Political Studies Association

Analysing government-media relations in NI

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 5, 2012, 9:19 pm | Readers 51

University of Ulster academics presented a paper on Tuesday which will interest local politicians, media and onlookers when it is published in a journal at a later date. Power, trust and accountability: relationships between government communicators and journalists in Northern Ireland. (Charis Rice, Ian Somerville and John Wilson) I spoke to Charis Rice at the close of this week’s Political Studies Association conference and she explained that she has been interviewing key department officials as well as key politicians to …

McGuinness: “open to using new language, and consider making new compromises”

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 5, 2012, 9:00 am | Readers 34

The deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness spoke last night before the Political Studies Association conference dinner in the plush surroundings of Belfast City Hall. He initially covered the mandatory tourism information, quoting travel guides that say “Belfast is a must see city in 2012” and adding that “Derry city – or as some people call it Londonderry – is a must see city in 2013”. During his twenty minute address he mentioned the “tiny number of militarists who delude themselves …

Jackie McDonald questions Orange Order Covenant parade taking motorised machine guns past Short Strand

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 5, 2012, 8:24 am | Readers 305

The Future of Loyalism session at the Political Studies Association conference started with two academics – Jim McAuley and Graham Spencer – introducing the Political Studies Association delegates to loyalism, loyalist themes and transformation efforts so far. Rev Chris Hudson – who acted as a conduit between the Irish Government and the UVF – spoke about his journey. [Click on their names to hear their 10 minute introductions.] Finally, Jackie McDonald – introduced as a former UDA prisoner – spoke …

#PSA12 Conference preview and liveblog (Wednesday)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 4, 2012, 8:30 am | Readers 46

Day two in the Big Brother house Europa Hotel, and the Political Studies Association conference has another full day planned. Throughout the conference, a liveblog will capture tweets (hashtag #psa12) and photos and links to what’s happening. (You can also catch a quick round up of some of yesterday’s events in a previous post.) Prof Monica McWilliams will chair the Consociational Theory and Powersharing in Northern Ireland keynote plenary this afternoon, with contributions from Proj John McGarry (Canada), Prof Brendad …

Round up of Tuesday’s Political Studies Association conference

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 3, 2012, 11:52 pm | Readers 11

If you want to get a flavour of the proceedings at the Political Studies Association conference on its opening day, then the Storify collation below will bring you some of the images, tweets and sounds of the day. Particular highlights included: the Opening Plenary with David Blunkett, Peter Riddell and Matthew Flinders; and the late afternoon Northern Ireland Roundtable in which Malachi O’Doherty, Conall McDevitt and Peter Weir agreed on many things, while Katy Hayward was questioning, and Lord Paul …

Media, politics and influence in the 19th and 21st centuries

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 3, 2012, 4:49 pm | Readers 133

It’s hard to talk about politics without the media encroaching on the conversation. In an after lunch session entitled Media, politics and influence three speakers presented papers that looked at a range of topics. Carole O’Reilly is a historian at University of Salford and talked about the influence (and funding) from municipal councillors that created some 19th century English local newspapers and filled them with content … and yet revelled in reporting ‘combative’ local elections, and printed strong criticism of …

In Defence of Politics, Politicians and Political Science: Blunkett, Riddell and Flinders

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 3, 2012, 2:54 pm | Readers 87

The PSA conference started this morning with an opening plenary involving three big hitters – one each from the world of politics, media and academia: In Defence of Politics, Politicians and Political Science. Each speaker’s 10 minute remarks are worth a listen. listen to ‘David Blunkett’s opening remarks at Political Studies Conterence opening plenary’ on Audioboo Echoing his earlier comments in a Good Morning Ulster interview, David Blunkett MP spoke about the odd political situation in Westminster. Issues of recent …

#PSA12 Conference liveblog (Tuesday)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 3, 2012, 7:35 am | Readers 9

The Europa Hotel lobby was busy yesterday with Irish World Dancing Championship participants rubbing shoulders [Ed – and ringlets] and Political Studies Association conference delegates. The former had ringlets, the latter carried conference guides! Prof Paul Carmichael from the University of Ulster is co-convening the conference. listen to ‘In Defence of Politics’ on Audioboo Throughout the conference, a liveblog will capture tweets (hashtag #psa12) and photos and links to what’s happening in the Europa. This morning the main PSA 2012 …

“In defence of politics” – the Political Studies Association conference in Belfast this week #psa12

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 2, 2012, 8:30 am | Readers 64

The Political Studies Association annual conference is back in Belfast this week for the first time in 17 years. Hundreds academics from the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond will congregate in the Europa Hotel for three days of speakers, workshops, dining and visiting Belfast’s sights. They’ll be joined by a smattering of politicians and commentators. The conference’s theme is In Defence of Politics, apt given the questioning of politicians honesty, integrity and leadership over recent years, together with the political …