Out now, a new @soc-ace.bsky.social briefing note on @matthewrr.bsky.social's big paper on #statethreats. This research builds on longstanding collaboration with @cfs-rusi.bsky.social. Both the must read paper & brief are at bit.ly/44mF262. 1/5

The last @soc-ace.bsky.social newsletter for 2024 has just gone out, and it's a big one! 👇 Sign up to receive our newsletter at lnkd.in/ewG_Rku7.

Maybe ‘gūdforswunk’ for ‘exhausted yet excited by work’? If that can be a word, I’m definitely feeling gūdforswunk right now… 🥳😴

A job working with a great team 👇

📹 Our Executive Director @suehawley.bsky.social welcomes the appointment of Baroness Hodge as the UK's new #Anti-CorruptionChampion. And she calls for 2️⃣ essential initiatives: 1️⃣ greater investment in our law enforcement agencies, and 2️⃣ a full suite of reforms to improve standards in public life.

I'm really excited about this event launching @matthewrr.bsky.social's new @soc-ace.bsky.social / @cfs-rusi.bsky.social paper on state threats, where we'll be joined by @rorycormac.bsky.social, with other speakers to come. Sign up for the launch event at @rusi.bsky.social at the link below 👇

Everytime I think I can't be shocked anymore, along comes @petergeoghegan.bsky.social with something new...

Excited to see this great article from Suzi Ring & Martin Arnold in the @financialtimes.com yesterday covering new @soc-ace.bsky.social & @cfs-rusi.bsky.social research by Eliza Lockhart on potential financial rewards for economic crime whistleblowers. 👇 www.ft.com/content/2ebb...

Excited about this launch event tomorrow morning. 👇

Foreign governments are interfering in democratic politics by funding campaigns and propaganda. Liberal democracies can apply financial intelligence tools to counter these efforts, writes @jessmarindavis.bsky.social in this week’s Foreign Policy Essay.

In a different life, I would come back back as @matthewrr.bsky.social & write the paper on #statethreats he’s written from @soc-ace.bsky.social & @cfs-rusi.bsky.social project. In lieu of a sci-fi universe, it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Matt & RUSI and to support this important work.

Here's a provocative new paper "Confronting the New Gatekeepers of Experimental Political Science" doi.org/10.33774/aps...

New #openaccess paper out from my colleagues @samibensassi.bsky.social & Arisyi Raz on #FATF and whether or not it's an effective tool for combating trade-related fraud, based on their first @soc-ace.bsky.social research project. 👇 Love the gifs too. 👏

“Wildfires & rain-bombs are deeply political creatures: the by-products of historical processes that have hugely benefited a small minority of human beings at the expense of the great majority.” From @amitav.bsky.social’s magnificent Erasmus Prize acceptance speech. erasmusprijs.org/en/laureates...

For your weekend listening, a brand new podcast on @soc-ace.bsky.social research looking at Colombia's #TotalPeace plan and the impact on #organisedcrime, from a fantastic research team, with this episode featuring Mariana Botero, Felipe Botero and Juanita Duran! 👏 👇

From the magic of Ancient Roman concrete to catching criminals with commas, here are some fascinating tidbits to read while relaxing on Thanksgiving (or…just Thursday): www.forkingpaths.co/p/brain-food...

New #AntiCorruptionChampion incoming? At today's Foreign Affairs Committee, Foreign Sec David Lammy dropped a big hint that we could get an announcement soon. We hope to see a big-hitter in the role with a broad remit to coordinate a major cross-government response to corruption & illicit finance.

👓 WHAT WE'RE READING – 5 key stories from the anti-corruption world 1️⃣ @tbij.bsky.social: Great roundup from the TBIJ team of last week's House of Commons debate on SLAPPs, featuring a clip of @joepowell.bsky.social's powerful speech.

Today’s poem is called “On ‘;..p’[[[[[[[[[[[[[;’;////////////////////////3,’”.

"If the fight for trust is 'the battle that defines our age', as the Prime Minister has said, it is a battle Westminster is losing." ✍️ APPG Chair @alexsobel.co.uk sets out our three recommendations to restore trust in politics, by tackling: 🗳️ First Past the Post 💷 Dark money 📰 Disinformation

Really excited to be able to share this! Launch event on 10/12 for new @soc-ace.bsky.social research by @cfs-rusi.bsky.social's Eliza Lockhart on the impact of financial rewards for whistleblowers in the fight against #economiccrime. Link to sign up below (I suspect sooner rather than later 👍) 👇

This is genuinely lovely. 🙂

The criminal groups that control large parts of #Haiti have been intensifying their attacks against the population in recent weeks. This has included subjecting girls and women to horrific sexual abuse. My Daily Brief: 📰 English: www.hrw.org/the-day-in-h... 🔊 Listen: www.hrw.org/video-photos...

