Welcome to the  Politics Shed

Globalisation: A complete introduction

This podcast explores the multifaceted nature of globalisation, examining its historical context, key thinkers, and the ongoing debates surrounding its implications. It explores the evolution of nation-states, the impact of time-space compression, cultural hegemony, and the clash of cultures. The podcast also highlights the resurgence of nationalism, the role of regional organisations, and the complexities of human rights in a globalised world. Ultimately, it questions the impact of globalisation on human happiness and the future trajectory of global integration.

The Human Rights Act: A Legal Revolution

This podcast examines the profound impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on British law, the expansion of rights through judicial interpretation, and the controversies surrounding its application, particularly in the context of immigration. It discusses the evolving landscape of human rights in the UK, the challenges faced by the judicial system, and the implications of potential changes to the Human Rights Act.

The Impact of the Human Rights Act

Sep 12 2025

This podcast explores the foundational concepts of natural and human rights, their historical development, and the distinctions between various types of rights declarations. The impact of these rights on liberal democracy, the role of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights, highlighting the differences between advisory and justiciable rights. The podcast also explores the complexities of negative and positive rights, illustrating how they interact and sometimes conflict with each other.

Show More 

The Human Rights Act: Intro. The idea of human rights

Sep 11 2025

This podcast explores the Human Rights Act, its historical context, controversies, and philosophical foundations. It discusses the criticisms from various political figures and the ongoing debate about the relevance and application of human rights in contemporary society. The conversation delves into the origins of human rights, the clash between universal values and human reality, and the implications of these ideas in political discourse

Constitutional Reform from 1997.

Sep 10 2025

This podcast discusses the evolution of the British constitution, focusing on the significant reforms initiated by the Labour Party in 1997. It explores the philosophical shift within the party towards a more pragmatic approach to governance, emphasizing social justice over traditional economic transformation. The conversation also highlights the impact of devolution on the governance of the UK and the ongoing relevance of these changes in contemporary politics.

Should the UK have a codified constitution?

Jul 22 2025

This podcast explores the complexities of the UK Constitution, its uncodified nature, and the ongoing debate about whether it should be codified. It discusses the historical context, sources, and comparative aspects of the UK and US constitutions, while examining arguments for and against codification. The podcast highlights the implications of flexibility, parliamentary sovereignty, and the role of judges in interpreting laws, ultimately questioning the future of the UK's constitutional framework.

In the UK have Human Rights and Civil Liberties been eroded in recent years?

Jul 10 2025

This podcast episode offers a comprehensive overview of human rights and civil liberties in the UK, examining their evolution, the impact of political shifts, and the ongoing debate about the balance between security and individual freedoms. It discusses the historical context of rights protection, the significance of the Human Rights Act, and recent legislative developments that have influenced civil rights. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of human rights in the UK amidst growing concerns over security and governmental powers.Chapters

Liberalism

May 15 2025

This podcast explores the origins, evolution, and contemporary challenges of liberalism. It delves into the philosophical underpinnings of liberal thought, the influence of key thinkers like Hobbes and Locke, and the development of liberalism in response to social and economic changes. The discussion also addresses the rise of neoliberalism and the critiques it faces in today's political landscape.

Socialism Part 2 From Marx to the Present

May 8 2025

This podcast episode explores the evolution of socialism from Marx's critiques of capitalism to contemporary discussions on reformist socialism, the Bolshevik revolution, and the resurgence of socialist ideas in response to globalization and neoliberalism. It highlights key themes such as alienation, the role of the proletariat, and the cultural aspects of socialism, providing a comprehensive overview of the ideological shifts and challenges faced by socialist movements throughout history.

Socialism: Origins and Utopians

Mar 26 2025

This podcast explores the historical context and evolution of socialism, tracing its roots from early movements to modern interpretations. It discusses the emergence of socialism as a response to liberalism, the impact of the French Revolution, and the contributions of key figures in utopian socialism. The analysis also delves into the concept of alienation and concludes with the influence of Marxism on socialist thought.

Neoliberalism

Oct 12 2024

This podcast episode explores the concept of neoliberalism, tracing its historical origins, key figures, and economic principles. It discusses the ideological shift from Keynesianism to neoliberalism, the implications for individualism and human nature, and critiques of neoliberalism, particularly regarding inequality and market failures. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of neoliberalism in the context of rising populism and economic challenges.

Conservatism

Jun 10 2024

The development of Conservatism from Thomas Hobbes and Edmund Burke to today.

Political Parties in the UK

Apr 27 2024

The origin, functions, types of party. Party systems. Party funding and the debate about their influence on democracy.

Pressure Groups

Sep 2 2023

In this episode, I describe the definitions, typology, tactics, and relative success of pressure groups in the UK. Do Pressure Groups enhance or detract from democracy?

Think Tanks

Sep 2 2023

In this episode, I consider Think Tanks. What are Thinks Tanks? What do they do? How much influence do they have? Are Think Tanks good for democracy?

Theories of Representation

Sep 2 2023

In this podcast, I discuss direct democracy, representative democracy, the delegate model, the trustee model, the mandate model, and the resemblance model of representation.

The Media in UK Politics

Sep 2 2023

This podcast describes the impact of traditional media, new media, and media theories.

Voting Behaviour. The importance of short term factors in UK elections.

Sep 2 2023

This podcast considers the importance of factors such as the campaign, the personality of party leaders, and the rational choices made by voters. The 2017 and 2019 General Elections are examined as evidence.

The social influences on voting behaviour.

Sep 2 2023

In this episode, I explore the social factors which influence the way people vote. This includes class, locality, ethnicity, and gender. I shall also explain what is meant by class dealignment and party dealignment. 

Voting Systems in the UK

Sep 2 2023

In this episode, I consider the strengths and weaknesses of the voting systems which have been used in the UK.