A Conversation with Meg Munn
A conversation with Meg Munn MP, former Minister in the Blair and Brown governments. Hear an 'insider's' take on the UK political scene - a crucial general election due within six months, the 'expenses scandal' entangling Westminster MPs, an unpopular Labour leader, and the UK’s relationship with Europe being questioned again.
Held 7 December, 2009.
The Will of the People
What did the founders really intend for our democracy? Political Science Professor Quentin Kidd talks about how the government was built and how Americans have adapted it.
Caplan on Hayek, Richter, and Socialism
Bryan Caplan of George Mason University and blogger at EconLog talks to EconTalk host Russ Roberts about two books: Eugene Richter's Pictures of the Socialistic Future and F. A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom. Both books warn against the dangers of socialism. Pictures of a Socialistic Future, published in 1891 is a dystopian novel imagining what life would be like after a socialist revolution. The Road to Serfdom, published in 1944, explores the links between economic freedom and political freedom
Kennedy on the Great Depression and the New Deal
David Kennedy of Stanford University and the author of Freedom from Fear talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the Great Depression and its political and economic relevance. Kennedy talks about the economic policies of Hoover and Roosevelt, and how the historical narrative was shaped and evolved over the decades. The conversation concludes with Kennedy's thoughts on the nature and value of history.
Kling on Knowledge, Power, and Unchecked and Unbalanced
Arnold Kling of EconLog and author of Unchecked and Unbalanced, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the book and the relationship between knowledge and power. In a modern economy, specialization has increased and knowledge is increasingly dispersed. But political power has become more concentrated and fails to exploit the potential for decentralization. Kling discusses these trends and the potential for decentralization of power under different policies.
Capitalism: can it ever be moral?
Is it possible – or desirable – to reform capitalism so that it behaves better? A panel of speakers discuss the issues raised in Larry Elliot's new book Crisis and Recovery: ethics, economics and justice| (cowritten with Rowan Williams). Larry Elliott is the economics editor of The Guardian. Jon Cruddas is the Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham. Professor Chandran Kukathas holds the chair of Political Theory in the Department of Government at LSE. He is the author of The Liberal A
The Economist as Philosopher: Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes on human nature, social progress an
Robert Skidelsky and Nicholas Phillipson discuss how the philosophies of Keynes and Smith helped shape their influential economic ideas and examine how each has influenced social and political change.
Gooseneck barnacles in rock crevices
Gooseneck barnacles do not move and rely on surrounding waters for food and nutrients. They have strong, hard, and sharp shells that keep predators from walking on them. They resist drying out and are found in all the intertidal zones.
Love on the rocks?
How badly has the recession affected the relationship between political parties and business? Expert in the field - Professor Mick Moran - assesses the cracks in the relationship and how the crisis will affect it in the future. Professor Moran was at the University to open the inaugural seminar series for the Centre for British Politics.
21H.342 The Royal Family (MIT)
This course is an an exploration of British culture and politics, focusing on the changing role of the monarchy from the accession of the House of Hanover (later Windsor) in 1714 to the present. The dynasty has encountered a series of crises, in which the personal and the political have been inextricably combined: for example, George III's mental illness; the scandalous behavior of his son, George IV; Victoria's withdrawal from public life after the death of Prince Albert; the abdication of Edwa
15.311 Organizational Processes (MIT)
Organizational Processes enhances students' ability to take effective action in complex organizational settings by providing the analytic tools needed to analyze, manage, and lead the organizations of the future. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the organizational context in influencing which individual styles and skills are effective. The subject centers on three complementary perspectives, or "lenses", on an organization: political, cultural, and strategic design. Students enrolled
21L.015 Introduction to Media Studies (MIT)
Introduction to Media Studies is designed for students who have grown up in a rapidly changing global multimedia environment and want to become more literate and critical consumers and producers of culture. Through an interdisciplinary comparative and historical lens, the course defines "media" broadly as including oral, print, theatrical, photographic, broadcast, cinematic, and digital cultural forms and practices. The course looks at the nature of mediated communication, the functions of media
How Individual Rights Transformed World Politics
Have individual rights transformed world politics? Prof. Reus-Smit challenges the circumscribed nature of this debate, arguing the relationship between individual rights and world politics has a longer history and is more fundamental than it suggests. Have individual rights transformed world politics? Debate on this question has focused to date on the efficacy, or lack thereof, of the international human rights regime. Prof. Reus-Smit challenges the circumscribed nature of this debate, arguing t
War on climate change
In this podcast - Going to war for the environment? Dr Matthew Humphrey, Reader in Political Philosophy assesses a controversial theory by Australian academic Professor Robyn Eckersley. Professor Eckersley is among a group of experts who believe that military intervention may be reasonably used to protect natural resources.
Economic and Political Framework: unit handbook
Unit handbook for a Level 1 module on the Economic and Political Framework as taught by Dave Wilson London Metropolitan University.
21L.455 Classical Literature: The Golden Age of Augustan Rome (MIT)
Roman Literature of the Golden Age of Augustus Caesar, produced during the transition from Republican to Imperial forms of government, was to have a profound and defining influence on Western European and American societies. These writings ultimately established lasting models of aesthetic refinement, philosophical aspiration, and political ambition that continue to shape modern cultures. This class will be exploring the Golden Age of Latin Literature from an historical perspective in
11.467J Property Rights in Transition (MIT)
This course examines the theories and policy debates over who can own real property, how to communicate and enforce property rights, and the range of liberties that they confer. It explores alternative economic, political, and sociological perspectives of property rights and their policy and planning implications.
Public policy
The aim of this module is to further our understanding of public policy – the nature, causes and effects of public policies; the policy process – how policy is made; and with prescription as to how policy might be improved. Since the effectiveness of policies and policy-making processes cannot be assessed independently of analysis of the distribution of economic and political power within political systems, this module also examines the central position of the state in policy analysis.
Inaugural Lecture Prof Nick Frost - Assessing Modern British Childhood: research, policy and practic
This lecture explored the contemporary policy agenda for children and young people living in England. The major focus of the lecture was on the relationship between the state and modern childhood. The lecture then moved on to examine the state of contemporary British childhood. A series of recent research and policy reports have suggested that British children inhabit a world that compares negatively to children in otherwise comparable societies. Childhood and youth are also a high profile and f
Theories and concepts
This is a module framework. It can be viewed online or dowloaded as a zip file As taught in Autumn Semester 2009/10 The War on Iraq and the US and British invasion of the country in 2003 has led to huge tensions in geopolitics. At the same time, the supposed ‘threat’ of international terrorism and continuing financial turmoil in the world economy have both brought to the fore the global politics of co-operation and confrontation. Whilst it might be possible to agree on the significance of th
