After a few days working away, a long walk with an excited Blue

Wrote a short history of conspiracy theories, and why we're drowning in them, for MIT Technology Review. Short answer: they're not really theories but a way of understanding the world — false yet seductive www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1...

We have just advertised a Full Prof position in the Political and Social Sciences department at the EUI (@eui-sps.bsky.social). Here are the details. Please spread the word, and get in touch if you have any questions. www.eui.eu/Documents/Se...

The School of Public Policy at the LSE is hiring in political science! Associate or Full. I was the first political scientist hired by the SPP, come be the second! jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...

Having a productive afternoon with Blue

Welcome Week is one of the things I look forward to most in the academic year. Such a pleasure to see @kcl-spe.bsky.social students and staff mixing and looking forward to the year ahead.

Like clockwork, Aseem Malhotra peddling the same tired conspiracy theories again. @benquinn75.bsky.social on the case as usual. Currently finishing a paper on conspiracy tropes and Reform, so...thanks I guess!

Another busy open day @kcl-spe.bsky.social. As ever, huge thanks to all the Department of Political Economy staff, and especially the wonderful student ambassadors, who gave up their weekend to help.

In lovely Thessaloniki for this year's ECPR conference. As they used to say, it's redders!

📢 CALL FOR PAPERS *PSA26 Annual Conference* We invite paper proposals for our next International Annual Conference in Oxford, 30 March - 1 April, 2026. ➡️ key dates and deadlines online.

So I've got a paper coming out which shows that mainstream media tends *not* to spread conspiracy theories. I guess there are always exceptions...

Some people say the biggest gap in research funding is at mid career level. So here is our new call for our mid career fellowship programme which provides buyout for 6 to 12 months to devote to the completion of a major piece of research. Spread the word! www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/mid-...

Half-hearted arm tackle by the fullback just before he makes the door. Use your shoulder lad!

Full house for Department of Political Economy open day talk @kcl-spe.bsky.social Wonderful day meeting with applicants and their families. So important to demystify the application process and open up our wonderful institution.

🚨🚨Job alert!!🚨🚨 The Department of Political Economy at KCL is hiring 3(!) permanent education track lecturers. We are looking for outstanding scholars interested in research-led education in the following areas... 1/

How about this for a panel at our Centre for British Democracy conference this week. Anne Phillips(!), @damienbol.bsky.social @stevenklein.bsky.social and Simon Caney (just out of shot). Big hitters, great discussion and such a pleasure to chair.

Fantastic event last Friday in the sweltering heat @kebleoxford.bsky.social. @philtinline.bsky.social gave a wonderful talk on politics and conspiracy theories, drawing on his excellent new book Ghosts of Iron Mountain. Fascinating stuff!

🚨🚨Job alert!!🚨🚨 The Department of Political Economy at KCL is hiring 3(!) permanent education track lecturers. We are looking for outstanding scholars interested in research-led education in the following areas... 1/

Blue says not to be distracted from the important issues by the reality TV bickering of petulant children. Talk to the paw lads, we should all turn the other jowl!

Brief personal note, do help if you can. Firefighters Jennie Logan and Martyn Sadler lost their lives at a major fire on 15 May. Their families, the FBU and Oxfordshire FRS are raising money in their memory for the Firefighters Charity. Help us honour them by donating here: tinyurl.com/3tpmw65s

On Friday 13th(!) at 5pm @philtinline.bsky.social will be giving a talk @kebleoxford.bsky.social, discussing the significance of conspiracy theories for politics in the US (and beyond), drawing on his excellent new book Ghosts of Iron Mountain. Oxford people, sign up below: bit.ly/43HGyxT

If you're at a loose end this Friday in London, I'm giving my inaugural lecture at King's at 6pm. I'll be talking technology and intimacy, why we need interdisciplinary approaches, and how "because it brings joy" is a great reason to do research. Free! Sign up: www.tickettailor.com/events/kings...

Is this the first sovereign citizen nod in UK local government?

On Friday 13th(!) at 5pm @philtinline.bsky.social will be giving a talk @kebleoxford.bsky.social, discussing the significance of conspiracy theories for politics in the US (and beyond), drawing on his excellent new book Ghosts of Iron Mountain. Oxford people, sign up below: bit.ly/43HGyxT

It's proving to be quite the day for this stuff. When I taught a class on this, the sheer range of celebs/public figures included in these retribution fantasies always shocked the students. Tom Hanks? Check. The cast of Friends? Check.

Or (in a similarly deep cut) did they accidentally leave their master plan on an old photocopier..?

World Government conspiracies front and centre here. This stuff is still on the margins but it's not hard to find in mainstream UK politics (Conservative Party Conference 2023, I'm looking at you)

The Great Replacement Theory is not simply "the idea that western civilisation will be destroyed when immigrants outbreed indigenous Europeans" and "a fringe cause". It's also a conspiracy theory that claims this is an elite plot; it has inspired terror attacks. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Why on earth is anyone listening to Linda McMahon?

Fewer.

Wonderful (and lengthy) bank holiday walk with a fast recovering Mrs D and a v enthusiastic Blue. The extra day came just at the right time!

The mystery of who broke into the baking cupboard remains unsolved #dogs

If you're a democratic theorist and you're not preparing a long and boring thread about #Eurovision voting right now, wtf are you actually doing?

So: Finland Estonia and Poland not far behind Latvia, Iceland and Malta honourable mentions. Nil points for France #eurovision

Damning review of France's entry just in... #eurovision

Mrs D excited that the staging in Armenia's entry exactly replicates the visual hallucinations she had during chemo.

I may have dropped tiramisu down my front during Finland's entry #eurovision

No harness for Finland there. Enjoy your deathtrap Erika #eurovision

If you're a democratic theorist and you're not preparing a long and boring thread about #Eurovision voting right now, wtf are you actually doing?

Oof!

This looks fantastic

“Politics has no place in the classroom.” Hmmm The classroom is soaked in politics. Whatever your subject. (Why these questions and not others? Why now? What are the consequences of the answers?) Your choice is whether to make the implicit explicit and discuss it, or to leave it festering.

Blue looking baffled by the fact we need to bring photo id to be allowed to vote. I had no good answers to his questions about the need for this and the danger of disenfranchising marginalised voters.

Blue looking baffled by the fact we need to bring photo id to be allowed to vote. I had no good answers to his questions about the need for this and the danger of disenfranchising marginalised voters.

Actually a good question. There's work on this. Do conspiracy theories make you happy? A firm no.

A huge privilege to have @simonechambers.bsky.social give the keynote at our Department of Political Economy PhD conference. Fantastic talk and a wonderful event. @kcl-spe.bsky.social

We are pleased to announce the program of the 5th Early Career workshop in Quantitative Political Economy from 19 to 21 May 2025 at King's Collge London. Full schedule: sites.google.com/view/kingsqp... Non-presenting PhDs or Postdocs are very welcome to attend, just let me know!

Easter walks with Blue and Mrs D. The last few weeks we've been able to all go out on decent length walks together for the first time.