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Sustainability has become a touchstone for development worldwide, promising an antidote to environmental degradation and capitalism's excess: waste. Refusing Sustainability: Race and Environmentalism in a Changing Europe (Stanford University Press, 2025) presents a fundamentally different account of sustainability and waste itself by uncovering the intersections of international environmental reforms and racialized labor. In Bulgaria, Roma comprise the bulk of the country's waste workers, while anti-Roma racism casts them as socially disposable. Without their labor, however, the country cannot meet the sustainability targets required by the European Union. Drawing on fieldwork that spans twenty years, including eleven months working alongside Romani women street sweepers, and years embedded in waste organizations, political campaigns, Roma NGOs, and activist groups, Elana Resnick examines the power hierarchies that shape both waste management and European geopolitics. Instead of focusing on only environmental harms or toxic distributions, Refusing Sustainability approaches Romani life-worlds as spaces of creative production, and also tells several larger stories: of postsocialist racial capitalism, environmental progressivism, democratic failures, mutual aid, and the power of women's friendships. Through these stories, Resnick illuminates how ordinary people, racialized as discardable, resist systems that simultaneously rely on and exclude them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Sustainability has become a touchstone for development worldwide, promising an antidote to environmental degradation and capitalism's excess: waste. Refusing Sustainability: Race and Environmentalism in a Changing Europe (Stanford University Press, 2025) presents a fundamentally different account of sustainability and waste itself by uncovering the intersections of international environmental reforms and racialized labor. In Bulgaria, Roma comprise the bulk of the country's waste workers, while anti-Roma racism casts them as socially disposable. Without their labor, however, the country cannot meet the sustainability targets required by the European Union. Drawing on fieldwork that spans twenty years, including eleven months working alongside Romani women street sweepers, and years embedded in waste organizations, political campaigns, Roma NGOs, and activist groups, Elana Resnick examines the power hierarchies that shape both waste management and European geopolitics. Instead of focusing on only environmental harms or toxic distributions, Refusing Sustainability approaches Romani life-worlds as spaces of creative production, and also tells several larger stories: of postsocialist racial capitalism, environmental progressivism, democratic failures, mutual aid, and the power of women's friendships. Through these stories, Resnick illuminates how ordinary people, racialized as discardable, resist systems that simultaneously rely on and exclude them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/environmental-studies
Sustainability has become a touchstone for development worldwide, promising an antidote to environmental degradation and capitalism's excess: waste. Refusing Sustainability: Race and Environmentalism in a Changing Europe (Stanford University Press, 2025) presents a fundamentally different account of sustainability and waste itself by uncovering the intersections of international environmental reforms and racialized labor. In Bulgaria, Roma comprise the bulk of the country's waste workers, while anti-Roma racism casts them as socially disposable. Without their labor, however, the country cannot meet the sustainability targets required by the European Union. Drawing on fieldwork that spans twenty years, including eleven months working alongside Romani women street sweepers, and years embedded in waste organizations, political campaigns, Roma NGOs, and activist groups, Elana Resnick examines the power hierarchies that shape both waste management and European geopolitics. Instead of focusing on only environmental harms or toxic distributions, Refusing Sustainability approaches Romani life-worlds as spaces of creative production, and also tells several larger stories: of postsocialist racial capitalism, environmental progressivism, democratic failures, mutual aid, and the power of women's friendships. Through these stories, Resnick illuminates how ordinary people, racialized as discardable, resist systems that simultaneously rely on and exclude them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology
Sustainability has become a touchstone for development worldwide, promising an antidote to environmental degradation and capitalism's excess: waste. Refusing Sustainability: Race and Environmentalism in a Changing Europe (Stanford University Press, 2025) presents a fundamentally different account of sustainability and waste itself by uncovering the intersections of international environmental reforms and racialized labor. In Bulgaria, Roma comprise the bulk of the country's waste workers, while anti-Roma racism casts them as socially disposable. Without their labor, however, the country cannot meet the sustainability targets required by the European Union. Drawing on fieldwork that spans twenty years, including eleven months working alongside Romani women street sweepers, and years embedded in waste organizations, political campaigns, Roma NGOs, and activist groups, Elana Resnick examines the power hierarchies that shape both waste management and European geopolitics. Instead of focusing on only environmental harms or toxic distributions, Refusing Sustainability approaches Romani life-worlds as spaces of creative production, and also tells several larger stories: of postsocialist racial capitalism, environmental progressivism, democratic failures, mutual aid, and the power of women's friendships. Through these stories, Resnick illuminates how ordinary people, racialized as discardable, resist systems that simultaneously rely on and exclude them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology
Sustainability has become a touchstone for development worldwide, promising an antidote to environmental degradation and capitalism's excess: waste. Refusing Sustainability: Race and Environmentalism in a Changing Europe (Stanford University Press, 2025) presents a fundamentally different account of sustainability and waste itself by uncovering the intersections of international environmental reforms and racialized labor. In Bulgaria, Roma comprise the bulk of the country's waste workers, while anti-Roma racism casts them as socially disposable. Without their labor, however, the country cannot meet the sustainability targets required by the European Union. Drawing on fieldwork that spans twenty years, including eleven months working alongside Romani women street sweepers, and years embedded in waste organizations, political campaigns, Roma NGOs, and activist groups, Elana Resnick examines the power hierarchies that shape both waste management and European geopolitics. Instead of focusing on only environmental harms or toxic distributions, Refusing Sustainability approaches Romani life-worlds as spaces of creative production, and also tells several larger stories: of postsocialist racial capitalism, environmental progressivism, democratic failures, mutual aid, and the power of women's friendships. Through these stories, Resnick illuminates how ordinary people, racialized as discardable, resist systems that simultaneously rely on and exclude them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies
