Qatar 2022: the world’s most autocratic World Cup venue?
Football fans face a moral quandary. Do they avidly follow the World Cup? Or boycott and stay away? The FIFA World Cup is one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world. But it is also being held in a country where serious concerns have been raised about human…
How does the quality of US elections compare globally?
Here’s a mini-Vlog lecture briefing by UEA Prof Toby James ahead of the 2022 November mid-terms. Key points: There is a long history of problems with US elections dating back to the foundation of the Republic.The US is middle ranking when compared internationally – and 16th amongst the Americas.Electoral Integrity…
Legendary politics Professor John Street reflects on over 40 years of teaching politics at UEA
Our good colleague and legendary politics Professor John Street will be retiring later this month after a career spanning over four decades at UEA. For UEA's latest Politics at the Edge podcast, John sits with Clare Precey, Alan Finlayson and Pierre Bocquillon, to reflect on 42 years of teaching politics,…
Elections: a global ranking rates US weakest among liberal democracies
Elections: a global ranking rates US weakest among liberal democracies A disappointing slide for the US after an election blighted by disinformation. Aaron Burson/Unsplash Toby James, University of East Anglia and Holly Ann Garnett, Royal Military College of Canada Defending democracy has suddenly become one of the central challenges of our…
The paradoxical relationship between the EU and China
The EU has labelled China as ‘simultaneously a cooperation partner, a negotiation partner, an economic competitor and a systemic rival.’ How will the EU navigate its relations with the increasingly dominant China? It faces the challenge of balancing the desire for further economic cooperation and trade with the pressure to…
European Tug of War: The EU’s economic relations with the USA and China
A changing world order has affected the EU’s the economic relationship with the two powerhouses of the 21st century, the USA and China. This blogpost explores how. And argues that the EU is at the crossroads. Superpower or powerless? China’s rapid growth has challenged US hegemony and fuelled European fears…
Poland, Hungary, and LGBTQ rights: the responsibility and response of the European Union.
Poland and Hungary are on a mission to attack LGBTQ+ rights, earning outrage from the rest of the European community – even from member states who themselves are not particularly keen on reducing LGBTQ+ discrimination. In the meantime, the European Union struggles to develop an impactful response. The Polish and…
How to improve elections podcast series
The Electoral Integrity Project is an academic project co-hosted at the University of East Anglia. It has recently published a new pocast series on 'How to Improve Elections.' Episodes are available on Spotify, FM Player, Amazon, Podbean and other outlets.
Speech by Alex Burov during vigil for peace in Ukraine at UEA, 4 March, 2022
My name is Alex Burov. I was born in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in 2000. I am a native Ukrainian speaker. My parents were directly affected by the rocket strikes in Kyiv and were forced to relocate away from the capital. I myself have experienced the Maidan protests of…
Violence Against Women: What needs to Change?
Incidents of violence against women increased during the pandemic, with the high-profile case of Sarah Everard leading many to protest on the streets. But most violence against women is carried out by someone known to them, so what can we do about it? Clare Precey and Prof Alan Finlayson discuss…