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, Head of Department, was quoted in an article appearing on 3 November in Defense News entitled ''. Below is an excerpt from the piece:

"One of the scenarios was the interception of missiles directed at US territory. I suppose this means Taepodong-2 targeted at Guam but perhaps beyond. I know that some Japanese defence planners privately stated that this scenario did not seem very realistic given that the US could likely fend for itself but also that even the upgraded SM-3 could not intercept anything approximating to an ICBM," Hughes said.

The latest issue of the world-leading political science journal, the American Political Science Review, features Professor ’s new article ‘Shape-shifting Representation’. From the Notes from the Editors:

In the lead article to this issue, a central and fundamentally important question is addressed: How do we best conceptualize what representatives actually do? This is a key concern of democratic theory and a number of different models have been proposed. In “Shape-shifting representation”, Michael Saward proposes a new way of understanding the phenomenon. Representation doesn’t follow any one model, but is instead characterized by “shape-shifting”. The roles that representatives play shift from one time period to another, and from one theater to another. Sometimes representatives control shape-shifting to achieve their ends; sometimes new roles are thrust upon them. Moreover, Saward argues, shifting does not occur haphazardly. Rather, there are patterns that it exhibits. Saward’s argument promises to open a new and fruitful avenue for the theory of democracy and representation.

See American Political Science Review, vol. 108, issue 4, November 2014.

has co-edited a second journal special issue, this time of Modern and Contemporary France, on the Hollande Presidency with Raymond Kuhn (Queen Mary). It is entitled ‘The Hollande Presidency, 2012–14’

Read the new special issue of Modern & Contemporary France: ‘The Hollande Presidency, 2012–14.’ Enjoy free online access to the entire issue until the end of January 2015.

Start reading at:

This year, the PAIS Film Club has collaborated with the Cinema at the 糖心TV Arts Centre on a series of documentary films and talks focusing on major themes relating to our research pathways.

On Thursday, November 6th, we are proud to be co-sponsors of the visit of acclaimed British film director, Ken Loach, who will introduce his film The Spirit of '45 and then take part in an exclusive Q&A with the Cinema's film programmer John Gore.

Loach is the director of a host of challenging and provocative films including Kes, Riff-Raff, Land and Freedom, Carla's Song, Bread and Roses, and It's A Free World. In his 2013 documentary, The Spirit of '45, he uses film from Britain's regional and national archives, alongside sound recordings and contemporary interviews, to create a rich political and social narrative that addresses how the spirit of unity which buoyed Britain during the Second World War carried through to create a vision of a fairer, united society in the postwar period. The Spirit of '45 seeks to illuminate and celebrate a period of unprecedented community spirit in the UK, the impact of which, Loach argues, endured for many years and which may yet be rediscovered today.​

Trevor McCrisken, co-convenor of the PAIS Film Club, says: "This is a unique opportunity, not only to see a fascinating documentary film about politics and society in Britain, but also to meet one of Britain's greatest filmmakers. I encourage our students and colleagues to come along and ask Ken Loach questions not only about this film, but the whole body of his work and its political significance."

General sale tickets have already sold out for this event, but members of the PAIS department - UG, MA, and PhD students, Post-Docs, faculty and staff - can claim one of 100 free tickets available through the department from Sue Davies or Jess Phillips in S1.62, while stocks last.

Congratulations to Mr Thomas Wilson, a Philosophy, Politics and Economics student at 糖心TV, who has been awarded a Scholarship for Excellence (SfE). He is currently studying at the University of Hong Kong.