hear Signals, and during this time, he Another volunteer, Alette Scales, of the death of Mr Arnolfo John was commissioned and posted to felt she’d like to take part “because Caraffi, aged 93, on 19 February India. His rank on demobilisation Birkbeck has had such a major 2006. Mr Caraffi was Secretary and was Staff Captain. impact on my own life”. Alette Clerk to the Governors from A Requiem Mass was held in his received a History of Art Diploma 1952–1979, on an initial salary of memory at Sacred Heart Church in 1988, achieved a first in the £1650. There were 255 candidates in Wimbledon on 2 March. BA in 1994, and a PhD in 2003. for the post, of whom eight were Julia Goldsworthy MP (page interviewed. As the legal 15), who has a Postgraduate representative of the College he was Jeremy Willoughby OBE Certificate in Economics, also gave responsible to the Master for the Birkbeck regrets to announce the her time to help. central administration and services. death on 8 June 2006 of Jeremy “My Birkbeck course has had a Mr Caraffi, who was honoured Willoughby, OBE, Group big impact on the kind of work I’m with a Fellowship of Birkbeck in Compliance and Risk Director at doing. What is amazing is the 1979, studied at Birkbeck himself Schroders, who has been a range of people who study the and gained a Chemistry degree in Governor of Birkbeck and a same course, and how the teaching 1935. While an undergraduate, and member of the Audit Committee fits that whole spectrum.” for some time subsequently, he took since 2003. The Master, David an active part in the affairs of the Latchman, says: “In him Birkbeck If you would like to volunteer at a Students’ Union, of which he was not only had an able supporter but Birkbeck Open Evening, call Alumni Relations on 020 7631 honorary secretary for one year. also a true friend who was more 0718 or email [email protected] From 1940 to 1946 Mr Caraffi than willing to give his time.”

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I would like information about including Birkbeck in my will. We may publish the names of donors to the Alumni Fund. Please tick if you wish to remain anonymous. Justifications of violence Sir Bernard Crick asks, can terrorism ever be justified ethically?

Our present government seems Lectures at Edinburgh on 'The commendably obsessed with Lesser Evil: political ethics in an denouncing domestic violence but age of terror'. The doctrine of 'the less fastidious about international lesser evil' can, indeed, take us so violence. far: the last resort of the weak In his book, Violence for Equality, against state terrorism or inhuman Professor Ted Honderich argued neglect. But he added that the persuasively that violent revolt targeting of civilians could never be was justifiable not only if the state justified. 'Civilian immunity' is a killed its inhabitants arbitrarily good, nice liberal prescription. But and abruptly, but also when it was the trouble is, any clear distinction killing them slowly by deprivation, between civilians and the state is malnutrition and gross economic rarely possible. As Honderich differentiation, as measured by would argue, we are all complicit huge differences in life expectancy to some degree in being so law- and perinatal mortality between abiding that we give tacit support, the rulers and ruled. at least, to the very acts of the state Political violence differs from that excite and anger the terrorists, individual self-defence or heroic in supporting governments who self-mortification, for it involves oppress their people towards widespread human relationships violent or early death. and has widespread causes and Take the invasion of Iraq, or the consequences; the causes can be failure to check the Palestinian many and complicated and the possible compromise open. And, policies of the Israeli government. consequences often unexpected. of course, toleration is needed for The terrorist knows he won't get Are we not all complicit to some understanding. As Koestler and far by killing a few officials. Like degree in the injustices of foreign Orwell said to each other, “know the Mafia, he creates widespread and social policy that we must thy enemy as thy self”. fear in the civilian population so have something to do with the Terrorists, however, choose that we put pressure on the state. motivations of the terrorists of the methods unlikely to advance or Anything for a quiet life. Twin Towers and the London justify their cause except among My objection is not always to bombings? Our leaders, defending their sympathisers. But there are terrorism as a tactic of the their failed policies in plausible justifications of oppressed in terrible Israel/Palestine, Afghanistan and terrorism. When armed resistance circumstances, but rather to the Iraq, are either fools or hypocrites is impossible, then true terror is common failure of terrorists to to deny any connection. To resorted to: the random, the define their aims clearly enough for understand is not to forgive. Bush, unexpected but recurrent acts of political solutions. But by rejecting Blair and the tabloid press accuse lethal violence intended to create all their aims out of hand, rather those who dare to understand why – yes – terror among a population. For details about than analysing their writings and some Palestinians resort to This terror can make ordinary Politics at Birkbeck, visit utterances carefully – yes, even Bin www.bbk.ac.uk/polsoc terrorism as themselves justifying people feel that their government Laden's – the door can often close and tolerating terrorism. But is impotent or can tempt a This is an edited extract against any negotiation. In On of Sir Bernard Crick’s toleration does not mean government – and some don't need Birkbeck Lunchtime Violence, Hannah Arendt argued agreement or permissiveness, it much tempting – into repressive Lecture of 14 June, that violence is the breakdown of means disapproval, but a acts and curtailments of 'When is Political political action, not its extreme Violence Justified?' Sir disapproval limited either for customary liberties. Bernard is Emeritus form of political power. Violence moral reasons – if a clash of But can such terrorism ever be Professor at Birkbeck, too often arises from a failure to where he co-founded values is involved – or for political justified ethically? Three years ago the School of Politics pursue political or diplomatic reasons, in trying to leave lines of Michael Ignatieff gave the Gifford and Sociology solutions.

