Democracy, power and governance

A curated collection of open access works explores urgent global challenges, from climate grief and AI ethics to inequality, migration, and political representation,offering critical insights for study and teaching.…Read more

David Bailey and Masoumeh Iran Mansouri argue that while AI’s rapid rise offers immense promise, its grave risks may outpace weak safeguards like the EU’s AI Act unless met with far stronger resistance.…Read more

Carolyn Snell and Lucie Middlemiss, authors of 'Just Climate Futures', argue that while Net Zero policies are vital for tackling climate change, they must be shaped around everyday realities and social inequalities to ensure they enhance rather than diminish people’s lives.…Read more

Nathan Kerrigan, co-author of 'Liquid Racism', reflects on how the Southport attack sparked a resurgence of racism, driven by insecurity and exploited by far-right populism.…Read more

Kate Hamblin, Grace Whitfield, and James Wright explore how, despite growing enthusiasm for AI in UK social care, its use raises pressing ethical, equity, and ecological concerns that undermine claims of efficiency and effectiveness. Ask ChatGPT …Read more

Jason Pandya-Wood, author of 'The Kindness Fix', explores how the UK’s welfare system remains entrenched in punitive, outdated policies that perpetuate poverty and stigma, demanding a radical rethink rooted in dignity and compassion.…Read more

Iain Munro and Kate Kenny, editors of 'Perspectives on Whistleblowing', show how whistleblowers play a vital role in exposing abuse and protecting democracy, often at great personal cost, yet continue to face retaliation despite laws meant to safeguard them. …Read more

Rajat Mitra, Pankaj Singh, and Nidhi Mitra explore the collective, existential fear of extinction among Bangladeshi minorities, driven by historical trauma, rising persecution, and the struggle to preserve identity.…Read more

Stewart Lansley, author of 'The Richer, The Poorer', argues that Labour has abandoned its core mission, taking minimal action on poverty while upholding a system that deepens inequality.…Read more

Sandra Duffy Golden examines the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that trans women, even with legal recognition, do not fall under the Equality Act’s definition of “sex,” highlighting its role in fueling broader debates on trans rights and a growing moral panic.…Read more