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Society, Politics & Law
Law and change: Scottish legal heroes
This free course explores the law-making process in Scotland and considers how the legal system has been influenced by change. You consider how Scots law and lawyers have influenced advances in the law on a global, national and local scale. Throughout the course you consider how individuals and institutions have effected change. You explore how ...
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Society, Politics & Law
The Scottish Parliament and law making
This free course, The Scottish Parliament and law making, explores the law making powers of the Scottish Parliament and examines its place in the UK’s constitution. It considers how, and why, laws are made by both the Scottish and UK Parliaments before exploring devolved matters, reserved matters, legislative competence, secondary legislation, ...
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Society, Politics & Law
Working in the voluntary sector
This free online course, Working in the voluntary sector, will introduce you to some of the main activities carried out by volunteers and staff, will give you some background on how different organisations work and will provide you with knowledge and skills you can apply to your own work or volunteering, as well as to your every day life.
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Society, Politics & Law
Rising China and Africa's development: oil
China has emerged as a global economic superpower over the past few decades. This has sparked intense academic and popular debate about the long-term implications of its continued growth. The expansion of China into African countries in pursuit of natural resources has incited particular controversy – does it spell increased cooperation between...
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Society, Politics & Law
Understanding economic inequality
This free course, Understanding economic inequality, explores the causes of economic inequality in modern times and its consequences for success for the economy. The course will encourage you to reflect on your personal experiences of inequality before looking at how the issue is approached in economics. You will study some of the different...
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Society, Politics & Law
Weather derivatives - the financialization of weather
Is it possible to manage the risks presented by nature, such as too much rain at the wrong time of the year and very harsh frosts?
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Society, Politics & Law
The European Union and the impact on mixed nationality relationships in northern Finland
Carol Brown-Leonardi investigates how Britain’s exit from the European Union has affected the perceptions and decision-making of mixed nationality couples to stay and live permanently in Finland or the United Kingdom.
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Society, Politics & Law
Investigating environmental futures through speculative design
How can ‘thinking through making’ facilitate new kinds of geographical enquiry?
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Society, Politics & Law
The legal profession has a mental health problem – which is an issue for everyone
The mental health of legal professionals is a growing concern and cultural representations aren't helping. This article explores lawyers and the emphasis on their wellbeing.
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Society, Politics & Law
Geography Matters: A Collection
Want to find out more about Geography and Environmental Studies at The Open University?
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Nature & Environment
Why we’re mapping a million trees and more!
Dr Phil Wheeler, Dr Nadia Dewhurst-Richman and Janice Ansine look at the benefits of trees, plus discuss the work of Treezilla.
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Society, Politics & Law
Is democracy a good thing?
Is democracy the best way to select who runs our country? Is it unequivocally a good thing? Professor Derek Matravers discusses Plato's argument against democracy.