Other News

Over the past 12 months the Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation (CSGR) at the University of Warwick together with four civil society organizations has engaged in a dialogue with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of an External Advisory Panel on social safeguards in IMF loan programmes to protect spending in low income countries on poor and vulnerable groups. Together with representatives from the New Rules for Global Finance Coalition, Development Finance International, the Bretton Woods Project, and Civil Society for Poverty Reduction Zambia, CSGR director Dr André Broome has participated in an advisory process on the conceptual scope and design of a new IMF policy paper on the use of social safeguards in loan programmes led by the IMF’s Strategy, Policy, and Review Department.

The policy paper, which was discussed and approved by the IMF’s Executive Board on May 26, was published online in English on June 6, and French and Arabic versions of the Executive Summary will be available soon. The report aims to improve best practices associated with the use of social safeguards to protect spending for poor and vulnerable groups within PRGT and PSI-supported IMF loan programmes, and identifies a number of areas where IMF policies and future practices might be improved, including recommendations to increase efforts to strengthen social safety nets in low income countries.

IMF Policy Paper: Social Safeguards and Program Design in PRGT and PSI-Supported Programs. Available at: http://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2017/06/01/pp042117social-safeguards-and-program-design-in-prgt-and-psi 

In February, Stuart Elden gave the London Review of International Law annual lecture at SOAS, University of London. The topic was 'Legal Terrain: The Political Materiality of Terrain'.

The lecture, with the images and quotes integrated into the presentation, can be viewed here:

The plan is that a written version of the lecture will appear in the journal later this year.

PAIS PhD candidate Aaliyah Hussain has written an article for the Huffington Post titled 'Why British Muslims Hate Extremism More Than You Do.'

According to Theresa May’s speech in response to the terrorist attack in London on Saturday night, we need to have ‘difficult and embarrassing conversations’ about ‘Islamist’ extremism and radicalisation. In saying so, I felt that she was insinuating that the Muslim community has up until now been shying away from the issue at best, and being complicit with terrorism at worst. In my view, it is an insult and an indication of utter ignorance to suggest that Muslims in Britain are afraid of talking about terrorism or confronting radicalisation. Let’s get one thing straight - British Muslims hate terrorism and extremism as much British non-Muslims, if not more, and we talk about it a lot more.

You can continue reading the piece, which was chosen as the editor's pick, on the Huffington Post website.

Want a glimpse at how Thursday's general election will turn out? Have a look at this Washington Post piece by Andreas Murr, Mary Stegmaier (University of Missouri) and Mike Lewis-Beck (University of Iowa).

They discuss whether people rather than pollsters can accurately predict Thursday's UK election. Based on their "citizen forecasting" approach, they predict the following:

• Conservatives 361 seats, Labour 236 seats.
• Probability of a Conservative majority 77%, hung parliament led by Conservatives 20%, hung parliament led by Labour 2%, and Labour majority 1%.

Dr Charlotte Heath-Kelly has written an article on the recently London Attacks for The Conversation.

Seven people were killed in the London Bridge terrorist attack on June 3, seemingly echoing the attack on Westminster in March. Political figures and media commentators have invoked the resilient character of Londoners to terrorism, articulating their stoic refusal to be terrified. Vigils to the victims will be held and spontaneous memorials and tributes will cover the pavements. As we saw after the Manchester bombings, people spontaneously come together to honour the dead, condemn terrorism, and proclaim social unity and resilience “in the face of those who wish to divide us”.

The full article, titled ‘Resilience’ and rituals bring people together, but our true reactions are more complex, can be read at the following link: https://theconversation.com/resilience-and-rituals-bring-people-together-but-our-true-reactions-are-more-complex-78817