This week, temperatures across much of Europe reached above 40 C. In parts of Spain and Portugal, it was hotter than the Sahara Desert.Governments are telling citizens to stay indoors. Schools have closed. Wildfires have spread. Nuclear reactors have reduced their output because rivers have become too warm to cool them efficiently. The World Health Organization says Europe's heat is responsible for 1,300 deaths since June 21st.For generations Europe built its cities, homes, public spaces and tourism industry around the assumption that summers would be hot, but bearable. That assumption is beginning to change. The Guardian's Europe environment correspondent Ajit Niranjan joins us to talk about what happens when a whole continent discovers it was built for a climate that no longer exists.For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
This opening panel is held 10 years to the day since the 2016 ‘Brexit' referendum result was announced. As was predicted at the time, neither the referendum nor the UK's eventual departure from the EU in 2020 definitively settled the UK–EU relationship, which has continued to evolve. Recent discussions have focused particularly on the Labour government's efforts to achieve closer cooperation with the EU, and its plans for more ongoing alignment with EU rules. Particular challenges also remain in Northern Ireland. So, ten years after the referendum, what is the current state of UK–EU relations? What has changed since Labour took office? And what further changes might be coming? Speakers: Professor Katy Hayward – Professor of Political Sociology at Queen's University Belfast Professor Anand Menon – Director of the UK in a Changing Europe and Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King's College London Lord (Jock) Stirrup – Crossbench peer and chair of the House of Lords European Affairs Committee Chair: Lisa James – Senior Research Fellow, Constitution Unit Links:Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unitMailing list: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/get-involved/mailing-listBlog: constitution-unit.com
It's ten years to the day since Britain voted by an infamously thin margin to leave the EU – and after a decade of acrimony, most voters now recognise Brexit as a colossal mistake. Yet politicians refuse to reopen this radioactive topic. If so many people hate Brexit, why don't we just reverse it? Could we even reverse it? And is now the right time? Few people understand the reality of Rejoin more than Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King's College London and director of UK in a Changing Europe. He talks to Emma Kennedy about the daunting reality behind the dream of reapplying for EU membership. • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/TheBunker • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Emma Kennedy. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After nearly four months, global commodity markets have shown both vulnerability and resilience amid the unprecedented disruptions caused by the Iran war. The European gas market is no exception. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte examines the paradoxes shaping Europe's gas outlook. Gas prices in Europe have surged since the conflict erupted, yet remain far below the panic-driven highs of 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Beneath the surface, however, a new set of risks is emerging: gas storage is filling at its slowest pace in years, and the market's reliance on LNG has left it increasingly exposed to fresh supply shocks. Matt Hoisch, senior gas and LNG reporter at Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, speaks with Jack Sharples, senior research fellow on the gas research program at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, about why prices haven't reached 2022 crisis levels, what current storage figures mean for winter volatility, and how the gas market's growing interconnectedness is amplifying uncertainty.
After nearly four months, global commodity markets have shown both vulnerability and resilience amid the unprecedented disruptions caused by the Iran war. The European gas market is no exception. In this episode of Energy Evolution, host Eklavya Gupte examines the paradoxes shaping Europe's gas outlook. Gas prices in Europe have surged since the conflict erupted, yet remain far below the panic-driven highs of 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Beneath the surface, however, a new set of risks is emerging: gas storage is filling at its slowest pace in years, and the market's reliance on LNG has left it increasingly exposed to fresh supply shocks. Matt Hoisch, senior gas and LNG reporter at Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, speaks with Jack Sharples, senior research fellow on the gas research program at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, about why prices haven't reached 2022 crisis levels, what current storage figures mean for winter volatility, and how the gas market's growing interconnectedness is amplifying uncertainty.
Just before the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, the Treasury (and others) warned the consequences would be catastrophic. GDP would fall and unemployment would rise, Sterling would dip and government borrowing would climb. The shock of Brexit would plunge the UK into a recession. Ten years later, it's clear some of those predictions were wide of the mark. But Brexit has made the UK's economy smaller. As would-be Labour leaders Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham openly discuss the case for rejoining the EU, Soumaya asks Anand Menon, head of the UK in a Changing Europe think-tank, what the UK's relationship with the EU should look like. They discuss the UK's surprising areas of economic outperformance, why Labour's “red lines” are hampering its trade ambitions and what the EU would demand if the UK moved to rejoin.Further reading:Andy Burnham plays down rejoining EU after Wes Streeting advocates Brexit reversalTen years on, what's next for Brexit? You asked, we answeredBritain re-entering the EU ‘an inevitability', says Treasury ministerSubscribe to Soumaya's show on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen.Presented by Soumaya Keynes. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. Original music and sound design by Breen Turner. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Flo Phillips is the FT's head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fragmentation, volatility and voter disillusionment are striking features of British politics. On this episode of the UK in a Changing Europe podcast, Anand Menon is joined by Jane Green, Professor of Political Science and British Politics at Nuffield College. They discuss the local election results i the reorganisation of the electorate with the rise of small parties, Reform's Restore problem, and whether Andy Burnham can change Labour's electoral prospects. Tune in to find out why it is so hard for even psephologists to predict what's coming next.
