Connor O’Brien
@connorpobrien.bsky.social
Politics PhD @Cambridge_Uni, alumn @UniMelb. International political economy, global environmental politics, and Australian FP. Like/share ≠ endorse
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
Wonderful to have a contribution among these incredible and thoughtful scholars trying to make sense of the Silicon Valley technology elite and corporate forms of power and sovereignty
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👇👇
#OpenAccess from @risjnl.bsky.social -
Oligarchic sovereignty: Technology and the future of global order - https://cup.org/3KZzRly
- @maharafiatal.bsky.social, @jacktaggart.bsky.social, @sethschindler.bsky.social, Sarah Logan et al
Oligarchic sovereignty: Technology and the future of global order - https://cup.org/3KZzRly
- @maharafiatal.bsky.social, @jacktaggart.bsky.social, @sethschindler.bsky.social, Sarah Logan et al
December 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Wonderful to have a contribution among these incredible and thoughtful scholars trying to make sense of the Silicon Valley technology elite and corporate forms of power and sovereignty
👇👇
👇👇
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
Heading up to Boston for our 2025 @hpe-project.bsky.social grantees research conference. This year’s theme is ‘Two, Three, Many Developmentalisms,’ and we have keynotes from Sarah Bellows-Blakely and Joel Suarez.
December 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Heading up to Boston for our 2025 @hpe-project.bsky.social grantees research conference. This year’s theme is ‘Two, Three, Many Developmentalisms,’ and we have keynotes from Sarah Bellows-Blakely and Joel Suarez.
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
Very grateful for the opportunity to receive feedback from the @hpe-project.bsky.social community on my doctoral project, after receiving a HPE summer grant to conduct further archival and interview research in Geneva and Paris
In our final session of the day, Connor O'Brien (@connorpobrien.bsky.social, Cambridge) zoomed in for a presentation on the history of "good governance" in the context of struggles over development and political authority around the globe.
December 17, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Very grateful for the opportunity to receive feedback from the @hpe-project.bsky.social community on my doctoral project, after receiving a HPE summer grant to conduct further archival and interview research in Geneva and Paris
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
Had a great time chatting with Connor O’Brien about little known financial tool called debt for nature swaps, the colonial history of sovereign debt and finance systems, and why finance guys are trying to offshore the planet.
open.substack.com/pub/alinautr...
open.substack.com/pub/alinautr...
Why Finance Guys Are Trying to Offshore the Planet
COP30: A Conversation with Connor O'Brien
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Had a great time chatting with Connor O’Brien about little known financial tool called debt for nature swaps, the colonial history of sovereign debt and finance systems, and why finance guys are trying to offshore the planet.
open.substack.com/pub/alinautr...
open.substack.com/pub/alinautr...
Very grateful for the opportunity to receive feedback from the @hpe-project.bsky.social community on my doctoral project, after receiving a HPE summer grant to conduct further archival and interview research in Geneva and Paris
In our final session of the day, Connor O'Brien (@connorpobrien.bsky.social, Cambridge) zoomed in for a presentation on the history of "good governance" in the context of struggles over development and political authority around the globe.
December 17, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Very grateful for the opportunity to receive feedback from the @hpe-project.bsky.social community on my doctoral project, after receiving a HPE summer grant to conduct further archival and interview research in Geneva and Paris
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
The AUKUS review poses a fundamental challenge to the U.S.-Australia relationship, and Australian foreign policy generally. Three books consider the future of the alliance itself.
If AUKUS Is Toast, What Should Australia Do Next?
Amid Elbridge Colby’s review of the submarine deal, three books consider the future of the alliance itself.
foreignpolicy.com
July 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The AUKUS review poses a fundamental challenge to the U.S.-Australia relationship, and Australian foreign policy generally. Three books consider the future of the alliance itself.
Great to publish this @foreignpolicy.com review essay on the future of Australian foreign policy
The AUKUS review poses a fundamental challenge to the U.S.-Australia relationship, and Australian foreign policy generally. Three books consider the future of the alliance itself.
