Linsey McGoey – Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex
Research: Focuses on the role of power, ignorance and knowledge in contemporary society, with an emphasis on how corporate power and corporate domination affects well-being and inequality around the world.
Susan Maret – Lecturer at SJSU School of Information
Research: Focuses on sociology of knowledge and information policy, particularly secrecy, censorship, privacy, freedom of expression, information rights as human rights, and technology.
Natalie Jester (Gloucester) recently published an article which conceptualises the militarisation of digital space by examining the social media presence of three large US arms manufacturers.
Jester, Natalie (2023) ‘Accessible, Transparent, Progressive: Conceptualising the Militarisation of Digital Space Through the Social Media Presence of Arms Manufacturers.’Millennium, online first: https://doi.org/10.1177/03058298221137930
Lukas Griessl (Essex) has a new article out on secrecy and ignorance at the Rand Corp in relation to Christian Dayé’s recent book,
About: ‘An innovative theory of state intelligence’…‘Oliver Kearns shows how the catastrophic mistakes made by British and US intelligence services since 9/11 are underpinned by orientalist worldviews and racist assumptions forged in the crucible of Cold War-era colonial retreat.’
See also the event notice below and as a separate email
Manjeet Ramgotra (SOAS) has a new edited volume (in which she has also written several chapters) rethinking the political theory canon
Manjeet Ramgotra and Simon Choat (eds) (2023), Rethinking Political Thinkers, OUP.
SPIN is pleased to have hosted two panels and sets of speakers at the International Studies Association Annual Convention in Montreal. More details on the SPIN website.
Lunchtime working paper session: Elspeth Van Veeren invites SPIN members and interested colleagues to read and comment on the latest draft of her new working paper, ‘The Labour of Secrecy’, Wednesday April 5th 4-5:30pm. Email to follow.
Oliver Kearns,The Covert Colour Linebook launch, 26 April, 4-6pm in the Verdon-Smith International Seminar Room. Please watch out for the separate email or register to attend via the SPIN website:
Next Research in Progress, 24 May 2023, 2-4pm. Online. Email to follow.
Manjeet Ramgotra,Rethinking Political Thinkers book launch, London, May 18th, Details to follow.
Luca Trenta is holding an interdisciplinary hybrid conference and workshop exploring the role of state-sponsored assassinations in international politics, history, and law – the aim of which is to identify a group of scholars to work towards a joint grant application. Luca welcomes full papers, short presentations, and round-table contributions. Please watch out for more details.
Location: Swansea University
Date: 16-17 May, 2023
Deadline for Submissions: 31st March, 2023
Edmund Clark will be exhibiting work in the upcoming ‘State of Violence’ exhibition for a/political
Details of the Event: ‘Artists, investigative journalists and fashion icons will unveil and oppose techniques of government oppression alongside the largest-ever physical publication of top secret government cables, never before available in the UK in hardcopy.’ A fantastic line up of artists.
We would like to invite all members to suggest any updates for the website.
In case you missed it:
Our 2022 SPIN-MPF Art Commission: Emily Graham, Cash’s Pit
About: ‘A photographic essay, commissioned by SPIN and the Martin Parr Foundation, Cash’s Pit is the site of an ancient woodlands which were occupied for over a year in protest against the building of the HS2 railway on this land.’…’These photographs explore the role of secrecy in occupation and resistance movements’