Overview of Concepts at the Interface (2024, OUP)

Author's overview of _Concepts at the Interface_ for a book symposium in _Philosophical Psychology

International Refugee Law and the Principle of Non Refoulement: Revisiting the case of Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and Co vs The People of Cameroon

This paper examines the principles of international refugee law, with a particular focus on the non-refoulement principle as the main pillar of international protection against the forced return of individuals to countries where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. This principle is enshrined in Article 33(1) of the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention and reaffirmed by various regional and international human rights instruments. This paper critically examines the highly contested case of Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and others v. the People of Cameroon, in which leaders of the Anglophone separatist movement who had sought refuge in Nigeria were allegedly arrested by Nigerian authorities in January 2018 and refouled to Cameroon. On the basis of an analysis of legal scholarship and case law, this paper examines the circumstances surrounding the abduction or arrest of Sisiku and Co. This paper also explores whether the actions of the Nigerian and Cameroonian governments constitute a violation of the principle of non-refoulement and other commitments under international law (legality of arrest). Finally, legal and institutional reforms are recommended to improve adherence to international refugee protection standards not only in Africa but also throughout the world

Stepping into the Void? Examining the Political Trajectories of Cinema and Bande Dessinée in France

In a wonderfully-titled article published in Paragraph in 1992 – ‘How to avoid becoming a middle-aged fogey, with reference to three recent popular French films’ – Keith Reader discusses the literary-inspired, ‘determinedly non-realistic’ (97) direction of late ‘80s film-making in France, considering his chosen films as ‘symptomatic of the ideological and political watering-down of French society’ during the Mitterrand era (108). Despite later reflections from film scholars such as O’Shaughnessy (2010) noting the re-emergence of politically-engaged French cinema from 1995 onwards, by 2015 the then-editor of Cahiers du Cinema, Stéphane Delorme, would lament in a cover story for the journal the ‘vide politique’ of contemporary French cinema, resolutely restricted, as he saw it, to ‘des imageries coupées du réel’. A visual medium more traditionally associated with such a description, the bande dessinée, appears to have followed an opposing thematic trajectory to that of cinema in recent decades. Once largely restricted to juvenile subject matter – although frequently harnessed as a propaganda tool aimed at maintaining already-dominant ideologies amongst its young readerships – the Francophone bande dessinée has, since its 1990s transformation, increasingly engaged with political questions via a growing number of approaches. This article considers how this art form, contrary to the recent thematic evolution of French cinema, has developed since the Mitterrand era to become, arguably, the visual medium of choice for political activism in current-day France. It studies the progression of thematic trends from the emergence of BD reportage in the mid-1990s, to the visual chronicling of French presidential elections from the turn of the millennium onwards, before finally examining the mobilisation of the form in the last ten years as a form of artistic challenge to political decision-making in France and its adoption to this end by journalists and film-makers previously unfamiliar with bande dessinée creation

The legal dematerialization of enchantment: prizes, brands and the magical economics of something-for-nothing

This article brings together cultural studies and legal history to address a particular mode of historical enchantment, namely, the economic magic of something-for-nothing. Considered within the early history of mass advertising in Britain, the magic appears to have migrated: it appeared in materialized form in the somewhat forgotten history of nineteenth-century prize and gift advertising, which was gradually superseded by a dematerialized form found in brand advertising. The article examines the process of dematerialization, suggesting that it was unwittingly encouraged by law, which is read here as a public debate about the possibility of getting something for nothing in the market. Legal responses to prize- and brand advertising reveal a marked divergence. They were far more prohibitive toward the former, and thus created conditions in which it made sense for advertisers to dematerialize the benefits they offered, and for consumers to seek dematerialized windfalls. This history reframes the periodization of advertising's modernization, its mood, and the place of law in the history of brand capitalism

