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1. What’s next for Ukraine and Europe? A conversation with Dmytro Kuleba

Author:
Dmytro Kuleba, Carol Saivetz, and Elizabeth Wood
Publication Date:
04-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
What’s next for Ukraine and Europe? A conversation with Dmytro Kuleba, former foreign minister of Ukraine: Tuesday, April 8th, 2025. Speaker: Dmytro Kuleba is a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and served as the foreign minister of Ukraine from March 2020-September 2024. Prior to that, he was deputy prime minister on matters of European relations from August 2019 to March 2020. He is internationally recognized as one of the most influential diplomats of his generation and a global champion for democracy, freedom, and resilience. Discussants: Carol Saivetz is a senior advisor in the MIT Security Studies Program at the Center for International Studies (CIS). She is the author and contributing co-editor of books and articles on Soviet and now Russian foreign policy issues. Elizabeth Wood is Ford International Professor of History at MIT. She is the author most recently of Roots of Russia’s War in Ukraine as well as articles on Vladimir Putin, the political cult of WWII, right-wing populism in Russia and Turkey, and US-Russian Partnerships in Science. She is director of the MIT-Ukraine Program at CIS.
Topic:
Security, Foreign Policy, Armed Conflict, Regional Security, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

2. Vulnerabilities and Resilience of Electrical Grids in Wartime: Lessons from Ukraine

Author:
Volodymyr Kudrytskyi and Mariana Budjeryn
Publication Date:
03-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
Vulnerabilities and Resilience of Electrical Grids in Wartime: Lessons from Ukraine: Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The Russian assault on Ukraine’s electrical generating capacity and transmission grid as part of its full-scale war against Ukraine, is unprecedented in the history of warfare. Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the former CEO of Ukraine’s electric grid operator Ukrenergo, discussed the challenges of securing Ukraine’s energy system throughout the war, lessons for mitigating grid vulnerabilities, and prospects for rebuilding a more resilient energy system in Ukraine and Europe. Speaker: Volodymyr Kudrytskyi served as the CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of the Ukrainian Transmission System Operator Ukrenergo from February 2020 until September 2024. Under his leadership, Ukraine’s electrical grid has undergone preparations for synchronization with the power system of Continental Europe ENTSO-E and emergency synchronization with ENTSO-E in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. From February 24, 2022, Mr. Kudrytskyi and his team at Ukrenergo managed the Ukrainian power grid through unprecedented Russian attacks against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Previously, Mr. Kudrytskyi held leadership roles in key Ukrainian energy sector companies, including Naftogaz and Ukrtransnafta. Mr. Kudrytskyi holds a degree in international finance from Kyiv National Economic University. Moderator: Mariana Budjeryn is the author of Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2023) and a winner of the 2024 William E. Colby Military Writers’ Award, the first female in the award’s 25-year history. Dr. Budjeryn is a member of the Committee on International Security and Arms Control of the National Academies of Sciences and a senior nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Topic:
Electricity, Resilience, Vulnerability, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

3. The Political Economy of Starmer's Labour

Author:
Colm Murphy, Sam Freedman, Morgan Jones, Theo Bertram, and Kate Alexander Shaw
Publication Date:
03-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
The first eight months of the new Labour government have been tumultuous, and nowhere more than in the politics of economics. Rachel Reeves has hiked taxes and increased borrowing, but her Treasury are also in tense negotiations with other departments over spending constraints. The Bank of England is trying to cut interest rates, but in a volatile market environment highly sensitive to developments across the Atlantic. The Government has already made itself vocal enemies ranging from tractor-driving farmers to child poverty campaigners, and businesses, trade unions, and lobbyists are currently battling to shape its policies on workers rights, planning reform, oilfields and airport expansions. What have we learned about Labour's economic policies? Do they have a coherent strategy? How united is the Labour Party and what are the emerging tensions? What would a successful economic strategy look like, given the UK's longstanding weaknesses of underinvestment and regional inequality and newer dangers like trade wars and recessionary risk? In this Mile End Institute webinar, Dr Colm Murphy, Sam Freedman (author of Britain's biggest politics Substack), the political writer Morgan Jones, former Number 10 advisor Dr Theo Bertram, and the economist Dr Kate Alexander Shaw explore the political economy of Keir Starmer's Labour Party.
Topic:
Political Economy, Political Parties, Labour Party, and Keir Starmer
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

4. The Third Hennessy Lecture: Baroness Sayeeda Warsi

Author:
Sayeeda Warsi
Publication Date:
02-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi was the first Muslim to serve in a British Cabinet, during the coalition government of 2010-15. A former party Chair, Foreign Office minister and Minister for Faith and Communities, she is now a non-aligned peer and has become one of Britain's leading commentators on Islam and Islamophobia. She is a prominent voice against anti-Muslim racism, and the author of two celebrated books on the role of Islam in modern Britain: The Enemy Within: A Tale of Muslim Britain and Muslims Don't Matter. In the third of the Mile End Institute's new series of distinguished "Hennessy Lectures", to mark our 10th anniversary, Baroness Warsi reflected on her life and career as a Muslim woman born in Yorkshire, who practised as a lawyer before becoming a minister and member of the House of Lords, and offered "the anatomy of a prejudice" in British society today.
Topic:
Politics, Muslims, and House of Lords
Political Geography:
Britain and Europe

5. The Future of the 'Special Relationship'

Author:
Kim Darroch and Evie Aspinall
Publication Date:
02-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Since Winston Churchill first coined the term in 1946, successive American Presidents and Prime Ministers have hailed the ‘Special Relationship’ between the United Kingdom and the United States. For over 80 years, the exceptionally close political, diplomatic, economic, military and intelligence relationship between the two countries has endured changes of government, the end of the Cold War, the ‘War on Terror’, and globalisation. In the week that Donald Trump returned to the White House, the former British Ambassador to the United States, Kim Darroch, the Director of the British Foreign Policy Group, Evie Aspinall, and Dr James Ellison explored the future of Anglo-American relations. With tariffs looming and Elon Musk waging war on the Starmer government, they asked how should Britain handle this relationship - and explored the challenges it will face over the coming years.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Politics, Bilateral Relations, Tariffs, and Transatlantic Relations
Political Geography:
United Kingdom, Europe, North America, and United States of America

6. The Conservative Party in Opposition

Author:
Tim Bale, Nigel Fletcher, Lee David Evans, and Mercy Muroki
Publication Date:
01-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
As Kemi Badenoch began her tenure as Leader of the Conservative Party and the Leader of His Majesty's Official Opposition, Prof Tim Bale was joined by Dr Nigel Fletcher, Lee David Evans and Mercy Muroki to explore her approach to leadership and what her Shadow Cabinet appointments tell us about the future of Conservative policy. After the most successful electoral force in British history suffered the worst defeat in its 200-year existence, our expert panel of academics, historians and political commentators considered how the new Conservative leader might approach the challenges and dilemmas of Opposition.
Topic:
Elections, Domestic Politics, Political Parties, and Conservative Party
Political Geography:
Britain and Europe

7. Through Protest to Reform: Euromaidan and Decentralization in Ukraine (10/03/2025)

Author:
Anastasiia Vlasenko and Petro Jacyk
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
What happens when mass protests don’t just demand change, but actually reshape the way power works on the ground? This talk dives into that question through the story of Ukraine’s Euromaidan movement and the sweeping decentralization reform that followed. In the wake of Euromaidan, Ukraine undertook one of its most ambitious transformations: transferring authority, budgets, and decision-making from the central government to local communities. But here is the twist: different places embraced this reform at very different speeds. Why? And what did protest have to do with it? Drawing on rich local-level data, this study uncovers a fascinating paradox: communities touched by protest often moved more slowly to adopt decentralization. However, once they did, they used it more effectively. The protest areas developed polycentric, multivoice decision-making structures that made early reform harder, but later implementation stronger, more competitive, and more participatory. From budget battles to e-democracy initiatives, this research shows how protest can leave behind more than memories. It can build the skills, networks, and civic muscle needed to turn reforms into real functioning democracy. Whether you are interested in Ukrainian politics, the afterlife of protest movements, or the mechanics of grassroots democracy, this talk offers fresh insight into how collective action can rewrite the rules of governance from the bottom up.
Topic:
Governance, Reform, Protests, Decentralization, and Euromaidan Revolution
Political Geography:
Europe and Ukraine

8. Reclaiming Trust: Inga Springe on the Role of Independent Media in the Baltics

Author:
Masha Udensiva-Brenner and Inga Springe
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Harriman Magazine editor Masha Udensiva-Brenner interviews Latvian investigative journalist Inga Springe of Re:Baltica about the rise and fall of the newspaper Diena, Latvia's journey to join NATO and the EU, and how investigative journalism addresses corruption and Russian influence in the Baltic region.
Topic:
NATO, Corruption, European Union, Media, Journalism, and Foreign Influence
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, Eurasia, Latvia, and Baltic States

