Global social challenges
There are multiple interlocking crises currently gripping the planet. Significant threats and dangers lie ahead of us, but so do opportunities, as new ways of being, thinking, and doing emerge.
This stream of Transforming Society is a space for exploring the complexities of the global social challenges across disciplines and fields. It seeks to build and share the knowledge needed to shape a fairer world, across and for the global south and north, hoping to foster dialogue between academics, practitioners, policy makers and the wider public.
In this podcast, Jess Miles speaks to Peter Beresford about his new book, 'Participatory Ideology', why we need to change the way we look at ideology and how more of us can be included in its creation.…Read more
Frances Galt, author of 'Women’s Activism Behind the Screens', traces the history of union activity on gender inequality in the film and TV industries and calls on us to learn valuable lessons from the successes of those in the past who fought for gender equality in the film and TV industries.…Read more
Mary C Murphy and John Hogan, editors of 'Policy Analysis in Ireland', consider how austerity since 2008 has deepened public service fault lines exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland.…Read more
Paul Graham Raven reflects on the role of the Museum of Carbon Ruins, a speculative exhibition looking back on the present from a 2053 future in which we solved climate change. …Read more
Rob Kitchin, author of ‘Data Lives: How Data are Made and Shape our World’, warns us not to accept data at face value. He explains why he is telling data stories to remind us that the production of data is a creative endeavour.…Read more
Ian Cummins, author of 'Welfare and Punishment', presents an analysis of the punitive turn since 1979 that has resulted in a huge increase in the prison population and a shredding of the welfare safety net.…Read more
Lyn Tett and Mary Hamilton, editors of 'Resisting Neoliberalism in Education', call for a new direction in education, expanding access to online resources, prioritising ALL learner perspectives and harnessing the creativity brought by new voices to the policy table.…Read more
Stephen Wenham, Publisher for Politics and International Relations at Bristol University Press, recommends books that address some of the international issues that confront the new presidency.…Read more
Scott Timcke, author of 'Algorithms and the End of Politics', considers how digital tech companies not only shape everyday perception, but control the economy, legitimise state force and upend democratic practice. …Read more
Natasha Lindstaedt, author of 'Democratic Decay and Authoritarian Resurgence', explains how Republicans need to more forcefully condemn the violence of the January 6 riots and explain to Trump’s supporters that he lost the election fairly. …Read more