With the idea of rejoining the European Union suddenly back on the agenda after Andy Burnham's selection for the Makerfield by-election and the positioning ahead of potential Labour leadership contest, this week we're looking at whether 10 years on from the referendum, could Brexit ever be reversed? Would there ever be the political will, the public backing or the practical ability, for Britain to once again be a part of the EU, and would stirring up a maelstrom that seemed finally settled, blow up our politics irreparably?Later in the episode host Alain Tolhurst speaks to Professor Anand Menon, director of the think tank UK in a Changing Europe, along with the former Conservative minister Steve Baker, who now writes the Fighting for a Better Future substack, about how serious the idea of rejoining is.But first the Labour MP Stella Creasy, chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, spoke to Alain about how the party should approach the UK's future relationship with the EU.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced and edited by Ewan Cameron and Lulu Goad for Podot
A decade on, you might have thought Brexit was done and dusted – but our relationship with the European Union is still in flux.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is proposing a reset that could result in the UK signing up to EU rules without the need for a normal parliamentary vote, under what are known as Henry VIII powers.But in pushing for closer ties with the continent, is he risking a return to rule-taking without any say in what those rules are? And what might this new relationship with Brussels look like?Niall speaks to Professor Anand Menon, director at UK in a Changing Europe, about the significance of this moment in UK-EU relations.Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show: why@sky.uk
In recent years, there has been no shortage of crises for Europe to face. From the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine, the climate crisis, the migration crisis, it now must add an increasingly unreliable and unpredictable leader in the White House and the consequences of the conflict in Iran. On this episode of The UK in a Changing Europe podcast, Director Anand Menon is joined by Mark Leonard, co-founder and Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. The pair discuss the end of the transatlantic alliance as we know it and how Europe can strenghten its resilience outside of NATO structures, whether European responses to different crises have met the moment, as well as the problems that the structural changes that China is driving will present for Europe looking forward.
The freedom to regulate (or deregulate) independently from the EU was at the heart of the Eurosceptic vision of Brexit. However, very little meaningful divergence was achieved under successive Conservative governments and closer alignment with EU rules is now seen as central to the current government's EU reset and growth agendas. On this episode of the UK in a Changing Europe podcast, Anand Menon is joined by our dynamic duo of regulation experts Jill Rutter and Joël Reland to unpack what has driven this marked change. Tune in to find out more about why the Conservatives made so little use of 'Brexit freedoms' to diverge when they had the chance, what regulations actually do and why the public tend to back them, how divergence and alignment impact trade and businesses, as well as why the government's negotiations with the EU, and its overall ambition to align more closely, are proving more difficult than anticipated.
This week marked 4 years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the start of a war that served as a wakeup call for Europe and the West. Since then, we've seen Europe take drastic steps to cut its ties to Russian gas, redrawing the region's energy map. Greece has played, and continues to play, a key role in this story. At the same time, questions remain about European security, the continued Russian threat, and whether the Trump administration can deliver a negotiated peace. Finally, the war in Ukraine also brought the world's attention to a murkier side of the Kremlin's playbook, and that's the weaponization of the Orthodox Church and its campaign to undermine the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, Charles Kupchan, Elena Lazarou, and Aristotle Papanikolaou join Thanos Davelis this week for a deep dive into how Russia's invasion of Ukraine four years ago has changed Europe, reshaped the region's energy map, and impacted the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Orthodoxy around the world. Taking us to our “I am HALC” segment, we're putting the spotlight on Andreas Akaras, looking at his time on Capitol Hill and his work bringing Turkey to justice over the attack by Turkish President Erdogan's bodyguards against US protesters in Washington, DC. A little more info on our guests: Charles Kupchan is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and professor of international affairs at Georgetown University in the Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of Government. Elena Lazarou is the Director General of ELIAMEP and an expert specializing in EU foreign policy, global geopolitics, transatlantic relations, and security and defence issues. Amb. Geoffrey Pyatt is former US ambassador to Greece and Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources. Aristotle Papanikolaou is a Professor of Theology and the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture. He is Co-founding Director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.
