UCL Political Science

In July 2025, the UK government announced that the voting age would be lowered to 16. This reform, among others, aims to broaden the country’s democratic base and modernize the political system. Yet… Votes at 16: Is Citizenship Education up to Scratch?

Our seminar on #citizenship #education and votes at 16 is now available to watch on YouTube. Lots of great questions from our audience, including from young people who are living through this big change in the UK #voting system. #votesat16 #democracy
Give it a watch:

YouTube video by UCL Political Science Votes at 16: Is Citizenship Education up to Scratch?

It's now online: youtu.be/uuNIvTOqnkA

Happy watching!

Featuring our own Dr Judith Spirig. Give it a listen :)

Cop30: five reasons the UN climate conference failed to deliver on its ‘people’s summit’ promise Deals were agreed but with crucial elements missing.

What can we learn from a dissapointing and divisive COP? Simon Chin-Yee, Mark Maslin and Priti Parikh give us their thoughts:

📆 Legislative Oversight of the Armed Forces - 27 November, 18:15-19:30
Professor Philippe Lagassé, Rt Hon Dominic Grieve KC and Professor Veronika Fikfak
Which civilians play the most important roles in controlling the armed forces? Come along to our event to find out.
buff.ly/xtyYoHh

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

We have a fantastic panel confirmed for our first webinar of the year on 4th December (4-5pm) on 'Disability, Technology, and Inclusive Education'. For details and registration, go to events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0794f0...

Professor Veronika Fikfak elected to serve as an expert on UN HRC Advisory Committee We are excited to announce that the UN Human Rights Council has elected Professor Veronika Fikfak to serve as an expert on its Advisory Committee.

🎉 Congratulations to Professor Veronika Fikfak, elected to the UN Human Rights Council’s Advisory Committee as an expert member.

This recognises her strong scholarship in human rights law and her work analysing international human rights systems.

buff.ly/VaqNEhq

How do experiences of violence in war shape ordinary people’s commitment to democratic principles? New paper: Bakke, K. M., Dahl, M., & Rickard, K. (2025). Conflict exposure and democratic values: Evidence from wartime Ukraine. Journal of Peace Research, 62(5), 1376-1392. buff.ly/AqJDJaz

Can data save democracy? When trust in public organisations falls, Professor Christian Schuster speaks to Maddy Breen about how the answer lies not in dismantling government, but in making it work better – and data can help.

In the latest edition of the UCL Policy Lab magazine, we speak to Prof. Christian Schuster (@uclspp.bsky.social) about how data can help rebuild trust in public organisations.

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Our new article in Global Policy, co-authored with Chris Alden, examines why emerging middle powers pursue mediation in international conflicts, focusing on Turkey and Indonesia during the Russia-Ukraine war. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

The Future of the ECHR - In Europe and UK Organised by the Human Rights Institute and the Global Centre for Democratic Constitutionalism.

The Future of the ECHR – In Europe & UK at UCL Laws
📅 7 Nov, 11:00–13:00 (in-person)

Speakers: Robert Spano; Prof Jens Elo Peters Rytter; Prof Colm O’Cinneide; Prof Alice Donald. Chair: Prof Veronika Fikfak.

🔗 Details/booking: buff.ly/EDHYWdD
#ECHR #HumanRights #Law

Should The State Fund Fertility Treatments? | UCL Uncovering Politics This week we ask: should the state fund fertility treatment? Or would this feed in to pro-natalist philosophy?

🎙️UCL Uncovering Politics 🎙️
S16 E3: Should The State Fund Fertility Treatments? with Dr. Giulia Cavaliere
This week we ask: should the state fund fertility treatment? Or would this feed in to pro-natalist philosophy?

Do Economic Sanctions Work? How effective are sanctions; how easily are they circumvented; and what is their impact on the countries targeted?

Do economic sanctions work?? Join us to find out! We are delighted to welcome the ex-head of sanctions for HSBC and Deutsche Bank, the Head of Sanctions Policy at UK Finance, and the Head of Engagement, Oil Price Cap in the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, HM Treasury.

Regulating Social Media and the Future of Public Health How has social media affected public health and what impact has regulation had so far?

Join us on the 27th October, 18:00-19:30, for a discussion on "Regulating Social Media and the Future of Public Health". In-person event at UCL. All are welcome to attend. More info here:

Luis Schenoni awarded 2025 ECPR Hedley Bull Prize for "Bringing War Back In" This winning book was praised for providing a fresh theory connecting war and state formation that incorporates the contingency of warfare and the effects of war outcomes in the long run.

