Social Sciences Birmingham

By Professor Michael Saren Department of Marketing, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham The US Government has rebranded their Department of Defense as the Department of War. President Trump says this change “demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice, not just to defend”. Clausewitz said war is extension of politics…

By Dr Ahmed Shaalan, Professor Finola Kerrigan and Professor Scott McCabe Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham AI is unquestionably transforming the landscape of marketing and corporate communications, but its downsides are also becoming increasingly evident. Ethical and trust considerations emerged as key themes at the Corporate and Marketing Communications Conference 2025 (CMC 2…

By Dr Emma Surman and Dr Sheena Leek, Department of Marketing Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham Food fraud is big business and hugely prevalent but how many of us are aware of what it is or what can be done about it? It is estimated that Food Fraud contributes $14 billion to the world’s economy and this criminal activity is so profitable that narcotics gangs in Mexico have move…

By Johannes Read, Senior Policy and Data Analyst City-REDI, University of Birmingham One year on from winning the General Election, the Labour Government have outlined their 2025 Spending Review. Throughout the Government’s first year, headlines have focused on tightening public finances. This Spending Review follows in a similar vein. But there are also relatively significant increases in capita…

By Sarah Montano, Professor of Retail Marketing Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham With the news that Hailey Bieber has sold her Rhode make up brand to E.L.F. in a deal worth $1 billion we explore why celebrity beauty is not only hugely popular but also a major driver of economic growth, turning their famous founders into millionaires. It is estimated that celebrity brands are d…

By Dr Evelyn Svingen, Assistant Professor in Criminology School of Social Policy and Society, University of Birmingham When justice is delayed, it isn’t just denied; it starts to unravel the trust that holds society together. Right now, the UK’s criminal justice system is under serious pressure. Court backlogs are at record highs. Prisons are overcrowded. The parole system is struggling to keep u…

By Sarah Montano, Professor of Retail Marketing and Dr Inci Toral, Associate Professor Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham A Trusted Brand Faces an Unprecedented Challenge M&S is a much-loved British retailer and is as comforting as a warming cup of tea. Many customers will have grown up knowing that M&S is there for them, whether it was a school summer uniform purchase or your N…

By Dr Anupam Mehta and Dr Ann-Christine Frandsen Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham PRME funded research Innovative Pedagogic tools for learning and teaching Sustainability and Responsible Business Sustainability education in business schools is crucial for preparing future leaders and entrepreneurs to address the urgent global challenge of climate change and its impact on commu…

By Dr Prithvi Perepa, Associate Professor in Autism Studies, University of Birmingham The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) have recently published their recommendations for reducing the number of children who are losing learning due to school exclusions or parents electively home educating their children. According to their report, the number of school exclusions has risen by a third i…

By Michelle McLean, Post Graduate Researcher School of Social Policy and Society , University of Birmingham Netflix’s four-part drama Adolescence made TV ratings history last month by becoming the first programme on a streaming platform to top the UK’s weekly audience charts. The show, about a thirteen-year-old boy accused of murdering a schoolgirl, has attracted a huge amount of commentary expre…