There have always been supporters and sceptics when it comes to the UK's relationship with its European neighbours. On the latest episode of the UK in a Changing Europe podcast, Anand Menon takes a walk through the history of the UK's uncomfortable relationship with Europe with historian, journalist and Editor in Chief of the New Statesman Tom McTague. They discuss Tom's new book Between the Waves that tells the story of the clashing characters and ideals that have influenced how the UK has navigated its relationship with Europe. Drawing parallels with today, they discuss the lack of openness when it comes to the trade-offs involved in being a part of the European project, the tensions between the UK's relationship with the US and the EU and the current Labour government's approach to UK-EU relations. Listen now for some invaluable historical context and useful insight into the UK's relationship with the EU.
On this week's Unpacking Europe podcast, the CER's deputy director Ian Bond sat down with Anton Spisak, a senior research fellow at the CER, and Jannike Wachowiak, a researcher at the UK in a Changing Europe, to discuss how things stand in the EU-UK relationship and if 2026 will be the year to reset the reset? They also discussed the prospects for the future of the relationship, including the Labour party's red lines, its pledges to improve the Trade and Co-operation Agreement and its policies on economic growth and European defence procurement .
This week, deep breath, we're delving back into the Brexit years, after a new book about the failed campaign for a second EU referendum is published this week.It tells the story of a rag-tag bunch of Remainers, Europhiles and progressives coming together out of the anti-Brexit movement following the vote to leave in 2016, hoping to drag the country back to the ballot box in the hope of a different outcome.How they got closer than anyone might have expected, and why they ultimately fell short, is the subject of 'No Second Chances The Inside Story of the Campaign for a Second EU Referendum, by the journalist Morgan Jones.Host Alain Tolhurst spoke to her about why that period between 2017 and 2019 has been "memory-holed" by most in Westminster, and what we can learn from that period about how the current government, led by the one-time shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, is reshaping our relationship with the EU.Speaking alongside her is the Labour MP Andrew Lewin, who back then founded and ran the 'Remain Labour' group, and Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics at King's College London, and the director of the UK In a Changing Europe think tank.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot
Upon entering office, the Labour government embarked on a reset in its relationship with the European Union. In this episode of the UK in a Changing Europe podcast, Anand Menon is joined by Marina Wheeler KC, author of A more perfect union, for a discussion on how the UK should manage its relationship with the EU . A self-proclaimed supporter of the European project turned Brexiter, Marina puts forward her case that closer ties with the EU and making Brexit a success are not mutually exclusive. Tune in to hear her reflections on the impact of global turmoil on the relationship and the, the shared values and issues that bring together the UK and the EU, as well as how the EU might feel about it all.
What does faithful leadership in theological education look like amid cultural change, secularization, and global realignment? In this insightful conversation, Marvin Oxenham offers a grounded and hopeful perspective on the state of theological education in Europe. Drawing from his leadership with the European Council for Theological Education and his work across multiple global networks, Marvin challenges narratives of decline and highlights growth, innovation, and renewed opportunity for the church and academy across Europe.
Trump's second term has been markedly different from his first and has already brought with it the most radical shift in US foreign policy since the Second World War. 2026 has seen Trump ramping up action and rhetoric on multiple fronts with even greater pressure on UK and European leaders to respond. What do the next three years hold for relations between the UK, US and EU? Are current tactics and strategies working for the UK and Europe or do leaders need to change course? Will the prime minister finally be forced to choose between Washington and Brussels? On the first anniversary of Trump's 2025 inauguration, the Institute for Government and UK in a Changing Europe were delighted to invite you to a panel to discuss these and other questions, with: Sir Simon Fraser, Chair of Flint Global, Chair of Chatham House and former Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2010-15 Fiona Hill, Chancellor of Durham University, Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution and former Presidential Adviser on Foreign Affairs Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. We would like to thank UK in a Changing Europe for kindly supporting this event.
Trump's second term has been markedly different from his first and has already brought with it the most radical shift in US foreign policy since the Second World War. 2026 has seen Trump ramping up action and rhetoric on multiple fronts with even greater pressure on UK and European leaders to respond. What do the next three years hold for relations between the UK, US and EU? Are current tactics and strategies working for the UK and Europe or do leaders need to change course? Will the prime minister finally be forced to choose between Washington and Brussels? On the first anniversary of Trump's 2025 inauguration, the Institute for Government and UK In a Changing Europe are delighted to invite you to a panel to discuss these and other questions, with: Sir Simon Fraser, Chair of Flint Global, Chair of Chatham House and former Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2010-15 Fiona Hill, Chancellor of Durham University, Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution and former Presidential Adviser on Foreign Affairs Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe This event will be chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. We would like to thank UK in a Changing Europe for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This year has seen the inauguration of Donald Trump, the first ever UK-EU summit, continued conflict in Ukraine and other parts of the world, severe domestic and foreign policy challenges, as well as a changing political landscape in the UK. As 2025 draws to a close, Anand Menon is joined by UKICE stalwarts Catherine Barnard and Rob Ford for a discussion on the year gone by. They reflect on Trump 2.0 the Labour party's remarkable slump in the polls and the rise of its challengers, how Brexit dividing lines still influence how people vote, how the government's much-vaunted UK-EU reset has really gone, and, of course, some predictions for 2026.
