Since I have gained new followers I am sharing again this starter pack that includes some of my colleagues from the School of Social & Political Sciences. Providing world leading research & analysis in Criminology, Politics, IR, Sociology & Social Policy

The Annual Welcome Week Lecture of School of Social & Political Sciences, Uni of Lincoln, this year is delivered by Dr Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social. His subject is Bridging Two Cultures: what’s scientific about the social sciences?

Preparing for the University of Lincoln Open Day tomorrow. Good to see this reminder that our BA programme in Politics is ranked in the Top 10 by the Guardian University Guide 2026 (well, we are #7, actually ...)

It’s Welcome Week at the Uni of #Lincoln & today the School of Social & Political Sciences organised a quiz for staff & new students. Do you know in which county Chequers is located& which UK city was the first to install traffic lights? How about the prison population in England?

Making my way through Kamala Harris’s personal account of the 2024 US Presidential election. Fascinating reading. Was it really only a year ago? #Booksky

Now need to add the Cambodia-Armenia war to my International Relations syllabus. Thanks to President Trump for resolving this crisis so quickly

The always brilliant John Lithgow reading @timothysnyder.bsky.social’s On Tyranny. More relevant now than we could have imagined 20 years ago.

Graduation celebrates the achievements of our students. It also a time to celebrate the excellent & inspiring teaching that helps the students reach their potential. Thanks to my Social & Political Sciences Uni of Lincoln colleagues who are committed to delivering the best student experience.

Colleagues from the School of Social & Political Sciences, Uni of Lincoln, braving the strong winds today for Graduation. Congratulations to all our students celebrating today. We’re very proud of you!

A proud Head of School this morning. According to the @theguardian.com University rankings 2026, our University of Lincoln Politics programme is now #7 & International Relations is #18. Congratulations to all my School of Social & Political Sciences colleagues

The School of Social & Political Sciences (Lincoln Uni) launches the MA in International Relations Public Lecture Series that will feature prominent speakers from academia, policy & related sectors. Open to staff, students, & the wider public - register for the first session here: lnkd.in/eipaYFU7

Love this passage in Robert Winder’s book Soft Power: The New Great Game (2020: 75): “… one aircraft carrier equals twelve [BBC] World Services …”

Relaxing on a rainy Wednesday evening with this terrific collection of short stories, all set in #Shanghai & written by Chinese authors. Discovered this gem in the University of Lincoln library #China #Booksky

Lead story on BBC1 6pm news - man goes to visit his Dad.

From Princeton Professor of Politics and International Affairs, @jshapiro.bsky.social.

Proud of my School of Social & Political Sciences colleague Professor Anna Tarrant @profatarrant.bsky.social who has been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. This honour reflects her outstanding transformative research. More details are available here: acss.org.uk/news/the-aca...

Gate to Hanling, at Dongqian Lake, Ningbo #China 2020 #photography

Nigel Farage looks uncomfortable as Jamie Raskin uses his opening statement to absolutely demolish him

Delighted to attend the launch of the @fpcthinktank.bsky.social report on UK soft power. Much of interest here (recognition that soft power best generated far from govt). Some areas of disagreement: need for soft power council/strategy/strategy group; & conflation of sp with means of communication

Well done to the (first ever) team from the University of Lincoln to appear on University Challenge tonight! Brilliant performance. What a win! Including two students from @uolhumanities.bsky.social

I also did my undergraduate degree at Leeds (Politics, 1988-91). All lecturers were wonderful but I say a huge thank you to Owen Hartley who knew how to make his students think & argue; & James MacDonald who introduced me to Chinese politics (a year of 1-2-1 seminars in Year 3 - unthinkable today)

My School of Social & Political Sciences colleague, Elena Gaschino, reflects on her time as a student of Criminology at Lincoln University. Elena talks about her wonderful experience & is now delivering her own inspiring teaching to new generations of students www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jkn...

A problematic article about #Taiwan's soft power for many reasons - definitional & absence of any indication that what the author claims is "soft power" is working. Restaurants + numbers of international students do not = soft power measures @intellinews.com www.intellinews.com/how-soft-pow...

An interesting discussion about 'the end of soft power' by Rafia Zakaria. I am particularly pleased the author acknowledges the limits to #China's soft power. www.dawn.com/news/1938349...

Now available - the 2nd edition of my co-edited Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media. Covering the PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan, & Macao + impact of Covid on the media, communications, & information landscape. More details available here: www.routledge.com/Routledge-Ha...

