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PODCAST

UCL Uncovering Politics

UCL Political Science

The podcast of the Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy at University College London (UCL). Through this podcast we explore key themes of contemporary politics and spotlight some of the fantastic research that takes place within our department.

news politics

All Episodes

00:41:36

The Machine Stops: Should We All Quit Social Media?

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2026/02/19

Social media is woven into everyday life, yet growing concerns about its effects on mental health, public debate and personal wellbeing have led many to question whether it is worth staying online at all. With governments exploring age restrictions for younger users, and public discussion becoming increasingly polarised, is quitting social media the ethical choice?In this episode, Rob Simpson, Associate Professor of Philosophy at University College London, joins Emily McTernan to discusses the moral

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00:52:40

What Role Do Citizens’ Policy Opinions Play In Their...

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2026/02/12

Modern democracies rest on elections. They are the main way voters are supposed to shape what governments do. In theory, elections ensure that public policy reflects what people want. But does that actually happen in practice? Political science has long been divided on this question.One side of the debate argues that elections can work as intended. Voters understand the difference between left and right. They have a sense of where political parties sit on that spectrum. They broadly know where they

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00:35:22

Is It Ever OK To Discriminate Against White Men?

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2026/02/05

In this guest episode from Philosophically Speaking, Emily McTernan and Jeff Howard explore a provocative question. Can white men be discriminated against, and if so, should the law protect them in the same way it protects other groups?To help unpack this, they are joined by Professor Cécile Laborde, who discusses her recent work on structural inequality and the moral foundations of discrimination law. Drawing on her article 'Structural Inequality and the Protectorate of Discrimination', published

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00:28:45

Young People, Social Media and Harmful Content

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2026/01/22

News headlines are increasingly dominated by concerns about the harms young people face online. In late 2025, Australia introduced a ban preventing under-16s from accessing a range of major social media platforms. Here in the UK, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has publicly backed a similar approach, and at the time of recording there is widespread speculation that the UK government may be preparing to follow suit - perhaps even by the time you’re listening to this episode.But how do young people

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00:37:20

Does Owning A Home Make You More Right Wing?

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2026/01/15

For decades, political scientists believed that a person’s occupation was the strongest predictor of how they would vote. Manual, working-class jobs were associated with left-wing voting, while white-collar professions leaned right.In recent years, however, this class-based model has been challenged. Education level and age now often predict voting behaviour more accurately than occupation, alongside the growing importance of cultural and identity-based issues such as immigration, gender, and

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00:31:07

A just post-colonial world

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2026/01/08

In today’s episode, we are joined by the author of a new book published by Princeton University Press. The book offers a bold reimagining of global justice, drawing on anticolonial thought to confront the unfinished work of decolonization. Rather than defending decolonization as a nationalist project, it advances a powerful vision of global social equality.Our guest is Dr. Shuk Ying Chan, Assistant Professor of Political Theory at UCL Political Science. Regular listeners will recall her previous

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00:39:48

Who Pays and Who Speaks? Reforming Democracy in the UK

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/12/23

Democracy in the UK is under strain. Many voters feel deeply alienated from politics, believing that those elected to represent them often pursue narrow or personal interests rather than the public good. Political polarisation, intensified by changes in the media landscape, is undermining constructive debate. And for many citizens, it can feel as though money (rather than votes) is what really speaks loudest in politics.Against this backdrop, there is growing interest in how democratic systems might

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00:46:46

Rethinking Global Governance in an Age of Crisis

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/12/18

Our world faces a growing set of challenges that transcend national borders - from climate change and pandemic threats to the governance of emerging technologies and the protection of public goods. Yet political authority and decision making remain overwhelmingly rooted in sovereign states. How, then, can global challenges be tackled effectively?In this special episode, we turn to the concept of global governance - the institutions, norms, and practices through which collective action is coordinated

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00:46:28

Power, Negotiation, The COPs - And Loss And Damage

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/11/20

Climate change is exerting increasingly profound effects on societies across the globe. Policy responses are often described as resting on three pillars. The first involves addressing the causes of climate change by reducing carbon emissions and improving carbon capture. Experts tend to refer to this as mitigation. The second concerns adapting to the climate impacts that are already unavoidable in order to reduce the harm they cause, for example by raising sea walls or improving the heat resilience

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00:29:27

Playing The Politics Of Morality To Set The Agenda

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/11/13

It’s often said that when a government faces political trouble, nothing boosts public support quite like a threat to national security. History offers vivid examples — from the surge in backing for Margaret Thatcher during the 1982 Falklands War to the Bush administration’s post-9/11 unity wave. But can governments find other ways to rally citizens without invoking fear or conflict?In this episode, we explore a fascinating new study that suggests they can — by turning to moral issues instead of

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00:29:28

How War The Ukraine War Has Affected Attitudes To...

