This conference will draw on the expertise of Politics academics, discussing current political issues as well as providing an insight in to studying politics at Queen’s.

Conference Programme:

10:00 Welcome and Introduction to the School

Professor Muiris MacCarthaigh

10:15 Political Power and the Planetary Emergency

Professor John Barry

This lecture explains Elitist, Pluralist and Marxist definitions of power, and examines whether such definitions of power are adequate for making sense of contemporary societies in general, and the politics of the climate crisis and how we respond to it, in particular.

10:45 Party Competition in Northern Ireland

Dr Peter McLoughlin

This lecture will focus on party competition between the two main parties, Sinn Féin and the DUP, considering whether they might be considered allies as much as adversaries, their having a symbiotic political relationship. It will also briefly look at the effects of this relationship for the UUP and SDLP, and the opportunities created for cross-community parties in a changing political environment.

11:15 Comfort Break

11:30 Interactive Quiz

11:45 Responding to Crisis: Comparing Decentralized Government in the UK and US

Dr Coree Swan Brown

This presentation will look at the decentralization of powers in the American and British system through the lens of the pandemic experience. Who drove the processes - the executive or legislature? How did the US federal and UK devolved systems aid or hinder the pandemic response? How were powers distributed across levels? And how did coordination take place?

12:15 The British Politics Process: the Balance of Power between Parliament and Government

Dr Elodie Fabre

This presentation will discuss the powers of Parliament under the Johnson government. Whereas the period of minority government under Theresa May’s premiership placed Parliament’s powers under the spotlight, the return to majority government has changed this relationship and reasserted the predominance of the Executive. This presentation will discuss what this means for Parliament and whether further reforms are needed to ensure Parliament can hold the government to account.

 12:45 Studying Politics at QUB

Professor Muiris MacCarthaigh

 13:00 Close