This year on Transforming Society we have published 145 articles and 27 podcast epsiodes, all with the aim of telling the stories of the research and inspiring positive social change. A huge thank you to everyone who has written, spoken, read, listened and shared.
To round up the year, here are our most read articles and most listened to podcast episodes from 2024
Most-read articles:
Why did Russia invade Ukraine?
Leigh Turner, author of Lessons in Diplomacy, examines why Russia invaded Ukraine.
Why should we care about prisons?
Hindpal Singh Bhui, author of What Are Prisons For?, explores the far-reaching impact of prisons within modern societies.
Inferiority and an absence of genuine politics behind UK race riots
Steve Hall, James Treadwell and Simon Winlow, authors of The Rise of the Right, analyse the racial tensions in the UK that culminated in riots during the summer of 2024.
A new perspective on philanthropy: Giving in the presence or absence of self?
Jen Shang and Adrian Sargeant, authors of Meaningful Philanthropy, research why more High Net Worth Individuals and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals aren’t engaging in philanthropy.
There’s no such thing as ‘evidence-based’ drug policy
Alex Stevens, author of Drug Policy Constellations, examines why drug prohibition continues, despite its obvious failure to end drug use and the rising toll of drug-related deaths
The war in Gaza and testing war technologies on migrants
Emre Korkmaz, author of Smart Borders, Digital Identity and Big Data, reveals how war technologies are tested on migrants under the guise of ‘smart borders,’ threatening both migrants and global peace.
Urgent action needed to address lack of Black representation in Higher Education
A policy briefing highlighting the unacceptably low representation of Black academics in Higher Education was launched in Parliament in October 2024.
Why the government lost in court on criminal legal aid
Daniel Newman, author of Justice in a Time of Austerity and Experiences of Criminal Justice, explores why criminal lawyers won a High Court challenge against the UK government over legal aid rate increases.
A cost-of-learning crisis: Poverty among university students
Part of a blog series published in partnership with Academics Stand Against Poverty UK, this article addresses the rising issue of student poverty.
The less shiny side of the Olympics
Jules Boykoff, author of What Are the Olympics For?, discusses the hidden political and humanitarian impacts of hosting the Olympic Games.
Class inequality and denied ambition in our schools
Jessie Abrahams, author of Schooling Inequality, untangles the role aspiration plays for young people in school and the significance of the different choices that are available to different pupils in different schools.
Danny Dorling on the UK election and hope for change
Danny Dorling, author of Peak Injustice, talks about his concept of peak injustice – that injustice and inequality are now so bad in the UK that it might just be that they can’t get worse.
Have research universities lost their way?
Nigel Thrift, author of The Pursuit of Possibility: Redesigning Research Universities, discusses research universities and what makes them different.
Critical race theory and the search for truth
In this episode, Rodney D. Coates, author of Critical Race Theory and the Search for Truth, talks about what critical race theory is and why it has found itself in the crosshairs of white nationalists.
How economics left the real world behind
Nat Dyer, author of Ricardo’s Dream, unpacks David Ricardo’s legacy and explores why abstract economic models remain so dominant in shaping policies today.
The myth of post-racial Britain
In this episode, we talk about postracialism and colourblind narratives with Paul Warmington, Visiting Professor at Coventry University, Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths and author of Permanent Racism.
Emotions and the ‘truths’ of contentious politics
Anna Durnova, one of the guest editors for the Emotions and Society special issue on ‘Emotions and the ‘Truths’ of Contentious Politics, discusses the weaponisation of truth, the distinction between feeling safe and being told you are, and the role of emotions in democracy.
Experiencing the menopause at work
Vanessa Beck and Jo Brewis, co-editors of Menopause Transitions and the Workplace discuss how the menopause can impact work, what support organisations and individuals can offer and the key areas that researchers need to investigate next.
Viral masculinity and the far right – Karen Lee Ashcraft on gender in the US Election
Ahead of the U.S. election, Karen Lee Ashcraft, author of Wronged and Dangerous revisits her concept of ‘viral masculinity’ — a powerful current of aggrieved manhood fuelling far-right ideologies worldwide.
Why do people take performance enhancing drugs?
Nick Gibbs, author of The Muscle Trade, discusses the rise in the use of image and performance enhancing drugs, why people take them and how they get them.
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