Besnik Pula
@besnikpula.bsky.social
Political economist & social theorist, currently researching knowledge, phenomenology, and computation in the Cold War (not always in that order) | Author of books | Scholar of trivial topics | Personal account | besnikpula.com
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Besnik Pula
@besnikpula.bsky.social
· Sep 2
My book on phenomenology and interpretive social science is now available in (a much more reasonably priced) paperback edition!
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
Happy to announce I've been appointed affiliate professor at the University of Prishtina! The Senate voted unanimously this week and I'm honestly so excited.
Huge gratitude to the Department of Sociology for this opportunity to engage with the faculty and students there!
Huge gratitude to the Department of Sociology for this opportunity to engage with the faculty and students there!
„Kthimi dhe qarkullimi i trurit”: Profesori i njohur i Universitetit Virginia Tech, Besnik Pula asociohet me UP-në
Universiteti i Prishtinës (UP) është universitet publik në Prishtinë, Kosovë. Është universiteti më i madh dhe më i vjeter në Kosovë.
uni-pr.edu
January 30, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Happy to announce I've been appointed affiliate professor at the University of Prishtina! The Senate voted unanimously this week and I'm honestly so excited.
Huge gratitude to the Department of Sociology for this opportunity to engage with the faculty and students there!
Huge gratitude to the Department of Sociology for this opportunity to engage with the faculty and students there!
If you're interested in the overlapping intellectual concerns of fields of International Relations and Historical Sociology, see this neat chart created on the basis of my co-authored chapter with Yannis Stivachtis on the topic visualinternationalrelationsproject.com/pula-and-sti...
Pula and Stivachis 2010, 2017_Historical Sociology and International Relations – Oxford Research Encyclopedia of IS – Visual International Relations Project
visualinternationalrelationsproject.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:51 PM
If you're interested in the overlapping intellectual concerns of fields of International Relations and Historical Sociology, see this neat chart created on the basis of my co-authored chapter with Yannis Stivachtis on the topic visualinternationalrelationsproject.com/pula-and-sti...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
Prof Priscilla Alderson and A level student Harry Hubbard have made a series of 4 short videos introducing Critical Realism for A level students: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Critical Realism for A level students - YouTube
In these four short videos, Professor Priscilla Alderson and A level student Harry Hubbard introduce the critical realist approach to the social sciences.
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Prof Priscilla Alderson and A level student Harry Hubbard have made a series of 4 short videos introducing Critical Realism for A level students: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
How do we reconcile the phenomenological insistence on the singular with social science's need to generalize?
I wrote about the three kinds of patterns we can chase—and why the order matters.
open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
I wrote about the three kinds of patterns we can chase—and why the order matters.
open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
January 18, 2026 at 9:42 PM
How do we reconcile the phenomenological insistence on the singular with social science's need to generalize?
I wrote about the three kinds of patterns we can chase—and why the order matters.
open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
I wrote about the three kinds of patterns we can chase—and why the order matters.
open.substack.com/pub/indicati...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
The Trump administration clearly views the AI industry as far too important to hit with the same tariffs they're subjecting the rest of the economy to, which begs the question of why we're even doing this trade war in the first place
www.apricitas.io/p/the-tariff...
www.apricitas.io/p/the-tariff...
The Tariff Exemption Behind the AI Boom
Data Centers get Tariff-Free Imports. Why Shouldn't we All?
www.apricitas.io
January 8, 2026 at 10:26 PM
The Trump administration clearly views the AI industry as far too important to hit with the same tariffs they're subjecting the rest of the economy to, which begs the question of why we're even doing this trade war in the first place
www.apricitas.io/p/the-tariff...
www.apricitas.io/p/the-tariff...
Another article in the genre of "the hypocrisy of academic radicalism" but I appreciate the turn to the changing nature of academic structures and political economy of the university that made "decolonizing everything" so appealing for university administrators and the rise of "superstar academics"
‘Decolonization’ as neoliberal ideology: Anthropological theory and the political economy of the modern university - Matthew Doyle, 2025
Current management-led proposals to ‘decolonize the university’ within elite Anglo-American institutions ideologically legitimate their restructuring as transna...
journals.sagepub.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Another article in the genre of "the hypocrisy of academic radicalism" but I appreciate the turn to the changing nature of academic structures and political economy of the university that made "decolonizing everything" so appealing for university administrators and the rise of "superstar academics"
Reposted by Besnik Pula
How is AI *really* impacting jobs?
