Editor's note

Some of the UK's most prestigious educational institutions are looking into how they might have benefited from the slave trade, and that’s sparked a debate. Certain critics, such as the former equality commissioner, Trevor Phillips, have made accusations of "virtue signalling" while others welcome an attempt to look into the way privilege and inequality has developed and become ingrained over the centuries. With so much of the UK's wealth debate tied up in its colonial past, one way forward might be to address the myriad inequalities that persist to this day.

What a week for Premier League football clubs. At the elite end of the sport, four English clubs have reached the finals of the two big European football competitions. But away from the glamour of the top tier, Bolton Wanderers, one of the oldest teams in English football is in financial difficulties. So much so that a league fixture was postponed after players threatened to strike over unpaid wages. The last strike in English football was in 1961 and resulted in the abolition of the then maximum wage of £20. What will be the outcome this time?

South Africa has voted and the ANC has won its sixth straight victory since democracy was established in 1994. But the party’s share of the vote has fallen for the first time to below 60% as an increasingly competitive multi-party democracy emerges. You can follow all the developments here, courtesy of our colleagues at The Conversation Africa and some of South Africa’s most acute political thinkers.

This week we’ve also been following the build up to the forthcoming federal election in Australia, how a ground-breaking new zero carbon bill in New Zealand will include methane targets for the first time and, from the US, how model Halima Aden will be the first woman to wear a hijab and burkini in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue – and what that means for Muslims and fashion.

Jonathan Este

Associate Editor, Arts + Culture Editor

Shutterstock/Pajor Pawel

What should British universities do about benefits received from past wrongs?

Steven Greer, University of Bristol

History is complex and multi-dimensional. Any response to what happened in the past should reflect this.

Bolton. Going down? Dave Howarth/PA Wire/PA Images

Bolton Wanderers: relegated, but with a place in football history thanks to players’ strike

Mark Orton, De Montfort University

Not all footballers are millionaires. Some have to fight for their earning rights.

Cyril Ramaphosa has led South Africa’s African National Congress to its sixth electoral victory. But he’s got his work cut out. EPA-EFE/Yeshiel Panchia

Ramaphosa saves the ANC’s bacon. But this could be its last chance

Richard Calland, University of Cape Town

Some have argued that were the ANC to win 60% or more in this election, it would have given the party a blank cheque for further larceny

michaeljung/Shutterstock

Empathy in healthcare is finally making a comeback

Jeremy Howick, University of Oxford

Evidence for the benefits of empathy in healthcare is mounting.

Charisma isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Peter Byrne/PA Wire/PA Images

Why Britain should beware of charismatic leaders promising easy Brexit solutions

Stefan Stern, City, University of London; Jon Stokes, University of Oxford

The quickest and simplest solution seems to be installing a new leader – someone with nerve, daring and, of course, charisma.

 

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