Lorenzo Termine
China today is understood as a 'revolutionary revisionist power’ striving to change the US-led international order. Yet, write Lorenzo Termine and Gabriele Natalizia, there is another type of revisionism, best described as ‘incremental’, that uses more moderate strategies to achieve its goals Read more
Matthew Flinders
Political scientists face increasing demands to demonstrate the relevance of their research beyond the academy (the so-called ‘impact agenda’). Matthew Flinders argues that this should be seen less a threat to the discipline’s autonomy than an opportunity to rise to public responsibilities Read more
Luciano Bardi
Italians have voted in favour of a populist proposal to reduce, quite drastically, the number of parliamentarians. The result of this referendum was never seriously in doubt, writes Luciano Bardi, yet its ramifications raise fundamental questions about the democratic health of Italy’s political system – and whether it can ever be reformed Read more
Maria Giulia Amadio Viceré
The post-Lisbon High Representative was supposed to bridge the supranational and intergovernmental facets of EU foreign policy. But Catherine Ashton and Federica Mogherini showed that institutional constraints persist – and their personal leadership skills were significant in achieving a common foreign policy, write Maria Giulia Amadio Viceré and Giulia Tercovich Read more
Richard Rose
Many referendums concern a decision in principle from which must follow a detailed implementation plan. In such cases, argues Richard Rose, good democratic practice demands a second referendum giving voters the option to change their mind Read more
Stuart A Brown
Scottish independence voters in the 2014 referendum refused to accept the UK government’s position that this was a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity. Six years on and a second referendum is back on the agenda, writes Stuart Brown Read more
Daniel Naurin
It is widely argued that courts should make public their dissenting opinions in order to right wrongs and increase transparency. Yet, writes Daniel Naurin, courts will have a harder time securing public compliance with their decisions if they fail to speak with one voice Read more
Sebastian Steingass
The EU Commission is considered the chief coordinator of member states’ development policies. But, argues Sebastian Steingass, a transnational network of member state experts plays a hidden yet crucial role in initiatives for collective action Read more
