Seven months later, 10 days to go before moving in. Still much to do but at least half of the house is habitable. It is happening!

Venting time... If you kindly agree and commit to reviewing a manuscript: 1. Please do not ghost the editors; 2. Do not write just one line about your basic thoughts on a new submission (my 6yo would do a better job than that); 3. For the love of god, do not use AI to generate your review.

I am now 1 hour deep in a talk about geopolitics with my 6 year old son. It all started with a small question: "Papa, why did Slovenia give 12 points to Italy?". We're now talking about the fall of the Ottoman Empire... #Eurovision

Based on the candidates currently ahead, we’re on track for a huge increase in the percentage of women in the House of Reps in the 48th Parliament. Currently women are ahead in 70 of 150 seats, which would mean 46.7% women, up from 38.4% after the last election. #insiders #auspol

There are so many similarities between the 2025 Canadian and Australian elections...

Come work with us! Our 2 continuing lecturer positions in Public Policy have just been advertised. Happy to answer any questions you may have about the Program/School/Melbourne/Australian academia/anything else. Deadline: 22 May. jobs.unimelb.edu.au/en/job/92011...

"I hope this email finds you well" is so 2024.

What a time to take a social media break.

I mean it is all insane, not to mention dangerous and devastating, but one cannot deny that it is interesting.

We're only two weeks in...

"Government efficiency" is austerity in disguise. Period. #auspol Peter Dutton vows to cut 'wasteful' government spending, says details to come after election - ABC News www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...

I've already heard the Asperger Syndrome excuse. I've taught children with Asperger for over 25 years, and oddly, I've never had to say "Hey stop giving the Nazi salute!"

Welcome to the "and find out" era.

New year, new function! Together with @benleruth.bsky.social I will serve as editor of @actapolitica.bsky.social! Gianna Maria Eick and Julia Rone will be book review editors and Katherine Arena will be editorial assistant. We are looking forward to seeing your submissions!

(Not so) hot take: the Trump administration will support and push for Greenland to hold a referendum on its independence. They will then negotiate a fast-paced FTA with major economic and security strings attached. Is this really *that* unrealistic? www.politico.eu/article/gree...

"The gap between the richest and poorest may not be widening, but it is not irrational for the middle classes to feel their position in society is in decline." on.ft.com/3W4rWWy

"If we were able to abandon our fat, relentless egos and focus on what is going on in the world around us, we would end up feeling far better ourselves". Great column by @jemima.bsky.social on.ft.com/3PgZyfV @financialtimes.com

In case you are still looking for a 🎄 present for all of those people out there who like to nerd out even over the holidays: "The EU under strain" (co-edited with @mechthildroos.bsky.social) is now out as a paperback at @degruyterbrill.bsky.social. www.degruyter.com/document/doi...

Hello Bluesky ❤️ We are here! This is the official account for The Rest Is Politics US with @kattybkay.bsky.social and @scaramucci.bsky.social. Keep posted and follow for all updates on everything US politics 🇺🇸

Before moving to Melbourne vs after moving to Melbourne #SpotifyWrapped

Good news, Altmetric has now started watching BlueSky for mentions of publications. And by the way, provides an easy comparison between this and the old site for a recent preprint of mine which I posted simultaneousl at both. Numbers speak by themselves !

Spotted in Perth. This reminded me of what it feels like to check X/Twitter.

The UWA campus in Perth is simply atrocious, as you can see. A beach just across the street? A marvelous albino peacock greeting you? This is simply unacceptable.

Tomorrow, at the APSA Conference, I’ll talk about my research on transnational populist publics. My paper examines the contribution of digital publics on YouTube in building the bridges between PRR parties in France, Italy, and the US. [Thread!]

Wonderful to be back in beautiful Perth for my first #APSA conference in 6 years. Looking forward to catching up with old and new colleagues from the region 🌏 If you are still looking for a session to attend tomorrow, I'll be sharing findings of my work on attitudes towards long-term policies 👇

In the midst of the doom and gloom, some good news for the Australian higher education sector, but most importantly for international students who were wrongly used as a scapegoat for more complex societal problems. It was a very poorly designed policy. www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11...

