Transforming Society podcast

The budget and resources that have been dedicated to combatting terrorism this century are staggering. But has it worked?In this episode, George Miller talks to Leonie B. Jackson, author of 'What is Counterterrorism for?', about the exceptional measures that states have taken in recent decades – such as detention without trial and targeted killing – in reaction to terrorist threats which they often portray as existential. When the terrorist spectacularly demonstrates that the state has failed to protect its citizens, Leonie explains, there’s an all-too-familiar recourse on the part of the state to put its response on a military footing.Leonie B Jackson is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Northumbria University and an editor of the journal Critical Studies on Terrorism.Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-is-counterterrorism-forThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/11/12/podcast-the-problem-with-counterterrorism/Timestamps:01:15 - How did 9/11 and its aftermath play a role in your thinking about terrorism?02:24 - What was it that drew you to the field of counterterrorism in particular?06:48 - What are counterterrorism's animating questions or its concerns?08:03 - When did counterterrorism actually come on the agenda as something which merits very serious scrutiny?11:58 - What are the problems with the power counterterrorism grants?18:01 - How important is it to actually look at what works and what doesn't work within the field of counterterrorism? 21:38 - Do you see a great variety of counterterrorism approaches?24:35 - Do you think there's a public readiness to tolerate if not to embrace the things which have been done in the name of counterterrorism, especially in the last quarter of a century? 28:20 - Is there some way of reaching beyond the academic community and advancing this argument?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the US election approaches, MSNBC notes that the question of “what it means to be a man” is now a defining theme. In this episode, Jess Miles and Karen Lee Ashcraft revisit Karen's concept of 'viral masculinity' — a powerful current of aggrieved manhood fuelling far-right ideologies worldwide. They explore the manosphere, the online ecosystem where this resentment takes root, analysing how figures like JD Vance and Andrew Tate tap into youthful discontent and guide it toward political extremism. Ashcraft argues that, much like a public health crisis, the rapid spread of aggrieved masculinity affects society at every level, shaping policies, identities and even environmental stances. Offering tools for positive change, Karen discusses her concepts of 'lateral empathy' and 'critical feeling' as an alternative approach to defusing the far-right’s emotional momentum.Karen Lee Ashcraft is Professor of Communication at the University of Colorado Boulder. She grew up in the lap of evangelical populism, and her research examines how gender interacts with race, class, sexuality, and more to shape organizational and cultural politics.Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/wronged-and-dangerousThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/10/29/podcast-viral-masculinity-and-the-far-right-karen-lee-ashcraft-on-gender-in-the-us-election/Timestamps:01:19 - Why do we need to consider gender when talking about the rise of populism?08:26 - How do you get from the manosphere to voting and politics?15:23 - How do you explain female far right leaders like Giorgia Meloni and Marine Le Pen?22:08 - Why is it important to envision the feeling of aggrieved manhood?24:14 - Why do you see aggrieved manhood as a public health problem?35:49 - What's the problem with feeling and emotion being ignored in many contexts?40:05 - How do individuals like JD Vance represent this viral masculinity?48:25 - What is lateral empathy, and why is it an important tool?56:11 - What are you working on now and what are your plans?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Generosity, rooted in love, courage and equality, shapes the Moomin ethos, underpinning not just the brand, but the business.In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Paul Savage and Janne Tienari, co-authors of 'Moomin Management: Redefining Generosity', about what business can learn from Tove Jansson's beloved troll creatures.They discuss the Moomin principles for businesses around people management, strategic partnerships, digitisation and more, to create organisations that are kinder, curious and more successful.Paul Savage is Assistant Professor in Entrepreneurship at United Arab Emirates University. Janne Tienari is Professor of Management and Organisation at Hanken School of Economics.Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/moomin-managementThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/10/22/podcast-what-can-business-learn-from-the-moomins/Timestamps:01:15 - Who are the Moomins?01:55 - What's your involvement with the Moomin organisation?05:38 - Can you explain what the Moomin ecosystem looks like?09:19 - Did the Moomin characters or the business come first?10:50 - Can you talk about generosity and the Moomin business?16:52 - Does the ethos of generosity make things faster?19:56 - Can you tell us about the emotion, relationality and humour at Moomin?24:44 - Why are parties so important at Moomin?27:32 - What first steps can people take to be a bit more Moomin?30:34 - How would Moomin deal with challenges businesses are currently facing like hybrid working and AI?35:55 - What's the one thing you want people to take away from the book?