In person 21 In the UK, the image of the “Japanese and East Asian communities is, at best, one of invisibility, and at worst, sub-humanity „

Those ‘crazy’ Japanese

The voyeuristic obsession of the UK media and popular culture with only highlighting the bizarre aspects of the Japanese is a tacit approach that reduces the culture to a freak-show, writes Dr Darren Aoki

Image: Asian woman in ethnic clothes listening to headphones (Getty Images)

22 Features ‘Welcome to the World’s Oddest Festivals’ male-gay manga cartoons drawn by and ran a recent article in the Independent for women (Metro 11.05.2005); the list on Sunday (28.05.2006, page 8). I didn’t goes on. need to read further to know that the Nevertheless, at a time when Japanese Japanese would get a mention. Not that popular cultural influence is truly global, the little cartoon of men’s bum-cheeks it is appropriate to reassess, as the MA framed by fundoshi loincloths didn’t Japanese Cultural Studies course whet my curiosity. Rather, oddness and Orientalism and Beyond suggests, whether Japan are synonymous in British media ‘post-1945 representations reflect “the end representations of the country. As of the exotic” and an informed view of expected, the Japanese men’s hadaka Japan’. On one hand, media and popular- matsuri (naked festival) being described cultural representation resonates precisely was not only ‘odd’, it was ‘weird’, ‘doubly because so many more people now have [weird]’, and ‘just plain nuts’. experience of Japan. Consider, for But what is it about the Japanese and example, Channel 4’s UK-produced Japanese men especially that so strikes interactive TV betting programme Banzai the media and the greater British public (2003). Pastiching Japanese game shows, as weird? its hosts included a thickly bespectacled, Orientalism is certainly at play. besuited, unappealing middle-aged Accordingly, powerful discursive tactics salaryman befuddling his ‘L’s and ‘R’s – are called upon that create an ‘prace yo bets now!’ was a popular objectifying knowledge about the East as catchphrase in 2003. Without knowledge ‘them’, the ‘other’ that is different from of Japan and its men, the post-modern ‘us’. The opposition between East and irony on which Banzai apparently drew West is a moral strategy to guarantee would have been little more than racist Western normality since the East is caricature. sinister in its difference. Consider Does it matter that the characters of Western images of Japanese white-collar Banzai (two of whom were actually men: the sexual perversity for which Chinese) were so outrageous that they workaholic salarymen in Tokyo’s could only be understood at the level of nightclubs are known and the sexual spoof? Well, yes. In the absence of diverse violence for which their manga comics representation of Japanese in the UK are famed – both contribute to an media and Western popular culture on a imaginary of weirdness that randomly regular basis, the lopsided power conflates Japanese wartime cruelty with relationships structuring Orientalist the samurai-warrior past, the 1980s discourse, far from being challenged, are Endurance torture-fest game show and invigorated. eating raw fish. The voyeuristic obsession of the UK This Orientalism is also thoroughly media and popular culture with only gendered with Western and Eastern highlighting the bizarre aspects of the culture respectively, assuming dominant- Japanese is a tacit approach that reduces masculine and passive-feminine the culture to a freak-show. And in the positions. Translated to the level of the absence in British society of an audible individual, Japanese women are paragons Japanese voice, or East Asian one of femininity as in the geisha, while men generally, this obsession can are simply perverted, their ‘feminine’ dehumanise, which for diasporic East cultural identity clashing with their Asian communities in Britain, has a manliness in contradictory spectacles deleterious effect. of gender confusion and sexual In 2004, Channel 4 aired a controversial transgression. Or so Western media series called Missing Chink. Dealing with representation would have us believe: the media representation and, in turn, ‘Japanese beats taboo by letting boy act perception of British-Chinese, its themes as girl’ (Guardian Unlimited 19.05.2006); are germane to British-East Asians more male gropers on the Tokyo subway (The generally. In one segment examining Independent on Sunday 01.01.2006); racial discrimination, members of the

