UCL Minds

UCL
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UCL Minds

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the world's top ten universities (QS World University Rankings 2010 - 2021). Our excellence extends across all academic disciplines, from one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences to world-renowned centres for architecture (UCL Bartlett), education (UCL IOE) and fine art (UCL Slade School). UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with more than 13,000 staff and 43,000 students from 150 different countries. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. UCL Minds brings together UCL’s knowledge, insights, and ideas through events, activities, and digital content open to everyone. Find out what’s on UCL Minds: www.ucl.ac.uk/minds

  1. French Social Democracy In Turmoil

    1 DAY AGO

    French Social Democracy In Turmoil

    In a turbulent political summer, few surprises were greater than that caused by French president Emmanuel Macron’s decision in June to call early parliamentary elections. Macron’s party had just been trounced in the European Parliament elections; and victory for the far right seemed likely. In the end, thanks to some last minute deals, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally did not win. Rather, it was an alliance of the left that secured most seats in the National Assembly. France’s Socialist Party was regularly in power from the early 1980s till the mid 2010s. But it collapsed spectacularly in the elections of 2017, and its very survival today seems in doubt. So what has been going on? And have the recent elections brought any signs of revival? Joining us to explore these questions is Philippe Marlière, Professor of French and European Politics in the UCL European and International Social and Political Studies department. This episode of UCL Uncovering Politics is the first in an occasional series of episodes based on pieces in Political Quarterly. Mentioned in this episode: Marlière, P. (2024), French Social Democracy in Turmoil. The Political Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.13442 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/french-social-democracy-in-turmoil/transcript

    36 min
  2. Lies, politicians, and social media: Should we fact check politicians?

    1 DAY AGO

    Lies, politicians, and social media: Should we fact check politicians?

    Social media plays a significant role in shaping political debates and, some argue, even influencing election outcomes. Politicians increasingly use platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to communicate directly with the public and run their campaigns. However, this unfiltered communication can sometimes spread misinformation or undermine democratic values. A prime example is incoming US President Donald Trump, who was famously banned from Twitter for glorifying violence but has since returned to X with Elon Musk at the helm. This raises critical questions: How should social media companies handle inflammatory or false claims from politicians? Can they continue to claim they are mere platforms, not publishers, despite the profound impact they have? And, if they challenge politicians' statements, do they risk overstepping their role in a democratic society? To explore these issues, we’re joined by Jeff Howard, a professor in this department and the Director of the Digital Speech Lab. Jeff co-authored a recent paper that dives deep into the responsibilities of social media companies when it comes to regulating political speech. Mentioned in this episode: Fisher, S., Kira, B., Arabaghatta Basavaraj, K., & Howard, J. (2024). Should Politicians Be Exempt from Fact-Checking?Journal of Online Trust and Safety. https://tsjournal.org/index.php/jots/article/view/170/71 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Jeffrey Howard Emily McTernan https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/lies-politicians-and-social-media-should-we-fact-check-politicians/transcript

    30 min
  3. Policing The Permacrisis

    1 DAY AGO

    Policing The Permacrisis

    In recent years, policing in England and Wales has appeared to be trapped in a cycle of crisis. From high-profile scandals to criticisms of operational standards, concerns about the police’s role and conduct have intensified. Perhaps most shockingly, a serving police officer was convicted of the murder of Sarah Everard, a tragedy that underscored the urgent need for accountability within the force. A subsequent review by Baroness Louise Casey highlighted deep-seated issues within the Metropolitan Police Service, pointing to "institutional racism, sexism, and homophobia" within the organization. Meanwhile, there’s a growing perception that the police have deprioritized certain types of crime, like shoplifting. Political figures, too, have weighed in, accusing the police of double standards in their approach to protests and civil unrest. All of this has contributed to a significant decline in public trust. So, what exactly are the root issues? What realistic solutions could address these complex problems? And how might the current political climate impact the feasibility of any reforms? To explore these pressing questions, we are joined by three experts in crime and policing: Ben Bradford – Professor of Global City Policing in the Department of Security and Crime Science at University College London Jonathan Jackson – Professor of Research Methodology in the Department of Methodology at the London School of Economics Emmeline Taylor – Professor of Criminology in the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City, University of London Together, Ben, Jon, and Emmeline have edited a new special issue of The Political Quarterly titled Policing the Permacrisis, which dives into these challenges and potential solutions. Regular listeners might recall that The Political Quarterly shares our goal of making cutting-edge political and policy research accessible to a broad audience beyond academia. This episode marks the second installment in our occasional series where we discuss insightful work published in the journal. Mentioned in this episode: Policing the Permacrisis, in The Political Quarterly https://politicalquarterly.org.uk/collections/reforming-the-police/ UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Ben Bradford Jon Jackson Emmeline Taylor Alan Renwick https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/policing-the-permacrisis/transcript

