Ed Schatz
@edwardschatz.bsky.social
Political Scientist, Central Asianist, University of Toronto
Posting about politics, authoritarianism, and Central Asia.
Posting about politics, authoritarianism, and Central Asia.
Pinned
Ed Schatz
@edwardschatz.bsky.social
· Dec 11
Seeing China's Belt & Road (Oxford Univ. Press) will be available on January 2.
With a crack team of scholars, Rachel Silvey & I seek to learn, ground-up, from countries around the globe what the BRI's downstream impact is shaping up to be.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
@oxunipress.bsky.social
With a crack team of scholars, Rachel Silvey & I seek to learn, ground-up, from countries around the globe what the BRI's downstream impact is shaping up to be.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
@oxunipress.bsky.social
Trump is going to Central Asia. Weird times.
Trump is going to Central Asia. Here's an interview with @edwardschatz.bsky.social on Rhyming Chaos about the varieties of fellow of authoritarian he might meet there:
www.rhymingchaos.com/p/when-will-...
www.rhymingchaos.com/p/when-will-...
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Trump is going to Central Asia. Weird times.
Happy Halloween, Jays fans!
October 31, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Happy Halloween, Jays fans!
Evidence based and data driven are like crypto. Everything depends on what it means, what the rules of engagement are, who is monitoring stuff, and what it’s being used for.
October 29, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Evidence based and data driven are like crypto. Everything depends on what it means, what the rules of engagement are, who is monitoring stuff, and what it’s being used for.
For the millionth time, averting a crisis of your own making is not really a “win.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
Trump Suggests He Knows He Can’t Run Again: ‘It’s Too Bad’
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:16 PM
For the millionth time, averting a crisis of your own making is not really a “win.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
So, to recap:
First, we made cash king in politics (Citizens United 2010).
Then we elected a mafia-adjacent scam-artist as president (2014).
Then we gave him immunity for anything he does in office (Trump v. US 2024).
First, we made cash king in politics (Citizens United 2010).
Then we elected a mafia-adjacent scam-artist as president (2014).
Then we gave him immunity for anything he does in office (Trump v. US 2024).
October 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
So, to recap:
First, we made cash king in politics (Citizens United 2010).
Then we elected a mafia-adjacent scam-artist as president (2014).
Then we gave him immunity for anything he does in office (Trump v. US 2024).
First, we made cash king in politics (Citizens United 2010).
Then we elected a mafia-adjacent scam-artist as president (2014).
Then we gave him immunity for anything he does in office (Trump v. US 2024).
Checking something on DOJ website just now and greeted by this nonsense header. This is not normal.
October 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I see so now they're called "wins" when you avert crises that you created.
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Embattled at home, Trump eyes easy wins in Asia ahead of Xi meeting
U.S.-China relations tumultuous since Trump restarted trade war, but both sides say a deal is near
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I see so now they're called "wins" when you avert crises that you created.
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
American exceptionalism
Normally it’s the opposition party that boycotts parliament but in America we do things our own way
October 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
American exceptionalism
As Vance Takes on a Forceful New Role, His Positions Are Shifting
www.nytimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Ed Schatz
I'm very happy to join @policymag.bsky.social as a columnist. The plan is to write a bi-monthly column on the Russo-Ukrainian war, Eastern European politics, and democracy and the rule of law.
www.policymagazine.ca/author/maria...
www.policymagazine.ca/author/maria...
Maria Popova - Policy Magazine
www.policymagazine.ca
October 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I'm very happy to join @policymag.bsky.social as a columnist. The plan is to write a bi-monthly column on the Russo-Ukrainian war, Eastern European politics, and democracy and the rule of law.
www.policymagazine.ca/author/maria...
www.policymagazine.ca/author/maria...
Delighted to join the Rhyming Chaos podcast with @goldkorn.bsky.social and @mariarepnikova.bsky.social . Have a listen.
www.rhymingchaos.com/p/when-will-...
www.rhymingchaos.com/p/when-will-...
When will people rise up and overthrow the dictator? Not now.
Shades of authoritarianism in Central Asia, with scholar Edward Schatz.
www.rhymingchaos.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Delighted to join the Rhyming Chaos podcast with @goldkorn.bsky.social and @mariarepnikova.bsky.social . Have a listen.
www.rhymingchaos.com/p/when-will-...
www.rhymingchaos.com/p/when-will-...
