Seán Hanley
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drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley
@drseanhanley.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.1K following 380 posts

Assoc Professor in Comparative Central and East European Politics, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies. Personal take on politics, Eastern Europe and suburbia.

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Political science 69%
Sociology 20%
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drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 48m
No, I think that’s culturally insensitive and we should respect his French Hugenot heritage - a handy historical reminder of the benefits that refugees can bring (although I think Michael Crick’s biography says the name’s origins are not quite so clear).

Reposted by Seán Hanley

matisaksk.bsky.social
Andrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 3h
Slovak prosecutor decides giving #Ukraine fighter jets was not a crime
www.politico.eu/article/slov... #Slovakia #Putinswar #Russia
Slovak prosecutor decides giving Ukraine fighter jets was not a crime
A probe concludes that the donation of military equipment to Kyiv did not cause any domestic harm to Slovakia.
www.politico.eu

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 3h
You would think that our government which is supposed to be moderate and middle of the road, might speak up in defence of this still fine national institution,

Reposted by Seán Hanley

economist.com
The Economist @economist.com · 3h
Jingoistic types have knowingly stepped into the vexillological vacuum of European flag bearing. Mindful of the provocation, moderates are striking back. The subtext is that progressives need not leave patriotism to the demagogic fringes
Why moderates are reclaiming Europe’s national flags
Populists and nativists have usurped them
econ.st

Reposted by Seán Hanley

matisaksk.bsky.social
Andrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 10h
Ukraine’s best defence against Putin’s energy war is more attacks on Russia’s oil refining sector
www.chathamhouse.org/2025/11/ukra... #Ukraine #Putinswar #Russia
Ukraine’s best defence against Putin’s energy war is more attacks on Russia’s oil refining sector
Moscow is attempting to break Ukraine’s will to fight with more frequent mass drone and missile attacks on its power sector. To counter this pressure, Kyiv needs to increase its attacks on Russia’s oi...
www.chathamhouse.org

Reposted by Seán Hanley

thecorlew.bsky.social
the corlew always rings chris @thecorlew.bsky.social · 1d
sometimes to read a book of poetry is to be reminded that another person is much funnier and better at expressing their pain than you are

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 1d
I don’t think they will ask you any questions despite the airport being named after Havel…

Reposted by Seán Hanley

bloomberg.com
Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 1d
Tim Berners-Lee dreamed of a World Wide Web for everyone. Nick Clegg and Meta had different ideas. In new books, both ignore how profit undermined the internet.
The Men Who Shaped the Internet Won’t Be Able to Fix It
Tim Berners-Lee dreamed of a World Wide Web for everyone. Nick Clegg and Meta had different ideas. In new books, both ignore how profit undermined the internet.
bloom.bg

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Jan W. Mueller, Axel Bruns , and 6 more

jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 2d
incredible that these guys have a massive hard on for a country that, if it were a state, would rank behind kansas in terms of wealth and which would be a total backwater if it weren’t economically integrated with more functional countries

Reposted by Seán Hanley

matisaksk.bsky.social
Andrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 3d
#EU candidate countries must choose sides before joining bloc, Commissioner Kos tells Euronews
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20... #politics #foreignpolicy
EU candidate countries must choose sides before joining bloc, Commissioner Kos tells Euronews
Candidate countries waiting to enter the EU must make geopolitical choices and align with the bloc on fundamental questions before joining the bloc, Commissioner Marta Kos, in charge of EU enlargement...
www.euronews.com

Reposted by Seán Hanley

matisaksk.bsky.social
Andrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 3d
The Slow Death of Russian Oil:
Why Ukraine’s Campaign Against Moscow’s Energy Sector Is Working
www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/slow-... via @foreignaffairs.com #Russia #Ukraine #Putinswar
The Slow Death of Russian Oil
Why Ukraine’s campaign against Moscow’s energy sector is working.
www.foreignaffairs.com

Reposted by Seán Hanley

anthonypainter.bsky.social
Anthony Painter @anthonypainter.bsky.social · 3d
Liberal minds are neurologically wired to accept greater uncertainty than conservative minds. Which leads the latter to reject change: medicine, tech, migration.

Fascinating.

www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
Human minds abhor uncertainty. This is a problem for liberal democracy
Neurologically, the flexibility of the future promised by liberal democracy can be a challenge because it brings with it uncertainty. But there are solutions, say Florence Gaub and Liya Yu
www.newscientist.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, Leigh Sparks, Seán Hanley

robertsaunders.bsky.social
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 4d
It is both ethically wrong & fundamentally anti-democratic for one man to command this much wealth and power.

