Other News

Kostas Axelos's book Introduction to a Future Way of Thought: On Marx and Heidegger, has been published in English translation by Meson Press. It was translated by Kenneth Mills, and edited and introduced by Stuart Elden.

Axelos is not well-known in the Anglophone world, but he was an important figure in European thought. He was born in Greece, and lived most of his life in Paris. He wrote widely on philosophy and social theory, with special emphasis on the concept of the world. The only previous book of his available in English was his study of Marx as a thinker of technology. Introduction to a Future Way of Thought comprises a number of texts looking at Marx, Heidegger and their relation, and was his only book written in German.

Meson Press are a new publisher based at Leuphana University, and their books are available open access online and as print-on-demand. You can download this book here

As part of the Global Benchmarking Project led by André Broome from PAIS and Joel Quirk from the University of the Witwatersrand, a new Global Benchmarking Database has been launched on the Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation website.

The prototype Database (version 1.8) compiles summary information on 205 global benchmarks. The Database was constructed using a typology developed by Broome and Quirk in their forthcoming Special Issue of the journal Review of International Studies, to be published in December 2015 on the theme of 'The Politics of Numbers: Normative Agendas and Global Benchmarking'. The Database distinguishes between four types of global benchmarking practices based on the class of transnational actor engaged in benchmarking, namely: (1) statecraft; (2) international governance; (3) private market governance; and (4) transnational advocacy.

The Database will be a useful resource for scholars and students researching cognate areas relating to the politics of numbers, indicators, rankings, and ratings, as well as for other users such as journalists, policy analysts, and NGO researchers concerned with understanding the scope of global benchmarking as an increasingly popular mode of transnational governance.

The Global Benchmarking Database can be viewed at: www.warwick.ac.uk/globalbenchmarking/database

Further information about the Global Benchmarking Project, including research events, talks, and publications, is available at: www.warwick.ac.uk/globalbenchmarking

A recent commentary article for openDemocracy on the flaws inherent in many forms of global benchmarking can be viewed at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/beyondslavery/joel-quirk-andr%C3%A9-broome/politics-of-numbers-global-slavery-index-and-marketplace-of-ac

Prof Chris Hughes, Head of Department, was quoted in an article appearing in the June 11th edition of The Japan Times entitled 'Security bills’ credibility hobbled by suspicious explanations and reporting: scholars.'

'I think there is no doubt that Japan’s security policy should undergo some change because the security environment around Japan is becoming quite difficult with the rise of China, North Korea, and the relative decline of U.S. power and the quixotic nature of U.S. grand strategy,” Christopher Hughes, a professor of international politics and Japanese studies at Britain’s University of Warwick, said in an email. “The former status quo is not tenable.'

However, while backing some changes, Hughes believes Abe’s push is “quite radical,” as opposed to other scholars who see the administration’s moves as highly limited and maintaining continuity.

“Personally, I would like to see Japan pursue a genuine path of proactive contribution to international peace — not the Abe brand — which means great efforts at multilateral diplomacy, human security and UNPKO (United Nations peacekeeping operations) . . . as well as some careful strengthening of JSDF (Japan Self-Defense Forces) capabilities.”

The article can be read here.

Dr James Brassett has recently been appointed as Editor of the prestigious RIPE/Routledge Series in Global Political Economy, together with prominent international scholars Jacqueline Best, Susanne Soederberg, and Eleni Tsingou.

For almost two decades, the RIPE Series has been a leading forum for cutting edge research in the field of International Political Economy (IPE). Leading figures in the discipline have published in the series (including current and former Warwick colleagues) and a number of the Monographs have either won or been short-listed for international prizes.

The appointment reflects the ongoing strength of IPE at Warwick, one of the leading institutions in the UK and Europe for research and teaching in IPE. Together with Warwick colleagues André Broome, Juanita Elias, Lena Rethel, and Ben Richardson, Brassett also recently organized the Warwick 50th Anniversary Conference on New Directions in International Political Economy, which brought together 130 scholars from over 20 countries to showcase cutting-edge research in the field.

We are delighted that the Students' Union Education Officer, Maahwish Mirza, is running a campaign for exam feedback, based on the best practice of the PAIS department. Unlike most departments, PAIS automatically provide individual written feedback on exams. Our Director of Student Experience and Progresson (DSEP), Dr Justin Greaves, has been working with the SU Education Officer on these issues, in the hope that other departments may wish to learn from our success in the delivery of such feedback.

As Maahwish puts it:

'I believe this practice to be one of the best ways with which Warwick can distinguish itself as a leading academic institution that sincerely promotes scholarship and long-term development, and that is why I am leading our Examination Feedback Campaign based on the best practice of the PAIS department.

I certainly benefited from the examination feedback that I received from the PAIS department on my outside module, and I would love to see other departments adopting this practice for the good of all students, on all courses'.

You can read the full blog posts by Justin and Maahwish at the links below.

http://www.warwicksu.com/blogs/blog/maahwishmirza/2015/06/09/Exam-Feedback/ 

http://www.warwicksu.com/blogs/blog/maahwishmirza/2015/06/09/Feeding-Back-to-the-University-Why-Exam-Feedback-Counts-Part-II