Shows / UCL Uncovering Politics
UCL Uncovering Politics
The podcast of the Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy at University College London (UCL). Through this podcast we explore key themes of contemporary politics and spotlight some of the fantastic research that takes place within our department.
Episodes
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Ukraine’s refugees: Private hosting and integration
How does private hosting affect refugee integration? In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, around six million displaced Ukrainians…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
What does a healthy democracy look like?
In this episode, host Alan Renwick explores the principles of democracy and how political institutions might be organised to deliver more effectively on…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Who gets the credit? The politics of public service delivery
In this episode of UCL Uncovering Politics, our new co-host Dr Julia de Romémont explores how elected policymakers approach decisions about public service…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
What policymakers think the public thinks
In democratic countries, foreign policy is often assumed to be shaped, at least in part, by public preferences. But that raises an important question: do…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Six Prime Ministers and a Brexit: Meg Russell Reflects on British Democracy
Six prime ministers, a Brexit referendum, and an (unlawful) prorogation of parliament — it has been an extraordinary decade to lead the UCL Constitution Unit…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
The Impact of Parades in Northern Ireland
Parading — when members of the unionist community march to commemorate historical events such as the 1690 Battle of the Boyne — is one of the most visible…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Teaching The Use Of Evidence In Policymaking
Good policy depends on evidence, but the statistical methods behind the best research are complex and few policy-makers can master them in depth. So how do we…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Remove Or Reduce? Social Media Content Moderation Through The Lens Of Human Rights
Social media has a content problem. Some posts incite violence or hatred; others spread misinformation or promote self-harm. The instinctive response is…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
How Do Judges' Personal Views Affect Asylum Rulings?
Courts are supposed to treat like cases alike. But research consistently finds that judges' backgrounds and beliefs can influence their decisions. Most…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Transparency As A Tool Of Authoritarian Governance In China
Transparency is seen as a hallmark of democracy, yet some authoritarian states have real open government policies too. Why? New research suggests a striking…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Which Companies Oppose Climate Action?
Most people see action on climate change as essential. But powerful lobbies continue to push the other way. Understanding what drives corporate opposition to…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Reframing Rights In Zimbabwe: Do Local Narratives Improve LGBTQ Rights Campaigning?
In parts of the Global South, political elites have framed LGBTQ rights as a foreign, colonial agenda. So should advocates abandon universal rights language in…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Relating To People Living With Dementia As Equals: Towards Social Justice In Dementia Care
By 2030, more than a million people are expected to be living with dementia in the UK. It is among the most feared conditions — and yet a new book challenges…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
What Will It Take For A Woman To Become President Of The United States?
No woman has ever served as President of the United States. Only two women have ever been nominated as candidates for that office by one of the two main…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Restructuring The Constitution: A Hobbesian Thought Experiment
Constitutional reform is a recurring theme in UK politics. Debates regularly surface about changing the electoral system, reforming the House of Lords, or…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
The Nature Of Constitutions And The Role Of The Courts
Much contemporary debate centres on the respective roles of judges and politicians. Should constitutions empower courts to decide questions about human rights…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
The European Court of Human Rights: How Does It Work?
The European Convention on Human Rights is often seen as one of the defining achievements of post-war Europe. Designed to protect fundamental freedoms and…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
The Machine Stops: Should We All Quit Social Media?
Social media is woven into everyday life, yet growing concerns about its effects on mental health, public debate and personal wellbeing have led many to…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
What Role Do Citizens’ Policy Opinions Play In Their Political Choices?
Modern democracies rest on elections. They are the main way voters are supposed to shape what governments do. In theory, elections ensure that public policy…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Is It Ever OK To Discriminate Against White Men?
In this guest episode from Philosophically Speaking, Emily McTernan and Jeff Howard explore a provocative question. Can white men be discriminated against, and…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Young People, Social Media and Harmful Content
News headlines are increasingly dominated by concerns about the harms young people face online. In late 2025, Australia introduced a ban preventing under-16s…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Does Owning A Home Make You More Right Wing?
For decades, political scientists believed that a person’s occupation was the strongest predictor of how they would vote. Manual, working-class jobs were…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
A just post-colonial world
In today’s episode, we are joined by the author of a new book published by Princeton University Press. The book offers a bold reimagining of global justice…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Who Pays and Who Speaks? Reforming Democracy in the UK
Democracy in the UK is under strain. Many voters feel deeply alienated from politics, believing that those elected to represent them often pursue narrow or…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Rethinking Global Governance in an Age of Crisis
Our world faces a growing set of challenges that transcend national borders - from climate change and pandemic threats to the governance of emerging…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Power, Negotiation, The COPs - And Loss And Damage
Climate change is exerting increasingly profound effects on societies across the globe. Policy responses are often described as resting on three pillars. The…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Playing The Politics Of Morality To Set The Agenda
It’s often said that when a government faces political trouble, nothing boosts public support quite like a threat to national security. History offers vivid…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
How War The Ukraine War Has Affected Attitudes To Democracy
In this episode, we explore a crucial yet often overlooked question: how does war affect people’s support for democracy? Around the world, conflicts continue…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Gaza: The Dream And The Nightmare
Gaza is — often for tragic reasons — frequently in the headlines. In this episode, recorded on October 16, 2025, we take a step back from breaking news to…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Should The State Fund Fertility Treatments?