If AUKUS Is Toast, What Should Australia Do Next?
Amid Elbridge Colby’s review of the submarine deal, three books consider the future of the alliance itself.
foreignpolicy.com
July 22, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Great to publish this @foreignpolicy.com review essay on the future of Australian foreign policy
Australia is far too small to shape the regional balance of power via military means, and its defence spending will remain a rounding error in comparison to the US and China
This is the inconvenient truth ignored by many pro-AUKUS commentators
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
This is the inconvenient truth ignored by many pro-AUKUS commentators
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Australia should stop pretending to be a military hegemon
With its defence spending akin to a rounding error in comparison to China and the US, Australia must find other ways to exert power.
www.lowyinstitute.org
June 27, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Australia is far too small to shape the regional balance of power via military means, and its defence spending will remain a rounding error in comparison to the US and China
This is the inconvenient truth ignored by many pro-AUKUS commentators
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
This is the inconvenient truth ignored by many pro-AUKUS commentators
www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
“Australia is particularly well placed to shape the medium- and long-term economic determinants of the regional distribution of power,” writes Connor O’Brien in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-should-stop-pretending-be-military-hegemon
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-should-stop-pretending-be-military-hegemon
Australia should stop pretending to be a military hegemon
With its defence spending akin to a rounding error in comparison to China and the US, Australia must find other ways to exert power.
www.lowyinstitute.org
June 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
“Australia is particularly well placed to shape the medium- and long-term economic determinants of the regional distribution of power,” writes Connor O’Brien in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-should-stop-pretending-be-military-hegemon
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-should-stop-pretending-be-military-hegemon
As the debate about Australian defence commitments and AUKUS heats up, it’s worth questioning what all this spending is meant to be for
To boost regional ties, Australia should instead be prioritising decisive multilateral action on trade, sovereign debt, and climate finance
To boost regional ties, Australia should instead be prioritising decisive multilateral action on trade, sovereign debt, and climate finance
“Australia is particularly well placed to shape the medium- and long-term economic determinants of the regional distribution of power,” writes Connor O’Brien in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-should-stop-pretending-be-military-hegemon
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-should-stop-pretending-be-military-hegemon
Australia should stop pretending to be a military hegemon
With its defence spending akin to a rounding error in comparison to China and the US, Australia must find other ways to exert power.
www.lowyinstitute.org
June 26, 2025 at 11:15 PM
As the debate about Australian defence commitments and AUKUS heats up, it’s worth questioning what all this spending is meant to be for
To boost regional ties, Australia should instead be prioritising decisive multilateral action on trade, sovereign debt, and climate finance
To boost regional ties, Australia should instead be prioritising decisive multilateral action on trade, sovereign debt, and climate finance
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
"After first emerging in the interwar years, offshore tax havens proliferated during the era of decolonization. Postcolonial self-determination prompted the flight of imperial capital to offshore jurisdictions, many of which were current or former British dependent territories."
Offshoring the Planet | Connor O'Brien
A battle for jurisdictional control lies at the heart of the global green transition.
www.phenomenalworld.org
June 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
"After first emerging in the interwar years, offshore tax havens proliferated during the era of decolonization. Postcolonial self-determination prompted the flight of imperial capital to offshore jurisdictions, many of which were current or former British dependent territories."
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
Thanks @phenomenalworld.bsky.social for publishing my essay ‘Offshoring the Planet’
"Debt-for-nature swaps and carbon credit trading represent the expansion of the offshore phenomenon as a logic of global South statecraft."
NEW, Connor O'Brien on jurisdictional control over biodiversity and climate finance
NEW, Connor O'Brien on jurisdictional control over biodiversity and climate finance
Offshoring the Planet | Connor O'Brien
A battle for jurisdictional control lies at the heart of the global green transition.
www.phenomenalworld.org
June 6, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Thanks @phenomenalworld.bsky.social for publishing my essay ‘Offshoring the Planet’
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
"Debt-for-nature swaps and carbon credit trading represent the expansion of the offshore phenomenon as a logic of global South statecraft."
