"politics" blog posts
Creating change after tragedy: the story of Gee Walker
Francesca Foulkes, third year International Relations student writes about the story of Dr. Gee Walker, a beacon of hope who, after a tragic loss, founded the Anthony Walker Foundation. In this Black History Month tribute, this blog post explores her journey to combat racism and hate through education.
Posted on: 9 October 2023
Undergraduate students present their report on human rights violation in Zimbabwe at the House of Lords
On 13 September 2023, Dr Obert Hodzi and three undergraduate students presented a report on the repression and shrinking of space for civil society organisations in Zimbabwe at the House of Lords. The research leading to the report was funded through the Beacon Project grant. The three students, Phoebe Ashton, Emily Strudwick and Isra Mohammed, participated in interviewing leaders of civil society organisations in Zimbabwe.
Posted on: 21 September 2023
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From Liverpool to Westminster – How My University Experience Helped Me Find My Career
In September 2018, I began my first year at the University of Liverpool. I had no idea then that after five years, including a global pandemic, a year studying abroad, and a semester-long internship, I would end up starting my career as a Parliamentary Assistant.
Posted on: 22 June 2023
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The Wind of Change Continues
In Dr Andrew S. Roe Crines' blog, he recontextualises decolonisation by conducting a rhetorical political analysis of Harold Macmillan’s ‘Wind of Change’ speech.
Posted on: 7 June 2023
Semester 1 Summaries: Zach Bishop
Following a first year of disruptions and lockdowns, it has been wonderful to finally be back on campus this semester and experiencing the best of what the city of Liverpool and the university has to offer.
Posted on: 10 December 2021
Opinion: Why the government's race report is deeply flawed
Dr Leona Vaughn, Derby Fellow in the politics department, gives her view on the government's recent report into race and racism in the UK.
Posted on: 21 April 2021
Your guide to the 2021 local elections in the North West
With the 2021 local elections on the horizon, Professor Jon Tonge provides a breakdown of the key events and numbers before ballot-boxes open on Thursday 6 May.
Posted on: 13 April 2021
New perspectives on Corbyn and Corbynism
Alan Bennett uses the character Irwin in The History Boys to argue that “our perspective on the past alters. Looking back, immediately in front of us is dead ground. We don't see it, and because we don't see it this means that there is no period so remote as the recent past. And one of the historian's jobs is to anticipate what our perspective of that period will be.”
Posted on: 11 February 2021
COVID-19, nationalism, and students: how we are impacted and why you should care
First year Politics student Charlotte Marshall gives her view on the emergence of COVID nationalism, and how government restrictions have impacted her student peers.
Posted on: 8 January 2021
2020: My year in review as a Politics student
Third year International Politics student Ash Mears talks about how 2020 has changed her perspective on why her degree is important and how she wants to help in developing a more equal world in her career.
Posted on: 9 December 2020
How Covid-19 has highlighted the value of citizenship
Mate Subašić is a PhD student at the University of Liverpool. His research is focused on nationalism, identity politics and trans-border groups in South East Europe. Within this blog post he discusses how Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of citizenship within Europe.
Posted on: 10 November 2020
Sweet Home Alabama to Washington DC - an election Spotify playlist
Dr Stuart Wilks-Heeg, Senior Lecturer in Politics, provides your soundtrack to the US election with a playlist of songs to represent each state.
Posted on: 28 October 2020
The Electoral College: A flawed system? - How America elects its leaders
With the US presidential election just around the corner, politics student, Jack McNulty, looks at how America elects its leaders and explains the key battleground states.
Posted on: 28 October 2020
Why is the appointment of the next US supreme court judge so important?
The debate continues about Amy Coney Barrett, who has been selected by President Trump as the nominated replacement for the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg, for the role of supreme court judge. We asked politics lecturer, Dr Sean Haughey, to give an explainer as to why the role is such a pivotal appointment in the US and how this relates to the upcoming presidential election.
Posted on: 15 October 2020
Welcome to Liverpool! 5 tips for Politics students new to University of Liverpool
Welcome Week runs from 28 September – 2 October 2020 and is set to be a little different this year, however there are still tons of events and tools that you can use to interact with the Department of Politics and get to know the University of Liverpool as a new student. Here are 5 tips for Politics students during Welcome Week to help you get settled in and enjoying university life from week one:
Posted on: 26 September 2020
Why writer and activist, Audre Lorde, is still a vibrant and important voice today.
