Dr Thom Oliver's Outputs (9)

Narrating constitutional futures: Comparative emotional and identity dynamics in the Scottish independence and EU referendums (2025)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

This article explores the emotional, symbolic, and identity-based dimensions of constitutional referendums by comparing qualitative data from the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum and the 2016 UK European Union Referendum. Drawing on original foc... Read More about Narrating constitutional futures: Comparative emotional and identity dynamics in the Scottish independence and EU referendums.

Leadership, authenticity and representation in troubled times (2020)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

In this paper we draw on insights from political science and leadership studies to explore how dynamics of representation play out within place-based leadership. We focus on a case study of Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol’s response to the topplin... Read More about Leadership, authenticity and representation in troubled times.

Liar, liar! Pants on fire! Nick Clegg and the cost of losing positive leadership valence (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

What difference do directly elected mayors make? A panel discussion (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Thinking Futures festival discussion (part of ESRC Festival of Social Science), convened by the University of Bristol exploring the success of the Directly Elected Mayor model.

Panel Abstract:
Strengthening city leadership by introducing directly... Read More about What difference do directly elected mayors make? A panel discussion.

Communicating, campaigning and curating: Interrogating councillors’ use of Twitter in the City of Bristol (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Social Media as a communication platform represents a novel and growing space for individuals and groups as well as state and non-state actors. The value of digital data to political parties has resulted in the proliferation of digital products which... Read More about Communicating, campaigning and curating: Interrogating councillors’ use of Twitter in the City of Bristol.

Assessing the directly elected mayoral model in Bristol: An empirical investigation of the contrasting definitions of the role of a directly elected mayor (2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

When Bristol’s first directly elected mayor Independent George Ferguson was sworn in during a ceremony at Brunel’s historic Temple Meads station he asserted “I believe today we have voted for a new way of doing things.” Now into second year of his te... Read More about Assessing the directly elected mayoral model in Bristol: An empirical investigation of the contrasting definitions of the role of a directly elected mayor.

Have mandate, will travel: The developing roles of the councillor above and below the council house (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

The modern councillor lives in an era of complex local governance operating in multiple arenas and networks rather than purely through old-style national/local government structures. The Localism Act (2011) offers no respite from the challenges to th... Read More about Have mandate, will travel: The developing roles of the councillor above and below the council house.

Making the business case, female quotas in Business: Discourses and logics (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

The recent review conducted by Lord Davies (BIS, 2011) on Women on Boards received over 2,654 responses to the call for evidence from a broad range of academic, corporate and practitioners sources. The report whilst stressing that boards be made of... Read More about Making the business case, female quotas in Business: Discourses and logics.

Categorising NEDs: An exploration of the factors which inform the adoption of different conceptions of representation & accountability amongst non-executive directors, an early discussion (2012)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Debates emerging from the financial crisis have called into question both current ownership models and present accountability mechanisms as the optimum mechanism with which to provide oversight, challenge and scrutiny of the actions of corporate boar... Read More about Categorising NEDs: An exploration of the factors which inform the adoption of different conceptions of representation & accountability amongst non-executive directors, an early discussion.