When we talk about funding healthcare, most of us think of hospitals, waiting lists, and limited budgets. But what about fertility — and the question of…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Immigration, Public Housing, and Far-Right Politics
Across many democracies, far-right movements are gaining momentum — a trend that worries policymakers, researchers, and citizens alike. A common explanation…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Hope In International Human Rights
In this special episode, we take a deep dive into the ideas and career of our esteemed colleague and friend of the podcast, Professor Veronika Fikfak…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
The 2024 UK General Election
The 2024 UK General Election was nothing short of exceptional. Labour achieved one of the largest majorities in the history of the House of Commons — yet on…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Should We Have A Human Right Against Discrimination?
In this episode of UCL Uncovering Politics, we explore one of the most foundational questions in human rights theory: Is there a human right against…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Can The Law Fix Structural Injustice?
When we see injustice in the world, our instinct is often to look for someone to blame. We might point to a corrupt official, an unjust law, or individuals…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Should Politicians Always Be Truthful?
Most of us want our politicians to tell the truth. In fact, research from UCL and beyond confirms that honesty is consistently ranked as one of the top values…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Do Religious Schools Hinder Children's Autonomy?
Today, we’re diving into the complex and often contentious world of religious schools. Are they a threat to social cohesion and tolerance, or are they simply…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
How Can Populists Be Defeated?
In recent years, populism has gained remarkable traction across the globe. If you see populists as leaders who stoke division and who peddle simplistic…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Decision Making In The European Union
International organisations have become major players in global affairs, with the European Union standing out as especially powerful. But the EU’s…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Rewilding the University - Prof Cathy Elliott's inaugural lecture
Join us to celebrate the achievements of Prof. Cathy Elliott. Recorded one day after her inaugural lecture, marking a significant milestone in her…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Constitutional Reform in the UK
Politics in the UK has been in turmoil in recent years—Brexit, Covid, movements for independence in Scotland and Northern Ireland, rule-breaking Prime…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Echo Chambers, Confucian Harmony and Civility
Echo chambers are a growing concern in today’s social and political landscape, reinforcing existing beliefs and fostering distrust. Some argue that civility…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Is Morality the Cause of Ideological Disagreement
Polarisation is a defining feature of contemporary politics, raising concerns among many observers. People on the left and right—liberals and…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Disability Representation in Politics
While one in five people in the UK is disabled, the proportion of disabled individuals among elected representatives is significantly lower. Despite broader…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
AI and Public Services
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being touted as a game-changer across various sectors, including public services. But while AI presents significant…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
When Does Religion Beget Violence?
The relationship between religion and violence is a subject of enduring debate. Religion is often portrayed as a force for peace and compassion. Yet history is…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
The Politics of Parliamentary Reform
Parliament is at the heart of democracy—it’s where voters are represented, laws are debated, and key decisions are made. But who really controls what gets…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Improving Election Debates: Evidence from Liberia
Democratic elections ideally involve discussions of the challenges and opportunities facing the nation, and of the policies that might best address them. Yet…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Prisons and Proportional Punishment
Getting convicted of a crime can have lots of further, harmful consequences, perhaps you’ll lose your home or job. Yet those consequences don’t fall equally…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Are There Limits On Autocratic Power?
In today’s episode, we delve into the complex and often misunderstood world of autocratic leadership. At first glance, it might seem like authoritarian rulers…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
The Power of the American Presidency
As Donald Trump prepares for his second presidential inauguration on 20 January, speculation is rife about the policies he will pursue. Yet, just as crucial as…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Politicising Memory: Evidence from Ukraine
We’re familiar with the idea that history shapes contemporary politics, but what about the reverse? How do today’s political dynamics influence the way we…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Lies, politicians, and social media: Should we fact check politicians?
Social media plays a significant role in shaping political debates and, some argue, even influencing election outcomes. Politicians increasingly use platforms…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Dissecting the 2024 US Election
One week after the US elections, Donald Trump has claimed victory, securing the presidency, the Senate, and almost certainly – though not yet confirmed – the…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Policing The Permacrisis
In recent years, policing in England and Wales has appeared to be trapped in a cycle of crisis. From high-profile scandals to criticisms of operational…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Unpaid Reparations And Expropriation
There have been longstanding calls for reparations to address the profound injustices of colonialism and compensate for the vast extraction of resources from…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Mission-Driven Bureaucrats
The state of public services is a pressing issue both in the UK and globally. News headlines are frequently dominated by stories of chronic failures and acute…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
French Social Democracy In Turmoil
In a turbulent political summer, few surprises were greater than that caused by French president Emmanuel Macron’s decision in June to call early parliamentary…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
Outdoor Learning And The Politics Of Hope
In this episode, host Dr Emily McTernan is joined by Professor Cathy Elliot from UCL’s Department of Political Science to explore the politics of hope in the…
- UCL Uncovering Politics
The Age Divide in Contemporary Politics
Age appears to structure voting patterns in democracies around the world more today than ever before. One poll conducted before the UK’s recent general…