Fantastic, my favourite newspaper @nrc.nl has an interview with my favourite political scientist Arend Lijphart! By Milo van Bokkum. #democracy #usa #politicalscience #politics #freedom ‘De VS waren nooit echt democratisch’ www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

And another one on the doormat: "De Gruyter Handbook of Citizens' Assemblies" from Min Reuchamps, @welpita.bsky.social & Julien Vrydagh. Can't wait. @tegenverkiezingen.bsky.social @nicolecurato.bsky.social @antolw.bsky.social @dannicafleuss.bsky.social #democracy #lottocracy #citizenassemblies

New book in !!! "Sikh Nationalism" of Gurharpal Singh and Giorgio Shani. #sikh #india #self-determination @karlobasta.bsky.social @ryan-griffiths.bsky.social @andrefazi.bsky.social @danicetra.bsky.social

Somehow missed this paper from Microstate heroes Jack Corbett and Wouter Veenendaal (buth still not on Bluesky - Why not !!) together with Roannie Ng Shiu and @marlenejugl.bsky.social . With nice detail on Samoa. #microstate #microstates scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%...

Sorry for my little AI fantasy ! But the Akureyri derby between Þór Akureyri and KA Akureyri is really back on the highest Icelandic level. Last time was in 2002 on that level. #iceland #akureyri @vikingur.is @svanhildur.bsky.social @ruvenglish-mirror.bsky.social @bestaenglish.bsky.social

What a joy, one of my favourite scientists on the doormat: @ryan-griffiths.bsky.social ! So "The Disunited States" will 100% be next after I finnish my Caribbean @gracecarrington.bsky.social book @andrefazi.bsky.social @stephenmarche.bsky.social @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social @karlobasta.bsky.social

It's from some time ago (early 2025) but the @nordicjournal.bsky.social has an all-encompassing article on Norway's smallest island municipality (and the 12th smallest of Europe): @utsira-kommune.bsky.social @atgrims.bsky.social #islands #island #utsira www.nordiclabourjournal.org/little-stron...

Is social media dying? How much has Twitter changed as it became X? Which party now dominates the conversation? Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed. Here are the key take-aways 🧵 arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417

One question for the Hallig-expert ( @sandra-halligliebe.bsky.social ! The boat did not leave for Hallig Gröde this weekend (called the captain, he said storm). But would there have been something to eat or read on the island in the rain? I guess no shops or covered spave to read? #island #islands

For those in the Netherlands that love enclaves, exclaves, semi-enclaves, semi-exclaves, pene-exclaves and contra exclaves a new book in my collection from Vitali Vitaliev. @defactoborders.bsky.social @allyscoop.bsky.social @floorkoomen.bsky.social #enclave #exclave #geography #microstates

What is the function of Community Councils in Orkney/Shetland? Do all voters participate in elections & is it the lowest democratic administrative unit of the islands? @orkneylibrary.bsky.social @theorkneynews.bsky.social @shetlandlibrary.bsky.social @shetlandelects.bsky.social #orkney #shetland

A true underdog story? Is it still possible in modern football?

Another fantastic Youtube video on self-determination from @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social ! Will Trump finally recognise Somaliland ! #somaliland #self-determination @matt-gordon36.bsky.social @timglawion.bsky.social @maydhalalis.bsky.social @fadxigaraad.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8xo...

Interesting development in de-facto state Northern Cyprus in @financialtimes.com : Pro-unification candidate wins North Cyprus election Any serious influence on unification @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social ? #northerncyprus #cyprus #self-determination @mattsteinglass.bsky.social on.ft.com/42LCYmW

Western Sahara weirdly entered the Dutch elections via @nieuwsuur.nl & @franstimmermans.groenlinkspvda.nl .. Better read the new report of @crisisgroup.org on it: (PDF): www.crisisgroup.org/sites/defaul... (Article): www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-... #westernsahara @jamietrinidad.bsky.social

Looks like the ICC still has some power. @markkersten.bsky.social @asymmetricalh.bsky.social #icc #internationalcriminalcourt #democracy #ukraine #trump on.ft.com/472w8Mh

