The Open University

Boris delivers Brexit body blow for sterling, but long term picture is murkier

23 February 2016

Most prospective prime ministers would be mildly embarrassed if a boost to their chances made financial markets plunge. But Boris Johnson is doubtless gratified that his backing for Brexit led to the pound’s biggest one-day fall since the aftermath of the financial crisis. Sterling had barely flinched when cabinet ministers including Michael Gove and Iain […]

Why are today’s progressive political heroes still old white men?

16 February 2016

On both sides of the Atlantic, a reawakening of progressive politics is underway. In countries where until recently socialism was considered a “dirty word”, Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn are inspiring a growing number of American and British citizens with a message of economic equality and social justice. And both have concrete achievements to show […]

How to bump up your credit score

25 January 2016

Debt is cheap right now, but only if you can get someone to offer you a deal. The low interest rate environment has pushed rates on mortgages and loans to record lows, but at the same time, banks have tightened up their lending policies. Whether you get credit – and the interest rate you’ll pay […]

Academics urge better investigation into toxic air fumes in aircraft

23 January 2016

Studies into the impact of toxic air fumes in aircraft cabins are not rigorous enough, academics are saying. They have been examining the research. They say governments and industry need to look closely at the issue to give a definitive answer to concerns about health risks. Dr Gini Harrison, a Lecturer in Psychology at The […]

Finding out why women don’t rise to the top of the UK’s IT crowd

22 January 2016

Where are all the top women in IT in the UK? OU research is investigating this very question to see why there is a lack of women working in highly-skilled roles in the tech sector. The team will compare the UK and India, looking at the employment of women in this industry in both countries. […]

Hand holding up two scales. Image credit: Thinkstock

‘Enormously damaging’: OU experts on inequality and poverty report

21 January 2016

Global inequality is reaching new extremes, according to a new report by Oxfam which states that the richest one per cent of the population have more wealth than the rest of the world combined. The report puts power, privilege and the plight against poverty under the microscope and claims “the fight against poverty will not […]

Row of Iran Flags in Front of Tehran Skyline

Stability and cooperation is an asset for Iran, as tough sanctions are lifted

18 January 2016

Dr Edward Wastnidge, Lecturer in Politics and International Studies, outlines the importance of sanctions against Iran being lifted… The lifting of punitive economic sanctions against Iran is an important moment, not only due to the economic benefits that the Islamic Republic should see as a result, but also in terms of the wider political shift […]

The ‘chain reaction’ triggered by terrorist events

8 January 2016

This post has been updated from the original article posted on January 8 2016. In the wake of the explosions in Jakarta and the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, the OU’s Professor Marie Gillespie reflects on some of the issues raised. In June last year she hosted a forum that brought […]

Scottish politics: looking ahead to the 2016 elections

6 January 2016

Dr Gerry Mooney, senior lecturer in social policy, gives his view on what lies ahead for Scottish politics as 2016 brings elections and the devolution of further powers from Westminster… Following on from the discussions around Scotland’s Constitutional future over the last few years, 2016 brings the Scottish Parliament elections. While these are entirely about the election of the […]

Saudi Arabia is paying a heavy price for Iran’s global rehabilitation

5 January 2016

As 2015 drew to a close, you could have been forgiven for cautious optimism as far as Saudi-Iranian relations were concerned. With the years-in-the-making nuclear deal finally sealed, Iran had finally been brought in from the cold in talks over the Syrian conflict. A fragile ceasefire had been agreed amongst the warring factions in Yemen. […]

OU News

Category: Society and politics