Can we manage the globalized world we have created? Every day seems to bring new evidence to the contrary. From the wars in the Middle East, to nuclear tensions in East Asia, to an ongoing migration crisis, to the looming threats of pandemics and financial shocks, to the growing danger of climate change, our ability to meet global challenges is falling short. At the same time, an anti-global backlash in many countries around the world speaks to the dangers of unmanaged globalization even as it raises further questions about the ability of countries to devise effective solutions.

Revolutions are relatively rare moments of direct mass intervention in politics. But as a new cross-national data set of revolutionary episodes from 1900 to 2014 shows, these unusual moments have been growing both more frequent and more “successful” (in the sense of more likely to displace incumbent regimes) over time, though less consequential in their lasting impact.

Are legislators responsive to the issue priorities of their constituents? E-petition systems have been adopted in many countries in recent years, commonly with the goal of strengthening the bond between representatives and their constituents. Despite this, we know little about the effects of such petitions on legislative behaviour. In the UK, signatures to government e-petitions provide MPs with information regarding the salience of different issues amongst their constituents.

https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/events/oxford-guidance-law-relating-humanitarian-relief-operations-armed-conflict

Speaker(s):
Anand Menon (King's College, London & Director UK in a changing Europe)
Chris Morris (BBC Europe correspondent)
Ian Dunt (Editor of politics.co.uk)
Geoff Evans (Nuffield College)

Chair:
Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony's College)