Publications

In recent years there has been an increase in awareness of social justice, equality and rights issues among Chinese citizens including university teachers (Li, 2011). The higher education (HE) sector is an important example of this because of its potential for developing and disseminating new ideas about a just society, and in influencing policy-makers. An…

It is clear that graduates from Chinese higher education, like their counterparts elsewhere in the world, expect to find employment which provides a return on the investment they and their families have made in their formal education and training. They aspire also to employment appropriate to the level of education they have achieved and which…

This chapter traces the way in which national and local policies have at different times favoured selective or non-selective admissions arrangements in English secondary schools. It shows how, for most of the past century, the key issue of contention in political and educational debates was whether and how to select for a bipartite system on…

Alain Touraine’s distinctive contributions to sociology include his sociological theory of action, the method of ‘sociological intervention’ in the study of social movements, and his critique of modernity which offers a ‘post-social’ approach to contemporary societies. This article explains the key stages of Touraine’s work in the context of post-war social theory in France. It…

Stretching the Sociological Imagination calls for renewed attention to the concept of the sociological imagination, allowing social scientists to link private issues to public troubles. Inspired by the eminent Glasgow-based sociologist and co-founder of the Glasgow Media Group, John Eldridge, it re-engages with the concept and shows how it can be applied to analyzing society…

Strikes are complicated phenomena, and the miners’ strike that began in 1984 is no exception. Its complexity defies simple generalisations. It has changed the lives of many people and its consequences are still being experienced after 30 years. It is, however, possible to evaluate. In doing so it is useful to remember the words of…

A unique interdisciplinary guide to minority ethnic communities and identity in Wales, which critically assesses the idea of Welsh tolerance. This chapter specifically addresses Wales’ ethnic diversity in relation to public policy.

This case study reports on research into the way that political parties are responding to the challenges of an ageing society. In methodological terms, it examined (1) the level of attention (or ‘issue salience’) given to public policy for older people (60+ years) in manifestos for Westminster and ‘devolved’ elections in the United Kingdom, 1945–2011,…

This chapter reveals theories which are in favour of successful innovation activity occurring independently from the prerequisite of density and immediate proximity. Furthermore, the following literature study discusses the extent to which relatively agglomeration-based theoretical components might be reasonably transferable to rural areas. The chapter aims to find and assess empirical evidence with which to…