Coping with and resisting everyday inequalities in the UK
How much is a human life worth? Susan asked me at the bus stop. We had just taken each of our children to kindergarten, and were waiting for the bus to take us to our respective workplaces. Bianca and I decided to move back to Switzerland for Lele to attend Kindergarten in German, the language …
Continue reading "How much is a human life worth? Societal divides in a capitalist pandemic"
We will go back to a new normality. One that allows us to move beyond capitalism. Dismantle colonial structures of oppression. And live in inclusive societies. During the first months of the global pandemic, the lockdown provoked utopias, dreams for radical change. Neoliberalism is over, announced a respected senior scholar at one of the many …
Continue reading "The dream is over – Chronicles from the Italian Lockdown"
I want to buy a car. I want my freedom back. Freeeee! The government has announced a softening of the lockdown. People can move now within their region. The radio clarifies that social distancing still needs to be maintained, it has become part of our ‘new normality’. Wear masks, keep distance, don’t hug, stand in …
Continue reading "Freedom, Oppression, Sacrifice: Chronicles from the Italian Lock Down (Part two)"
The state is back. Since we moved to this little town in Southern Italy, it has become blatantly apparent that the old brutality of the state is still very much present, more than I, and academics in my field, realised. There are no reported Covid-19 cases here. Nor in the neighbouring towns. But police and …
Continue reading "The state is back: Chronicles from the Italian lockdown (Part 1)"
Don’t call them unemployed, please. The charity’s management invited me to East London to talk about their employability programmes. Don’t call them unemployed, repeats one of the managers. I have only recently taken over my position as a lecturer in London, having previously lived and worked elsewhere in Europe. I am not accustomed with the …
Continue reading "Making Happy Job Seekers – Precarity and Emotional Resilience"
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” I am sitting in the small meeting room of an old town hall in East London that is rented by a charity providing employability programmes to young people from the neighbourhood. “If you don’t find time, if you don’t do the work, you don’t …
Continue reading "Be SMART│ER – The everyday craziness of running an employability programme"
Meeting point: 8am, Canning Town underground station. The American investment bank who sponsored this employability programme in East London had invited 15 young participants for a round of mock interviews at their headquarters in London’s business district. Participants had worked hard for this event. They had received ten weeks of training provided by one of …
Continue reading "Dreaming of Social Mobility: A Train Trip to Central London"
All you need is love. The anti-Brexit crowd had stopped its march to parliament square outside Downing street, not too far away from Theresa May’s official residence. Ten thousands campaigners, activists, families and children had met on this Saturday morning to express their protest against the triggering of article 50. All you need is love …
Continue reading "Brexit, love and the political economy of rights"
Disruptive Inequalities 