SPIN Spring Newsletter

March 23, 2023

A very happy spring greeting from SPIN. Here is a roundup of all the goings-on.

 

New Members:

A very warm welcome to all new members.

  • Luca Trenta – Associate Professor in International Relations in the Department of Political and Cultural Studies at Swansea University
    • Research: Current project focuses on the US government’s involvement in the assassination of foreign officials from the Cold War to the present day.
    • Profile: Dr Luca Trenta – Swansea University
  • Jamie Johnson – Lecturer in Security, Conflict and International Development at the University of Leicester
  • Linsey McGoey – Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex
  • 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.
    • Profile: Susan Maret Faculty Profile (sjsu.edu)
  • Ana Flamind – PhD Student at University of Groningen
  • William Walters – Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Carleton University
  • Natalie Ferris – Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Bristol

 

New Publications:

  • 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,
  • Oliver Kearns’ (Bristol) new book ‘The Covert Colour Line: The Racialised Politics of Western State Intelligence’ is coming out 20th April, 2023
    • Where to Find it: The Covert Colour Line (plutobooks.com)
    • 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

 

Events:

  • 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 Line book 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.
    • More details: a / political.org: https://a-political.org
    • Date: 24 march – 8 April, London, SE11 4AA

 

Website Updates:

  • 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’
    • Cash’s Pit – SPIN (secrecyresearch.com)
    • Postcards from the photo-essay are available from SPIN and from the Martin Parr Foundation Gallery in Bristol.

Cash’s Pit. Emily Graham.

 

 

 

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