"opinion" blog posts

Opinion: Why the government's race report is deeply flawedCrumpled paper with the word 'racism' printed on it

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

Why is the appointment of the next US supreme court judge so important?Amy Coney-Barrett

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

"Images are powerful" - new exhibition of all 209 female MPsPriti Patel portrait

"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

Why I no longer view Western political thought as a 'canon'Audre Lorde illustration

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

Opinion: Why Vladimir Putin cannot ignore Russians’ social rightsPutin at a press conference

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'?Jordan protests 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

Opinion - Airstrikes on Syria: our experts answer key questions about the military actionMap showing military action in Syria

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? Toy soldiers on a map

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 electionsMan being interviewed on TV

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 publicBoris Johnson

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

Top 4 political books of 2017 to help you make sense of today's headlines'Fall out' by Time Shipman

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

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

One year after Donald Trump’s election victory - politics as usual?Donald Trump on TV

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?Theresa May

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?Silhouette of a soldier

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