Political Quarterly

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Volunteer as a Reader for the Orwell Youth Prize!

The @orwellprize.bsky.social is looking for experienced professionals across publishing, literature, academia, civil society (and more) to provide personalised feedback as part of their judging process.

The Strength of Far‐Right AfD in Eastern Germany: The East‐West Divide and the Multiple Causes behind ‘Populism’ This article sheds light on one of the key developments in recent German politics and relates it to the broader debate on the electoral success of the far right. The rise of the Alternative für Deuts...

🇩🇪 German Reunification Day!

In 2020, I wrote about how Germany's east–west divide links to #AfD success. Today, the article remains relevant — but the AfD’s rise across Germany shows that this is not only an east-west story.

➡️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @politicalquarterly.bsky.social

"The Risk of Inequity is Always There, Wherever You've Got AI": Interview with Helen Margetts Anya Pearson interviews Helen Margetts on the relationship between digital technology and government, politics and public policy.

"The risk of inequity is always there, wherever you've got AI"

Anya Pearson asks @helenmargetts.bsky.social, Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute, about digital government and the opportunities and challenges of AI.

Nigel Farage is no Ramsay MacDonald: Comparing the Rise of Reform with the Rise of Labour It is hard not to suspect that arresting the rise of Reform could be beyond the powers of both current party leaders.

If the Tories agree to be the junior partners supporting a Reform government, they are sending an unmistakable signal that the Conservatives are finished as one of the two main parties of government, argues PQ co-ed Ben Jackson.

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/nigel-f...

Volunteering | The Orwell Foundation How you can help support our young writers

Volunteer as a Reader for the Orwell Youth Prize!

The @orwellprize.bsky.social is looking for experienced professionals across publishing, literature, academia, civil society (and more) to provide personalised feedback as part of their judging process.

www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-y...

Where now for Britain’s Universities? UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.

There have likely been 10,000 or more university redundancies in the academic year 2024-25.

@gsoh31.bsky.social, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Oxford Brookes, argues that the Higher Education system as we know it is coming to an end.

Nigel Farage is no Ramsay MacDonald: Comparing the Rise of Reform with the Rise of Labour It is hard not to suspect that arresting the rise of Reform could be beyond the powers of both current party leaders.

It is hard not to suspect that arresting the rise of Reform could be beyond the powers of both current party leaders, writes Ben Jackson, our journal Co-Editor and Professor of Modern History at Oxford University.

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/nigel-f...

"There have likely been 10,000 or more university redundancies in the academic year 2024-25..."

Where now for Britain’s Universities? UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.

UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.

By Glen O'Hara, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Oxford Brookes University

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/where-n...

"The Risk of Inequity is Always There, Wherever You've Got AI": Interview with Helen Margetts Anya Pearson interviews Helen Margetts on the relationship between digital technology and government, politics and public policy.

When it comes to questions of AI and public policy, Helen Margetts is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world.

Anya Pearson asks her about digital governance and what Alan Turing would make of the AI revolution.

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/the-ris...

Where now for Britain's Universities? Although the financial crisis facing the United Kingdom's universities is by now well known, the detailed reasons behind it have been less prominent in public and political debate. It is true that fr...

As the new academic year begins, here's an important and bracing read on the crisis in UK universities, by Glen O'Hara for @politicalquarterly.bsky.social

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Keir Starmer writes in the Telegraph (where else!?) that Labour “did shy away from people’s concerns around illegal immigration.” Perhaps I was living in a parallel universe when I wrote this for @politicalquarterly.bsky.social in 2014? (Free to read version here: qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstr...)

Before the Boil: Addressing the UK's Living Standards Crisis The UK faces a crisis in living standards. The current outlook for real disposable incomes is unprecedented, including rising inequality and the risk of a first parliament on record where the average...

‪The latest OBR forecasts suggest average families may end the current parliament financially worse off than they were at the start.

@jrf-uk.bsky.social‬'s @alfie-stirling.bsky.social
on the crisis in UK living standards, and how politicians should respond:

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

A must-read this morning - JRF's @alfie-stirling.bsky.social on the crisis in UK living standards, and how politicians can (and must) respond

"The lough supplies 40% of Northern Ireland's drinking water, which is treated and said to be safe. Not everyone is convinced."

In our @politicalquarterly.bsky.social piece, Elliott and I argued that this concern might be the best hope of spurring action. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution The government’s devolution bill is justified along economic growth lines. This risks the devolution agenda as a whole if it doesn't materalise.

"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."

@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda.

The Politics of Changes in Housing Supply and Tenure: Illustrations from Australia and the Netherlands Almost regardless of the welfare system and market context, the changing housing landscapes in Western countries show similar trends. Drawing on the experiences of Australia and the Netherlands,...