The 14 smallest administrative units by population in Europe existing fully out of 1 or more islands I have to visit them. Tips are welcome. 1. Hallig Gröde (population: 11) 2. Fugloy (population: 38) (1/7) @sandra-halligliebe.bsky.social @umislands.bsky.social #island #smallisland #islands

OK which one first - Challenging ! Should I read the more important stuff first or end up in my classic niche pigeonhole ?? #microstate #microstates #self-determination #smallstates #freedom #democracy #extremeright #micronesia #andorra

I am travelling small islands and microstates for some years now. Are there more of me? Is there a club of these kind of people? #island #islands #geography #topograhy #atlas @allyscoop.bsky.social @umislands.bsky.social @adwindekluyver.bsky.social @katefarrantshaw.bsky.social @gbal1.bsky.social

It took me some years, but I finally bought the biggest Atlas in the world. With even a full Iceland page (with a Svalbard edge). Or does anyone know an Atlas that is better? #atlas #geography @govertschilling.nl @svanhildur.bsky.social @ruvenglish-mirror.bsky.social @eeror.bsky.social

I finally finished your book @markla94.bsky.social - "Wat iedereen aangaat"! Some interesting solutions. But do you have any examples of "democratic spaces" related to football clubs in the Netherlands or anywhere else (see pic)? @jmorijn.bsky.social #democracy @tegenverkiezingen.bsky.social

Very interesting episode of @ajboekestijn.bsky.social and @robdewijk.bsky.social about the state of the Russian economy. Which does not look good for Russia.

@hugoreitsma.bsky.social @ajboekestijn.bsky.social @robdewijk.bsky.social Key strategic breakthrough ! Australia and Papua New Guinea will integratie their armies with each other !! www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09... #foreignaffairs #papua #papuanewguinea #australia

1/ Was at the International Criminal Court #ICC for a midday session. Was there to see hearings in the oldest case on its docket. On the menu: old and updated criminal charges against Joseph #Kony. He once headed the terrorising Lord’s Resistance Army (#LRA) in #Uganda. Some thoughts in the thread 🧵

Sinds de val van het kabinet houden Liset van Dijk en ik alle tv-optredens van politici bij. We zijn gestart op 4-6 en volgen sindsdien systematisch welke politici in welke programma’s verschijnen. Vandaag delen we de grafieken van 30-8 t/m 6-9. #politiek #media #data

As well in KNR: NATO allies to train with Danish armes forces in Greenland. Includes frigates, helicopters, aircrafts, soldiers and special forces of France, Germany, Sweden & Norway. #greenland #nato #eu #trump @marfusvalentin.bsky.social www.knr.gl/da/nyheder/n... @hugoreitsma.bsky.social

In Greenland: "There has been a visible military presence in several places in Greenland recently, and this will continue in September. The Danish Armed Forces are intensifying their training activities in September" #greenland #eu @marfusvalentin.bsky.social www.sermitsiaq.ag/samfund/mere...

@kallaert.li The best Dutch columnist @carolinedegruyter.bsky.social states "Liechtenstein is searching for cover with the EU". Referring also to Brigitte Haas starting a group to investigate future EU relations. Do you agree? #liechtenstein #microstate #democracy #eu www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

@robdewijk.bsky.social Listening to your podcast from yesterday. I am very interested in the idea you dropped of all EU nations pulling out of the EU (via article 50), dumping Hungary and Slovakia, and re-founding the EU without those nations ditching veto powers. (1/2) #europe #eu #democracy

@freedomhouse.bsky.social With anti (or pro) democratic developments in the World going faster then ever. Why is there no LIVE log of key developments changing scores in your report. Erosion is so fast, a report can be too little too late. #democracy #freedom #authoritarianism

@timdewitnl.bsky.social @ajboekestijn.bsky.social Do listen to @asymmetricalh.bsky.social with the President of the Association of Genocide Scholars Melanie O'Brien ( @drmelob.bsky.social ) article by article explaining why Israel commits genocide. 1/2 www.asymmetricalhaircuts.com/episodes/epi...

