June 2011, ISSN 0955-6281, Vol. 22 No. 2
Making an Impact
L-R: Vivien Lowndes, Nottingham; Steve Kennedy, Publishing Director, Politics, Development and International Vicky Randall, Chair, Political Studies Association with Studies, Palgrave; and Claire Annesley, Manchester Carole Pateman, President, APSA at the Conference
The 2011 Annual Conference tackled some discipline. With over 700 delegates that location contributed to creating a relaxed of the most pressing issues for scholars included many international participants and conducive atmosphere. Panels were today under the theme – “Transforming and a great line up of keynote speakers, well attended and delegates were able to Politics: New Synergies”. It connected the the conference provided a stimulating engage in robust exchanges, despite the Association’s members with the wider environment for debate, networking, and temptations that London offers and political community while taking stock establishing new research collaborations. the conveniently placed bar at the of some of the challenges facing our The wonderful spring weather and the conference venue. continued on page 23
Willetts Lobbied by Association Vicky Randall Society’ in its mission statement. Political Studies Association Chair Against this background it was agreed to send an open letter to the Rt Hon Recent trends in government policy on David Willetts MP, as Minister of State L-R: Laura Chappell; Annie Wagar; Maxine David, social science and humanities research for Universities and Science. Conference Convenor; Adele Stanislaus and Katharine Wright (all from Surrey) funding have occasioned growing unease amongst Political Studies Haldane Principle Association members and within the The letter states the Association’s Executive Committee. There are real firm belief in the (non-revised version concerns that government policy is of the) Haldane principle. It argues increasingly encroaching upon the in particular, that relevant research autonomy of the funding councils. funding bodies should have more say Most recently there have been strong about how funds are allocated, with suspicions that the government put reference to the decision to discontinue pressure on the AHRC to include the awarding of small, response-mode L-R: William Maloney, Newcastle; Jan Beyers, University of Antwerp; Vanessa Buth, East Anglia and Patrick additional references to the ‘Big research grants. Continued on page 2 Bernhagen, Aberdeen
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 1 16/06/2011 12:06 2 Association News
Association News | 2 Willetts Lobbied by Association |2 Political Science Recognised in Queen’s Willetts Lobbied by Association Birthday Honours List | 2 Engagement Workshops | 3 Continued from the cover to be allocated. In particular we regret the Richard A. Chapman – An Obituary | 4 It also regrets government interference decision of research councils in the arts, Media Briefings Bring Fresh Perspective| 5 in the communication of research humanities and social sciences, evidently Association Conference 2012 | 5 findings, specifically in relation to consequent upon considerable pressure from The Media Briefing Paper on AV | 6 Political Insight Makes a Splash in London | 6 the ban on public dissemination of the Department for Business, Innovation Political Science Day a Great Success | 7 ‘politically sensitive’ findings during the and Skills, to discontinue the awarding of run-up to elections in 2009 and 2010. small research grants. These response-mode Links to other Associations | 7 MPSA Conference a Great Experience | 7 The full text of the letter, which has awards have traditionally played a vital ECPR-IPSA Conference a Great Experience | 8 also been sent to the BBC, Education and inexpensive role in fostering innovative ECPR Council Holds Extraordinary Meeting | 8 Guardian and Times Higher, is set out research. Association at APSA 2011 | 9 below. An additional area where government Korean APSA attends London 2011 | 9 Not so Thick Brasilian | 9 interference should be kept to a minimum True Exchange in Brussels | 10 “Dear Minister is in relation to the communication of research findings. We were alarmed, for Specialist Group News | 10 As Chair of the Political Studies instance, by the ban placed on public Liberals and Conservatives Conference | 10 Sport and Politics: A Day of Debate | 11 Association, UK, I am writing to convey discussion of ‘politically sensitive’ research Greek Politics, Emotions & the Crisis | 11 the Association’s concerns regarding some findings, during the run-up to elections in recent trends in the funding of social science 2009 and 2010. Department Profile | 12 Politics at Cardiff | 12 and humanities research. The prospect of an over-direction of Politics at Birbeck | 13 We do of course recognise both that those research funding and restrictions on the channelling state funds for such research dissemination of research findings threatens Department News | 15 are entitled to expect stringent procedures a kind of double whammy for political Cameron and the Conservatives: The Transition to Coalition in Government | 15 to ensure the fairest and most effective science research. International Politics at Aberystwyth | 15 distribution and that it is appropriate to The Political Studies Association is Loughborough Builds on its Strengths | 16 expect that research outcomes should in not alone in voicing such concerns. We do New MSc at Royal Holloway | 16 different ways contribute to public life, hope that BIS will heed these widespread Glasgow Grows Stronger | 16 ‘Public Administration: The Future of policy or simply the general good. views, reaffirm the Haldane principle and the Discipline’ | 17 However we also strongly believe that the autonomy of research funding bodies, Link Up in Defence | 18 research funding bodies should be accorded and in particular return to the funding Conflict Transformation and Security (JCTS) | 18 the maximum freedom, compatible with councils the freedom to decide to fund small New Appointments at Northumbria | 18 Polanyi and Pupils | 19 these expectations, to decide what research grants schemes Newly Elected Academicians | 19 funds should be spent on. We support, that Thank you for taking the time to KPMG Internship for Oxford | 19 is, the long-respected Haldane principle, read this letter when I know how many Conference on Bonnie Honig |19 that decisions about how research funds demands there are upon your time. I also OCSID Sponsors Conference on the Politics of the Great Recessions | 20 should be spent should be made by wanted to let you know out of courtesy that researchers and not politicians. we will be shortly releasing a copy of this In Full View | 20 Hanging Over the Edge of a Cliff? We further believe that the relevant letter to the media given how passionately How Teachers Might Help Rescue Politics | 20 research funding bodies should have greater the Association feels about this very 2011 Johan Skytte Prizewinners | 21 freedom in determining how the funds are important issue.” Executive Politics Prize | 21
Time to Confer | 22 Local Government Reform Conference | 22 PSAI Conference | 22 Political Science Recognised in Association’s Graduate Conference | 22
Association Conference 2011 | 23 Queen’s Birthday Honours List Making an Impact | 23 Prizewinners at the Conference 2011 | 24 The contribution of Political Science to Other political scientists on the list are national life has been recognised in the Christopher Hood, Gladstone professor Queen’s bi-annual award of Honours of government at the University of Oxford list. The Queen’s Birthday list includes and expert on the civil service, Nirmala members of the political science Rao, pro-director of the School of Oriental profession and the citations to their and African Studies at London University awards note their vital contribution both and researcher on urban government and to scholarship and public affairs. Professor Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor of Among those honoured are Ron the University of Exeter and an expert in Johnston, professor of geography at the international relations. University of Bristol, an active EPOP The Political Studies Association member and expert in electoral systems. offers all of them its congratulations.
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 2 16/06/2011 12:06 Association News 3 2011 Association’s London Conference: The Engagement Workshops
Helena Djurkovic academic research, and often have Breen Smyth of the University of Surrey CEO, Political Studies Association academics on their boards of directors described her previous experience in and policy groups. establishing the Centre for Radicalisation Impact and Engagement Workshop and Contemporary Political Violence at As several speakers suggested at a Useful Channels the University of Aberystwyth and how one-day workshop on Impact and Paul Evans, Principal Clerk for Select the learning from this would inform Engagement held on the Monday before Committees at the House of Commons, the development of CII – the new the main Political Studies Association explained that it was often easier to Centre for International Intervention Conference in London, academics engage with clerks than politicians and – at Surrey. Discussion centred on working in political studies might be that clerks could be very useful channels the serious lack of area expertise in expected to want to engage with policy- through which to operate as they were Government, the normative dimension makers and the media because of what always looking for resources to inform for academics, and the nature of critical they do and not just because of how they their inquiries. He strongly encouraged scholarship: was it about influencing will soon be judged in the REF. academics to submit evidence to select policymakers or changing the paradigm, Steering clear of a debate about committees without being asked – and did academics need to become more whether impact is an appropriate no invitation was necessary. He also politically astute? criterion on which research should be observed that it was probably better for judged and how it should be defined, academics to engage with Parliament The Programme Pitch: the workshop instead focused on how than with Government as the former was How to Sell an Idea to Radio 4 academics can help shape and inform the concerned with shaping thinking whereas On the Tuesday of the conference, Martin policy-making process and the practical the latter was more about taking action. Rosenbaum very generously returned measures that academics need to take to Professor Archie Brown and Professor to give a talk on “The programme ensure their work is heard, understood Iain McLean spoke of their experience pitch: How to sell an idea to Radio 4”. and acted upon by the appropriate influencing government policy. Archie Martin is currently producing Professor decision-makers. Brown’s influence reached the very Matt Flinders new three-part series highest level: he was instrumental in “In Defence of Politics”, which will be Sellers and Buyers helping Margaret Thatcher recognise the broadcast in September, and has worked During the first session on ‘Engaging critical importance of Mikhail Gorbachev with Professor Phil Cowley and Professor the Media’ the audience heard from as a reformer who could take the Soviet Steven Fielding in the past. He explained those both sides of the media divide, Union in a radical direction. the Radio 4 commissioning cycle and “sellers” – Nadine Smith, Director of The sessions were chaired by what was entailed in pitching an idea Communications at the Institute for Sir Mike Aaronson, visiting Professor for a documentary. He invited ideas Government and Professor Phil Cowley – at the University of Surrey, who also for programmes, making it clear that and “buyers” – Martin Rosenbaum, BBC presented the final session, a case study the BBC was not looking for detailed Radio 4 Producer, and Sue Cameron, on international intervention designed to proposals but great ideas that could be FT journalist. All four speakers stressed give a practical example of engagement finessed by Martin and his colleagues and the need for preparation, a clear and between the academic, practitioner, developed into successful programme simple message that can be expressed in and policy-making communities. Lou treatments. He stressed that since as a single sentence, timing (sometimes you Perrotta, Head of Lessons Learned at the much as two years could pass between need to hold back because you can make UK’s Stabilisation Unit, spoke about the a programme being commissioned and more impact later), accessibility and difficulties of impacting on the policy broadcast, it was vital that ideas had to responsiveness, networks, social media – process even from within Government, be relevant for the future and not just and patience. given the multiplicity of political and today. He made clear, however, that the “Sellers” and “buyers” also spoke institutional agendas, each with its own BBC occasionally engaged in reactive in the session on ‘Engaging Parliament momentum. commissioning and so ideas could be and Government’. Prior to becoming pitched at any time if the idea was very a Liberal Democrat peer, Baroness Insiders Account current, very strong and the programme Parminter had been Chief Executive of Geoff Loane, Delegate of the could be turned round in a few weeks. the Campaign to Protect Rural England International Committee of the Red He ended by inviting proposals by 4th and Communications Director of the Cross (ICRC) in London, gave an insider’s May, the formal commissioning deadline, RSPCA at the time of the Hunting Ban account of the current intervention giving the audience a few weeks to turn legislation. She urged the audience in Libya and how concepts studied by round their ideas. It was clear from the to consider working with voluntary academics such as “humanitarianism” reaction that a number of people were organisations, which frequently want translate into real-life, difficult, and ready to take on the challenge. to supplement their own work with fast-moving situations. Professor Marie
