2018

The three barriers blocking Zimbabwe’s progress: Zanu-PF, Mnangagwa and the military: In an article for The Conversation, Dr James Hamill discusses the major barriers to a decisive break from the corrupt and dysfunctional political system that has been playing out in Zimbabwe
Even if separatist parties win the Catalan election, international law doesn’t provide a right to independence: In an article for The Conversation, PhD student George Revel from our School of History, Politics and International Relations discusses how voters in Catalonia will go to the polls on December 21 in an election triggered by the recent crisis over the region’s declaration of independence from Spain
''Russia is particularly adept at operations involving cyber techniques'': Dr Rob Dover discusses a recent visit of Russian special services to the USA, their relations with the overseas colleagues and the power of Russian intelligence
Jacob Zuma’s demise is bad news for South Africa’s opposition parties: In an article for The Conversation, James Hamill discusses how Zuma’s departure is good news for the ANC and bad news for the opposition
Poland is trying to rewrite history with this controversial new holocaust law: In an article for The Conversation, Dr Svenja Bethke suggests that only by confronting the difficult and painful aspects of the past can we understand how to prevent events like the Holocaust happening in the future
Europe (and immigration) among the new Eurosceptics in the 2018 Italian elections: Populist ‘elites vs the people’ narratives are playing upon rising Euroscepticism and concerns about immigration, argues Dr Simona Guerra from our School of History, Politics and International Relations
Evaluating Salisbury: Dr Rob Dover discusses the poisoning of the former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in the Salisbury case
Zuma trial means that his toxic legacy will haunt South Africa for some time: James Hamill discusses how Zuma’s presidency may be over, but his toxic legacy seems likely to haunt the ANC
Macron’s railway reforms: the ultimate test for French trade unionism: In this blog Dr Heather Connolly reflects on the on-going strike action in France. Railway trade unions have begun three months of rolling strikes from April-June 2018 against reforms to their employment rights. The outcome of this dispute will be decisive for the government and its ability to make further reforms, and for the very future of the French trade union movement