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/11/06

In this episode, we explore a crucial yet often overlooked question: how does war affect people’s support for democracy? Around the world, conflicts continue to shape societies and political systems—but the impact on democratic values and attitudes remains complex and contested.Host Prof Alan Renwick is joined by Kristin Bakke, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at UCL, head of the Conflict and Change research cluster, and a returning guest of the podcast. Together, they

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00:31:54

Gaza: The Dream And The Nightmare

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/10/30

Gaza is — often for tragic reasons — frequently in the headlines. In this episode, recorded on October 16, 2025, we take a step back from breaking news to explore Gaza’s deeper history: how the events of the 20th and 21st centuries have shaped the territory, its people, and its politics.Our guide through this complex and often painful story is Dr Julie Norman, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at UCL and co-author of the new book Gaza: The Dream and the Nightmare.It’s a

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00:31:54

Should The State Fund Fertility Treatments?

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/10/23

When we talk about funding healthcare, most of us think of hospitals, waiting lists, and limited budgets. But what about fertility — and the question of whether everyone should have the chance, or even the right, to have children?At a time of intense pressure on public spending, should the state cover the cost of fertility treatment? That question depends on what kind of good we think fertility treatment is. Is it simply another part of healthcare, like cancer treatment, competing for the same

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00:29:12

Immigration, Public Housing, and Far-Right Politics

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/10/09

Across many democracies, far-right movements are gaining momentum — a trend that worries policymakers, researchers, and citizens alike. A common explanation points to material hardship: when people feel left behind economically and socially, they often turn to radical political alternatives. One critical dimension of this hardship is housing — especially the lack of affordable and secure homes. Could building more affordable housing help reduce support for far-right parties?New research provides a

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00:31:34

Hope In International Human Rights

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/10/02

In this special episode, we take a deep dive into the ideas and career of our esteemed colleague and friend of the podcast, Professor Veronika Fikfak. Following her inaugural lecture as Professor of Human Rights and International Law at UCL’s Department of Political Science, we use the occasion to explore broader themes in international law, human rights, and academic life.Veronika brings a wealth of experience from institutions across Europe, including Oxford, Cambridge, Copenhagen, and London. She

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00:43:51

The 2024 UK General Election

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/06/26

The 2024 UK General Election was nothing short of exceptional. Labour achieved one of the largest majorities in the history of the House of Commons — yet on the lowest vote share ever recorded for a winning party. Meanwhile, the Conservatives suffered their most devastating defeat in modern political history.In this episode, we unpack the seismic shifts that led to this remarkable result. Why did the vote fragment across so many parties? What drove the electorate’s choices in this cycle? And what

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00:40:20

Should We Have A Human Right Against Discrimination?

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/06/19

In this episode of UCL Uncovering Politics, we explore one of the most foundational questions in human rights theory: Is there a human right against discrimination?While many of us instinctively view discrimination based on attributes like sexual orientation as inherently wrong, not all human rights theorists agree that this wrong is best understood as a violation of a human right. Some argue that discrimination, though harmful, doesn't necessarily fall under the scope of human rights

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00:35:12

Can The Law Fix Structural Injustice?

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/06/05

When we see injustice in the world, our instinct is often to look for someone to blame. We might point to a corrupt official, an unjust law, or individuals acting with harmful intent. But some of the most persistent and damaging injustices of our time, including climate change, homelessness, systemic racism and gender inequality, do not have a single perpetrator. These are what philosopher Iris Marion Young described as structural injustices. They are not caused by individual malice, but by the

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00:39:07

Should Politicians Always Be Truthful?

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/05/29

Most of us want our politicians to tell the truth. In fact, research from UCL and beyond confirms that honesty is consistently ranked as one of the top values citizens expect from their elected representatives.But is that expectation realistic? Political insiders often argue that politics is a rough game – a competitive arena where playing fair can be a disadvantage. If truthfulness puts you behind, does it still have a place in modern democracy?In this episode, we question whether we’ve been too

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00:36:15

Do Religious Schools Hinder Children's Autonomy?

UCL Uncovering Politics ·

2025/05/22

Today, we’re diving into the complex and often contentious world of religious schools. Are they a threat to social cohesion and tolerance, or are they simply an expression of parental rights and freedom of religion? Some argue that religious schools may indoctrinate children or isolate communities, while others insist parents should be free to raise their children in accordance with their deepest values — including their faith.So who's right? And what should this mean for public policy — especially

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