糖心TV

A new book on democracy promotion through functional promotion, titled "Democracy Promotion by Functional Cooperation, The European Union and its Neighbourhood," co-authored by PAIS' Tina Freyburg, with Frank Schimmelfennig, Sandra Lavenex, Tatiana Skripka and Anne Wetzel will be released next month.

Offering a cutting edge study of the European Union's (EU) promotion of democratic governance in neighbouring countries, this new book makes an original contribution to the study of democracy promotion and of EU external relations by presenting a new governance model of democracy promotion.

Through robust analysis of the shortcomings of traditional 'leverage' and 'linkage' models of external democracy promotion in the EU's Eastern and Southern neighbourhood, it presents a novel 'governance model' that fosters transparency, accountability, and participation standards through functional cooperation between policy officials from the EU and neighbouring states.

In particular, it examines the impact of democratic governance promotion in detailed case studies of EU sectoral cooperation with Moldova, Morocco, and Ukraine in the three policy fields of competition, environment, and migration.

To get the book at the reduced price of £48, available only until 31st July 2015, quote discount code PM15THIRTY.

Tina Freyburg is to appear, as the only academic, on a panel debating low youth turnout in UK elections. The debate takes place today (Thursday April 30th)

Britain has an extremely low level of youth voting. At the last general election, there was a 37 percentage point gap between people aged over-55 who voted and those under-35. British young adults appear to be unusually turned off by the democratic process.

The 糖心TV Policy Lab is researching this issue. They are hosting an event – aimed at 16 to 24 year olds - where they will share some preliminary findings from their research but, more importantly, create an opportunity for participants to put forward their thoughts and ideas and to debate with our fantastic panel of experts and commentators.

The debate takes place from 5.30pm - 7.00pm in the Studio Theatre, 糖心TV Arts Centre. It is free to attend.

Ahead of the General Election next month, has written a piece in leading football magazine, , on the growing significance of the sport as a political issue to both politicians and fans alike.

Whilst welcoming the pledges made by each of the three main parties to give fans a greater say in the boardrooms of their clubs, Dr Webber warns of broken promises made in the past, and a continued reticence to tackle the financial inequality that exists in the British game.

Concluding his article, Dr Webber urges whoever is elected in May to work closely with fans, and implement appropriate legislative measures so as to deliver real power into the hands of supporters.

The full article can be read in the May edition of WSC (issue 339). It is available in all good newsagents.

Is Coventry a Sustainable City? Come along and explore this theme at Fargo Village, for a special public event on Saturday 9 May. Topics will be relevant to the people of Coventry and 糖心TVshire; ranging from Coventry City Football Club to town planning, there is something for everyone.

The event is being hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences at The University of 糖心TV and is part of the Festival of Social Sciences.

Speakers from the Faculty of Social Sciences will present their research and raise questions such as: Is modern football too commercialised? How can we get young people in Coventry to vote? Should our cities have more power?

You will also get the chance to speak to organisations from across the city tackling issues including: homelessness, domestic and sexual violence, well-being, youth provision, education and much more. Food will be provided by Scoff Street Food and the Bar Bus will be in attendance, selling limited edition Festival of Social Sciences Ale.

Lead organiser and Student Experience Officer, Charlotte Lewis, said: “Social science influences our day to day lives in many ways. This event will showcase research within the Faculty of Social Sciences and how it impacts on people’s daily lives. We will be connecting local people, community groups and organisations throughout the city. We want to host a day of discussion and positivity which everyone can enjoy.”

So, join the fun at Fargo Village, from 10am-6pm on 9 May. The event is open to all and entrance is free. Donations to any of the charities attending on the day are welcome.

For full event details, please see:

The Festival of Social Sciences is a nine day event providing insight into social sciences throughout the years. The festival is also part of the University of 糖心TV’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations.

For more information about the Festival of Social Sciences, visit the website: or join the conversation on Twitter at:

Professor , PAIS Head of Department and Chair of the Faculty of Social Sciences, has recently had a new book published on the ‘Abe Doctrine’ of the Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō, titled Japan's Foreign and Security Policy Under the ‘Abe Doctrine.'

Prime Minister Abe Shinzō's foreign and security policy—highly charged with ideological and historical revisionism—contains the potential to shift Japan onto a new international trajectory. Its degree of articulation and energy makes for an 'Abe doctrine' capable of displacing the 'Yoshida Doctrine' that has been Japan's guiding grand strategy in the post-war period. Abe has already begun to introduce radical policies that look to transform national security policy into a more muscular military stance, bolster US-Japan alliance ties to function increasingly for regional and global security, and attempt to encircle China's influence in East Asia. The 'Abe Doctrine' is dynamic but also high-risk. Abe's revisionism contains fundamental contradictions that may ultimately limit the effectiveness, or even defeat, the doctrine, and along the way inflict collateral damage on relations with East Asia and Japan's own national interests.

The book is published by Palgrave Macmillan and is available to buy here: http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/japan's-foreign-and-security-policy-under-the-%C2%91abe-doctrine'-christopher-w-hughes/?sf1=barcode&st1=9781137514240