NEW, Connor O'Brien on jurisdictional control over biodiversity and climate finance
NEW, Connor O'Brien on jurisdictional control over biodiversity and climate finance
Offshoring the Planet | Connor O'Brien
A battle for jurisdictional control lies at the heart of the global green transition.
www.phenomenalworld.org
June 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
"Debt-for-nature swaps and carbon credit trading represent the expansion of the offshore phenomenon as a logic of global South statecraft."
NEW, Connor O'Brien on jurisdictional control over biodiversity and climate finance
NEW, Connor O'Brien on jurisdictional control over biodiversity and climate finance
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
In my @phenomenalworld.bsky.social essay ‘Offshoring the Planet’, I explore how the offshore world is reshaping the global green transition (a 🧵1/7)
t.co/8j7i8iXAIk
t.co/8j7i8iXAIk
https://www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/offshoring-the-planet/
t.co
June 8, 2025 at 12:31 PM
In my @phenomenalworld.bsky.social essay ‘Offshoring the Planet’, I explore how the offshore world is reshaping the global green transition (a 🧵1/7)
t.co/8j7i8iXAIk
t.co/8j7i8iXAIk
In my @phenomenalworld.bsky.social essay ‘Offshoring the Planet’, I explore how the offshore world is reshaping the global green transition (a 🧵1/7)
t.co/8j7i8iXAIk
t.co/8j7i8iXAIk
https://www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/offshoring-the-planet/
t.co
June 8, 2025 at 12:31 PM
In my @phenomenalworld.bsky.social essay ‘Offshoring the Planet’, I explore how the offshore world is reshaping the global green transition (a 🧵1/7)
t.co/8j7i8iXAIk
t.co/8j7i8iXAIk
Thanks @phenomenalworld.bsky.social for publishing my essay ‘Offshoring the Planet’
"Debt-for-nature swaps and carbon credit trading represent the expansion of the offshore phenomenon as a logic of global South statecraft."
NEW, Connor O'Brien on jurisdictional control over biodiversity and climate finance
NEW, Connor O'Brien on jurisdictional control over biodiversity and climate finance
Offshoring the Planet | Connor O'Brien
A battle for jurisdictional control lies at the heart of the global green transition.
www.phenomenalworld.org
June 6, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Thanks @phenomenalworld.bsky.social for publishing my essay ‘Offshoring the Planet’
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
🚨CRIA is soliciting special issue proposals that contribute to scholarly debate and which examine pertinent and topical theoretical, empirical and methodological questions ⬇️
Deadline: 11 June
Deadline: 11 June
May 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM
🚨CRIA is soliciting special issue proposals that contribute to scholarly debate and which examine pertinent and topical theoretical, empirical and methodological questions ⬇️
Deadline: 11 June
Deadline: 11 June
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
On 28 May, CRIA is running an ECR workshop on 'The Global Politics of the Green Transition'! Abstract submissions close on 7 April.
March 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
On 28 May, CRIA is running an ECR workshop on 'The Global Politics of the Green Transition'! Abstract submissions close on 7 April.
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
"Whatever the economy is, its reality does not exist independent of our ability to account for it."
NEW: An adapted excerpt from The Real Economy by
Jonathan Levy, out now from Princeton University Press.
NEW: An adapted excerpt from The Real Economy by
Jonathan Levy, out now from Princeton University Press.
The Real Economy | Phenomenal World
No discipline in the humanities or social sciences today has a convincing theory of the economy. Long preoccupied with honing methods, the core of the discipline of economics has abandoned investigati...
www.phenomenalworld.org
March 11, 2025 at 9:58 PM
"Whatever the economy is, its reality does not exist independent of our ability to account for it."
NEW: An adapted excerpt from The Real Economy by
Jonathan Levy, out now from Princeton University Press.
