It doesn't get any better than this. I'm talking about the #NewWaysofGoverning conference organized by @undp-gpcg.bsky.social in #Oslo. We discussed #democraticinnovation with an incredible group of people and brainstormed ideas for the future of governance. I have three main takeaways:

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀? In our new dataset, we track these prosecutions with @seva.bsky.social @sahibjafarov.bsky.social. It's more common than you might think. Check out our @foreignpolicy.com op-ed for the findings. foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/28/d... @idos-research.bsky.social

Despite what men like Sarkozy, Trump, and Bolsonaro may insist, prosecuting a former president or prime minister is a normal and healthy thing for advanced democracies to do.

@semuhi.bsky.social and @sahibjafarov.bsky.social did much of the work on this dataset. over a quarter of all non-autocratic rulers 1989-2021 have been prosecuted, so it was a lot of work

Sarkozy is going to jail but he’s not the first one. In our new dataset we track modern leaders who have been prosecuted by their own states. There are 215 of them. Turns out leader prosecution is a common & healthy practice in democracies. Full access link: foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/28/d...

We are rethinking #corporate civic responsibility for safeguarding #democracy at @idos-research.bsky.social. Drawing on my research and insights from my travels throughout the US as a @gmfus.bsky.social Marshall Memorial Fellow #MMF, I deliver three key messages: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhGG...

New publication alert! Why do business allies (not) defect from authoritarian regimes during crises? By @semuhi.bsky.social published on @govandopp.bsky.social doi.org/10.1017/gov....

Semuhi's comparative work is depressingly relevant to current events in the US: www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/com...

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 #𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 #𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬? They face huge risks, especially during economic crises, when dictators choose to financially extort or #purge their business allies. And yet, despite their power to disrupt, business elites rarely switch sides. My research shows why.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐟 #𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬." You’ve probably heard that a lot lately. #European leaders now frame international assistance as a strategic tool to protect borders, prevent #conflict, and promote commercial ties.

🎓 Meet the 2025 MMF Fellows! (Part 4) 📣 GMF is proud to introduce the participants of the 2025 Marshall Memorial Fellowship. The fellows will begin their programming in Washington, DC, and then continue with 24 days of immersive, transatlantic travel to three European cities. 🔗 buff.ly/NPYvdep

On #FirstView - "Autocrats and Their Business Allies: The Informal Politics of Defection and Co-optation" - shorturl.at/4spJG by Semuhi Sinanoglu (@semuhi.bsky.social)

#HumanitarianAid is increasingly guided by strategic interests rather than humanitarian needs. Europe’s humanitarian commitments are under strain as geopolitics reshapes international solidarity. 💡 New IDOS #PolicyBrief by IDOS expert @semuhi.bsky.social doi.org/10.23661/ipb...

🎙️ In the new episode of our special series produced in partnership with @jodemocracy.bsky.social, @semuhi.bsky.social and @lucanway.bsky.social reflect on capitalism’s enduring imperfections while presenting it as a plausible force for democratic change. 🎧 Listen to it now: 👉 tinyurl.com/2mdcv2cw

#OpenAccess from @govandopp.bsky.social‬ - Autocrats and Their Business Allies: The Informal Politics of Defection and Co-optation - https://cup.org/3HMMH51 - @semuhi.bsky.social#OpenAccess #FirstView

#OpenAccess on #FirstView - "Autocrats and Their Business Allies: The Informal Politics of Defection and Co-optation" - cup.org/3HMMH51 by @semuhi.bsky.social

#Throwback to #GMF2025: @semuhi.bsky.social shares key insights from the IDOS session on “Rethinking #InformationResilience: Alternative Toolkit, New Alliances” – 🎥 Watch the full video on #YouTube: youtu.be/ls2-vkxc-S4

#Humanitarian #aid is taking a backseat to #geopolitics. As an act of solidarity, it helped win hearts & minds. But would it have the same effect linked to strategic interests? The results are surprisingly positive! Thanks Diplomatisches Magazin for featuring my research. @idos-research.bsky.social

What a day! @deutschewelle.bsky.social Global Media Forum is just another reason to love this beautiful city of #Bonn. We organized a panel on how to foster cross-sectoral collaborations with businesses to protect information integrity. I have three key takeaways from our conversations:

Are you #GMF25 in Bonn? Then join us for our panel in the afternoon! We have an amazing line-up! How can businesses help protect the information space? How did the US funding cuts impact collaborations? How to improve the audience perception of toolkit? @news.dw.com @idos-research.bsky.social

Join us at @news.dw.com #GMF25! Our panel will focus on #InformationResilience: How can we defend #InformationIntegrity amid rising geopolitical tension, funding cuts & shrinking civic space? What new alliances can help overcome these challenges? gmf-event.com/event/progra... semuhi.bsky.social‬

Why #democracy needs #business? A strong private sector is key to democratic resilience. But there are risks! It isn't business capture of state but state capture of business that poses the greatest danger to democracy, we argue in @jodemocracy.bsky.social w/ @lucanway.bsky.social & S. Levitsky.