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 3 16/06/2011 12:06 4 Association News Emeritus Professor Richard A. Chapman, University of Durham
Michael Hunt on Public Records. In addition, he was Sheffield Hallam University appointed the first Chairman of the City of Durham Standards Board. At Richard Chapman’s death from the conclusion of his term of office he pancreatic cancer deprives the academic became an independent (in every sense of community of one of its leading scholars that term) Parish Councillor in the village of public administration. His early in which he lived. He threw himself reputation derived from his work for the into each of those roles with energy and Fulton Committee on the Civil Service commitment. and he continued his research on the Richard Chapman was a member of civil service for much of the rest of his the Association for 50 years, serving as life. In particular he focused on the its Treasurer in 1964-67. He took great behaviour of public servants. This is interest in the work of the Royal Institute reflected in his seminal work The Civil for Public Administration, seeing it He was a solicitous and generous host Service Commission 1855 - 1991: A bureau as an essential link between academia who was always anxious to ensure biography as well as in Ethics in the British and government, and was immensely that anyone visiting him in Durham, Civil Service – a study of the working life of disappointed when financial problems especially if they came from overseas, Sir Edward Bridges – and in the collection led to its demise in 1992. He was also an would have the opportunity to see some, of essays that he edited entitled Ethics active member (and former Chairman) at least, of the city’s many treasures. in Public Service. These were not simply of the Joint University Council for Public Participants in the many conferences academic studies. In examining standards and Social Administration rarely missing and workshops that he organised at of public service they drew attention to a meeting even during his retirement. Durham University would become aware the ways in which these had changed in His presence was invariably welcome and that as much attention had been paid to the latter part of the twentieth century his advice frequently sought. ensuring they were properly entertained as a result of organisational changes to He was a popular teacher, as was paid to ensuring the success of the structure of government. A man of renowned for the high standards that the workshop’s academic activities. He integrity and strong moral principles he demanded. His critical comments on enjoyed good company, good food and himself, Chapman was dismayed by a piece of work, although never harsh, good wine. Visitors to his home were many of these changes because they left recipients in little doubt as to what likely to benefit from his considerable seemed to him to result in a loss of the should be expected in terms of logic culinary skills. fundamental values of public service and and grammatical construction. He had Richard Chapman’s reputation and public duty for which the civil service a healthy scepticism for jargon and his lengthy academic career inevitably had been historically renowned. It was passing academic fancies (as well as, it brought him into contact with numerous no surprise that he took great interest in has to be said, for ‘modern inventions’ colleagues both in the UK and overseas. the work of the Committee on Standards such as email). Those carelessly adopting He played an active part in the decision in Public Life nor that he saw the need such fancies, particularly in a conference making processes at Durham University, for wider public involvement in securing paper, were likely to find him posing twice serving as a member of Senate as the accountability of governments. It was an apparently innocent question with a well as being a member of Council of this that led to his long-standing interest puzzled expression on his face ‘because I three of the University’s Colleges. He took in freedom of information and to the am not an expert in this subject and I’m particular trouble to encourage younger publication of three jointly edited books afraid I don’t quite understand the point scholars at the start of their career and on this subject, the last published only a you are making’. His adroit question his thoughtful concern was frequently year before his death. would inevitably expose any conceptual the origin of life long friendships. He Chapman was not simply a weaknesses in the paper, often leaving provided similar encouragement to his disinterested scholar. Adopting the the presenter struggling to recover his students, many of whom remained in principles of T H Green (an early and credibility. contact long after they had completed enduring influence) that those convinced He was equally hard on himself. their academic studies. of the values of public service should Although his output seemed to reflect His academic output together be willing to undertake some of that a faultless command of language, with his service to the academic work themselves he accepted a number this did not come without substantial community through his teaching and his of public positions. He twice served effort. Sentences would be polished encouragement of those at earlier stages as a member of the Civil Service Final and re-polished until he was sure they of their career provide enduring legacies Selection Board, was an adviser to the conveyed exactly the meaning intended. of an honourable man committed to House of Lords Select Committee on He willingly sought the advice of others if scholarship and to university education in Public Service and was a member of the he was uncertain about the way in which its widest sense. Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee his ideas were being expressed.
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 4 16/06/2011 12:06 Association News 5 Media Briefings Bring Fresh Perspective Helena Djurkovic Goodwin (Nottingham) and Stephen editorial on the English local elections), CEO, Political Studies Association Fisher (Oxford). In all three briefings the Today Programme, the Times, the presentations were kept relatively short Independent, the Evening Standard As part of its strategy to engage more so as to ensure plenty of time was and assorted blogs (Nick Robinson’s widely with policy-makers and the available for guests to ask questions Newsblog for the BBC and Mike media, the Political Studies Association and briefing packs were circulated Smithson’s blog for Politicalbetting.com organised a series of breakfast briefings not just to those who attended the amongst others). for journalists and producers in the briefings but to over fifty journalists and weeks leading to the local elections and producers known to be interested in the Warm Words AV referendum on 5th May. On the issues covered. Unusually for those working in the advice of Peter Riddell at the IFG, Sam media, many of those who attended Coates at the Times, Sue Cameron at the Positive Response wrote to thank the Political Studies FT and a number of other journalists, The media responded extremely Association for organising the briefings. the briefings had a strong (though not positively to the briefings. The quality Perhaps the warmest words of thanks exclusive) data focus, brought fresh and of those attending was extremely high came from David Cowling who wrote: diverse perspectives to familiar subjects (James Landale and Laura Kuenssberg “May I say how grateful I am for and gathered together some highly from the BBC, Gary Gibbon from the three sessions you held on 5th May respected academics. Held at 9am on Channel 4 and Adam Boulton from Sky 2011 voting? The cast of speakers was consecutive Tuesday mornings at the News among others) and many came superb and the information distributed Institute for Government in London, to all three briefings (including David of the highest quality. It was an inspired the first of the briefings, on the AV Cowling, Editor, BBC Political Research). decision to bring together Political referendum, brought together Vernon Most importantly those working in the Studies Association members and Bogdanor (King’s College, London), media have come to view the Association journalists and it worked very well. John Curtice (Strathclyde) and David as an important source of expertise on Thank you, once again.” Farrell (University College, Dublin); which they can, and do, now draw. The Association has every intention the second, on the elections to the The popularity and impact of the of building on this sense of goodwill devolved assemblies, saw presentations series was inevitably enhanced by the and respect. More media briefings and from Charlie Jeffery (Edinburgh), publication of the Association’s Briefing briefing papers can be expected James Mitchell (Strathclyde), Richard Paper on the Alternative Vote by Alan to follow. Wyn Jones (Cardiff) and Jon Tonge Renwick (see page 6). Together they Finally, thanks to Phil Cowley for (Liverpool); the third and final briefing, generated mentions of the Political coming up with the idea and helping on the English local elections, was Studies Association in a wide array design the three briefings and for all delivered by Colin Rallings and of titles and programmes, including those who gave up their time to make Michael Thrasher (Plymouth), Matthew the Guardian (several articles and an this initiative such a success.
Association Conference 2012 The Association’s next Annual down to c. £250 for the full package conference will take place Tuesday (excluding accommodation) and £100 3rd - Thursday 5th April 2012 and will for day delegates. These rates would be based at the Europa Hotel in Belfast include lunch(es) and tea/coffee city centre. The theme will be “In breaks. There will be a range of hotel Defence of Politics”. We will have the accommodation available ranging graduate conference on Monday 2nd from 2 through to 5* with rates rising April. The annual dinner will be held accordingly but we have rooms in the in the Ulster Hall on Wednesday 4th 4* Europa on a bed and breakfast basis April. for £85. We will accept submissions up to For more information please Friday 14th October. Strong preference contact: [email protected], is for Panel proposals. [email protected] or c.gormley@
Martin Rosenbaum, BBC who attended the We are hoping to keep the costs ulster.ac.uk Association’s Annual conference in April
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 5 16/06/2011 12:06 6 Association News The Media Briefing Paper on the Alternative Vote Alan Renwick While we cannot predict exactly what the Vernon Bogdanor, John Curtice, and Reading effects of an electoral reform would be, David Farrell presented. The paper and we can say a lot about the likelihood of the presentations are all available on the Referendum debates are rarely edifying, different outcomes. For example, we can Association website. and the debate that preceded May’s draw on both simulations and experience The response to these briefings has referendum on whether to change the in other countries to present an informed been enormous. The briefing paper was voting system was no exception. Both view on the likely frequency of coalition downloaded over 22,000 times. It was sides pushed arguments that were either governments under different systems. regularly cited on television and radio and exaggerated or outright false. It was We can present evidence on whether the in the print and online media. Both the difficult for the general public – and even safety of an MP’s seat affects her or his Yes and the No campaigns themselves for seasoned journalists – to find unbiased behaviour. It is important that we convey used it to counter their opponents’ information on which they could judge the such knowledge to a broad audience. more farfetched claims. We can claim alternatives. The Association published a briefing to have made the whole debate at least a Here the Political Studies Association paper on AV in late March. Mine is the little more soundly based than it would stepped in. Political scientists have an name on the cover, but I was greatly otherwise have been. And hopefully we important role in encouraging evidence- assisted by an international panel of have shown to a wider audience the real based debate about political issues. Over experts who offered invaluable comments value of engaging with political science the years we have collectively developed on earlier drafts. TThe paper was launched research: we have answers to important a wealth of knowledge about the at the first of the Association’s Media questions about the political system that implications of different electoral systems. Briefings (see page 5), at which Professors no one else is able to provide.