🎉 I am so very happy that I was awarded an ERC Starting Grant for my project BORDERS: Border Change and Local Development in Europe and Beyond. My (future) team and I will investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of border change on development in historical Europe and worldwide. #ERCStG 🎉

Fantastic surprise cup win in the last minute from SC Genemuiden versus @vvijv.bsky.social in the 1st round of the @knvb.bsky.social Dutch Cup ! #football #cup #soccer @staantribunemedia.bsky.social

@hermanvanderzandt.bsky.social if you like flags so much, you have to be come member of @vlaggenkunde.bsky.social (just saw your comments in “Eva”)

Received the book of @markla94.bsky.social ("Wat iedereen aan gaat") yesterday, started reading. I must say promising start ! #democracy #neoliberalism #keynes

Nice overview piece of Eva Rovers on Citizens Assemblies: decorrespondent.nl/16317/democr... #lottocracy #citizenassemblies #democracy @tegenverkiezingen.bsky.social

Interesting piece from Angel Cabrera Silva in @opiniojuris.bsky.social about a "Right to Democracy". The Interamerican Court of Human Rights will for the first time judge on a case. opiniojuris.org/2025/08/26/a... www.angelcabrerasilva.com @asymmetricalh.bsky.social @markkersten.bsky.social

One of the only sensible NSC ministers Caspar Veldkamp (‪ @ministerbz.bsky.social ‬) stops ! He did far too less for Gaza. But, mainly due to coalition partners like @vvdonline.bsky.social ‬ ‪/ @rubenbrekelmans.bsky.social ‬ going against international law ! #veldkamp #gaza nos.nl/artikel/2579...

Classic @mijnvitesse.bsky.social should never die ! For me there are two options: - Relegate to Tweede Divisie (3rd level) with the same club - Re-start at the lowest level (10th level) with refounded club @afcwimbledon1889.bsky.social & @vvrbc.bsky.social style! #vitesse #knvb #football

Does this also lead to an emergency podcast @janethanderson.bsky.social & @svdberg.bsky.social ? Would also be interesting to see which lobby groups are fighting against it. This is @asymmetricalh.bsky.social terrain correct? www.reuters.com/world/asia-p... #icc #sanctions #trump

More movement in the arctic: "Canada courts arctic allies to counter russia" #canada #geopolitics #eu #sweden #norway #iceland #finland #denmark www.politico.com/news/2025/08... @euolifant.bsky.social @ajboekestijn.bsky.social

With further US sanctions, read below of @markkersten.bsky.social . Now it's time for the Netherlands ( @groenlinks-pvda.bsky.social @cda.nl @volteuropa.org ) and the World to save the International Criminal Court (ICC). justiceinconflict.org/2025/01/15/t... #icc #justice @robdewijk.bsky.social

I am all for it ! But it is interesting to see how via this “ratione loci” argumentation several non-Rome Statute countries are smuggled into the ICC jurisdiction: Myanmar / Belarus. opiniojuris.org/2025/08/01/i... #icc @asymmetricalh.bsky.social #belarus #justice @opiniojuris.bsky.social

Also expanded the list of Cult Football clubs again. Slowly more on Bluesky. Amongst them @vvrbc.bsky.social @vfbluebeck.bsky.social @colwynbayfc.bsky.social @clydebankfc.bsky.social @zeerobbentweets.bsky.social go.bsky.app/bvDYyX #football #soccer @sweeperpod.bsky.social #againstmodernfootball

Very disappointing this :( www.icc-cpi.int/news/icc-str... #internationaljustice #icc #genocide #gaza #trump @asymmetricalh.bsky.social

Updated my Bluesky Starter Pack of all vexillologists of note present on Bluesky (Associations, FIAV Congress visitors, Board Members of Associations, flag websites). Amongst the new: @vexi.cat @flagarchive.bsky.social @fundesvex.bsky.social #flags #flag #vexillology #fiav go.bsky.app/MPXoUhJ

Switzerland considers joining UK's 'dirty money' task force reut.rs/3V9ZP7a

Can Tuvalu be saved as a country ? Will climate change make them disappear ? @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social on this #microstate m.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ap... #self-determination @diegovaladares.bsky.social #tuvalu

Northern enlargement ! This article from Villy Søvndal and @rkefferputz.bsky.social that next to Iceland, also the majority in Greenland wants to join the EU. tomorrowsaffairs.com/should-the-e... @robdewijk.bsky.social #eu #iceland #greenland #norway @catherinedevries.bsky.social