States spent centuries trying to tame the power of over-mighty subjects. The rise of the global barons is not compatible with democracy as we've understood it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders
The richest man in the world will get hundreds of millions of new shares if he hits his targets.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Seán Hanley

matisaksk.bsky.social
Andrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 5d
Czech lower house elects #farright party leader Tomio Okamura as speaker
www.reuters.com/world/czech-... #Czechia #politics
www.reuters.com

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 9d
www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/zahra...

Foreign policy of the emerging Babiš government in Czechia stresses sovereignty, national interests & economic diplomacy. Doesn’t mention values or support for Ukraine. Orbanesque say journalists. Well yes, kinda. But also descendant of Klaus outlook of 2000s
Z Babišovy zahraniční politiky vykukuje Orbán - Seznam Zprávy
Důraz na suverenitu, jiné vnímání Evropy i proklamovaná snaha resuscitovat Visegrádskou skupinu. Návrh programového prohlášení vznikající vlády Andreje Babiše znamená obrat k národovectví, pragmatismu...
www.seznamzpravy.cz

Reposted by Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott , and 4 more

samfr.bsky.social
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 14d
A majority of voters, and a plurality of white voters, think that Reform is a racist party with racist policies.

Reposted by Seán Hanley

szabolcspanyi.bsky.social
Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 14d
💥 Viktor Orbán faces a possible ousting in April 2026 — and whether he manages to cling to power or not, his regime and its global allure as a model for autocrats worldwide are crumbling. Read the sharpest analysis available.
The Era of Orbánism as an Exportable Model May Be Ending - VSquare.org
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s once-admired “illiberal model” is faltering — plagued by economic crisis, voter frustration, and collapsing governance. With the 2026 election looming, his future — and the global appeal of his system — is at stake as his government faces its biggest political test.
vsquare.org

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 15d
The experience of some east European countries absolutely confirms this.
robertsaunders.bsky.social Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 18d
Constitutions are only as strong as the willingness of institutions, parties & - above all - voters to uphold them.

A constitution cobbled together in a contested process, that lacked broad public support, in the absence of agreement on big constitutional questions, would be a high road to disaster

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 15d
Or might risk capture by a liberal populist majority, which would redesign and codify the constitution in alarming ways. Plenty of scope for blowback and unintended consequences

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 17d
Snažím se přeložit do angličtiny nejnovější výraz z českého politického slangu, „strejcokracie“. Nic lepšího mě nenapadá než „codger-ocracy“, což ale asi nebude srozumitelné pro mluvčí americké angličtiny.

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 17d
The tangled internal politics of Czechia’s Civic Democratic Party (ODS), have again enriched the Czech language. Latest new term - describing dominance of past-it generation of politicians - “strejcokracie”. My translation to British English? “codgerocracy” cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strejco...
Strejcokracie – Wikipedie
cs.wikipedia.org

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Will Jennings, Seán Hanley

leahgreenberg.bsky.social
Leah Greenberg ❌👑 @leahgreenberg.bsky.social · 18d
when all this is over we need to have a pretty serious conversation about the utter moral failure of the elite of this country
jamesmeek.bsky.social James Meek @jamesmeek.bsky.social · 18d
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 18d
Provided voters can identify a single clear anti-Farage progressive alternative in each seat…

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Joanna Bryson, Kim L. Scheppele , and 24 more

jamesmeek.bsky.social
James Meek @jamesmeek.bsky.social · 18d
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America

Reposted by Seán Hanley

robertsaunders.bsky.social
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 18d
Constitutions are only as strong as the willingness of institutions, parties & - above all - voters to uphold them.

A constitution cobbled together in a contested process, that lacked broad public support, in the absence of agreement on big constitutional questions, would be a high road to disaster

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 18d
The understanding bit is the hard stage….

drseanhanley.bsky.social
Seán Hanley @drseanhanley.bsky.social · 22d
Well, yes, crisis of democracy.
indivisible.org Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 23d
This is what democracy looks like. #NoKings

Reposted by Michael McFaul, Cas Mudde, Edward Witten , and 55 more

indivisible.org
Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 23d
This is what democracy looks like. #NoKings

Reposted by Andrew Scott, Seán Hanley, Tim Stephens

eliothiggins.bsky.social
Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 25d
US ‘on a trajectory’ toward authoritarian rule, ex-officials warn
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US ‘on a trajectory’ toward authoritarian rule, ex-officials warn
A network of former intelligence and security officers says democratic decline is accelerating under Trump’s rule
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Seán Hanley

skvrnami.bsky.social
Michael Škvrňák @skvrnami.bsky.social · 27d
After visiting National Gallery in London, I realised that my thoughts about the post-election situation in the Czech Republic can be summarised like this: