STORRE Collection: Electronic copies of History and Politics journal articles.Electronic copies of History and Politics journal articles.http://hdl.handle.net/1893/2142024-03-29T13:18:08Z2024-03-29T13:18:08ZReading against Reform: The Bristol Library Society and the Intellectual Culture of Bristol's Elections in 1812Smith, Joshua J.http://hdl.handle.net/1893/358842024-03-29T01:09:21Z2024-02-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Reading against Reform: The Bristol Library Society and the Intellectual Culture of Bristol's Elections in 1812
Author(s): Smith, Joshua J.
Abstract: This article pioneers a new methodological approach to the study of electoral politics by combining an analysis of the politics of reading, library association and the reading habits of electors in an English urban constituency in the early 19th century. By integrating an examination of reading practices and intellectual context into our analysis of electoral contests, political history scholars can go further in their examination of the unreformed electoral system and attempt to gauge the motivations behind voting habits and partisan identification in this period. Using electoral voting data and the records of an urban subscription library, this article explores the interrelation between the Bristol Library Society and Bristol's electoral politics, as well as conducting an analysis of which books were being borrowed and read by electors in a politically tumultuous year. Although few in number compared with the total size of Bristol's electorate, Bristol Library members were among some of the most politically and culturally influential individuals in Bristol society and were active participants in electoral contests in the city, either as candidates, campaigners, civic officials or voters. An analysis of their voting habits reveals that the library's membership reflected the Tory political hegemony that became pronounced in the city's civic politics. Moreover, an analysis of their reading habits in 1812 reveals an interest in political texts that were conservative and anti-Gallic in tone, that were representative of the political climate in Bristol in 1812, and which contributed to the defeat of candidates for reform in its electoral contests.2024-02-01T00:00:00ZBeyond Heritage Science: A ReviewPenman, MichaelKennedy, CraigWatkinson, DavidEmmerson, NicolaThickett, DavidBosché, FrédéricForster, Alan M.Grau-Bové 6, JosepCassar, Mayhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/358772024-03-29T01:07:12ZTitle: Beyond Heritage Science: A Review
Author(s): Penman, Michael; Kennedy, Craig; Watkinson, David; Emmerson, Nicola; Thickett, David; Bosché, Frédéric; Forster, Alan M.; Grau-Bové 6, Josep; Cassar, May
Abstract: Heritage science is an established and thriving field of enquiry. Initially considered as inherently cross-disciplinary, encompassing both the needs of conservators and practitioners and the high-quality evidence produced by scientists, heritage science has, through its expansion in recent years, formed a discipline in its own right. Here, we examine how heritage science can, and to an extent has, moved beyond the straightforward scientific analysis of historical materials and artefacts through an exploration of heritage science’s interactions with four key themes: (i) historical and archival research, (ii) conservation practice, (iii) policy at governmental, organisational and institutional levels, and (iv) a view to how new technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, can shape the future of heritage science. Much of the review narrative is framed via the analysis of UK-based case studies; however, they deal with issues that are international in nature (universal) and therefore transcend the UK context. Taken together, we demonstrate that heritage science as a discipline is capable of directly instigating or (re-)framing new areas or avenues of research, as well as enhancing and feeding into existing research questions, and has adapted and evolved along with emerging technologies and funding opportunities.Coordination, agenda-setting, and future planning: the role of Combined Authorities during the COVID-19 PandemicKippin, SeanMorphet, Janicehttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/358662024-03-29T01:02:41Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Coordination, agenda-setting, and future planning: the role of Combined Authorities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s): Kippin, Sean; Morphet, Janice
Abstract: Following an intermittent and halting roll-out, Combined Authorities (CAs) are now an established part of English governance. They represent a 'pooling' of competences by different geographically contiguous local authorities which approximately align with economic geographies and have emerged with strong encouragement from central government. Today, they cover most of England's large urban centres and enjoy a modest and variable range of permissions to act over planning, transport, and economic development. Since their establishment, they have grown in profile, owing in part to the presence of Directly Elected Mayors, who provide the model with executive leadership, visibility, and electoral legitimacy. The period of the Covid-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to assess their role and influence and to explore how this changed during and as a result of this period of sustained national emergency. Drawing upon publicly available data related primarily-but not exclusively-to three CAs (West Midlands, Teesside, and Liverpool), we conclude that they have played three main overlapping roles. Firstly, they have proven to be engaged in coordination and mediation between regional stakeholders. Secondly, they have proved influential as agenda setters, drawing attention to central government failure. Thirdly, they have acted within their regeneration and planning competences to strategise the economic and urban futures of their city-regions.2023-01-01T00:00:00ZRecasting the state: The Scottish National Party and the Nieuw‐Vlaamse AlliantieBrown Swan, Coreehttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/358302024-03-07T01:06:37Z2022-12-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Recasting the state: The Scottish National Party and the Nieuw‐Vlaamse Alliantie
Author(s): Brown Swan, Coree
Abstract: In 2014, voters in Scotland and Flanders were faced with a choice which would shape the constitutional future of their respective nations as well as that of the British and Belgian states. The Scottish National Party and the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie sought different types of self-government, but their proposals were made in response to the embedding state. This article analyses the messaging of each party, determining that both discursively use the state – as concept and as institution – in similar ways. Both acknowledge the interdependence inherent to governance in the twenty-first century, but argue that self-government remains necessary. They also use the perceived failings of the state to make their case for self-government. However, there are important, albeit subtle, areas of variation, reflecting both the nature of each party’s self-government goals and their strategies in pursuit of them.2022-12-01T00:00:00Z