Political Insight Makes a Splash in London
Political Insight celebrated only its second anniversary at the London conference in April but already the magazine is proving a big hit within the political studies community. A reception, sponsored by Wiley-Blackwell, publisher of Political Insight, attracted well over 100 delegates and there has been a fantastic reaction to the first issue of the magazine’s second volume. ‘Since last year the number of positive emails from academics, teachers and civil servants has been amazing. At the moment, with every issue the feedback just gets better – which is great for everyone involved,’
commented Political Insight’s author Peter Geoghegan, Editor, Political Insight and Andrew Russell, Manchester at the Association Conference in London Peter Geoghegan. ‘There is clearly a huge interest in timely, interesting after the show’s producers read his Insight will feature work from research on politics and international article on the Pakistani Taliban in prominent members of the political studies that appeals to a broader Political Insight’s first issue. studies community including Robert audience than traditional academic ‘As well as showcasing the best Hazell, Jon Tonge, John Curtice and journals.’ in new research, ideas, and opinions, Rachel Gibson. Out in September, issue The magazine, which is published Political Insight is a great place for two of 2011 will look in detail at a range three times a year, has also attracted academics to get their work out to of issues including the recent local and a significant amount of interest from the widest possible audience,’ Peter devolved elections, the AV vote, the role outside the politics studies community Geoghegan continued. ‘The political of technology in politics, the OECD at 50 and is proving an excellent vehicle for world is constantly changing and and the politics of Pakistan. academics looking to engage with the Political Insight is a great place for Peter Geoghegan welcomes media. Last year, Muhammad Idrees Association members to contribute to, submissions and ideas from Political Ahmad, a sociologist at the University and even influence, emerging debates Studies Association members to Political of Strathclyde, appeared on Al Jazeera’s and issues.’ Insight. For more information visit popular news programme Inside Story Forthcoming issues of Political www.politicalinsightmagazine.com
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 6 16/06/2011 12:06 Links to other Associations 7 Political Science Day a Great Success The Agricultural Economics Society and the Political Studies discuss the implications of co-decision for the future reform Association generally hold their annual conferences around of the CAP, possibly leading to ‘indecision’. Carsten Daugberg the same time. Last year they were meeting at the same time came from Aarhus University to present work with Linda in Edinburgh. Advantage was taken of this timing in 2011 Botterill on the global private food standards organisation with a special ‘political science day’ on 18th April before the – GlobalGAP. Wyn Grant posed the question ‘what has opening of the two conferences the following day. Organised political science ever done for agricultural economics?’, the by Alan Swinbank of Reading University, nine political reply coming from an economist in the audience, ‘absolutely scientists offered papers to the meeting at Warwick University. nothing’. Alan Greer of the University of West of England The day was judged to be a great success with a combined with the director of corporate affairs at the National large audience of economists coming to hear the political Farmers’ Union, Tom Hind (a Warwick Politics graduate) to science papers.
MPSA Conference a Great Experience Andreas Murr happy to discuss their work in greater detail. To conclude, I Essex University loved attending the conference and am already thinking about going there again next year. I am grateful to the Political The Political Studies Association overseas grant enabled me Studies Association for providing the overseas conference to attend the MPSA conference in Chicago. As a second year grant to support its members. PhD student, I found attending such a big conference very valuable for my own professional development. The conference Santiago López Cariboni was a great opportunity for meeting people, discussing ideas, Essex University learning about new topics and presenting my own research, but also seeing how other people present their research. I Attending the Annual Conference of the Midwest Political particularly enjoyed the wide variety of topics and formats. Science Association – one of the American Political Science Similarly, the format included presentations and Association’s ‘regional’ affiliates – was a major experience. roundtable discussions. I particularly liked the roundtable Over four days in Chicago, IL, USA, participants were able discussions. I think it is just great when researchers who study to choose from a large number of panels allocated in 73 the same topic in different ways come together and talk to one different sections. another and discuss the research agenda. Moving on to the The magnitude of this event provided an opportunity format of presentations, I found it interesting to see different for me to interact with other scholars with similar research styles of presentations – from the standard PowerPoint interests. Bringing my own research work to such an exciting presentation to Ken Benoit’s 20-slides-with-20-seconds-per- environment was highly stimulating, and my paper benefited slide challenge (PechaKucha) and to John Bullock’s story- from the comments I received. It is an experience that I telling approach without any slides at all. These differences in strongly recommend to any other graduate student in political style taught me a great deal. science. I would like to express my gratitude to the Political Studies Association for the support offered. Masters at Work My own presentation was in the standard style, but nevertheless seeing masters at work made me substantially revise and rehearse my own presentation for the better. After the presentation, I received valuable feedback from my discussants. The discussants were very professional and detailed in their comments and I found their responses to my work fruitful to think about. In their discussion of the papers in general, the discussants often first tried to synthesise all papers pointing out the similarities and connections but also the differences between the papers. The discussants then discussed each paper in turn by summarising the main argument, pointing out strengths and weaknesses but also suggesting ways in which to improve the paper. Besides these formal parts of the conference – presentations, roundtables, discussants, etc. – the informal parts of the conference were interesting as well. Conferences bring together many people
and are therefore a great way to meet people and talk to them. Pictured with other conference participants from the University of Essex. From left to People were very approachable after their presentations and right: Laura Seelkopf, Spyros Kosmidis, Santiago López Cariboni and Andreas Murr.
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 7 16/06/2011 12:06 8 Links to other Associations ECPR-IPSA Conference a Great Experience Lawrence Sáez relevance in Latin America. My paper a major international conference together School of Oriental and African Studies was well received and we engaged in these two institutions undertook a huge (SOAS) an in-depth discussion about issues gamble. In my opinion, it appears that relating to fiscal indiscipline at the IPSA and the ECPR have stumbled into a The ECPR and IPSA held its first joint subnational level in federal systems very interesting idea. My suggestion for conference in São Paulo, Brazil, on 16th in developing countries. One of the improving future joint ECPR and IPSA - 19th February. The central theme of the most striking things about the papers conferences would be to replicate some of conference was: ‘Whatever happened to presented in my panel was there was a the ECPR’s strengths at an international North-South’. In other words, it was an great deal of methodological consensus level. From my perspective, the ECPR exploration of the continuing relevance of among the papers presented. As an workshops are an excellent forum for the international North-South dichotomy. observer to the type of methodological presenting one’s work. Rather than The conference operated under three approaches that are popular in Europe following the format of IPSA international broad themes. The first theme dealt and the United States, it is worth noting conferences, I would suggest that IPSA with changing patterns of international that all of the papers in my panel used consider hosting international workshops relations and regional integration. The multiple regression analysis as the akin to the type of workshops that second theme examined political regimes, principal empirical tool. In my view, the ECPR has been so successful at a democratic consolidation and the quality this represents the impact that North European level. In the meantime, I cannot of democracy. The third theme examined American approaches in political science wait until the next conference in Brazil. economic trends and political, social and have had on Latin American scholarship cultural changes. and constitutes a significant difference with the type of methodological pluralism Areas of Concern that is prevalent in British political It is hard to measure the concentration studies. As a partisan of quantitative ECPR Council Holds of subjects that appeared to motivate methods, I think that one of the benefits much of the research in this conference, of exposing British and European scholars Extraordinary but informally one could see some to Latin American scholarship approaches Meeting emerging issue areas of concern. Within is the realisation that quantitative the international relations panels, the rigour need not be the domain of North On 15th April, the Council of the main focal points were changing patterns American scholarship. ECPR held an extraordinary session, of global governance and the emergence called by the Executive Committee, of regional security mechanisms. Not Notable Glitches to discuss among other things a set surprisingly, the impact of the global Just as it is hard to eat a bad lunch in of constitutional reform proposals financial crisis (of the North) on the Paris, it appears that it is impossible to aimed at reorganising the governance South was a hot topic of discussion. Brazil have a bad conference in Brazil. Although structure of the organisation. In has produced a wealth of comparativists São Paulo can appear to be an impersonal part, these reform proposals were and some Brazilian political scientists megalopolis, the Brazilian spirit of motivated by the staffing issues in (like Guillermo O’Donnell) have made friendliness is infectious. However, there Central Services during 2010, which an important impact on the study of were some noticeable glitches in the resulted in the tabling of Motions by democracy. As such, it appears that implementation of the conference. The four Official Representatives who were examinations of democratic consolidation main conference site was located in a critical of the Executive Committee’s in developing countries, the relationship part of the University of São Paulo that is management of these issues. between institutions and the quality quite detached from the main city centre. The three main outcomes of this of democracy, and the comparison Most delegates that I spoke to thought meeting were: first, a rejection of any between hybrid and authoritarian regimes that the transportation from the hotels further review of the staffing events of seemed to be the driving force on many to the conference centre was expensive, 2010 than that already conducted by of the panels. inconsistent, and chaotic. Nevertheless, the Executive Committee itself, thus the occasional inconveniences that drawing a definitive line under those Methodological Consensus emerge in a conference setting are far events; second, the establishment I presented a paper on the relationship more palatable in Brazil than, say, if they of a Committee of Three ORs to between political variables and interest occurred in certain rainy parts of the UK. look into ‘how situations of this type payments on the debt by India’s Once again, Brazilian charm, splendid can be avoided in the future’, with subnational governments. Although I weather, and a couple of caipirinhas (a its terms of reference specifically used a case study of India, my research Brazilian version of lemonade) did much precluding making any judgements approach had parallels with other panel to weaken any type of transportation on the staffing events of 2010; third, papers dealing with fiscal federalism anguish. the deferral of consideration of the in Argentina and Brazil. Although It is no secret that IPSA and the Executive Committee’s proposals for federalism is often seen as a tedious ECPR have recently faced some important constitutional reform ‘until Antwerp academic subject matter, the issue of governance, organisational, and financial Joint Sessions in spring 2012. federalism has a great deal of policy challenges. In uniting their efforts to host
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 8 16/06/2011 12:06 Links to other Associations 9 Association at APSA 2011 The Political Studies Association is Baylor University, USA co-sponsoring two outstanding panels ❖ Professor James Mitchell, at APSA’s Annual Meeting to be held University of Strathclyde, UK in Seattle, WA, USA, from 1st - 4th ❖ Dr Mark P. Shephard, September 2011. University of Strathclyde, UK Membership and conference details ❖ Dr Anika Gauja, can be found at www.apsanet.org. This University of Sydney, Australia is the largest worldwide gathering of Delegates from political scientists, and the Association has been supporting members to join France at the EU, G8 and G20: the Korean PSA at and participate in its national research International governance in question? London 2011 and teaching conferences, and regional Co-sponsored with French Politics Group conferences, all held annually. The Political Studies Association Panel Chair was pleased to host ‘exchangers’ ❖ Professor Alistair Cole, from the Korean Political Science The Politics of Rights in the UK Cardiff University, UK Association. Pictured are (far left and Co-sponsored with British Politics Group far right) Professor Taewan Kim from Panel Discussants Dong-eui University in Busan, and Panel Chair ❖ Professor Alistair Cole, Professor Jae-Jin Yang from Yonsei ❖ Dr Bonnie M. Meguid, Cardiff University, UK University in Seoul. Professor Terrell University of Rochester, USA Carver (pictured centre) is Chair of Panel Participants the Political Studies Association’s Panel Discussants ❖ Dr Sophie Meunier, International Relations Sub- ❖ Dr Terrence Case, Rose-Hulman Princeton University, USA committee. Institute of Technology, USA ❖ Dr Jonah Levy, University of The two associations have ❖ Professor Terrell Carver, California at Berkeley, USA exchanged delegates annually for more University of Bristol, UK ❖ Dr Helen Drake, than 3 years. Any Association member Loughborough University, UK interested in presenting their research Panel Participants ❖ Dr Cecile Hoareau, University of in Korea should contact [email protected] ❖ Mr Jerold Waltman, California at Berkeley, USA
Not so Thick Brazilian Monica Threlfall printed programme was under 1 inch account of how the Chinese government London Metropolitan University thick this time, so people could actually supports the development of political find the sessions in which they were science teaching and research in China, Thanks to the Political Studies interested in. particularly democratic theory! Association Travel Grant, I was able to The highlight was Phillipe IPSA also produced for me that join a panel on Participatory Democracy Schmitter’s plenary. He spoke on the typical academic phenomenon where you at the IPSA (International Political decentering of political science away have to travel to a far continent to find out Studies Association) joint conference from US dominance – a phenomenon what colleagues next door – France in this with the ECPR in Sao Paulo. IPSA is he welcomed, and so did our Brazilian case – are doing in your field. So I made always a mammoth event, but luckily the hosts of course. He also gave a riveting some good new contacts too.
