Nov 10, 2020The Name GameWhat ‘Lake Trump’ tells us about the geopolitics of naming in the Balkans In the year 2020, it has become almost routine for headlines that could have easily been outlandish satire not so long ago to become reality. “Disputed reservoir on the Serbia-Kosovo border to be named after President Donald…Politics6 min readPolitics6 min read
Nov 3, 2020Victorian Values: football, politics and poverty in the campaign of Marcus RashfordMarcus Rashford’s campaign for the government to extend the provision of Free School Meals (FSMs) for the country’s neediest children has been nothing short of inspirational. …Football7 min readFootball7 min read
Sep 25, 2020Decentralising Britain: why the UK needs to address its London-centrism — The MeridianAcross the world, many countries have multiple large cities that are informally understood as the capital cities for different sectors of the country. While Berlin is the political and cultural capital of Germany, Frankfurt is its financial centre; in Italy, Milan is the financial and industrial capital rather than the…Politics8 min readPolitics8 min read
Aug 26, 2020Black and white gold: the failed Saudi takeover of Newcastle United, ‘Sportswashing’, and Soft Power from the Middle East — The MeridianWhen talk of a potential takeover of Newcastle United began in early 2020, fans were ecstatic; after 13 years of the drab ownership of Mike Ashley, supporters of the club were desperate for regime change. The Magpies, as they are nicknamed, have the ninth-highest trophy total of clubs in England…Politics8 min readPolitics8 min read
Jun 10, 2020Member-onlySet in Stone? Challenging the Statue ImmemorialMaking the case against untouchable material history — As the Black Lives Matter protests spurred by the killing of George Floyd have swelled and spread, the movement has become one of a broader challenge to structural racism and inequality, inspiring large-scale peaceful demonstrations not just in the United States but also many other countries, including the United Kingdom…Politics9 min readPolitics9 min read
Apr 12, 2020Member-onlyPunching Up Or Kicking Down?Why Premier League footballers were the only group in the entertainment industry ordered to “do their bit” during the Coronavirus crisis The Coronavirus pandemic is a crisis with catastrophic consequences for public health, society, and the economy; this much has become abundantly clear since March 2020. The secondary impacts on…Football9 min readFootball9 min read