Features 23 In the absence in British society public were requested to impersonate a “of an audible Japanese voice, or black person. Everybody refused East Asian one generally, this explaining that doing so was wrong and obsession can dehumanise, racist. When asked to imitate a Chinese man, all squinted their eyes, mimicking which for diasporic East Asian the language with ‘ching-chong’ nasal communities in Britain, has a sounds. In another segment, the same deleterious effect„ individuals were asked whether they would ever consider dating a Chinese person of the opposite sex. Whereas men Far right: Japanese fans during the match against were open to the possibility of an exotic Belgium in Saitama-Ken at the 2002 World Cup liaison, women all emphatically (Getty Images) Below: A man splashes freezing water on himself responded ‘no’. during an endurance contest held annually in the Of course, this sampling is coldest season of winter in Tokyo (Reuters) impressionistic. When considered in the context of Japanese weirdness, however, the destructive logic of Orientalist ‘othering’ becomes clear: ‘Orientals’ do not need to be taken seriously – undifferentiated ethnic ‘othering’; Oriental women are stereotyped as objects of Eastern erotic desire – sexual ‘othering’; and Oriental men are rejected as undesirable and grotesque – ‘neutering’. Naked festivals and perverted salarymen – what do these tell us about Japan? Not much. They do, perhaps, reveal contradictions in the practice of multi-culturalism. Even as it aspires to equality based on the dignity of the individual, British multi-culturalism nevertheless seems to operate, if the experience of the Missing Chink is any indication, according to a masculine- biased gendered hierarchy. A group’s recognition and ranking depends on the extent to which its gender, especially male, images are perceived as normal. Pity for the Japanese, then. Their – and especially their men’s – weirdness means that the media and entertainment industries are free to abdicate their responsibility to represent all groups in an informed manner that balances the exotic and eccentric with the banal and regular. A cycle of vicious representation is perpetuated. The Japanese in Japan, these former enemies of the original evil axis, remain forever exotic and alien, while in the UK, the image of the Japanese and East Asian communities is, at best, one of invisibility, and at worst, sub-humanity. Still, those ‘weird’ Japanese, they do make for good entertainment.

24 Features The Japanese Cultural Studies by, but distinct from, the West. What a Difference programme at Birkbeck hosted a major Secondly, the relationship was a Region Makes two-day international symposium, ‘What considered between popular-cultural a Difference a Region Makes: Cultural flows, cultural industries and state Studies/Cultural Industries in East Asia’ policies. Panelists ambivalently pointed on 17 and 18 March 2006. to disturbing instances of a violent anti- Organised with the Pacific-Asian global ‘nationalism-from-below’ – Cultural Studies Forum at Goldsmiths, Chinese anti-Japan protests and racist the symposium introduced cutting-edge anti-Korean comics in Japan. As Dr Song- research from the dynamic emerging Hwee Lim (Leeds University) reminded us, fields of East Asian cultural transnationalism, far from blurring studies/cultural industries. The event national identities, is regenerating them. attracted over 130 academics and cultural Finally, the symposium queried how a specialists from East Asia and Europe, cultural studies/cultural industries of and was the first in the UK to address the East Asia may be developed. Is the neo- role of popular culture in the formation liberal pragmatism characterising some of an East Asian regional identity. creative-industries research adequate The symposium focused on three issues. when the cultural touches upon history Firstly, it considered the burgeoning and power? Of what value are critical flows of popular/consumer culture criss- Western traditions? These were questions Dr Darren Aoki convenes, as part of the crossing the region since the 1990s: not easily answered, but all agreed that MA Japanese Cultural Studies programme, Men and Masculinities in East Asia, the Japanese comics in Korea; Korean music the regional approach is imperative to first cross-regional, multi-disciplinary in China; and Chinese film throughout understanding a region that increasingly course of its kind in the UK to focus on the East Asia. According to keynote speaker influences the global order. As event co- emerging area of East Asian masculinities Professor Koichi Iwabuchi (Waseda organiser Dr Nicola Liscutin (Birkbeck) studies. For more information about this and other courses in the MA programme University), borderless popular cultural concluded, it is only from the regional at Birkbeck, including Orientalism and consumption may be effecting a twenty- perspective that we may understand how Beyond, call 0207 613 6113, first century sense of spatial/temporal nation and culture constitute each other or visit the Japanese Department website at www.bbk.ac.uk/llc/subjects/japanese similarity, that is, an East Asian cultural potently and politically to stimulate or regionality and post-modernity informed wreck enduring peace in East Asia.

