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The Despatch Box is a political journal published by the Royal Holloway Politics and International Relations Society, edited by IT/OJ Officer Jack Reason and President Eden Singh.
Established in 2016, the journal aims to provide students with a forum to broadcast their opinions and develop their political writing skills.
We’re always looking for new writers. Click here to apply!
The UK is lucky that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine works
The UK is lucky that it didn’t lose out by not participating in the EU’s vaccine procurement scheme, writes Alexander Hoffman.
Israel – Emirates Peace Deal: To Me, To You, To UAE, to You
The Israel-UAE Peace Agreement is not only the result of a sudden recognition of the similarities between the two nations but also a realisation of the mutual threat of Iran, writes George Wright.
The Murder of George Floyd
Sarah Tennent writes from the position of a white person about the murder of George Floyd and systemic racism. This article contains petitions, places to donate and book recommendations for white people to educate themselves.
TfL’s Bailout and London’s regional powers conflict
Jake Short writes on Transport for London’s billion pound bailout and the conflict between London’s regional powers, Labour and Conservatives going head to head, potentially repeating history.
Golden Apple Award Winners
Following from two weeks of nominations and voting, students have come together to recognise the lecturer and student who has gone above and beyond for PIR at Royal Holloway! Politics and International Relations Society are pleased to announce the lecturer PIR students recognised who had gone above and beyond their role, enriched student learning andContinue reading “Golden Apple Award Winners”
A new kind of Journalism
Courtney Bridges writes on the ‘new kind of journalism’ emerging throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19, Politics and the English Language
Joshua Castle writes on the relevance of George Orwell and the importance of language during the current COVID-19 crisis
No other way. Biden needs the Left to stop Trump.
Zafir Zafirov discusses the importance of Biden securing the vote of the Left in the upcoming election
A New Leader, A New Time for the Labour Party, but Big Challenges Remain
Lewis Virgo writes on Keir Starmer’s victory and what the Labour party must learn from the 2019 General Election to improve in 2024.
How the ‘Washington Consensus’ allowed the global core to exploit the global periphery though unfair exchange from a World Systems Theory lens.
Josh Trood writes on the pitfalls of the Washington Consensus and the systematic explotation of countries in the global periphery
Why Trump isn’t talking Turkey: His Largest Foreign Policy Blunder
Ilija Dokmanovic highlights Trump’s recent foreign policy blunder, and US relations within the Middle East
The Politics Behind the Coronavirus
Josh Trood writes on the potential political implications of the spread of the Coronavirus on elections and the economy
UCU Strikes, we have been here before- but what next?
Sarah Tennent writes on the recent round of UCU strikes, Paul Layzell’s complacency, and what the future holds
Non-EU states held to double standards, despite internal deficiencies
Milo Dack writes regarding the double tax standards to which the EU holds Non-EU states, despite Ireland being a tax haven for Google, Facebook and many more international firms
The decision on HS2, and the future implications for British infrastructure projects
Andrew Harris writes on the HS2 and its development under Boris Johnson
You can’t consent to being killed: A call for the end of the consensual violence defence
Georgie Day writes an important piece about the call for the end of the ‘consensual violence’ defence as another woman, Grace Millane, looses her life, and her murderer has a ‘valid’ defence
Pete Buttigieg: A radical Democratic candidate?
Josh Trood explores Pete Buttigieg as a possible radical candidate for the Democrats
POSTHUMOUS PARDONS: AN ENIGMA
Rhys Jones writes on the third anniversary of The Alan Turing Law, and how justice is still waiting for many gay men wrongfully convicted.
Israeli Ambassador visits Royal Holloway
Sarah Tennent writes on the recent visit of Israeli Ambassador, Mark Regev, to Royal Holloway, hosted by Politics and International Relations Society.
A Tale of Two Parliaments: John Bercow joins Holloway Faculty
On the 10th of January, Prof. Nicholas Allen announced that the recently resigned Speaker of the House of Commons would be gracing the hallowed halls of Royal Holloway with a talk by the name of ‘A Tale of Two Parliaments’. The day of his highly anticipated appearance at Holloway started at 7:58am when Prof. OliverContinue reading “A Tale of Two Parliaments: John Bercow joins Holloway Faculty”
Runnymede and Weybridge Candidate Hustings- What you need to know
On Monday 25th November Royal Holloway’s Politics and International Relations Society hosted the Runnymede and Weybridge candidate hustings. Find out about the candidates and their performance, who are hoping to win your vote at the General Election on December 12th.
The Legacy of Theresa May
On 24th May after just short of three years in office, Theresa May announced her resignation as Prime Minister. As of today she will no longer be Conservative Party leader and a leadership contest will formally begin on Monday to replace her. Outgoing Editor in Chief Thomas Sherlock reflects on May’s tenure and her legacy.
Why the next Tory leader should accept classic conservatism anew
By Alexander Black Theresa May will resign on the June 7 triggering a leadership contest which will elect a leader who will ultimately have to bring the Conservative and Unionist Party back to its roots. They will have to answer one key question many have been unable to properly define under May’s premiership. This is:Continue reading “Why the next Tory leader should accept classic conservatism anew”
Varsity 2019: A Remainer’s Consideration of the Cons of the European Union
By Allen Wesson (Politics and Economics student at University of Surrey) Due to the current climate in the UK I am left wondering if this spell of warmer weather is a cruel trick played by the Gods to send more Patriotic Brexiteers to British holiday destinations this year, knowing full well that whatever happens onContinue reading “Varsity 2019: A Remainer’s Consideration of the Cons of the European Union”
Independence Day
By Thomas Sherlock It’s 1981 all over again…kind of. Instead of the ‘Gang of Four’ (4 MPs who broke away from Labour to form the Social Democratic Party in 1981), there is a ‘Magnificent Seven’. Angela Smith, Ann Coffey, Chris Leslie, Chuka Umunna, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Luciana Berger have resigned from the LabourContinue reading “Independence Day”
Why I Support: The Liberal Democrats
By Jordan Montgomery I joined the Liberal Democrats back in 2014, probably at the height of their unpopularity. My politically inclined friends would often question why I would ever join such a party – the Lib Dems were set to be decimated at the next election, they had alienated students through the tuition fees fiasco,Continue reading “Why I Support: The Liberal Democrats”