9. From Glasnost to Crackdown: Ann Cooper on Covering the Fall of the USSR and What Came After

Author:
Masha Udensiva-Brenner and Ann Cooper
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Harriman Magazine editor Masha Udensiva-Brenner interviews editor-in-chief Ann Cooper about her experiences covering the end of the Soviet Union for NPR; how we might reframe that period; and some of the articles in the 2025 issue of Harriman Magazine.
Topic:
History, Journalism, Soviet Union, National Public Radio (NPR), and Glasnost
Political Geography:
Europe, Eurasia, and Soviet Union

10. The Showman: An Interview With President Zelensky’s Wartime Biographer

Author:
Simon Shuster
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Time Magazine Senior Correspondent Simon Shuster discusses his book on Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and the first year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine; the current state of affairs; and some of the historical context that brought us here.
Topic:
Journalism, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia-Ukraine War, and History
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

11. Dying Abroad: The Political Afterlives of Migration in Europe

Author:
Osman Balkan
Publication Date:
02-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
On any given day, the remains of countless deceased migrants are shipped around the world to be buried in ancestral soils. Others are laid to rest in countries of settlement, sometimes in cemeteries established for religious and ethnic minorities, where available. For immigrants and their descendants, perennial questions about the meaning of home and homeland take on a particular gravitas in death. When the boundaries of a nation and its members are contested, burial decisions are political acts. Building on multi-sited fieldwork in Berlin and Istanbul – where the author worked as an undertaker – Dying Abroad offers a moving and powerful account of migrants' end-of-life dilemmas, vividly illustrating how they are connected to ongoing political struggles over the stakes of citizenship, belonging, and collective identity in contemporary Europe.
Topic:
Migration, Refugees, Identity, and Death
Political Geography:
Europe

12. Conservatism and the Climate Crisis

Author:
Sam Hall, Pilita Clark, Rachel Coxcoon, and Robert Saunders
Publication Date:
06-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
The climate crisis poses new challenges to all parties and traditions, and will require the intellectual resources of both right and left to meet it effectively. In this event in May 2024, the Mile End Institute brought together Sam Hall (Director of the Conservative Environment Network), Pilita Clark (leading environmental journalist), Rachel Coxcoon (Director of ClimateGuide) and Dr Robert Saunders to explore what Conservatism can contribute to the climate debate. They explored the Conservative Party's record in government, the place of the environment in the Conservative tradition, and the challenges facing Conservative environmentalists at a time of growing political polarisation.
Topic:
Climate Change, Environment, Politics, Conservatism, Crisis Management, and Polarization
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

13. Remembering John Smith: His Legacy and Lessons

Author:
Robert Saunders, David Ward, Richard Johnson, and Dame Pauline Green
Publication Date:
05-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
The night before John Smith QC died in May 1994, he spoke at the Park Lane Hotel to raise money for the Labour Party's campaign for the next general election. To the 500 people in attendance, Smith remarked that 'the opportunity to serve our country—that is all we ask'. 30 years on from his death, Smith is often recalled as one of the 'best Prime Ministers we never had' and is still viewed with affection by many people regardless of their political views. However, in his own party, John Smith's legacy has often been more contentious. For supporters of the 'New Labour' project pursued by his successor, John Smith - as David Miliband told the Mile End Institute in May 2022 - failed to 'understand that in 1992 the electorate told us, in no uncertain terms, that they wanted a different offer from Labour'. On Thursday 9 May 2024, the Mile End Institute marked the 30th anniversary of John Smith's death by inviting a distinguished panel of historians and eyewitnesses to consider John Smith's legacy and lessons for the Labour Party today. Chaired by Dr Robert Saunders, it featured David Ward (John Smith's Head of Policy and Adviser from 1988 to 1994), Dr Richard Johnson (Senior Lecturer at QMUL), and Dame Pauline Green (former Chair of the Party of European Socialists).
Topic:
Politics, History, Labour Party, and John Smith
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

14. Bad Chaps, Jews and the Failure of British Decency: Antisemitism in Historical Perspective

Author:
Simon Schama
Publication Date:
05-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Sir Simon Schama is one of the most distinguished historians of our time. As a writer, broadcaster, columnist and art-critic, his books and documentaries have covered an extraordinary range of subjects, stretching from the histories of art, slavery and public health to Romanticism, baseball and the American future. His award-winning books include Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution (1989), Landscape and Memory (1995), Rough Crossings (2005) and Foreign Bodies: Pandemics, Vaccines and the Health of Nations (2023). He has written three volumes on the History of Britain and two volumes on The Story of the Jews, both of which have been made into BBC TV series. He is currently Professor of Art History and History at the University of Columbia, and was knighted in 2018 for ‘services to history’. On Friday 8 March 2024, Sir Simon drew on his long expertise in British and Jewish history to deliver the first in a new series of distinguished 'Hennessy Lectures', celebrating the life of the historian and cross-bench peer Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield. In this inaugural lecture at ‪@QMUL‬Sir Simon explored ‘Bad Chaps, Jews and the Failure of British Decency: Antisemitism in Historical Perspective’.
Topic:
History, Jews, and Antisemitism
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

15. Yvette Cooper MP: Remembering John Smith

Author:
Yvette Cooper
Publication Date:
05-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
On Thursday 9 May 2024, the Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP came to ‪@QMUL‬to give a keynote lecture in memory of the late ‪@labourparty‬, John Smith. 30 years on from Smith's untimely death, Cooper reflected on working for him before the 1992 election and his legacy on devolution to Scotland and Wales, the creation of the Minimum Wage, Freedom of Information, and the lessons of his leadership for the Labour Party today.
Topic:
History, Domestic Politics, Political Parties, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

16. A History of British Elections with Iain Dale

Author:
Robert Saunders, Iain Dale, Philip Cowley, and Jennifer Davey
Publication Date:
04-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
On Wednesday 10 April 2024, the Mile End Institute celebrated the launch of Iain Dale's new book, British General Election Campaigns, 1830-2019. Featuring an essay on every general election since 1830, the book ranges across every aspect of electoral history: from landslides and hung parliaments to corruption, electoral violence and the birth of the modern campaign. With a cast ranging from William Gladstone and Sir Robert Peel to Margaret Thatcher and Boris Johnson, it explores how elections are won and lost, how they have changed over time, and what lessons can be drawn for the present.
Topic:
History, Elections, and Domestic Politics
Political Geography:
Britain, United Kingdom, and Europe

17. In Conversation with Sir David Lidington

Author:
David Lidington
Publication Date:
04-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
On Tuesday 26 March, the Mile End Institute welcomed the former Conservative MP and Cabinet minister, Sir David Lidington, to @QMUL. Sir David was elected as the Conservative MP for Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire from 1992 and retired from the House of Commons at the 2019 general election. In addition to being the longest-serving Minister for Europe, occupying the post throughout David Cameron's premiership, Sir David served as the Leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Justice, and Minister for the Cabinet Office in Theresa May's administration. As Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between January 2018 and July 2019, Sir David was widely recognised to be Theresa May's de facto Deputy Prime Minister. In a wide-ranging conversation with Dr Robert Saunders five years on from the collapse of Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement, Sir David reflected on his early life in London, working as Douglas Hurd's special adviser at the Home Office and the Foreign Office during Margaret Thatcher and John Major's governments, and the start of his own parliamentary career after 1992. They also explored his work in government after 2010, the Brexit debate which dominated his last three years in Parliament, and the state of the Conservative Party today.
Topic:
Elections, Domestic Politics, and Conservative Party
Political Geography:
Britain, United Kingdom, and Europe

18. The Inaugural Hennessy Lecture: Sir Simon Schama

Author:
Simon Schama and Emma Griffin
Publication Date:
03-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Sir Simon Schama is one of the most distinguished historians of our time. As a writer, broadcaster, columnist and art-critic, his books and documentaries have covered an extraordinary range of subjects, stretching from the histories of art, slavery and public health to Romanticism, baseball and the American future. His award-winning books include Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution (1989), Landscape and Memory (1995), Rough Crossings (2005) and Foreign Bodies: Pandemics, Vaccines and the Health of Nations (2023). He has written three volumes on the History of Britain and two volumes on The Story of the Jews, both of which have been made into BBC TV series. He is currently Professor of Art History and History at the University of Columbia, and was knighted in 2018 for ‘services to history’. On Friday 8 March 2024, Sir Simon drew on his long expertise in British and Jewish history to deliver the first in a new series of distinguished 'Hennessy Lectures', celebrating the life of the historian and cross-bench peer Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield. In this inaugural lecture at ‪@QMUL‬, hosted by Professor Emma Griffin (Head of ‪@qmulschoolofhistory4447‬ and President of the Royal Historical Society), Sir Simon explored ‘Bad Chaps, Jews and the Failure of British Decency: Antisemitism in Historical Perspective’.
Topic:
History, Jews, and Peter Hennessy
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

19. Reforming the Centre of Government

Author:
Caroline Slocock and Ray Shostak
Publication Date:
03-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Ahead of a potential change of government in the United Kingdom during this year, this webinar examines the reform of the centre of government across the world. Chaired by Professor Patrick Diamond, this webinar saw Professor Ray Shostak, Martin Alessandro, and Caroline Slocock explore the lessons that could be learned by British policy practitioners. In every government, the centre of government performs a set of crucial functions: the institutions and units working at the centre provide managerial direction and coherence to the complex governing machinery, not least in accelerating the delivery of priority objectives. In the UK, the operation in Number 10 Downing Street has become the focus of much attention in recent years with its leadership and oversight role increasingly questioned. Over the last decade, crises, and shocks - including global pandemics, climate hazards, economic crises, technological developments, and global conflicts - have enhanced the value of anticipatory governance and foresight, cross-ministerial planning and policy design, alongside real-time performance monitoring and intervention all provided through the centre of government.
Topic:
Government, Reform, Crisis Management, and Institutions
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

