What is populism?, Where next for Wales: further devolution?, What is UK nationalism?, Does Wales' landscape shape its politics?, What connects Wales to other small nations?, How can Wales innovate to give democracy back to people?, What are the benefits to Wales from being a European country?
Anwen Elias is a prominent political scientist specialising in territorial and constitutional politics, nationalism, and democratic innovation. She serves as a Reader in Politics at the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University, where she has been a faculty member since 2005.
Anwen’s contributions include the book Minority Nationalist Parties and European Integration: A Comparative Study (Routledge, 2009) and numerous articles on party politics and territorial governance. Her work has garnered over 1,300 citations, reflecting her influence in the field.
Beyond academia, Anwen is actively involved in public policy and civic engagement in Wales. She co-directs both the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD).
In 2021, she was appointed as a Commissioner on the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, which published its final report in January 2024. That report outlined options for Wales such as enhanced devolution, a federal UK, and Welsh independence.
Following this, in November 2024, Anwen was named Chair of the Welsh Government’s Innovating Democracy Advisory Group, tasked with exploring new methods to enhance citizen participation in governance, including initiatives like citizens’ assemblies and liquid democracy.
Join Simon Hobson as he speaks with Anwen Elias (ep9).
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Episode recorded on 29 May 2025
Producer and Editor: Dylan Yeomans
Assistance producers: Gwern Gwynfil, David Hannington-Smith
Graphic designer: Nigel Cousins
Head of content: Gwern Gwynfil
Exec. Producer: Simon Hobson
Music licenced from Envato
Cymru Newydd Cyf. (New Wales Ltd.)
