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Justice, law and human rights

What is it for? Asking big questions about society and its institutions

George Miller discusses the What Is It For? book series, inspired by Gauguin’s existential questions, arguing that in an age of global “polycrisis,” critically examining the purpose of institutions can help us imagine better alternatives, even if it cannot solve problems outright.…Read more

Why Europe keeps blaming others for its own problems
by Emmy Eklundh  |  20th March 2026

Emmy Eklundh, author of 'Europe’s Populist Condition', suggests that mainstream European parties are increasingly adopting populist-right policies, showing the divide between “mainstream” and “populist” politics is largely illusory.…Read more

ICE’s ‘warrior’ policing leaves Minneapolis community in shock
by Tara Lai Quinlan  |  17th March 2026

Tara Lai Quinlan, author of 'Police Diversity', discusses how ICE’s aggressive raids in Minneapolis reflect a harmful “warrior” policing culture that damages community trust.…Read more

Cuts to prison education: Why the UK cannot afford to take this step
by Scott Thomas and Jonathan Glazzard  |  13th March 2026

Scott Thomas and Jonathan Glazzard, authors of 'The Queer World of Prison', argue that despite government claims of modest reductions, prison education across England and Wales faces deep cuts—up to 65% in some prisons—threatening rehabilitation, prison safety and efforts to reduce reoffending.…Read more

Rethinking justice for criminalised women: Start with relationships
by Natalie Rutter and Sarah Waite  |  9th March 2026

Natalie Rutter and Sarah Waite, editors of 'Women, Relationships & Criminal Justice', argue that nearly two decades after the Corston Report, progress on reforming the criminalisation of women remains slow, and real change requires shifting the justice system from risk-based punishment to relationship-centred care and structural reform.…Read more

PODCAST: Why Disappearance Research Matters
by Bahar Baser and Élise Féron  |  6th March 2026

In this podcast, Richard Kemp speaks with Bahar Baser and Élise Féron about how the 'Journal of Disappearance Studies' serves as a space to break these boundaries and give this important field a unified platform.…Read more

Remembering empire, rethinking modernity
by Gurminder K Bhambra  |  3rd March 2026

Gurminder K. Bhambra, editor of 'The Modern World After Colonialism', draws on Chinua Achebe’s insight to argue that dominant social-science narratives overlook colonial histories, and that re-centering empire is essential to rethinking modernity.…Read more

Venezuela, protest and the changing face of repression
by Simone da Silva Ribeiro Gomes  |  5th February 2026

Simone da Silva Ribeiro Gomes, author of 'Latin American Activism and Routine Violence in the 21st Century', argues that across Latin America, activism is shaped not by isolated bursts of repression but by permanent, routine violence from both state and non-state actors, including paramilitaries and criminal organisations, which profoundly constrains collective action.…Read more

POLICY BRIEFING: Creative Value Chains Copyright and Beyond for a Better Value Distribution
by Yaniv Benhamou  |  2nd February 2026

In this policy briefing, Yaniv Benhamou, author of 'Creative Value Chains', warns that digital platforms drain value from the creative ecosystem and calls for reforms to ensure fairer rewards for all contributors.…Read more

Children told to ‘Shut up’: Why listening still fails in practice
by Brenda Herbert  |  23rd January 2026

Brenda Herbert, author of 'The Everyday Lives of Children Who Have Experienced Domestic Abuse', argues that repealing the presumption of parental contact is a vital step toward protecting children from domestic abuse by challenging patriarchal systems that silence children’s voices and prioritise abusive fathers’ rights over children’s safety.…Read more