Plaid Cymru’s new leader faces tough challenges ahead of next elections

Anwen Elias, Aberystwyth University and Elin Royles, Aberystwyth University Rhun ap Iorwerth was appointed as Plaid Cymru’s new leader mid-June 2023. He replaced Adam Price, who stood down in response to a damaging report which found evidence of a culture of sexual harassment, bullying and misogyny in the party. An immediate priority for ap Iorwerth…
Professor Michael Woods, Professor Alan Renwick and Dr Anwen Elias

Public demand for democratic reform

The Centre for Welsh Politics and Society at Aberystwyth University hosted its Annual Lecture on the prospects for democratic reform in the United Kingdom. Leading academic Professor Alan Renwick, Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London, delivered the lecture entitled “Do the UK Public want Democratic Reform?”. Professor Renwick presented compelling research…
Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Derek Walker

Commissioner supports innovative dialogue approach to tackling polarisation in our communities

WISERD academics based at the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society (CWPS) at Aberystwyth University jointly hosted a symposium with partners from the Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) on Wednesday 24 May at the National Library of Wales. Facilitated by Dr Amy Sanders, with support from Aberystwyth University’s Dialogue Centre and adopting an innovative dialogue…
Professor Alan Renwick

Leading academic to discuss democratic reform in Aberystwyth

The prospects for political reform in Britain will be discussed at Aberystwyth University this month, when Professor Alan Renwick delivers the annual Welsh Politics and Society Lecture. The lecture, ‘Do the UK Public want Democratic Reform?’, will be held on Thursday 25th May at 6pm in the International Politics Main Hall, Penglais Campus. Entry is free…
Derek Walker

Volunteers’ role in tackling community divides discussed by Commissioner

The role of voluntary organisations in tackling polarisation in local communities will be discussed by the Future Generations Commissioner in Aberystwyth next month. Aberystwyth University academics from the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) will jointly host a symposium with partners from the Voluntary Sector Studies Network on Wednesday 24 May…

Research on rural support for disruptive political movements wins major European grant

The relationship between voter discontent in rural areas and support for disruptive political movements in Europe and the United States will be explored in a major study by an Aberystwyth University professor, following the award of a prestigious grant. Professor Michael Woods has secured funding of nearly €2.5 million from the European Research Council (ERC)…

Aberystwyth University academic appointed to Natural Resources Wales Board

Professor Rhys Jones from Aberystwyth University has been appointed to the board of Natural Resources Wales by the Climate Change Minister. Natural Resources Wales is the statutory body responsible for the sustainable management of Wales’ natural resources. Its Board has the task of establishing its vision, strategic direction and maintaining oversight. Rhys Jones FLSW FAcSS…

CWPS-WISERD December Newsletter

Happy holidays and season greetings from the CWPS-WISERD team!  Our academic elves have been busying themselves throughout the new term and we are pleased to be able to share our newsletter with you. Here you’ll find some exciting stocking fillers to start your holidays, including the 2021 CWPS report, upcoming events, news and links to…

IMAJINE Scenarios presented to EU Cohesion Policy Conference

Professor Michael Woods presented findings from the CWPS-WISERD-led Horizon 2020 project IMAJINE to the Third Joint EU Cohesion Policy Conference in Zagreb in November. Jointly organized by the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG-Regio), the Regional Studies Association and the Croatian Government, the conference brought together 150 academics, EU policy-makers and member…

New paper on ‘Refugees, race and the limits to rural cosmopolitanism’ in Wales and Ireland

CWPS-WISERD Co-Director Professor Michael Woods has published an open access paper in the Journal of Rural Studies which examines the settlement of refugees and asylum seekers in three small towns in Wales and Ireland, including Aberystwyth and Newtown.  The paper builds on an earlier article that introduced the idea of ‘precarious rural cosmopolitanism’, arguing that…