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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Aug 5

Now the Bennett Institute for Public Policy is the Bennett School of Public Policy, follow us on our new Bluesky account where we've just posted about our latest podcast episode on #migration

bsky.app/profile/benn...

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Aug 1

Today, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy has expanded to become the Bennett School of Public Policy, @cam.ac.uk

The Bennett School will continue to conduct leading public policy research, teaching & engagement, for the right kind of growth fairly shared.

Please now follow our work here.

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 30

The English devolution bill marks a major shift in how England is governed, with more powers for mayors & local areas—but concerns remain over accountability & local voice.

@alwalker.bsky.social explores this big moment for the governance of England.

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/english...

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 29

Community infrastructure fosters civic trust, reduces isolation, & builds democratic resilience.

Its erosion fuels pessimism & populist thinking.

Investing in community—like parks, pubs, libraries & lunch clubs—promotes democracy & props up the lives of communities & citizens across the UK.

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 29

Studies show clear links between the decline of public amenities & the rise of populist parties:

Pub closures → more UKIP votes
GP closures → far-right support
High street vacancies → Reform UK surge

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 29

Libraries, youth clubs, pubs, high streets—these aren’t just amenities. They’re where people connect, belong, organise, & feel seen. When these spaces disappear, so do the bonds that hold communities—& democracies—together.

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 29

Populist politics is on the rise—from Trump to Reform UK.

Why? It's not just economic hardship or distrust in elites.

In a new blog, Rosa Marks argues something deeper is at play: the collapse of social & cultural infrastructure. 🧵

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/social-...

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 28

. @michaelkenny.bsky.social recently visited the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (NCPA) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Highlights included:
🌐 A keynote at the Lien International Conference
📚 A talk to NCPA Executive Master students
🤝 Productive dialogues with NCPA scholars

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 25

🎙️What’s the value of speaking other languages?

In this month’s Crossing Channels, Wendy Ayres-Bennett points out a major AI issue: big languages dominate training data, so smaller languages & dialects get left behind. That’s a problem.

🎧 pod.fo/e/2fb7e1

#AI #Multilingualism #podcast @iast.fr

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 24

Congratulations to Lord Chris Smith—former chair of the Bennett Institute's Advisory Council—on being elected as the new Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. He is the 109th Chancellor & will hold the post for 10 years.

Lord Smith says he is thrilled to be elected & to serve the University.

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 23

From pubs to populism: what the decline of community space means for democracy

Rosa Marks explores how rebuilding social & cultural infrastructure can help reverse the UK’s slide into distrust, division & populist politics?

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/social-...
@britishacademy.bsky.social

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 22

At our latest Brown Bag, affiliated researcher Helen Johnson shared new work on social clustering & its impact on disease risk. Clustered unvaccinated groups are driving measles risk. A UNICEF-backed model shows ignoring this can underestimate outbreaks 10-fold. Targeted strategies are essential.

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 22

New blog: As trust in government wanes, devolution must empower citizens & their neighbourhoods. Without tackling deep-rooted inequalities with real local powers & investment, initiatives like the Plan for Neighbourhoods may fall short.

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/making-...

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 21

Devolution must empower citizens & neighbourhoods—but without addressing spatial inequalities via stronger local powers, investment & accountability, efforts like the Plan for Neighbourhoods may fall short, write Geoff White, Colin Warnock & Peter Tyler www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/making-...

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 18

. @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social writes how a well-functioning legal system is essential for economic trust, trade, & growth, but chronic underinvestment is eroding UK civil justice — & unless addressed, this erosion will undermine the economic environment.

www.nuffieldfoundation.org/research/our...

Nuffield Foundation @nuffieldfoundation.org · Jul 17

Why Justice Matters - new essay collection launched featuring insights from experts in academia, policy & practice. Authors include @michaelmarmot.bsky.social, @davidallengreen.bsky.social, @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social & @queensparkkaren.bsky.social. Read them here: ow.ly/qY3l50Wr5kn

We have taken our justice system for granted for too long. Until, today, we find ourselves at a pass where it is crumbling everywhere, and in places approaching outright collapse.

