Conference Hosts

EPOP

EPOP is the largest specialist group of the Political Studies Association of the UK, bringing together people interested in the study of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties. It has over 200 members, including media commentators, leading opinion pollsters and national party officials as well as academics. The group convenor is Philip Cowley (Nottingham University)..

Institute for Social Change

The Institute for Social Change (ISC) is an interdisciplinary research Institute which examines the causes and consequences of social change. Our research is mainly focused on the causes and consequences of social change. We use primary and secondary data sources to conduct theory-informed, empirically-rigorous and policy-relevant research in a comparative perspective. Our current research is on the following themes: political behaviour, social capital, ethnicity and the labour market, religion, and social inequalities in education and occupational attainment.

DCERN

DCERN, The Democracy, Citizens and Elections Research Network, based in the ISC develops the focus on social and political change to provide a platform for more specific analysis of current changes in the patterns of citizen attitudes and behaviour. DCERN is a multi-disciplinary network that unites scholars at Manchester and beyond, active in the study of democracy, citizen politics and elections. The network draws on the disciplines of Politics, Philosophy, Economics, Business and Management and Demography to examine the participation (and non-participation) of individuals and groups within the wider formal and informal context of politics. Particular expertise exists in the study of local government and community participation, deliberative democracy, electoral systems and parties, participation and the use of new media technologies. Members are also pioneering experimental methods in the study of turnout. The group meets regularly to discuss mutual research interests and runs a regular seminar series with invited speakers.