Cambridge University POLIS Society

31/03/2026

05/03/2025

🌐Exciting news! Tomorrow afternoon Professor Ardi Imseis, will be discussing his pivotal book, ‚The United Nations and the Question of Palestine: Rule by Law and the Structure of International Legal Subalternity.‘ Unpack the tensions between the UN’s actions and international law, and explore the profound implications for the Question of Palestine with us! Details on the exact time and place will be confirmed tomorrow morning. See you there!🌐

19/01/2025

Beyond the Headlines: Understanding Post-Assad Syria and the Gaza Ceasefire

Join us and for an insightful conversation with Joost Hiltermann, Program Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group. 🌍

🗓 Date: 23 January 2025
🕒 Time: 5 PM
📍 Location: Microsoft Teams

Joost Hiltermann will share critical insights into the unfolding situation in post-Assad Syria, as well as the implications and challenges surrounding the Gaza ceasefire. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of two pivotal developments shaping the future of the Middle East.

📩 Questions? Drop them in the comments or send us a DM!
🔗Registration link in bio!

08/01/2025

Join us for an enlightening discussion with Vera Kobalia on “How to Steal Elections, Russian-Style: The Case of Georgia”

📅 Date: Tuesday, 14th January 2025
🕠 Time: 17:30-18:30
📍 Location: Provost Lodge Drawing Room, King’s College, Cambridge

Vera Kobalia, former Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and current MSt student in International Relations at Cambridge, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Currently serving as a Board Director for Sandstorm Gold and Arras Minerals in Canada, and recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and as 40 under 40 by Business in Vancouver, Vera offers a unique perspective on the complex dynamics of Georgia’s political landscape and its broader global interactions.
Prepare for an engaging session that will cover topics like electoral integrity, democratic resilience, and Georgia’s strategic response to regional tensions. Join us to explore how Georgia navigates its democratic path and what the future

13/12/2024

Sure! Here’s the revised post with the application link included:

🫧 Join the POLIS Committee! 🫧

We are excited to announce that POLIS is recruiting new committee members! If you’re passionate about public policy, international relations, and political thought, this is your chance to become part of a dynamic team that shapes the society’s future.

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to fill the following roles:
🧩Vice President: Help coordinate the events, esp in-person aspects of our hybrid events.
🧩Event Coordinator: Take the lead in liaising with speakers from around the world.
🧩Communications Officer: Enhance our online presence through international affairs related social media content and possibly a newsletter.
🧩Podcast Lead: Drive the creation of a new podcast series in collaboration with other UK universities.
🧩Funding Coordinator: Identify and secure funding sources to support our activities.

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, expand your network, and contribute to the vibrant POLIS community. Whether you’re looking for leadership experience or a chance to support behind the scenes, we have a role for you.

Interested? Apply now by clicking the link in the story and bio and let’s shape the future of POLIS together! 🔗https://forms.gle/4cDRnzM4xaoqQpyD6

13/12/2024

🇰🇷 Join Us for a Session on South Korea’s Martial Law Crisis 🇰🇷

Title: Martial Law Crisis: Implications for South Korea’s Democracy

Date: December 18, 2024
Time: 11 AM GMT

Explore the unfolding political crisis in South Korea with Dr. Jeong-In Yun, a leading scholar in Korean politics. Following the recent declaration of martial law and the failed impeachment attempt, South Korea’s democracy faces unprecedented challenges.
This session will delve into the implications of these developments and their impact on one of Asia’s most dynamic democracies.

Hosted by: East Asia Young Scholars Association, King’s Politics, and Polis Society

🔗 Register now to secure your spot! [Link in bio & story]

06/10/2024

We were thrilled to host James Patterson-Waterston at Corpus Christi College this weekend for an engaging dinner discussion on the importance of climate resilient infrastructure. As a partner at McKinsey, James leads global efforts in sustainable urbanization, driving decarbonization and promoting inclusive economic growth initiatives worldwide. With his extensive experience in over 30 countries and key leadership roles in partnerships with C40 Cities and the UK Government’s Professional and Business Services Council, James is a pivotal figure in shaping a sustainable and resilient urban future.
A big thank you to James for sharing his expertise and to all the attendees who made the evening both enlightening and memorable. Special thanks to Sahib for his leadership in organizing this wonderful event!
Stay tuned for more events like this from the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at the University of Cambridge!