NEW: An adapted excerpt from The Real Economy by
Jonathan Levy, out now from Princeton University Press.
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
CRIA is hosting a roundtable on 'Concept Formation and Historical IR' (SA30) to kickoff our presence at the 2025 Chicago International Studies Association conference @isanet.bsky.social. Come along to The Barbershop (Blackstone Hotel) from 8:15am for a great discussion!
March 2, 2025 at 12:55 PM
CRIA is hosting a roundtable on 'Concept Formation and Historical IR' (SA30) to kickoff our presence at the 2025 Chicago International Studies Association conference @isanet.bsky.social. Come along to The Barbershop (Blackstone Hotel) from 8:15am for a great discussion!
Excited to be joining @alktaif.bsky.social as co-editor of the Cambridge Review of International Affairs @cambridgecria.bsky.social
CRIA welcomes submissions on international affairs topics from across the social sciences!
CRIA welcomes submissions on international affairs topics from across the social sciences!
January 4, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Excited to be joining @alktaif.bsky.social as co-editor of the Cambridge Review of International Affairs @cambridgecria.bsky.social
CRIA welcomes submissions on international affairs topics from across the social sciences!
CRIA welcomes submissions on international affairs topics from across the social sciences!
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
My new essay with @akentikelenis.bsky.social on green technology transfers in @phenomenalworld.bsky.social.
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/tec...
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/tec...
Transfer and Transition | Benjamin Bradlow & Alexandros Kentikelenis
Technology transfer is a necessity for a just global green transformation
www.phenomenalworld.org
December 19, 2024 at 5:23 PM
My new essay with @akentikelenis.bsky.social on green technology transfers in @phenomenalworld.bsky.social.
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/tec...
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/tec...
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
Our Emeritus Professor Anne Phillips has a joint review of the recent books on (in)equality by Paul Sagar, Darrin M McMahon, @brankomilan.bsky.social sky.social and @laywilliams.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/eprint/S9TIH...
December 16, 2024 at 7:13 PM
Our Emeritus Professor Anne Phillips has a joint review of the recent books on (in)equality by Paul Sagar, Darrin M McMahon, @brankomilan.bsky.social sky.social and @laywilliams.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/eprint/S9TIH...
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
If the suspense was killing you, never fear! The episode with @rowenasquires.bsky.social is now available!
We discuss the depiction of outer space colonialism in children's animation — from WALL-E, to Treasure Planet, to Disney's ex-Nazi rocket scientist
open.substack.com/pub/alinautr...
We discuss the depiction of outer space colonialism in children's animation — from WALL-E, to Treasure Planet, to Disney's ex-Nazi rocket scientist
open.substack.com/pub/alinautr...
December 16, 2024 at 10:59 AM
If the suspense was killing you, never fear! The episode with @rowenasquires.bsky.social is now available!
We discuss the depiction of outer space colonialism in children's animation — from WALL-E, to Treasure Planet, to Disney's ex-Nazi rocket scientist
open.substack.com/pub/alinautr...
We discuss the depiction of outer space colonialism in children's animation — from WALL-E, to Treasure Planet, to Disney's ex-Nazi rocket scientist
open.substack.com/pub/alinautr...
Reposted by Connor O’Brien
Scary stuff by @laurielaybourn.bsky.social and @jamesgyke.bsky.social on the climate-inflation doom loop:
As climate disruption kicks off, prices go up, central bankers hike and angry voters derail democratic systems, setting the stage for more disruption.
theconversation.com/a-doom-loop-...
A ‘doom loop’ of climate change and geopolitical instability is beginning
Climate change is driving inflation and instability, which harms climate action. But it’s not too late to escape the doom loop.
theconversation.com
December 11, 2024 at 10:14 AM
Scary stuff by @laurielaybourn.bsky.social and @jamesgyke.bsky.social on the climate-inflation doom loop:
As climate disruption kicks off, prices go up, central bankers hike and angry voters derail democratic systems, setting the stage for more disruption.
theconversation.com/a-doom-loop-...