Political economists are inspired to understanding the major challenges that face our society today: climate breakdown and global environmental change, workers' rights across global supply chains, the intensification of war, the rise of the far-right, public health crises and so much more. But what exactly is political economy? Is it a discipline, sub-discipline, field, approach, all of these, or none? How does it help us understand capitalism, history, our everyday lives?
Professor Andrew Hindmoor is Professor of Politics at University of ºù«Ӱҵ and Co-Director of the ºù«Ӱҵ Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI). Dr Liam Stanley is Senior Lecturer in Politics at University of ºù«Ӱҵ. Dr Natalie Langford is Lecturer in Sustainability at University of ºù«Ӱҵ. For this first episode, they join Dr Remi Edwards for a fascinating discussion in which they share their perspectives on what exactly political economy is, how they came to pursue it, and the role it has played in their research careers so far.
Listen to the first episode now on Player
SPERI Presents… Lessons in Power: What can the new Labour government learn from the last one?
All episodes from this podcast series are available to listen now:
Episode 1:
Lord Stewart Wood, former economic advisor at the Treasury (2001-2007) and Gordon Brown's foreign policy advisor (2007-2010) discusses diplomacy post-2008, the challenges of UK-EU relations, and how to position the UK amid the US-China trade war.
Episode 2:
Baroness Sally Morgan was Tony Blair's Director of Government & Political Relations (1997-2005) and Gavin Kelly was Deputy Chief of Staff under Gordon Brown (2007-2010). They discuss the challenges of the PM's diary, relations between No. 10 and government departments, and how Keir Starmer should hit the ground running.
Episode 3:
Former Secretary of State Lord David Blunkett reflects on his time as Home Secretary (2001-2004). He discusses the state of the Home Office in the wake of Windrush, negotiating with Nicolas Sarkozy, and whether and how asylum seekers should receive the right to work.
Episode 4:
Former Secretary of State for International Development (1997-2003) boldly criticises the Foreign Office as a leader of international development, UK-US relations and reflects on the need for a new role for Britain in a changing world order.
Episode 5:
Former Special Advisor to Blair (2000-2005) weighs in on hotly contested approaches to tackling child poverty, calling for an end to the two child benefit cap, and discusses the need for sustainable institutions of government and reimagining social security.
Episode 6:
Former head of the No. 10 Policy Unit (2007-2010) and Special Advisor (2001-2007) explores what Keir Starmer should do to reform public services. They discuss taxation, the role of local and combined authorities, and the role of the civil service.
Episode 7:
Former Special Advisor to Robin Cook, Leader of the House (2001-2003) discusses the dynamic between the Prime Minister and Parliament, the need for reform in the House of Commons and the endlessly frustrating challenge of achieving meaningful reform to the upper house.
Episode 8:
Former Head of Policy in No. 10 (1997-2007) reflects on the need for multidimensional solutions to complex social issues, how Starmer should pursue his missions, the allure and limitations of incrementalism, and the challenges of a hollowed out Whitehall.
Episode 9:
Lessons in Power host Michael sits on the other side of the studio as this episode’s guest, with Mems being joined by doctoral researcher and co-founder of Labour for a Green New Deal, Chris Saltmarsh as co-host. Drawing on his time as advisor at the Treasury (2004-2007) and to Brown (2007-2010), Michael discusses the Climate Change Act 2008, the challenges facing Miliband, and the need for mass mobilisation for climate action.
Read Michael and Mems' blog about the series on the .