THE BRITISH ACADEMY,
established by Royal Charter in 1902, champions and supports the humanities and social sciences.
We aim to inspire, recognise and support excellence and high achievement across the UK and internationally.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday 10 February 2010
Religion and Community in the Roman Near East: Constantine to Mahomet
Thursday 25 February 2010
The Mixed Constitution: Monarchical and Aristocratic Aspects of Modern Democracy
Latest issue of the British Academy Review Issue 14 of the British Academy Review is available now in print and to download. It features articles on current questions of law, morality and the effectiveness of humanitarian military interventions, the global financial crisis, and more.
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News from the Academy
 Charles de Secondat, Baron de |
MONTESQUIEU’S OBSTACLE
The theory of separation of powers developed by French social commentator and political thinker, Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu is still the foundation of modern representative democracy.
But has this philosophy become a hindrance rather than help in today’s politics?
On 25 February, at the Academy’s Annual flagship lecture, author and classics expert Mogens Herman Hansen will argue that a mixed constitution (which goes back to Plato, Aristotle and Polybios) deserves to be revived as a corrective to the popular view that western states are pure democracies and that democracy is rule by the people. The audience may be surprised to discover that modern political thought has a much to learn from the Greek and Roman political thinkers.
ETHNICITY AND MIDDLE CLASSES IDENTITYBritish Academy research project, ‘The Minority Ethnic Middle-Classes and Education’ led by Professor Louise Archer explored the identities, values, educational practices and experiences of minority ethnic (ME) middle class parents and children in Britain. The main issue identified, was that middle classes in Britain are predominantly still associated with whiteness. Please visit Kings College London for a press release and link to the report New resource See our Directory of Learned Societies and subject association for the humanities and social sciences
| LITER8 LRNRS:Children who use mobile text abbreviations such as LOL (laughing out loud), plz (please), l8ter (later) and xxx (kisses), are unlikely to have literacy problems Levels of “textism” use can even predict reading ability and phonological awareness in pupils by the end of the year. Textism was also observed to increase with age. Read more
Funding schemes openThe UK-Latin America and the Caribbean Link scheme : Closes 20 April 2010 International Partnerships scheme is now open for applications : Closes 20 April 2010 The Small Grants Research Programme is now open for applications : Closes 15 March 2010 |
| The British Academy is a partner in the ‘Science: [So What? So Everything]’ campaign, which aims to show people how science and research benefit our everyday lives, are crucial in strengthening the UK economy and meeting some of the major challenges of our time. For more information please visit www.direct.gov.uk/sciencesowhat | |
More news storiesNews of Fellows
Professor Nicholas Boyle has been elected a Corresponding Fellow of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences.
Lord Bingham was profiled in The Guardian on 8 Feb 2010 linked to his new book, The Rule of Law. "Iraq war was illegal, says former lord chief justice".
Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury will give a lecture focusing on the positive contribution refugees have made to the UK. The lecture is hosted by UCL on the 12 May. It is an invitation only event.
Professor Edward Luttwak (a corresponding Fellow) writes on the lessons to be learnt from the Byzantine empire's art of war and diplomacy for the modern Afghan conflict
Professor Julian Jackson considers the place of the Resistance in the French collective memory of the Second World War
Dr Noel Malcolm considers the mythology of the Inquisition following the opening up of the archive of the Roman Inquisition to scholars
A conference and field-seminar in memory of Professor M.W. Beresford FBA will take place over the weekend of May 21-23 in Winchelsea (East Sussex).
Specialist lectures and discussion on ’New towns of the Middle Ages’ (like Winchelsea), will build on Professor Beresford’s ideas and work. For further information, please visit www.winchelsea.net
Professor Robin Dunbar, has revealed (24 January) that while we may be able to amass 5,000 friends on social networking sites, the neo-cortex of our brains is capable of managing a maximum of 150 friendships and a "sympathy group" of 12 to 15 people. See extensive press reports. Or British Academy research Why Humans aren't just Great Apes