Aurélien Mondon | Lightnews

Aurelien Mondon

@aurelmondon.com

14K followers 670 following 3.6K posts

Researching the mainstreaming of reactionary/far-right politics

Co-convenor of @reacpolrn.bsky.social

Reactionary Democracy w. @aaronwinter.bsky.social and co-editor of The Ethics of Researching the Far Right

https://aurelmondon.com/ .. more

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Political science 65%

Sociology 14%

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Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · Sep 24

Core to reactionary politics is a cowardly project that aims to protect and restore privilege and hierarchies of oppression

Some thoughts on terminology and the term reactionary @reacpolrn.bsky.social

reacpol.net/on-reactiona...

Article: On reactionary politics (Aurelien Mondon) - Reactionary Politics Research Network

This article by Aurelien Mondon explores the meaning of reactionary politics and its use in our current context

reacpol.net

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 2d

That's why I heard too when I was over recently... Scary times...

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 2d

Seeing ON resurface again and again is just so depressing

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 3d

I don't want to be a party pooper but we have seen right-wing parties upholding a cordon sanitaire during elections and opening the floodgates when it comes to discourse countless times

I understand people want hope but we cannot afford to be naive either

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 3d

No one who has seen the Epstein case unfold should have any doubt left about why victims don’t report. When reporting means facing more abuse, more exploitation, and more betrayal at the institutional level, while the perpetrators are the leaders of the very systems of “justice” supposed to help you

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Alex Saum @alexsaum.bsky.social · 3d

Come work with us at The Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies <3 THE BEST JOURNAL of its kind

We are looking for an Assistant Managing Editor to work with our fab editorial collective *and yours truly* starting in May

think.taylorandfrancis.com/editor_recru...

@jscs-revista.bsky.social

RT🙏

Assistant Managing Editor needed for Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies

think.taylorandfrancis.com

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Reactionary Politics Research Network @reacpolrn.bsky.social · 3d

📣New interview📣

@anthonypkelly.bsky.social discusses how the often antagonistic relationship between reactionary content creators and their audiences mediates exclusionary politics.

reacpol.net/antogonism-i...

Interview: Conceptualising the Role of Audience Antagonism in the Mediation of Reactionary Politics (Anthony Kelly) - Reactionary Politics Research Network

This interview is based on Anthony Kelly’s article, “On the Interface of Influencers and Antagonists: Conceptualising the Role of Audience Antagonism in the Mediation of Reactionary Politics.” (2025)

reacpol.net

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 3d

As we explore here though, cordon sanitaires only work if they apply to wider discourse and beyond election

Otherwise, mainstreaming can go on even when far-right parties are defeated

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 3d

Incredible honestly...

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 3d

Fair point, I guess I was referring to it even being floated which shows how far we are starting from...

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 3d

❤️

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

A.V. Deggar @avdeggar.bsky.social · 3d

The wheel spins as it should.

I see Starmer is doing a sit down interview about the Mandelson Epstein affair. I'm not watching, but I guarantee you that this will be more damaging for the current prime minister as a matter of course.

They have learned *nothing* from Johnson.

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 3d

This is so obvious and yet...

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 3d

Drug laws have never stopped people from using drugs.

They've stopped people from using drugs safely.

It's time to legalise *and* regulate.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Drugs policy approach needs to change, Zack Polanski says

The Green Party leader of England and Wales says there needs to be a

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 3d

Drug laws have never stopped people from using drugs.

They've stopped people from using drugs safely.

