Events & seminars 2020
The Politics & International Relations Seminar Series is supported by the MacFie Bequest, named after Professor Alec MacFie, Adam Smith Professor of Political Economy at the University from 1945 to 1958.
Seminar enquiries: Dr Joanna Szostek
Semester 1, 2020-2021
Thursday 8 October 2020 (15:00-16:30)
Professor Robbie Shilliam, John Hopkins University: ‘The New Apartheid’
Taking prompts from the events,so far, of 2020, his presentation will ask: what might the global architecture of racism look like 5 years in the future?
Please register on Zoom to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Thursday 12 November 2020 (15:00-16:30)
Dr Patricia Rossini, University of Liverpool
‘Discussions that Divide: Selective Avoidance, Social Sanctions, and Uncivil Conversations on Facebook and WhatsApp’
Abstract: Growing levels of political polarization in western democracies around the world have fuelled discussions around the threats to democratic values posed by an increasingly divided citizenry. One of the main focuses of this debate has been on the role of social media in exposing people to echo-chambers, misinformation, and other types of problematic content, such as uncivil discourse—raising questions around whether people selectively avoid political content on social media. In this study, I investigate selective avoidance on Facebook and WhatsApp in Brazil. Specifically, I examine the relationship between feeling offended, being attacked, or participating in heated debates and actively blocking, unfriending, and even quitting discussion groups or social media altogether.
Thursday 26 November 2020 (15:00-16:30)
Pelayo Fernandez Garcia, University of Glasgow
'The Marquis of Santa Cruz de Marcenado: Military theory and political practice in the early 18th century'
Ketong Zhang, University of Glasgow
'What is the intention of China founding the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank? An empirical analysis of AIIB loan allocations'