How can we get more young people voting in elections? Start by abandoning the myth of ‘politically alienated youth’

The UK has the widest gap in voter participation between older and younger citizens in the OECD. Many argue, that despite this, millennials and young people in general are not alienated from politics, but that they are engaged to an extent, but not necessarily in traditional ways. Stuart Fox argues that in order to get young people more engaged, confronting the issue head on will be required

How Racially Diverse Schools and Classrooms Can Benefit All Students

A growing number of parents, university officials, and employers want our elementary and secondary schools to better prepare students for our increasingly racially and ethnically diverse society and the global economy. But for reasons we cannot explain, the demands of this large segment of Americans have yet to resonate with most of our federal, state, or local policymakers. Instead, over the past forty years, these policy makers have completely ignored issues of racial segregation while focusing almost exclusively on high-stakes accountability, even as our schools have become increasingly segregated and unequal.This report argues that, as our K -- 12 student population becomes more racially and ethnically diverse, the time is right for our political leaders to pay more attention to the evidence, intuition, and common sense that supports the importance of racially and ethnically diverse educational settings to prepare the next generation. It highlights in particular the large body of research that demonstrates the important educational benefits -- cognitive, social, and emotional -- for all students who interact with classmates from different backgrounds, cultures, and orientations to the world. This research legitimizes the intuition of millions of Americans who recognize that, as the nation becomes more racially and ethnically complex, our schools should reflect that diversity and tap into the benefits of these more diverse schools to better educate all our students for the twenty-first century.The advocates of racially integrated schools understand that much of the recent racial tension and unrest in this nation -- from Ferguson to Baltimore to Staten Island -- may well have been avoided if more children had attended schools that taught them to address implicit biases related to racial, ethnic, and cultural differences. This report supports this argument beyond any reasonable doubt

Laos in 1997: Into ASEAN

Membership in ASEAN will have a long-term effect on the direction of Laos's economic development. Laos has been given until 2008 to meet ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) requirements to reduce tariffs on most goods to below 5%. This should encourage both trade and investment but will force the government to introduce fiscal reforms to make up for the 20% of total revenue it currently derives from tariffs. Laos will also become more fully integrated with its ASEAN neighbors. Overland routes through Laos are seen as essential to increase trade between Thailand and Vietnam and between Thailand and southern China (Yunnan). Bridge and road construction are now priorities, with aid donors and international lending institutions concentrating on infrastructure development. ASEAN membership is already having an impact on Laos's foreign relations. Throughout the year a string of ASEAN heads of state, prime ministers, and foreign ministers visited Vientiane. President Suharto of Indonesia led the way in February, followed by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore in March, Thai Prime Minister Chavalit Youngchaiyudh in June, Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet in August, and President Fidel Ramos of the Philippines in October. Agreements on agriculture, health, narcotics control, and cultural exchange were signed. Singapore has opened an embassy in Vientiane, and Brunei is to follow suit

The challenge of Lao historiography

This article examines the political dimension of historiography in contributing to the Lao nation-state building project, with particular reference to institutional and social forms of Lao political culture, the role of minority groups during the Revolution and the lingering shadow of the country's aristocratic past. Reference is made to several key issues in current Lao historiography. The article also raises the issue of the respective political responsibilities of Lao and foreign historians in helping to construct a national history

To Brussels via Rome: how Eurosceptical are British Christians?

Catholics tend to have a more positive view of the EU than other Christians, write Ekaterina Kolpinskaya (Swansea University) and Stuart Fox (Cardiff University), who have analysed Euroscepticism among different denominations. The religious are more likely to be Eurosceptic, with members of the Church of England and Presbyterians especially so. The authors attribute these differences to a deep-rooted suspicion of supranational institutions among ..

Survey evidence: the EU referendum had a clear positive impact on young people’s political engagement

The UK’s EU referendum was often discussed in terms of a generational divide between older citizens who were more likely to vote Leave, and younger citizens who were more likely to back Remain. But did the referendum do anything to increase the interest of younger citizens in politics? Presenting survey evidence gathered at the beginning and end of the campaign, Stuart Fox and Sioned Pearce write that there are some clear indications the referendum increased engagement among young voters, but it remains an open question as to whether this interest in politics will be maintained long-term

Diphenylphosphinoyl chloride as a chlorinating agent - The selective double activation of 1,2-diols

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2006Treatment of 1,2-diols with diphenylphosphinoyl chloride in pyridine produces beta-chloroethyl phosphinates which react with complete control of stereochemistry to give epoxides and azido-alcohols, useful intermediates in cyclopropane synthesis.David J. Fox, Daniel Sejer Pedersen, Asger B. Petersen and Stuart Warre