20. 'An Insane Miracle': 100 years of since the first Labour government

Author:
Carolyn Quinn, Jon Cruddas, David Torrance, Jane Ridley, and Richard Johnson
Publication Date:
02-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
On 22 January 1924, the United Kingdom experienced what The Annual Register described as ‘a revolution as profound as that associated with the Reform Act of 1832’ – the formation of the first Labour government. After an inconclusive general election in December 1923, the King invited Ramsay MacDonald to become Prime Minister. For the leader of the so-called ‘Wild Men’ – who had helped to found the Labour Representation Committee in 1900 and been the fledgling party’s leader for a little over a year – the formation of his minority administration was ‘an insane miracle’. While the government was defeated just over nine months later, at a general election in October 1924, it proved to the country and the wider movement that the Labour Party was willing and able to govern. To mark the centenary of MacDonald’s appointment, the Mile End Institute assembled a stellar panel of experts on Labour politics, the constitution, and interwar Britain. In addition to Jon Cruddas MP and Dr David Torrance - whose new books A Century of Labour and The Wild Men had just been published - we were joined by Professor Jane Ridley (the author of George V: Never a Dull Moment) and Dr Richard Johnson. In this fascinating discussion chaired by the journalist and former host of Radio 4’s Westminster Hour, Carolyn Quinn, the panel reflected on King George V's decision to call for MacDonald rather than the governing Conservative or Liberal parties, the changing makeup of the Labour Party and its relationship with the Crown, and the MacDonald administration's political and legislative achievements. With a general election approaching, the panel also considered what lessons, if any, MacDonald’s minority administration offers to future Labour governments.
Topic:
Reform, Elections, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

21. The Case for the Centre Right: In Conversation with David Gauke

Author:
David Gauke
Publication Date:
01-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In recent years, as the authors of this major important collection of essays argue, the landscape of British politics has fundamentally changed. The Conservative Party in particular has undergone a profound transformation. Centre-right values that steered British politics for decades - internationalism, respect for the rule of law, fiscal responsibility, belief in our institutions - were cast aside in the wake of the Brexit referendum to the detriment of the UK's prosperity, electoral trust, and the long-term fortunes of the Conservative Party. In this event, the ‪@mileendinstitute4300‬ welcomed the former Conservative MP and Lord Chancellor, David Gauke, to ‪@QMUL‬ to talk about his new book, The Case for the Centre Right. Published in September 2023, this collection of essays features contributions from Michael Heseltine, Rory Stewart, and Amber Rudd, and has been described as a 'classic indictment of the deceptions of populism' by the former Prime Minister, Sir John Major. Hosted by Professor Tim Bale, this event also featured Andrew, Lord Cooper of Windrush, who contributed a chapter on the realignment of British politics since 2016.
Topic:
Domestic Politics, Political Parties, Conservative Party, and Center Right
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

22. The Downing Street Declaration: Thirty Years On

Author:
Martyn Frampton and Eleanor Williams
Publication Date:
01-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
On 15 December 1993, the governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland signed the Downing Street Declaration: a "charter for peace and reconciliation" that sought "to remove the causes of conflict, to overcome the legacy of history and to heal the divisions" in Northern Ireland. Signed by John Major and Albert Reynolds, the Downing Street Declaration asserted the principle of self-determination for the North of Ireland. The UK government disclaimed any "selfish strategic or economic interest in Northern Ireland" and promised to facilitate a united Ireland if that was the wish of the majority. The Irish government recognised that "it would be wrong to attempt to impose a united Ireland, in the absence of the freely given consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland", and that any settlement must "respect the democratic dignity and the civil rights and religious liberties of both communities" . The result was a landmark moment in the peace process, with consequences that continue to this day. This webinar, held in December 2023, looks back at the making of the Downing Street Declaration and assesses its legacy for the peace process. It brings together two specialists in Irish history, Professor Martyn Frampton (QMUL) and Dr Eleanor Williams (Oxford), in conversation with Dr Robert Saunders, to explore a landmark moment in British and Irish history, and to reflect on the lessons thirty years after it was agreed.
Topic:
Domestic Politics, Peace, Reconciliation, Peace Process, and Downing Street Declaration
Political Geography:
United Kingdom, Europe, Ireland, and Northern Ireland

23. Japan’s Strategic Cooperation with NATO: Connectivity between Ukraine and Taiwan Crises

Author:
Tomonori Yoshizaki and Ayumi Teraoka
Publication Date:
03-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
China’s global outreach and the War in Ukraine have pushed U.S. allies in Asia and Europe closer in recent years. Professor Tomonori Yoshizaki of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS), former Vice President of the National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, will help us understand the motivations behind the developing ties between Japan and NATO. He will explore the prospects of their cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and beyond and conclude by offering implications for the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, NATO, International Cooperation, Alliance, Crisis Management, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Japan, Europe, Taiwan, Asia, and United States of America

24. "Inventing Eastern Europe" Thirty Years Later: A Conversation with Larry Wolff and Guests

Author:
Malgorzata Mazurek, Larry Wolff, Suzanne Marchand, Emile Greble, and Jan Kubik
Publication Date:
04-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
When Larry Wolff’s book Inventing Eastern Europe was published in 1994, it gave the world a new set of tools for understanding the half of Europe that had recently emerged from behind the Iron Curtain. Most notably, Wolff’s book showed how the conceptual division of the European continent into two distinct civilizations, East and West, although reinforced by the Realpolitik of the Cold War, actually originated in the discourse of philosophes and travelers in the 18th century. Inventing Eastern Europe was revelatory in the mid-1990s, and it has been required reading for serious students of Eastern European history and culture ever since. Please join the East Central European Center and the Harriman Institute for a conversation with Larry Wolff, Suzanne Marchand, Emily Greble and Jan Kubik, moderated by Malgorzata Mazurek, about the genesis, initial impact and continued relevance of this seminal work on the thirtieth anniversary of its publication.
Topic:
Cold War, History, and Philosophy
Political Geography:
Europe and Eastern Europe

25. A Global History of Hungary: Concept, Implementation, Reflection

Author:
Ferenc Laczó
Publication Date:
04-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
The recently released volumes of Magyarország globális története (A Global History of Hungary) are the joint product of 159 scholars from a host of disciplines. Together, they explore the history of an East Central European country in a truly global perspective for the first time. The two volumes cover developments from the formation of the Pannonian Plain and the early spread of human settlement and agriculture, through the emergence of world religions and the era of European colonialism and imperialism, all the way to key issues in the multipolar and contested globalization of our days. This narrative arc already suggests why such a global history of Hungary may be urgently needed today: to reinterpret in a substantial and nuanced manner, for our age of manifold interconnections, the place and various roles of Hungary and Hungarians in the history of the world. More specifically, the 203 chapters included in A Global History of Hungary capitalize on four key insights. First, East Central Europe has tended to be a semi-peripheral area in the global scheme of things, and it has thus been much closer to the global average than some of the parts of the world on which much of recent global historiography has focused. East Central European countries have also developed numerous and still underexplored intercontinental connections outside the Western core that should be of special interest in our age of global multipolarity. At the same time, it can be assumed that this diverse area, as a rather peripheral part of Europe in a formerly largely Eurocentric world, has played the role of a “secondary colonialist” for significant parts of modern history – a topic that needs to be researched in detail and critically scrutinized. Moreover, the predominant transnational orientation of this suburb of Europe has shifted repeatedly and sometimes dramatically, creating a complex pattern of legacies – or “continuities in discontinuity” – that can only be properly analysed through a transnational history on the longue durée. In this presentation, co-editor Ferenc Laczó will reflect on the agenda to embed Hungarian history comprehensively in global frameworks. He will discuss the specific ways in which this agenda has been implemented, not least to explain how the contributing authors have taken up and adapted a recent Western European approach to historiography, what challenges this has entailed, and what opportunities such a process of adaptation to East Central Europe offers.
Topic:
History and Historiography
Political Geography:
Europe and Hungary

26. 1,000 days of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine

Author:
Philip Breedlove, Iulia-sabina Joja, and Matthew Czekaj
Publication Date:
11-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
Wednesday, November 20, marks a somber anniversary for Ukraine: 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country. Though the Ukrainians continue to hold out with Western assistance against Russian attacks, the past two-and-a-half years have been devastating for the country and its people. Ukraine now faces another winter at war as momentum appears to be shifting in Russia’s favor. What can the US and its allies do to ensure hostilities end as favorably as possible to Ukraine and in line with American strategic national interests? MEI scholars General Philip M. Breedlove and Dr. Iulia-Sabina Joja join host Matthew Czekaj to discuss the state of the conflict and what’s at stake for the region and the global community.
Topic:
Armed Conflict, Strategic Interests, Russia-Ukraine War, and Invasion
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

