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Category: Arts and social sciences

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Economists have urged Rachel Reeves to loosen the purse strings – here’s why it’s not that easy

Alan Shipman, Senior Lecturer in Economics at The Open University points out that Chancellor Rachel Reeves may struggle to change her stance on spending – as argued by economist. Here’s why: A group of economists has publicly urged chancellor Rachel Reeves to reverse her stance on public investment, and relax the Treasury rules that constrain […]

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Grenfell was not a state ‘failure’ – it was institutional violence

Grenfell was not a state ‘failure’ – it was institutional violence

Following the findings of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry Victoria Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Criminology at The Open University and David Whyte, Professor of Climate Justice from Queen Mary University of London, examine how ‘institutional violence’ played a part. People are not used to thinking of decisions made in boardrooms or by […]

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Five disinformation tactics Russia is using to try to influence the US election

Five disinformation tactics Russia is using to try to influence the US election

Russia is using more disinformation tactics to influence the US election, says Open University academic Dr Precious Chatterje-Doody, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies. Here she lists the five methods she has researched that show this. The White House’s recent exposure of Russian attempts to influence this year’s US presidential election will come […]

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Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker: a tumultuous examination of the impact of domestic abuse on motherhood

Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker: a tumultuous examination of the impact of domestic abuse on motherhood

Sally O’Reilly is an Honorary Associate in Creating Writing at The Open University and here she gives her review of a new book just out by US writer Chelsea Bieker on Madwoman – about the long-term effect of domestic abuse on motherhood. Clove is a young woman with a seemingly good life. She has an […]

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The UK’s suspension of some arms exports to Israel was highly political – here’s how to understand it

The UK’s suspension of some arms exports to Israel was highly political – here’s how to understand it

Jamie Gaskarth, Professor of Foreign Policy and International Relations at The Open University explains the politics behind the UK’s suspension of the arms export licence. The UK government has announced it is suspending 30 arms export licences to Israel for military equipment used in operations in Gaza. The rationale for this decision was “the clear […]

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Kyle looking aside from the camera, smiling with floral wallpaper behind him.

‘My confidence is the best it’s ever been, thanks to the OU’

Hampered by low confidence, Kyle, 36, rejected the place he was offered at a campus university, despite his lifelong dream of achieving a degree. Now studying Arts and Humanities at The Open University (OU), Kyle shares how a promise to his late nan gave him the strength to fulfil his potential and unleash an insatiable […]

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A young women with long blonde hair and a flower crown, smiles at the camera.

‘Every person I have met online has been so friendly, helpful and inspiring’

At 19 years old, Izzy wanted to achieve a degree but knew ‘going away’ to university wasn’t right for her. She shares how studying flexibly from home with The Open University (OU) fit her lifestyle and career goals. Izzy, now 21, said, “I was lost on what to do, knowing I didn’t want to attend […]

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A more varied diet would help the world’s economy as well as its health

A more varied diet would help the world’s economy as well as its health

The Open University’s Professor of Environment and Development Shonil Bhagwat and Emmanuel Junior Zuza, Senior Lecturer, from the Royal Agricultural University, reveal their research on how the health and wealth of the world’s economy could change for the better with a more varied diet. More than 75% of the food consumed in the world today […]

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Darren Harris wearing Paralympic kit, sunglasses, facing the camera and holding a gold cap to show 100 caps for the England blind football team.

‘OU study taught me a lot about myself,’ says dual Paralympian Darren Harris

As excitement builds for the Paris Paralympic Games, we caught up with Darren who, whilst competing in two separate Paralympic disciplines, completed a Psychology Conversion Course with The Open University (OU). Darren reflects how the flexibility of OU study made it possible to juggle the demands of training with an intensive postgraduate programme, in a […]

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Five books with musical backdrops if you are inspired by the BBC Proms season 

Five books with musical backdrops if you are inspired by the BBC Proms season 

Are you enriched by the Proms season? Check out the five book choices of The Open University’s Dr Joanne Reardon, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing. These tales feature the melodious golden threads of music and musical instruments as varied as the BBC Proms itself. From classical and opera to jazz and folk, these intensely human […]

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