In a series of public lectures the Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance at the Open University examines social sciences at a time of crisis, exploring its limits, reworking old concepts and developing new ideas and methods for critique, social justice and positive change.
In the keynote lecture on Tuesday 21 May in Camden, London (6pm), John Clarke, Professor of Social Policy at the Open University will explore contemporary politics and governing the social in the age of 'austerity'. Discussants include Wendy Larner (University of Bristol) and Sarah Neal (University of Surrey).
To register and to read more about this lecture and the series, visit the CCIG website.
Who's getting rich from COVID-19?
Boris Johnson's government stands accused of 'COVID cronyism', after handing out staggering sums of money to controversial private firms to fight COVID-19. Often the terms of these deals are kept secret, with no value-for-money checks or penalties for repeated failures which cost lives. And many major contracts have gone directly to key Tory donors and allies – without competition.
As COVID rates across the country surge, how can we hold our leaders accountable? Meet the lawyers, journalists and politicians leading the charge in our free live discussion on Thursday 1 October at 5pm UK time.
Hear from:
Dawn Butler Labour MP for Brent Central and member of the House of Commons Committee on Science and Technology
Peter Geoghegan Investigations editor, openDemocracy, and author of 'Democracy for Sale: Dark Money and Dirty Politics'
Jolyon Maugham Barrister and founder of the Good Law Project.
Peter Smith Procurement expert and author of 'Bad Buying: How Organisations Waste Billions through Failures, Frauds and F*ck-ups'
Chair: Mary Fitzgerald Editor-in-chief of openDemocracy
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