Rise of Indy Parties Alarms the “United” Kingdom
The upcoming Holyrood and Cardiff elections may result in the largest parties across the three nations all centred on independence. How can Westminster display its commitment to the union and the people of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales? Current polling for the May elections predicts that the SNP is likely to continue leading the Scottish Government and that Plaid Cymru may soon take over the reins in Cardiff. If these trends hold, the largest parties across the three devolved nations would all be nationalist, including Sinn Féin in Stormont. What does this mean for the future of the United Kingdom? […]
International Human Rights Day 2025
International Human Rights Day was observed worldwide on 10 December 2025. In recognition of this occasion, this blog highlights a recently acknowledged human right that directly concerns women and examines how this right is represented and upheld in today’s working world. In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council in 2024 adopted a resolution on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). The resolution calls on UN member states to respect, protect, and fulfil their obligation to create environments that enable women—who constitute more than half of the global […]
Gbaraun Clan Marginalisation in Edo State, Nigeria – A Risk Too Brittle to Ignore!
On the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, we are reminded that the consequences of conflict extend beyond human suffering; they also deeply affect ecosystems, resource governance, and community survival. In the Niger Delta, the aftermath of armed conflict continues to shape the lives of ex-combatants, particularly those excluded from formal reintegration programs. The Gbaraun Clan in Ovie South-West is one of the five ethnic groups forming the Ijaw communities in Edo State, Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. The Gbaraun people took part in the Niger Delta coastal insurgency and militancy against Nigerian […]
New British Academy report shows degree course cold spots across the UK
Our friends at the British Academy (BA) have produced a hard-hitting new report which shows that financial difficulties or strategic choices in our universities have led to large swathes of the UK becoming cold spots for social sciences, humanities and arts degrees. What are the implications and why does this matter? More students than ever are choosing to study close to home – some 56% of undergraduates in 2023/24. Historically underrepresented or disadvantaged students are more likely to opt to study locally, so the disappearance of degree opportunities (especially on a regional scale) risks deepening inequalities and will impact the strength […]
Is Citizenship Education the Key to Unlocking Young People’s Political Engagement?
The Government has now formally announced its intention to bring legislation to Parliament that would extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds for all UK elections. But how will this work? Are these young people ready to vote? Can a more extensive citizenship curriculum help to provide them with the knowledge and skills to participate confidently in future elections? In a research report recently published with the Association for Citizenship Teaching, we considered young people’s views and experiences of citizenship education. We found them to be keen supporters of the principles of democracy – despite considerable scepticism of how it operates. In […]
The Idea of the Good Society: Essays in Honour of Raymond Plant
Kevin Hickson & Matt Beech 18 July 2025 The publication of The Idea of the Good Society: Essays in Honour of Raymond Plant by Oxford University Press The Idea of the Good Society – Matt Beech, Kevin Hickson – Oxford University Press celebrates the work of one of the leading figures in British political studies in recent times. The essays reflect on Plant’s contribution, which is remarkable in its breadth – including political philosophy, jurisprudence, social work, social policy and theology – and its depth. Far from being hagiographical in nature the chapters are reflective and, in some cases, critical of Plant’s ideas […]
The Different Facets of Pride Politics in Times of ‘anti-LGBTQIA+’ Backlashes
The law passed on 18th March 2025 by the Hungarian Parliament banning Pride Events in the country and allowing the use of facial recognition to identify organisers and participants has sent shockwaves across the European continent and beyond. In Russia or Turkey bans on Pride Events have been a reality for a few years already, a situation that has attracted widespread condemnation from LGBTQIA+ activists, political actors, and civil society more in general. The ban enacted by the Hungarian Parliament, however, is seen by many as opening a new fault line at the heart of the European Union. Whilst Hungary […]
We need to talk about disability in the political science profession
Who is working in political science, and is represented in the profession, is increasingly recognised to influence how we study and teach political science – what is prioritised and the value that is assigned to it (Ayoub 2022). In my article ‘Disability Within Political Science: Representation and Position in the UK Profession’, I considered the place of disability in the political science profession, and the impact of underrepresentation. While 28% of the UK population are estimated to have a disability (Kelly et al 2023), only 6% of academics disclose a disability in HESA reporting. PSA and BISA in their joint […]