Audre Lorde was a writer, poet, feminist and activist. Her writing is known for its calls for social and racial justice and the collection 'The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House' contains \"...urgent essays on the power of women, poetry and anger\" (Penguin Books). Lorde dedicated her life and creativity to challenging racism, sexism, classism and homophobia. She supported civil rights and Black cultural movements, as well as advocating for LGBT equality.
Posted on: 4 September 2020
After University: Graduate Pathways from Politics (Part 2)
We got in touch with another of our former students to ask how their degree from the Department of Politics, helped them get to where they are today. Politics BA graduate James Christopher Maxwell tells us about how his degree brought him to a career in healthcare policy and public affairs.
Posted on: 5 June 2020
In Memoriam Professor Fred Ridley OBE
We are sad to report that Professor Fred Ridley OBE died on 17 April 2020. Having studied at the LSE, Paris and Berlin, Fred joined the new Department of Political Theory and Institutions at the University of Liverpool in 1958, a year after it had been established. He remained on the staff until 1995 (and was an honorary fellow from 1995-2005), serving for a remarkable 30 year period as Head of Department. Fred played a central role in the development of political studies in the UK, held numerous appointments in HE nationally and made an immense civic contribution which included a stint as Chair of the Merseyside Manpower Services Commission. He will be very fondly remembered by a lot of people. Our condolences are offered to Fred’s family and friends.
Posted on: 27 April 2020
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After University: Graduate Pathways from Politics
We got in touch with some of our former students to ask how their degree from the Department of Politics, helped them get to where they are today. History and Politics BA graduate Joseph Howe tells us about how his degree brought him to a career at the House of Commons.
Posted on: 17 April 2020
Best Political Podcasts You Should Listen to Right Now!
Round up, round up it’s time for our list of the best political podcasts to get you started on a journey of political awakening. Let’s be honest you already are but its never a bad thing to be exposed to and understand a variety of different views and opinions. Our list below is a rough guide, there are so any podcasts out there, you just need to find the ones that suit you. So take the first step, or listen, and see what you could learn today.
Posted on: 1 April 2020
Depression, status quo bias and the Brexit referendum
Dr Luca Bernardi (Lecturer in Politics at the University of Liverpool) and Professor Robert Johns (University of Essex) examine the impact of depression on the public's voting decisions, with a particular focus on the 2016 EU Referendum.
Posted on: 17 February 2020
Looking back on the 2019 General Election results night
We look back on the story of the 2019 General Election results night as told by our staff and students.
Posted on: 19 December 2019
Day 1214 of the Brexit process – where do we stand today?
Following what was billed as 'Super Saturday', Dr Andrew Roe-Crines summarises another dramatic day in Parliament and lays out the current situation in the Brexit process.
Posted on: 21 October 2019
Five things to do during Welcome Week
Welcome Week kicks off on Monday, giving new students the opportunity to get to know their new flatmates, explore Liverpool and settle in before they start lectures. Take a look at our top five tips to help you get started with university life.
Posted on: 13 September 2019
"A dramatic shift in constitutional assumptions, political conventions, and the traditional support bases of political parties"
Dr Andrew Crines, Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Liverpool, summarises a tumultuous few days in British politics and suggests how the situation may unfold in the coming weeks and months.
Posted on: 5 September 2019
Department of Politics Graduation 2019 — Social media roundup
Last week we said goodbye to our Class of 2019 at the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures graduation ceremony as they begin the next step of their journey as University of Liverpool graduates. Check out our roundup of social media messages from the day.
Posted on: 22 July 2019
What's it like to intern in public affairs?
Politics graduate James Maxwell is back to share his experience as a Junior Researcher intern with the RPP Group.
Posted on: 11 July 2019
Your guide to the 2019 local elections in the North West
With the 2019 local elections on the horizon, Professor Jon Tonge provides a breakdown of the current state of play before polling stations open on Thursday 2 May.
Posted on: 18 March 2019
"Images are powerful" - new exhibition of all 209 female MPs
Open Eye Gallery's '209 Women' exhibition features new portraits of all women MPs, shot by women photographers. The new exhibition opened in Liverpool on 28 February 2019 and aims to amplify the call for gender equality across all spheres of society. At the launch event, MP Alison McGovern said: \"These images are not only beautiful, they are a political act.\"
Posted on: 8 March 2019
BISA South East Europe Working Group Annual Workshop
The Europe and the World Centre (EWC) was delighted to host the British International Studies Association South East Europe Working Group Annual Workshop at the University of Liverpool in November 2018. The workshop's focus was on External Influences in South East Europe, as PhD student Mate Subasic explains.