Features 25 The media, professional and political differentiated according to class, caste, Another variation on the theme of opinion of the 1970s and 1980s all region, religion and gender. Therefore, ‘cultural clash’ came into play when tended to depict Asian youth theoretically at least, there would seem to uncertainties of lifecycle transitions were predominantly as the object of ‘culture be as many possibilities of intra-ethnic explained primarily by attributing them clash’ or ‘intergenerational conflict’. It as of inter-ethnic ‘clashes of culture’. To to the effects of ‘inter-generational’ was argued that a young Asian growing think in terms of a simple bipolar conflict. The argument was presented up in Britain is exposed to two cultures, cleavage, then, is untenable. along the lines that young Asians growing one at home and the other at school, and The caricature invoked by terms such as up in Britain internalise ‘Western’ values as a result, experiences stress and ‘between two cultures’ and ‘culture clash’, which are at variance with the identity conflicts. This argument was which portrayed young Asians as ‘traditional’ world view of their parents; problematic on several counts. disoriented and atomised individuals, was and in the process of emulating ‘Western’ To posit a notion of two cultures is to not supported by the evidence. This is not forms of behaviour, youth comes into suggest that there is only one ‘British’ to deny that some young Asians may conflict with the parental generation. and one ‘Asian’ culture. Yet, as we know, indeed experience conflicts, and that some However, inter-generational difference there are some significant differences in aspects of this dissonance could well be should not be conflated with conflict. The the upper, middle and working class associated with specific cultural majority of post-war Asian immigrants cultures of Britain, with each further practices. The problem arises when this were themselves quite young and differentiated according to region and explanation becomes a central paradigm impressionable when they first migrated gender. Similarly, ‘Asian cultures’ are for addressing Asian people’s experiences. to this country. They too have been CULTURE CLASH OR ASIAN COOL?

Avtar Brah MBE on how representations of the Asian community in Britain have changed The image of the veiled subjected to new influences and are not Middle Eastern-looking young men, “woman is seen as the always oblivious to the cross-pressures especially Muslims, are assumed to be epitome of eastern which bear upon their children. Indeed, the prime suspects. backwardness and the incidence of ‘conflict’ may be no The ‘them’ and ‘us’ division has been unreason. „ higher than amongst white young people fuelled by circulating racist discourses, and their parents. There is no reason to including gendered discourses which suppose that cultural encounters will pathologise the lives of Muslim women. Left: Dali elephant sculpture silhouette with Westminster skyline beyond (Getty Images) invariably entail conflict. Instead, Indeed the figure of the ‘veiled woman’ cultural symbiosis, improvisation and is a significant icon that is mobilised by Professor Brah’s published work includes Cartographies of Diaspora, Contesting Identities; innovation may emerge as a far more George Bush and his colleagues, as well Hybridity and Its Discontents: Politics, Science, probable scenario, as has been the case as by our own Government, which claims Culture (edited with Annie Coombes); Thinking with South Asian groups. to have gone to war in order to free the Identities: Racism, Ethnicity and Culture and Global Futures: Migration, Environment and The media now talks about ‘Asian Cool’. veiled women. Unveiling the Eastern Globalization (both edited with Mary Hickman Asian cultural innovations are woman is, of course, a longstanding and Mairtin Mac an Ghail) increasingly viewed as Asian and British. fantasy of orientalist discourses, but But back in the 1970s and 1980s there rarely have we seen her made into such seemed to be an implicit assumption that an overt centrepiece of trans-national cultural transmigration was one-way politics. The image of the veiled woman traffic. Centuries of contact and influence is seen as the epitome of eastern between ‘Asian’ and ‘British’ cultural backwardness and unreason. forms was rarely acknowledged. On a visit to the British forces in Basra, The period since 1990 has been hugely Iraq, Tony Blair described the soldiers as eventful with wars, genocides, traffic in “the new pioneers of soldiering” who were people and political resurrections all over there to deal with the threat of “rogue the world. The reconfiguration of the states and the virus of Islamic extremism” balance of power following the demise which could reduce the “world system to of the Cold War, the attack on the Twin chaos” (The Guardian, 05.01.2004). Towers in New York, and the two Gulf Writing in The Guardian, Birkbeck’s Wars, have all combined to create a Eric Hobsbawm discusses the dangers of global crisis. As is increasingly this new imperialism with America at its acknowledged even by the sceptics, the helm. The British Empire, he says, was contemporary world is being reinvented probably the only empire that was global through a new form of imperialism. in so far as it operated across the planet. The publication of Salman Rushdie’s But it saw its purpose as championing Satanic Verses and the subsequent British interests. The new Empire, on the fatwah of 1989 by the Ayatollah Khomeini other hand, sees itself as having a of Iran converted a relatively local British universal purpose, and as Hobsbawm event into a global incident of major argues, “few things are more dangerous proportions. Opponents were represented than empires pursuing their own interest as backward and uncivilised, in contrast in the belief that they are doing humanity to the supposedly enlightened liberal a favour” (The Guardian, 14.06.2003). supporters of Rushdie. This binary All this has created a ‘state of siege’ became a prime site for mobilising anti- climate amongst South Asian Muslim Muslim opinion in Britain and abroad. communities. In contrast to the 1970s This is an edited extract of Professor The figure of the Asian was now and 1980s image of young Asians – Avtar Brah’s inaugural lecture of 24 May, fractured in a new way across religious especially those with higher education ‘Travels in Negotiations: Difference, Identity, Politics’. The lecture covered lines creating a postcolonial positioning qualifications – as being supposedly debates in three areas: the figure of the of Muslim/non-Muslim. more ‘westernised’ and by implication Asian in British cultural formation; Among Muslims this became the basis less ‘traditional’, the educated young feminist contestations; and difference in identity. For a copy of the full transcript, of a new consciousness of a pan-national people of today are more likely to be email [email protected] Avtar Brah Muslim political identity. There is now viewed as posing a threat. Asian-British MBE is admissions tutor for the MSc Race the powerful discourse of the ‘terrorist’ identities are in flux and whatever form and Ethnic Relations programme. For that can pounce on and instantly these political and cultural identities details, visit www.bbk.ac.uk/about/programmes criminalise a wide variety of ‘suspects’. take, they are closely interwoven into the Among these, the young South Asian- or British social and cultural fabric.