Capitalism is often blamed for democracy’s ills. Yet it is not business capture of the state but rather state capture of business that poses the greatest danger to democracy, argue Semuhi Sinanoglu, Lucan Way, and Steven Levitsky. "Can Capitalism Save Democracy?" muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

1. "Can Capitalism Save Democracy?" by @lucanway.bsky.social @semuhi.bsky.social and #stevenlevitsky muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

⚡ NEW ISSUE OUT NOW! Authors and their essays below 👇 muse.jhu.edu/issue/55125

Let’s be honest: development cooperation is overdue for a tech upgrade. It fails to keep pace with threats it seeks to tackle. I propose two solutions published on @tspbackground.bsky.social: background.tagesspiegel.de/digitalisier... cc: @jleininger.bsky.social @idos-research.bsky.social

💡 Technologische Innovation in der #Entwicklungszusammenarbeit darf nicht länger als zukünftiger Zusatz betrachtet werden – sie muss mitgedacht, finanziert und implementiert werden, schreibt IDOS-Experte @semuhi.bsky.social in @tspbackground.bsky.social: background.tagesspiegel.de/digitalisier...

Stay tuned for an interesting paper on autocratic propaganda effectiveness. @avonschiller.bsky.social and I conducted an experiment that examines how autocrats create responsive administrative tools and then use them for propaganda. Is it effective? To a certain extent, yes, but it also backfires!

Can a foreign-imposed regime change occur through only aerial strikes and air supremacy? Coupled with sanctions, NATO's Op. Unified Protector resulted in Gaddafi's fall. Op. Allied Force eventually forced Milosevic out. But they took place in a different international context.

Last week, I was at the Università degli Studi di Milano to attend a #SISP workshop. With an incredible group of scholars, we discussed how #autocrats drive support for their regime. I'm bringing two ideas with me after the event. @idos-research.bsky.social

Last week, I was in Prague to discuss how donor competition shapes #democratization trends. I presented my #experimental research on how autocrats discredit and undermine IOs with #propaganda. I have two takeaways: #ecprjs25 @ecpr.bsky.social @idos-research.bsky.social @adeagafuri.bsky.social

Why is media support still running on 20th-century tools in 2025? Earlier this month, I was in Brussels for a series of events marking World Press Freedom Day. One impression stuck with me: donors and practitioners are still behind the curve on integrating new technologies into their workflows.

💡 Media Support Needs a Tech Upgrade Before It’s Too Late AI can help protect journalists, especially against fast-moving threats, says @semuhi.bsky.social in Global Policy. 👉https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/21/05/2025/media-support-needs-tech-upgrade-its-too-late

We wrapped up #PSA25 @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social! @psaautocracy.bsky.social lined up brilliant papers. Kudos to @felixwiebrecht.bsky.social @jbeisermcgrath.bsky.social for bringing together this community. Stay tuned for their future planned activities!

Join our panel on affective polarization and depolarization TODAY. Great line-up! #MPSA2025 I will present initial findings from an experiment in Turkey and discuss the unintended consequences of securitized foreign aid distributed with strategic intent.

"If Europe is serious about defending the liberal world order in the wake of the American retreat, it must start by stepping up for Istanbul’s mayor." IDOS expert @semuhi.bsky.social via @globalpolicy.bsky.social: www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/27/03/2...

Opinion Standing up for Istanbul’s mayor will strengthen European security www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/27/03/2...

The EU reaction to Imamoglu's arrest has been muted. Some EU officials expect to rely on the Turkish army to strengthen 🇪🇺security and view their public criticism as ineffective. They are wrong. Here is why 👇 @idos-research.bsky.social @globalpolicy.bsky.social

I'm thrilled to be part of this community. Stay tuned for our work on Transatlantic networks of businesses for democracy protection.

It's time for #APSA 2025 calls: @lucanway.bsky.social and I are planning a panel on #autocratic resilience. Let us know if you have a relevant working paper! Please help us circulate this call. cc: @apsgworkshop.bsky.social PoliSciSky Dictatorsky C/I PolEcon Comparativesky

When Levitsky and Way publish a piece together on JoD, you know there is a new book coming... dictatorsky Comparativesky polisky