Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Black Lives in Scotland with Prof Jeanette R Davidson today.

The U.S. and China remain in a fragile holding pattern, with Taiwan...

Dr Ruby Wang presents her new book, China Cure, which traces China’s transformation from imported medicines to globally competitive biotech, from overcrowded clinics to mobile-first care, and from domestic health reform to a growing presence across the Global South.

Richard Demarco, long a prominent figure in the Scottish cultural sphere, is well known for his provocative statements, including fierce criticism of Scotland’s cultural institutions and its ‘officialdom’.

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The Life, Literature and Legacy of Luis J. Rodríguez

Photographing acts of peace across Colombia, Nepal, Rwanda, Northern Ireland and more

Lessons in political science. This week: defenestration

Photographing acts of peace across Colombia, Nepal, Rwanda, Northern Ireland and more

An excerpt from Another Humanity: Decolonial Ethics from Du Bois to Arendt by Benjamin P. Davis (Edinburgh University Press, 2025)

Very pleased to have my World View commentary published in Nature Magazine, on China’s growing role in global health, 27th August Edition. full article here at giftlink: https://rdcu.be/dVNGqHi4J3fa China is becoming an increasingly important health partner across Africa, Asia and Latin America, supplying medicines, diagnostics, vaccines, medical equipment and digital-health systems at a speed, cost and scale that many countries find attractive. In this piece, I argue that the key question is no longer whether China will play a larger role in global health, but how these partnerships are designed. These questions extend well beyond China - as global health moves towards more bilateral partnerships and traditional aid budgets contract, we need stronger principles for how major powers engage with lower- and middle-income countries. I expand on these themes in my new book, China Cure: The Rise of a Biotech, AI Medicine and Global Health Superpower - pre-order here https://www.amazon.co.uk/China-Cure-Biotech-Medicine-Superpower/dp/1788219546

While angry confrontations at 'asylum hotels' are the most visible manifestation of the radical right's rise, the incursions are often much lower-key...

The fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan dominated the headlines in August 2021, then disappeared from global scrutiny. What lessons can we learn?

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (2026) provides an interesting launching point for discussing recent developments in existentialist film-philosophy.

This event, run by the BAFTSS French and Francophone Screen Studies SIG, celebrates the launch of Reece Goodall's new book French Horror: Industry, Society and Media (published by Edinburgh University Press). Reece will engage in a conversation about the book, before opening the floor to wi...

Discover six surprising facts about Irish literature, from James Joyce to forgotten writers and literary magazines.

We're proud to be supporting the Saltire Tides rowing team as they raise fund for The Archie Foundation.

Rod and Cameron are joined by Lindsay Paterson, Emeritus Professor of Education Policy at the University of Edinburgh, to discuss the current state of Scottish education, particularly focusing on the Curriculum for Excellence. Lindsay critiques the curriculum's failure to adequately prepare students with systematic knowledge, emphasising the need for a balance between engaging teaching methods and foundational knowledge.  They explores the historical influences of university academics on education policy, the importance of teacher motivations, and the necessity of cross-disciplinary learning. Lindsay also compares Scottish education with systems from other countries, advocating for a more structured approach to literacy and numeracy across the curriculum.  This conversation explores the significance of literature in understanding humanity, the importance of knowledge in education, the challenges faced by disadvantaged children, and the effectiveness of teacher training and curriculum in Scottish schools. They also highlight the need for better teacher training to equip educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to foster critical thinking and confidence in students. We'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and questions about schools and education today. Email or send us a voice note to rodandcameron@gmail.com 

As the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe get under way, the same arguments are already resurfacing in the public conversation...

To celebrate the highly anticipated softcover release of ReFocus: T...

A tribute to a lifelong scholar, this blog explores the travels and research behind Coinages in the Achaemenid Empire.

Discover six surprising facts about Irish literature, from James Joyce to forgotten writers and literary magazines.

Radical Democracy, Populism and Desire

As the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe get under way, the same arguments are already resurfacing in the public conversation...

Rod and Cameron are joined by Lindsay Paterson, Emeritus Professor of Education Policy at the University of Edinburgh, to discuss the current state of Scottish education, particularly focusing on the Curriculum for Excellence. Lindsay critiques the curriculum's failure to adequately prepare students with systematic knowledge, emphasising the need for a balance between engaging teaching methods and foundational knowledge.  They explores the historical influences of university academics on education policy, the importance of teacher motivations, and the necessity of cross-disciplinary learning. Lindsay also compares Scottish education with systems from other countries, advocating for a more structured approach to literacy and numeracy across the curriculum.  This conversation explores the significance of literature in understanding humanity, the importance of knowledge in education, the challenges faced by disadvantaged children, and the effectiveness of teacher training and curriculum in Scottish schools. They also highlight the need for better teacher training to equip educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to foster critical thinking and confidence in students. We'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and questions about schools and education today. Email or send us a voice note to rodandcameron@gmail.com 

The Art of Elastic Politics

Discover how Arthur Conan Doyle’s travels in Egypt inspired his fiction, from ancient mummies and Gothic tales to imperial adventure and the supernatural.