30/09/2024

📩 Join us for an enlightening lecture with Prof. Philip Y.M. Yang, a distinguished scholar in political science and international relations. Prof. Yang will explore the contrasting viewpoints of John Mearsheimer and Jeffrey Sachs, offering a unique Taiwan perspective on global politics.

Recommended reading: Understanding the Strategic Balances in East Asia.

🌏 Topic: Mearsheimer vs. Sachs: A Taiwan Perspective
📢 Speaker: Prof. Philip Y.M. Yang
📅 Date: October 19, 2024
⏰ Time: 12 PM - 1 PM (UTC+1)
📍 Location: [Registration link in bio]
🏫 Hosts: Kings Politics ( ) x POLIS Society ( )

Prof. Yang, serving in various advisory roles, is known for his deep insights into East Asian political dynamics. His expertise sheds light on how Taiwan navigates its complex position between global powers, influenced by realist strategic maneuvers and economic-environmental considerations.

Don’t miss this engaging discussion that bridges the gap between global theoretical debates and Taiwan’s real-world strategies!

💬 Leave a comment below if you have questions or topics you’d like Prof. Yang to cover!

🎟️ Register here:
0378f396-bdbd-4636-88a7-f69778aec6a5@49a50445-bdfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0378f396-bdbd-4636-88a7-f69778aec6a5@49a50445-bdfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9

18/09/2024

📩 Join us for an enlightening evening with Dr Stephen Roach, senior fellow at Yale University, formerly chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, who warns of disaster from America’s ‚Sinophobic‘ China Policy!

🌏 Topic: American Sinophobia
📢 Speaker: Stephen Roach
📅 Date: October 5, 2024
⏰ Time: 7 PM - 8 PM (UTC+1)
📍 Location: [Registration link in bio] and below
🏫 Hosts: Kings Politics ( ) x Polis Society ( )

As America’s Sinophobia has become increasingly bipartisan, fear is starting to take on the aura of fact, and the dangers of accidental conflict with China are intensifying. Worse, by acting on these anxieties, the US risks inciting the very outcome it wants to deter: Chinese aggression against Taiwan.

Stephen S. Roach is an American economist. He serves as a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and a senior lecturer at the Yale School of Management. He was formerly chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation on American Sinophobia!

🎟️ Register here: c011d3ff-93d4-4e4e-8eca-dea6f6fd8689@49a50445-bdfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c011d3ff-93d4-4e4e-8eca-dea6f6fd8689@49a50445-bdfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9
💬 Leave a comment below if you have questions or topics you’d like Dr Roach to cover!

05/09/2024

📩 Join us for an enlightening evening with Professor Joseph S. Nye, Professor Emeritus at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, whose insights, innovations, and ideas have shaped modern international relations!

🌏 Topic: How Not to Deal With a Rising China
📢 Speaker: Prof. Joseph S. Nye
📅 Date: September 28, 2024
⏰ Time: 7 PM - 8 PM (UTC+1)
📍 Location: Teams
🏫 Hosts: Kings Politics ( ) x Polis Society

Will China displace the United States as the world’s leading power by the centenary of Communist rule in 2049? Will the rise of China be a Thucydides trap? A new Cold War? Or 1914 sleepwalkers? Professor Nye suggests that a successful strategy must lay out conditions for a cooperative rivalry starting with a careful net assessment of power resources and the formulation of feasible goals.

Professor Nye is renowned for co-founding the theory of neoliberalism, pioneering the concept of soft power, and his theory of smart power is recognised by global policy leaders. He was ranked as the most influential scholar of American foreign policy, and named one of the top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy in 2011. Moreover, he has served in key roles including Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Chair of the National Intelligence Council, and Deputy Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science, and Technology.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation on global power dynamics and strategies on how not to deal with a rising China!

💬 Leave a comment below if you have questions or topics you’d like Prof. Nye to cover!
🎟️ Register here: ba5fd339-649b-42fe-ba9a-dbd7ca3e8590@49a50445-bdfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ba5fd339-649b-42fe-ba9a-dbd7ca3e8590@49a50445-bdfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9