Other News
In the “Post-Racial” Age of Obama, Trayvon Martin’s Shooting Revives Debate on Race, Gun Culture and Police Misconduct
A Pinpoint Politics article by Christopher Ogunmodede
The election of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States was supposed to usher America into a “post-racial” world where Americans would be finally freed of its legacy of slavery, Jim Crow and racial discrimination. The election of a mixed-race, urban Senator from the North over a white, Republican Vietnam War hero was proof for many that America had closed the chapter of its sordid and contentious racial history. Then came the Henry Louis Gates controversy, the Tea Party and now the Trayvon Martin shooting which reopens the discourse on race, police-community relations and guns in America.
A ‘Gorilla’ Eating Up the System: Political Corruption Scandal in Slovakia
A Pinpoint Politics article by Martina Čičáková
The Slovak population seems to have awakened this year after a long time of ostensible hibernation. Slovakia, a small state situated in the heart of Europe, has in the last two months become a stage of intensive political activity on a level that has been compared to the Velvet Revolution in November 1989, when people went into the streets demonstrating against the system and demanding democracy. Similarly, at present, protesters around Slovakia are demanding more democracy and transparency in the financing of political parties and privatisation of state businesses. Although Slovakia has been an officially democratic independent state since the Czechoslovak disintegration in January 1993, the ‘Gorilla’ case suggests Slovak politics has stagnated since the 1990s.
Paul Revere vs William Dawes: Activists and Bystanders in the Age of Social Media Tools
A Pinpoint Politics article by Andrew Kelly
On April 18th, 1775, Paul Revere gathered himself and set off at mid-night riding North, as Malcolm Gladwell writes, to warn the resistance that the British were indeed coming. He was able to effectively galvanise them and had them ready and waiting. This ability to provoke such a response is what Gladwell calls, in his book The Tipping Point, the role of the connector. In many ways, this is precisely what Facebook and Twitter have come to be represented as; connectors, facilitators of action, mobilisers of movements, the Paul Revere’s of the internet.
Dr Tim Sinclair was interviewed for “Credit Rating Agencies,” File on 4, BBC Radio 4. February 28, 2012.
PaIS Associate Professor Dr Tim Sinclair was interviewed for “Credit Rating Agencies,” File on 4, BBC Radio 4. February 28, 2012.
Click the link below to hear the full programme.
Essay writing workshop--Second chance!
Dear friends,
As promised, a second essay writing workshop has been organised, following the success of the previous one (attended by about 80 students). If you were not able to go last time, here is another chance - Andy Hammond presenting on Wednesday 14th March from 3-4pm in S0.21. Take this opportunity to enhance your skill as you prepare assessed essays!
best wishes,
Andrew
Andrew Reeve, Director of Learning, Teaching and Assessment, PAIS.