UCL Minds

In today’s episode, we delve into the complex and often misunderstood world of autocratic leadership. At first glance, it might seem like authoritarian rulers wield unchallenged power, free to govern without opposition. After all, the term "autocrat" stems from the Greek for "self-rule." But is that really how it works in practice? A fantastic new book, 'Autocrats Can't Always Get What They Want', challenges this simplistic view. It reveals how modern autocratic leaders operate within a web of constraints that can shape, and sometimes even limit, their power. Intriguingly, these constraints aren’t always by design. Instead, they often emerge from circumstances that are outside the ruler's control—yet they still influence the way states function under authoritarian rule. To unpack these fascinating insights, I’m joined by two of the book’s authors: - Dr Samer Anabtawi, Lecturer in Comparative Politics at UCL’s Department of Political Science, brings his expertise in comparative governance to the discussion. - Professor Nathan Brown, a leading scholar of political science and international affairs from George Washington University, offers a global perspective on the nuanced realities of authoritarian regimes. Together, we explore a thought-provoking conversation that examines the mechanisms of modern authoritarianism and its implications for politics worldwide. Transcript: https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/are-there-limits-on-autocratic-power/transcript

We all know that meat production emits a substantial amount of greenhouse gases, nearly 60% by some estimates, and so we need to do something about it. Darren Player, Associate Professor in Musculoskeletal Bioengineering, discusses the development of lab-grown meat, why he's working on engineering new, sustainable sources of meat and how he's doing it. We're also joined by Beren Fidan, a Colotaruna Soprano, who is vegan and shares her thoughts on the ethics of lab-grown meat and whether it's a viable option for her. Date of episode recording: 2024-04-22T00:00:00Z Duration: 35:08 Language of episode: English Presenter:Ferdouse Akhter Guests: Darren Player; Beren Fidan Producer: Ferdouse Akhter; Shakira Crawford

Existing commercial buildings in the UK are being converted to create new housing, circumventing the planning system through permitted development. But what could be the impact of those conversions, especially from a health perspective? Julia Thrift, Director, Healthier Place-making at the Town and Country Planning Association, joins expert researchers Professor Lauren Andres and Professor Ben Clifford from The Bartlett School of Planning to discuss how there is a wider cost to society that we can’t ignore in this pursuit of solving the housing situation in the UK. Date of episode recording: 2024-11-25T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:31:44 Language of episode: English Presenter:Professor Lauren Andres Guests: Professor Ben Clifford; Julia Thrift Producer: Adam Batstone & Chizoba Onyiuke

In the final episode of series 2 of The Life of PIE, we explore the unique challenges social enterprises face as they balance growth with their mission. How can social enterprises expand while staying true to their core purpose? Onya and Jacob McMahon, a Life of PIE alum from the 22-23 cohort, discuss external pressures, such as securing funding and managing customer expectations, alongside internal struggles like aligning diverse activities and maintaining focus. Jacob shares strategies organisations use to manage these tensions, including creating flexible structures, monitoring staff and stakeholder engagement, and fostering collaboration within networks. How can growth both ease and create challenges for social enterprises? Why is it important to share knowledge instead of trying to own everything? We invite you to join us as we explore valuable lessons for leaders in social enterprises on how to grow sustainably and impactfully, while offering thought-provoking insights for anyone interested in the balance between ambition and purpose in any organisation. Since graduating from the PIE programme, Jacob has gone on to work as a Program Manager at Impact Hub London, Impact & Operations Manager at Cambio Consultancy, and Strategic Partnerships Lead at ZNotes, applying his expertise in strategy, innovation, and organisational design to drive sustainable growth and social impact. Date of episode recording: 2024-12-05T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:34:53 Language of episode: English Presenter:Onya Idoko Guests: Jacob McMahon Producer: Juan Manuel Castillo

Genetic discovery in inflammatory bowel disease has been incredibly successful. This provides a unique opportunity to understand what goes wrong when people develop disease, which in turn could identify better treatment targets. Yet most of this potential remains unrealised, as moving from where genetic associations lie to an understanding of how they drive disease is a formidable challenge. James Lee will discuss recent efforts to address this challenge and how his research has revealed a central orchestrator of inflammation, which could be targeted therapeutically.

