Making an Impact
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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