27. Global Islamophobia and the Rise of Populism with Ivan Kalmar & Audrey Truschke

Author:
Ivan Kalmar and Audrey Truschke
Publication Date:
10-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Islamophobia has seen a disturbing rise across Asia and Europe. Professors Audrey Truschke and Ivan Kalmar focus on India and Eastern Europe, respectively, in examining the global trend of blaming Muslim minorities for economic, political, and social problems, which in turn causes anti-Muslim violence.
Topic:
Minorities, Discrimination, Islamophobia, and Violence
Political Geography:
Europe, India, Eastern Europe, and Asia

28. Islam in Liberalism with Joseph Massad (Episode 10)

Author:
Joseph Massad and Sahar Aziz
Publication Date:
06-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
American anxieties about intolerance, misogyny, and tyranny are projected onto Islam as part of the broader European use of Islam as a foil in Western liberalism. A recent book contextualizes this trend within recent efforts by the western world to proselytize liberalism as the only valid and sane worldview to Muslim-majority nations and references a rich historical record of Christian and liberal discourses revealing such attempts to cure Muslims of their supposed illiberal ways. Host Sahar Aziz (https://saharazizlaw.com/) addresses these issues with “Islam in Liberalism (https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/...) ” author and Columbia University Professor Joseph Massad (https://mesaas.columbia.edu/faculty-d...) .
Topic:
Islam, Islamophobia, Liberalism, and Intolerance
Political Geography:
Europe and United States of America

29. Toward A Comparative History of Sexual Violence and War - A Book Talk with Feminist Chizuko Ueno

Author:
Chizuko Ueno and Carol Gluck
Publication Date:
05-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Speaker: Chizuko Ueno, Professor Emerita University of Tokyo, Chief Director of the Non Profit Organization, Women’s Action Network Moderator: Carol Gluck, George Sansom Professor Emerita of History, Columbia University Sexual violence in war is a perennial and a global phenomenon. The “comfort women” system of sexual slavery in Asia and sexual assaults by Allied soldiers in Europe during World War II, the rape camps in Bosnia in the 1990s war in the former Yugoslavia -- the list is long and continues to this day. Based on her book, A Comparative History of War and Sexual Violence, Ueno explores a range of issues, including the discourse of victimhood and the question of agency, rape as a weapon of war, and also love and “horizontal collaboration” between enemies. A provocative argument from Japan’s leading feminist and influential social activist. Speaker Bio: Chizuko Ueno is an emeritas professor at the University of Tokyo. Chief Director of the Non Profit Organization, Women’s Action Network ( http://wan.or.jp/) . A leading feminist theorist and an influential social critic, a prolific author of books and articles and a high-profile intellectual in Japan. In 1994, one of her many acclaimed books, Kindai Kazoku no Seiritsu to Shuen (The Rise and Fall of the Modern Family), won the coveted Suntory Academic Award. English publications are available as follows; The Modern Family in Japan: Its Rise and Fall (2009), Nationalism and Gender (2004). Asahi Shinbun Award winner in 2012 for her contribution to feminism and women’s studies, in addition to studies of care. Received Hän Honor from the Finnish government in 2019 for the contribution to promote gender equality. Selected as a member of American Academy of Art and Sciences in 2020. Event sponsored by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and co-sponsored by the Japan Research Program.
Topic:
War, History, Sexual Violence, Comfort Women, and Book Talk
Political Geography:
Japan, Europe, Asia, and Balkans

30. Disinformation and Smearing in British Politics

Author:
Robert Saunders, Gill Bennett, Ciaran Martin, and Jean Seaton
Publication Date:
11-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
One hundred years ago this month, as voters prepared to go to the polls for the third time in two years, British politics was rocked by what would become the most famous ‘dirty trick’ in its long history: the ‘Zinoviev Letter’. The Letter, encouraging the British proletariat to revolutionary fervour, was apparently sent by Grigori Zinoviev, head of the Bolshevik propaganda organization, to the British Communist Party in September 1924. Its publication by the Daily Mail just before the General Election humiliated the first ever Labour government, headed by Ramsay MacDonald, when its political opponents used it to create a 'Red Scare' in the media. With growing concerns about the impact of AI-driven disinformation on elections around the world, the ‪@mileendinstitute4300‬ and the Centre for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies marked the Letter's centenary by exploring how disinformation, ‘Fake News’ and smearing have affected, and continue to shape, British politics today. Dr‪. Robert Saunders was joined by Dr Gill Bennett (Chief Historian of the UK Foreign Office‬, 1995-2005), Professor Ciaran Martin (CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, 2016-2020) and Professor Jean Seaton (Official Historian of the BBC).
Topic:
Politics, History, Elections, and Disinformation
Political Geography:
Britain and Europe

31. Sathnam Sanghera: How British Imperialism Has Shaped the Globe

Author:
Sathnam Sanghera
Publication Date:
10-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Sathnam Sanghera is an award-winning writer, broadcaster, novelist and Times columnist, who published a bestselling memoir in 2008 called The Boy with the Topknot. More recently, he has published two best-selling volumes on the legacies of the British Empire - Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain, and Empireworld: How British Imperialism Has Shaped the Globe. On Wednesday 9 October, the Mile End Institute welcomed Sathnam to ‪Queen Mary University of London‬ for the second in our series of distinguished lectures in honour of our patron, the historian and crossbench peer, Peter Hennessy. Sathnam was in conversation with Professor Jerry Brotton from the School of the Arts Queen Mary University of London about his latest book, Empireworld, the legacies of the British Empire, the teaching of imperial history, the role of pride and shame in our thinking about the past, and the role of empire in contemporary culture.
Topic:
Imperialism, History, and British Empire
Political Geography:
Britain and Europe

32. How the Cold War Solved the Problem of Soviet Displaced Persons After World War II (10/24/24)

Author:
Sheila Fitzpatrick and Elise Giuliano
Publication Date:
10-2024
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
This talk will draw on the analysis of postwar great power politics and diplomacy with regard to “displaced persons” from the Soviet Union offered in her new book, Lost Souls: Soviet Displaced Persons and the Birth of the Cold War, to be published by Princeton University Press in November.
Topic:
Cold War, Diplomacy, Power Politics, Displacement, World War II, and Soviet Union
Political Geography:
Europe and Soviet Union

33. Starr Forum: Rebuilding Ukraine While Under Fire

Author:
Oleg Ustenko and Simon Johnson
Publication Date:
09-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
A discussion with experts--including Oleg Ustenko, the economic advisor to President Zelensky--on rebuilding Ukraine in the midst of the ongoing war. Joining Ustenko is Simon Johnson, professor at MIT Sloan and former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund.
Topic:
Economics, Reconstruction, Armed Conflict, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

34. Marcia Williams: The Life and Times of Baroness Falkender

Author:
Linda McDougall
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Over a decade before Margaret Thatcher swept to power in May 1979, another woman was running Britain from 10 Downing Street: Marcia Williams, private and political secretary to Harold Wilson. Having worked for Wilson since 1956, Williams became the Prime Minister’s trusted adviser and confidante forming, as the historian Ben Pimlott once described it, ‘the most famous and mysterious partnership in modern political history’. To mark the publication of Marcia Williams: The Life and Times of Baroness Falkender by ‪@BitebackPublishing‬, the ‪@mileendinstitute4300‬ and Tides of History welcomed her biographer, Linda McDougall, to ‪@QMUL‬‪@QMUL‬, where Marcia Field (as she then was) studied History from 1951 to 1954 and was Secretary of the Labour Society. Linda McDougall is a leading journalist, television producer and author of several books on women in politics. In addition to charting Williams’ rise through the Labour Party, Linda examined the assumptions and accusations that were a constant accompaniment to her political career and charted her influence on British politics and policy.
Topic:
Politics, Women, Domestic Politics, Labour Party, and Marcia Williams
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

35. Governing in Hard Times Conference: Final Reflections

Author:
Javier Sajuria, Eunice Goes, Ben Jackson, Karl Pike, and Carys Roberts
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this concluding session, a panel of academics and policymakers reflected on the day's proceedings. They tried to draw together the most urgent questions facing the centre-left and Keir Starmer's Labour Party as well as the historical parallels for a party seeking to return to government after such a lengthy spell in opposition. Chair: Dr Javier Sajuria (Reader in Comparative Politics at Queen Mary, University of London) Panel: Professor Eunice Goes (Professor of Politics at Richmond University) Professor Ben Jackson (Professor of Modern History at University College Oxford and Co-Editor of Political Quarterly) Dr Karl Pike (Deputy Director of the Mile End Institute) Carys Roberts (Executive Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research)
Topic:
Governance, Domestic Politics, Labour Party, and Center Left
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

36. Governing in Hard Times Conference: Public Services

Author:
Elizabeth Simon, Jonathan Slater, Clare McNeil, Andrew Harrop, and Adam O'Brien
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
With increasing dysfunction in public services and education across England (and the United Kingdom as a whole), this panel considered how a new government might solve the staffing and employment crisis in schools, nurseries, hospitals, and care homes. The panel considered the future of Higher Education, the merits and demerits of greater decentralisation across England, as well as how a National Care Service could be established. Chair: Dr Elizabeth Simon (Postdoctoral Researcher in British Politics at the Mile End Institute) Panel: Jonathan Slater (Visiting Professor at the Mile End Institute and Former Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education) Clare McNeil (Associate Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Researcher) Andrew Harrop (General Secretary of the Fabian Society) Andrew O'Brien (Director of Policy and Impact at Demos)
Topic:
Education, Governance, Employment, and Public Service
Political Geography:
United Kingdom, Europe, and England