The pressures on, and complexities of, the welfare state mean that citizens need ever-more advice and legal support to secure their rights – at the same time as precisely this sort of support has been restricted.

The value of the courts is indirect but fundamental; if they crumble, the economic transactions and investment enabled by a predictable, rapid justice system are held back.

If we can factor the law and justice system into our thinking about health in the right way, there should be less for medics to do, rather than more.

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Reposted by Bennett Institute for Public Policy

wendya-b.bsky.social @wendya-b.bsky.social · Jul 17

In the latest episode of the @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk's podcast series, Crossing Channels, Benjamin Pitt & I discuss the value of speaking other languages: pod.fo/e/2fb7e1. @benpitt.bsky.social explains how language & culture shape the way people think & the value of cultural/linguistic diversity

Crossing Channels: What is the value of speaking other languages?

In this episode, Richard Westcott is joined by Wendy Ayres-Bennett and Benjamin Pitt to explore a big, everyday question: what is the value of speaking other languages? The conversation looks at ho...

pod.fo

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Reposted by Bennett Institute for Public Policy

Owen Garling @ojgarling.bsky.social · Jul 18

Have you seen our @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk work on the measurement of social and cultural infrastructure? Might be of interest . . .

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/research/res...

Measuring social and cultural infrastructure - Bennett Institute for Public Policy

How best can we define and measure the impact that social and cultural infrastructure has on the quality of life and resilience of our communities? The Bennett Institute is conducting a major new proj...

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 16

New blog on how the Renters’ Rights Bill could improve private renters’ mental health
Private renters face mental health risks due to tenancy uncertainty. Marco Felici explores how banning "no fault” evictions in the UK’s Renters’ Rights Bill could help
www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/renters...

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 15

🎙️What is the value of speaking other languages?

"We're in a current geopolitical situation where we need to be able to speak other languages... & that works through things like soft power & diplomacy as well social cohesion, conflict resolution."— Wendy Bennett

🎧https://pod.fo/e/2fb7e1

#podcast

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 15

. @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social calls for new frameworks to better measure & manage data’s role in innovation, AI, & economic development, to inform policy & ensure fair value distribution at @wipo.int conference in Geneva.

Watch: www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/rethink...

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Reposted by Bennett Institute for Public Policy

Perspectives on Politics @poppublicsphere.bsky.social · Jul 7

NOW OUT ON FIRSTVIEW!!

A Rally for Democracy? #Authoritarian #Resurgence, #Ukraine, & #Global #Democratic #Allegiance

By Roberto Stefan Foa & Xavier Romero-Vidal

doi.org/10.1017/S153...

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 14

🎙️New episode of Crossing Channels out today!

What’s the value of speaking other languages?

Wendy Ayres-Bennett & Benjamin Pitt join Richard Westcott to explore how the languages we speak shape our identity, thinking, relationships—& even our economies.

🔗https://pod.fo/e/2fb7e1

#podcast @iast.fr

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Reposted by Bennett Institute for Public Policy

Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · Jul 14

We at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have coordinated a letter in @thetimes.com today in which numerous individuals and organisations call on the government to withdraw its mistaken rules which are having a serious chilling effect on civil servants speaking in public…

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Reposted by Bennett Institute for Public Policy

Verity Harding @verityharding.bsky.social · Jul 7

While the US & China race for AI supremacy, ASEAN is quietly offering a radical alternative: governance as power.

A must-read new piece from AIxGEO, my research group at Cambridge, on Southeast Asia’s approach of collaboration, not competition, as forming the basis of AI power.

Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 1

✨NEW BLOG✨ As the US & China battle for AI dominance,
@alturobov.bsky.social examines how ASEAN is executing a patient & collaborative grand strategy that is transforming Southeast Asia into a pivotal force in international AI policy.

➡️ www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/aseans-...

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Bennett Institute for Public Policy @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk · Jul 7

Calling all university administrators! We're looking for a Teaching & Learning Coordinator to work at the new @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk

💻Lead teaching & course operations
👩🏽Manage a team
⚙️Help shape academic policies & processes

Apply by 9 July 2025

www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/about-us/vac...

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