University news

The distinguished journalist and author James Naughtie will open this year’s Stevenson Lectures on Citizenship & Constitutional Reform.

Mr Naughtie, a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, will deliver his lecture, entitled “Constitutional Reform and How We Got Here: A Commentator’s View”, on Tuesday October 19 at the University’s Sir Charles Wilson Building.

The subject of Citizenship and Constitutional Reform is particularly pertinent given the result of this year’s General Election which saw the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties form a Coalition government.

Dr Kevin Francis, Stevenson Fellow in Citizenship at the University, said political philosophers from Aristotle to Machiavelli, John Stuart Mill to John Rawls have discussed the centrality of the constitution to civic life to what means to be a citizen.

“It seems very appropriate that this session’s Stevenson lectures should address the theme of Citizenship and Constitutional reform. Whilst there has been a series of constitutional reforms over the last decade or so - devolution, and reform of the House of Lords, this new agenda seemed to be of a different order and to carry greater urgency.

“Are we indeed soon to move from the traditional First-Past-The-Post electoral system for the Westminster parliament? Will we see further reforms of the Upper House to move it closer to a senate? How, if at all, will citizens be involved in or by any reforms? These are some of the questions and concerns this year’s speakers will seek to address,” saod Dr Francis.

All lectures take place on Tuesdays, from 6-7.30pm and are free and open to the general public.

Professor Robert Hazell, founder and Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London, will deliver the second lecture, “The Political Risks of Constitutional Reform” on November 2.

Professor Hazell is one of the country’s leading experts on constitutional reform. He will discuss the risks that political parties encounter in embarking on such programmes of reform.

The final lecture of 2010 will be given by Dr Tony Wright, the former Labour MP, who will bring the discussion back to focus on citizens and citizenship.

During his time in Parliament, Dr Wright was chair of the Public Administration Committee and the Committee on Reform of the House of Commons. He is the author of many books, including Citizens and Subjects.

Dr Wright is also a distinguished political theorist and is Joint editor of the journal, Political Quarterly. Having stood down from the House of Commons before the last election, he is now Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy at University College, London and is also Visiting Professorial Fellow in Politics at Birkbeck.

Professor Philip Norton, Lord Norton of Louth, will begin the lectures in the second semester, when he discusses proposals for the reform of the House of Lords.

There will be two further lectures next semester and the series will conclude with the annual Crick memorial Lecture. Details of these further lectures will be given later.

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Series 2010-2011

October 19: James Naughtie, "Constitutional Reform and how we got here: a commentator’s view"

November 2: Professor Hazell’s, "The Political Risks of Constitutional Reform"

November 16: Dr Wright, "What are citizens for?"

January 25 2011: Professor Lord Norton

The Sir Charles Wilson Building is located on the corner of Gibson Street and University Avenue

For further information please contact:

Dr Kevin Francis,
Stevenson Fellow in Citizenship,
Department of Politics,
University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8RT

tel:  0141 330 5130;
email:   stevensontrust@gla.ac.uk
web:   www.gla.ac.uk/departments/stevensontrustforcitizenship/

First published: 15 October 2010