The architecture says it all . . .
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 9 16/06/2011 12:06 10 Specialist Group News
True Exchange at Annual Congress in Brussels Sean Muller received with benevolent criticism. Kent University What matters most, however, is that I was able to play in the “Champions Regional elections continue to League” of regional (election) fascinate scholars around the globe. studies – and learn from the best Two specialist panels at the Annual – only thanks to a Political Studies Congress of five francophone Political Association postgraduate conference Science Associations (Belgium, grant. Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, For this, I am very grateful. I and Québec) in Brussels brought would therefore not only recommend together scholars from Scotland and other PhD students to take profit Nice, Bosnia and Montréal, Liège and of this chance, but also invite the Ukraine, Zurich and – Canterbury, Association to further popularise and which I was representing. extend this concept. True exchange My paper on the importance of is always of mutual benefit – on both local elections for Swiss citizens was sides of the Channel.
Liberals and Conservatives Hold Opportune Conference The British Liberal Political Studies Group and Conservatives and Conservatism Specialist Group conference on the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government was held at an opportune time for British politics. As it was being held on 25th March 2011 at the LSE, protestors for the large TUC march against the coalition cuts were beginning to arrive in London. The Conference was organised by Professor Russell Deacon (UWIC), with the assistance of Professor Tim Bale Roundtable discussion on the coalition: Rob Wilson, Conservative MP Reading East; Matthew Sowemimo, (Sussex), and fielded both academic and former Lib Dem and now Labour activist; Caroline political speakers. Pidgeon, Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrats and Jonathan Isaby, Co-editor, Conservative Home. Paper givers: Dr Matt Beech and Dr Mark Pack Historical Theme On the historical side there were a number Fatal Embrace Professor Russell Deacon one of the of papers. Dr Thomas Otte, University The more contemporary side of coalition conference organisers said: ‘This was of East Anglia, discussed his in-depth politics was covered by Tim Bale (Sussex) a very successful conference at a very study on this history of coalitions in his in his paper: ‘Should have seen it coming: important time for examining the paper entitled ‘Lessons of History? Are the likely consequences for the Lib change in the nature of British politics. Coalitions Bound to Fail?’ The historical Dems of Cameron’s fatal embrace’. That With both academic and political theme was also followed in Professor was followed by a paper on ‘Coalition participation we were able to explore Deacon’s paper on the legacy of the 1922 politics: How does the Cameron-Clegg in considerable detail what makes a Newport by-election which brought about relationship affect the role of Prime successful coalition and what risks the downfall of the Lloyd George coalition Minister?’, jointly authored by Dr Richard bringing one down.’ government. Peter Sloman (Oxford) Heffernan (OU) and Dr Mark Bennister explored ‘Policy and Coalition Formation: (Canterbury Christchurch), and by The conference had been made possible 1931 and 2010 compared’, while Dr Matt Dr Alistair McMillan (Sheffield) who by a special subject group grant by the Cole (Hansard Society) explored the examined Liberal Democrat voters and Political Studies Association. ‘Historical precedents of the Lib-Lab Pact’. party coherence in 2010.
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 10 16/06/2011 12:06 Specialist Group News 11 Sport and Politics: A Day of Debate The 5th Sport and Politics Specialist Group Annual Conference took place on 18th March at the University of Birmingham, hosted by the College of Social Sciences, Department of Sport Pedagogy. The event attracted over 40 delegates to engage in debate and discussion on sport policy in times of austerity.
Sport Policy A busy day saw seventeen presentations delivered in panel sessions that explored the impacts of the recession on sport policy, youth sport and physical education. The event had three keynote speakers: Professor John Horne (University of Central Lancashire) who spoke on the Olympic Games under the politics of austerity; Margaret Talbot (President, International Council of Liberals and Conservatives Hold Sport Science and Physical Education), who examined the highly charged processes behind raising physical Opportune Conference L-R: Conference organisers Dr Lesley Philpotts and Dr Jonathan Grix (both University of Birmingham) education as a public policy concern; with keynote speakers Prof David Kirk and Margaret Talbot. and Prof David Kirk (University of Bedfordshire), who interrogated and its approach to sport. (A full a forthright message about the need the challenges facing School Sports conference report can be found at for the academic community to find a Partnerships, a key site for a reversal of www.sportpolitics.net for more detail critical voice within practitioners and policy in the first year of the Coalition on each presentation). A rousing final policy circles to challenge the short- Government. presentation was given by Prof Mike termism of current sport policy making. Collins (University of Gloucestershire) The Group’s 6th annual conference Highly Critical who identified a scenario of worsening is scheduled for 24th - 25th February The tone of much of the day was highly social inequalities within sport as a 2012 at Southampton Solent University. critical of the Coalition Government result of funding cuts and who delivered
Podcasts on Greek Politics, Emotions & the Crisis As part of its effort to disseminate ❖ Prof. Barry Richards (Bournemouth ❖ Giorgos Katsampekis (Aristotle research, facilitate debate and explore University), “Emotional Governance, University of Thessaloniki), new formats of scholarship, the Greek Extremism and the National Stage” “Populism in post-democratic times” Politics Specialist Group is delighted ❖ Prof. Yannis Stavrakakis (Aristotle to continue its Podcast Series with six University of Thessaloniki), The talks were given during the GPSG’s presentations on the theme of “Politics, “Discourse, Affect, Enjoyment: panels at the 61st annual conference Emotions & the Crisis in Greece”. Lacanian Political Theory and the of the Political Studies Association in Economy” London. The GPSG would like to thank Following last year’s successful podcasts ❖ Dr. Roman Gerodimos (Bournemouth the Centre for Public Communication on public policy in Southern Europe, University), “Extreme Emotions: Research (CPCR) and the Centre for this latest collection features some of the Victimhood and Populism in the Journalism & Communication Research leading experts on the field of emotions, Discourse of Greek Anarchists during (CJCR) at Bournemouth University for populism and extremism: the December 2008 Riots” co-sponsoring the two panels on politics ❖ Dr. Sappho Xenakis (ELIAMEP/ and emotions. ❖ Prof. Nicolas Demertzis (University University of Oxford), “In the eye of of Athens), “The Emotions-Politics the beholder: Accounting for the role The podcasts can be downloaded from Nexus: Approaching the Crisis” of emotions in Greek politics” our website at http://www.gpsg.org.uk
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 11 16/06/2011 12:06 12 Department Profile Politics at Cardiff Politics at Cardiff University has undergone considerable development in recent years. Located within the School of European Studies, the Politics Department currently has 260 undergraduates and 60 taught postgraduates as well as 28 PGR students. In addition to long standing strength in European and Comparative Politics, Political Theory, Public Policy and language-based Area Studies we have built expertise in International Relations and in Welsh and Territorial Politics, both of which are being supplemented with new appointments this year. Cardiff is also looking forward to hosting the Cardiff Politics staff at a lecture by visiting speaker Professor Tariq Modood 2013 Political Studies Association annual conference at its location in the heart of a Baroness Eluned Morgan. The WGC is study of these important figures and, in thriving capital city. also home to Wales Legislation Online and addition to hosting visiting researchers the prestigious annual St David’s Day from all over the world, publishes Research Lecture. Both the WGC and EGIPP work Collingwood and British Idealism Studies, Politics research is organised through closely with the Wales Institute of Social executive editor David Boucher. The three Research Units and several and Economic Research, Data & Methods Centre for Ideology Critique and Žižek Research Centres which underpin our (WISERD), a £4,000,000 project funded Studies critically explores the formation international reputation for quality by WAG and ESRC to develop research of ideologies against the background of research and a strong RAE performance capacity in economic, social and political changing capitalist societies, drawing on where we ranked second on research sciences. Lacanian and Marxian frameworks at the power in European Studies. intersection of politics, psychoanalysis, history and culture. European Governance The European Governance, Identities and International Affairs Public Policies Research Unit (EGIPP) is The newly formed International Affairs a large research grouping that examines Research Unit is an interdisciplinary and compares continuity and change in forum for researchers in global and the institutions, politics, policies and international issues, including Global societies of leading European states. Justice, International Law, Security and Four conceptual themes predominate: Foreign Policy and Just War. It is an Europeanisation, convergence, multi- intellectual meeting place for scholars, level governance, and identity formation. practitioners and community groups EGIPP draws on the in-depth expertise and offers the opportunity to transcend that we possess on the leading EU states disciplinary boundaries. It has close links and considerable strength in language- with the Welsh Centre for International based area studies, with attention focused Affairs, the United Nations Association on France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Honorary Professor, Carole Pateman and a wide range of NGOs. Spain. Political Theory Politics staff include fellows of the Wales Governance The Political Theory Research Unit is British Academy (2), the Royal Historical Linked with EGIPP, the Wales an unusual concentration of expertise Society (10) and the Learned Society Governance Centre (WGC), expanding in Contemporary Theory, International of Wales (7) and academicians of the under the Directorship of Richard Theory and the History of Political Academy of the Social Sciences (4) and Wyn Jones, pursues research on the Thought. This has fostered long-term have held visiting posts all over the world politics, public policy, political economy collaborative work on justification and including Harvard, Boston, Oxford, and law of Wales and on territorial diversity and facilitates close work with Taiwan and Canterbury. We are also governance more generally. It has a honorary professors Carole Pateman active participants in Political Studies close working relationship with the (current President of APSA), Rex Martin Association specialist groups including National Assembly for Wales and the and Andrew Vincent. It is home to the British Idealism, French Politics, British Welsh Assembly Government, and with Collingwood and British Idealism Centre. Politics, Italian Politics and Politics honorary professors Rhodri Morgan and This is the foremost centre for the Teaching & Learning.
