Society at the University of Warwick
A collection of podcasts and videos from the University of Warwick focussing on research stories in society, politics, philosophy and law.
France, Sarkozy & the Future of the Eurozone
12:28 Wed 04 Jul 2012
Dr Ben Richardson and Dr Ben Clift, both from PAIS, discuss France, Sarkozy and the future of the Eurozone.
Ecology of a Whole Campus Approach to Creativity
11:56 Wed 14 Dec 2011
Within the HE sector many are beginning to challenge the dominance of hierarchical learning. Is the lecture/seminar format always the best way to learn?
The Mind is Flat: The illusion of depth in motives, markets and morality
11:06 Wed 14 Dec 2011
Professor Nick Chater presents 'The Mind is Flat: The illusion of depth in motives, markets and morality'. He presents the case that there are no hidden depths from which the real motivations for human behaviour emerge.
Prof Hilary Pilkington: The Kids are Alright
15:46 Tue 13 Dec 2011
Prof Pilkington talks about what was behind the recent UK riots and discusses her new research project looking at how young people engage with their communities and society.
DownloadPlato and Celebrity - Prof Angie Hobbs
15:12 Tue 13 Dec 2011
Fatima Anwar talks to Prof Angie Hobbs of the Philosophy Department at Warwick about Plato's take on fame. In light of the upcoming release of Big Brother on Channel 5, Prof Hobbs compares our view of fame with that of the ancient Greek philosophers.
DownloadNews of the World Scandal
14:37 Tue 13 Dec 2011
Prof Wyn Grant talks to Amy Mcleod about the recent scandal at the News of the World.
DownloadLandscapes of Secrecy
11:59 Tue 13 Dec 2011
Professor Richard Aldrich and Simon Willmetts present 'Landscapes of Secrecy: Methods in the study of the Central Intelligence Agency'.
Kent Roach - After 9/11
11:44 Tue 13 Dec 2011
Kent Roach, University of Toronto, presents a lecture which is based on his book of the same title. He examines the post 9/11 fallout in counter-terrorism law and policy with a focus on the role of the United Nations and the United Kingdom.
DownloadThe University of Warwick and the Coventry Telegraph’s Alternative Voting debate
11:01 Tue 13 Dec 2011
The University of Warwick's Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy and the Coventry Telegraph hosted a public debate on the referendum on the Alternative Vote.
DownloadProfessor Nick Hewlett Discusses His New Book on French President Nicolas Sarkozy
10:58 Tue 13 Dec 2011
Head of Warwick's French department Professor Nick Hewlett discusses his new book, 'The Sarkozy Phenomenon'.
DownloadDr Angie Hobbs Senior Fellow in the Public Understanding of Philosophy
17:14 Mon 26 Oct 2009
Dr Angie Hobbs discusses her new role as the first ever UK 'Senior Fellow in the Public Understanding of Philosophy', charged with bringing philosophy to as wide an audience as possible in Britain and beyond.
DownloadHas belonging been lost?
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Sociology Professor Zlatko Skrbis from the University of Queensland in Australia, a visiting fellow to Warwick, considers the effect of a loss of a sense of belonging for some groups in society particularly since 9/11.
DownloadWhite British working class children make the worst progress in secondary school
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Dr Steve Strand from the Warwick Institute of Education talks about his report which shows that white British children from working class backgrounds make the least progress compared to other ethnic groups at secondary school.
DownloadHonour crime and the legal system
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Prof Shirin Rai talks about a joint study into how honour crimes are dealt with by the legal systems in India and Pakistan.
DownloadSharia and UK Law
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Professor Shaheen Ali talks about Dr Rowan Williams' recent comments regarding Sharia and English law.
DownloadWomen's fight for equal pay
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
The launch of the equal pay archive at Warwick’s Modern Records Centre is discussed by three figures who have played a central role in the battle for equal pay for women. They are Jo Morris, senior equality and employment rights officer of the Trades Union Congress, Sue Hastings, an independent pay and employment adviser, along with Rodney Bickerstaffe, the former general secretary of the public sector union Unison and chairman of the Modern Records Centre’s Advisory Board.