Features 27 NETWORKED SOCIETY Web-based networks encourage communication but some sociologists argue that we no longer have societies composed of individuals, writes Richard Giordano

One way to understand web-based social relationships as well as routines. These forms is to look at how we might plan a constraints produce a boring product. party. In the first scenario, a manager In the second scenario, there’s no leader; addresses the staff: authority emerges laterally rather than Manager: It’s time to plan the annual delegated vertically. Participants assume office party. Our budget this year is £150, multiple roles and planning is both about the same as last year, so we’ll have participative and emergent. The shape of the party after work in the office. Williams, the party, unlike the first one, can’t really you order the food. Adams, you get the be predicted. Moreover, the group taps into drink. I’ll take care of the invitations. connections outside the group. That is, In the second scenario, a group of these party planners tap into a network. people are sitting around chatting after Their product is sure to be fun. completing a project at work. Now imagine that instead of planning a Ben: Hey, let’s have a party. party, you are developing a product. The All: Great idea! product can be a new car, a financial Jane: Cool, I’ll bring the dip. service, a new media campaign, a health Dave: I’ll be sure we have enough beer. care policy, or a new course at a Ben: When do you want to do it? university. Let’s add to the mix a high All: Next Saturday night! degree of uncertainty – information Jane: Sadie and Toby are going to the technologies are changing rapidly, theatre on Saturday night. customer preferences are unstable, the All eventually agree on Friday night. market isn’t fully understood, and there’s Dave: We need music. a lot of competition. Of the two scenarios, Jane: …and dancing! which one would you pick to be more Dave: I have a Mexican neighbour responsive? In the first, information and whose boyfriend has a Mariachi band! control would travel up and down a Left: Close-up of a bunch of computer cables I’ll ask her to invite them. decision-making and review chain, while (Getty Images) All: Great idea! in the second, the group would self- Geoff: I’ll ask Rosa where we can get organise and self-adapt to changing Richard Giordano is a lecturer on the Mexican catering on the cheap. contexts using its own resources and MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in E-business in the School of Management and Alison: I have a large garden – we can acquiring others outside the group as its Organizational Psychology. His current all come to my place. But then I’ll need to needs warranted. Rather than working research focuses on social self-organisation invite the neighbours… (laughs) within a social structure where relations in web-based environments with an interest What are the differences between the are pre-defined and rigid, you instead in emergent shared cognition, the co- evolution of social and organisational forms, first and second scenarios, aside from all find a social form that continuously and both peer-to-peer and group learning. of us probably wanting to be invited to the evolves as the contexts warrant. For details about the MSc/Postgraduate party with the Mariachi band and the The benefit of this ‘organisational Diploma in E-business, call 020 7631 6729, Mexican catering? The first is hierarchical architecture’ has not been lost to new email [email protected] or visit – there’s a manager telling the staff what industries that exist in what some refer www.bbk.ac.uk/ebusiness to do; and, it is also structured both in to as ‘hyper-competitive’ economies, such

