Tuesday 3 October 2023
- Speaker: Ms Mimi Mihailescu, University of Bath
- Time: 13.15-14.05
- Title: Meme-ing Waves: Unpacking Political Narratives in the Romanian Context
- Abstract: Political memes are no longer (only) a humorous feature of internet culture, but they act as a vehicle for information diffusion and reimaging of politics. Using a mixed-methodology approach combining content analysis, descriptive statistics, and social network analysis, this paper delves into the multifaceted nature of memes, their collective narratives, and their significance in the political discourse surrounding the 2020 Parliamentary election in Romania.
Tuesday 10 October 2023
- Speaker: Dr Gabriel Huland, University of Bath
- Time: 13.15-14.05
- Title: The Syrian Conflict in the News: Coverage of the War and the Crisis of US Journalism
- Abstract: The Syrian conflict constitutes one of the most covered events in this century. The Syrian Conflict in the News analyses the coverage of the Syrian conflict in US newspapers from March 2011 to April 2018. Gabriel Huland argues that US foreign policy dominates the frames of the conflict, which suggests that mainstream newspapers are excessively indexed to elite narratives.
Tuesday 17 October 2023
- Speaker: Professor John Boswell, University of Southampton
- Time: 13.15-14.05
- Title: En/Countering the State: Understanding Citizen Agency at the Front Lines of Democratic Government
- Abstract: Democratic reformers ignore the most common way that marginalized citizens encounter the state: in the frontline implementation of laws, policies and services. Citizens are not meek targets. Ethnographic studies across health, education, planning, policing and beyond reveal subtle forms of agency on the frontlines, as citizens evade, challenge or outwit authorities. What do these forms of resistance entail, and what are the wider impacts for participation in democratic life?
Tuesday 24 October 2023
- Speaker: Dr Nye Davis, Cardiff University
- Time: 13.15-14.05
- Title: Class, Power, Democratic Socialism: The Politics and Legacy of Aneurin Bevan
- Abstract: Despite Aneurin Bevan’s contemporary legacy, there remains fundamental disagreement concerning his politics. Bevan serves different purposes to different factions, being revered as a pragmatic institution builder by some, while others emphasise his political radicalism and dedication to socialism. Drawing on a new collection of Bevan’s writings, ‘This is My Truth: Aneurin Bevan in Tribune’ (2023) and an upcoming book ‘The Political Thought of Aneurin Bevan’ (2024), this paper seeks to reengage with the core elements of Bevan’s political thought, offering an alternative perspective on this complex figure and new insight into his intellectual development.