Review of Logic of Discipline in Historical Materialism
The journal Historical Materialism has published a review of The Logic of Discipline by Safi Shams. Link to the review.
Apr 3
Working paper: The myth of institutional rigidity
I’ve just posted a short working paper on SSRN: The myth of institutional rigidity. Comments would be very much appreciated. Abstract follows: Read more
Talk at Lee Kuan Yew School on March 9
I gave a lunchtime talk at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore on March 9. More details here | Flyer here. The paper that was the basis of the lecture is available on SSRN. NUS Professor Rahul Sagar moderated the discussion.
On The Conversation: Hillary Clinton and promises on transparency
I’ve written a column for The Conversation that contrasts Hillary Clinton’s email practices with previous commitments on governmental transparency. “The issue isn’t just whether Clinton complied with federal law. Over the years, Clinton subscribed to a higher standard on transparency. Her decision to privatize her email communications is not consistent with the strong statements on openness made by the Clinton and Obama administrations, and even her own State Department.”
Large Forces monograph discussed in new book
In a new volume from Routledge, Public Administration Evolving, Richard Stillman calls Large Forces: What’s Missing in Public Administration a “challenging polemic” in the field. More details about Large Forces here.
European Ombudsman discusses Mexico address
In a February 25 speech in Dublin, European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly discusses my address to Mexico’s Accountability Network last October as well as earlier work on the effect of Wikileaks.
Mar 1
Where Brandeis got “sunlight is the best disinfectant”
A note for Sunshine Week, March 15-21, 2015. Louis Brandeis is credited with writing that “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” But why did Brandeis say that sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants? Because he was referring to a statement by James Bryce in his 1888 book, The American Commonwealth.
On Medium: The fourth crisis of democracy
I’ve written a short piece for Medium drawing on my S.T. Lecture at the University of Oxford this month.
Lee Lecture at Oxford: Four Crises of Democracy
I’ll be delivering the Lee Lecture at All Souls College, Oxford, on February 26, 2015. Download the details from All Souls College. The title of my lecture will be Four Crises of Democracy. The paper is now available on SSRN (Revised on January 6). The Lecture is supported by Dr. Seng Tee Lee FBA through an endowment for an annual lecture in Political Science and Government. Read more
ARPA reviews The End of Protest
Dennis Phillips writes a review of The End of Protest for the Australian Review of Public Affairs. Read the review here.
Alasdair S. Roberts 
