This is an essential read, and the closing on credentialing versus engagement and "centering the people for whom the stakes are highest" in particular. (H/T @peachfleurr.bsky.social @robin.berjon.com)
I wrote a piece for the CDBU blog with some low or no cost things our employers could do right now if they care about precarious staff as much as they say they do.
“While humanitarianism has embraced a rhetoric of care, humanitarian tech interventions often fail to account for or support the actual work of social reproduction.”
www.e-flux.com/architecture...
As a racialised ECR on a fixed-term contract, I found this research process often saddening & infuriating, but ultimately affirming of my belief in practising care & community-building. Massive thanks to my RA, Kris!
If anyone would like to discuss this project, please get in touch 📩
Lastly: fixed-term “career development” posts in UKHE need clarification around what exactly CD activities look like in practice. Too often we’re too overwhelmed with teaching to do research, which is needed to land ever-elusive permanent post…
There is also a systematic lack of support for disabled ECRs (esp those w/ chronic illness) and those with caring responsibilities. Implicitly, institutions communicate what kind of scholars they want: unattached, always “well” to do the job as told. The ideal scholar is devoid of body & community.
I was also struck by a participant who said those who work within the ‘Western canon’ tend to do better re: promotions & retention. Those who don’t are silently pushed out of the institution. So, if you engage in such scholarship, even if you have a permanent contract, you still feel precarious.
I could spend hours discussing the interview data. Lots of overlap with existing research on experience of racialised scholars in HE. One of the most insightful findings for me was the “elite” culture of institutions like LSE - feeling out of place, a sense of “sink or swim”, not being good enough.
5 line graphs, each showing the relationship between academic role (Professor, Associate professor, Assistant professor, LSE fellow, and Researcher) and race (‘Asian’, ‘Black’, ‘Mixed’, ‘Other’, ‘White’, ‘Unknown’).
🛤️The ‘leaky pipeline’ issue exists at LSE. Racialised scholars (esp Black scholars) are underrepresented at senior academic roles, and overrepresented at junior, precarious roles with fixed-term contracts.
What this data shows for me is that precarity is a racial justice issue.
📒Experiences of early career researchers racialised as ‘non-white’
In 2024/2025, I led a project investigating how racialised ECRs at LSE experience the institution, funded by the ECR Network.
Read the report here: moesuzuki.owlstown.net/pages/racial...
But here are some key points ⬇️
🎧 Thrilled to be featured on this podcast series on AI and the media industries. The episode explores how streamers like Netflix use audience data and how this impacts creative practices.
Hosts: Paul McDonald & @aorcuncan.bsky.social
Production: Melis Uslu
Link: open.spotify.com/episode/2s5U...
The govt also cannot make the argument that immigration is “bad” because there’s been economic stagnation despite higher immigration levels - what are the control variables?
The @sdnsolidarity.bsky.social is providing support to various civilian-led groups providing relief and protection support in N. Darfur where hundreds of thousands are fleeing the RSF's genocidal violence. To support pls go to sudansolidarity.com. Pls consider becoming a monthly donor 🙏🏿.
Hey, academics! Have you signed a book contract lately?
You should report your royalty/advance rate anonymously on this spreadsheet.
Are you negotiating, or about to be negotiating, a book contract? You should take a look at the spreadsheet.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
The presentation will be based on a paper recently published by @ersjournal.com :
‘Theorising the “humanisation” of refugees: a decolonial approach’
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Looking forward to attending my second PSA soon! I’ll be speaking about the ‘humanisation’ of refugees as part of a panel organised by the @psa-race.bsky.social working group. Please say hi if you’re around!
Our team at LSE100 is hiring! Happy to have a chat with anyone interested in applying.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Thanks so much Rob for reading and sharing!
Come join our team✨
LSE100 is looking for a new fellow to teach seminars on artificial intelligence & climate futures. Starting in Jan 2024. Happy to chat to anyone interested in applying!
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
The killing of Elianne Andam – patriarchy as a theory of gender by Alanah Mortlock
blogs.lse.ac.uk/gender/2023/...