Ben Crum
@bencrum.nl
Political Scientist @vuamsterdam.bsky.social
Democracy, European Union politics, Social justice, Digital governance, Political theory
Democracy, European Union politics, Social justice, Digital governance, Political theory
Pinned
Ben Crum
@bencrum.nl
· Aug 27
Brussels effect or experimentalism? The EU AI Act and global standard-setting
Looking at the nature of AI technology and the contents of the EU AI Act, the external impact of the Act is better understood in terms of experimentalist governance than in terms of the much-cited ‘Br...
policyreview.info
New paper on a new topic in @policyr.bsky.social
I analyse the EU’s AI Act and its place in the global governance of the AI.
Examining the economy of AI + the contents of the Act, I conclude that expecting a ‘Brussels effect’ is neither apt nor useful.
….
policyreview.info/articles/ana...
I analyse the EU’s AI Act and its place in the global governance of the AI.
Examining the economy of AI + the contents of the Act, I conclude that expecting a ‘Brussels effect’ is neither apt nor useful.
….
policyreview.info/articles/ana...
Reposted by Ben Crum
Amsterdam landmark church & tower Zuiderkerk 1603-1614, designed by Hendrick de Keyser, Dutch Mannerist architect & sculptor born 1565, worked in England with Inigo Jones; buried at Zuiderkerk 1621.
Rembrandt lived near the church, which was painted by Monet in 1874.
@philamuseum.bsky.social
Rembrandt lived near the church, which was painted by Monet in 1874.
@philamuseum.bsky.social
February 4, 2026 at 6:08 AM
Amsterdam landmark church & tower Zuiderkerk 1603-1614, designed by Hendrick de Keyser, Dutch Mannerist architect & sculptor born 1565, worked in England with Inigo Jones; buried at Zuiderkerk 1621.
Rembrandt lived near the church, which was painted by Monet in 1874.
@philamuseum.bsky.social
Rembrandt lived near the church, which was painted by Monet in 1874.
@philamuseum.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Crum
If Orban loses the election in Hungary on April 12th to Peter Magyar it’s going to be massive for Europe and the entire democratic world. Orban largely created the populist-right formula for autocratic takeover of a democracy which was copied by MAGA’s Project 2025. 1/12
For over a year, polls have put Hungary’s opposition party ahead of Viktor Orban’s. But a big lead in the polls is no guarantee of an election victory
Viktor Orban may lose his next election
He trails in polls, but the rules favour Trump’s man in Hungary
econ.st
February 1, 2026 at 2:44 PM
If Orban loses the election in Hungary on April 12th to Peter Magyar it’s going to be massive for Europe and the entire democratic world. Orban largely created the populist-right formula for autocratic takeover of a democracy which was copied by MAGA’s Project 2025. 1/12
Reposted by Ben Crum
DigiD is van ons! Teken de petitie, want dan kunnen we de overname stoppen. De druk vanuit de samenleving werkt zeggen techexperts. We moeten dus druk blijven zetten. Help strijder Karin. Samen maken we van haar petitie een nog groter succes. Teken hier: actie.degoedezaak.org/petitions/st... #trump
January 30, 2026 at 6:13 AM
DigiD is van ons! Teken de petitie, want dan kunnen we de overname stoppen. De druk vanuit de samenleving werkt zeggen techexperts. We moeten dus druk blijven zetten. Help strijder Karin. Samen maken we van haar petitie een nog groter succes. Teken hier: actie.degoedezaak.org/petitions/st... #trump
Good thread by @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social on 'Coalitions of the Willing' in the EU 👇
I very much agree on principle
But the exception is the domain of defence
If the EU is to take on a more robust military role - esp. re Ukraine - then a Coalition of the Willing is key to moving things forward
I very much agree on principle
But the exception is the domain of defence
If the EU is to take on a more robust military role - esp. re Ukraine - then a Coalition of the Willing is key to moving things forward
“Coalitions of the willing” are back in vogue. Internationally, that makes sense. But in the EU context, I don’t buy the hype. In fact, it leads to the wrong conclusions and risks weakening the one institutional framework that actually gives Europe collective power in a world without rules.