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Teaching of only twenty-one universities in the UN, Sir Emyr Jones-Parry, former UK The breadth of research expertise United Kingdom to be ranked excellent Permanent Representative to NATO and Politics at Cardiff underpins a thriving postgraduate on the basis of publications, citations and the UN Security Council and Malcolm research culture, recognised by AHRC mobility. Evans, UK member of the UN Sub- block grant status in History and Politics at Cardiff features a wide range committee on the Prevention of Torture. Philosophy, an ESRC Doctoral Training of undergraduate programmes under the Other recent events include lectures from pathway in language-based Area Studies Directorship of Edwin Egede including Slavoj Žižek, David Lidington, MP and and a shared pathway in Politics and Politics, European Politics & International Minister for Europe and Rhodri Morgan, International Relations (with Aberystwyth Relations and many joint programmes the longest serving Welsh First Minister. and Swansea). Recent PhD graduates including those with Law, History and We look forward to welcoming have gone on to work in York, Bristol, Languages. Cardiff students are also you to Cardiff for the 2013 Association Sheffield, Birmingham and Swansea, as able to take advantage our innovative Conference. well as Johannesburg and Rome III. double-degree scheme taught with Cardiff is also home to a growing the internationally-renowned Institut taught postgraduate body drawn from d’Etudes Politiques, Sciences Po, in all over the world to study International Bordeaux and a similar postgraduate Relations, Political Theory, Politics & scheme with Turin University. Public Policy, European Governance & Public Policy and Welsh Politics & Recent Events Government. This success is reflected Politics hosts a high profile lecture by Political Science at Cardiff achieving series on International Relations & the ranking of excellent in the Centre International Law, recently featuring for Higher Education Development speakers such as Bertrand Ramcharan, (CHE) Excellence Ranking which rates former United Nations Acting High the School among ‘the most interesting Commissioner for Human Rights, Lord
places in Europe for doing your master’s David Hannay, former UK Ambassador Honorary Professor Rhodri Morgan at a Politics Europe or doctoral degree.’ Cardiff was one and Permanent Representative to the Day event
Politics at Birkbeck
Personalia of Deborah Mabbett and Eric Kaufmann London location permits easy access to The Department of Politics at Birkbeck to Professor in 2011, the Department Westminster, Whitehall, and the major has changed markedly in recent years now counts 5 Professors as well as 4 think tanks as well as close interaction (not least in name, from ‘Politics and Senior Lecturers and 1 Reader. with other Bloomsbury/University of Sociology’ to ‘Politics’). Yet it continues The Department caters to mature London colleges, libraries and centres to build on foundations laid by the students who take classes in the evening. such as the London Consortium. Staff late Paul Hirst and Bernard Crick, Most of our students study part-time. members are also involved in cross- and their three colleagues (including 60 percent are enrolled on postgraduate Birkbeck initiatives like the Institute the highly active Sami Zubaida) who degrees but undergraduate provision has for Social Research and Institute for the founded the Department in 1972. The grown almost as fast: total enrolment Humanities. Department has grown continuously has more than doubled from 280 in since its foundation, and has expanded 2000-1 to 600 in 2009-10, the last year Clusters of Strength significantly in recent years to its current of record. We also have a long-standing Clusters of strength include international size of 22 full-time members and several doctoral programme, with five students politics; public policy; British politics; part time lecturers. With the promotion completing last year. Our central gender and politics; religion and
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 13 16/06/2011 12:06
14 Department Profile
identity politics; European politics; and ‘Preference Formation and the Future Lovenduski was elected a Fellow of the political/social theory. In international of the European Union’; ’After the 2010 British Academy and won the Political politics, the Department has strength Election’, ‘The National Coordination of Studies Association Special Recognition in international political economy, EU Policy in the `new’ Member States’; Award for her contribution to political IR theory, American foreign policy, as well as four ESRC research seminars studies in 2007. In 2009 she was war and politics, Middle East politics/ on Modelling Political Accountability: awarded the Gender and Politics Award political Islam and nationalism in the Principal-Agent Relations in of the ECPR Standing Group on Gender interstate system. Public policy research Government’; and ‘African Development and Politics. Eric Kaufmann won the has focused on equality policy, political and Diaspora’. Association’s Richard Rose Prize for recruitment and public management. scholars under 40 in 2008. Members of In 2010, a new Centre for the Study Strong Research Culture staff appear regularly in the television, of British Politics and Public Life was The Politics Department has a strong radio and print media in Britain and launched, led by Joni Lovenduski, Rosie research culture and a tradition of abroad. They have also advised, among Campbell and Jason Edwards. Areas of engaging in public debate. Recent others, the Foreign Affairs Select expertise in this area include British research projects include Joni Committee of the House of Commons; politics, gender and voting in Britain, Lovenduski’s shared Leverhulme the report of the Speaker’s conference of political careers, Northern Ireland Programme grant on ‘Gendered the House of Commons; the Foreign and politics and multiculturalism. Ceremony and Ritual in Parliaments’; Commonwealth Office; the US Office Work on gender encompasses Diana Coole’s Leverhulme Professorial of Net Assessment; the House of Lords equality policy, gender and voting, Fellowship for her work on the political EU Subcommittee on Economic and feminist theory and gender and theory of global population change; Financial Affairs; the European External political ritual. In terms of religion Dionyssis Dimitrakopoulos’ ESRC Action Service; the UK aid ministry and identity politics, members study award for ‘The Implementation of EU (DfID), think tanks such as Chatham church-state relations, Shiite and Sunni Policy’; Eric Kaufmann’s Belfer Center House and NGOs such as the Fawcett Islamist movements, nationalism and Fellowship at Harvard’s Kennedy and Hansard Societies. ethnic conflict, multiculturalism and School and his Leverhulme Trust award Members of staff are active in the political demography of religion for a project on religion and political professional associations and on journals. and ethnicity. In European politics, demography; and Deborah Mabbett’s Joni Lovenduski chairs the editorial specialists work on the politics of the grants from Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg board of Political Quarterly. Samantha European Union, the domestic politics and the WZB on ‘The Regulatory State Ashenden is Managing Editor of Economy of European integration, the politics and the Welfare State’. and Society, Simon Susen is Managing of monetary union, European political Staff publish in a wide range of Editor of the Journal of Classical Sociology, economy and Russian politics. The journals. Notable recent articles by Diana and Eric Kaufmann is a Vice-President of social/political theory cluster features Coole and by Rosie Campbell and Joni the Association for the Study of Ethnicity research on social and political theory, Lovenduski have appeared in the British and Nationalism and an editor of Nations the history of social and political Journal of Political Science. Monographs and Nationalism. Members of staff are thought, critical theory, feminist theory, published recently by members of staff also active in Theory and Event, European legal theory and the philosophy of the include Dermot Hodson, Governing the Journal of Social Security, Historical social sciences. Euro Area in Good Times and Bad (Oxford Materialism, Religion State and Society, UP 2010); Eric Kaufmann, Shall the Critical Review of International Social and Recent Events and Highlights Religious Inherit the Earth (Profile Books Political Philosophy (CRISPP) and many The Department routinely hosts 2010); Antoine Bousquet, The Scientific other journals. seminars and conferences. Most recently, Way of Warfare (Hurst and Columbia UP Through it all, the Department Tony Wright, MP, who joined the 2009); Robert Singh (with Tim Lynch), continues to uphold the interdisciplinary Department as a Professorial Fellow in After Bush (Cambridge UP 2009); Sami focus of its founders and Birkbeck’s 2010, convened a seminar by Jonathan Zubaida, Beyond Islam (IB Tauris 2011); mission to provide high-quality, research- Powell. A debate on AV was held Barbara Zollner, The Muslim Brotherhood led teaching for working Londoners. jointly with nearby UCL in April 2011, (Routledge 2009) and Colleen Bell, featuring, among others, Billy Bragg, The Freedom of Security (UBC Press Peter Kellner, Peter Facey, Tony Wright 2011). Singh and Lynch’s book won the and leaders of the national ‘yes’ and ‘no’ Association’s annual Neustadt Prize AV campaigns. The Department has, in for the best book in American Politics. recent years, held conferences on the Kaufmann’s book was extensively following themes: the work of Paul Hirst; reviewed in British newspapers and the Political Studies Association Women Bousquet’s work has been widely and Politics Group Conference; ‘The discussed in US military circles. War on Terrorism and American Empire after the Cold War’; ‘New Directions Major Recognition in Marxist Theory’; ‘Neoconservatism Diana Coole and Joni Lovenduski have and the New York Intellectuals’; ‘Social both been recognised as Academicians Democracy and European Integration’; of the Academy of Social Sciences.
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Department News 15 Cameron and the Conservatives: The Transition to Coalition Government
Honeyman contributing alongside the Big Society; the performance of Cameron conference co-convenors. as Prime Minister and campaigning techniques; Conservative party Transition from Opposition management and internal divisions; and A range of policy issues, and how the how Labour have set about critiquing the As the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Conservatives have developed these Conservatives. coalition government approached its during that transition from opposition to For further details on the first anniversary, the Centre for British a coalition government were considered forthcoming Palgrave book contact Government within the School of Politics – for example, economic, European, either Dr Timothy Heppell (t.heppell@ and International Studies (POLIS) at immigration, social and welfare, leeds.ac.uk) or Dr David Seawright the University of Leeds, organised a foreign, territorial and gender. Within ([email protected]). For further conference in April to consider its a broader political context contributors details on the Centre for British implications from a Conservative considered how to interpret Conservative Government contact Professor Kevin Party perspective. Entitled Cameron modernisation and the meaning of the Theakston ([email protected]). and the Conservatives: The Transition to Coalition Government, its proceedings will be published by Palgrave and will be co-edited by the conference co-convenors Dr Timothy Heppell and Dr David Seawright. The conference brought together seventeen academics from across nine different politics departments, including Professor Andrew Gamble of Cambridge University; Professor Lord Philip Norton of Hull University and Professor Tim Bale of Sussex University, the latter of whom is the convenor of the Association’s specialist group on Conservatives and Conservatism. All of the members of the Centre for British Government within POLIS participated, Dr Nick Randall, Newcastle University delivering Professor Andrew Gamble, University of Cambridge with Professor Kevin Theakston, his paper on the territorial implications for the addressing the conference on the economic strategy Dr Stuart McAnulla and Dr Victoria Conservatives of the Coalition
International Politics at Aberystwyth New Developments of our Masters provision, the Visiting Speakers The Department of International Politics Department of International Politics is The Department has attracted a is pleased to announce the launch of introducing a new generic core module wide range of international scholars two new Masters degrees in September for all Masters degree schemes that and policy makers to give talks this 2011. The new multidisciplinary Masters emphasises innovative teaching practice, academic year. These include General degree in Food and Water Security looks employability and engagement with the Sir Mike Jackson (former Chief of the at the greatest challenges facing the big issues in international relations. General Staff), Lord Robertson (Former world today in terms of the sustainable Secretary-General of NATO and UK provision of food and water. The new New Staff Defence Secretary), Professor Barry International Relations degree provides The Department is delighted to welcome Buzan (London School of Economics), a complementary and innovative four new academic members of staff in Beatrice Souviron (Bolivian Ambassador package of modules that encompasses fields of security studies and intelligence to the UK) and Professor Robert Jervis cutting edge theoretical and empirical studies. They are: Dr Carl Death, Dr (Columbia University). perspectives within the field of IR. In Claudia Hillebrand, Dr Daniel McCarthy addition, as part of a reconceptualisation and Dr Jan Ruzicka.