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A compelling discussion on the challenges faced by Black PhD students in academia. Guests William Ackah and Madina Wane, co-editors of 'The Black PhD Experience', offer a nuanced exploration of the lived experiences of Black scholars.Through personal narratives the book examines systemic barriers, microaggressions, the psychological toll faced by Black students and the strategies they employ to persist.This episode offers valuable insights for educators, researchers and policymakers seeking to understand and address the urgent need for greater equity and inclusion in higher education.William Ackah is Senior Lecturer in Black and Community Geographies at Birkbeck, University of London. Madina Wane is a research scientist working in the biomedical sector and the co-founder of the non-profit organisation, Black In Immuno.Find out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-black-phd-student-experienceThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/10/09/podcast-the-black-phd-experience/Read the Leading Routes report: https://leadingroutes.org/the-broken-pipelineTimestamps:1:06 - What are your stories and how did you come to edit the book?5:59 - Can you talk about the approach you've taken with the book?9:24 - In what ways are widening participation efforts in academia performative?14:26 - How do individual actions align with structural racism to influence the experience?19:00 - Can you speak about the drain of the PhD experience?25:40 - How do black scholars support each other? 35:25 - What fundamental shifts in thinking are needed in higher education to make change possible?40:17 - Can you talk about the 5 areas for specific action?49:22 - Can you talk about the fictional last chapter?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Critical race theory has been problematised and demonised over the years but it has great potential for societal change.In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Rodney D. Coates, author of 'Critical Race Theory and the Search for Truth', about what critical race theory is and why it has found itself in the crosshairs of white nationalists.They discuss the truths we often don't hear about the transatlantic slave trade, the discrepancy that was created between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and why we need new dreamers to affect systemic change.Rodney D. Coates is Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at Miami University. He is a public sociologist engaged in critical race, social justice, social movements, social policy, and practice.Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/critical-race-theory-and-the-search-for-truthThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/09/24/podcast-critical-race-theory-and-the-search-for-truth/Timestamps:1:04 - What is critical race theory, and why has it ended up in the crosshairs of white nationalists? 6:45 - How did European nations explain away the transatlantic slave trade and was there a last effect?13:25 - Were European nations doing slavery differently than we'd seen before?24:04 - What happened to cause the discrepancy between Haiti and the Dominican Republic?30:20 - What racist systems of injustice met people who were part of the Great Migration in the US?34:53 - What's behind the attack on education with regards to critical race theory and what are their goals? 39:43 - Who benefits from stopping education on critical race theory?44:57 - How dangerous is the angry black woman trope in society? 51:08 - How can new dreams, and new dreamers, translate to systemic change?53:26 - Where can we find you online?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite economic development, modern slavery persists all around the world. The issue is not only one of crime but the regulation of the economy, better welfare, and social protections.In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Sylvia Walby and Karen Shire, authors of 'Trafficking Chains: Modern Slavery in Society', about this growing global issue.They discuss what trafficking chains are, how the forces of colonialism, capitalism and gender regimes affect modern slavery, and what changes are needed to correct our course.Sylvia Walby OBE is Professor of Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is Fellow of the British Academy, Fellow the UK Academy of Arts and Social Sciences, and Co-President of International Sociological Association’s TG11 on Violence and Society.Karen A. Shire is Professor of Comparative Sociology at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. She is a Member of the International Max-Planck Research School on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy, and President of International Sociological Association RC02 Economy and Society.Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trafficking-chainsThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/09/04/podcast-modern-slavery-in-society/Timestamps:01:25 - What is a trafficking chain?03:57 - Can you explain the main forces of inequality and how they affect one another?07:01 - Do we need consistency in law worldwide and what damage has this inconsistency already caused?11:59 - How difficult is it to gain a true picture of trafficking and modern slavery?14:30 - Can financial figures around trafficking help reach people who are anti-immigration?17:39 - What results do we see from the different sexual exploitation policies around the world?23:32 - Will this suffering continue as long as people are individualised and not supported as a group?26:47 - How does modern slavery shape the nature of our society and what changes are needed to correct our course?29:08 - Where can people find you online?