Advancement and innovation in ancient wine research

This article reviews how recent advances in archaeological and scientific methodologies have introduced a new era of research into ancient wine production and grape cultivation. Our understanding has progressed enormously since early studies in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Analytical tools can now detect and interpret the presence of wine at increasingly granular levels, while collaboration between archaeologists and scientists has explored links between ancient and modern viticulture. We discuss the development and application of ancient DNA, archaeobotany and palynology, organic residue analysis, aerial photography, and geophysical prospection in relation to the cutting-edge exploration of key debates around ancient wine: the evolution of grapevine domestication; identification of production facilities and wine drinking, storage, and transport vessels; characterization of wine properties; and the archaeology of vineyards. In doing so, we also explore future possibilities for the field, including current challenges and limitations in data and method

Preserving History in Copper: Richard Rawlinson’s Collection of Printing Plates

This article examines Richard Rawlinson's remarkable collection of engraved copper plates, a significant yet largely overlooked part of the Bodleian Library's holdings. Rawlinson (1690–1755), renowned as an 18th-century collector and antiquary, amassed a substantial collection encompassing various antiquarian artefacts. This study, rooted in four years of doctoral research, delves into the provenance, manufacture, and intended usage of these plates, integrating traditional archival methods with innovative imaging technologies to reveal new insights into Rawlinson's collecting practices. Notably, the research highlights Rawlinson's unusual acquisition of numerous second-hand plates, which raise questions about his motivations as a collector. Despite the intention to utilise these plates for printing, their potential remained largely unrealised due to resource limitations at the Bodleian Library. The article presents case studies that highlight the transformative potential of modern methodologies in understanding cultural heritage, showcasing the significance of Rawlinson's contributions to the preservation of history through his extensive collection

Layering London’s History: Digital Mapping and Spatial Technologies in Historical Research

The opening decades of the twenty-first century have seen an explosion of spatial approaches to urban history, which have allowed historians to combine analyses to gain new cultural and experiential perspectives on historical cities. New tools and resources have introduced both ways to use historical maps as sources in new light, and new ways to create maps as part of historical research. London has often been at the heart of many of these developments. These approaches have unlocked new ways of understanding the historical city through historical map sources, as well as new ways of conceiving of other kinds of sources through a spatial lens

The Creation of “Medieval” Woodblocks

Elizabeth Savage FSA and Edward Potten FSA reveal intriguing antiquarian dimensions of purported medieval woodblocks

Temporary Protection for Ukrainians in the EU, UK, and Canada

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which started on 24 February 2022, led to the biggest armed conflict in Europe after WWII and forced more than 6 million Ukrainians to flee. This mass exodus induced the implementation of temporary protection policies worldwide, including the unprecedented activation of the Temporary Protection Directive by the Council of the European Union. Although occasionally applied, temporary protection is a relatively understudied concept, prompting the author to investigate its first-ever wide-scale application. The paper compares the temporary protection policies implemented for Ukrainians in the EU, UK, and Canada. The analysis includes descriptions of temporary protection policies in the chosen jurisdictions, their extensions, and the good and bad practices of their implementation. Since the Russo-Ukrainian War has become a protracted armed conflict, preventing most Ukrainians from a safe return, the paper also explores possible ways of their local integration in the EU, UK, and Canada. By comparing temporary protection policies in the mentioned jurisdictions, the author outlines the most preferred policy, making recommendations for policymakers on improving the delivery of current and future temporary protection policies

A Community of Practice for Independent Researchers: Scoping NCACE’s Independent Researchers Network (IRN)

This scoping report sets out how NCACE’s Independent Researchers Network (IRN) can strengthen cross-sector research culture across the arts, culture, community and higher education ecosystems. It draws on: (i) NCACE’s track record of convening effective collaboration; (ii) a Roundtable Consultation with independent researchers; and (iii) a Network Mapping Exercise across academia, arts and cultural organisations, community initiatives and funders. This report is published on the NCACE Evidence Repository at https://ncace.ac.uk/evidence-hub/evidence-repository/ncace-publication