DownloadThe legacy of the slave trade
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
On the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade Cecily Jones discusses the legacy of the trade and why an apology is necessary. Length: 18 minutes
DownloadPerceptions of body image
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Karen Throsby from The University of Warwick's Sociology Department talks about the relationships between gender and body image as well as cosmetic and weight loss surgery in the light of the recent Radio 1 survey on the topic. Length: 18 minutes
DownloadReligion and Public Office
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Professor Roger Trigg talks about the relationship between faith, religion and public office. Should we make a clear distintion between public office and private belief? Length:25 minutes
DownloadAbusive Language in Schools
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Dr Sean Neill discusses a recent report highlighting the issue of pupils using sexually abusive language in schools. Length: 21 minutes
DownloadDNA, crime and civil liberties
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Dr Andrew Roberts asks whether the National DNA Database infringes on our civil liberties and the dangers of a compulsory system. Length: 16 minutes
DownloadWearing the veil - Part 2
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Dr H A Hellyer discusses the recent controversy surrounding the wearing of the veil by muslim women. Length: 28 minutes
DownloadWearing the veil
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Professor Daniele Joly discusses the controversy surrounding Jack Straw's comments about Muslim women wearing the veil. Length: 21 minutes
DownloadBuilding a sustainable response to Islamic extremism in Europe and beyond.
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
How can we resolve the tensions between the different communities in Europe in the light of the growing threat from Islamic extremists, sometimes dubbed the 'Enemy Within'? Hisham Hellyer is a policy analyst, academic and commentator, based at the University of Warwick as an Associate Fellow, the American University in Cairo as a Visiting Professor and Trinity College in Dublin as a Senior Research Fellow. His research interests include European Muslim communities, the interplay between Islam and modernity, European social policy and political philosophy. In his latest book on European Muslims (due to be published by IB Tauris in March 2007 under the title of ''Islam in Europe: Multiculturalism and the European 'Other'), he argues that Europe must come to terms with all of her history, past and present, and that Muslim communities should work to be integral to, rather than simply 'integrated' parts of, Europe. His new website will be at www.europeanother.com. Note: Hisham was recorded down the phone from Cairo - you may need to turn up your volume a bit. Length: 25 minutes
DownloadHeading for a nuclear showdown in the Middle East
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Iran has issued its response to UN Security Council demands that it stop its uranium enrichment programme by August 31st. Whilst offering to join 'serious talks' on the issue Iranian officials have been clear in their refusal to back down to international pressure to end their vision of a nuclear Iran. How do the latest developments change the diplomatic picture for both Iran and the UN? Does the passing of a UN resolution change the legal position of those involved and what lies behind the strategies of Tehran and the Security Council. Daniel Joyner is an Associate Professor in International Law at the Warwick Law School. He is an expert in public international law in the security context, with particular interest in the area of proliferation studies, including non-proliferation treaties and regimes, issues of international trade and export control law, use of force law, and international legal theory. Length: 25 minutes <span style="display:none"> <a href="http://www.podshow.com/">; Podshow PDN </a> {podshow-77fc408d91196dd73cc96103e5c946f6}</span>
DownloadIsrael and Lebanon - A History of the Conflict
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
With a UN ceasefire in place in the Lebanon attention now moves to finding a long lasting solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. What is the background to the conflict and how can an understanding of the history of both sides help develop a resolution to the crisis? Dr Rob Johnson has written about the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, terrorism and counter-terrorism. Length: 23 Minutes
DownloadWhat chance for peace in Sri Lanka?