Huge congratulations to @llschenoni.bsky.social on receiving another award for his excellent book 'Bringing War Back In'! Providing a fresh theory connecting war and state formation that incorporates the contingency of warfare and long term effects of war outcomes.
www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

Cathy has been writing about flipped learning today. Look out for the example videos from her class embedded in the post!
@uclspp.bsky.social

Many congratulations to my great colleague Luis Schenoni on this wonderful, richly deserved achievement!

@uclspp.bsky.social

🌍 New @ucl.ac.uk Generation One podcast: Decolonising climate action.

Hosts @profmarkmaslin.bsky.social + @simonchinyee.bsky.social with ⚖️ Farhana Yamin + 🌱 Raffaella Fryer-Moreira

🎧 tinyurl.com/ucl-genone

#ClimateJustice #ClimateAction #DecolonisingClimateAction @sustainableucl.bsky.social

Japan Tariff Relief, Gold Tariff Surprise; Trump's New Fed Governor | Daybreak Europe 8/08/2025 Bloomberg Daybreak Europe is your essential morning viewing to stay ahead. Live from London, we set the agenda for your day, catching you up with overnight markets news from the US and Asia. And…

"It's difficult to imagine meaningful talks about peace without Ukraine" Prof Kristin Bakke appeard on Bloomberg News yesterday to talk about the Trump-Putin talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine. Watch from 25:40

@movadek.bsky.social has a new paper in West European Politics looking at immigration rulings in the UK. It's a short read, but the two main findings are:
1) the success of an immigration appeal depends a lot on who the deciding judge is, and
2) BAME women are strict judges.

Read: buff.ly/MH32Bsk

Congratulations Finn!

New research shows how trust and government effectiveness shaped COVID-19 spending more than regime type or political cycles.
Study by Mike Seiferling in Public Finance Review. buff.ly/EalCimo

Research: pressure for short-term profits jeopardizes climate investment | Institute for Business in Global Society A new study shows there is often a direct connection between the need for short-term profits and opposition to climate regulation.

Short-term profit motives lead companies to oppose climate reforms, shows new research from Jared Finnegan (UCL Political Science) and Jonas Meckling (Harvard Business School)

Trump's endgame in Ukraine - and why he can never tame Putin Putin has ramped up attacks on Ukraine, putting Trump's hopes of a ceasefire even further away

Trump's endgame in Ukraine - and why he can never tame Putin
“I think he wants to be seen as a respected world leader. I don’t think he actually cares ultimately, about any of the issues at stake,” Dr Jonathan Monten on President Trump’s public persona.

Dr Schenoni delivers a lecture

Dr Schenoni stands by a statue of Wasada Uni founder Ōkuma Shigenobu

Dr Schenoni stands on Wasada university campus

@llschenoni.bsky.social's 'Bringing War Back In' received an Honorable Mention for the Levine Prize at #IPSA2025 🇰🇷 and is now required reading for PhD comps at Waseda University 🇯🇵 🏅

As a Visiting Fellow at IDE-JETRO, he’s also given talks at Hitotsubashi, Kobe, and the U of Tokyo. buff.ly/PV69HL9

The legal climate for UK oil and gas The legal climate for UK oil and gas

Panel Discussion: The legal climate for UK oil and gas
24 July 2025, 6:00 pm–8:30 pm
Free to attend and open to all
Register:

How Trump is using the 'Madman Theory' to try to change the world Political scientists have a term for the tactic, that has been used by some leaders including Nixon, to persuade adversaries that they are temperamentally capable of anything, to extract concessions.…

"People won't want to do business with the US if they don't trust the US in negotiations, if they're not sure the US will stand by them in defence and security issues,” said Professor Julie Norman on President Trump’s foreign policies.

There are many things American voters agree on, from fears about technology to threats to democracy Americans of both parties are worried about Trump having a third term, and have other shared concerns.

Analysis: There are many things American voters agree on
Emma Connolly @uclspeechlab.bsky.social explores the issues, from fears about technology to threats to democracy, that voters on both sides of the political divide agree in The Conversation.

Nearly two-thirds of voters think Starmer doesn’t respect them – new poll 63% of respondents said Keir Starmer does not respect people like them.

One year into the new government, Director of @uclpolicylab.bsky.social, Professor Marc Stears (UCL Political Science), assesses new polling in The Conversation that suggest voters think the Prime Minister doesn’t respect them.

BISA 2025 prize winners announced We're delighted to announce the winners of this year's BISA prizes.

Congratulations to Valentina Amuso for receiving an honorable mention in the BISA 2025 Early Career Excellence in Teaching International Studies Prize!