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The life of a diplomat may seem far flung and unrelatable but, beyond the cocktails and canapes, there are ideas that can help us understand and work on social issues, such as increasing polarisation, and lessons to help us support ourselves.In this episode, Leigh Turner, author of 'Lessons in Diplomacy’ and former British ambassador who led posts in Ukraine, Turkey and Austria, talks about the lessons we all can learn from diplomacy.He divulges anecdotes from his career, looks at how diplomacy is changing and shares tips on how to overcome fear of the other and stay grounded in crisis situations.Leigh Turner is a former British ambassador who recently retired from the Foreign Office. Multilingual, he held diplomatic posts in Vienna, Moscow and Berlin, served as Ambassador to Ukraine, British Consul-General in Istanbul, Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, and Director of Overseas Territories in the FO. He has also written several political thrillers. Follow him on Twitter: @RLeighTurnerFind out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/lessons-in-diplomacyThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/08/20/podcast-what-diplomacy-means-in-the-real-world/Browse the photo gallery: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPJhpovCMttEde2QvKGvYvMqghvXHs7eHCiznVJlD0obfCi3npjDDwtV6QwZhYApw?key=YUFmekRaQldBd2wtT0xOWEFyWFp3eWVZMnpvQWFRTimestamps:1:14 - How did you become a diplomat and why did you want to write the book?3:42 - Can you tell us some stories from your career?6:21 - What would happen if there wasn't diplomatic immunity?9:47 - Who did you write the book for?13:17 - How does the book teach us about how the world works?20:33 - Is the spreading out of power a good thing?21:51 - What can diplomacy teach us about overcoming 'fear of the other'?27:36 - What is your advice for staying grounded and calm during a crisis?32:46 - What does the future of diplomacy look like?37:28 - What are your plans for the future?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the late 19th century, a French aristocrat came up with the idea of reviving the sporting contests that took place at Olympia in ancient Greece, and so the modern Olympics were born. The games have gone on to become one of the greatest spectacles on earth, but have never been free of controversy.Our guest in this episode of the podcast is Jules Boykoff, a political scientist at Pacific University, Oregon (and avowed sports fan), who has spent years investigating the impact of the Olympics on athletes, communities and host cities. Jules tells us, ‘Olympians to show their stuff on the global stage and for us to all stand in admiration. But I wrote What Are the Olympics For? to be a book for the critical, thinking sports fan who cares about sports or is interested in the Olympics, but really wants to see what's going on behind the scenes and understand the full complexity of the Olympics. So in the book, I try to celebrate athletes while at the same time critiquing those who make it more difficult for them to succeed.’Jules Boykoff is a professor of politics and government at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. His writing on the connection between politics and sport have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Nation, the Los Angeles Times and New Left Review. He is also a former professional soccer player who represented the US U-23 men’s national team in international competition. Follow him on Twitter: @JulesBoykoffFind out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-are-the-olympics-forThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/08/01/podcast-the-olympics-are-political-through-and-through/Timestamps:1:31 - When did the Olympics first make an impression on you, and what was that like?3:08 - What is the contrast between that 8 or 9-year-old you being excited by the Winter Olympics in 1980 and the you who's heading off to Paris?5:02 - Why does the question of what the Olympics are for matter?6:54 - How important is it to understand the nature of the IOC?12:53 - Has politics always been part of sport and the Olympics?16:18 - Does the Olympics bring genuine, long-lasting benefits for the wider community in the host cities?19:25 - Would we be going too far to say that the Olympics need cities more than cities need the Olympics? 21:14 - Are things happening that make you feel positive about the possibility of change?23:59 - Are there ever moments when you just think pulling it off just cannot be done without downsides?26:44 - Do you see the athletes as being absolutely key to positive changes?29:29 - What is your favorite piece of Olympic history or trivia or lore? Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time was when museums were staid, dusty institutions. Those days are long gone. Now the focus is on making visiting a museum a positive, inclusive, meaningful experience for everyone who comes through the door – or visits online. It sounds good in principle, but how to do it in practice?  That question is at the heart of the latest title to join the What Is It For series, 'What are Museums for?' by Jon Sleigh. Jon is an arts and heritage engagement consultant who specialises in connecting audiences with artworks and collections, and in this episode of the podcast, he tells George Miller why he structured the book around conversations with museum professionals about specific exhibits in a wide range of institutions. He also talks about his childhood fascination with a museum tyrannosaurus … Jon Sleigh is a freelance arts and heritage Learning Curator, working nationally connecting audiences with artworks and collections for their advocacy. Follow him on Twitter: @jon_sleighFind out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-are-museums-forThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/07/19/podcast-museums-without-visitors-are-just-elaborate-storage/Timestamps:2:18 - What were your first encounters with museums like?9:45 - In what terms and for what reason did you come back to the world of the museum?13:11 - If we were in a museum today how might we encounter you?15:47 - Why is the question of 'who is the museum is for?' so central to addressing the question in your title?19:53 - How did you decide where to go and who to talk to?25:14 - How difficult was it to choose the actual objects?35:29 - What things in your conversations pointed to a bright future for museums?