I, Benjamin Leruth, new reluctant owner-builder, hereby issue an Interpol Red Notice to find the person who once said "always buy the worst house in the block".

I made a starter pack of political studies folk in Australia - I know I surely haven't captured everyone here, so please let me know if you'd like to be added - share widely! go.bsky.app/UtgJPaZ

Some big news this morning www.theguardian.com/media/2024/n...

I am made starter pack of 90 political scientists in the Netherlands / Dutch political scientists go.bsky.app/LJXVEGC

This platform seems to gain traction nowadays, I feel like I might have missed something... Did something significant happen? (Anyway, welcome to all new members!)

This Wednesday, we held our workshop on "Exploring the Politics of Long-Termism" in Groningen, with the support of the Dutch Research Council. 11 presentations, 20 participants, and most importantly, one friendly and constructive atmosphere. Many thanks to all those involved!

About to start teaching my final course at the University of Groningen. It is the 5th time I teach this course on French Politics. How time flies!

👉 Long-term reform or short-term relief? 🇪🇺 Our 10th research paper is out on the implementation of EU's recovery fund #RRF by member states in response to the #covid19pandemic.  Read more in the paper by Daniele Caramani and Lorenzo Cicchi from #EUI: 👉 regroup-horizon.eu/publications...

Signing off for the holidays with the picture of our Christmas tree, a way of sharing subtle hints about what lies ahead in 2024...

📢 Thrilled to announce that I'll embark on a new adventure as Chair in European Politics & Society at the University of Groningen from 1 January 🚀✨ Excited to work with @adrianfavero.bsky.social @benleruth.bsky.social @leoniedejonge.bsky.social @pierotortola.bsky.social and many other stars.

Exciting news! 🎉 Our @ecpr.bsky.social section on the Politics of Bureaucracy has been accepted for #ecprgc24! 📅 Submit your paper proposals by January 18. Details and tentative panel descriptions here: ecpr.eu/Events/Event... 📍 Reach out to panel or section chairs for any inquiries!

Do governments respond to public opinion? Why does inequality keep rising? Amazing new volume just dropped with so many new insights on these and other questions (I was part of two of the chapters). Best part: The whole book is Open Access! www.cambridge.org/core/books/u...

Those X ads are getting weirder and weirder

As always, Catherine de Vries is spot on. "European politicians (...) should look beyond immigration as the culprit of far-right success and start addressing deeper structural problems plaguing European societies." Migration crackdowns won’t help Europe’s moderate right - on.ft.com/4a97eKy

PSA: Covid is still around, and it can seriously knock you down.

The Netherlands: International staff and students feel unwelcome – Survey, with some of my comments on the recent political developments www.universityworldnews.com/post-mobile....

I am super proud of my Democratic Innovations MA students who designed, ran, and delivered an excellent mini-public experiment with stakeholders and participants they recruited themselves. This year's cohort is phenomenal.

Important issues for Dutch voters (source: Ipsos poll held today)

Well...

I don't know why and it is completely un-academic of me, but I feel there will be a big shock coming after this week's Dutch elections. It is the first time I feel so irrational about ahead of an election.

It is indeed ridiculous, short-sighted and highly damaging to the Dutch society. Evidence clearly shows thay such a policy would bring major setbacks (look at Denmark). Dutch universities slam ‘ridiculous’ proposal to cap foreign students www.theguardian.com/world/2023/n...

David Cameron spotted at Number 10 in the midst of a Cabinet reshuffle is definitely not something I had on my post-Brexit Chaos bingo sheet.

Expected success rate for this year's ERC Starting Grants: 11.1%. Now more than ever, it's time for governments to invest in fundamental research. erc.europa.eu/news-events/...

Funny how chosing your publication model (Open Access or "normal" route) looks very Ryanair-esque with some publishers. Yes, I am sure I don't want to pay 2000 euros to get priority boarding.