UCL Uncovering Politics

UCL Uncovering Politics

Author: UCL Political Science Language: English Episodes: 100
Ever wonder what happens when sharp academic minds turn their focus to the headlines? UCL Uncovering Politics pulls back the curtain on the forces shaping our world, straight from the heart of one of the world's leading universities. This isn't a lecture series, but a series of conversations where complex ideas about power, culture, and society are made accessible and urgent. You'll hear researchers from UCL's Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy dissect everything from voting behaviour and international conflict to the philosophy underlying our social structures, connecting rigorous scholarship directly to current events. Each episode feels like sitting in on a fascinating discussion between experts who are as curious about the "why" behind political phenomena as they are knowledgeable. The podcast serves as a direct line to cutting-edge analysis, offering depth and context that goes far beyond the daily news cycle. By spotlighting the fantastic work done within the department, it provides listeners with a richer, more nuanced understanding of the mechanics behind culture, government, and the news we consume. Tune in for a thoughtful and genuinely enlightening exploration of contemporary politics, grounded in research but always engaged with the real world.
Episodes
Improving Election Debates: Evidence from Liberia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:20
This week we’re looking at how to improve the discourse of election campaigns. In settings where votes are often traded for services, how can competition be nudged to focus more on policies designed to serve the public a…
Prisons and Proportional Punishment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:23
This week we’re talking about punishment and individual circumstances: could it be fair if two people, convicted of the same crime, get different sentences?
Are There Limits On Autocratic Power? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:16
This week we’re looking at limits on the power of authoritarian rulers. We often suppose that autocrats are free from constraints, but is that true? If not, what limits do they face, where do these come from, and what ar…
The Power of the American Presidency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:58
This week we’re looking at the power of the American presidency. With Donald Trump about to return to the White House, we ask what powers will he hold? What constraints will he face? And just what will he be able to do i…
Politicising Memory: Evidence from Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:09
This week we’re looking at the politicisation of memory. In particular, how do political identities in the present shape the way the past is remembered? And what implications does that have for politics and policy?
Dissecting the 2024 US Election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:08
This week we’re looking at the elections in the United States. Donald Trump has won; the Democrats have been comprehensively defeated. What explains the result? And what are the implications – for the US and the wider wo…
Policing The Permacrisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:20
This week we’re looking at policing in England and Wales. Amid repeated scandals and signs of poor performance, is policing in crisis? If so, what needs to change? And how likely is it that such change will actually happ…
Unpaid Reparations And Expropriation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:59
This week we are asking what can be done when demands for reparations for colonialism go unpaid? Would public takeovers of foreign assets be one justified way for former colonies to get what they are owed?
Mission-Driven Bureaucrats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:52
This week we’re looking at how to improve public services. How can bureaucracies best be managed to deliver positive outcomes? Does compliance get in the way of building trust between citizens and governments?