We’re familiar with the idea that history shapes contemporary politics, but what about the reverse? How do today’s political dynamics influence the way we remember the past? In this episode, we explore a compelling study that examines this question in the context of Ukraine—a country caught between conflicting historical narratives from Russia and the West. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the nation has endured not only a devastating war but also an intense battle over history, identity, and legitimacy. Yet, these struggles are deeply rooted in Ukraine’s complex past. The study we discuss was conducted in 2019, offering a snapshot from before the war. It investigates how Ukrainians recall their families’ experiences of victimisation during the Second World War and whether these memories are shaped by their present-day political beliefs. Joining us to discuss these findings is Kristin Bakke, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at UCL and co-author of the study. Mentioned in this episode: Bakke, K. M., Rickard, K., O’Loughlin, J., & Toal, G. (2024). Politicizing Memory: Evidence from Ukraine. Problems of Post-Communism, 1–20. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10758216.2024.2316037 The study in The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/growing-number-of-war-weary-ukrainians-would-reluctantly-give-up-territory-to-save-lives-suggests-recent-survey-238285 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Kristin Bakke Alan Renwick https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/politicising-memory-evidence-from-ukraine/transcript

Social media plays a significant role in shaping political debates and, some argue, even influencing election outcomes. Politicians increasingly use platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to communicate directly with the public and run their campaigns. However, this unfiltered communication can sometimes spread misinformation or undermine democratic values. A prime example is incoming US President Donald Trump, who was famously banned from Twitter for glorifying violence but has since returned to X with Elon Musk at the helm. This raises critical questions: How should social media companies handle inflammatory or false claims from politicians? Can they continue to claim they are mere platforms, not publishers, despite the profound impact they have? And, if they challenge politicians' statements, do they risk overstepping their role in a democratic society? To explore these issues, we’re joined by Jeff Howard, a professor in this department and the Director of the Digital Speech Lab. Jeff co-authored a recent paper that dives deep into the responsibilities of social media companies when it comes to regulating political speech. Mentioned in this episode: Fisher, S., Kira, B., Arabaghatta Basavaraj, K., & Howard, J. (2024). Should Politicians Be Exempt from Fact-Checking?Journal of Online Trust and Safety. https://tsjournal.org/index.php/jots/article/view/170/71 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Jeffrey Howard Emily McTernan https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/lies-politicians-and-social-media-should-we-fact-check-politicians/transcript

In recent years, policing in England and Wales has appeared to be trapped in a cycle of crisis. From high-profile scandals to criticisms of operational standards, concerns about the police’s role and conduct have intensified. Perhaps most shockingly, a serving police officer was convicted of the murder of Sarah Everard, a tragedy that underscored the urgent need for accountability within the force. A subsequent review by Baroness Louise Casey highlighted deep-seated issues within the Metropolitan Police Service, pointing to "institutional racism, sexism, and homophobia" within the organization. Meanwhile, there’s a growing perception that the police have deprioritized certain types of crime, like shoplifting. Political figures, too, have weighed in, accusing the police of double standards in their approach to protests and civil unrest. All of this has contributed to a significant decline in public trust. So, what exactly are the root issues? What realistic solutions could address these complex problems? And how might the current political climate impact the feasibility of any reforms? To explore these pressing questions, we are joined by three experts in crime and policing: Ben Bradford – Professor of Global City Policing in the Department of Security and Crime Science at University College London Jonathan Jackson – Professor of Research Methodology in the Department of Methodology at the London School of Economics Emmeline Taylor – Professor of Criminology in the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City, University of London Together, Ben, Jon, and Emmeline have edited a new special issue of The Political Quarterly titled Policing the Permacrisis, which dives into these challenges and potential solutions. Regular listeners might recall that The Political Quarterly shares our goal of making cutting-edge political and policy research accessible to a broad audience beyond academia. This episode marks the second installment in our occasional series where we discuss insightful work published in the journal. Mentioned in this episode: Policing the Permacrisis, in The Political Quarterly https://politicalquarterly.org.uk/collections/reforming-the-police/ UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Ben Bradford Jon Jackson Emmeline Taylor Alan Renwick https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/policing-the-permacrisis/transcript

There have been longstanding calls for reparations to address the profound injustices of colonialism and compensate for the vast extraction of resources from colonized nations. However, with few recent exceptions, these demands for reparations have largely been ignored by the former colonial powers. So, what comes next? Over the past two decades, renewed interest in colonial reparations has emerged within political theory and philosophy, with a focus on assigning responsibility for redress. Yet, relatively little attention has been given to how redress might be achieved in the face of persistent colonial amnesia and apologia. In this episode Dr. Shuk Ying Chan, Assistant Professor in Political Theory at UCL Political Science, proposes a solution: expropriation (the unilateral public takeover of foreign assets) as a justified response to these overdue reparations. In her argument, she shifts the focus from simply determining responsibility for reparative justice to exploring what victims of past injustices, or their descendants, are justified in doing to claim what they are owed. She also addresses the unique challenges of pursuing such political resistance at the global level. Mentioned in this episode: Chan, S.Y. (20024) Expropriation as Reparation. American Journal of Political Science. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajps.12891 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/unpaid-reparations-and-expropriation/transcript