37. Governing in Hard Times Conference: The Climate Emergency and the Green Transition

Author:
Karl Pike, James Meadway, Holly Rowden, and Ryan Jude
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In light of the IPCC's recent warning that the 1.5 degree target for global warming will be breached by 2028, this panel explored how a centre-left government would tackle the ongoing Climate Emergency. The panellists considered how it might minimise the political and economic blowback to the disruptions of the Green Transition, recent changes to the Labour Party's Green Prosperity Pledge to spend £28bn a year on the transition, and the role that the private sector should - or be encouraged - to play. Chair: Dr Karl Pike (Deputy Director of the Mile End Institute) Panel: Dr James Meadway (Former Director of the Progressive Economy Forum) Holly Rowden (Policy Advisor at Green Alliance UK) Councillor Ryan Jude (Programme Director for the Green Finance Institute and Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Biodiversity at the City of Westminster Council)
Topic:
Climate Change, Government, Domestic Politics, and Green Transition
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

38. Governing in Hard Times Conference: The UK Economy

Author:
Colm Murphy, Seema Malhotra, Diane Coyle, and Jeevun Sandher
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In the first of four thematic sessions on the urgent political and policy questions facing British politics ahead of the next general election, this panel considered how a centre-left government could maintain macroeconomic credibility, while also achieving its policy goals. It considered what institutional and political relationships it would have to renew - with trade unions, organised business, the City, and others - the appeal of 'Bidenomics' and how radical the next Chancellor of the Exchequer will be able to be. Chair: Dr Colm Murphy (Deputy Director of the Mile End Institute) Panel: Seema Malhotra MP (MP for Feltham and Heston and Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers) Professor Diane Coyle (Co-Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge) Dr Jeevun Sandher (Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for Loughborough)
Topic:
Politics, Elections, Economy, and Macroeconomics
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

39. Governing in Hard Times Conference: Constraints and Strategy with Nick Thomas-Symonds MP

Author:
Lyndsey Jenkins, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Nick Pearce, and Alan Finlayson
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this introductory session, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP delivered a keynote address on the Labour Party's strategy for government and the lessons that Keir Starmer and the current Shadow Cabinet can learn from previous Labour governments. This was followed by responses from Professor Nick Pearce and Professor Alan Finlayson on the institutional and economic constraints that a future centre-left administration will face and how it might navigate its first difficult months in office. Chair: Dr Lyndsey Jenkins (Deputy Director of the Mile End Institute) Panel: Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (MP for Torfaen and Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade) Professor Nick Pearce (Director of the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath) Professor Alan Finlayson (Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East Anglia)
Topic:
Economics, Governance, Domestic Politics, Labour Party, and Center Left
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

40. Governing in Hard Times Conference: Standards in Public Life

Author:
Robert Saunders, Robin Brockwell, Chris Bryant, and Hannah White
Publication Date:
06-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
This panel, held on the day that the Privileges Committee published its Final Report on Boris Johnson and 'Partygate', asked what could be done to restore higher standards of propriety and accountability in public life. It asked how a new administration could ensure that the Seven 'Nolan' Principles are better enforced and the merits of greater statutory regulation. Chair: Dr Robert Saunders (Reader in Modern British History at Queen Mary, University of London) Panel: Lord Butler of Brockwell (Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, 1988-1998) Sir Chris Bryant MP (MP for Rhondda and Chair of the Committee on Standards and Privileges) Dr Hannah White OBE (Director of the Institute for Government)
Topic:
Governance, Regulation, and Domestic Politics
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

41. The Conservative Party After Brexit with Professor Tim Bale

Author:
Tim Bale and Carolyn Quinn
Publication Date:
04-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
The Conservative Party can lay convincing claim to being the world's most successful political party, not least because it is also one of the most adaptable, often appearing to do and say pretty much whatever it takes to win. But has it now taken things too far? Since the UK voted to leave the EU back in 2016, the Tories have transformed themselves from a mainstream, centre-right party to one built upon a combination of radical right-wing populism, free-market fundamentalism, and fiscal constraint. Can the party survive in its current unstable form? Or will it be blown apart by its contradictions, its factions, and the competition between future leadership hopefuls? At this launch of his new book on 18 April 2023, 'The Conservative Party After Brexit', the Mile End Institute's very own Professor Tim Bale was in conversation with Carolyn Quinn (the former host of BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour). They discussed these questions, charted the fall-out from the bombshell Brexit referendum and the chaotic premierships of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss.
Topic:
European Union, Brexit, Political Parties, Boris Johnson, Conservative Party, Theresa May, Rishi Sunak, and Nigel Farage
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

42. 100 more by 2030! How to create a more gender-balanced democracy

Author:
Frances Scott, Rainbow Murray, Kiran Mahil, and Emma Best
Publication Date:
03-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
While there are currently 225 women in the House of Commons, an all-time high, women continue to be underrepresented in Parliament, local government, and public life. To rectify this, ‪@Parliament-cc8sw‬ has set an ambitious target to have 100 more women in Parliament by 2030. On Thursday 23 March, as the UK's major political parties ramp up their efforts to select candidates for next year's general election, this discussion took stock of their efforts. Frances Scott (the founder and director of 50:50 Parliament), Professor Rainbow Murray (QMUL), Kiran Mahil (Labour Women's Network) and Emma Best (Conservative member of the London Assembly) reflected on the success of leading pressure groups and evaluated how much progress has been made in recent years to create a better, more gender-balanced democracy.
Topic:
Women, Inequality, Domestic Politics, Representation, and Gender
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

43. In Conversation with the Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP

Author:
David Lammy and Marie Le Conte
Publication Date:
03-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
On Thursday 9 March, the Mile End Institute welcomed the Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, to ‪@QMUL‬. In a wide-ranging conversation with Marie Le Conte, David reflected on his early life, becoming the first black Briton to graduate from Harvard Law School and over two decades as the MP for Tottenham. He also took stock of the ongoing war in Ukraine, outlined his vision for the UK's foreign policy if the Labour Party win the next election, and reflected on being one of the few members of the Shadow Cabinet to have served in government before.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Government, Elections, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

44. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Keynote Lecture by Prof Sarah Childs on New Labour's Women MPs

Author:
Sarah Childs
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marks a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, Professor Sarah Childs delivers a keynote lecture which brings together the key themes of the Breaking the Glass Chamber conference and reflects on whether there has been a 'feminization' of British politics since 1997. Sarah returns to some of her earliest work about how New Labour's women MPs experienced being in Parliament, whether they acted as role models for other women, and explores the complicated relationship between women's descriptive and substantive representation.
Topic:
Women, Domestic Politics, Representation, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

45. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Women's Political Careers in Britain and Around the World

Author:
Lyndsey Jenkins, Minna Cowper-Coles, and Sofia Collignon
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marks a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, introduced by Dr Lyndsey Jenkins, Dr Sofia Collignon talks to Dr Minna Cowper-Coles about her comparative research on the motivations, challenges, and experiences of women political leaders around the world. Sofia highlights that women leaders are typically highly professionalised, highly skilled, and highly experienced, and notes that 63 per cent have a Masters degree or PhD.
Topic:
Elections, Women, Domestic Politics, and Representation
Political Geography:
United Kingdom, Europe, and Global Focus

46. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Mary Honeyball on the life and times of Edith Summerskill MP

Author:
Mary Honeyball
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marks a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, the former Labour MEP, Mary Honeyball, presents her new biography of Edith Summerskill, the 'Pioneering Feminist Labour MP', who served in Clement Attlee's government and oversaw the creation of the National Insurance Scheme. Mary discusses how Summerskill's campaigning was instrumental in promoting women's causes throughout her life and reflects on her achievements in securing equal rights for housewives and divorced women over property.
Topic:
Politics, History, Elections, Women, and Domestic Politics
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

47. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Keynote by Khursheed Wadia - 'Becoming Muslim women becoming political'

Author:
Khursheed Wadia
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marks a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, Professor Khursheed Wadia delivers a keynote lecture, entitled 'Becoming Muslim women becoming political'. Khursheed analyses women in the British Muslim community's political engagement through the postwar period and describes a 'hidden history' of Muslim women's activism on picket lines, in anti-poverty campaigns and in community networks. She argues that academics should pay more attention to community activism to fully capture the diversity of women's political engagement in the second half of the twentieth century.
Topic:
Elections, Women, Political Participation, Activism, and Muslims
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

48. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Reflections on Parliamentary Careers

Author:
Estelle Morris and Dawn Primarolo
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marks a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this session - chaired by Dr Ruth Davidson - Dame Margaret Hodge (MP for Barking and Dagenham, 1994-present), Baroness (Estelle) Morris (MP for Birmingham Yardley, 1992-2005), and Baroness (Dawn) Primarolo (MP for Bristol South, 1987-2015) reflect on their lengthy parliamentary careers and their time in government and offer some lessons for women entering Parliament and public life.
Topic:
Politics, Women, Representation, and Parliament
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