28 Features as arbitrage trading or new media outlets in New York or London. Here, traditional management models with hierarchical reviews, flow charts and quarterly reports are discarded or ignored. The focus is on continuous problem-solving using resources that you already have and can easily acquire through networked communications and co-ordination. The form of responsiveness helps to maintain organisational innovation in the face of uncertainty. Networks and their study have been around for decades – why all the interest in them now? Human actions don’t spread very far if left on their own. What’s different now is that we have ubiquitous, easy-to-use, cheap and adaptable web- based networks that encourage adolescents to communicate and collaborate using instant messaging, or complex supply chains, such as Toyota’s, to share product knowledge in real-time both within and across organisational boundaries. Some sociologists argue that we no longer have societies composed of individuals. Instead have societies composed of networks of networks. This perspective poses a degree of complexity that is difficult to understand or, in the case of managers, harness. How do organisations innovate when no single individual has enough information to understand a problem, let alone solve it? How do we understand and exploit emergent social forms within existing organisational structures? What role does the web play in engendering emergent social forms? The simple answer is that we don’t know, although there’s a promising way of thinking that might help us find out. In Web-Based Social Forms, a module I teach in the Department of Management’s postgraduate programme in E-business, we start from the perspective of emergent activity in networked environments, and examine how different groups – adolescents, policy-makers, students, political wonks, engineers, product designers – behave in web-based environments. Our expectation is that future managers will no longer control in the traditional sense, but instead co-ordinate complex adaptive behaviour. On the eve of the Anglo-American “We don’t go around the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld was asked by an Al Jazeera journalist world and try to take other whether he feared his country might become a colonial power in using military people’s real estate or their force to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime. “We’ve never been a colonial power,” the oil. That’s just not what the Defence Secretary replied. “We don’t take our force and go around the world and try to take other people’s real estate or United States does.” other people’s resources, their oil. That’s just not what the United States does.” DONALD RUMSFELD, US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE This may well have come as news to those Filipinos, Cubans and native Americans whose forebears, among others, were subjected to US imperialism and colonial expansion. Similarly, at least one piece of extraterritorial ‘real estate’ What the invasion and occupation of Iraq seems to bear out is in the eastern-most tip of Cuba has been that the imperial episode in US foreign policy has failed, pointing pivotal to recent US foreign policy. to the Limits of American Empire, writes Dr Alejandro Colás But, historical amnesia aside,

