The RSA is delighted to announce the publication of its 13th Policy Impact book: Improving Inclusive Innovation Outcomes: Lessons from Post-Industrial and Post-Conflict Cities.

Authored by Michael Glass et al.
Find out more www.regionalstudies.org/news/improvi...

Beyond blunders: British political studies and successful public policy - Matthew Flinders, Ian C Elliott, Catherine Durose, Liz Richardson, Sarah Ayres, John Boswell, Paul Cairney, Steve Martin, 2026 British political studies has traditionally focused on the analysis of policy failures. This is reflected in a vast literature on catastrophes and crises which ...

📣 New #openaccess #BJPIR article out now!

'Beyond blunders: British political studies and successful public policy' by Matthew Flinders, @ianelliott.bsky.social, Catherine Durose, Liz Richardson, @sarahayres.bsky.social, John Boswell, @paulcairney.bsky.social & Steve Martin.

🔗 buff.ly/cMwJrH9

‘Walking on the bright side’ of English devolution: Exploring a critical space for innovation and policy effectiveness at the sub-national tier – Academy of Social Sciences

The Positive Public Policy (PoPP) gang have written a blog for the @acadsocsciences.bsky.social Devolution Hub inviting readers to 'walk on the bright side' of English devolution. If we can engage positively with new opportunities the future may be better than the past

acss.org.uk/walking-on-t...

<em>Public Administration Review</em> | ASPA Journal | Wiley Online Library Public services, public servants, and the study of Public Administration are operating in a context of global turbulence. Our review of the state of the discipline suggests that a core strength of Br...

Check out the latest article from the Positive Public Policy (PoPP) Gang.

It explores the chequered history of British public administration and explores the potential for a positive future.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

@paulcairney.bsky.social @ianelliott.bsky.social @wiley.com

Review of Policy & Politics in 2025 and happy holidays! P&P’s achievements this year, our most popular blog in 2025, showcase our open research, and consider 2026 with gratitude for our community and hope for the future of the journal and its contri…

Review of Policy & Politics in 2025 and happy holidays! policyandpoliticsblog.com/2025/12/03/r...

And now, @rsfrankl.bsky.social takes on old marriage adage to describe the coming together of different approaches to Spatial Economic Analysis

Researchers from the TRUUD project have their work featured in new #WHO case studies series on #UrbanHealth, launched today for #WorldCitiesDay.

Inc @uniofbathipr.bsky.social @geoffbates.bsky.social

🔗case study here: cdn.who.int/media/docs/d...

How democratically elected mayors can achieve mission-oriented policies in turbulent times This article explores how democratically elected mayors can achieve mission-oriented policies in turbulent times. Drawing on 132 interviews with decision-makers in England, it uses the case of heal...

In our @rsablog.bsky.social blog we explore how mayors can enact change in complex policy spaces when they don't have control over the policy levers. www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...

Evidence is drawn from our article in @regionalstudies.bsky.social.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

How Mayors and Missions Can Make the UK a Better Place to Live - RSA Main The UK government can meet some of its biggest challenges by combining mayoral devolution with its mission-led approach. Empowering local leaders to deliver on national missions will mean giving them ...

New RSA blog 📰
by @jacknewman.bsky.social & @sarahayres.bsky.social speaks on why combining mayoral devolution + mission-led policy could transform the UK.
Link: www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...
What’s your take — could empowered mayors guided by national missions be the UK’s game-changer?

How can health be further integrated in urban development policymaking in the United Kingdom? A systems mapping approach - Health Research Policy and Systems Background In the United Kingdom the government’s new health mission aims to reduce the burden on healthcare services by shifting from treating poor health to prevention. Delivering this requires acti...

A new paper by @geoffbates.bsky.social, Pablo Newberry, Rachael McClatchey, @jacknewman.bsky.social and @sarahayres.bsky.social explores how health is integrated in urban development, and how to bring about change to support healthier development.

Read it here: doi.org/10.1186/s129...

Great to be part of this ESRC funded team, led by @charlottehoole.bsky.social. Improvements to funding allocations to reduce inequalities are possible but the UK government will need to be bold and brave for transformative change.

📢 NEW REPORT📢

How can public funding be better designed to reduce geographical inequalities in England?

A new report proposes 10 guiding principles & practical reforms, grounded in deep research & citizen voices.

🔗 Read more: ow.ly/fL7u50VWjEL

On behalf of the Board and our members, I'd like to congratulate @rsachiefexec.bsky.social and the @regstud.bsky.social staff team for a successful annual conference. Feedback has been nothing but positive. This is testament to all your hard work. Big thank from our community. 👏

On the 60th birthday 🎈 of the Regional Studies Association, I cannot let the day pass without acknowledging the contribution of our ex-Chief Executive, @sallyhardy.bsky.social , who devoted 37 years service to the Association. We recognise your legacy today Sally x 👏

Today is the RSA’s 60 birthday! - RSA Main Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Regional Studies Association (RSA). On April 9th, 1965, the RSA was founded at a meeting held at the London School of Economics in the UK. Over the past six dec...