49. France’s Foreign Policy towards Lebanon and its Discontents

Author:
Fadi Nicholas Nassar
Publication Date:
07-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
The pair focus on the current state of affairs in Lebanon, historical trends in French policy towards the country and the region, and more in the latest episode of Middle East Focus.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Domestic Politics, History, and Regional Politics
Political Geography:
Europe, Middle East, France, and Lebanon

50. The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims — by Khaled A. Beydoun

Author:
Khaled A. Beydoun
Publication Date:
11-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Discover a groundbreaking exploration of Islamophobia on a global scale in 'The New Crusades' by Khaled A. Beydoun. This seminal book offers an unprecedented deep dive into how both democratic and authoritarian regimes worldwide are exploiting Islamophobia to target Muslim populations. Beydoun meticulously analyzes the impact of the American War on Terror, revealing its pivotal role in amplifying and interconnecting anti-Muslim campaigns across continents. From Europe to Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, 'The New Crusades' provides a critical and intimate examination of Islamophobia's diverse manifestations. This is the first book to offer such a comprehensive analysis, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of global Islamophobia and its far-reaching consequences.
Topic:
Authoritarianism, Democracy, Islamophobia, Muslims, and Book Talk
Political Geography:
Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Global Focus

51. Public Interest and State Legitimation: Early Modern England, Japan, and China–Book Talk, Wenkai He

Author:
Wenkai He and Junyan Jiang
Publication Date:
12-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Abstract:
Wenkai He is an associate professor of Social Science in the Division of Social Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He conducts deep and contextualized historical analysis of state formation in England, Japan, and China from the 16th to 19th century. He will give a talk on his second book, Public Interest and State Legitimation: Early Modern England, Japan, and China (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023), which investigates the connections between state capacity, state legitimation and the expansion of political participation. He demonstrates how in each case a public interest-based discourse of state legitimation provided a common platform upon which state and society collaborated to provide public goods such as famine relief and large-scale infrastructural facilities. Each discourse of state legitimation entailed ‘passive rights’ that allowed subordinates to justify their demands on the state to redress welfare grievances. Conflicts between domestic welfare and other dimensions of public interest, however, could instigate cross-regional and cross-sectoral mass petitions for fundamental political reforms that were likewise justified by the state’s proclaimed duty to safeguard the public interest; these mass petitions might ultimately transform the state. Such a political ‘great divergence’ occurred in England (1760s-1780s) and Japan (1870s-1880s), but not in China.
Topic:
History, State Formation, Book Talk, and Public Interest
Political Geography:
Japan, China, Europe, Asia, and England

52. Celebrating István Deák, Keynote by Pieter Judson

Author:
Pieter Judson
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Columbia University’s Department of History, the Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies, and the Harriman Institute present a conference in honor of István Deák (1926-2023).
Topic:
History, Conference, and István Deák
Political Geography:
Europe, Hungary, and Austria

53. Celebrating István Deák, Panel III: István and East Central European History

Author:
The Harriman Institute
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Columbia University’s Department of History, the Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies, and the Harriman Institute present a conference in honor of István Deák (1926-2023).
Topic:
History, Conference, and István Deák
Political Geography:
Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe

54. Celebrating István Deák, Panel II: István and Hungary: Then and Now

Author:
The Harriman Institute
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Columbia University’s Department of History, the Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies, and the Harriman Institute present a conference in honor of István Deák (1926-2023).
Topic:
History, Conference, and István Deák
Political Geography:
Europe, Hungary, and Central Europe

55. Celebrating István Deák, Opening Remarks and Panel I: István the Teacher (10/6/23)

Author:
The Harriman Institute
Publication Date:
10-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Columbia University’s Department of History, the Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies, and the Harriman Institute present a conference in honor of István Deák (1926-2023).
Topic:
History, Conference, and István Deák
Political Geography:
Europe, Hungary, and Central Europe

56. Refugees Revitalizing Emptied Spain

Publication Date:
02-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
Susan Akram is a Clinical Professor at the Boston University School of Law and the Director of the International Human Rights Clinic. Her research and publications focus on immigration, asylum, refugee, forced migration, and human and civil rights issues, with an interest in the Middle East, the Arab, and Muslim world. She is currently leading the "Refugees Revitalizing Emptied Spain" project, which would place refugees and asylum seekers in municipalities that are struggling to survive in the face of massive population loss, as young people move to larger cities in search of economic opportunities.
Topic:
Immigration, Refugees, Asylum, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:
Europe and Spain

57. Starr Forum: Ukraine and Russia One Year On: The Domestic Impact of the War

Publication Date:
03-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
Ukraine and Russia One Year On: The Domestic Impact of the War
Topic:
Defense Policy, Military Strategy, Governance, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

58. EU Energy Security & the Maghreb

Author:
Intissar Fakir and Alberto Rizzi
Publication Date:
01-2023
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
North Africa and the Sahel Program Director Intissar Fakir speaks to Alberto Rizzi - pan-European fellow at the Rome Office of the European Council on Foreign Relations - about existing and future energy partnerships between the European Union and the Maghreb. In the wake of energy market disruption caused by the conflict in Ukraine, what alternative fuel sources are the EU looking towards - and how does this align with current production capacities in Maghreb countries?
Topic:
Security, Foreign Policy, European Union, Energy, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Europe, North Africa, and Morocco

59. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Keynote by Julie Gottlieb and Clarisse Berthezene on Conservative Women

Author:
Lyndsey Jenkins
Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marked a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, Dr Lyndsey Jenkins opens the second day's proceedings, before Professors Julie Gottlieb ‪@universityofsheffield‬ and Clarisse Berthezene deliver their keynote lecture, entitled 'Continuities and Change in British Conservative Women's Policies and Practices'. They historicise the role of women in the Conservative Party during the interwar and immediate postwar periods, before considering how Conservative women contributed to the Women's Voluntary Service and other non-partisan associations.
Topic:
Elections, Women, Domestic Politics, and Representation
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

60. Breaking the Glass Chamber: In Conversation with Frances Scott and Lesley Abdela

Author:
Frances Scott and Lesley Abdela
Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marked a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, Mari Takayanagi from ‪@ukparliament‬ invites Frances Scott (founder of the 50:50 Parliament campaign) and Lesley Abdela (founder of the 300 Group) to reflect on their efforts to increase women's political representation since the 1980s. They argue that representation shapes policy and point to the '6 Cs' that prevent women from participating in politics and public life: culture, cronyism, candidate selection, chronic lack of money, chronic lack of time, and chronic lack of confidence.
Topic:
Elections, Women, Domestic Politics, and Representation
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

61. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Caroline Slocock in conversation with Dr Emily Stacey

Author:
Emily Stacey
Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marked a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, Caroline Slocock (the Director of Civil Exchange and the first female Private Secretary to the Prime Minister) talks to Dr Emily Stacey about working for Britain's first woman Prime Minister, the challenges of balancing motherhood with a career at the Treasury, and why Conservatives continue to channel Margaret Thatcher more than 30 years after she left office.
Topic:
Politics, Elections, Women, Representation, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

62. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Keynote Lecture on Muslim Women in the Labour Party by Farah Hussain

Author:
Harriet Harman
Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marked a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, Farah Hussain from ‪@QMPoliticsIR‬ and a Visiting Research Fellow at the MEI presents her intersectional research on Muslim Women in the Labour Party. Using original interview data with Muslim women in the party, Farah examines the role of political parties and their members in creating diverse chambers in local government and the relationship between Labour and the British South Asian Muslim community.
Topic:
Elections, Women, Domestic Politics, Labour Party, and Muslims
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

63. Breaking the Glass Chamber: Welcome from Rushanara Ali MP and Keynote Lecture by Prof Laura Beers

Author:
Lyndsey Jenkins, Rushnara Ali, and Laura Beers
Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
2022 marked a series of historic anniversaries for women in British politics. Forty years since the election of Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House; thirty-five years since the election of the first Black woman MP, Diane Abbott; thirty years since the first woman, Betty Boothroyd, was elected Speaker of the House; and twenty-five years since the election of more than a hundred women MPs for the Labour Party. At its landmark Breaking the Glass Chamber conference from 15 to 17 September 2022, the Mile End Institute brought together historians, political scientists, and sociologists to explore what politics meant to and for women in the second half of the twentieth century. In this video, Dr Lyndsey Jenkins from ‪@qmulschoolofhistory4447‬ welcomes delegates, invites ‪@RushanaraAliMP‬ (MP for Bethnal Green and Bow since 2010) to open the conference, before Professor Laura Beers ‪@AUAdmissions‬ delivers a keynote lecture entitled 'Women Politicians or Women's Politics?' In her opening remarks, Rushanara Ali reflects on the Queen's example, the obstacles faced by women in public life, and the East End of London's long tradition of women campaigning, trade unionism, and suffrage activism. Professor Beers reflects on the politics of recent Conservative Prime Ministers, Theresa May and Liz Truss, before returning to the early twentieth century to explore how prominent women in Parliament campaigned and governed. She also asks whether women's political representation necessarily advances women's political interests and, conversely, whether there are times when women's interests are better served by male representatives.
Topic:
Elections, Women, Domestic Politics, and Representation
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

