In depth: What is a smart city?
The Open University is at the forefront of examining how ‘smart cities’ work. But what is a smart city? Do you know if you live in…
Browsing: Society and politics
A hard Brexit is looking increasingly likely – according to behavioural economics
Gloomy forecasts for the post-Brexit economy, and a psychological tendency to gamble rather than accept certain losses, may boost public support for a giant leap away…
Spain’s prime minister loses no-confidence vote: what next?
Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, has been forced to resign by his national parliament, which voted by 180 seats to 169 in favour of a…
Abandoned by the British, Afghan interpreters explain how they wait for years seeking safety
When the British began to withdraw their forces from Afghanistan in 2012, the Afghan civilians they employed as interpreters, cooks and security guards, became even more…
Britons reluctant to appear part of a British expat community in France – Brexit could change that
In the wake of the UK’s Brexit vote, many migrants to Britain have been made to feel like unwelcome outsiders. At the end of a visit…
Afghan interpreters: Belonging on the battlefield, exclusion from the nation?
Sara de Jong, co-lead of the ‘Justice, Borders, Rights’ research stream and Research Fellow of the Research Area Citizenship and Governance at the Open University, writes here about the plight of…
Six ways Sajid Javid can make British migration policy more humane
Britain’s increasingly brutal regime of “migration control” has come to a head. After almost two years as home secretary, Amber Rudd resigned on April 29, apologising…
Windrush generation latest to be stripped of their rights in the name of ‘migration control’
Some of those who came legally to the UK as part of the “Windrush generation”, many of whom are now elderly, have lost their jobs, homes,…
Anne overcomes adversity to reach her graduation goal
Anne is 69 and has wanted to achieve her degree her entire adult life. Having left school at 15 and started her career as a telephonist…
Research recommends united action to attract more women into IT leadership
An OU research project finds there are continuing barriers to overcome to get women better represented in highly-skilled positions in UK Information Technology (IT), with lessons…
