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...

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!

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...

📺 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 🙏🏼

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...

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:

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...

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 https://www.ft.com/content/30510160-88d0-4d5f-9882-b79f131d3ada

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...

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!

Early Christmas present. My book now has an online presence on the Edinburgh University Press website. Thanks to Loch Johnson and @samuelmoyn.bsky.social for the fantastic endorsements. The President's Kill List is coming. edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-pre...

Received an email from the editor of a current affairs website to say they've received a short article pitch from someone claiming to be me. Looks AI generated. Anyone else experienced this? What would someone stand to gain by publishing in my name?

Happy to have received a 3-year research grant together from the Swedish Research Council together with @linushagstrom.bsky.social for the project "Societal Security and Threats to Democracy". Looking forward to carrying out this project!

Alternative view: The term 'rise' has never brought any real use or value. The possibility that we could ditch that story overnight in favour of one that contradicts it largely confirms that.

Lots of hot takes on Cameron's return. I say Sunak's bringing home the bacon #yourewelcome

International Security new issue cover just dropped! 😲 The issue itself will follow next week - sharing here since the journal isn't on BlueSky yet (@drjlhazelton.bsky.social I have invites if you need one!)

Nicely done, Edinburgh

Here is a piece I wrote some months ago on hiring processes in academia pointing out some major problems I’ve encountered while looking for jobs 👇🏼 www.duckofminerva.com/2023/08/sele...

I've written a short blog piece, which summarizes some of the key points of my new book "The Uncertainty Doctrine: Narrative Politics and US Hard Power after the Cold War”. This is the link: t.co/unhcVMtuYj

Doing a PhD in the UK means at some point writing something about Brexit. So I did! First conference paper, first publication, first time crying over semicolons. And it's not even open access. Anyway, enjoy: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

"Israel is fighting this war on behalf of all of us" - for those who like to follow how narratives travel.

One day I'll quit Twitter completely but possibly not until the World Bollard Association joins us over here

Research news 👀

Are you a European-based scholar working on US foreign policy? Sign our petition to create a US Foreign Policy Research Network within the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)! Contact Dr. Steve Hurst ([email protected]) so we can register your "vote." Or get in touch with me! polisky

Why do grad students often struggle with research problems despite available methods? As a sequel to rdcu.be/dnvJc @profgustafsson.bsky.social & I delve into the vital role of anxiety in drivning research. Read more in our new article in European Political Science: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Nice to have escaped to a seemingly better place 😀 If my timeline ends up less than 50% crypto bros, made-up tech trends, and unfathomably irrelevant adverts, I'll be happy...