Thread:
Thread:
January 30, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Good thread by @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social on 'Coalitions of the Willing' in the EU 👇
I very much agree on principle
But the exception is the domain of defence
If the EU is to take on a more robust military role - esp. re Ukraine - then a Coalition of the Willing is key to moving things forward
I very much agree on principle
But the exception is the domain of defence
If the EU is to take on a more robust military role - esp. re Ukraine - then a Coalition of the Willing is key to moving things forward
Also, whenever the EPP - and Weber above all - starts to advocate EU institutional reform, you better be suspicious
January 29, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Also, whenever the EPP - and Weber above all - starts to advocate EU institutional reform, you better be suspicious
I have long advocated having the EU Commission President also preside the European Council
And @alemanno.bsky.social is right: the treaty is (deliberately) open to it
My doubts are about timing. Maybe the present geopolitical conditions warrant such a move. But I'd preferred a quieter context
And @alemanno.bsky.social is right: the treaty is (deliberately) open to it
My doubts are about timing. Maybe the present geopolitical conditions warrant such a move. But I'd preferred a quieter context
Merging EU Commission & Council presidencies wouldn’t require treaty change—MS keep one commissioner per state. One president would mean clearer accountability to Parliament, less fragmentation, better visibility, and stronger democracy. Real question: will capitals cede control?
January 29, 2026 at 3:46 PM
I have long advocated having the EU Commission President also preside the European Council
And @alemanno.bsky.social is right: the treaty is (deliberately) open to it
My doubts are about timing. Maybe the present geopolitical conditions warrant such a move. But I'd preferred a quieter context
And @alemanno.bsky.social is right: the treaty is (deliberately) open to it
My doubts are about timing. Maybe the present geopolitical conditions warrant such a move. But I'd preferred a quieter context
Gemeente, provincie, en nationale overheid hebben dit niet gewild. Maar Microsoft slalomt er precies doorheen
Microsoft wordt de enige huurder van een nieuwe hyperscale in Amsterdam. Voor de vergunning is een handigheidje gebruikt: het is niet één, maar het zijn drie datacenters. Intussen zwelt de kritiek op het immense stroomverbruik en de Amerikaanse digitale dominantie aan. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
In Amsterdam komt een hyperscale voor Microsoft, ondanks het verbod op hyperscales
Datacenters: Bij het Westelijk Havengebied verrijzen drie nieuwe, hoge datatorens. De kritiek op het immense stroomverbruik en de Amerikaanse digitale dominantie zwelt aan. Voor de vergunning is een h...
www.nrc.nl
January 26, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Gemeente, provincie, en nationale overheid hebben dit niet gewild. Maar Microsoft slalomt er precies doorheen
Reposted by Ben Crum
🌍 Can EU law address the effects of emigration?
Cecilia Bruzelius & @dionkramer.bsky.social show that EU law has more tools for immigration than emigration and outline social security, tax, and EU-fund options to tackle hidden inequalities 👇
🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Cecilia Bruzelius & @dionkramer.bsky.social show that EU law has more tools for immigration than emigration and outline social security, tax, and EU-fund options to tackle hidden inequalities 👇
🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
January 26, 2026 at 3:15 PM
🌍 Can EU law address the effects of emigration?
Cecilia Bruzelius & @dionkramer.bsky.social show that EU law has more tools for immigration than emigration and outline social security, tax, and EU-fund options to tackle hidden inequalities 👇
🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Cecilia Bruzelius & @dionkramer.bsky.social show that EU law has more tools for immigration than emigration and outline social security, tax, and EU-fund options to tackle hidden inequalities 👇
🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Ben Crum
📢 We’re hiring @vuamsterdam.bsky.social
PhD position in my ERC project: Welfare State Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Interested in how AI is reshaping labor markets, social protection, and the politics of redistribution?
Apply here: lnkd.in/eCcAXsaS
Please share widely!
PhD position in my ERC project: Welfare State Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Interested in how AI is reshaping labor markets, social protection, and the politics of redistribution?
Apply here: lnkd.in/eCcAXsaS
Please share widely!
January 21, 2026 at 5:16 PM
📢 We’re hiring @vuamsterdam.bsky.social
PhD position in my ERC project: Welfare State Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Interested in how AI is reshaping labor markets, social protection, and the politics of redistribution?
