Born to Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite. 

Think of the British elite and familiar caricatures spring to mind. But are today’s power brokers a conservative chumocracy, born to privilege and anointed at Eton and Oxford? Or is a new progressive elite emerging with different values and political instincts? And, are these caricatures true of elites in every part of the United Kingdom or do they vary across the constituent nations? 

Aaron Reeves is a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology at the London School of Economics. His work studies the causes and consequences of social inequality, with a focus on the political economy of health, welfare reform and processes of elite formation. His latest book – Born to Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite – was published by Harvard University Press in 2024. 

This event was held on Thursday, 25th September 2025 at Ulster University, as part of the ARK@25 celebrations. 

This event marked the launch of new ARK research report commissioned by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland. This important study explores how children and young people in Northern Ireland navigate the online world - how they use the internet and social media, the risks they encounter, and how confident they feel in reporting online harms.

Authored by Professor Michelle Butler (Queen's University Belfast), and ARK’s Professor Dirk Schubotz and Dr Martina McKnight, the study draws on data from the Kids' Life and Times and Young Life and Times surveys. The speakers at the event focused on how this valuable evidence base can to inform the delivery of Northern Ireland’s Online Safety Strategy and Action Plan, highlighting where additional support or understanding may be needed, particularly for groups who may be more vulnerable online.

This seminar, held at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) on 27 May 2025, marked the release of findings from the 2024 Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey (www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2024).

Katy Hayward (QUB) and Jonny Hanson (ARK) discussed the findings of the survey.  Sian Doherty then gave a response on behalf of Climate NI. This was followed by a response by Kate Clifford, who focused on the implications for rural communities, and the work of Rural Community Network.

This seminar, held at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) on 27 May 2025, marked the release of findings from the 2024 Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey (www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2024).

Katy Hayward (QUB) and Jonny Hanson (ARK) discussed the findings of the survey.  Sian Doherty then gave a response on behalf of Climate NI. This was followed by a response by Kate Clifford, who focused on the implications for rural communities, and the work of Rural Community Network.

The event was supported by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account at Queen’s University Belfast.

This seminar, held at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) on 27 May 2025, marked the release of findings from the 2024 Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey (www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2024).

Katy Hayward (QUB) and Jonny Hanson (ARK) discussed the findings of the survey.  Sian Doherty then gave a response on behalf of Climate NI, followed by Kate Clifford, who focused on the implications for rural communities, and the work of Rural Community Network.

Supported by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account at QUB.

This event, held in Belfast City Hall on 24 February 2025, launched a series of events, publications and other activities to mark ARK's 25th anniversary.

This Good Relations Week seminar explored the potential of social and community farming to cultivate good relations between different communities in Northern Ireland. It featured insights from a panel that included Dr Matt Williams, Conservation and Education Manager at Jubilee Farm (Northern Ireland's first community-owned farm), Tiziana O’Hara from Cooperative Alternatives, and Dr Aoibeann Walsh from Rural Support. The event was chaired by ARK's Dr Jonny Hanson.  

It took place in the Great Hall at QUB, 19th September, 10:00 - 12:00.

On 6 September, ARK hosted a seminar to present key findings from the 2024 KLT and YLT surveys. ARK's Professor Dirk Schubotz highlighted results relating to education, rights and gender-based violence at the event, which took place at YouthAction Belfast.

On 28 August, ARK hosted a seminar to launch a working paper highlighting the three main features that define paramilitarism in contemporary Northern Ireland - Legitimacy, Utility and Threat. These key features are consistent, although they have manifested differently over time. Written by Brendan Sturgeon, Duncan Morrow, Lucy Geddes, Dominic Bryan, Siobhán McAlister, Claire Hazelden and Peter Sheridan, the paper provides a simple way of understanding a set of complex social practices.