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 15 16/06/2011 12:07 16 Department News Loughborough Builds on its Strengths
The Department of Politics, History and Smith’s International Relations and the Glasgow International Relations at Loughborough European Union, David Berry’s New has been building on its strengths. We Perspectives on Anarchism, Labour and Grows Stronger recently appointed three new colleagues Syndicalism, Matthew Wilson’s Anarchism – Thoralf Klein, Simona Guerra and and Moral Philosophy and Süreyyya Politics at Glasgow has several Alexandre Christoyannopoulos – and Evren’s Post-Anarchism. pieces of news to report which we are about to appoint a Professor in strengthen its reputation as a IR and a Lecturer in History. These Broad Fronts growing centre for research on appointments together diversify our Oliver Daddow also recently co-founded human rights, politics and law and history, politics and IR provisions at a BISA’s working group on ‘Interpretivism everyday constitutionalism. time when the Department is poised in International Relations’, Siobhan to merge into a single school with Lambert-Hurley has been leading Glasgow Human Rights Network the University’s Social Sciences and an AHRC project on ‘Women’s Kurt Mills has established the Geography departments. Autobiography in Islamic Societies’, and Glasgow Human Rights Network Simona Guerra has enlisted the help of (GHRN), which brings together Vibrant Anarchists a research assistant for her EU-funded researchers, practitioners, Our vibrant Anarchism Research Group project on ‘Voter Adviser Application for members of civil society has welcomed several guest speakers, Poles and Lithuanians in the UK’. This is organisations and policymakers and our established Centre for the in addition to Helen Drake co-convening who address human rights issues. Study of International Governance the ‘French Politics and Society’ and Ruth For more information send an successfully hosted a roundtable on Kinna the Anarchist Studies Network e-mail to GHRNadmin@glasgow. peacekeeping in Kosovo, a conference on specialist groups of the Political Studies ac.uk. effective multilateralism in international Association. institutions and another on the political Finally, Helen Drake was recently German Law & Society Prize economy of taxation. appointed Chevalier dans l’Ordre des for Chris Thornhill Recent monographs have Palmes Académiques, while Michael Chris Thornhill has been included Oliver Daddow’s New Labour Smith was bestowed a Lifetime awarded the Wolfgang Kaupen and the European Union, Alexandre Achievement Award in European Studies Prize for 2010 from the German Christoyannopoulos’ Christian Anarchism, at the UACES 2010 Annual Conference Sociological Association for his Helen Drake’s Contemporary France, in Bruges. research on social theory and Siobhan Lambert-Hurley’s Atiya’s Further details of our activities can constitutionalism. The prize is Journeys, and Phil Parvin’s Karl Popper. be found on our website at http://www. an annual prize in recognition of Recent co-edited books include Michael lboro.ac.uk/departments/eu/ the best publication promoting research on Law and Society in Germany.
New MSc at Royal Holloway New ESRC Grant: The Internet New Programmes Prof. Chris Rumford convened a one-day and Everyday Rights The Department is pleased to announce seminar on 17th February, ‘Twenty20 and Sarah Oates and Vikki Turbine its new MSc in Transnational Security the Future of Cricket’. Papers from this have received an ESRC grant for a Studies, which is recruiting for event will comprise a special issue of the project entitled ‘The Internet and September 2011. This programme traces journal Sport and Society at the end of the everyday rights’. This two-year the development of the security studies year. project examines the role of the discipline from its traditional approaches internet in political life in Russia through its evolution to include ever Research Awards through an analysis of ways in more transnational dynamics. It includes Dr. Nicholas Allen was awarded £7,500 which people seek to secure their option courses in media and war, by the British Academy for a project on ‘everyday’ human rights in gaining political violence, biopolitics, the law ‘Attitudes towards political ethics and access to social services such as of targeting, and regional international misconduct in France’. pensions and health care. politics and security studies. Dr. Evelyn Goh was awarded an East Asia Fellowship by the East Asia New British Academy Fellow Conferences Institute in Seoul for a project on ‘China, Carl Knight has been appointed Dr. James Sloam held a successful one Japan, and the Great Power Bargain British Academy Postdoctoral day conference, ‘A Pedagogy of Civic in East Asia’. The fellowship provides Fellow for three years. Carl is Engagement for Higher Education’, funding for a three-week lecture tour and working on a project on Global on 15th April. The conference was field research in China, Japan and Korea Distributive Justice. sponsored by HEFCE and Prof. Benjamin in autumn 2011. Barber was the keynote speaker.
PSA_June_2011_aw.indd 16 16/06/2011 12:07 Department News 17 ‘Public Administration: The Future of the Discipline’ A one-day colloquium on ‘Public Administration: the future of the discipline’ was recently held at Aston University. The event was sponsored by the Aston Centre for Europe in conjunction with the Association’s Public Administration specialist group and the Public Administration Committee of the Joint Universities Council. The purpose of the colloquium was to consider the relevancy of Public Administration research to the present zeitgeist of austerity. Despite the shrinking public sector in the UK and beyond, presenters made the case that Public Administration research continues to retain its relevancy. Indeed, its interest in modern complexities and the reach of contemporary Government policy makes the study and teaching of Public Administration more salient than ever before. L-R: Dr Anneliese Dodds, Co-Organiser of the event; Professor Simon Green, Co-Director of Aston Centre for Europe; Professor Rod Rhodes and Dr Josie Kelly, Irrepressible Rhodes Co-Organiser of the event Fifty academics and practitioners attended the event. A keynote address from the irrepressible Rod Rhodes outlined related fields such as Politics and Public Management? the robustness and rich history of this interdisciplinary Speakers identified a number of challenges facing the discipline. Ironically, though this interdisciplinarity and discipline of Public Administration. These included increasing diversity is a major strength of Public Administration institutional fragmentation, lower availability of research research, it has also contributed to the fragmentation and the funding, and a lack of confidence amongst potential students dispersal of specialists to Business and Management Schools, in a subject perceived to be only concerned with the public or in departments specialising in applied subjects (health, or sector. They also detailed the challenges for politicians in education), rather than traditional politics departments. making and delivering public policy, such as the global Rhodes summarised these tensions by arguing that “like financial crisis, demographic changes and the social and public administration elsewhere, British public administration political implications of social change and risks. does not have an agreed theoretical core and it grapples with, but does not resolve, the divide between pure and applied Upbeat Assessment research. Colleagues will continue to bemoan the lack of a Speakers offered an upbeat assessment for the subject as disciplinary core or our failure to engage with practitioners. well as demonstrating the richness and variety of Public Others will extol the virtues of the latest American intellectual Administration research. British Public Administration fashion, and rail against British parochialism. We may have research regularly engages with other international moved from order to chaos but that translates into diversity audiences and is well placed to absorb insights from across and controversy; it is a discipline in a melting pot of traditions the social and management sciences, as well as being open and parochialisms. It also confronts the challenge of blurring to innovations in theory and methodology from Europe genres, and perhaps Britain and the rest of Europe’s greatest and the US. Furthermore, many speakers argued that a contribution to the study of public administration is yet to Public Administration perspective was essential in order to come with the ‘interpretive turn’.” better understand policy fields as diverse as policing, local government, healthcare, education, and even terrorism. Contemporary Challenges The lively debate at the colloquium, and range of ages, Other journal editors, such as Martin Lodge (Public backgrounds and professional experiences of attendees, Administration), Karen Miller (Public Policy and Administration) indicated the continuing importance of the subject of and Joyce Liddle (International Journal of Public Management) Public Administration, both to train and educate students added fine grained detail to the broad picture sketched by about public policy-making and delivery, and also to better Rhodes reporting on the health of the discipline, whilst understand the activities of governments at all levels. locating contemporary challenges within a international, Those interested in joining the Public Administration historical and theoretical context. Specialist group are most welcome and should contact Dr Throughout the day, panellists considered a number Claire Dunlop, University of Exeter [email protected] of questions, including: Is public administration research The Public Administration Specialist group is sponsoring still relevant to today’s policy context? Is the ‘public’ the doctoral students who want to attend the PAC conference problem in Public Administration, in a policy context where ‘Public Service – Smaller Government’ 5th-6th September the size and scope of the state is being reduced? What can 2011 at Birmingham University. For more information, please we learn from Public Administration research and education see http://www.govsoc.bham.ac.uk/events/pac-2011/ or in other countries? How can, and should, the study of Public contact conference organiser Philip Whiteman p.whiteman@ Administration relate to research and theory developed in bham.ac.uk
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18 Department News
Link Up in Defence Journal of Conflict Transformation and Security (JCTS) Call for Contributions The Journal of Conflict Transformation and Security (JCTS) is for academics, policy makers and practitioners to engage in discussions on a wide range of peace, conflict and human security related issues in a multidisciplinary forum with contributions from political science, security studies, international relations, development studies, post-conflict reconstruction studies, economics, sociology, international law, political history, and human geography. Prospective authors should submit 5,000 - 10,000 word articles for consideration in Microsoft Word-compatible format. For more complete descriptions and
L-R: Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, Prof. Denise Lievesley, Dr David Betz, Major Gen John Lorimer, Prof Sir David submission instructions, please Ormand, Prof Mike Rainsborough and Dr John Gearson access the Editorial Guidelines and Style Guidelines pages at the CESRAN The Insurgency Research Group, university funded by a Department of website: http://www.cesran.org/ Centre for Defence Studies (King’s Defense Minerva grant. The project JCTS. Contributors are urged to read College London), and the Center on covers high-tech sabotage as well as the CESRAN’s author guidelines and style Irregular Warfare and Armed Groups social dynamics of subversion in the guidelines carefully before submitting (CIWAG) US Naval War College held digital age. articles. Articles submissions should their first joint conference on Strategic be sent in electronic format to Communications on 9th - 10th May Predictive Judgement [email protected] 2011. The conference considered the On 13th March, Correlli Barnett The application deadline is 30th current state of confusion in strategic CBE gave a lecture entitled ‘Good September 2011. communications, recognising the Predictive Judgement – a Leader’s new, fragmented communications Essential Piece of Kit’ as part of The environment and the changing ways King’s Distinguished Visiting Fellow states and state-challengers interact with programme which is designed to bring New Appointments populations. Major General Lorimer, academics of national and international chief of strategic communications, calibre to provide a series of lectures at at Northumbria MoD, who also gave a keynote address the college. to the College on the 10th May on the On 16th March, the Defence The Department of Social Sciences has role of the UK in Afghanistan, opened Studies Department and King’s Centre recently made two new appointments. the conference. Professor Sir Lawrence for Contemporary British History Edoardo Ongaro joins the Department Freedman, Vice-Principal (Strategy & staged the ‘Britain and the 1991 Gulf as Professor of International Public Development), commented, “The quality War Witness Seminar’. This Seminar Services Management. He has of thinking on strategic communications recorded the testimony of those British published extensively on the topic of has yet to catch up with its importance.” politicians and officials who were administrative reforms at the national involved in the origins, conduct and and European levels. Cyber-Security aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War from Keith Baker also joins the Dr Thomas Rid will join the Department political, diplomatic, economic, legal, Department as a Lecturer in Public in September 2011. Rid’s recent intelligence and military perspectives. Services. His recent research focuses publications include War 2.0 and On 14th April, the Air Power on the role of state power in managing Understanding Counterinsurgency. With Division of King’s College London held the multi-level networks through which Dr David Betz, he will co-lead a project its inaugural debate in their new Air nuclear power stations are developed and on cyber-security that works with the Power Studies Debate Series on the different approaches employed by the Department of Informatics at King’s, motion ‘Autonomous Weapons and British, French, Finnish and American making KCL the first non-American Morality in War are Incompatible’. governments.
