Meanwhile, outside the UK...

Just me, or would it be a bit daft to collectively threaten a group of big states with very few common worldviews beyond a dissatisfaction with American hegemony and the feeling that it abuses its power?

At the end of his first term Obama said in a CBS interview that he had focused on policy and not enough on getting the narrative right. Arguably of course he never did. With Reform doing the opposite and flying high, a Trumpian UK takeover are real unless Labour radically improves its storytelling

Luke and I wrote a paper!

Two years ago, the Sycamore Gap Tree was cut down in the dead of night. Responses to this "act of vandalism" made us think about the role of nature in ontic space, and dualism between human and non/human allows for destruction of nature.

academic.oup.com/isagsq/artic...

They'd have been barking mad to reject this article, but congrats all the same. You guys ain't no saps!

Oh my word...😃

"I don't know what I get paid - but it's a lot!" is not a great look for someone presiding over job cuts.

Honoured to be this year’s winner of the @epir-bisa.bsky.social @mybisa.bsky.social best thesis prize, and to share this recognition with the amazing @ubaspehlivan.bsky.social ⭐️ Thank you to the judges!

Nice work Karl!

Announcing the winners of the 2024 Jacqui Briggs EPS Prize European Consortium for Political Research

Very happy that @profgustafsson.bsky.social and I have been awarded the Jacqui Briggs Prize for best article published in @ecprinterestgroups.bsky.social journal European Political Science in 2024. The statements by the jury and the editor can be read here: ecpr.eu/News/News/De...

Awesome news Linus, congrats!

Inaugural Lecture, Professor Oliver Escobar: "Democracy as if the future mattered: Can democratic innovation change the world?" We are undergoing an unprecedented global democratic recession, but also a period of democratic innovation. What is at the heart of this apparent contradiction? Can democracy evolve to improve the prospect of desirable futures for people and planet? The world faces social, political, economic and ecological crises, and there is doubt that traditional forms of democratic governance can cope or even survive. In this context, what can the field of democratic innovation offer to the task of sociopolitical reimagining and change? The field is advancing globally, based on the premise that the challenges of our time require mobilising the collective intelligence and capabilities of citizens and communities. In this inaugural lecture, Oliver Escobar will offer a critical but optimistic take on democratic innovation. He will argue that the next decade will be crucial for the future of democracy and for the democracy of the future. And that we all have a role to play.

📺 The video of my inaugural lecture is now available 👉🏼 www.sps.ed.ac.uk/inaugural-le...

We had some laughs and brightness, as well as some heavier/darker moments, as befits a lecture about #democracy in troubled times.

Thanks to everyone who made the occasion and the professorship possible 🙏🏼

Editor's Selection: Theory/Ideology with Benjamin Martill - Review of International Studies – The podcast Creating conversations across articles, identifying linkages, bringing together articles that speak to similar topics is the purpose of our editor's selections. In this episode, Dr Benjamin Martill, o...

Are you short of a listen or interested in the links b/t IR theory & political ideology? @risjnl.bsky.social has just the thing for you - a new pod on our recent editor's selection, featuring our @sebkaempf.bsky.social interviewing (also our) Ben Martill:
www.buzzsprout.com/2395572/epis...

Postdoc with a focus on narrative geopolitics Description The postdoctoral position is part of the interdisciplinary research environment on narrative geopolitics, established with funding from the Swedish Armed Forces. The role involves interdis

The Swedish Defence University advertises a postdoc focused on ”narrative geopolitics” - or how widespread and emotionally charged narratives influence international security, great power relations, and geostrategic rivalry. Deadline August 31:
fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...

I assigned @flavialucenti.bsky.social's 2024 article on representations of the 'China Threat' to my course reading list this year, and in the student assignments...it was a hit! (A fraction of them pasted here). Not surprising, it's really good Check it out: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

I'll be in Bologna for #EISAPEC25! I will present two papers: "Of world-making and world-breaking: The discursive projections of international order", co-authored with @oturner.bsky.social and "Beyond Securitization: The Western Double Standard on Gaza", co-authored with @marionzhr.bsky.social!

Full house for the inaugural professorial lecture of the brilliant @oliverescobar.bsky.social! Fantastic to hear all about his life, work, and achievements.

I'll be speaking about 'Reanimating Geopolitics' at this exciting IPS Symposium in London next month:

The art of the deal? The EU’s strategic adaptation to Trump’s transatlantic trade policy - Journal of Transatlantic Studies In 2003, the EU’s European Security Strategy called for the development of “strategic partnerships” with established and emerging powers to support and reinforce the advancement of European goals and ...

A few years ago, I published this paper about the EU's handling of trade relations with the US under Trump. At the time, I did not anticipate that it would ever become relevant again.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

A group of men sit in front of a chart that incorrectly spells "military" as "miltary."

GOP members complaining about reduction of military standards while using a chart that misspells the word military!

Here it is: a tribute to Emma Hutchison, my amazing wife and research collaborator. I hope it does justice to the brilliant scholar and the remarkable person she was. Sorry it took me a while after Emma’s passing to gather enough strength to honour her. www.rolandbleiker.com/tribute-to-e...

You can't have a democracy when one party does not accept election losses as legitimate

University of Leeds is offering scholarships for citizens of Gaza to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. It is aimed at those who have been displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict in the region & are living in a different country (outside of the UK).

www.leeds.ac.uk/masters-scho...

Mass X-odus: professionals desert Elon Musk’s network Creatives and freelancers miss opportunity and inspiration after decline of X

Mass X-odus: professionals desert Elon Musk’s network

www.ft.com/content/30510160-88d0-4d...

Writing International Relations: A Publishing Webinar with the Review of International Studies Review of International Studies (RIS) and the Central and Eastern European International Studies Association’s doctoral network are holding a publishing webinar

If you're interested in learning more about academic publishing, please join the @risjnl.bsky.social editorial team in a couple weeks for a webinar sponsored by @mybisa.bsky.social and @ceeisa.bsky.social -- all welcome (registration required)!

#polisky

www.bisa.ac.uk/events/writi...

A yellow bollard stops a huge tank.

We may just be the answer to world peace. ✌🏻
#WorldBollardAssociation

Great to see more and more people here fleeing the dark side, though I can't help worry a bit that we're creating two unhealthy echo chambers. Still, the absence of maniacal tech bros and infuriating troll bots over here makes it very much worth it for now #Xismyex

Happy to say the article I co-authored with the awesome @alexhlar.bsky.social on 'narrative alliances' as discursive foundations of international order is out now with International Affairs. Check it out! academic.oup.com/ia/article/100/1/203/7506707?searchresult=1

A good read on how AI is being used to momentarily steal academic identities - as very recently happened to me - and mask what looks like state propaganda as informed academic opinion...

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0e1a...

Article sadly published by a different current affairs website. No checks run to ensure I was the author. Won't link to avoid promoting it, requested it be removed. Can't imagine this has only happened to me? I may never have become aware of it if a better editor hadn't alerted me. Careful everyone!