糖心TV

The 糖心TV 50th Anniversary Conference on New Directions in International Political Economy on 13-15 May 2015 brought together 130 scholars from 20 countries to discuss cutting-edge research in the study of the global political economy.

A video recording of the 2-hour Opening Roundtable Discussion from the Conference is now available to view at:

Chaired by Dr Juanita Elias from the University of 糖心TV, the prestigious line-up of speakers included Prof. Matthew Watson (University of 糖心TV), Niheer Dasandi (University College London), Adrienne Roberts (University of Manchester), and Kees Van Der Pijl (University of Sussex).

A big congratulations to PAIS student, Cindy Asokan, who is part of the Students' Union team to win the 'Equality in Education' award at the recent NUS Black Students' Conference.

You can read more about this award on the Students' Union website .

Kostas Axelos's book Introduction to a Future Way of Thought: On Marx and Heidegger, has been published in English translation by Meson Press. It was translated by Kenneth Mills, and edited and introduced by Stuart Elden.

Axelos is not well-known in the Anglophone world, but he was an important figure in European thought. He was born in Greece, and lived most of his life in Paris. He wrote widely on philosophy and social theory, with special emphasis on the concept of the world. The only previous book of his available in English was his study of Marx as a thinker of technology. Introduction to a Future Way of Thought comprises a number of texts looking at Marx, Heidegger and their relation, and was his only book written in German.

Meson Press are a new publisher based at Leuphana University, and their books are available open access online and as print-on-demand. You can download this book

As part of the Global Benchmarking Project led by from PAIS and from the University of the Witwatersrand, a new Global Benchmarking Database has been launched on the Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation website.

The prototype Database (version 1.8) compiles summary information on 205 global benchmarks. The Database was constructed using a typology developed by Broome and Quirk in their forthcoming Special Issue of the journal Review of International Studies, to be published in December 2015 on the theme of 'The Politics of Numbers: Normative Agendas and Global Benchmarking'. The Database distinguishes between four types of global benchmarking practices based on the class of transnational actor engaged in benchmarking, namely: (1) statecraft; (2) international governance; (3) private market governance; and (4) transnational advocacy.

The Database will be a useful resource for scholars and students researching cognate areas relating to the politics of numbers, indicators, rankings, and ratings, as well as for other users such as journalists, policy analysts, and NGO researchers concerned with understanding the scope of global benchmarking as an increasingly popular mode of transnational governance.

The Global Benchmarking Database can be viewed at:

Further information about the Global Benchmarking Project, including research events, talks, and publications, is available at:

A recent commentary article for openDemocracy on the flaws inherent in many forms of global benchmarking can be viewed at:

, Head of Department, was quoted in an article appearing in the June 11th edition of The Japan Times entitled 'Security bills’ credibility hobbled by suspicious explanations and reporting: scholars.'

'I think there is no doubt that Japan’s security policy should undergo some change because the security environment around Japan is becoming quite difficult with the rise of China, North Korea, and the relative decline of U.S. power and the quixotic nature of U.S. grand strategy,” Christopher Hughes, a professor of international politics and Japanese studies at Britain’s University of 糖心TV, said in an email. “The former status quo is not tenable.'

However, while backing some changes, Hughes believes Abe’s push is “quite radical,” as opposed to other scholars who see the administration’s moves as highly limited and maintaining continuity.

“Personally, I would like to see Japan pursue a genuine path of proactive contribution to international peace — not the Abe brand — which means great efforts at multilateral diplomacy, human security and UNPKO (United Nations peacekeeping operations) . . . as well as some careful strengthening of JSDF (Japan Self-Defense Forces) capabilities.”