At May's UK-EU summit, Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a new Common Understanding between the EU and the UK. The government hailed a new “deal” with the EU which included an agreement on fisheries and a joint commitment to negotiate a ‘youth experience scheme', as well as new arrangements for agriculture, emissions trading, energy cooperation and defence. Many of these changes will involve the UK accepting dynamic alignment, with its potential role in “decision-shaping” to be defined. Six months on, how much progress has been made? Have new stumbling blocks emerged? And now the government has started to highlight the economic consequences of Brexit, will it start to seek an even closer relationship? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by our expert panel: Baroness Ashton, former High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and member of House of Lords and European Affairs Committee Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe Calum Miller MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Foreign Affairs) Sir Ivan Rogers, former UK Permanent Representative to the EU The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank UK in a Changing Europe for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
At May's UK-EU summit, Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a new Common Understanding between the EU and the UK. The government hailed a new “deal” with the EU which included an agreement on fisheries and a joint commitment to negotiate a ‘youth experience scheme', as well as new arrangements for agriculture, emissions trading, energy cooperation and defence. Many of these changes will involve the UK accepting dynamic alignment, with its potential role in “decision-shaping” to be defined. Six months on, how much progress has been made? Have new stumbling blocks emerged? And now the government has started to highlight the economic consequences of Brexit, will it start to seek an even closer relationship? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by our expert panel: Baroness Ashton, former High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and member of House of Lords and European Affairs Committee Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe Calum Miller MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Foreign Affairs) Sir Ivan Rogers, former UK Permanent Representative to the EU The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank UK in a Changing Europe for kindly supporting this event.
The Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS) hosts an annual public lecture in honour of Lord Mackenzie-Stuart, the first British Judge to be President of the Court of Justice. Among the eminent scholars of European legal studies invited to give the lecture are Professor Joseph Weiler, former Judge David Edwards of the European Court of Justice, and Advocate-General Francis Jacobs of the European Court of Justice. The texts of the Mackenzie-Stuart Lectures are published in the Cambridge Yearbook of European Legal Studies.The 2025-26 Mackenzie-Stuart Lecture was delivered by Professor Anand Menon, Director, UK in a Changing Europe, on the title 'Reflections on the Brexit Revolution' on 3 November 2025.Anand Menon is Director of the UK in a Changing Europe and Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King's College London. He has written widely on many aspects of EU politics and policy and on UK-EU relations. He is a frequent contributor to the media on matters relating to British relations with the EU.Abstract: The outcome of the Brexit referendum was driven by many forces, including increasing frustration at an economic and political model that seemed to be failing far too many people. And the vote to Leave in fact provided a unique opportunity for this discontent to be addressed. The fact that it was not has merely contributed to the growing appeal of populism. And along the way, many of the things we took for granted about our country and the way it is governed have been challenged.Lecture begins at 03:52The slides are available at:PDF: https://resources.law.cam.ac.uk/cels/MSL_2025_26_slides.pdfPowerpoint: https://resources.law.cam.ac.uk/cels/MSL_2025_26_slides.pptxMore information about this lecture, including photographs from the event, is available from the Centre for European Legal Studies website at:https://www.cels.law.cam.ac.uk/mackenzie-stuart-lectures
Russia will not stop until they are forced to do so – that was the opening remark from Danish Prime Minister at a European Leaders summit. EU leaders have been calling to boost European defence after a series of Russian incursions into EU airspace, and days after drones targeted Danish airports. But can the 27 EU countries work together as the threat of Russian aggression continues to loom over Europe? Guest: Anand Menon, director of The UK in a Changing Europe and professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King's College London.
There's a paradox at the center of Elana Resnick's book, Refusing Sustainability: Race and Environmentalism in a Changing Europe. EU policies of environmental sustainability in Bulgaria require the racialization of Romani into a permanent low-skilled and impoverished workforce. Waste management required teams of Romani streetsweepers and trash collectors to sort trash into waste, recyclables and compost, and bring them for processing and reuse. This labor was historically filled by Bulgaria's Romani citizens, to the point where white Bulgarians equated them with waste. And in turn, Roma's racial otherness allowed white Bulgarians to enter a pan-European concept of whiteness. Since race is a favorite subject on the Eurasian Knot, Sean spoke to Elana about Sofia's Romani women as waste workers, the powerful solidarity and collective action that emerges from their labor, and the implications for Romani rights struggle in Bulgaria.Guest:Elana Resnick is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she also leads the Infrastructural Inequalities Research Group. She's the author of several articles and the book, Refusing Sustainability: Race and Environmentalism in a Changing Europe, published by Stanford University Press.Send us your sounds! PatreonKnotty News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Public trust in migration systems—and in democracy more broadly—is eroding. As rapid demographic shifts fuel anxieties in many communities, governments are feeling the pressure and responding with increasingly restrictive policies—scaling back immigration, imposing stricter integration requirements, and narrowing pathways to long-term residency and citizenship. Will these sweeping, highly visible policies designed to signal control meaningfully address the real pressures communities face and restore trust in the democratic institutions charged with governing migration? This discussion, held in Berlin in collaboration with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, examines the relationship between migration policy, integration approaches, public trust, and democratic resilience in Europe and beyond. Looking at new research on public attitudes toward immigration and institutional trust, speakers explore how migration policy decisions—not just political narratives—shape public opinion and societal well-being. Speakers: Meghan Benton, Director of Global Programs, Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Ben Mason-Sucher, Program Lead,Migration, More in Common Germany Frank Sharry, Consultant, British Future; an advisor to the Kamala Harris campaign; former head of U.S. immigrant-rights organizations Ulrich Weinbrenner, Former Director General for Migration, Refugees, and Return Policy, German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community