It's time to legalise *and* regulate.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Drugs policy approach needs to change, Zack Polanski says

The Green Party leader of England and Wales says there needs to be a

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Patrick Dunleavy, Andrew Scott , and 1 more Jonathan Portes, Patrick Dunleavy, Andrew Scott, Aurélien Mondon

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 3d

A reminder that Reform's candidate for Gorton and Denton, Matt Goodwin, has still not explained what he meant by this claim that developments in genetic science will make younger generations more right wing as they understand the "inherent differences" between different groups

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 4d

I also think that the Greens under their new leadership here could be a bigger threat to the Greens in Australia as there is a readier left-wing demand and that's why they're so concerned

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 4d

And yes, I've massively benefitted from it and that's partly why I'm speaking up against it: because I'm fortunate enough that I can at very little cost now

To quote Mills, one can be a beneficiary but one doesn't have to be a signatory. Here is our choice as academics

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 4d

This can be witnessed in the corporatist nature of academia and how closing ranks is the norm to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths

If we close our eyes and stick together, we can pretend we are one of those bulwarks against fascism, rather than part of a wider system based on exploitation

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Hi my name is Mika 🏳️‍⚧️ @msmaxwellmusic.bsky.social · 4d

I'm not being facetious. Epstein was apparently giving talking points to the people pushing anti trans rhetoric in the UK.

From:
Sent:

To:

Sunday, May 8, 2016 10:18 PM

jeffrey E.

Subject:

London talk

the title of my talk October 25 in London, audience "500, 35 pounds paid attendance each

"An Evening on Evolutionary Biology: An overview covering Feminism, Transgender, Homosexuality and Honor Killings."

$3000 for me (i will already be in London paid for by Imperial College) and an almost certain corporate $3000 add on

just as you outlined-this will create an immediate internet wave especially in the UK with coverage in all the major newspapers and so on

anyway i will concentrate on it, to the exclusion of individual pieces at the moment

all best

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 4d

Of course there are academics in the Epstein files

Academia is not a natural space for radical politics, knowledge and emancipation as many pretend it is, buoyed by reactionary moral panics

It is primarily built on conservatism, hierarchies and thirst for power so this should not be surprising

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 4d

It's incredible honestly. What's worse maybe is their lenient media coverage considering how clearly they've shown how much they despise democracy, voters or the people more widely

I know it's a microcosm but still... Maybe I just don't want to accept this is the way things have to be...

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 4d

The cynicism of Labour who would rather have Reform win than the Greens so they have a hope of winning the next election as the lesser of two evils...

They have a huge majority, could have changed things for the better but are banking on the worst kind of politicking

Ghouls

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 4d

The three tiered system of justice, obvious for all to see:

The poor and marginalized—always under an authoritarian boot

The privileged—judged harshly but mostly fairly in normal times

The elite—complete impunity, maybe sometimes have to pick a fall guy

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

A.V. Deggar @avdeggar.bsky.social · 4d

Compare the fates of Rebecca Long-Bailey & Louise Haigh—sidelined for tweeting & misreporting a stolen phone respectively—& The Lord Mandelson, who remains a peer of the realm despite lobbying the govt to change policy for the paedophile Jeffery Epstein.

Is there something a bit two tier, here?

Mandelson in his underwear with redacted girl

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Harry Eccles @harryeccles.bsky.social · 4d

I'm not seeing many Muslims or Trans people in the Epstien Files.

Just lots of rich, cis white men.

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Saul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 4d

Moments after he admits Lord Mandelson kept things from the govt prior to being appointed ambassador the US, Steve Reed is asked if Mandelson should be allowed to keep his peerage.

Reed invokes the victims to dodge answering the question.

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 4d

Please do!!! We really need to talk/write about these things more, particularly in our grim times where change is so needed

Aurelien Mondon @aurelmondon.com · 4d

Wow... Some reviewers... Good luck with the paper, I'm sure it's great and it'll be even more satisfying seeing it out!

Reposted by Aurélien Mondon

Wagatwe Wanjuki @wagatwe.com · 4d

lol because we know billionaire influence stops at the border of the countries they live in.

westafricaweekly.com/bill-gates-u...

Bill Gates Uses Philanthropy and Foreign Influence to Shape African Laws and Food Systems
new from West Africa Weekly
July 23, 2025

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 4d

JUST IN: Democrats flip a red seat in the Texas Senate.

Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.

With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.

Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.

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