Posted on: 10 January 2019
Why I no longer view Western political thought as a 'canon'
When I started at university in the UK, political theory meant studying a very particular canon, taught by a very particular type of scholar. In recent years, calls for the need to change how we think about and teach international relations and politics have started to gain traction. It is about time.
Posted on: 5 December 2018
What are the US midterm elections - and why do they matter?
Politics student, Tom Laing, gives his take on the fall-out from the 2018 midterm elections and the effect the results will have on the Trump Presidency. What does the future hold?
Posted on: 9 November 2018
What’s it like to be an intern for a member of parliament?
Visiting Number 10 Downing Street, supporting an MP at a demonstration and drinking with friends in a beautiful palace!
Posted on: 19 July 2018
Political art - what to see at Liverpool Biennial 2018
More than 40 artists from 22 countries will participate in this year’s Liverpool Biennial which invites artists and audiences to reflect on \"...a world in social, political and economic turmoil\". It's the largest festival of contemporary art in the UK and this year's theme is 'Beautiful world, where are you?'.
Posted on: 10 July 2018
Opinion: Why Vladimir Putin cannot ignore Russians’ social rights
What is the role of Russia’s post-communist state in providing housing, healthcare, pensions or social security?
Posted on: 20 June 2018
Opinion: Are Jordanian street protests reviving the 'Arab Spring'?
Over a week of street protests in Jordan’s main cities have toppled the prime minister and torpedoed an unpopular tax law. We ask Hannes Baumann: Is this a return of the protest wave that marked the 'Arab Spring' of 2011?
Posted on: 13 June 2018
Four things to see and do in Liverpool if you're passionate about politics
With Summer now upon us, you might be looking for things to do in Merseyside before the start of the new term (trust us, this will come around very quickly!). While teaching may be over until September, there’s still plenty of things to see and do in the area if you’re passionate about politics, from grand buildings to cool museums:
Posted on: 11 June 2018
Opinion - Airstrikes on Syria: our experts answer key questions about the military action
In the early hours of 14 April 2018, the militaries of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom launched airstrikes against regime targets in Syria. This came as retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack on civilians in the opposition-controlled enclave of Douma a week earlier.
Posted on: 3 May 2018
Opinion - Does Russia risk major conflict by fighting wars with private armed forces?
Does Russia risk major conflict by fighting wars with private armed forces? Ulrich Petersohn explores the murky world of Russian mercenaries and the risks this brings.
Posted on: 19 April 2018
Jon Tonge's guide to the 2018 north west elections
With local elections for the North West coming up in May, politics expert Jon Tonge gives us his guide to the state of play for this year’s council elections, in comparison to 2014:
Posted on: 26 March 2018
Brexit rhetoric: How to convince a sceptical public
As the government sets out its Brexit vision in a series of speeches by senior ministers, Dr Andrew Crines looks at the rhetorical strategies that could convince a sceptical nation.
Posted on: 1 March 2018
Opinion - Kosovo today: has independence fulfilled the population’s hopes and dreams?
Last weekend, Kosovo-Albanians celebrated the 10th anniversary of their new state’s declaration of independence. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia unilaterally on 17th February 2008, following a decade of practical apartheid in Kosovo from 1989 – 1999 separating Kosovo-Albanians and Kosovo-Serbs, as well as large-scale dismissal of Albanian workers and ethnic cleansing against Kosovo-Albanian civilians.
Posted on: 19 February 2018
Liverpool: Celebrating 10 years as the Capital of Culture
This year, Liverpool will come together once more to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of being named the European Capital of Culture. Here, we will explore some of the highlights 2018 will bring as a celebration, and check out some other big names that turn 10, too!
Posted on: 14 February 2018
One hundred years of suffrage – what does it mean for young women today?
6 February 2018 marks a centenary of the extension of suffrage to some women (and men). Women over 30 who owned property or were graduates voting in a university constituency, around 8.5 million women, were able to vote after the 1918 Representation of the People Act. Universal suffrage was gained 10 years later in 1928. Celebrating 2018 as the centenary of suffrage must serve as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and to be mindful of those women we leave behind. With this in mind, we asked our students what suffrage means to them…
Posted on: 15 January 2018
Top 4 political books of 2017 to help you make sense of today's headlines
2017 was another tumultuous year in politics. The holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on what just happened in Britain and the world. So here is our list of the most exciting political books of the year that will help you make sense of the headlines and what's happening now.
