Jonathan is a Researcher at Demos. His primary research interests include counter terrorism, theories of democracy and civic regeneration.
Jonathan's current work focuses on counter terrorism, social housing and local government.
Jonathan is currently working on the From Threat To Opportunity Project, focusing on the UK and Canada. Other projects include evaluating trust in local government and the role social housing plays in social and economic exclusion.
Prior to Demos, Jonathan worked at the Environmental Law Foundation and for the law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in New York City. He holds an MSc from the LSE in Philosophy and Public Policy.
We've all got a sense that trust in government and public services is declining. But we very seldom step back and ask questions like: what do we mean by trust, how do people form trusting relationships, and how can public service organisations realistically develop more of those relationships?
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This project looks at the relationship between violent and non-violent radicalisation by mapping the flow of ideas, people and money through violent and non-violent radical groups.
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Demos has embarked on a new research project aimed uncovering the real life experiences of social housing residents, with the aim of using their personal stories to inform both policymaking and the activities of Housing Associations in the UK.
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Demos is looking at how communities can bring neighbourhood watch into the twenty-first century.
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Demos is designing a new project of work that seeks to crack the stymied debate around UK drugs policy. This project will apply systems theory to imagine what the world could potentially look like if drugs were regulated as opposed to criminalised. Without imagining what such a world would entail it is impossible to move beyond the current impasse.
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This project aims to facilitate genuine public engagement in British foreign policy. Demos will ask a representative sample of British people, with advice and debate from internationally renowned experts and thinkers, to draw up a list of principles on which they feel that British foreign policy should be based.
MoreLeader on foi charges
Jonathan Birdwell looks at the legislative challenge of 'legal highs'.
Jonathan Birdwell argues that banning Islam4UK will strengthen, not break radical groups.
Jonathan Birdwell discusses science, policy and a new project on drugs and regulation at Demos.
Jonathan Birdwell reflects on Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.
18/08/09 Jonathan Birdwell argues that devolving responsibility...
29/07/09 Jonathan Birdwell questions whether full employment and a robust sense...
29/06/09 Bonding over biscuits could be the key to a more tenant-centred approach to social...
16/06/09 The Bertelsmann Foundation, a German think-tank based outside Berlin, recently...
21/05/09 Only Radical Institutional Reform can save British Democracy Last week I attended...
The Tories want nothing more than the majority of voting citizens to trust them. Do...
I've got an article on Comment is free which you can read here. The article draws...