Other News
New book published by Renske Doorenspleet
One-Party Dominance in African Democracies: Renske Doorenspleet (Warwick University) and Lia Nijzink (Cape Town University), editors
Is the dominance of one political party a problem in an emerging democracy, or simply an expression of the will of the people? Why has one-party dominance endured in some African democracies and not in others? What are the mechanisms behind the varying party-system trajectories? Considering these questions, the authors of this collaborative work use a rigorous comparative research design and rich case material to greatly enhance our understanding of one of the key issues confronting emerging democracies in sub-Saharan Africa. The book compares countries with enduring one-party dominance (Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania) with countries in which one-party dominance has not continued (Zambia, Mali, Senegal).
To read more about the book, or order your own copy, click here: https://www.rienner.com/title/One_Party_Dominance_in_African_Democracies
Stuart Elden, Fellow of the British Academy
On October 16th Stuart Elden was formally inducted as a Fellow of the British Academy, following his election in July. Each year, the British Academy elects up to 42 outstanding UK-based scholars who have achieved distinction in any branch of the humanities and social sciences. Others based overseas can also be elected as Corresponding Fellows, and, in addition, the Academy can elect Honorary Fellows. Fellows are scholars who have 'attained distinction in any of the branches of study which it is the object of the Academy to promote' – i.e. the humanities and the social sciences. Election is a mark of distinction, as only a very small number of scholars in any field are elected.
Stuart Elden's The Birth of Territory
Stuart Elden's book The Birth of Territory was published last month by the University of Chicago Press, and on 16th October he gave a talk launching the book in the department. The book provides a detailed account of the emergence of territory within Western political thought. Looking at ancient, medieval, Renaissance, and early modern thought, it examines the evolution of the concept of territory from ancient Greece to the seventeenth century to determine how we arrived at our contemporary understanding.
The book has been praised as 'a wonderful achievement unmatched in previous writing on place, power, and politics... transcendental history of the first order' and 'a pathbreaking book on a foundational concept in modern political and geographical thought'.
You can read more about the book here - http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/B/bo15506915.html
ESRC funded research on border security presented at Frontex conference
Dr Nick Vaughan-Williams (PAIS) and Dr Daniel Stevens (Exeter) were invited by the European Commission and Frontex to present the findings of their research at the 2nd Global Conference and Exhibition on Automated Border Control (ABC), Pepsi Arena, Warsaw, 10-11 October, 2013. The event attracted over 200 participants including government authorities, policy makers, international organizations, standardization bodies, airport authorities, academia, and private companies offering technologies and products related to ABC.
A summary of their research on ‘Border Security: Public Perceptions and Experiences’ can be found here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/people/vaughan-williams/frontex_poster.pdf
Prof Stuart Croft appointed Provost
Professor Stuart Croft from PAIS has just been appointed as Warwick's new Provost by the University Council. A professor of international security since 2007 and previously the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research (Arts and Sciences), Prof Croft succeeds Prof Koen Lamberts, who was recently appointed Vice Chancellor of York University.
As Provost, Professor Croft will lead on the academic development of the University, including academic resourcing strategy and implementation, the primary relationship with Chairs of Faculty in developing academic management and the line management of heads of academic departments.