Today is the @regstud.bsky.social 60th 🎈birthday. It's a privilege to be Chair of the Association in its 60th year. The Association’s success is testament to the hard work of its staff team, members and dedicated volunteers. I salute you all 💙 👏.
www.regionalstudies.org/news/today-t...

We are looking forward to receiving abstracts.

How democratically elected mayors can achieve mission-oriented policies in turbulent times This article explores how democratically elected mayors can achieve mission-oriented policies in turbulent times. Drawing on 132 interviews with decision-makers in England, it uses the case of heal...

Pleased to see this one over the line, working with @sarahayres.bsky.social @jacknewman.bsky.social @geoffbates.bsky.social and Andrew Barnfield www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... Tl:dr; mayors can convene partnerships and lead on preventative policy but need capacity and discretion

Our new article in @regionalstudies.bsky.social shows that elected mayors in England have a critical role to play in mission-orientated policy making.

This article explores how democratically elected mayors can achieve mission-oriented policies in turbulent times. Drawing on 132 interviews with decision-makers in England, it uses the case of healthy urban development to explore the role of elected mayors in mission delivery. Findings show that mayors can be figureheads for a place, work directly towards national missions, implement cross-cutting programmes, convene partnerships, and lead local innovations with new evidence and data. However, more central government support is needed with investment in capacity, a broader range of powers, and greater freedom from central targets and siloes.

🚨🆕 New paper published online today 🆕🚨

'How Democratically Elected mayors can achieve mission-oriented policies in turbulent times'

Published OPEN ACCESS in @regionalstudies.bsky.social: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

@sarahayres.bsky.social @marksandford.bsky.social @geoffbates.bsky.social

Can the UK can achieve growth that is fair, inclusive & environmentally sustainable? Our new hub showcases research & insights from the social sciences to offer informed perspectives on how the UK might best address its challenges around growth & productivity. Explore ➡️ acss.org.uk/campaign-for...

Investigating the scientific knowledge–policy interface in EU climate policy We provide an historical overview of the evolution of knowledge exchange architecture for climate policy in the EU. We investigate whether evolutions in the knowledge architecture reflect shifts in th...

We’re delighted to announce the winners of our Ken Young Best Article prize are Claire Dupont, Jeffrey Rosamond & @bishoyzaki.bsky.social for their paper
Investigating the scientific knowledge–policy interface in EU #ClimatePolicy doi.org/10.1332/0305...

In a new blog post✍️ for our good growth hub Prof John Bryson (unibirmingham.bsky.social) argues that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to economic growth & that growth-related policy must be tailored to individual regions and localities.
Read now ➡️ acss.org.uk/enabling-goo...

New in #OpenAccess: Highways and local development: insights from two decades of investments by Adelheid Holl www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

A new story of Kingdon and the Multiple Streams Framework The following short story of the Multiple Streams Framework is one part of a forthcoming article – ‘Kingdon’s multiple streams framework: what happens next?’ – in an IRPP Symposium ‘A 4…

A new story of Kingdon and the Multiple Streams Framework
paulcairney.wordpress.com/2025/01/06/a...

Part of a new IRPP symposium on Kingdon journals.openedition.org/irpp/4443

We have had so much interest in our annual @regstud.bsky.social conference in Porto. It's going to be a great event in a beautiful city.

Comparing policy responses to incels in Sweden and the UK There is increasing awareness of the gendered violence undertaken by incels (involuntary celibates), both online and offline. Much of the analysis of the phenomenon has focused on what incels mean for...

⛅Early View

Comparing policy responses to incels in Sweden and the UK by Elsa Bengtsson Meuller and Elizabeth Evans.

Their article seeks to understand what states are specifically doing to address incel violence through a comparative critical frame analysis.
doi.org/10.1332/03055736Y2024D000000045

Umeå Summer Workshop, 2025 The political rediscovery of so-called ‘left-behind places’ has raised research interest in peripheral places and regions. Yet headline narratives about peripheries continue to collapse the...

⚡CFP⚡
EdgeNet, @regstud.bsky.social's research network on peripheral regions & why they matter, is hosting our 2nd summer paper workshop & field trip - this time in lovely Umeå, Sweden 25-27 June. Abstract deadline 28 Feb.
More info 👇
edgenet-rsa.weebly.com/umearing-sum...

Please join us @uniofbath.bsky.social next Thursday 27/2/25 at 12:15pm as we welcome @stefaniafiorentino.bsky.social of
@uniofcam.bsky.social for a #hybridseminar on #englishcoastaltowns #left-behindplaces

Zoom Registration: shorturl.at/7E0bq

Details below 👇 @regionalstudies.bsky.social