2025
27th February - Functional Sovereignty in Contested Territories
- 3:30pm - 5pm, Room 3.3, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
Scholarship on international sovereignty generally adopts a binary conception: territories either have international recognition, or they lack it and remain unrecognized entities within fragmented states.
In this seminar, Adrian Florea challenges this binary frame by introducing the notion of functional sovereignty, arguing that contested territories in practice enjoy varying degrees of international sovereignty over governance functions that require external acceptance for their operation.
7th February - Money Talks: Business and the Politics of Independence
- 3pm - 4:30pm, Room 2.35, Edinburgh Futures Institute
Why do independence movements win overwhelming support nearly everywhere except in wealthy democracies of the global North?
This talk points to the role big business plays in ensuring robust public opposition to secession. The presentation is based on a new dataset of independence debates in places where big business played a major role (Scotland, Quebec, and Catalonia) and those where its presence was minimal to non-existent (Slovenia and Western Australia).
2nd February - Unpicking The ‘Scalar Fallacy’? The Present and Future of Devolved and Local UK Welfare Social Policies
- 9:30am - 2:30pm, Room 1.50, Edinburgh Futures Institute
Studies of UK social policies that fail to understand the multi-level competencies and policy differences of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland may contribute to creating a ‘scalar fallacy’ of a single and unified UK welfare state.
This workshop brings together researchers from across the UK whose work provides insights into the scale and nature of UK welfare rescaling by examining sub-national, devolved and local employment and social security policies. The event seeks to share research findings, stimulate discussion, and consider social policy futures.
2024
3rd December - The Assault on the State: How the Global Attack on Modern government Endangers our Future
- 3:30pm - 5pm, Violet Laidlaw Room, Chrystal Macmillan Building
Across the world, attacks on the modern state and its workforce are intensifying. Join Jeffrey Kopstein for this presentation based on his recent book, ‘The Assault on the State’, which offers an impassioned plea to defend modern government against those who seek to destroy it and outlines a strategy that can reverse this destructive trend.
22nd November - Depolarization in Nationalist Conflicts: Evidence from Catalonia
- 3:30pm - 5pm, Violet Laidlaw Room, Chrystal Macmillan Building
To what extent has Catalan society depolarized over the national question after the failed 2017 push for unilateral secession? What factors have shaped the evolution of depolarization in Catalonia? In this presentation, Diego Muro conceptualises affective depolarization as the process by which individuals moderate their negative perceptions of the opponents.
21st November - Puzzles and Challenges from the 2024 UK General Election Result
- 4:10pm - 6pm, G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
Professor Rob Ford explores the emerging patterns in public opinion and transformations in the broader political landscape since the election in July.
14th November - The New Territorial Agenda: National and Regional Devolution in the UK Post-Election
- 4:10pm - 6pm, G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
This session with Ailsa Henderson, John Denham, John Garry and Richard Wyn Jones, will explore the evolving landscape of devolution in the UK following the 2024 general election
7th November - The First Steps of the Starmer Government: Key Players, Policies, and the Autumn Budget
- 4:10pm - 6pm, G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
This session with Anand Menon, Jill Rutter, Jan Eichhorn and Hayley Bennett will explore the legislative progress, cabinet appointments, and major policies that have characterised the early days of Keir Starmer’s Labour administration.
31st October - Representation in the New Parliament
- 4:10pm - 6pm, G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
This session with Sarah Childs, Meryl Kenny and Stefanie Reher will explore the composition of the newly elected UK Parliament, focusing on key aspects of representation, including gender balance, ethnic diversity, and disability representation
17th October - The New Electoral Geography of the UK
- 4:10pm - 6pm, G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
Under the single-member plurality electoral system, the relationship between seats and votes is always heavily influenced by the geography of party support. But never has this been more dramatically illustrated than by the outcome of the 2024 UK election. This session with John Curtice will analyse how and why the geography of party support changed so markedly, its impact on the operation of the electoral system, and the implications for the debate about electoral reform.
10th October - Public Opinion in the run-up to the 2024 General Election
- 4:10pm - 6pm, G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
This session with Paula Surridge, Luke Tryl, Sophie Stowers and Fraser McMillan will explore public opinion dynamics in the lead-up to the 2024 general election. It will examine the voter coalitions, changing priorities, and patterns of party support that have emerged and evolved both UK-wide and in Scotland over the years preceding the election.
10th October - Subnational-ism: Diplomacy, and ‘Positive Fragmentation’
- 2:30pm - 4pm, Room 3.2, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
Subnationalism is on the rise. There is a fear that fragmentation will force a return to violent medievalism. However, by examining the strengths (and weaknesses) of California's international diplomatic efforts, this talk with Alison Holmes will explore the possibilities of what has been called the 'California effect' - which can be seen as an optimistic 'post-Westphalian' scenario.
3rd October - The Election Campaign: Candidate Selection, Messaging and Political Branding
- 4:10pm - 6pm, G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
This session with Anand Menon, Michael Crick and Rachel Amery will examines how political parties approached candidate selection, crafted their messaging, and built their political brands during the 2024 general election campaign.
26th September - Party Positioning: Manifestos, Policies and Key Issues at the 2024 General Election
- 4:10pm - 6pm, G.01 Davidson Lecture Theatre, Lister Learning and Teaching Centre
This session with Sarah Hall, Jonathan Portes and Jill Rutter examines the policies prioritised and framed by the main parties and explores how their manifestos influenced the campaign and subsequent developments.