30 Features What the invasion and Rumsfeld’s claim does reveal something political authority internationally for the “occupation of Iraq seems to fundamental about the way the US has purposes of generating profitable markets bear out is that the imperial projected its power globally since World globally – fostering the capacity of allied episode in US foreign policy War II, and indeed why the occupation of states to, among other things, guarantee has failed.„ Iraq has become a major foreign policy private property rights, create an educated blunder. The American empire that arose and productive workforce and provide after 1945 was one fully adjusted to the serviceable transport and communications emerging reality of a post-colonial world. infrastructure. The American empire is one The USA fought to keep European and which, uniquely, draws its strength from Asian empires at bay, and has since then the proliferation of potentially competing eschewed prolonged military occupations centres of political and economic power. over foreign peoples and territories. It Such rule through states, rather than has instead sought to secure global over them, is, however, also the empire’s primacy and sustain its international weakest link. The USA is an especially hegemony through the economic vulnerable global hegemon because it imperatives of transnational markets and relies on the compliance of other powerful the political authority of national states, states and local social forces in with their accompanying multilateral, reproducing this global leadership. For inter-state institutions. To combine two all his insistence on America’s anti- catchphrases of American historiography, colonialism, this latter reality was ignored the USA has generally projected its global by Rumsfeld and his colleagues in the power through open doors (capitalist Bush Administration when they decided markets) and closed frontiers (sovereign to invade and occupy Iraq. It was an territorial states). oversight which is at the root of America’s This alone marks the USA out as an current fiasco in that part of the world. historically distinctive empire. Past Operation Iraq Freedom was of course empires – both ancient and modern – a military success. Yet the continued were organised around shifting, fragmentation of Iraq along tribal, indeterminate and non-exclusive sectarian and ethnic lines, coupled with frontiers, constantly open to military, the absence of a monopoly over the economic and environmental fluctuations. means of violence in that territory Romans, Hapsburgs, Han and Ottomans demonstrates that the US war machine ruled over diverse populations mainly by may be able to defeat any military extracting tax, tribute, war-booty or opponent, but finds it much harder to exploiting slave labour. Even the ‘second’ thereafter administer occupied lands and British Empire combined such pre- their populations. According to a 2003 capitalist forms of rule and exploitation RAND Corporation report, current US abroad with capitalist industry at home. military commitments in Iraq either fall As a result, these empires were well below those required of comparable principally concerned with controlling post-Cold war experiments in state- people, not territories – or more building, or are far too high in accurately, controlling land through comparison to the favoured Japanese people, be these settlers or natives. experience of postwar reconstruction. If The USA on the other hand, has exercised we add to this the severe shortfalls in the global hegemony by controlling local number of fully operational Iraqi military populations through a command over and constabulary forces, the picture bounded territories which are clearly and emerges of a military occupation that exclusively delimited by borders. This exercises control over air, sea, space but latter task has been undertaken by not land. formally equal sovereign states, not as in The failure of US imperialism in Iraq is the past by conquering armies which not, however, simply attributable to the deprive colonised populations the rights number of ground troops. With the associated with political independence. exception of the Kurdish representatives, Left: US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld addresses an audience at NATO headquarters Washington’s grand strategy over the past who have for at least a decade ruled over in Brussels (EMPICS) six decades has thus been to shore up a de facto independent Iraqi Kurdistan,

Features 31 Historical amnesia aside, “Rumsfeld’s claim does reveal why the occupation of Iraq has become a major foreign policy blunder.„

Left: The scene of a Baghdad car bomb explosion in front of a hotel in January 2004. The hotel was frequented by many westerners and was where Iraq's labour minister lived (Getty Images) by 2003 few of the exiled bodies backing is no guarantee that they will materialise the US invasion had a significant social into much-needed infrastructure. A base inside Iraq. In the absence of such congressional inspection team led by widespread and coherent support for the Stuart W Bowen Jr recently reported how occupation, and given that US-led one US contractor awarded US$186 reconstruction followed the forceful million to construct 150 health centres removal of a regime and not, as in had only delivered six of these in three postwar Japan and Germany, the years. Yet it is precisely the absence of comprehensive defeat of an entire society hospital beds – and electricity, jobs or in war, the occupation has from the potable water – that is fuelling everyday outset suffered from a legitimacy crisis. violence in Iraq. Without security, there American counter-insurgency operations cannot be reconstruction; but there is no have been marked by what one security because of the slow pace of sympathetic commander described as the reconstruction. ‘predilection for wide ranging kinetic What the invasion and occupation of options (sweep, search and destroy) in Iraq seems to bear out, then, is that the preference to the longer term ‘hearts and imperial episode in US foreign policy – minds’ work and intelligence-led that is, the unilateral use of American operations.”Intuitively,” Brigadier General military supremacy to refashion rogue Alwyn-Foster continues, “the use of states in the image of the US – has failed. options other than force came less easily Based as it is on subverting, if not to the US Army than her allies.” overthrowing the mediating structure of This preference for kinetic options has state sovereignty, the occupation of Iraq compounded the ‘reconstruction gap’ is a foreign policy decision that Dr Alejandro Colás directs the MSc/MRes caused by a transfer of funds from undermines the post-war structures of in International Security and Global capacity-building to security-provision. American empire. Paradoxically, the Governance and is based at the School of To date, close to half of the US$29 billion deployment of massive military force Politics and Sociology. For information Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund under Bush II may prove to have reduced about Politics courses, visit www.bbk.ac.uk/polsoc or call 0845 601 earmarked for schools, hospitals, police- America’s global power, thereby also 0174 for a prospectus. stations and the delivery of basic revealing the connections between the Dr Colás is editor with Richard Saull of utilities, remains unspent, chiefly due to spatial and political limits to American The War on Terrorism and American insecurity. Rampant fraud and corruption empire. Rumsfeld’s brash claim that ‘we ‘Empire’ After the Cold War (Routledge, among local and foreign contractors don’t do colonialism’ might now be more 2006) and author of the forthcoming Empire title for the Polity Key Concepts means that even when relief and accurately rendered as a whimpering ‘we series, to be published in December. reconstruction funds are disbursed, there don’t do colonialism very well.’