Apply here: lnkd.in/eCcAXsaS
Please share widely!
PhD position in my ERC project: Welfare State Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Interested in how AI is reshaping labor markets, social protection, and the politics of redistribution?
Apply here: lnkd.in/eCcAXsaS
Please share widely!
En wij @vuamsterdam.bsky.social ?
Ook in Nederland kan het: De @rug.nl in 2030 los van Big Tech. No #microsoft et al @linuxkernel.bsky.social @libreoffice.bsky.social #surfdrive
community-edtech.npuls.nl/groups/view/...
community-edtech.npuls.nl/groups/view/...
De RUG in 2030 los van Big Tech: hoe Nolda Tipping-Griffioen de beweging binnen de RUG is gestart richting digitale autonomie
Nolda Tipping-Griffioen is initiatiefnemer van de nieuwe ambitie van de RUG: zij willen in 2030 los zijn van Big Tech [1]. In december 2025 sprak ik…
community-edtech.npuls.nl
January 20, 2026 at 1:39 PM
En wij @vuamsterdam.bsky.social ?
Reposted by Ben Crum
It reads like Washington’s worst nightmare: a European tech regulator independent of the EU institutions and armed to crack down on the violations of U.S. companies.
But that’s exactly what some in Brussels say is now needed.
But that’s exactly what some in Brussels say is now needed.
US pressure revives call for powerful EU tech regulator
Europe’s maze of rules and regulators is in sharp focus as Brussels grapples with X’s AI tool Grok.
www.politico.eu
January 19, 2026 at 10:16 AM
It reads like Washington’s worst nightmare: a European tech regulator independent of the EU institutions and armed to crack down on the violations of U.S. companies.
But that’s exactly what some in Brussels say is now needed.
But that’s exactly what some in Brussels say is now needed.
Striking weekend reading 👇on the rise and fall of nationalisme studies at CEU
A prism of both European politics and changing academia - and the loss of precious intellectual traditions
A prism of both European politics and changing academia - and the loss of precious intellectual traditions
As nationalism grows ever more central to international politics, the Central European University — founded by George Soros — is being forced to dismantle the department that studies the topic.
What does that say about the future of Europe and the world?
🔗 politi.co/4jqBKUX
What does that say about the future of Europe and the world?
🔗 politi.co/4jqBKUX
January 10, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Striking weekend reading 👇on the rise and fall of nationalisme studies at CEU
A prism of both European politics and changing academia - and the loss of precious intellectual traditions
A prism of both European politics and changing academia - and the loss of precious intellectual traditions
Reposted by Ben Crum
My new book now out on line with OUP Academic - hard copies available from 22January Defending the Political Constitution url: academic.oup.com/book/61802
January 10, 2026 at 10:04 AM
My new book now out on line with OUP Academic - hard copies available from 22January Defending the Political Constitution url: academic.oup.com/book/61802
Reposted by Ben Crum
I sat in a fucking court room and heard Apple imply that a naked cartoon banana was somehow inappropriate but somehow Grok non consensually undressing women and children is ok?? www.theverge.com/policy/85990...
Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai are cowards
Once you’ve traded your principles for proximity to power, do you even run your own company?
www.theverge.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:30 PM
I sat in a fucking court room and heard Apple imply that a naked cartoon banana was somehow inappropriate but somehow Grok non consensually undressing women and children is ok?? www.theverge.com/policy/85990...
Reposted by Ben Crum
January 9, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Ben Crum
Who is really “running” the European Parliament right now?
On the margins of the geopolitical changes, the shifts in the EU are also accelerating. In my newest EU-Analytics, I dug into all final votes from December 2025 – and the shift of power to the centre-right & far right is accelerating:
On the margins of the geopolitical changes, the shifts in the EU are also accelerating. In my newest EU-Analytics, I dug into all final votes from December 2025 – and the shift of power to the centre-right & far right is accelerating:
EU Analytics December 2025 review
The change of guards at the European Parliament is picking up speed
open.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Who is really “running” the European Parliament right now?