Interested in how the ultra wealthy are hurting journalism ? Come along to an event at the Frontline club on Wednesday evening to hear yours truly, the FT’s Paul Murphy and Sam Fry talk about Investigating Billionaires and more www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/panel-disc...

In Westminster for launch of Fair Vote APPG new report. Very good to see dark money - and think tanks - as one of the key issues

Join colleagues for this timely talk on 'World of the Right: Radical conservatism and global order'. 👇 27 November 1:00PM UK time Online via Zoom (follow link to register): lnkd.in/e9fqHbmN @macvieira.bsky.social @fromagehomme.bsky.social

For #peacebuilding, #conflict & #organisedcrime folks, resharing the first in a series on Colombia's #TotalPeace plan. 👇

Ah, this is great. Super-simple to use, works immediately, really clear format. Thank you ‪@davidsainez.com‬ and skywriter.blue. skywriter.blue

National politics is a disaster, but much change is sparked at the local level, particularly through what I call Supercitizens, who devote themselves to making their communities better. Don’t give up; do focus where you can make a difference, as I explain here: www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-power-...

A nice thing about having older kids is being able to listen to music through speakers, not headphones, at (almost) any time of night at (almost) any volume. The down side is that it comes with 10pm on a Sunday feeling really late to be up listening to music… open.spotify.com/track/0RxWeR...

ICYMI from Source Material on the award of drilling licences in the North Sea to a questionable operator www.source-material.org/north-sea-ga...

New @soc-ace.bsky.social Starter Pack 👇🫶

There are more and more 'drone' incidents being reported over sensitive military installations. If the breaches are the work of hobbyists, they're embarrassing. If they're the work of hostile-state actors, they're dangerous. www.twz.com/air/multiple...

I have put together a starter pack of those who I follow in the NATSEC, war studies and #Ukraine communities. This is just an initial list - it is sure to expand. go.bsky.app/pfbxoC

🚨Latest episode of the Political Worldview podcast from University of Birmingham is out now! This time I talk to @KamraLipika about politics in #India. 🇮🇳 The rise of Hindu nationalism via Narendra #Modi and the #BJP, and the general health of Indian democracy. 🎙️ 👇Audio links in the thread below👇

My Y12 daughter showed me feedback on a politics essay & asked how to respond to a comment on a ‘signposting’ sentence not being reflected in a [something] sentence, & I had to work to figure out what it even meant. It’s like a bizarre exam factory that doesn’t resemble university or anything else.

Welcome! The TWP CoP works to promote politically aware approaches to development, encourage their adaptation, translate findings & implications emerging from PEAs into operationally relevant guidance, provide evidence-based insights for innovation, sharing and learning. 👉https://twpcommunity.org/

Today has been a #baking kind of weather day, so I decided to try a recipe I’ve not made before. This one is from a 1960s cookie recipe book that my mom had when I was growing up, and it’s a 19th century recipe. It may not be much to look at, but these hermits are yummy and not too sweet. 👩‍🍳

This is starting at the Temple Bar gallery at 4pm. If you’re in Dublin do come along!

We need to think again about national security. FT column www.ft.com/content/293a...

For those folks who have joined recently, a few tips that may make your experience here more enjoyable.

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🆕 The full extent of the UK government’s woeful management of conflicts of interest has been revealed by a new National Audit Office report released today. This should be a major wake-up call for the government to get its act together on conflicts of interest, as our new article explains:

I'm really glad to see the FCDO imposing sanctions on Firtash, dos Santos, Lembergs and their various associates, but it will only be the beginning of the end of the UK being Butler to the World if it leads to something bigger.

When the @financialtimes.com is calling for an end to the secrecy that enables dirty money and all the utterly awful things in the world it contributes to, you know something important is shifting.

I've set up a new Starter Pack for colleagues in the School of Government at the University of Birmingham. Such a fantastic and diverse range of academics (and far more than I expected when I thought I'd procrastinate for just a few minutes setting this up...). 👇 go.bsky.app/U3UQxZf

Great to see this investigation from @mc00.bsky.social and me about tens of millions going from funders of secretive Tufton street think tanks to Trump’s election campaigns in latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social! Piece also on online democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-t...

Coming soon, new @soc-ace.bsky.social research from @cfs-rusi.bsky.social's Eliza Lockhart on whistleblowers and economic crime. Really looking forward to seeing the research out there in the world and the discussion it will generate!

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My dear old cat would spend every non-eating minute sleeping on my lap if she could. She’s currently very happy I stopped for lunch today, even if I have to wake her up in about 5 minutes (and counting). #CatsofBlueSky