A figure hurtles across a car park on a skateboard. On another day he plays punky riffs which echo out of his garage. These are not the weekend hobbies of a teenager whose politics can barely be articulated beyond anger at “the system” and whose intellectual curiosity extends as far as Trevor Noah. This figure […]
elections
Cyril Ramaphosa – South Africa’s Redemption?
Whilst the rest of the world has merely watched Zuma resign and be replaced with ANC favourite Ramaphosa, what news outlets, BBC, CNN and Aljazeera lack is recognition of the brevity and implications of his resignation. This was a day that South Africa, who since Mandela’s term has suffered successive corrupt and ineffective presidents, thought […]
The 2017 German Election Results – The Majority for Merkel?
Whilst Brexit negotiations, snap General Elections and Trump’s latest blunder have been dominating British headlines in recent months, Germany’s media focus has been on its September federal election. With each lamppost, billboard and potential poster spot across German cities and rural villages alike pasted with multiple party adverts each attempting to sway the electorate, Germany […]
A trip to Seoul: some thoughts on the presidential impeachment and the world’s only Demilitarised Zone
Despite being in nearby Hong Kong, I wasn’t aware of much conversation about the Korean impeachment. I would have thought that with the tense democratic situation in Hong Kong, particularly the election of the new pro-Beijing Chief Executive – a move engineered by the Chinese government – and the removal of pro-independence lawmakers, that people […]
BBC Question Time to be filmed at the University of Exeter
The next instalment of the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme, Question Time, will be recorded live at the University of Exeter on Thursday 21st April 2016. David Dimbleby is set to host his 770th episode of the long-running series, which will also mark the fifth time that the programme is hosted in Exeter since 2001. The programme […]
Feeling the Bern?
My first sighting of Bernie Sanders was in Safeco Field, Seattle. From the back of the stands I could make out the crown of silver hair, hunched shoulders and crumpled face. He looked a tired man. He stood bernt-out, but the 20,000 strong audience wanted to #feelthebern. Then his voice boomed. The crowd chanted back. […]
Editorial: Johnny for VP
We’ve got down and dirty this week – aren’t we givers. After months of planning, Sexeposé is finally a reality. We ran a sexual health survey and it banged. Whilst a bit of cheeky action in the bedroom is all fun and games, our survey did throw up a few problematic stats – namely that […]
Social media sways political opinion, says Uni research
Academics from the University of Exeter have revealed the results of research indicating how social media affected voters’ perceptions. In a survey of 1,830 participants from 600 constituencies, the team of researchers, which was headed by Professor Dan Stevens and based at Exeter Q-Step Centre and the University’s Centre for Elections, Media and Participation, also […]
2015: A year in review (January – June)
Ah, the dawn of a new year. Always slightly troubling, isn’t it? Whilst we’re all suffering from Christmas hat syndrome (“is there still one on my head? I genuinely can’t tell anymore”), we’re simultaneously shock-stricken that summer wasn’t yesterday… and when did Halloween happen? Did I even have a birthday? Seriously, where did all my […]