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Rebecca Megson-Smith speaks with Jen Shang, co-author of ‘Meaningful Philanthropy: The Person Behind the Giving’, about the high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals behind philanthropic giving. Having had unparalleled access to some of the world’s most reflective and thoughtful philanthropists, Jen explains how philanthropists experience what they do and the psychological challenges they need to overcome. Jen Shang is Professor of Philanthropic Psychology and Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. Jen Shang is the world’s only philanthropic psychologist.Find out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/meaningful-philanthropyThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/07/10/podcast-the-psychology-behind-philanthropy/Timestamps:1:24 - How did you get these philanthropists to talk to you?2:32 - What is meaningful philanthropy?4:36 - What is identity ceding and why is it important?10:05 - What is the connection between philanthropy and entrepreneurs?11:57 - Can philanthropy be meaningless?14:01 - Why are philanthropists important to study and understand?21:50 - What impact do you hope your book has?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the UK General Election on Thursday, Academics Stand Against Poverty have audited the manifestos to establish which parties are most likely to address poverty and enable British society to flourish.In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Lee Gregory and Cat Tully about how the audit has been produced and why it matters. They discuss how the manifestos stack up, what all political parties can learn from the audit and what we should all be considering before voting.Cat Zuzarte Tully leads the School of International Futures (SOIF), a global non-profit transforming futures for current and next generations. SOIF also supports a growing network of Next Generation Foresight Practitioners. Previously, Cat served as Strategy Project Director at the UK Foreign Office and Policy Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. She is on the board of Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) global and in the UK, and has been visiting professor in Malaysia, UK and Russia.  Lee Gregory is an Associate Professor in Social Policy at the University of Nottingham, School of Sociology and Social Policy and is Chair of Trustees for ASAP UK. He has been involved in previous manifesto audits as an auditor and oversaw the development of the 2024 Audit and associated blog series.  Find out more about the audit at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asap-manifesto-audit-2024The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/07/01/podcast-scoring-the-general-election-promises-on-poverty/Timestamps:0:01:09 - Audit and Academic Stand Against Poverty0:07:31 - Improving well-being and opportunities 0:15:32 - Assessing political Parties' fiscal policies0:22:35 - Petition for Future Generations 0:30:05 - Future plans for ASAP UKIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the way we eat now is bad for our health, bad for animal welfare and bad for the planet, is veganism the answer? That’s the key question that Catherine Oliver of Lancaster University pursues in the latest addition to the What is it for? series. In this episode of the podcast, Catherine tells George Miller why she hopes 'What is Veganism For?' helps reframe the often-polarized debate around veganism by showing the role it plays in wider justice movements, talks about how veganism has gone from fringe to mainstream in the past decade, and describes how vegan eating (including banana blossom fritters) can be a joyful experience. Catherine Oliver is a lecturer in the Sociology of Climate Change at Lancaster University. A geographer interested in research beyond the human, she works on historical and contemporary veganism, the ethics and politics of interspecies friendship through human-chicken relationships, and multispecies ethnographic research, most recently with seabirds. Follow her on Twitter: @katiecmoliver.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-veganism-forThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/06/25/podcast-veganism-imagining-a-world-beyond-contemporary-food-systems/Timestamps:01:10 - Why did the seemingly straightforward question, what is veganism for, appeal enough to write a book?04:51 - Broadening the perspective on what led to contemporary veganism07:00 - An invitation to take the idea of change on board in a serious way09:51 - How do you see the aim of the book? 13:05 - Looking outward into the ways in which veganism can be practised and the various other things with which veganism can fruitfully intersect15:00 - Can you say something about your own particular trajectory that led to you writing this book? 17:51 - Is it becoming easier to become vegan? 21:48 - Should the emphasis be on eating a bit less meat and leaving veganism for later?  26:00 - The complications of big corporations 29:32 - Beyond the binary of vegan or not33:30 - In what ways is vegan eating potentially joyous? Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Dorling and Jess Miles talk about his concept of peak injustice - that injustice and inequality are now so bad in the UK that it might just be that they can't get worse. In advance of 4 July, they talk about Keir Starmer and what the Labour party may offer, why higher taxes aren't a burden, how fear wrecks societies and the data that gives us hope that getting down from the top of the mountain of injustice might be possible.Danny Dorling is Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of St Peter’s College. He is a patron of RoadPeace, Comprehensive Future and Heeley City Farm. He has published over 50 books, including the best-selling Peak Inequality: Britain’s Ticking Timebomb (2018) and Injustice: Why Social Inequality Still Persists (2014). Follow him on Twitter: @dannydorling.