64. After Corbyn: What should 'the Left' do now?

Author:
Nadia Whittome, Dan Frost, Madeleine Davis, James Schneider, Andrew Fisher, and Mary Robertson
Publication Date:
11-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In 2017, the Labour Left was on the march. Firmly ensconced in the Labour leadership after his surprise election in 2015 and his subsequent re-election in 2016, Jeremy Corbyn mobilised and inspired a diverse coalition of socialists and activists and easily brushed off internal challenges. Corbyn's Labour then unexpectedly deprived Theresa May of her majority in the general election. Five years on, however, 'Corbynism' has suffered several, seemingly fatal, setbacks. Divisions over Europe, the antisemitism crisis, and the stalling of reforms to further empower Corbynite activists were followed by the crushing 2019 general election defeat, and then by Keir Starmer's convincing victory over Corbyn's ally, Rebecca Long-Bailey, for the leadership. Today, Corbyn is suspended from the Whip and Labour's leadership consciously ditched parts of the 2019 manifesto. What now for the diverse left-wing movements that constituted 'Corbynism'? Will the Corbynite alliance hold together or fracture? Should those on the 'Left' try to control the Labour Party, or contribute to Starmer's leadership from a left position, or should they abandon it altogether? Should they instead look to trade union activism, single-issue campaigning, or direct action? On Wednesday 2 November 2022, the Mile End Institute invited a panel of Corbyn 'insiders', academics as well as the Labour MP for Nottingham East, Nadia Whittome, to reflect on these questions and the Labour Party's future after Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. In addition to Nadia Whittome, Dr Dan Frost was joined by ‪@QMPoliticsIR‬'s Professor Madeleine Davis, James Schneider, Andrew Fisher and Dr Mary Robertson.
Topic:
Reform, Domestic Politics, Labour Party, and Jeremy Corbyn
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

65. Unmasking Our Leaders: In Conversation with Michael Cockerell

Author:
Michael Cockerell and Tom Chidwick
Publication Date:
10-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In the first MEI event ‪@QMUL‬ since the Covid-19 pandemic, the legendary broadcaster and documentary-maker, Michael Cockerell, spoke about his book, Unmasking Our Leaders: Confessions of a Political Documentary-Maker. In addition to presenting clips from across his fifty-year TV career, Michael spoke about interviewing Britain's last ten Prime Ministers and how the 24/7 media has changed British politics. He also explained how his films were made, how he has managed to lull some of the wariest people in the land into candour, and gave a compelling insight into what politicians as different as Edward Heath, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, and Boris Johnson are really like. This event, which was chaired by the MEI Manager, Tom Chidwick, was held at QMUL's Mile End campus on Wednesday 21 September 2022.
Topic:
Media, Domestic Politics, and Prime Minister
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

66. European Islamophobia

Author:
Farid Hafez
Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Islamophobia is on the rise at an alarming speed in Europe, a continent with tens of millions of Muslim citizens.
Topic:
Minorities, Discrimination, and Islamophobia
Political Geography:
Europe

67. tarr Forum: An Update on Russia's War Against Ukraine

Publication Date:
10-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
What is the status of Russia's invasion of Ukraine?
Topic:
Defense Policy, Military Strategy, Conflict, Strategic Interests, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

68. Starr Forum: Energy as a Weapon of War: Russia, Ukraine and Europe in Challenging Times

Publication Date:
12-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
How has Russia weaponized energy in this war? What have been the effects? How have Europeans responded to this weaponization of energy and what may be their responses this winter?
Topic:
Defense Policy, Energy Policy, Military Strategy, European Union, Strategic Interests, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

69. Starr Forum: The Collapse of the Soviet Empire and the seeds of the new European war

Publication Date:
04-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
Vladislav Zubok is professor of international history, with expertise on the Cold War, the Soviet Union, Stalinism, and Russia’s intellectual history in the 20th century. His most recent books are Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union (2021), The Idea of Russia: The Life and Work of Dmitry Likhachev (2017), Dmitry Likhachev. The Life and the Century (in Russian, 2016) A Failed Empire: the Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev (2007) and Zhivago’s Children: the Last Russian Intelligentsia (2009). Co-chairs: Carol Saivetz is a senior advisor in the MIT Security Studies Program. She is the author and contributing co-editor of books and articles on Soviet and now Russian foreign policy issues. Elizabeth Wood is professor of history at MIT. She is the author most recently of Roots of Russia’s War in Ukraine. She is co-director of the MISTI MIT Russia Program, coordinator of Russian studies, and adviser to the Russian Language Program.
Topic:
Cold War, Governance, Leadership, Conflict, and Empire
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Soviet Union

70. Starr Forum: Autocracy’s Assault on Press Freedom

Publication Date:
02-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
Experts discuss the threat to free media in Central and Eastern Europe and what it means for the West
Topic:
Media, Journalism, Freedom of Press, and Autocracy
Political Geography:
Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe

71. Starr Forum: The Russian-Ukrainian Conflict: A prologue to WWIII or another frozen conflict?

Publication Date:
01-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
MIT Center for International Studies
Abstract:
Dmitry Gorenburg is a senior research scientist at CNA, where he has worked since 2000. Dr. Gorenburg is an associate at the Harvard University Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. His research interests include security issues in the former Soviet Union, Russian military reform, Russian foreign policy, and ethnic politics and identity. Olga Oliker is the program director for Europe and Central Asia at the International Crisis Group. Her research interests include foreign and security policies of Russia, Ukraine, and the Central Asian and Caucasian successor states to the Soviet Union, domestic politics in these countries, US policy towards the region, and nuclear weapon strategy and arms control. She received her PhD from the MIT Department of Political Science. Serhii Plokhii is the Mykhailo S. Hrushevs'kyi Professor of Ukrainian History and director of the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University. His research interests include the intellectual, cultural, and international history of Eastern Europe, with an emphasis on Ukraine. Carol Saivetz is a senior advisor in the MIT Security Studies Program. She is a research associate at Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies and the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. Dr Saivetz is the author and contributing co-editor of books and articles on Soviet and now Russian foreign policy issues, including an assessment of the “reset,” Russian policies toward the other Soviet successor states, and current US-Russian relations. Elizabeth Wood is professor of history at MIT. She is the author most recently of Roots of Russia’s War in Ukraine (Woodrow Wilson Center and Columbia University Press, 2016). She is co-director of the MIT Russia Program, coordinator of Russian studies, and adviser to the Russian Language Program.
Topic:
Security, Defense Policy, War, Military Strategy, and Conflict
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

72. New Labour, New Britain: In Conversation with Lord Mandelson

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
n the final session of the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference on 6 May 2022, Dr Robert Saunders was joined by Lord Mandelson to talk about his time as Neil Kinnock's Director of Communications, his ministerial career during Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's premierships, and his reflections on the state of the Labour Party in 2022.
Topic:
Governance, Domestic Politics, Domestic Policy, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

73. New Labour, New Britain: Audience Q&A on Where Next for Labour

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In the third panel session of the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Dr Lise Butler, Harry Quilter-Pinner, Professor Eunice Goes and Labour MPs, Rupa Huq and Stella Creasy, answer questions from our in-person audience on 'Where Next for the Labour Party'.
Topic:
Governance, Domestic Politics, Opposition, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

74. New Labour, New Britain: Professor Eunice Goes

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this panel event from the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Professor Eunice Goes considers the position that the Labour Party finds itself in today and asks where next for the Party under Keir Starmer's leadership.
Topic:
Governance, Domestic Politics, Opposition, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

75. New Labour, New Britain: Stella Creasy MP

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this panel event from the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Stella Creasy (MP for Walthamstow) considers the position that the Labour Party finds itself in today, reflects on the state of British politics in 2022 and asks where next for the Party under Keir Starmer's leadership.
Topic:
Governance, Domestic Politics, Opposition, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

76. New Labour, New Britain: Harry Quilter-Pinner

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this panel event from the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Harry Quilter-Pinner from the Institute for Public Policy Research considers the position that the Labour Party finds itself in today and asks where next for the Party under Keir Starmer's leadership.
Topic:
Governance, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

77. New Labour, New Britain: Rupa Huq MP

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this panel event from the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Rupa Huq (MP for Ealing Central and Acton) considers the position that the Labour Party finds itself in today and reflects on her time in Parliament since 2015 and her years of involvement in Labour politics.
Topic:
Governance, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

78. New Labour, New Britain: Dr Lise Butler

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this panel event from the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Dr Lise Butler considers the position that the Labour Party finds itself in today and asks where next for the Party under Keir Starmer's leadership.
Topic:
Governance, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

79. New Labour, New Britain: Q&A about the ‘Blair Revolution’ in British Politics

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Following a panel discussion at the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Polly Toynbee, Will Hutton and Sunder Katwala answer questions from our in-person audience about the extent to which New Labour effected a 'Blair Revolution' in British politics.
Topic:
Governance, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

80. New Labour, New Britain: Will Hutton

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this panel discussion from the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Will Hutton reflects on the achievements and failings of Tony Blair's governments and considers whether he affected a 'Blair Revolution' in British politics and society.
Topic:
Governance, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