Posted on: 19 December 2017
Opinion: Why research methods matter
A few weeks ago I attended a talk during which a number of claims surrounding questions of correlation and causation were made, which suggested a significant link between two factors. However, when I asked for more details about the relationship between the two variables, I was told that these statements were based on assumptions gleaned from engagement with the media - reading articles in the press that suggested that in cases where A occurred, B also occurred. In fact, no quantitative data had been gathered, requested, or analysed.
Posted on: 14 December 2017
How arts and humanities can be a powerful force in the fight against modern slavery
As we look towards UN Human Rights Day on 10 December, we spoke to Dr Alex Balch about his research in Sub-Saharan Africa and his hopes for its impact on human rights.
Posted on: 7 December 2017
One year after Donald Trump’s election victory - politics as usual?
It's one year since Donald Trump was elected as President to the US. Has the Trump presidency been politics as usual, or are we witnessing a fundamentally new politics under Trump?
Posted on: 20 November 2017
What is rhetoric and why do we need it?
In this blog I’m going to defend the use of rhetoric. Why? The premise is very simple - because we need it.
Posted on: 18 September 2017
Trump's changing view of Afghanistan: are private armies part of the plan?
Donald Trump has defied expectation by pledging to increase the number of US troops in Afghanistan.
Posted on: 23 August 2017
General Election 2017 - viewpoints from our politics experts and students
What is the background to this snap general election and how will it play out? A lot has changed since the last election in 2015, so we asked Dr. Andrew Crines, one of our British politics experts, to give us his take on the election - along with a student's view:
Posted on: 31 May 2017
Bored of relentless soundbites from the general election campaign?
Fed up of all the repeated rhetoric and relentless soundbites of the General Election campaign? With voter apathy looming over the election, find out our our top five 'facepalm' moments from the campaign trail so far - watch out for sausages, spaniels and slogan bingo...
Posted on: 18 May 2017
Fake news and 'post-truth' politics - a new exhibition at FACT Liverpool
A 'Newstweek' hotspot device that can intercept and alter the online articles we read on our mobiles*? A film trailer for a school-yard riot that never happened**? FACT Liverpool's 'How much of this is fiction.' exhibition brings together a wide variety of multi-media artworks that explore 'fake news' and 'post-truth' politics.
Posted on: 2 March 2017
Trump protest: "This is a pivotal time for people to stand up for what they believe"
Political protests play an important role in the democratic process and can help to build solidarity and commitment among those who participate. Attending a demonstration provides very tangible evidence that others hold similar beliefs and ideals and this can be important in building a movement for political change.
Posted on: 6 February 2017
Merry Xmas (War is Over) - John and Yoko's political message
Along with festive classics by Slade and The Pogues, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 'Merry Xmas (War is Over)' is one of the most familiar of all Christmas pop songs.
Posted on: 19 December 2016
A student's view: Kenn's top 5 moments from studying at Liverpool
I'm currently in my second year of studying politics and modern history at Liverpool and I've had a great time so far! Here are my top five reasons why...
Posted on: 9 December 2016
The occupier returns: former Politics student receives honorary degree
Tomorrow, former politics student, Pete Cresswell, will receive a degree from the University of Liverpool, nearly 47 years after he left here.
Posted on: 7 December 2016
Sweet Home Alabama - a Spotify playlist for the US presidential election
American elections and soundtracks go hand in hand. The tradition of presidential candidates having their own campaign songs goes back to the 1800s.
Posted on: 3 November 2016
What makes a great political poster?
How effective are political posters? Do they always get their party's message across and what happens if they backfire? Dr Andrew Crines looks at the rhetoric of some of the UK's most memorable political posters from the last 40 years.
Posted on: 21 October 2016
Jeremy Corbyn - the pros and cons
September was a big month for politics. Not only did we host a live debate for our new students during freshers week, there was also the big question of who would win in the Labour leadership race. Following Jeremy Corbyn’s decisive re-election as Labour leader, we asked Dr Jon Tonge to tell us what he thinks Jeremy Corbyn has achieved so far – and failed to achieve?
Posted on: 26 September 2016
Politics Go! Join in our campus treasure hunt
You're a Politics student. You've landed in Liverpool, found your accommodation and are thinking about heading out to explore. Well don't go it alone! Join in with our #PoliticsGo campus treasure hunt on Friday 23 September 2016 and be in with the chance of winning some great prizes.
Posted on: 20 September 2016
A handy guide to our 2016 Open Days
An open day is a great opportunity to meet with your future lecturers and current students, who can give you a unique insight into your course, the University and Liverpool itself. So here's our handy guide to some of the highlights of our open days - join us on on Saturday 24 September and Saturday 8 October 2016.
Posted on: 16 September 2016