Sir Keir Starmer has only been prime minister for 16 months but already there are reports some Labour MPs want him out. The details that have emerged about Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the Angela Rayner tax scandal and Labour's perceived lack of direction by some in the party have all put pressure on Sir Keir - with a growing number of MPs said to be feeling he has until May's local elections to turn things around. It's the biggest threat to his leadership so far and a somewhat familiar name is reportedly preparing to try and replace him. Allies of Andy Burnham – the “King in the North” who's currently the Mayor of Greater Manchester – have launched a new campaign group, Mainstream, calling on the government to introduce a wealth tax, nationalise utility companies and end the two-child benefit cap. Who is Andy Burnham and how plausible is it that he could replace Sir Keir? How fragile is the prime minister's position and what would a Labour leadership election look like? Niall Paterson is joined by Professor Robert Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester and a senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe. Producer: Natalie Ktena & Emily Hulme Editor: Mike Bovill
Does the ECHR really block the UK's ability to implement effective immigration/asylum policies? And why is Nigel Farage doing his best to persuade the foreign US government and its increasingly far right tech bro cronies, to bully the UK over the Online Safety Act, so recently passed by Parliament? And how does this behaviour align with his loudly professed patriotism and promotion of British sovereignty? This week on Double Jeopardy, hosts Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC provide expert legal commentary on the Court of Appeal's ruling on the Bell Hotel injunction case and discuss the broader implications of UK and European asylum policies, with special focus on Denmark and Sweden. The episode also covers Nigel Farage's political manoeuvres, the populist claim that we have a "two-tier justice" system and insights from a recent research paper examining the impacts of European Court of Human Rights rulings on UK deportation policies. Link to the UK in a Changing Europe 2025 article by Dr Alice Donald, Dr Joelle Grogan and Victoria Adelmant located here: https://ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/does-the-european-convention-on-human-rights-stop-foreign-criminals-being-removed-from-the-uk/ --- Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future. What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system? Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays. Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights. Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law. Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades. Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape. If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.
In this final episode of season 4, Richard Westcott is joined by Catherine Barnard (University of Cambridge) and Emmanuelle Auriol (Toulouse School of Economics) to explore the economic, legal, and social dimensions of migration.Drawing on insights from law and economics, the conversation explores how migration affects labour markets, legal protections, and social cohesion — from post-Brexit realities in Great Yarmouth, UK, to global questions of fairness and opportunity. The episode examines who migrates and why, the limits of current border regimes, and what more effective and ethical migration policies could look like.Season 4 Episode 10 transcriptListen to this episode on your preferred podcast platformFor more information about the Crossing Channels podcast series and the work of the Bennett School of Public Policy and the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, visit our websites at https://www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.iast.fr/.Follow us on Linkedin, Bluesky and X. With thanks to:Audio production by Steve HankeyAssociate production by Burcu Sevde SelviVisuals by Tiffany Naylor and Aurore CarbonnelMore information about our host and guests:Richard Westcott is an award-winning journalist who spent 27 years at the BBC as a correspondent/producer/presenter covering global stories for the flagship Six and Ten o'clock TV news as well as the Today programme. In 2024, Richard left the corporation and he is now the communications director for Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, both organisations that are working to support life sciences and healthcare across the city. @BBCwestcottEmmanuelle Auriol is a French economist and professor at Toulouse School of Economics. Her research combines theory and empirics in industrial organisation and development economics, focusing on market failures driven by rent-seeking, cognitive biases, and discriminatory norms. Her work blends neoclassical and behavioural economics and has been published in top journals. A CNRS Bronze Medalist and member of the Institut Universitaire de France, she is also a fellow of the EEA, CEPR, CESifo, and EUDN. She contributes to policy and development work with institutions like the French Development Agency and the World Bank. She serves on the Conseil d'Analyse Économique, is a member of the Cercle des Économistes, and has authored two award-winning books.Catherine Barnard FBA, FLSW, FRSA is Professor of European Law at the University of Cambridge. She is the author of EU Employment Law (Oxford, OUP, 2012, 5th ed.), The Substantive Law of the EU: The Four Freedoms, (Oxford, OUP, 2025, 8th ed), and (with Peers ed), European Union Law (Oxford, OUP, 2023, 4th ed). She is a member of the European Commission funded European Labour Law Network (ELLN). She is a Senior Fellow of the UK in a Changing Europe where she considers the legal issues around migration, together with the legal and constitutional issues associated with Brexit, in particular the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. She has appeared on the main media channels - BBC, ITV and Sky - as well as some of the more specialist programmes such as Law in Action, Woman's Hour, Question Time, Any Questions and the Briefing Room. She has also written for the Guardian and the Telegraph. She has given evidence to numerous select committees on the legal issues connected with Brexit.