81. New Labour, New Britain: Sunder Katwala

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
n this panel discussion from the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Sunder Katwala considers whether there was a 'Blair Revolution' in British politics, how the Blair-Brown administrations changed Britain and how important identity has been to contemporary political discourse.
Topic:
Governance, Leadership, Domestic Politics, Transition, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

82. New Labour, New Britain: Polly Toynbee

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this panel event from the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Polly Toynbee considers whether there was a 'Blair Revolution' in British politics and reflects on her own experiences of campaigning and reporting during the 1980s and 1990s.
Topic:
Governance, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

83. 'Between the Obsolete and the Utopian': David Miliband Lecture at the Mile End Institute, 6 May 2022

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
n his Keynote Address to the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, the former Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, explores the significance of the 1997 Election and the New Labour 'Project', before considering what the Labour Party can learn from 1997 twenty-five years on.
Topic:
Governance, Elections, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

84. 'Between the Obsolete and the Utopian': David Miliband Q&A on Friday 6 May 2022

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
Following his Keynote Address to the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference on Friday 6 May 2022, David Miliband took questions from our in-person audience about his time in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's governments as well as his thoughts on the future of the Labour Party.
Topic:
Governance, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

85. New Labour, New Britain: Professor Matthew Hilton introduces the Rt Hon David Miliband

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
On Friday 6 May 2022, Professor Matthew Hilton (Vice Principal for Humanities and Social Sciences) introduces the Rt Hon David Miliband, who delivered the Keynote Address at the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference to mark the 25th anniversary of New Labour's landslide victory in the 1997 General Election.
Topic:
Governance, Elections, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

86. New Labour, New Britain: Audience Q&A on Modernisation and Change in the 1997 Campaign

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In the first session of the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference, Dame Margaret Hodge, Professor Sarah Childs, Caroline Flint and John McTernan answer questions from our in-person audience on 'Modernisation and Change' on the Road to the 1997 Election.
Topic:
Elections, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

87. New Labour, New Britain: Dame Margaret Hodge

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
n the first session of the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference on 'Modernisation and Change in the 1997 Campaign', Dame Margaret Hodge reflects on the fall-out from the Wilson and Callaghan governments, how the Labour Party changed before 1997 and the contribution of Local Government to New Labour's landslide in May 1997.
Topic:
Governance, Elections, Leadership, Local, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

88. New Labour, New Britain: John McTernan

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In the first session of the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference on 'Modernisation and Change in the 1997 Campaign', the journalist, John McTernan, reflects on the significance of the 1997 election and his time as Director of Political Operations for Tony Blair from 2005 to 2007.
Topic:
Governance, Elections, Leadership, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

89. New Labour, New Britain: Professor Sarah Childs

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In the first session of the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference on 'Modernisation and Change in the 1997 campaign', Professor Sarah Childs reflects on the 'watershed' importance of New Labour in advancing the number of women in Parliament and considers whether New Labour fundamentally changed how women feel about politics and Britain's political institutions.
Topic:
Governance, Domestic Politics, Feminism, Gender, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

90. New Labour, New Britain: Rt Hon Caroline Flint

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In the first session of the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference on 'Modernisation and Change in the 1997 Campaign', the former MP for Don Valley, Caroline Flint, reflects on how New Labour changed the Labour Party and her experiences serving in the Blair and Brown governments.
Topic:
Governance, Elections, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

91. New Labour, New Britain: Professor Tim Bale on the result of the 1997 General Election

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In this presentation, Professor Tim Bale explores the result of the 1997 General Election and considers how New Labour changed the electoral geography of the United Kingdom.
Topic:
Governance, Elections, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

92. Algeria & France: Untangling Past and Present

Author:
Intissar Fakir and Francis Gilles
Publication Date:
09-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
French President Emmanuel Macron's recent visit to Algeria brought talks of cooperation and reconciliation to the fore in an otherwise frought relationship. France and Algeria share a long and painful history, including 132 years of colonial occupation and an eight year war of devastation. In an effort to unpack the motivations and context behind Macron's visit, MEI Senior Fellow and Director of the North Africa and the Sahel Program Intissar Fakir speaks with Francis Gilles, Senior Research Fellow with the Barcelona Center for International Affairs.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, History, Bilateral Relations, Colonialism, and Conflict
Political Geography:
Europe, France, Algeria, and North Africa

93. France's Presidential Election and Foreign Policy

Author:
Intissar Fakir, Cinzia Bianco, and Perla Srour-Gandon
Publication Date:
04-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
Intissar Fakir, Cinzia Bianco, and Perla Srour-Gandon discuss the results of the recent French presidential election and what they mean for France's foreign policy and the Middle East.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Elections, Domestic Politics, and Strategic Engagement
Political Geography:
Europe and France

94. Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean

Author:
Karen E. Young, Emily Stromquist, and Colby Connelly
Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Middle East Institute (MEI)
Abstract:
Karen Young, director of MEI's Program on Economics and Energy, is joined by Emily Stromquist and Colby Connelly for a discussion on gas and energy developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Topic:
Development, Gas, Investment, and Energy
Political Geography:
Europe, Middle East, Israel, Algeria, Egypt, and Eastern Mediterranean

95. New Labour, New Britain: Professor Steven Fielding on Modernisation and Change in the 1997 Campaign

Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
In his introduction to the Mile End Institute's New Labour, New Britain conference on Friday 6 May, Professor Steven Fielding explores the impact on New Labour's 'modernisation' efforts in the 1997 General Election campaign, before introducing Professor Tim Bale.
Topic:
Governance, Elections, Leadership, Domestic Policy, and Labour Party
Political Geography:
United Kingdom and Europe

96. Interpreting the French Presidential Election

Publication Date:
04-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
With France heading into a tumultuous presidential contest this weekend, the Mile End Institute assembled a panel of experts to discuss the results of the first round and the prospects for the second round run-off between President Macron and Marine Le Pen. David Klemperer, Professor Julian Jackson, Professor Rainbow Murray, Dr Emile Chabal and Laura Slimani explore how five years of Macron has altered the French political landscape, what this election will mean for the rest of Europe, the rise of the far-right and whether the French left has a future.
Topic:
Elections, Leadership, Domestic Politics, and Political Participation
Political Geography:
Europe and France

97. War in Ukraine: Ukraine and History

Publication Date:
04-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
n this Mile End Institute Webinar, held on Friday 25 March, Dr Lyndsey Jenkins is joined by Dr Joe Cronin, Dr James Ellison and Dr Andy Willimott from the School of History at @QMULOfficial to talk about the War in Ukraine. In this informative session on such a historic moment which will shape our lives and our politics for years to come, our resident experts to discuss Ukraine, its history and politics, Western relations with Russia after the Cold War, the future of NATO and the post-Cold War order, as well as Vladimir Putin's use of the term 'denazification' and the state of Russian politics in 2022.
Topic:
Security, NATO, Regional Cooperation, Military Strategy, and Conflict
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

98. Polling London: Londoners' Priorities ahead of the Local Elections

Publication Date:
03-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Abstract:
On Thursday 5 May, Londoners will go to the polls to elect nearly 2000 councillors and 5 new mayors across 32 boroughs, for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. In association with YouGov, the Mile End Institute has polled Londoners to find out how they intend to vote on 5 May, how living in the Capital during the Covid-19 pandemic has changed their perception of the City and how much trust they have in the Metropolitan Police. At this Breakfast Webinar, held on Thursday 24 March, Farah Hussain (Polling London Project Manager) and Dr Patrick Diamond (Director of the MEI) present our findings, before Lewis Baston, Jenna Goldberg, and Sadiya Akram give their thoughts on the significance of these results and what they tell us about politics and policy in London.
Topic:
Elections, Domestic Politics, Local, and COVID-19
Political Geography:
United Kingdom, Europe, and London

99. Care in the Gap (1/19/22)

Publication Date:
01-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
Please join us for the fourth event of our Work of Care in Russia speaker series, a presentation by Tomas Matza (University of Pittsburgh).
Topic:
Health, Health Care Policy, and Care
Political Geography:
Russia and Europe

100. Crisis and Bargaining Over Ukraine: A New US-Russia Security Order?

Publication Date:
01-2022
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
The Harriman Institute
Abstract:
As Russian troops have amassed on Ukraine's border, talks aimed at resolving the standoff between Russia and NATO appear to have collapsed. Poland's Foreign Minister warned that "it seems that the risk of war in the OSCE area is now greater than ever before in the last 30 years." Russia has been seeking a new European security agreement that would include formal binding pledges to limit NATO's expansion and military activities across Eastern Europe. US and NATO officials respond that they will not give up on NATO's principles, especially its "open door" policy towards membership. Ukrainians are bracing for a renewed conflict amidst domestic political turmoil. Are the Russian and Western positions irreconcilable? How did we get to the brink of another conflict? And how would a Russian-Ukrainian war affect Russian and Ukrainian domestic politics? How would it impact Ukrainian identity and foreign policy goals?
Topic:
Defense Policy, NATO, Regional Cooperation, and Military Strategy
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, and Ukraine