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/peak-injusticeThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/06/21/podcast-danny-dorling-on-the-uk-election-and-hope-for-change/Timestamps:01:39 - What are the signs things might be getting less unequal?5:33 - How far are the parties going to tackle injustice, and are there any standout policies?9:59 - Why are people afraid of tax rises?13:01 - What are individuals going to have to accept in order to move away from this peak injustice?20:57 - When discussing what the next government have to do to move us away from peak injustice you said they have to want to do it. What did you mean by that?28:40 - What is the important role the left have to play in this election?33:09 - What do you want people, including the new government, to take from your book, 'Peak Injustice'?Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_USFollow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Convict’s voices have traditionally been ignored and marginalised in scholarship and policy debates, but how can we improve if we don’t learn from these lived experiences? Richard Kemp speaks with Jeffrey Ian Ross, author of ‘Introduction to Convict Criminology’, about why listening to convicts is essential to positively impacting corrections, criminology, criminal justice, and policy making. They discuss the origins of convict criminology as a discipline, the importance, and difficulty, of receiving higher education during incarceration, and the policy decisions that are necessary to improve our criminal justice systems.Jeffrey Ian Ross is Professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Research Fellow with the Center for International and Comparative Law and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore. Follow him on Twitter: @jeffreyianross.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/introduction-to-convict-criminologyThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/06/14/podcast-how-listening-to-convicts-can-transform-justice/ Timestamps:1:41 - What was the literature on prisons before convict criminology, and what does convict criminology do differently?4:08 - What is prison life like and why is it important for us to understand it?7:08 - Was convict criminology 'rocking the boat' when it came to be?9:31 - Education in prisons is important, so how did it end up in the state it's in?15:56 - What's the financial support for inmates doing education?18:56 - How achievable is it for educated inmates to write academically about their experiences?25:30 - What do you say to people who disagree with inmates being educated?28:35 - What are the impacts of race, gender and class, and what are the dangers of activism?32:22 - How does convict criminology want to influence policy? Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lurking, or reading the comments in an online group without writing a comment, is a common practice. But what does it mean to be a lurker?In this podcast host Jess Miles speaks with Gina Sipley, Associate Professor of English at SUNY Nassau Community College and author of Just Here for the Comments. Gina challenges our assumptions about lurking, revealing it to be a complex and valuable form of online engagement.They talk about the psychology of online behaviour, how lurking can be a form of resistance and social activism and the surprising value lurking brings to the world.Gina Sipley is Associate Professor of English at SUNY Nassau Community College. Sipley is a first-generation college graduate. Follow her on Twitter: @GSipley.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/just-here-for-the-commentsThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/05/22/podcast-how-lurkers-influence-the-online-world/ Timestamps:1:09 - Where did the title, 'Just Here for the Comments', come from?2:19 - Who did you study, and on what platforms?8:30 - Why does lurking have such a bad rep?11:35 - What grassroot actions are lurkers taking, and how does it challenge traditional ideas of online participation and activism?17:56 - Lurking as a privileged act20:11 - What value does lurking bring?23:36 - Who would you like to read the book, and what impact do you hope it will have? Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History is a key battleground in our increasingly bitter contemporary culture wars. In the polarized debates over who we are, the cry of ‘You can’t rewrite history’ regularly goes up. And is regularly met with the counterclaim that history needs to be rewritten.Virtually the only thing both sides can agree on is that the past matters. But why, and in what ways? And is there a route out of our current impasse? These are some of the questions tackled in this episode of the podcast, in which George Miller talks to Robert Gildea, emeritus professor of modern history at Oxford University, about his new book, What is History For?Along the way, Robert also reflects on his own career as a historian and what it has taught him about the role of history in our present political reality. Robert Gildea is Professor Emeritus of Modern History at the University of Oxford, and a specialist on French and European history in the 19th and 20th centuries. In 2003 he won the Wolfson Prize for History. Follow him on Twitter: @RobertGildea.