One of the more handy concepts in political studies/science is the notion of essential contestation, the idea that some things (concepts, ideas, etc.) do not – and cannot – have a single ‘correct’ interpretation, since they can be approached from a variety of fundamental different (and incompatible) first principles. If one were cynical, one might […]
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We’re a week closer (if only in a logical sense) to David Cameron’s tantric speech and there’s still not certainty about dates, locations or (most importantly) the content. I’ve discussed this all at some length before, but it was in conversation with some people who have a direct interest in the speech (if not involvement) […]
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After a Christmas break that we’ll assume was restful, I’m back in the office, working through all the things that apparently have built up over the past ten days. In particular, I’m catching up with my various interactions on Twitter and the semi-regular discussions with eurosceptic individuals (such as Paul Perrin). It was already back […]
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Since everyone‘s chipping in now, and despite my own deep reservations about the utility of a referendum as a way of resolving the UK’s relationship with the EU, it is still prudent to make plans for such an eventuality: As David Cameron’s ‘tantric‘ speech looms ever closer, so the likelihood that it will offer a […]
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This was the title of a two hour BBC 4 TV documentary shown on 9 December – unfortunately no longer available on iPlayer. The film charted the course of humanitarian assistance over the last 45 years and was followed by a studio discussion. The documentary has already been expertly reviewed from the perspective of humanitarian […]
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Boris Johnson tells us it’s all sorted: David Cameron is going to make his long-awaited ‘tantric’ speech on the EU ‘within weeks’ and he’s going to offer an in-out referendum. You will recall that this speech has been kicked back several times since the summer and that Cameron himself has given nothing more than veiled […]
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