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
What’s really going on with AI and jobs?
Record-breaking layoff reports, Amazon's mass firings, and a slump in entry level employment. Is AI behind it all?
www.bloodinthemachine.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
How is AI *really* impacting jobs?
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
Henley Chiu, the CTO of Revealera, a jobs data analysis firm, analyzed 180 million jobs listings in 2024 and 2025, in an effort to find out. Chiu found an:
-8% drop in all jobs postings
-~30% drop in art, photography, writing jobs
-22% drop in journalism jobs
Reposted by Besnik Pula
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.
The story of Schutz in American sociology is more than a history of ideas. It’s a case study in how intellectual migration and translation reshape disciplines. My new publication in JCS #sociology #phenomenology journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The story of Schutz in American sociology is more than a history of ideas. It’s a case study in how intellectual migration and translation reshape disciplines. My new publication in JCS #sociology #phenomenology journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
This reminds me of the old Soviet joke: why do secret police officers always walk in threes? One who can read, one who can write, and the third to watch over the two dangerous intellectuals
October 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This reminds me of the old Soviet joke: why do secret police officers always walk in threes? One who can read, one who can write, and the third to watch over the two dangerous intellectuals
Reposted by Besnik Pula
My response to the NYT’s “moderate to win” argument: The data shows the strategy is tapped out. Being seen as moderate by voters doesn’t boost votes, replacing every progressive with moderates would net 0 seats, and the graveyard of defeated D incumbents if full of moderates, not progressives.
The New York Times Argues “Moving to the Center Is the Way to Win.” But the Data Shows the Strategy Is Tapped Out.
Democrats already run moderates in nearly every swing district. It's not enough. A data-driven response to the case for centrism as a core electoral strategy.
data4democracy.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM
My response to the NYT’s “moderate to win” argument: The data shows the strategy is tapped out. Being seen as moderate by voters doesn’t boost votes, replacing every progressive with moderates would net 0 seats, and the graveyard of defeated D incumbents if full of moderates, not progressives.
“I call it the vicious cycle of a failing strongman—that the more he fails, the more he grows distant from the public, which encourages him to become more of an illiberal strongman.”
Trump's deranged threat to fire federal workers and his killing of NY-NJ project are backfiring: Both are now big issues in VA-NJ gov races!
And new CNBC poll shows indys blaming Trump/GOP over Dems by 58-21.
On the pod, @simonwdc.bsky.social explains all this well:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
And new CNBC poll shows indys blaming Trump/GOP over Dems by 58-21.
On the pod, @simonwdc.bsky.social explains all this well:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
Trump’s Fury at Dems Goes Nuclear as Crushing New Shutdown Poll Hits
As Trump’s anger grows amid another poll slide, Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg explains why Trump’s deep unpopularity should give you solace—even if beating him long term will be a brutal slog.
newrepublic.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“I call it the vicious cycle of a failing strongman—that the more he fails, the more he grows distant from the public, which encourages him to become more of an illiberal strongman.”
Reposted by Besnik Pula
You can see pretty clearly in this chart why the "K-shaped recovery" narrative was nonsense prior to roughly this year but is now very real.
New w/ @bencasselman.bsky.social: Wealthy Americans, buoyed by a booming stock market, are spending freely. Lower-income households, stung by inflation and a slowing labor market, are pulling back
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b... @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b... @nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
You can see pretty clearly in this chart why the "K-shaped recovery" narrative was nonsense prior to roughly this year but is now very real.
Reposted by Besnik Pula
A social science that breathes: no spreadsheets, just images that sting.
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
October 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
A social science that breathes: no spreadsheets, just images that sting.
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
A social science that breathes: no spreadsheets, just images that sting.
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
October 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
A social science that breathes: no spreadsheets, just images that sting.
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
My essay on how the montage of Shifty re-maps time, space & sociality → indications.substack.com/p/montage-an...