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-history-forThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/05/16/podcast-why-history-needs-to-be-rewritten/ Timestamps:1:51 - Robert's attempts to convince his father that he was cut out for a career as a historian6:18 - What drew you to history?13:37 - What do historians actually do?18:38 - What is the trajectory that historians normally follow?22:40 - Why is history more complicated than a settled body of knowledge?30:55 - Why history matters, and is still significant in the world today42:17 - Is it possible to have a truly successful reckoning with the past? Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Racial justice is never far from the headlines, but, although the ideals of the legal system such as fairness and equality seem allied to the struggle, campaigners have been all too often let down by the system. In this episode Jess Miles and Bharat Malkani, author of ‘Racial Justice and the Limits of the Law’, talk through cases like those of the Colston Four and Shamima Begum, to explore this paradox and establish where change is possible. Bharat Malkani is Reader in Law at Cardiff University. His research connects human rights with criminal justice, with a particular focus on racism, miscarriages of justice and the death penalty. Follow him on Twitter: @bharatmalkani.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/racial-justice-and-the-limits-of-lawThe full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/04/22/podcast-can-the-law-deliver-racial-justice/ Timestamps:01:11 - How does the Colston Four case illustrate the relationship, and the paradox, between racial justice and the law?04:31 - How do six concepts from critical race theory explain the ways the law is limiting when it comes to racial justice?36:43 - What is anti-racist lawyering and is it possible within the system?42:16 - There are structural limits everywhere, not just in law. How does EDI relate to this and what should we think about?46:40 - If we are concluding that the law is too limited to achieve racial justice, what is there to learn and where can change be made? Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, George Miller talks to the author of What are Prisons for?, prison inspector and visiting professor of law at Oxford Hindpal Singh Bhui, about why we lock so many people up. Prison populations have increased hugely in the past fifty years and vast sums of money are spent to keep over 11.5 million people behind bars, so you might think there is overwhelming evidence that prison ‘works’.However, hard evidence for this claim is lacking. ‘If we are to understand more about the purpose of prisons,’ Hindpal Singh Bhui argues, ‘we need to look much further and deeper than official statements and dominant narratives.’Dr Hindpal Singh Bhui OBE is an Inspection Team Leader at HM Inspectorate of Prisons and a Visiting Law Professor at the Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford. The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/04/10/podcast-should-we-be-aiming-to-improve-prisons-or-abolish-them/ Timestamps:1:50 - What was your earliest impressions of prisons?4:34 - What is your current role?5:51 - What are prisons for day in and day out? 11:43 - Who gets sent to prison and why they get sent to prison?16:15 - Do you think that the abolitionist position helps take the debate forward? 20:12 - How do you begin to have a mature debate about change?24:36 - Are prisons a sort of epiphenomenon on top of deeper, wider social problems?27:28 - Were there any things that you discovered where you came upon something surprising or enlightening?30:10 - What is an example that you think is inspiring or points in a positive direction? Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessie Abrahams' new book reveals the extent of class inequality in schools in the UK.By telling Jessie's story and that of one of the young people in her research, this episode untangles the role aspiration plays for young people in school and the significance of the different choices that are available to different pupils in different schools.Jessie puts forward ideas for changes that we can make, despite the limitations of what is a fundamentally unequal system.Jessie Abrahams is Lecturer in Education and Social Justice in the School of Education at the University of Bristol. Follow her on Twitter: @AbrahamsJJ. The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/03/20/podcast-class-inequality-and-denied-ambition-in-our-schools/ Resources:Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/schooling-inequalityRead Jake's story for free: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asset/12446/jacks-story-schooling-inequality-abrahams.pdfLearn more about the Paired Peers project: https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/projects/paired-peersExplore the Russel Group’s Informed Choices: https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/Discover the facilitating subjects: https://successatschool.org/advice/subjects/what-are-facilitating-subjects/204 Timestamps:01:58 – Jessie’s story and how she came to write the book05:37 – It’s about resources given to schools, not individual teachers08:24 – Jake’s story22:04 – Aspiration and the surprising difference between working and middle-class children30:39 – Blocking and the GSCE/A Level options available at different schools40:19 – The missed chance to level the playing field during COVID45:12 – Where can change be made? Intro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Anna Durnova, one of the guest editors for the Emotions and Society special issue on 'Emotions and the ‘Truths’ of Contentious Politics: Advances in Research on Emotions, Knowledge, and Contemporary Contentious Politics'.They discuss the weaponisation of truth, the important difference between being told you are safe and feeling you are safe and the need to bring the harnessing of emotions back to democracy.Read the special issue: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/emsoc/5/3/emsoc.5.issue-3.xmlIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.