The fight over USS pensions and the role of the so-called ‘independent’ pensions regulator

Yet again, university employers (UUK) and the University and College Union (UCU) are at loggerheads over the future of the sector’s USS pension scheme. Interestingly, the ‘independent’ Pensions Regulator (TPR) has increasingly assumed a rather hawkish position deepening further the alarmist and reckless policies of USS managers. In this blog post, I will reflect on why TPR adopts such an interventionist position. 

Transformation beyond Capitalism? The case for Degrowth!

The global pandemic of the coronavirus has demonstrated the dangers of continuing economic growth. Relentless human encroachment on nature has facilitate the transfer of dangerous viruses from animals to humans. Kallis, Paulson, D’Alisa and Demaria’s new book The case for Degrowth (Polity Press, 2020) makes an important argument for why humanity can no longer pursue economic growth policies. In this blog post, I will highlight some of the authors' key contributions.

 

Fighting for Water book launch: Recording and Responses to questions.

In my new book Fighting for Water: Resisting Privatization in Europe (Zed Books), I am investigating the underlying dynamics of the successful struggles against water privatization around the Italian referendum in 2011, the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Water and Sanitation are a Human Right’ in 2012/2013, the ongoing struggles against water privatization in Greece as well as the struggles against water charges in Ireland between 2014 and 2016. The online book launch hosted by the Fives Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham, UK on 7 July generated several interesting questions. In this blog post, there is first a link to the recording of the book launch, before I will address these questions.

When football players become the moral compass of a nation

Something astonishing is happening in the UK. While there is a government characterised by sleaze and corruption completely lacking any sense of morality, it is football players who step forward and challenge inequality and discrimination in society. Whether it is Marcus Rashford pushing the government into ensuring that children continue to receive free school meals during holidays (Guardian, 8 November 2020) or the English national team taking the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the struggle against structural racism (Guardian, 18 June 2021), they work towards social justice. Unlike the current government, they are fully aware of their function as role models for wider society and they live up to it.

 

Transforming capitalism? The role of the commons and direct democracy in struggles against water privatisation in Europe.

In my new book Fighting for Water: Resisting Privatization in Europe (Zed Books/Bloomsbury, 2021), I analyse a number of struggles against water privatization in Europe since the early 1990s. In this post, I will explore to what extent these struggles point towards a potential future beyond capitalism through a focus on the commons and an emphasis on direct, participatory forms of democracy. 

Moving towards Trade Justice? Labour movements and ‘free trade’.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting global value chains and geo-political rivalry especially between China and the US, the global ‘free’ trade regime has come under increasing pressure. On 7 May 2021, trade union researchers, academics and activists came together for an online workshop co-organised by Oxford Brookes University and the Centre for the Study of Social and Global Justice (CSSGJ), Nottingham University, to explore whether this could be the moment for labour movements from around the world moving towards an alternative trade regime, based on social justice. In this blog post, I will reflect on some of the key findings. 

 

No Turning Back! Ten years after the victory of the Italian water movement against privatization.

Ten years ago on 12 and 13 June 2011, the Italian water movement gained a decisive victory against privatisation in a nation-wide referendum. For the first time in 16 years, it had again been possible to secure the quorum of at least 50 per cent plus one voter participating, necessary to make the referendum legally valid. In fact, just over 57 per cent of the electorate, more than 26 million Italians, cast their vote. The majorities in relation to the two questions on water were even more impressive. 95.35 per cent yes on the first question abolishing the legal obligation to privatise the management of water services; 95.80 per cent yes on the second question, removing the legal right of private investors to make seven per cent of profit on their running of water services (Fattori 2011). Together, both questions removed the rationale for private involvement in water distribution. In this blog post, drawing on my new book Fighting for Water: Resisting Privatization in Europe (Zed Books/Bloomsbury, 2021) I will reflect on the underlying reasons of this success as well as the wider implications for the struggle over the human right to water.