Max and Otto discuss last week's NATO summit in The Hague, where European allies signed up to a massive new spending pledge. Donatienne talks with Sarah Hall, 1931 Professor of Geography and Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge University and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe, about the state of the UK economy and Labour's economic agenda. Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts NATO's “Brain Death” in The Hague
Back by popular demand, Hannah White, Paul Johnson and Anand Menon reunited on stage to record a special live episode of The Expert Factor – the podcast for people who haven't had enough of experts. Nine years to the day since the UK voted to leave the EU, as the directors of three of the UK's leading think tanks – the Institute for Government, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and UK in a Changing Europe – got together to discuss, explore and explain the big questions facing Keir Starmer's Labour government and Britain's opposition parties in an increasingly unpredictable world. The event was held in partnership with UK in a Changing Europe.
Back by popular demand, Hannah White, Paul Johnson and Anand Menon reunited on stage to record a special live episode of The Expert Factor – the podcast for people who haven't had enough of experts. Nine years to the day since the UK voted to leave the EU, as the directors of three of the UK's leading think tanks – the Institute for Government, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and UK in a Changing Europe – got together to discuss, explore and explain the big questions facing Keir Starmer's Labour government and Britain's opposition parties in an increasingly unpredictable world. The event was held in partnership with UK in a Changing Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Matt Goodwin joins John to unpack the UK's economic, cultural, and political turmoil. Matt describes a Britain grappling with stagnant growth, a severe cost-of-living crisis, and the fallout of mass immigration, including the grooming gang scandal that has shaken public trust. He highlights the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform Party, which is surging in polls by addressing voter frustrations over broken borders, and elite disconnect, signalling a potential reshaping of the two-party system.Matt also explores the erosion of trust in legacy institutions, fueled by perceived authoritarianism from the Labour government, such as restrictions on free speech and denialism about immigration's impacts. With optimism rooted in the British people's resilience, exemplified by Brexit, this episode delves into the cultural pushback against progressive excesses and the urgent need for policies to restore national cohesion and sovereignty.Matt Goodwin is an academic, bestseller writer and speaker known for his work on political volatility, risk, populism, British politics, Europe, elections and Brexit. He is Professor of Politics at Rutherford College, University of Kent and has previously served as Senior Visiting Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House and Senior Fellow with the UK In a Changing Europe. He runs one of UK's biggest Substacks at https://www.mattgoodwin.org/.
Why are young men leaning right while young women shift left? Hosts Nina dos Santos and Owen Bennett-Jones speak with NYU's Scott Galloway, political analyst Sophie Stowers, and commentator Oliver Dean to explore the forces behind this growing divide. Whether it's a broken social contract where young people no longer believe they will lead better, more prosperous lives than their parents or the work of algorithms that feed off rage and division, the implications are profound. This podcast was recorded live at NYU London, in front of an audience of students who are part of a generation searching for increasingly radical solutions to fix society. Guests Scott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business where he teaches Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing to second-year MBA students. He is also a Bestselling author, professor and entrepreneur. Sophie Stowers - A Research Associate at UK in a Changing Europe. Her background is in British and European politics, and her research focuses on UK-EU relations, British politics and parties, and public opinion. She previously worked as a Parliamentary Assistant. Oliver Dean a political commentator with Young Voices UK. He studies History and Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science where he is the Treasurer of the LSE Hayek Society. Producer: Pearse Lynch Executive Producer: Lucinda Knight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science
Why are young men leaning right while young women shift left? Hosts Nina dos Santos and Owen Bennett-Jones speak with NYU's Scott Galloway, political analyst Sophie Stowers, and commentator Oliver Dean to explore the forces behind this growing divide. Whether it's a broken social contract where young people no longer believe they will lead better, more prosperous lives than their parents or the work of algorithms that feed off rage and division, the implications are profound. This podcast was recorded live at NYU London, in front of an audience of students who are part of a generation searching for increasingly radical solutions to fix society. Guests Scott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business where he teaches Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing to second-year MBA students. He is also a Bestselling author, professor and entrepreneur. Sophie Stowers - A Research Associate at UK in a Changing Europe. Her background is in British and European politics, and her research focuses on UK-EU relations, British politics and parties, and public opinion. She previously worked as a Parliamentary Assistant. Oliver Dean a political commentator with Young Voices UK. He studies History and Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science where he is the Treasurer of the LSE Hayek Society. Producer: Pearse Lynch Executive Producer: Lucinda Knight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology
