SPIN⟲

Welcome to the website for SPIN - the Secrecy, Power, and Ignorance research Network

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SPIN is a collaborative initiative between researchers based at the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, and the University of Exeter with members of the network across the UK, the Netherlands, France, Mexico, the US and Canada. SPIN research focuses on the power and politics of secrecy and ignorance – at the global, international, state, societal and personal level.

With revelations associated with the War on Terror and the #metoo movement, obfuscations surrounding the climate crisis, calls for transparency and ‘open societies’, new technological developments (including ‘deep fakes’ and cyberthreats), the re-emergence of discourses of ‘fake news’, the deepening of conspiracy cultures, along with the ongoing struggles of marginalised communities to be recognised or acknowledged have resulted in an increased need to understand the political and social dimensions of secrecy and ignorance. Our work therefore reflects an urgent and ongoing ambition to rethink secrecy and ignorance as forces for driving social and political developments.

For more information, please visit our Research and People pages or follow us on Twitter @research_SPIN. We welcome new visitors and collaborations, including with artists. Do get in touch.

Design and Development by Kirtis Clarke ⟲



For more, please visit our Projects, People, Publications, and Podcasts pages. And do consider coming to Work with Us!

Our research spans a wide variety of issues and approaches relating to secrecy and ignorance, with experts on secrecy, law and liberal government; sexualities, race and gender in relation to secrecy; intelligence oversight; scientific and technical knowledge (un)making; methods and methodologies of studying secrecy and ignorance; and cultures of secrecy and insecurity. Our network also includes regional expertise and networks in the US, Europe, the Sahel region in North Africa, as well as expertise in the domains of trans rights, migration, chemical weapons, cybersecurity, government transparency, maritime security, counter-terrorism and political extremism.

For more, please visit our Projects, People, Publications, and Podcasts pages. And do consider coming to Work with Us!
Our research spans a wide variety of issues and approaches relating to secrecy and ignorance, with experts on secrecy, law and liberal government; sexualities, race and gender in relation to secrecy; intelligence oversight; scientific and technical knowledge (un)making; methods and methodologies of studying secrecy and ignorance; and cultures of secrecy and insecurity. Our network also includes regional expertise and networks in the US, Europe, the Sahel region in North Africa, as well as expertise in the domains of trans rights, migration, chemical weapons, cybersecurity, government transparency, maritime security, counter-terrorism and political extremism.