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Skip to contentBallots & Bullets | School of Politics & International Relations, University of Nottinghamopen primary menuAboutSidebar This blog is produced by members of the School of Politics and International Relation at the University of Nottingham, and by regular guest pieces. The analysis contained in each entry is informed by our internationally-ranked research, and we hope it will help readers better understand the political dynamics that underpin the world in which we all live. The School of Politics and International Relations takes no institutional position and all authors views are their own. Visit us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. TwitterTweets by @NottsPoliticsRecent PostsPolitical Lion Skin: what it means for Belarus to have a female opposition leader?Biden’s Inaugural and Saint AugustineIran and the Downward Spiral of Transatlantic RelationsFrance-Italy: Behind the crisis lies a deeper rift over EuropeDoes history provide lessons for policy-makers?Blogs We LikeBritish Politics and PolicyChina Policy InstituteConservative HomeCorruption CurrentsCrooked TimberDemocratic AuditEUROPPHopisenInstitute for GovernmentInterdependence ComplexIPE@UNCKai ArzheimerKings of WarLabour UncutLiberal ConspiracyLiberal Democrat VoiceLords of the blogMatthew GoodwinMonkey CageNew StatesmanNormblogPolitical Studies Association BlogPolitics in SpiresPolitics, Theory & PhotographySpectatorUK Polling ReportCategoriesArchivesArchivesSelect Month March 2021 January 2021 June 2019 February 2019 November 2018 June 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 Ballots & Bullets | School of Politics & International Relations, University of Nottingham PostsPolitical Lion Skin: what it means for Belarus to have a female opposition leader?Political Lion Skin: what it means for Belarus to have a female opposition leader?Published by Editor on March 8, 2021Written by Ruta Skriptaite, PhD Researcher at the School of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham. “The political lion skin has a large mane and belonged to a … Read the rest Biden’s Inaugural and Saint AugustineBiden’s Inaugural and Saint AugustinePublished by Editor on January 22, 2021Written by Ben HollandIn his inaugural address on January 20, President Joe Biden invoked the words of the great theologian of the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Augustine.‘Many centuries … Read the rest Iran and the Downward Spiral of Transatlantic RelationsIran and the Downward Spiral of Transatlantic RelationsPublished by Editor on June 21, 2019Written by Azriel Bermant & Wyn ReesImage credit: Public_Domain_Photography (pixabay.com)The United States and Europe find themselves in a growing crisis with Iran. The US is funnelling military assets to the region following a series of incidents that have caused damage to petroleum tankers in the Persian Gulf. Although Iran has denied involvement, many suspect that Tehran has been the instigator of these attacks. Adding fuel to this combustible picture is Iran’s signal that it will breach the threshold on nuclear enrichment that was imposed by the 2015 nuclear agreement. President Trump has indicated that he does not want war but others in his administration see things differently and crises have the potential to escalate beyond the designs of rational policymaking.Continue readingIran and the Downward Spiral of Transatlantic RelationsShare this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)France-Italy: Behind the crisis lies a deeper rift over EuropePublished by Editor on February 12, 2019Written by Dr. Simon ToubeauFrance and Italy are now in an open diplomatic crisis, provoked by a recent meeting between Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and … Read the rest Does history provide lessons for policy-makers?Does history provide lessons for policy-makers?Published by Editor on November 23, 2018Written by Louise KettleImage credit: Christopher SullivanThis month the Foreign and Commonwealth Office celebrated a hundred years of the in-house historians. A recommendation for a “research or … Read the rest Does it matter that Scotland isn’t in the Draft EU Withdrawal Agreement?Published by Editor on November 20, 2018Written by Lewis Scott.Tech-savvy Scots were quick to CTRL+F the draft Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU when it was released last Wednesday. They found, to their … Read the rest A free vote: This May be the lifeline Theresa needsA free vote: This May be the lifeline Theresa needsPublished by Editor on November 16, 2018Written by Thomas EasonPolitical turmoil has become something of a feature in British politics since the Brexit referendum. Time and time again Prime Minister Theresa May has faced down calls for her resignation and speculation about her suitability for office. Yesterday, the Prime Minister presented her draft Brexit deal to Parliament, creating a major political backlash that appears to present her greatest leadership challenge yet. After a gruelling few hours answering questions in Parliament about the Brexit deal, it’s clear she is unlikely to get her way in the Commons. In this chaotic context, there has been speculation over whether May will give her MPs a free vote – a vote in which MPs are allowed to vote without instruction from party managers. In this blog I explore how a free vote could impact May’s future as PM and argue that it might just be a much needed lifeline for the Prime Minister.Continue readingA free vote: This May be the lifeline Theresa needsShare this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Corbyn’s critics must go back to their social democratic rootsCorbyn’s critics must go back to their social democratic rootsPublished by Editor on June 19, 2018Written by Steven Fielding. It is a year since Jeremy Corbyn unexpectedly denied Theresa May a Commons majority. According to his supporters the 2017 general election vindicates Corbyn’s leadership: had the campaign been longer, they argue, he would have ended up prime minister. Whatever its merits, Labour members have taken this interpretation to heart and given those closely identifying with Corbyn a majority on the party’s national executive committee. As Labour prepares for its ‘democracy review’ this body has the power to entrench Corbynism for a generation.All this has left shell shocked those unconvinced by Labour’s new management. Immediately after the election, one they predicted would be disastrous for the party, most were struck dumb. But recently some have expressed concern over Corbyn’s response to the Salisbury attack, anti-semitism and Brexit. Such random acts of criticism have however not diminished the Labour leader’s support: in fact the more he is attacked the more Momentum’s membership increases.Continue readingCorbyn’s critics must go back to their social democratic rootsShare this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Does Brexit really realise the ideals of JS Mill?Does Brexit really realise the ideals of JS Mill?Published by Editor on February 21, 2018Written by Helen McCabe.Boris Johnson’s Valentine’s-day speech intended to make a ‘positive’ case for exiting the European Union. It was not exactly a love-letter to the EU and ‘Remainers’. Rather it was an oratorical bouquet, intended to persuade lovelorn anti-Leavers to end their attempts to ‘frustrate the will of the people’.Continue readingDoes Brexit really realise the ideals of JS Mill?Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Taking over schools is taking over the heart and minds of the next generation: The case of HungaryTaking over schools is taking over the heart and minds of the next generation: The case of HungaryPublished by Editor on December 12, 2017Written by Ksenia Northmore-Ball.Whoever, in a given society, controls the content of school textbooks is in the highly privileged position of shaping how the next generation of citizens views the world. As the American Pulitzer-winning journalist and historian, Frances FitzGerald has said, school textbooks “tell children what their elders want them to know.” School textbooks take a special position in that they command unquestioning authority. The younger the school children reading the books, the less equipped they are to question the content – in other words, school children are the ideal captive and impressionable audience. Any ambitious political leader, movement, or regime with a strong guiding world view will ultimately desire to influence and control the education system, particularly the content of school textbooks. In a liberal democracy, one hopes that a plurality of social and political actors can influence this content.Continue readingTaking over schools is taking over the heart and minds of the next generation: The case of HungaryShare this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Posts navigation12…127Next Author WordPress Theme by Compete Themes