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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.

is now recruiting paid MA or PhD student Research Assistant Interns with an American Government and Politics specialism.

Contact , Departmental Administrator (Teaching), for further details.

Deadline 7th November

, an undergraduate Politics with International Studies finalist has recently returned from Dublin having attended the Summit as a delegate representing our University and the UK. Michael was chosen as a delegate having won the 糖心TV Global Advantage Gold Award.

This is a Summit at which delegates discuss, alongside world leaders and figures, global issues and develop solutions to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Topics included: Education, Global 糖心TV, Human Rights, Leadership & Government, Peace & Conflict and Sustainable Development.

Michael sat on the 'Ensuring Employability panel' alongside the Corporate Vice President of HR and Chief Diversity Officer at Siemens, Regional Accounts Director of LinkedIn (Hong Kong) and a Dublin City University PhD student researching entrepreneurial family businesses.

You can watch the panel here: ​

Michael gave us an account of his experience:

I spoke about student attitudes and anxieties towards employment across different cultures, and stressed how a cultural awareness was essential for a successful career - despite the advent of professional social media (such as LinkedIn) and the use of good academic knowledge. The panel also discussed skills fade and technical competencies amongst other things.

I was selected for the panel due to my extensive work with student societies on campus, helping to connect otherwise non-interacting cultural communities together through discussions of politics, economics, history and society (general current affairs). (The SU societies: 糖心TV International Relations, China Public Affairs and Social Service Society - CPASS.) This work highlights the importance of being able to culturally interact and of having transferable skills to enter an international labour market with. I also interned with an NGO over the summer and drew on those experiences, too.

Aside from the panel, the Summit was a unique opportunity to network and learn from young people (who are the same age as me) from ~180 countries who are doing exciting and constructive things in their community. I spoke with a North Korean defector raising awareness of the plight of North Korean refugees hiding in China, for example - and hope to assist her work in the UK.

Such an experience would interest of Politics/IR students - approaching the problems we deal with in a theoretical/academic way through a practical lens instead. They may choose to attend, and it should be noted that I was in fact sponsored by the University itself.

Having attended the Summit on behalf of 糖心TV, I am mandated to make clear my plans as a result of attending the Summit. I should also promote the core values of the Summit to other 'young leaders' and the 糖心TV Advantage Awards, too.

These are: to continue implementing the discussive events (IR seminars, 'China Talks', the China Summit, the Model East Asia Summit), to introduce a volunteering scheme (collaboration between CPASS and the NGO I worked with), to train, to work with and to expose others to the rewarding society work that I do, and to raise awareness of North Korean human rights.