"While policy debates have centred on supply and affordability, the reality is that, in both countries, as in the UK, the losers are often younger people"

Marietta Haffner and Kath Hulse reflect on housing supply and tenure in Australia and the Netherlands

Labour's Commitment to 1.5 Million New Homes: Housing Delivery as an Orchestrator-Intermediary Challenge Will housing reform be any different under this government?

"The new Labour government has placed increasing housing delivery at the heart of its agenda... lacklustre economic performance and ever-increasing housing costs. The two elements are related."

Nancy Holman & Alan Mace on Labour's housing goals.

The Illusion of Choice: Why Britain’s Democracy Needs a Reboot Britain feels more fractured than ever after a summer of discontent. After fourteen years of Conservative rule followed by a Labour government that many see as even more recklessly led, of course,...

"Britain feels more fractured than ever... Yet... our electoral system continues to funnel power into the hands of just two parties."

Alex Cobb discusses why electoral reform is needed, looking to Switzerland's electoral system for inspiration

Beyond Liberal Individualism: What Role, if any, for Socialism? David Marquand's Search for an Adequately Radical Political Philosophy Discussions with David Marquand were always enjoyable and stimulating occasions through the pluralist forums in which we were both involved, notably Charter 88 and Compass. After his death, it has...

'Discussions with David Marquand were always enjoyable and stimulating... After his death, it has remained a delight to continue the dialogue through his writings.'

@hilaryredpepper.bsky.social discusses the late David Marquand's political philosophy

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/beyond-...

The Vices of Values: Matthew Goodwin and the Politics of Motivation Matthew Goodwin's Values, Voice and Virtue received considerable attention from across the political spectrum. But the concept of ‘values’ on which Goodwin bases his argument is never precisely…

@jemgilbert.bsky.social and Alex Williams on the explanatory power of 'values'

"Matthew Goodwin's Values, Voice and Virtue received considerable attention... But the concept of ‘values’ on which Goodwin bases his argument is never precisely explicated."

Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution The government’s devolution bill is justified along economic growth lines. This risks the devolution agenda as a whole if it doesn't materalise.

@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda

"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."

A Normal(ised) Far-Right Party? A Long-Term Perspective on the FPÖ’s Electoral Strength in Austria What have the long-term trends been for the far right in Austria?

@manesweisskircher.bsky.social on Austria's far right in long-term perspective

The far right's "strength might have been exceptional in an international context, but... the case of Austria has become a ‘normal’ one in European politics and beyond."

Labour's Commitment to 1.5 Million New Homes: Housing Delivery as an Orchestrator-Intermediary Challenge Will housing reform be any different under this government?

"The new Labour government has placed increasing housing delivery at the heart of its agenda", but "will things be any different under this government?"

Nancy Holman and Alan Mace discuss the Labour government's housing goals.

The Vices of Values: Matthew Goodwin and the Politics of Motivation Matthew Goodwin's Values, Voice and Virtue received considerable attention from across the political spectrum. But the concept of ‘values’ on which Goodwin bases his argument is never precisely…

"Matthew Goodwin's Values, Voice and Virtue received considerable attention... But the concept of ‘values’ on which Goodwin bases his argument is never precisely explicated."

@jemgilbert.bsky.social and Alex Williams on the explanatory power of 'values'

Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution The government’s devolution bill is justified along economic growth lines. This risks the devolution agenda as a whole if it doesn't materalise.

"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."

@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda

Since the lough is back in the (national) news, here's the blog version of my co-authored @politicalquarterly.bsky.social article from earlier in the year. #LoughNeagh

A Normal(ised) Far-Right Party? A Long-Term Perspective on the FPÖ’s Electoral Strength in Austria What have the long-term trends been for the far right in Austria?

In Austria, the far right's "strength might have been exceptional in an international context, but... the case of Austria has become a ‘normal’ one in European politics and beyond."

@manesweisskircher.bsky.social on Austria's far right in long-term perspective

Diane Abbott's Suspension Highlights the Complexity of Different Types of Racism Rather than a zero sum approach, we need a 360 degree politics of solidarity.

Responding to Abbott's suspension, @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social @bengidley.bsky.social & David Feldman argue:

"We need a 360 degree politics of solidarity, one that acknowledges the specificities of different racism but also what they have in common"

Review: Ungovernable. The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip, by Simon Hart The memoirs of a whip in love with his leaders.

Confirms "that all-too-many of those who served in the [Conservative government] really were every bit as awful as they seemed from the outside looking in"

@timbale.bsky.social reviews 'Ungovernable. The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip', by Simon Hart.