Full Issue
| DOI | 10.1111/j.2041-9066.2010.00031.x |
| Published date | 01 December 2010 |
| Date | 01 December 2010 |
| Subject Matter | Full Issue |
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Editorial
2010 has been a big year for political studies in the UK. As well as celebrating its 60th anniversary, the
Political Studies Association hosted its largest conference yet, in Edinburgh, and, earlier in the year,
launched this new magazine.
Of course, it has been a fairly important 12 months for the nation’s politicians, too.
This time last year Gordon Brown was rocking at the helm of a tired Labour administration. Now the title
of Prime Minister belongs to David Cameron, who heads up a coalition that seemed almost unthinkable
as 2009 drew to a close. Under Chancellor George Osborne, stimulus spending has given way to arguably
the most radical retrenchment of the state in any developed country.
If a week is a long time in politics, a year can feel like an eternity. In this issue, Ivor Crewe takes a look
back at some of the defining moments of this most memorable of political years, and wonders whether
Cameron and Clegg’s great political gamble can bear fruit in the long run.
Rhys Jones, Jessica Pykett and Mark Whitehead investigate the effect of the coalition’s new healthcare policy, where the
nanny state is out and the politics of ‘nudging’ is in. But whether it is really possible to use environmental design to nudge
citizens into sensible lifestyle choices remains to be seen. Elsewhere, Judith Squires asks why the number of women and ethnic
minorities in the House of Commons remains so stubbornly low.
Global terrorism is one issue that refuses to budge from the news agenda. Whether it is the targeting of cargo planes by
Islamists or dissident republicans in Northern Ireland, terrorists continue to pose a real threat to our democracy. Here Richard
English examines how we can best meet this challenge.
Another challenge over the past year has been the rise of the British far right. In this month’s debate, David Renton suggests
that only street resistance can combat this development, while Matthew Goodwin argues that resources would be better targeted
at improving our understanding of the roots of prejudice and racism.
Meanwhile, Chris Luenen looks at the emergence of a new international order, based around three regional monetary and
trading blocs, George Philip profiles Mexico’s on-going travails, and Paul Hainsworth investigates political reconstruction in
East Timor.
Political studies, of course, isn’t just concerned with the cut and thrust of global politics. Steven Curtis, a winner of the PSA’s
Bernard Crick award for outstanding teaching, makes the case for connecting politics students with practioners in the real world,
while mathematician George Szpiro shows why majority rule is still the worst electoral system - besides from all the others.
This issue also brings to a close volume one of Political Insight. I hope you all enjoyed the new magazine, and I would like to
thank all those whose hard work has made it possible. I look forward to seeing you all next year, and don’t forget if you want
to join in the debates or contribute just drop me an email (address on the opposite page).
Peter Geoghegan
Editor
Editor
Peter Geoghegan
editor@politicalinsightmagazine.com
Editorial Board
Professor John Benyon
University of Leicester
Professor Vicky Randall
University of Essex
Professor Richard Topf
London Metropolitan University
Professor Paul Whiteley
University of Essex
International Advisory Board
Professor Luciano Bardi
University of Pisa
Professor Andrew Gamble
University of Cambridge
Professor Robert Goodin
Australian National University
Professor Zhu Guanglei
Nankai University
Professor Ian Holliday
University of Hong Kong
Professor Ira Katznelson
Columbia University
Martha Kearney
British Broadcasting Corporation
Professor Gurpreet Mahajan
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Professor Pippa Norris
Harvard University
Professor Rasul Bakhsh Rais
Lahore University of Management Sciences
Professor Rod Rhodes
University of Tasmania
Insight making sense
of issues,
arguments,
trends and
developments
POLITICAL
Volume 1 • Number 3 December 2010
In the News 74
Look who’s talking; Innovating politics; Rise of
career politicians; CAP reform in Europe.
Features
21st Century Terrorism: How Should We
Respond? 76
Terrorism continues to dominate the headlines,
but can we effectively deal with the challenge
posed by terrorists? Richard English inves-
tigates.
2010: Year in Review 79
Ivor Crewe looks back at a year marked by an
indecisive election result, national indebted-
ness and the UK’s first coalition government
in 70 years.
Gender and Minority Representation in
Parliament 82
Women and ethnic minorities are still under-
represented in the House of Commons. Judith
Squires asks what can be done to address this
problem.
Big Society’s Little Nudges: Healthcare in
an Age of Austerity 85
Can citizens be ‘nudged’ into making sensible
lifestyle choices? Rhys Jones, Jessica Pykett
and Mark Whitehead examine the new poli-
tics of public health in the UK.
The Politics of Numbers: Is Majority Rule
Always Fair? 90
Is the electorate always right? Mathematician
George Szpiro shows how majority voting can
throw up some unexpected results.
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Contents Learning in Public: Connecting Politics
Students with Practitioners 93
Teaching politics shouldn’t stop at the campus
gates, writes Steven Curtis. Students can
benefit greatly from direct experience with
real-world situations.
The Coming Three-Bloc World 98
Chris Luenen reports on the birth of a new
international order, comprised of just three
regional monetary and trading blocs.
Debate
How can the rise of the far right in the UK
be halted? 88
David Renton argues that only street resistance
can stop the far right, while Matthew Goodwin
suggests we look instead at the roots of racism.
From the Frontline
Reconstruction in East Timor 96
East Timor has struggled to emerge from dec-
ades of Indonesian occupation. But, as Paul
Hainsworth reports, this tiny South-East
Asian state is showing signs of progress.
Country Focus
Mexico 101
George Philip profiles the troubles facing
Mexico’s weak state, from the dramatic rise in
drug-related violence to a faltering economy.
Foresight
China’s Unquenchable Thirst for Oil 104
Beijing’s increasing dependence on oil imports
will have major geopolitical consequences for
the entire world, writes Hongyi Lai.
In Focus
Government Debt 106
Danny Dorling and Benjamin Hennig map
Europe’s government debt and explain why the
UK’s deficit is particularly high.
73December 2010
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