26th September - Conference: Scotland's Independence Referendum 10 Years On
- 9:15am - 3pm, Godfrey Thomson Hall, Thomson's Land
The 2014 referendum on Scotland’s independence was a critical juncture with enduring effects. Ten years on, we take stock of the legacies of that event on the politics, institutions, and constitutional futures of Scotland and the UK.
For the full agenda please follow the Eventbrite link below. This event is co-sponsored by the Centre on Constitutional Change and the Edinburgh Centre on Constitutional Law.
20th June - 'Fractured Union' with Michael Kenny
- 3:30pm - 5pm, Violet Laidlaw Room, Chrystal Macmillan Building
The Centre on Constitutional Change is delighted to host Prof. Michael Kenny for the launch of his latest book, Fractured Union: Politics, Sovereignty, and the Fight to Save the UK (Hurst). The event will provide an opportunity to discuss key issues covered in the book, from the roots of the various constitutional crises the UK has faced in the last decade to the challenges the political class has encountered in engaging with devolution
17th May - Conference: 25 Years of Devolution
- 8:30am - 1pm, Maclaren Stuart Room, Old College
This half-day conference brings together leading academics and practitioners to reflect on 25 years of the Scottish Parliament. Organised by Politics and International Relations at the University of Edinburgh, with the Centre on Constitutional Change and the Edinburgh Centre for Constitutional Law.
6th May - Exploring the outcomes of the 2024 local elections in England: Sub-national and national implications ahead of the UK general election
- 5pm - 6:30pm, Microsoft Teams
The 2024 local elections in England mark the final significant political test before the UK general election. While carrying significant national implications, the results will also offer intriguing insights into the state of English local democracy.
Join Arianna Giovanninni, Jonathan Carr-West and Jessica Smith as they analyse voting patterns, participation and shifts in local leadership, and reflect on how the election outcomes may shape future trajectories in British territorial governance and influence national and sub-national political dynamics.
17th April - Who Can Speak on Behalf of “Us”?
- 2pm - 3:30pm, Room 3.15, Chrystal Macmillan Building
Join Antoine Bilodeau, Professor of Political Science at Concordia University, for this in person event. Who Can Speak on Behalf of “Us”? An Experiment Exploring the Role of Accent and Ethnicity in Representing the Voice of Scotland.
2022
11 - 13 August – Festival of Politics 2022:
- Elect her - Dr Meryl Kenny
- The State of the UK Union – With CCC Fellows Professor Nicola McEwen and Professor Michael Keating, and Dr Claire Whitten
22 – 23 June – The State of the Constitution: Constitution Unit Conference 2022 (UCL)
15 June – Royal Society Edinburgh – Addressing social inequality. What Scotland can learn
7 - 8 June – CCC/UACES-JMCT Territorial Politics workshop – Social Actors and Citizens in Territorial Politics
12 May – Uncertainty is the only certainty? What is Scotland’s future in a Europe of multiple crises?
12 May – CCC expert panel | Northern Ireland election in a constitutional key
11 May – How radical is Scotland? Scottish Election Study inaugural annual lecture
25 April – CCC Book launch: Catalonia, Scotland and the EU: Visions of Independence and Integration
29 March – Constitution and Governance in the UK Conference, UK in a Changing Europe
3 March – Research Insights: identities and public attitudes in Northern Ireland
28 February – Institute for Government: One year on: what next for the Northern Ireland protocol?
22 February – UK in a Changing Europe: British Politics after Brexit Conference 2022
18 February – After Brexit: Debating constitutional futures across 'these islands'
9 February – The Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism (ASEN): The Symbolic State
3 February 2022 – UK in a Changing Europe: Independence in the EU and Scotland’s borders
27 January 2022 – Book launch - The Symbolic State: Minority Recognition, Majority Backlash, and Secession in Multinational Countries, by Karlo Basta
2021
7 October 2021 – EURAC Research – Democratic system and territorial integration
7 September 2021 – Labour and radical federalism / UK in a Changing Europe and LabourList
22 July 2021 – Isolation Insight: Economics of Covid-19 and Brexit, revisited
30 June 2021 – Between Independence and Union: An Alternative for Scotland?
14 - 16 June 2021 – CCC Summer School
21 May 2021 - Ask the experts UK in a Changing Europe – Spotlight on British Politics series
19 May 2021- Can the constitution hold? UK in a Changing Europe – Spotlight on British Politics series
18 May 2021 - Spotlight on British Politics, National identities and British politics
29 April 2021 - Isolation Insight: The Scottish Parliament Election
26 April 2021 - Gender, Race and the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election. Watch the session on YouTube
12 April 2021 Book Launch: State & Nation in the United Kingdom. Watch the book launch on YouTube
25 March 2021 The politics of constitutional reform and secession in Canada and Spain
21 January 2021 Constitutional Debates: Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot
2020
10 December 2020 Covid-19 and the future of devolution in England
28 October 2020 Referendum without Consent? Insights from Catalonia
23 September 2020 UK and the Internal Market - implications for devolution and the Union
6 August 2020 Brexit and the Borders - the Northern Ireland Protocol
24 June 2020 Brexit - where are we heading now?
2019
26 June 2019 "Benelux Britain". A talk by Adam Price AM, Leader of Plaid Cymru
28 January 2019 Brexit: What Now? What Next? Watch the highlights on Wakelet.
Recordings of past CCC events
Watch our recordings full size using the icon in the bottom-right of the video
12 May – CCC expert panel | Northern Ireland election in a constitutional key