On the margins of the geopolitical changes, the shifts in the EU are also accelerating. In my newest EU-Analytics, I dug into all final votes from December 2025 – and the shift of power to the centre-right & far right is accelerating:
On the margins of the geopolitical changes, the shifts in the EU are also accelerating. In my newest EU-Analytics, I dug into all final votes from December 2025 – and the shift of power to the centre-right & far right is accelerating:
Reposted by Ben Crum
Europe’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal aggression in Venezuela isn’t just wrong – it’s stupid. My piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Europe’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal aggression in Venezuela isn’t just wrong – it’s stupid | Nathalie Tocci
The more European countries act as colonies, unable and unwilling to stand up to Trump, the more they’ll be treated as such, says Guardian Europe columnist Nathalie Tocci
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Europe’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal aggression in Venezuela isn’t just wrong – it’s stupid. My piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ben Crum
Remarkably tone-deaf statement by the president of the European Parliament 👇
It does give further meaning though to the 'Venezuela majority' in which her European People's Party echoes the radical and extreme right voices of the ECR and the Patriots for Europe
It does give further meaning though to the 'Venezuela majority' in which her European People's Party echoes the radical and extreme right voices of the ECR and the Patriots for Europe
Venezuela será libre.
People in Venezuela deserve to live free after years of oppression.
As the European Parliament has consistently affirmed, we do not consider Nicolás Maduro to be the legitimate, elected leader of Venezuela.
People in Venezuela deserve to live free after years of oppression.
As the European Parliament has consistently affirmed, we do not consider Nicolás Maduro to be the legitimate, elected leader of Venezuela.
January 4, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Remarkably tone-deaf statement by the president of the European Parliament 👇
It does give further meaning though to the 'Venezuela majority' in which her European People's Party echoes the radical and extreme right voices of the ECR and the Patriots for Europe
It does give further meaning though to the 'Venezuela majority' in which her European People's Party echoes the radical and extreme right voices of the ECR and the Patriots for Europe
Reposted by Ben Crum
European weakness on full display by these horribly contorted responses from Merz, Macron and Starmer - neither condoning nor condemning US actions in Venezuela
Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
January 3, 2026 at 7:43 PM
European weakness on full display by these horribly contorted responses from Merz, Macron and Starmer - neither condoning nor condemning US actions in Venezuela
Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
Reposted by Ben Crum
International law is not about rewarding virtue or punishing vice.
It exists to restrain power and protect the weak from the strong.
When force replaces rules, sovereignty and legitimacy erode.
2/2
It exists to restrain power and protect the weak from the strong.
When force replaces rules, sovereignty and legitimacy erode.
2/2
January 3, 2026 at 6:31 PM
International law is not about rewarding virtue or punishing vice.
It exists to restrain power and protect the weak from the strong.
When force replaces rules, sovereignty and legitimacy erode.
2/2
It exists to restrain power and protect the weak from the strong.
When force replaces rules, sovereignty and legitimacy erode.
2/2
Reposted by Ben Crum
A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
JUST IN: Trump says the U.S. has captured Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the country.
January 3, 2026 at 10:17 AM
A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Reposted by Ben Crum
This report in Nature on the costs of competing for & administering scientific grants is shocking: "In other words, European taxpayers will have spent more on the funding process than on the funding itself, and the scientific ecosystem has been drained." www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
Point of no returns: researchers are crossing a threshold in the fight for funding
With so little money to go round, the costs of competing for grants can exceed what the grants are worth. When that happens, nobody wins.
www.nature.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This report in Nature on the costs of competing for & administering scientific grants is shocking: "In other words, European taxpayers will have spent more on the funding process than on the funding itself, and the scientific ecosystem has been drained." www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
Reposted by Ben Crum
With tightening immigration policies, the EU is moving towards a Eurokafala system where migrants are constantly brought in to make up for labour shortages, but also constantly abused as second-class citizens.
www.ft.com/content/4329...
www.ft.com/content/4329...
Europe’s second-class citizens
Countries that looked down on the Gulf’s ‘kafala’ system are edging closer to creating their own
www.ft.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
With tightening immigration policies, the EU is moving towards a Eurokafala system where migrants are constantly brought in to make up for labour shortages, but also constantly abused as second-class citizens.
www.ft.com/content/4329...
www.ft.com/content/4329...