Why are young men leaning right while young women shift left? Hosts Nina dos Santos and Owen Bennett-Jones speak with NYU's Scott Galloway, political analyst Sophie Stowers, and commentator Oliver Dean to explore the forces behind this growing divide. Whether it's a broken social contract where young people no longer believe they will lead better, more prosperous lives than their parents or the work of algorithms that feed off rage and division, the implications are profound. This podcast was recorded live at NYU London, in front of an audience of students who are part of a generation searching for increasingly radical solutions to fix society. Guests Scott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business where he teaches Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing to second-year MBA students. He is also a Bestselling author, professor and entrepreneur. Sophie Stowers - A Research Associate at UK in a Changing Europe. Her background is in British and European politics, and her research focuses on UK-EU relations, British politics and parties, and public opinion. She previously worked as a Parliamentary Assistant. Oliver Dean a political commentator with Young Voices UK. He studies History and Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science where he is the Treasurer of the LSE Hayek Society. Producer: Pearse Lynch Executive Producer: Lucinda Knight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Why are young men leaning right while young women shift left? Hosts Nina dos Santos and Owen Bennett-Jones speak with NYU's Scott Galloway, political analyst Sophie Stowers, and commentator Oliver Dean to explore the forces behind this growing divide. Whether it's a broken social contract where young people no longer believe they will lead better, more prosperous lives than their parents or the work of algorithms that feed off rage and division, the implications are profound. This podcast was recorded live at NYU London, in front of an audience of students who are part of a generation searching for increasingly radical solutions to fix society. Guests Scott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business where he teaches Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing to second-year MBA students. He is also a Bestselling author, professor and entrepreneur. Sophie Stowers - A Research Associate at UK in a Changing Europe. Her background is in British and European politics, and her research focuses on UK-EU relations, British politics and parties, and public opinion. She previously worked as a Parliamentary Assistant. Oliver Dean a political commentator with Young Voices UK. He studies History and Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science where he is the Treasurer of the LSE Hayek Society. Producer: Pearse Lynch Executive Producer: Lucinda Knight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies
Ukraine's acceptance of a 30-day ceasefire, since rejected by Russia, shows the challenge in bringing an end to Eastern Europe's three-year war of attrition. Meanwhile, Germany's national election delivers a new chancellor (once a coalition government is brokered) who's both a “transatlanticist” and a believer in a more independent Europe ramping up its self-defense. Russell Berman, a Hoover Institution senior fellow and Stanford University German studies professor, discusses the intricacies of a Ukraine-Russia peace deal (is Turkey the key as a potential peacekeeper?); NATO's future; whether Britain and France will share nuclear weapons with Germany; plus the odds of an “alpha male” (or is it an Italian female?) emerging among European's officeholders.
Keir Starmer is treading a fine line as he avoids picking sides between the EU and US. But with Donald Trump saying he wants to ‘take over' Gaza and threatening to impose tariffs on the EU, can the prime minister really keep both on side? John Harris asks Prof Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe, and Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff Send your questions and feedback to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
New research last week suggested that a majority of Brexit voters would accept the return of freedom of movement in exchange for access to the EU single market. The poll, conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), found that 54% of Brexit voters – and 68% of all respondents – would accept this. Facing their own changing domestic concerns, how close can the UK and EU governments really get? Could Defence hold the key for collaboration? And how much is this driven by a more volatile geopolitical landscape ahead of Trump's return as US president? James Heale speaks to Anand Menon, director of the think-tank UK in a Changing Europe, and Mark Leonard, director at the ECFR. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
New research this week suggested that a majority of Brexit voters would accept the return of freedom of movement in exchange for access to the EU single market. The poll, conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), found that 54% of Brexit voters – and 68% of all respondents – would accept this. Facing their own changing domestic concerns, how close can the UK and EU governments really get? Could Defence hold the key for collaboration? And how much is this driven by a more volatile geopolitical landscape ahead of Trump's return as US president? James Heale speaks to Anand Menon, director of the think-tank UK in a Changing Europe, and Mark Leonard, director at the ECFR. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Keir Starmer is preparing to give his big reset speech on Thursday. But the more interesting address is perhaps the one he gave last night at the annual Lord Mayor's Banquet, where the Prime Minister gave his first major speech on foreign policy. The most interesting passage saw Starmer reject the notion that Britain will need to pick sides between the US and the EU under the looming Trump presidency – particularly in the event of a trade war. How long can No. 10 afford to keep their foreign policy preferences ambiguous? Also on the podcast, Sir Chris Wormald has been announced as the successor to Simon Case as Cabinet Secretary, in another example of Labour prizing experience when it comes to senior civil service roles. Is he a smart pick, given the questions about his performance at the Department of Health and Social Care and his frequent appearances at the Covid inquiry? Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Jill Rutter, senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe and a former civil servant. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Today, Adam dusts off his Brexitcast binders as we look at Keir Starmer's trip to Berlin and his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.Adam chats to Henry about travelling with the prime minister, and what's in his proposed treaty with Scholz, as well as the snacks he's been enjoying on the plane. What does Keir Starmer mean when he says ‘reset'? And will a charm offensive with other European leaders follow? And, BBC Europe Editor Katya Adler and Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe, discuss Starmer's relationship with European leaders, and how likely the EU is to negotiate with the UK.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Gemma Roper and Kris Jalowiecki. The technical producer was Jeremy Morgan. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
Labour is planning to reform the civil service into five 'missions' that will lead the agenda, moving away from the purely departmental way of arranging priorities at the moment. Cindy Yu talks to James Heale and Jill Rutter from the Institute for Government and UK In a Changing Europe (and a former civil servant) about what these plans really mean. Produced by Cindy Yu.