Episode 3 "Research Ethics and the Study of Civil War" is now out from the Stories from the Field podcast. @oraszekely.bsky.social and I welcome @christinecheng.bsky.social + Christopher Day to discuss their recent co-edited special issue in the journal Conflict, Security, & Development. /1

So excited to publish Season 2 of the "Stories from the Field" podcast w @oraszekely.bsky.social. This season, we focus on research on civil war, from doing research in one’s home country to the special importance of research ethics in scholarship on armed conflict /1

I was on NPR yesterday in a chat w @sachapfeiffer.bsky.social on the evolving nature of international politics, U.S. foreign policy, and coercive diplomacy. Sacha is a fantastic journalist and I really enjoyed the conversation. www.npr.org/2026/01/11/n...

With continuing challenges to stability in #Syria, are there any opportunities for optimism? Listen to our recent seminar on the future of #Israel, Syria, & the Levant with Crown scholars Shai Feldman, Daniel Neep, @jillianschwedler.bsky.social, & @peterkrause.bsky.social: youtu.be/YUBhGr2P1XM

So happy to publish my article w Betul Ozturan & Liane Young, "How Students and the Public Define Terrorism, and How Education Affects Those Definitions." A 🧵 on our findings, and a link to free copies below. /1

I am happy to share my article on the US's "Major Non-NATO Ally" status, which signals friendship and facilitates cooperation without providing formal security commitments. I compare the cases of Qatar and the UAE to explain why and when some US partners accept MNNA status. doi.org/10.1093/jogs...

My new article w Sarah Z Daly now physically published. New link for 50 free copies in next post, write me for one if it runs out. See pinned thread for details. "Whose Side Are You On? Balancing Impartiality and Proximity in the Study of Civil Wars" @bostoncollege.bsky.social #Conflictsky #Polisky

Christmas came early this year 🎉 Check out my first article published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution ! journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

This Crown Conversation with Haian Dukhan & Daniel Neep is genuinely excellent. From misconceptions re: what Assad's fall means for the region to prospects for the future of #Syria, it manages to provide insight through the uncertainties. Great read. www.brandeis.edu/crown/public...

My new article with Sarah Zukerman Daly was just published: "Whose Side Are You On? Balancing Impartiality and Proximity in the Study of Civil Wars" More details below, 50 free copies available here: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/HNVJR...

🧵1/ As part of this issue we did an analysis of over 10,000 articles of journals with Middle East in the title published since the 1950s. The idea was to see how the Gulf fit in in the 'discursive production of the Middle East'. #GulfStudies #menasky

My book The Yemen Model argues that a short-term approach to “security” in Yemen that ignores the well-being of Yemenis themselves has repeatedly drawn the U.S. into conflicts in the Middle East: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

I am pleased to share my article on the formation and functioning of the Sultanate of Oman's independent foreign policy. The article stems directly from a term paper for a seminar I took with @peterkrause.bsky.social at Boston College, & I am grateful for his feedback and insights on the manuscript!

Check out @tylerbparker.bsky.social new article on the history and causes of Oman’s independent foreign policy: muse.jhu.edu/pub/119/arti... @apsamena.bsky.social

I'm leading a new series of talks @MIT on "Israeli, Palestinian, and American Relations" The first is Wed 9/11 from 12-2pm, the day after the first Harris-Trump debate. I 'll discuss how the 2024 U.S. election will impact Israelis, Palestinians, and the region. I hope to see you there.

How does hostage negotiation work? I joined my friends at the NegotiateX podcast to talk about my research on kidnapping, hostage diplomacy, and hostage recovery policy. Part I out today: www.negotiatex.com/podcast/unco...

Thanks to all the new followers + whoever referred you here :) I don’t tweet a lot these days. I’ve been focused on leading talks + facilitations w/ P2P organizations, colleges, community groups. I post events + RT sometimes, but prefer in-person to social media. My website has my stuff, or email me

I’m giving two talks tomorrow 12pm MENA-MIT via Zoom: "The Future for Israelis and Palestinians" (register via link) 4:30pm Harvard Business School panel: “Geopolitical Implications of the Israel/Gaza War" calendar.mit.edu/event/the_fu...

Ill be speaking on this panel on Wednesday, available via Zoom: www.linkedin.com/posts/weathe...

Excellent discussion on Oslo and the failures of Israeli-Palestinian peace from Palestinian, Israeli, and American experts and diplomats: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

You're not going to find a better group of experts on the current conflict and the future for Israelis and Palestinians than these conversations w Khalil Shikaki, Yezid Sayigh, Shai Feldman, and Michal Ben-Josef Hirsch www.brandeis.edu/crown/public... Polisky Menasky

Here is the recording for the MIT CIS panel yesterday on the Israel-Hamas conflict: www.youtube.com/live/d8AIP_3...

I’ll be speaking at this event at MIT on Wednesday: calendar.mit.edu/event/starr_...

Excited to be presenting joint research with Stathis Kalyvas at the Harvard IR workshop this week. An earlier version of the working paper I will be presenting is posted at SSRN: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

My brilliant friend & former @dartmouthdickey.bsky.social colleague Caleb Pomeroy has just published his latest in Security Studies. It’s been a fascinating joy to learn about his work. Check it out!! www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The end of Nagorno-Karabakh-Karaback by Thomas de Walle / haven’t seen much coverage of this here www.foreignaffairs.com/armenia/end-...

Menasky Polisky The APSA MENA organized section is migrating its social media presence to Bluesky. Scholars working on the region, please join, forward, and tell your networks.

@abuaardvark.bsky.social can you please add me to menasky ? Thank you very much

@profmusgrave.bsky.social can you please add me to the Polisky list? Thank you

Happy to be on Bluesky, looking forward to reading and promoting great research on MENA, political violence, rebels, and peace-building. Branching out to read happy posts on parenting and sad posts on navigating the real estate market. Please point me to folks I should follow