32 Features Summer 2006 Birkbeck’s events, books and news stories

Diary dates Monday 10 – Friday 21 July Theorists of Modernist Poetry Torrington Square London Theatre: (Routledge Critical Thinkers) development: ‘New Friday 7 July Plays in Performance Dr Rebecca Beasley square unites colleges’ Reader’s Block Summer schools from Routledge, 2006 Islington Tribune, 26 May Leah Price, Harvard University, 10.30am–4.30pm, providing an 8pm, refreshments from 7.30pm opportunity to study and visit John Dee: Interdisciplinary Dan Plesch: Interview about Graduate Lecture Series, School productions. Studies in English the troops in Iraq of English and Humanities. For details, call 020 7631 6640 Renaissance Thought BBC Five Live ‘Breakfast’, 31 May Venue: Room 101, 30 Russell Sq or email [email protected] Dr Stephen Clucas (co-editor Free and open to all with Rosalind Davies) Jay Belsky: '33% more babies research/MA students and staff. Thursday 7 September Springer Verlag, 2006 in full-time care' Birkbeck Open Evening, Daily Telegraph, 5 June Saturday 8 July 4–7.30pm The Reception of English Intermediate English Venue: Royal National Hotel, Puritan Literature in Germany Joanna Bourke: 'Too many for Language Booster Bedford Way, London WC1 Dr Peter Damrau too long have been getting 10.30am–2.30pm, 4 weeks To register, visit Maney Publishing, 2006 away with rape' Venue: Birkbeck www.birkbeckmatters.com, The Guardian, 12 June Course fee: £90 call 0845 601 0174 or email Among the Dead Cities An excellent way to return to [email protected] Professor Anthony Grayling Ian Crawford: Interview about English language study. Bloomsbury, 2006 life on other planets To enrol, call 020 7631 6651 The Guardian, 16 June Giotto and the Arena Chapel: Monday 10 – Friday 14 July New books Art, Architecture, Spectacle Archaeology Summer Training Dr Laura Jacobus Excavation, 9.30am–5pm Moon Shots: Filming and Cambridge University Press, 2006 Prizewinners Venue: Syon House, Brentford Televising the Space Race Course fee: £160 Dr Mike Allen Tropical Visions in an Age Thanks to all those who filled No experience necessary. IB Tauris, 2006 of Empire in the BBK readers’ survey. The Call Natalie Ping on 020 7631 Dr Luciana Martins (co-editor prizewinners, each receiving a 6627, email [email protected] Intellectual Property Rights: with Felix Driver) £10 book token, were: Innovation, Governance and University of Chicago Press, 2005 Monday 10 – Friday 14 July the Institutional Environment M Campbell Arts Management Summer Birgitte Andersen (editor) The Art of Domestic Life: H Mary Chandler School: Contemporary Edward Elgar, 2006 Family Portraiture in Valerie Colin-Russ Exhibition Creation Eighteenth-Century England Professor Robert Edelmann Course fee: £215 The Jew in the Medieval Book: Dr Kate Retford C E Ghosh Short course guiding students in English Antisemitisms Yale University Press, 2006 A Loizou-Samouel mounting an exhibition. 1350–1500 Susan O'Reilly To apply, call Sonal Amin Dr Anthony Bale K T Smith on 020 7631 6691 or email Cambridge University Press, 2006 Jerry Snell [email protected] In the news Peter Wills

Birkbeck East: ‘Booster to create new university centre’ Newham Recorder, 24 May

General correspondence External Relations, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HX Editorial Catherine Stevens T: 020 7631 6569 F: 020 7631 6351 E: [email protected] Design James Brown E: [email protected] Birkbeck Society Alison Archer Jennifer Parker T: 020 7631 6563 E: [email protected]

Summer 2006 33 1823 George Birkbeck founds the Mechanics Institution 1920 Birkbeck becomes a college of the University of London 2005 Birkbeck voted number 1 for quality of teaching* 2006 Birkbeck tops research funding league table and wins Queen’s Anniversary Prize for research 2007 Birkbeck East brings first-class teaching and education to east London where tradition matters where teaching matters where reputation matters where ambition matters Birkbeck – where you matter

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