Extending human and civic rights
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority is leading the way in dealing with modern slavery
Ten years after 23 untrained and inexperienced cockle pickers were drowned at Morecambe Bay, Paul Fearn of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority tells how the organisation continues to tackle the exploitation of workers, and how the recent move of the organisation to the Home Office will strengthen their enforcement work. Similar Posts
Book Review: Democracy in Retreat: The Revolt of the Middle Class and the Worldwide Decline of Representative Government by Joshua Kurlantzick
In this study of democratization, Joshua Kurlantzick proposes that the spate of retreating democracies, one after another over the past two decades, is not just a series of exceptions and instead reflects democracy in worldwide decline. Muireann O’Dwyer finds that this book will be useful reading for anyone seeking to gain an understanding of the global democracy recession, as […]
20 things we learned about democracy in July 2014
July 2014 was a quieter month for democracy, with things settling down into a lull for the summer. But that doesn’t mean that nothing of note happened, with Sean Kippin bringing you the latest instalment of our 20 things we learned about democracy series, which is once again bursting with choice nuggets of democracy information […]
The growing body of ‘right to die’ case law illustrates the issue’s growing prominence
The legal position of those who wish to end their own lives with assistance from another person has been consistently ambiguous, with politicians unable to come to a unified position, and the courts reluctant to take the initiative. Claire Overman takes a look back over the legal system’s attempts to deal with the issue, observing that […]
Globalisation has contributed to declining levels of religious freedom across the world
What factors affect religious freedom? As Pazit Ben-Nun Bloom and Gizem Arikan write, there is evidence that restrictions on religious freedom have increased globally in recent decades. Using data from a recent study, they highlight the role that processes of globalisation have had on this trend. The results indicate that globalisation is a contributing factor to the increase in […]
The ECHR’s upholding of the French face-veil ban sets a very worrying precedent for the freedom of religious expression
The former President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, instituted a ban on covering one’s face in a public area. It was interpreted as targeting the Muslim community, and since its implementation has had the biggest impact there. The case was challenged, and eventually upheld by the European Court of Human Rights. Daniel Barton argues that […]
Book Review: The Muslims Are Coming! Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror by Arun Kundnani
The Muslims Are Coming! contains a wealth of research into and analysis of particular cases of counter terrorist activity and interventions which can challenge the established orthodoxies prevailing on both sides of the Atlantic. Naaz Rashid finds that Arun Kundnani’s work should be required reading for officials and Ministers in the Home Office, Department of Communities & Local Government, the Department of […]
Slavery is a crime against humanity and it is wrong to expect consumers rather than governments to fight it
A recent Guardian investigation revealed the extent of slave labour’s use in supply chains in the global food industry. But while few dispute that slavery is a great evil which has no place in modern society, the extent to which national Governments and international institutions should take the lead is disputed, with some commentators and politicians seeking to […]
Resistance to all-women shortlists in South Wales has a complex set of causes beyond gender politics, but that doesn’t make it right
The decision by the Labour Party to use an all-women shortlist to select its candidate to replace Ann Clywd MP in Cynon Valley has been opposed by local party members. Richard Berry finds echoes of a similar controversy in the Welsh valleys ahead of the 2005 election, where local voters defied the party’s wishes in […]
20 things we learned about democracy in June 2014
June 2014 proved to be another eventful month for democracy, with revelations about security, surveillance, Scottish independence, and the European Parliament and local elections. Here, Sean Kippin rounds up 20 interesting nuggets of information which made themselves known this month. Similar Posts20 things we learned about democracy in January 2015Interview part 2: Tim Bale on Ed […]
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