The good thing about the emerging sports betting scandal is that it keeps our minds off wars and authoritarianism for a few days.
October 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The good thing about the emerging sports betting scandal is that it keeps our minds off wars and authoritarianism for a few days.
Holding Two Truths, Episode 1
True that Trump gets much credit for the ceasefire and also true that he cares more about credit than about lasting peace.
True that Trump gets much credit for the ceasefire and also true that he cares more about credit than about lasting peace.
October 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Holding Two Truths, Episode 1
True that Trump gets much credit for the ceasefire and also true that he cares more about credit than about lasting peace.
True that Trump gets much credit for the ceasefire and also true that he cares more about credit than about lasting peace.
So glad the Nobel goes to someone fighting for democracy, not against it.
October 10, 2025 at 1:02 PM
So glad the Nobel goes to someone fighting for democracy, not against it.
Thank God. For a second there I thought they were going after James Comey.
October 8, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Thank God. For a second there I thought they were going after James Comey.
“One morning (and it will be soon), when everyone wakes up as a writer, the age of universal deafness and incomprehension will have arrived.”
― Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
― Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
October 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
“One morning (and it will be soon), when everyone wakes up as a writer, the age of universal deafness and incomprehension will have arrived.”
― Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
― Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Political ethnography alert! 🚨
Fabulous article by @professorbiko.bsky.social and Tali Mendelberg in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social showing that MAGA is as much about 'reclaiming lost status' as it is about culture wars or policy preferences.
Fabulous article by @professorbiko.bsky.social and Tali Mendelberg in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social showing that MAGA is as much about 'reclaiming lost status' as it is about culture wars or policy preferences.
The Symbolic Politics of Status in the MAGA Movement | Perspectives on Politics | Cambridge Core
The Symbolic Politics of Status in the MAGA Movement
www.cambridge.org
September 27, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Political ethnography alert! 🚨
Fabulous article by @professorbiko.bsky.social and Tali Mendelberg in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social showing that MAGA is as much about 'reclaiming lost status' as it is about culture wars or policy preferences.
Fabulous article by @professorbiko.bsky.social and Tali Mendelberg in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social showing that MAGA is as much about 'reclaiming lost status' as it is about culture wars or policy preferences.
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Predicts More Indictments and Claims It’s Not Revenge
www.nytimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In a brilliant essay, Steve Hansen argues that neopatrimonial rule is on the march, but its success is not foreordained . aseees.org/newsnet-arti...
The Fate of Regional Studies under Patrimonial Rule | Association for Slavic, East European, & Eurasian Studies
This crisis is qualitatively different from any we have faced as scholars since the invention of modern area studies associations in the aftermath of World War II...
aseees.org
September 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM
In a brilliant essay, Steve Hansen argues that neopatrimonial rule is on the march, but its success is not foreordained . aseees.org/newsnet-arti...
On top of it all, he’s deeply weird.
September 23, 2025 at 10:46 AM
On top of it all, he’s deeply weird.
BREAKING er “NEWS” from the NYT
“In an Era of Deep Polarization, Unity Is Not Trump’s Mission” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/u...
“In an Era of Deep Polarization, Unity Is Not Trump’s Mission” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/u...
In an Era of Deep Polarization, Unity Is Not Trump’s Mission
www.nytimes.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
BREAKING er “NEWS” from the NYT
“In an Era of Deep Polarization, Unity Is Not Trump’s Mission” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/u...
“In an Era of Deep Polarization, Unity Is Not Trump’s Mission” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/u...
Facts Will not Save You
AI, history, and Soviet sci-fi
open.substack.com
July 31, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Interesting piece, though huh? “When Moscow offered its 14 socialist republics independence in 1991…” edition.cnn.com/2025/07/31/t...
One of the world’s most isolated countries, this former Soviet state is showing signs it’s ready for more tourists | CNN
Turkmenistan has long been considered one of the globe’s most isolated countries. New streamlined visa regulations are reportedly in the works, a sign it could be ready to welcome more tourists.
edition.cnn.com
July 31, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Interesting piece, though huh? “When Moscow offered its 14 socialist republics independence in 1991…” edition.cnn.com/2025/07/31/t...
Democrats squabbling belongs on p. A24, not above the fold. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/u...
Democrats Clash on Senate Floor Over Policing Bills and How to Take On Trump
www.nytimes.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Democrats squabbling belongs on p. A24, not above the fold. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/u...