The Open University

Autumn Statement 2016: Tories shift to growth strategy in an Ed Balls-style pirouette

23 November 2016

Needing to perform a fiscal twist in a confined space, it looks like Philip Hammond has borrowed some dance steps from former shadow chancellor Ed Balls. Despite some mockery of his recent turns on TV show Strictly Come Dancing, Balls’ footprints are clearly visible on the spending boost the chancellor unveiled in his first Autumn […]

Prison violence is not about staffing: they’ve always been dangerous for prisoners

18 November 2016

In an attempt to force the hand of the government in negotiations regarding the numbers of prison officers employed in public sector prisons, more than 10,000 prison officers have taken part in a 24-hour “protest action”. It is illegal for prison officers to strike, but officers stopped work at midnight on November 15. Prisons went […]

Trump and the triumph of hopeful nihilism

9 November 2016

For many US voters, the election of President Donald Trump is a worrying step backwards. But for many others, his rise to power is an exciting opportunity for national renewal. This division reflects the emergence of a new 21st-century politics – one waged between genuine cynics and hopeful nihilists. The former think the system is unchangeable […]

Tanzania’s social media policing increases the risks of government abuse

31 October 2016

Access to digital information and communications technologies has increased dramatically over the past decade across Africa. In Tanzania, 87% of urban residents report using a mobile phone every day. In addition, 34% of the population access the internet. The vast majority use their mobile phones to do so. Prepaid bundles offered by service providers have […]

The real reason clowns scare us

28 October 2016

This Halloween may be the scariest in a long time. Facing the usual huge crowds of zombies, witches and vampires, deep down, many of us most fear running into one of the “killer clowns” that have been spotted in creepy places across the world. I barely noticed it at first, even though I actually study […]

Today’s immigration laws have teeth, and their bite is toxic for people seeking asylum

26 October 2016

As a dock city, Liverpool has served as a gateway to the sugar trade, slavery and global transport for hundreds of years. It has long been a city of immigrants from Ireland, India and Pakistan to Somalia, Ethiopia and Jamaica. It boasts the oldest Chinese community in Europe, and the largest Chinese arch outside of […]

OU academic dispels the myths about autism

12 October 2016

What is autism? What causes it? Will there be and, indeed, should there be a cure for autism? Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The Open University (OU), Dr Ilona Roth, debunks the myths about the condition and explains how the latest research is changing our perception of autism… What is autism and what is the […]

The White House, WAshington DC. Image credit: Thinkstock

OU academic speaks at White House on bisexuality issues

29 September 2016

Senior lecturer in psychology at The Open University Dr Meg-John Barker was among a prestigious panel at the White House, for an official White House Briefing discussing the challenges for and the support given to the bisexuality community. The briefing, held on Monday 26th, was the latest initiative in the White House’s many efforts to […]

History offers Britain an important lesson on shutting down immigration

29 September 2016

The rate of hate crimes reported in the UK has rocketed since the country voted to leave the European Union in June, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council. In 2013 we published research on the parallels between British discontent about migration in the 2010s and in the late 1960s – a moment perhaps best […]

Can quotas make gender equality happen in politics? Lessons from business

28 September 2016

The number of women MPs in the British parliament is the highest it’s ever been. There are 191 women among the 650 MPs, up a third from the 2010 election. This has to be good news, especially for the many critics of national politics who complain that too many politicians are white male graduates of […]

OU News

Category: Arts and social sciences