    34 min
  4. Politicising Memory: Evidence from Ukraine

    1 DAY AGO

    Politicising Memory: Evidence from Ukraine

    We’re familiar with the idea that history shapes contemporary politics, but what about the reverse? How do today’s political dynamics influence the way we remember the past? In this episode, we explore a compelling study that examines this question in the context of Ukraine—a country caught between conflicting historical narratives from Russia and the West. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the nation has endured not only a devastating war but also an intense battle over history, identity, and legitimacy. Yet, these struggles are deeply rooted in Ukraine’s complex past. The study we discuss was conducted in 2019, offering a snapshot from before the war. It investigates how Ukrainians recall their families’ experiences of victimisation during the Second World War and whether these memories are shaped by their present-day political beliefs. Joining us to discuss these findings is Kristin Bakke, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at UCL and co-author of the study. Mentioned in this episode: Bakke, K. M., Rickard, K., O’Loughlin, J., & Toal, G. (2024). Politicizing Memory: Evidence from Ukraine. Problems of Post-Communism, 1–20. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10758216.2024.2316037 The study in The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/growing-number-of-war-weary-ukrainians-would-reluctantly-give-up-territory-to-save-lives-suggests-recent-survey-238285 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Kristin Bakke Alan Renwick

    34 min
  5. Unpaid Reparations And Expropriation

    1 DAY AGO

    Unpaid Reparations And Expropriation

    There have been longstanding calls for reparations to address the profound injustices of colonialism and compensate for the vast extraction of resources from colonized nations. However, with few recent exceptions, these demands for reparations have largely been ignored by the former colonial powers. So, what comes next? Over the past two decades, renewed interest in colonial reparations has emerged within political theory and philosophy, with a focus on assigning responsibility for redress. Yet, relatively little attention has been given to how redress might be achieved in the face of persistent colonial amnesia and apologia. In this episode Dr. Shuk Ying Chan, Assistant Professor in Political Theory at UCL Political Science, proposes a solution: expropriation (the unilateral public takeover of foreign assets) as a justified response to these overdue reparations. In her argument, she shifts the focus from simply determining responsibility for reparative justice to exploring what victims of past injustices, or their descendants, are justified in doing to claim what they are owed. She also addresses the unique challenges of pursuing such political resistance at the global level. Mentioned in this episode: Chan, S.Y. (20024) Expropriation as Reparation. American Journal of Political Science. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajps.12891 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/unpaid-reparations-and-expropriation/transcript

    29 min
  6. Mission-Driven Bureaucrats

    2 DAYS AGO

    Mission-Driven Bureaucrats

    Episode Summary This week we’re looking at how to improve public services. How can bureaucracies best be managed to deliver positive outcomes? Does compliance get in the way of building trust between citizens and governments? Episode Notes The state of public services is a pressing issue both in the UK and globally. News headlines are frequently dominated by stories of chronic failures and acute crises. In response, politicians often propose solutions involving more targets, tighter rules, and increased oversight. When confronted with challenges, their instinct is often to exert more control. A new book challenges this approach, suggesting that such responses may (at least in some cases) be counterproductive. It argues that bureaucrats can often perform at their best when they are trusted with greater autonomy, encouraged to develop and apply their own expertise, and supported in collaborating with colleagues toward a shared mission. Despite this, the book acknowledges that managing for empowerment comes with significant challenges. The book, Mission Driven Bureaucrats, is written by Dr. Dan Honig, Associate Professor of Public Policy in the UCL Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy, who joins us on the podcast today. Mentioned in this episode: Mission Driven Bureaucrats. Empowering People To Help Government Do Better, by Dan honig UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Dan Honig Alan Renwick Transcript link: https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/mission-driven-bureaucrats/transcript

    42 min
  7. Lunch Hour Lecture | From threat to opportunity: putting health at the centre of our response to climate change

    4 DAYS AGO

    Lunch Hour Lecture | From threat to opportunity: putting health at the centre of our response to climate change

    This lunch hour lecture will cover the latest findings of the Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change, a UCL-led project bringing together over 300 researchers from around the globe.

    1 hr
  8. Dissecting the 2024 US Election

    NOV 29

    Dissecting the 2024 US Election

    This week we’re looking at the elections in the United States. Donald Trump has won; the Democrats have been comprehensively defeated. What explains the result? And what are the implications – for the US and the wider world? Episode Notes One week after the US elections, Donald Trump has claimed victory, securing the presidency, the Senate, and almost certainly – though not yet confirmed – the House of Representatives as well. This sweeping win over Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party has ignited widespread discussion: what went wrong for the Democrats, and what lies ahead for both parties? In this episode, we examine these key questions with our expert guests, exploring what this election outcome could mean for US policy on critical issues, including climate change, trade, democracy, and America’s relations with Ukraine, the Middle East, and China. With so much at stake, there’s already intense debate about the direction the country – and indeed, the world – may take in the coming years. To shed light on these issues we are joined by: Dr Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the UCL Centre on US Politics (CUSP). Dr Julie Norman, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations and CUSP’s Foreign Policy Lead. Both Dr Gift and Dr Norman bring deep expertise in US politics and policy, offering insights into where things stand, what to expect from the new administration, and the potential global implications. Together, they help to unpack the complexities of these developments and consider what the future might hold. Date of episode recording: 2024-11-14 Duration: 00:35:08 Language of episode: English (UK and US) Presenter: Alan Renwick Guests: Thomas Gift, Julie Norman Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham Link to transcript: https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/dissecting-the-2024-us-election

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the world's top ten universities (QS World University Rankings 2010 - 2021). Our excellence extends across all academic disciplines, from one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences to world-renowned centres for architecture (UCL Bartlett), education (UCL IOE) and fine art (UCL Slade School). UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with more than 13,000 staff and 43,000 students from 150 different countries. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men. UCL Minds brings together UCL’s knowledge, insights, and ideas through events, activities, and digital content open to everyone. Find out what’s on UCL Minds: www.ucl.ac.uk/minds

Information

  • Creator
    UCL
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    500
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    UCL Minds

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