We are hiring in US politics!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Assistant Professor, U.S. Politics & Political Institutions | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
September 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
We are hiring in US politics!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
Presidents can go to jail for crimes? www.cnbc.com/2025/09/25/f...
Former French President Sarkozy handed 5-year jail term in stunning downfall
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will soon be imprisoned after he was sentenced to five years in jail on Thursday.
www.cnbc.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Presidents can go to jail for crimes? www.cnbc.com/2025/09/25/f...
"Per the ACEA, Tesla EV registrations in Europe fell to just 8,837 units in July, a 40.2% drop compared to a year ago. ... Meanwhile, China's BYD (BYDDY), which sells both full EVs and hybrids, saw registrations surge 225% in July to 13,503"
European buyers now prefer Chinese cars over American autos: Study
President Trump's trade war is doing reputational damage to the US in surprising ways, at least when it comes to the auto sector.
finance.yahoo.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
"Per the ACEA, Tesla EV registrations in Europe fell to just 8,837 units in July, a 40.2% drop compared to a year ago. ... Meanwhile, China's BYD (BYDDY), which sells both full EVs and hybrids, saw registrations surge 225% in July to 13,503"
Reposted by Besnik Pula
🎓Did you know? In 2024, combined Political Science and International Studies students achieved an impressive 90% law school acceptance rate—well above the national average of 69.4%! 📈
September 18, 2025 at 7:54 PM
🎓Did you know? In 2024, combined Political Science and International Studies students achieved an impressive 90% law school acceptance rate—well above the national average of 69.4%! 📈
Helpful reminder that the "average consumer", if it was anything other than a mathematical notion, is an idea from a by-gone era in the US economy now that about half the spending is done by the top 10% of earners
Retail spending is starting to look more and more like the labor market
Spending data shows a resilient consumer powering the economy, but that strength is skewed.
finance.yahoo.com
September 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Helpful reminder that the "average consumer", if it was anything other than a mathematical notion, is an idea from a by-gone era in the US economy now that about half the spending is done by the top 10% of earners
Honored to see the review of my book by Eduardo Duran published in @actasociologica.bsky.social Truly appreciate the attention!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
September 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Honored to see the review of my book by Eduardo Duran published in @actasociologica.bsky.social Truly appreciate the attention!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Besnik Pula
NEW from me @newrepublic.com:
If progressives don’t seize this moment to define a democratic, public-minded state capitalism, they will find themselves living in one designed by the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com/article/2000...
If progressives don’t seize this moment to define a democratic, public-minded state capitalism, they will find themselves living in one designed by the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com/article/2000...
Democrats: Don’t Let Trump Define What State Capitalism Can Be
There’s no turning back from Trump’s moves on Intel and U.S. Steel. The challenge is to make public ownership serve the people.
newrepublic.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
NEW from me @newrepublic.com:
If progressives don’t seize this moment to define a democratic, public-minded state capitalism, they will find themselves living in one designed by the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com/article/2000...
If progressives don’t seize this moment to define a democratic, public-minded state capitalism, they will find themselves living in one designed by the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com/article/2000...
My book on phenomenology and interpretive social science is now available in (a much more reasonably priced) paperback edition!
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
September 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
My book on phenomenology and interpretive social science is now available in (a much more reasonably priced) paperback edition!
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
Now available in paperback!
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
Alfred Schutz, Phenomenology, and the Renewal of Interpretive Social Science
In recent decades, the historical social sciences have moved away from deterministic perspectives and increasingly embraced the interpretive analysis of historical process and social and political cha...
www.routledge.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Now available in paperback!
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
www.routledge.com/Alfred-Schut...
Extremely honored to have a chapter included in this forthcoming Handbook of 1989 and the Great Transformation, featuring some of the top scholars working on questions of global transformation anywhere and edited by an outstanding group of researchers
www.routledge.com/The-Routledg...
www.routledge.com/The-Routledg...
August 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Extremely honored to have a chapter included in this forthcoming Handbook of 1989 and the Great Transformation, featuring some of the top scholars working on questions of global transformation anywhere and edited by an outstanding group of researchers
www.routledge.com/The-Routledg...
www.routledge.com/The-Routledg...