In a turbulent political summer, few surprises were greater than that caused by French president Emmanuel Macron’s decision in June to call early parliamentary elections. Macron’s party had just been trounced in the European Parliament elections; and victory for the far right seemed likely. In the end, thanks to some last minute deals, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally did not win. Rather, it was an alliance of the left that secured most seats in the National Assembly. France’s Socialist Party was regularly in power from the early 1980s till the mid 2010s. But it collapsed spectacularly in the elections of 2017, and its very survival today seems in doubt. So what has been going on? And have the recent elections brought any signs of revival? Joining us to explore these questions is Philippe Marlière, Professor of French and European Politics in the UCL European and International Social and Political Studies department. This episode of UCL Uncovering Politics is the first in an occasional series of episodes based on pieces in Political Quarterly. Mentioned in this episode: Marlière, P. (2024), French Social Democracy in Turmoil. The Political Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.13442 UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/french-social-democracy-in-turmoil/transcript

Episode Summary This week we’re looking at how to improve public services. How can bureaucracies best be managed to deliver positive outcomes? Does compliance get in the way of building trust between citizens and governments? Episode Notes The state of public services is a pressing issue both in the UK and globally. News headlines are frequently dominated by stories of chronic failures and acute crises. In response, politicians often propose solutions involving more targets, tighter rules, and increased oversight. When confronted with challenges, their instinct is often to exert more control. A new book challenges this approach, suggesting that such responses may (at least in some cases) be counterproductive. It argues that bureaucrats can often perform at their best when they are trusted with greater autonomy, encouraged to develop and apply their own expertise, and supported in collaborating with colleagues toward a shared mission. Despite this, the book acknowledges that managing for empowerment comes with significant challenges. The book, Mission Driven Bureaucrats, is written by Dr. Dan Honig, Associate Professor of Public Policy in the UCL Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy, who joins us on the podcast today. Mentioned in this episode: Mission Driven Bureaucrats. Empowering People To Help Government Do Better, by Dan honig UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings. Show Contributors Dan Honig Alan Renwick Transcript link: https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/mission-driven-bureaucrats/transcript

This lunch hour lecture will cover the latest findings of the Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change, a UCL-led project bringing together over 300 researchers from around the globe.

This week we’re looking at the elections in the United States. Donald Trump has won; the Democrats have been comprehensively defeated. What explains the result? And what are the implications – for the US and the wider world? Episode Notes One week after the US elections, Donald Trump has claimed victory, securing the presidency, the Senate, and almost certainly – though not yet confirmed – the House of Representatives as well. This sweeping win over Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party has ignited widespread discussion: what went wrong for the Democrats, and what lies ahead for both parties? In this episode, we examine these key questions with our expert guests, exploring what this election outcome could mean for US policy on critical issues, including climate change, trade, democracy, and America’s relations with Ukraine, the Middle East, and China. With so much at stake, there’s already intense debate about the direction the country – and indeed, the world – may take in the coming years. To shed light on these issues we are joined by: Dr Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the UCL Centre on US Politics (CUSP). Dr Julie Norman, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations and CUSP’s Foreign Policy Lead. Both Dr Gift and Dr Norman bring deep expertise in US politics and policy, offering insights into where things stand, what to expect from the new administration, and the potential global implications. Together, they help to unpack the complexities of these developments and consider what the future might hold. Date of episode recording: 2024-11-14 Duration: 00:35:08 Language of episode: English (UK and US) Presenter: Alan Renwick Guests: Thomas Gift, Julie Norman Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham Link to transcript: https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes/dissecting-the-2024-us-election