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
The recent resumption of violence in Sri Lanka between the Tamil Tigers and Government forces has set back hopes that a peaceful settlement could be established in this long running conflict. Miranda Alison of Warwick's Department of Politics and International Studies provides an insight into the history of the conflict and examines whether a resolution is likely in the near future. Length: 23 minutes
DownloadDefining City Regions
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
The concept of 'City Regions' has been picked up by political leaders in the UK at both a national and local level. The concept has been used as the basis for a number of policy initiatives, but what lies behind the idea of a 'City Region' and what are the implications for governance and local identity if we start to think in these terms. Professor Colin Crouch, Professor of Governance and Public Management at Warwick Business School, has studied City Regions for the OECD. Length: 29 mins
DownloadIdeas of heroism and sport
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Dr Angie Hobbs discusses the nature of heroism and whether we should consider our sporting men and women as 'heroes'. Length: 27 mins
DownloadPersistence in Economic and Political Institutions
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Most research in political economy starts with the presumption that institutions persist and shape the political-economic interactions of different groups and agents. Many societies, however, experience frequent changes in their political institutions. Certain economic institutions also change. In the face of this picture of frequently changing institutions, do such institutions really persist? Professor James Robinson, Harvard University, discusses the nature of institutional persistence and examines the mechanisms whereby elite minorities are able to manage the distribution of economic and political authority. Length: 20 mins
DownloadA Response to the UK Energy Review - Renewable Sources and the Nuclear Option
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
In the face of both increasing concern about climate change and questions as to the security of our gas and oil supplies the Government is undertaking a major review examining the future options for energy provision in the UK. Much of the debate surrounding the issue of energy policy is focussed on the possible role of nuclear power in supplying the UK's energy needs. In a new report Dr Catherine Mitchell and Dr Bridget Woodman from the University of Warwick's Centre for Management Under Regulation argue that investing in nuclear energy would actually undermine the development and future effectiveness of more sustainable energy sources as well as leaving the UK with financial and ecological problems for decades to come. They suggest that building new nuclear power stations will not help the Government meet its stated aims for tackling climate change, ensuring the security of our energy supplies or building a sustainable energy infrastructure to meet the UK's energy requirements. Dr Mitchell is a Principal Research Fellow at the Centre for Management under Regulation. Her research interests include energy policy; sustainable development; economic regulation. Dr Woodman is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Management under Regulation with research interests in energy policy and regulation, in particular renewable energy and nuclear power; environmental equity and justice.
DownloadUnderstanding the Iranian Nuclear Crisis
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Tension between Iran and the international community is increasing with negotiations over Iran's nuclear capability at the heart of a growing diplomatic crisis. With the likely recommdendation that Iran be referred to the UN Security Council for supposed breaches of its nuclear obligations the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the outcomes of this latest confrontation. The current crisis is the culmination of years of Iranian nuclear development and diplomatic efforts on the part of the EU, the US and the UN. The history of the crisis and its implications for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty are complex and go to the heart of the future ability of the international community to regulate and monitor nuclear activity. Dr Daniel Joyner is a Lecturer in International Law at the Warwick Law School. Dr Joyner is an expert in public international law in the security context, with particular interest in the area of proliferation studies, including non-proliferation treaties and regimes, issues of international trade and export control law, use of force law, and international legal theory. Length: 23 minutes
DownloadThe Experience of Muslims in British and French Prisons
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
According to new research there is a significant difference in the way that the British and French prison systems treat Muslim prisoners. Taking the prison experience as a microcosm of both French and British society, Professor Joly explores the issues of national identity, multiculturalism and ethnic or regligous tensions within both countries and how the state has responded to the challenges. Touching on the recent riots across France, Professor Joly raises serious concers about the ability of the French Government to respond effectively to the crisis and questions some of the fundamental assumptions about what it is to be French. Professor Daniele Joly is a Director of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations at the University of Warwick and has published on Muslim populations in Britain, on ethnic relations and on refugees. Length: 21 minutes
DownloadA Religious and Cultural Clash or a Tribal Showdown - Analysing the Danish Cartoons Crisis.
12:25 Mon 05 Jan 2009
Length: 25 minutes The publication of cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten has triggered violent protests across the world. The cartoons, which have been reprinted in a number of European papers, have angered Muslims and focussed attention on the fragile relationships between Islamic countries and the West. Do the cartoons represent a fundamental difference in the religious and cultural values of the two communities or is the current crisis the latest manifestation of a more earthly tribalism between national and regional interests? Does our shared cultural and philosophical heritage mean we actually have more in common than might be immediately apparant? Dr. Hisham Hellyer is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, University of Warwick. After completing degrees in Law and International Political Economy, he completed a doctoral study of the European Union and its Muslim populations that was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (UK), and due to be published in 2006 under the title of "The European 'Other'". A research consultant and social policy analyst, Dr Hellyer is presently engaged in research on contemporary Muslim communities.
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