Really enjoyed today’s talk at Lincoln City Library by University of Lincoln colleague, Dr Hilary Hamnett. Dr Hamnett delivered a fascinating lecture on poisons & poisonings in fiction & whether they have any factual basis

Proud to celebrate the achievements of students from Ming Chuan University (#Taiwan) & present their certificates at the end of our fabulous summer school in Lincoln. Along with Welcome Week (can't wait to meet our new students) & Graduation, this is the fun part of the job

Today we said goodbye to the students from Ming Chuan University #Taiwan at the University of Lincoln summer school. We presented certificates & the students reflected on their time here. They have had a brilliant time. Lincoln U offers an exceptional experience for international students.

It’s finally arrived! The fantastic Second Edition of the Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media. Grab your copy soon - it’s flying off the shelves!

2/ In the afternoon, the students discussed "Creating a Festival of Culture" with Rachel Baynton from the School of Creative Arts. The students have loved the interactive nature of University of Lincoln teaching

1/ Another brilliant day for the students from Ming Chuan University, #Taiwan, attending the University of Lincoln CoASSH Summer School. First up - "Photographing Lincoln", a photography & editing workshop led by Stuart Wilde from the School of Education & Communication

Interesting article on "Buddhist diplomacy" via @asiatimesgong2025.bsky.social asiatimes.com/2025/08/hard...

The summer school organised by the School of Social & Political Sciences @Lincoln Uni for students from Ming-chuan Uni #Taiwan enters its 3rd week. On Friday students visited the stunning city of #York & had guided tours of its fascinating history, including the Minster & a traditional afternoon tea

I discovered that schools throughout the US ban their students from reading Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. So of course I’m now reading it because (a) book banning is outrageous fascist behaviour & (b) it is a brilliant book that deserves to be read, studied, & savoured #booksky

I absolutely love this book! Many thanks to @iammilliam.bsky.social & everyone at @backlisted.bsky.social for the recommendation. #booksky

Anybody interested in our social, cultural and political history should be very concerned about this. The BBC - our BBC - has been a reflection of who we are & helped shaped who we have become. Restricting the archive in this way is an anathema on our understanding of ourselves.

I depended on BBC Written Archives Centre to complete my PhD over 30 years ago. Located at the BBC Monitoring Service - another vital resource also cut - at Caversham Park it was led by an expert team, all passionate about helping researchers. This proposal will prevent future high calibre research

Now available in hardback & e-versions: The second edition of my co-edited Routledge Handbook of Chinese media, dominated by discussion of digital media & Covid-19. Covering #China #Taiwan #Macao & Hong Kong #HongKong

Hamoon Khelghat-Doost of Social & Political Sciences (Uni of Lincoln) was invited as speaker at the Four Years Since Fall of Kabul Roundtable & Conference on #Afghanistan (Afghanistan & Central Asian Association). Reflects the school's pursuit of policy-relevant & often transformative research

Kyoto railway station, #Japan, 2017 #photography

The University of Lincoln Summer School for students from #Taiwan’s Ming-chuan University continued today with a visit to #Lincoln Cathedral

The #Aberystwyth sunset never fails to delight. #photography

Many thanks to my School of Social & Political Sciences colleague @sefe-ofelia.bsky.social who led a session on migration for the students from Ming-chuan University (#Taiwan) attending the first University of Lincoln/CoASSH summer school.

Today the University of Lincoln School of Creative Arts led a session on dance & movement for the summer school students from #Taiwan's Mingchuan University. They said this experience helped them overcome shyness, become braver, & learn to express themselves through movement and creativity.

Andrea Long Chu is an exquisite writer, critic & cultural commentator. Loving her new collection Authority: Essays on Being Right. #booksky

As a Yorkshireman, it is difficult to accept that anywhere other than God's Chosen County is beautiful, but I have always loved #Wales. Reaching the top of Snowdon reveals stunning views. #photography

Snowden railway, Llanberis - sitting up front with the guard! #photography

Mingchuan University Summer School @University of Lincoln: the students enjoyed a sunny day trip to #Oxford

After a couple of weeks of being very sick because of the #Crohn's Disease, have managed to get away for a few days. Just arrived in Llanberis in Wales. #Photography

At middle school at the start of the ‘80s the Head read to us The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler by Gene Kemp - my first experience of an “unforgettable plot twist” none of us expected. #booksky