143/08
Can Gordon Brown's Labour Party survive continuing political pressures, or will David Cameron sweep the Conservatives back into power in the next general election? These are just two issues which will be addressed by the new Centre for British Politics (CBP), based in the School of Politics and International Relations at The University of Nottingham.
The Centre will be launched on Wednesday 25 June at a special event at the House of Commons. The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson will speak at the launch, which will be attended by academics, MPs and stakeholders.
The CBP has nearly twenty academic members, all leaders in their fields. They are drawn from politics, as well as the Schools of American Studies, Business, History and Sociology in addition to the Methods and Data Institute at the University.
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Centre Director Dr Steven Fielding said: "Britain was once believed to have been the model democracy, but "˜trust' and participation in the political system is now at an all time low. Britain's position in global politics however means its political leaders continue to exert a unique influence on world events. It's this need to appreciate the changing nature of British politics that led to the setting up of the Centre."
As it develops the Centre will offer a varied programme of events, conferences, workshops and others kinds of activities to help experts, students and wider audiences better understand British politics. The Centre's inaugural conference, 'The Conservative Party: Approaching Government?' will be held on 12 December 2008.
Dr Fielding said: "This is an especially exciting moment to launch the Centre. We are living through what seems to be the collapse of the previously hegemonic New Labour party. And yet, attitudes to traditional politics remains deeply cynical, so that even if Cameron's Conservatives do win the next general election, they will have to work hard establishing their popular legitimacy."
The launch will be held in the Macmillan Room of the House of Commons.
The Centre welcomes proposals to cooperate with networks, institutes and other research centres. It also encourages the participation of those who want to work, whether as potential students, visiting faculty or collaborative researchers.
The University of Nottingham has one of the largest Schools of Politics and International Relations in the UK. Main areas of research focus on security, social and global justice, international history and comparative and British politics.
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Notes to Editors: The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 70 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THES) World University Rankings.
It provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's "only truly global university", it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia.
Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation "€” School of Pharmacy).
Its students are much in demand from 'blue-chip' employers. Winners of Students in Free Enterprise for four years in succession, and current holder of UK Graduate of the Year, they are accomplished artists, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and fundraisers. Nottingham graduates consistently excel in business, the media, the arts and sport. Undergraduate and postgraduate degree completion rates are amongst the highest in the United Kingdom.