Today's episode hosted by Olivia, features Miss Adeola Olaitan, who is a Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, for a discussion on gynaecological cancers and Human papilloma virus (HPV). We discuss the five different types of gynaecological cancers, including: ovarian cancer, uterine or endometrial (womb) cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal and vulval cancer. Adeola also describes the overarching theme of preventative medicine, and the steps that should be taken as early as 11 years of age aiming to prevent certain types of gynaecological cancers. She touches on HPV, and some common misconceptions in this area, and the importance of screening in this area. Listen to learn more, and how you can take action for preventing these diseases. To learn more about Adeola's work, visit: https://londongynaecology.clinic/team/adeola-olaitan/ For help on screening and prevention, visit: eveappeal.org.uk/ - UK based charity that aids in supporting women with all 5 gynae cancers jewishbrca.org/ - help for women of Jewish ancestry who wish to know their BRCA status (Having Jewish ancestry increases your risk of having a BRCA gene fault) Date of episode recording: 2024-11-26T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:26:39 Language of episode: English Presenter:Olivia Moir Guests: Adeola Olaitan Producer: UCL EGA Institute for Women's Health; Olivia Moir Transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/womens-health/news-and-events/it-all-starts-here-ega-ifwh-institute-womens-health-podcast

Here Jane Perryman and Alice Bradbury present data which explores how the Ofsted inspection is experienced and stakeholders’ views on how it could be improved. They discuss the report’s recommendations for change and discuss how this would benefit teachers and schools.

In this special episode hosts Mark Maslin and Simon Chin Yee give us behind the scenes insights and their verdicts on the outcome of COP29. This COP was mainly about the money and went into extra time, but our hosts unpack it and take a deep dive into the key results with the help of special guests in the studio Priti Parikh, Professor of Infrastructure Engineering and International Development, at UCL’s Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction and Anoushka Jain, a UCL Politics and International Relations student and member of the UK Youth Climate Coalition. We even round off this episode with some post COP music therapy! Let the spine tingling music wash over you. It’s a new composition from the collaboration between UCL and the BBC Young Composer project. UCL teamed up with the BBC Young Composer competition to inspire the winners to create brand new pieces based on UCL’s climate science. Composing for the Climate is a collaboration between UCL and the BBC as part of East Bank – the UK’s newest culture quarter on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park where UCL has a campus. BBC music credits: © BBC ‘Gaia’ composed by BBC Young Composer competition winner Advaith Jagannath. Recording made as part of the BBC Proms 2024, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted by Hugh Brunt. BBC Radio 3 website to hear the full pieces: BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms - BBC Young Composer Winners: The Process and Music Website for BBC Young Composer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030pblf Find out more about UCL at COP29 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/ucl-cop Date of episode recording: Monday 25th November 2024 Duration: 41:57 Language of episode: English Presenters: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee Guests: Professor Priti Parikh Anoushka Jain Producers: Adam Batstone Caitlin Mullin Jane Yelloly

In the lead-up to COP29, please join Hope Dillarstone and Elaine Flores for an insightful lecture exploring the complex nexus between climate change, mental health, and reproductive decision-making.

In this special episode, The SDGs and India, Professor Monica Lakhanpaul and Professor Priti Parikh are joined by Professor Sumit Malhotra, from the Centre of Community Medicine at AIIMS and Professor PVM Rao from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi. In this episode, we’re going overseas to take a special focus on the role of the SDGs on research in India, and how Indian researchers are contributing to reaching the goals. Date of episode recording: 2024-10-28 Duration: 00:28:49 Language of episode: English Presenters: Professor Monica Lakhanpaul and Professor Priti Parikh Guests: Professor Sumit Malhotra, from the Centre of Community Medicine at AIIMS and Professor PVM Rao from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi Producer: Front Ear Link to transcript: https://liveuclac.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/SDGPodcastSeriesWorkingGroup/EbBHXguMfeJMivTtYXtNeKYBYdy5P9mI-z1f3dSaukwk7w?e=hmsdwq

In episode 6 of Oral Health Matters, Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London is in conversation withDr Benoit Varenne from the World Health Organisation and Dr Dympna Kavanagh, Chief Dental Officer in the Department of Health, Ireland. Together they discuss current and forthcoming developments in global and national oral health policy and how the research community can best support oral health as a public health priority around the world. Read a full transcript: https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/OHM-Ep6-transcript.pdf Credits Presenter: Professor Richard Watt, University College London Editor and producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Artwork and audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts Music: The Documentary, Mapamusic

In this episode, Professor Monica Lakhanpaul and Professor Priti Parikh are joined by Anoushka Jain, a student from UCL Dept of Political Science and Vasiliki Kioupi from University of Leeds. They’re focusing on education and the role of Education for Sustainable Development, or ESD, exploring how sustainable development can be integrated into the curriculum, and what that might mean for the next generation of students. Date of episode recording: 2024-07-23T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:43:51 Language of episode: English Presenter:Professor Monica Lakhanpaul, Professor Priti Parikh Guests: Anoushka Jain, Vasiliki Kioupi Producer: Front Ear