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Department News 19
Polanyi and Pupils Newly Elected The University of Southampton’s Centre Schools Event for Citizenship, Globalisation and On March 17th, PhD students, Anjelica Academicians Governance (C2G2) hosted a conference Finnegan and Emily Rainsford, together entitled ‘New Directions in Polanyian with staff and students put on a public Peter John Scholarship’ on 12th and 13th March engagement event for pupils in three 2011 at Sarum College in Salisbury. The local schools. The theme of the day was conference (arranged and convened by to discuss how the pupils would like Dr Christopher Holmes) drew together to contribute to their local, national internationally renowned academics from and international communities in the all over the world and, true to C2G2’s coming year. Staff and PhD students Helen Margetts interdisciplinary remit, attendees came contributed with their expertise with from a variety of disciplines, including help from undergraduate and master not only political science and political students. economy, but also anthropology, philosophy and sociology. Papers were Outreach and Engagement given on a diverse range of topics, both The event had multiple purposes. Duncan McCargo empirical and theoretical, but united in For the School of Social Sciences, it that they all either reflected upon or drew provided an opportunity to participate inspiration from the work of the mid- in an outreach and public engagement twentieth century political economist and event, as well as giving the academic anthropologist Karl Polanyi. staff an opportunity to communicate their research to an audience they might The workshop vividly demonstrated not interact with very often. For the the value of Polanyi’s work at fulfilling undergraduate and master students, CONCEPT Holds the promises of inter-disciplinarity by this was an excellent volunteering providing a common language through opportunity that also gave them Conference on which to converse about social scientific more insight into the research being issues. Various coherent analytical conducted in the school. For the pupils, Bonnie Honig themes emerged across the different the aim was to put on an event that What ties humanity together? Many papers presented, provoking spirited would go beyond the textbook but answers to that question have been and productive exchanges between still be relevant to the Citizenship offered – our reason, our language, our participants. Dr Holmes is currently in Education Curriculum. Moreover, they productive activity, our being made in the process of editing a journal special had the opportunity to spend the day the image of God. One possible and issue including a selection of papers at a Russell Group University and learn increasingly popular answer is our delivered at the workshop. This innovative from leading academics in the field, common mortality and capacity to suffer; project – the first ever special issue as well as meeting Alan Whitehead, this ‘tragic humanism’ was the subject of focusing on Polanyian social science – MP and Andrea Rennard, Volunteering a recent conference hosted by CONCEPT, promises both to capture something of England. The documentation of the the University of Nottingham’s the growing buzz surrounding Polanyian day is in the process of being compiled Centre for Normative Political Theory, research agendas and to showcase some into a document that will be sent off which focused on the work of Bonnie of the most cutting edge work drawn to policymakers and to the pupils Honig, Professor of Political Science from them. themselves. at Northwestern University. Professor Honig gave the plenary address, deploying a reading of the story of Antigone to challenge the assumptions KPMG Internship at Oxford of tragic humanism. This was followed by a series of panels on various aspects of On 1st February Neil Sherlock, Partner coalitions’. Does Disraeli’s view still Professor Honig’s work, including papers in charge of the Government Relations stand in 2010. from Alan Finlayson, David Owen, Marc Team launched an essay competition for Stears and Mark Philp. two Oxford University students to win an KPMG received 45 exceptionally high Mathew Humphrey, Co-director internship in his team. Neil Sherlock is calibre essays answering the question of CONCEPT said: “Bonnie Honig is an Oxford University PPE alumnus and and after much deliberation picked two doing some of the most interesting and strong supporter of recruiting politics winners: Jack Andrews and Philippa important work in political theory right graduates. Byrne. They both joined Neil’s team at now, on democracy and humanism Easter to work with the Public Affairs in particular. This was a tremendous To enter the competition students had team presenting KPMG’s policy views to opportunity to develop engagement to submit a 1,500 word essay answering Government, politicians, regulators and with UK-based scholars working in the the question ‘England does not love other stakeholders in the UK and EU. same field.”
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20 In Full View OCSID Sponsors Conference on the Politics of the Great Recession The Oxford Centre for the Study of adopted by different countries in response mobilisation vary with crisis intensity; Inequality and Democracy (OCSID) is to the crisis and of tracing the economic whether and how patterns of media hosting a conference entitled ‘Popular and political effects of those policies. coverage and categories of social identities Reactions to the Great Recession.’ The affect attributions of blame; and how the conference, to be held on 24th - 26th Both Sides economic crisis impacts public opinion June, is part of a three-year research The upcoming conference will examine on specific issues such as immigration project entitled ‘The Politics of Economic the popular dimensions of the current and support for the Euro. The conference Crisis,’ funded by OCSID, Princeton crisis, exploring the dynamics and focus on popular responses to the crisis University’s Institute for International determinants of public reactions to the complements an earlier conference, and Regional Studies (PIIRS) and economic crisis that began in the fall held in Princeton in March 2010, Princeton’s Centre for the Study of of 2008. Specifically, the conference where scholars from both sides of the Democratic Politics (CSDP). The project will explore how public opinion about Atlantic presented papers analysing the explores how a variety of democratic the economy varies across countries government responses to the financial political systems respond to the current and regions; whether voters tend to crisis. economic crisis, with the aim of reward parties of particular ideological Please find full details at accounting for the variation in policies persuasions; whether patterns of popular http://ocsid.politics.ox.ac.uk
Hanging Over the Edge of a Cliff? How Teachers Might Help Rescue Politics
James Newell series of regional road shows providing Association has taken to enhance its University of Salford an opportunity for discussing aims and capacity to engage with teachers of strategies and the ways in which all politics in schools can help with this How can the Association enhance its social scientists can help. Meanwhile, because, by speaking more effectively to capacity to defend and promote the the Association’s annual conference this teachers’ intellectual and professional discipline’s interests in the currently year featured a well-advertised workshop concerns, the Association can expect to unfavourable economic and policy on engagement – an event underpinned help raise the demand for politics places environment? More active engagement by recognition of the way in which the at University level and so increase the with teachers of politics in schools may Research Excellence Framework and quality of politics graduates. Thereby contain at least part of the answer. the current economic situation have its capacity to defend, and to raise the As colleagues will be all too well presented academics with the twin profile of, UK political scientists aware, public expenditure cuts and challenges of ensuring their work is generally can be expected to increase. changes to the university funding relevant to communities beyond their With this in mind it is worth reflecting regime are placing politics, along with own and of assisting policy-makers and on what the Association has done the other social sciences, in a position practitioners to do far more with far less. hitherto in this area – this with a view whose precariousness is ever increasing. to encouraging debate and inviting the Indicative of this is, perhaps, the recent Defending and Promoting thoughts of members generally about initiative of management at my own So the Association and its members are, possible further initiatives. institution in launching a university- it would seem, actively involved in a wide discussion of the future of the arts, wide range of discussions and initiatives Considerable Obstacles humanities and social sciences at Salford. aimed at defending and promoting the Having managed to recruit close on 100 No doubt Salford is not alone in this. discipline’s interests – and there can be school teachers over a period of twelve Indicative too, is the recent launch of the little doubt that efforts in this area will months between 2009 and 2010, we Campaign for Social Science to which the need to increase in the coming months had assumed that we might then be able Association is an active contributor. bearing in mind the way in which the to move rapidly to establish a special new university funding arrangements Political Studies Association teachers’ Raising Awareness from 2012 onwards have led some section to give these colleagues their Against the current background, the to conclude that fewer students will own organisational identity. However, Campaign is seeking to raise awareness register for courses in politics and allied we quickly became aware that this of what social science is – and of the areas, and bearing in mind too that faced considerable obstacles thanks to contribution it makes to collective research funding is becoming ever more the specific ways in which the work wellbeing beyond academia – through a concentrated and difficult to obtain. situations of teachers differ from those of wide range of actions. These include a The range of initiatives the political scientists in higher education.
