George Mason University professor Janine Wedel has been appointed as global chair of the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) at Bath University in England.
The interdisciplinary research undertaken by the institute “bridges the worlds of research, policy and professional practice to enable us to address some of the major policy changes we face on a local, national and global scale,” the institute’s website says.
Wedel, a University Professor who teaches policy through the lens of an anthropologist in George Mason’s School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs, studies what she calls “shadow elites,” the power brokers who blur the lines of public policy and private gain in government and business around the world. Her most recent work, “Unaccountable: How Elite Power Brokers Corrupt Our Finances, Freedom, and Security” (Pegasus Books), was published in 2014.
“We at Mason are not surprised to learn of yet another honor recognizing the significant works of Professor Wedel,” said Mark Rozell, dean of the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs. “Her research is at the intersection of social science and public policy and continues to make important contributions to public disclosure internationally.”
Her appointment, the institute said in a statement, “marks a significant milestone for the IPR, which over the past years has expanded its reach and influence both nationally and internationally.” She will spend two months at Bath and also attend meetings throughout the year.
Bath professor of public policy and the institute’s director, Nick Pearce, said, “I am delighted that professor Wedel is joining IPR as a global chair. She is a highly distinguished scholar whose work has considerable contemporary policy resonance. She helps us understand the challenge for citizens seeking to challenge the power of big money and vested interests in politics and policymaking.”