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In Full View 21
From interviews we carried out with such as the Political Studies Association, journalists and academics. The teachers in a wide variety of schools, we teachers were very clear in stressing that winning group will receive their award discovered, first, that those who teach these had less to do with conferences, at the Association’s annual Awards politics invariably combine it with the paper-writing and research, and much Dinner in London on 29th November, teaching of some other subject, most more to do with teaching and enhancing broadcast on BBC Parliament, frequently history, but sometimes the attractiveness of the discipline to with accommodation provided for sociology or economics. Consequently, their students. With this in mind, we them and their teacher in a central and thanks to the discipline’s minority recently announced to teachers a series of London hotel. status (in terms of the numbers of new initiatives that we intend to develop pupils it attracts), politics teachers can and expand over the coming year: In the near future we are also planning sometimes feel isolated and would to launch an Online Resource Centre welcome the opportunity to network and ❖ A speakers’ programme for schools: which will include a listing of events such exchange ideas with colleagues in other thanks to the offers of a large number as public lectures that may be of interest institutions. Third, teachers of politics of Association members, academics to teachers and their students, and a in schools have many more teaching from across the discipline will be facility to enable teachers to exchange hours than academics (typically about available to visit schools free of charge teaching ideas and resources with fellow 24 and upwards per week). Fourth, the to give lectures to students on any teacher members. opportunities available to them to access subject of teachers’ choice related to funds for CPD, conferences and such like the school politics curriculum. High Stakes are much more restricted. Consequently, ❖ Free workshops on topics of interest These initiatives, which owe a great they face two corresponding major to teachers and their students, the deal to the work of our Chief Executive challenges: finding the time to keep first of these being envisaged as one Officer, Helena Djurkovic and her up-to-date, as the textbooks become on the theme of ‘Applying to Study discussions with a circle of colleagues out of date very quickly; getting hold of Politics at a British University’. extending well beyond the membership teaching resources that they can deploy ❖ A student video competition: This of the Executive Committee, represent with the minimum of preparation time. year we are inviting groups of school work in progress. If you have read students to submit a short video on thus far then please be encouraged to Attracting Students ‘Why Politics Matters’. Shortlisted contribute ideas that will aid further Given all this, when asked about the groups will be invited to Parliament progress: the stakes, in terms of the kinds of resources and facilities they to discuss the ideas raised in their future of your discipline, have never would welcome from an organisation video to a panel of politicians, been higher.
Executive Pippa Norris and Ronald Politics Prize Inglehart win the 2011 Julia Fleischer (German Research Johan Skytte Prize Institute for Public Administration, The 2011 Johan Skytte Prize has human values and value change Speyer) is this been awarded to Ronald Inglehart for political behaviour and societal year’s winner (University of Michigan) and Pippa life. Ronald Inglehart, a professor of the Executive Norris (Harvard University) in in sociology at the University of Politics Prize for recognition of their innovative ideas Michigan, and Pippa Norris, a her Political on the relevance and roots of political professor of political science at Studies Association paper on culture in a global context. The Johan the John F. Kennedy School of ‘Administrative Elites in Executive Skytte Prize is among the most Government at Harvard University, Politics: Institutional and Sectoral prestigious prizes in the political will share the prize for “contributing Dynamics’. The Association’s specialist science field, with a cash award of innovative ideas about the relevance group on Executive Politics and SEK 500,000. and roots of political culture in a Governance ran a series of panels at the global context, transcending previous 2011 annual conference and awards its The 2011 Johan Skytte Prize for mainstream approaches of research.” annual prize to the best paper presented political science is awarded to two by a young career researcher. researchers who worked closely Ronald Inglehart and Pippa Norris For further information on the together to systematically investigate will accept the prize at a ceremony in specialist group, please visit: and highlight the importance of Uppsala on 24th September 2011. www.executivepolitics.org
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22 Time to Confer ‘Local Government Reform in Comparative Perspective’ Palermo, 8th - 10th September 2011 Call for Papers questions that institutional reforms often government. Papers are, therefore, invited leave unresolved. However, institutional which offer to throw light on one or more Panel sponsored by the UK Political reforms are only one among many factors of the above issues. Studies Association’s Italian Politics that are contributing to reshaping the Specialist Group. current role of councillors in local politics Submissions Reforms at the local level across and policy. Paper proposals, including a brief abstract several European countries and of 100 - 200 words should be submitted beyond in recent years, have seen an Explore Research by 1st July to the panel organisers, Sonia emphasis on strong local executives The purpose of this panel is to make Bussu ([email protected]), Tullia Galanti and prompt decision-making. This it possible to explore research findings ([email protected]) and Jim Newell has often translated into weak local from different types of local government ([email protected]) councils vis-à-vis powerful mayors and in democratic contexts, in order to For more information about the their appointed cabinets and managers, advance understanding of local councils conference, please visit the SISP website posing important questions concerning and their functioning and to develop at: http://www.sisp.it/convegno checks and balances and the role of research hypotheses about the effects of oppositions within local councils: the re-positioning of councillors in local
Political Studies Graduate Conference a Association of Major Success Ireland Annual The Association Graduate Network Portuguese, Russian, Hebrew, and organised another successful conference Welsh. For further information, please Conference 2011 as part of the 2011 Annual Conference in see their website www.mellenpress.com London on 18th April. Once again it was or contact the editors directly at editor@ a fruitful event for all delegates, who had mellenpress.com. ‘Political the opportunity to present their work, in The winner of this year’s Best some case for the first time, in a friendly Paper Competition was Magadalena Reform in and supportive environment. Staniek, from Trinity College Dublin, This was a one day event, including who submitted a paper titled ‘What Ireland’ 11 panels, where 30 delegates from UK determines the Number of Parties in and international institutions presented new Democracies? Effects of Culture, Dublin, 21st -23rd papers on Democracy, Party Politics, IR, Institutions and Economics on Party Public Policy, Institutions, European Pluralism’. The winner was awarded October 2011 Politics, Social Movements and Energy £100. All papers submitted for the Best Policy. Each panel allowed for lively Paper Competition were given detailed Call for Papers discussions at the end of speakers’ feedback by the Association reviewers. presentations, offering delegates the If you submitted a paper and you would Further information is available opportunity to debate their work and like to receive feedback, please contact from the PSAI website at www. exchange constructive feedback. Kathleen Henehan at K.A.Henehan@lse. psai.ie The Association also provided free ac.uk. General enquiries should be sent Lunch with the Publishers, following Once again the graduate conference to [email protected] the same format as last year. This year was a worthwhile experience for The Edwin Mellen Press was invited participants and organisers alike. Submitting a Proposal to answer questions on how to publish Graduate conferences help young Paper proposals should be 300 PhD theses. The Edwin Mellen Press researchers to build presentation and words and submitted by email to publishes free of charge and its sole networking skills and gain confidence [email protected] (Please put criterion for publication is that a and awareness about their work. If you “PSAI” in the subject box.) The manuscript must make a contribution have suggestions on how to improve deadline for paper proposals is to the literature. Publications are peer- or strengthen this format, please get in Friday 1st July 2011. reviewed and are published in English, touch and let us know how we can make French, Spanish, German, Italian, this a better experience for everyone.
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Association Conference 2011 23 Making an Impact
continued from the cover in Libya; and Nik Gowing on the role of the ICT in promoting new social Building on Edinburgh Conference movements. The Annual Dinner was As last year, the 2011 gathering lively and the after dinner speaker was preceded by a day of specialist Professor Tony Wright engaged the workshops and the post-graduate audience with a sparkling talk about conference. Particularly important for challenges facing political institutions the REF preparations was the workshop today. on impact and engagement, where academics and practitioners were able Running up to the REF! to discuss strategies for engagement Finally, many of the issues raised during with practitioners and exchange of ideas the four days of the conference highlight Sir Michael Aaronson, Surrey on best practice. The main conference the nature of the future challenges that programme was packed with interesting our discipline will face in the run up panels and plenaries. The highlights to REF2014. This makes next year’s of the conference were the keynotes conference theme – ‘In Defence of by Professor Iain McLean on coalition Politics’ – all the more pressing, as the and minority governments in the UK; Political Studies Association continues Professor Carole Pateman’s reflections to position itself as a voice for the on Participatory Democracy; Sir Mike discipline. We look forward to seeing all Aaronson on international intervention you in Belfast next year.
Nik Gowing, BBC World News
The University of Hull out in force for the Association Conference in April, including those either having attended, or taught there, or having been born there
Wei Hu, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Jo-Ying lee, University of Siena and Wai-Man Lam, Matthew Ryan, Southampton with Carole Pateman, Hong Kong University at the Association Conference President, APSA at the Conference in London
Ulster Politics team out in strength at the Conference: Prof Paul Taggart, Sussex, Co-editor of Government and Back row: Dr Paul Hainsworth, Prof Arthur Aughey, Opposition with Iain McLean, Oxford who delivered Dr Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Prof Henry Patterson. the Government and Opposition Leonard Schapiro Front row: Prof Paul Carmichael, Ms Carmel Roulston Memorial lecture at the Conference Tony Wright, UCL and Birkbeck College; after dinner and Dr Fidelma Ashe speaker at the conference
Professor Neil Collins Holly Hardwicke Political Studies Association, Chief Executive Officer: Registered Company with Editor Assistant Editor Department of Politics, Helena Djurkovic. limited liability in England University of Newcastle, Membership Secretary: and Wales, No 3628986. email: [email protected] email: hhardwicke@ Newcastle upon Tyne Sandra McDonagh. gmail.com NE1 7RU. Conference Officer: To advertise in this Tel: 0191 222 8021 Sue Forster. Newsletter, please contact Fax: 0191 222 3499 Sandra McDonagh at Email [email protected] Registered Charity [email protected] Web: www.psa.ac.uk. No. 1071825. Editorial Team
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Sue Pryce receiving the ‘Crick Prize for Outstanding Teaching – Main Prize 2010’ Roman Gerodimos, recipient of the ‘Arthur Mcdougall Dissertation Prize’ with Carole Pateman, President, APSA
James D.J. Brown, recipient of the prize for ‘Best Paper in Politics in 2010’ pictured here with Andrew Russell, Manchester
Gulshan Khan receiving the ‘Crick Prize For Outstanding Vicky Randall, Chair, Political Studies Association; Roberta Teaching – New Entrant Prize 2010’ Guerrina, Conference Convenor, Surrey; and Charlie Jeffery, Edinburgh
Ted Svensson, recipient of the ‘Lord Bryce Dissertation Prize’ with Vicky Randall
Jaroslav Petrik and Josez Janovsky, Masaryk University, Czech Republic at the 2011 Association Conference
Claire Annesley, winner of the ‘Richard Rose Prize’ with Other Prize Winners - Andrew Russell, Manchester not pictured
Harrison Prize for Best Paper in Political Studies in 2010 Mona Lena Krook
Best Paper in BJPIR in 2010 Timothy Ruback
Walter Bagehot Dissertation Prize Jóhanna Jónsdóttir Michael Neu, recipient of the ‘Sir Ernest Barker David Hastings Dunn, receiving his prize for ‘Best Paper Dissertation Prize’ in BJPIR in 2009’
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