Gareth Knapman
@garethknapman.bsky.social
Historian of C18th & C19th Southeast Asia, South Asia and Australia. Research Fellow at ANU. Main research - provenance reports for repatriation. Quaker.
https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/gareth-knapman
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4431-6659
https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/gareth-knapman
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4431-6659
Pinned
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
1901-1933, Germany won 31 Science Nobels; USA only 7.
Then in 1933 the Nazis destroyed the German universities, sending their scientists fleeing, esp. to America.
Germany's never recovered. Since 1945, USA has received 315 Science Nobels, Germany 52.
Now consider what MAGA aims to do to US unis.
Then in 1933 the Nazis destroyed the German universities, sending their scientists fleeing, esp. to America.
Germany's never recovered. Since 1945, USA has received 315 Science Nobels, Germany 52.
Now consider what MAGA aims to do to US unis.
February 12, 2026 at 8:15 AM
1901-1933, Germany won 31 Science Nobels; USA only 7.
Then in 1933 the Nazis destroyed the German universities, sending their scientists fleeing, esp. to America.
Germany's never recovered. Since 1945, USA has received 315 Science Nobels, Germany 52.
Now consider what MAGA aims to do to US unis.
Then in 1933 the Nazis destroyed the German universities, sending their scientists fleeing, esp. to America.
Germany's never recovered. Since 1945, USA has received 315 Science Nobels, Germany 52.
Now consider what MAGA aims to do to US unis.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
I genuinely cannot believe the degree to which we are pissing away this generational breakthrough, even given the fuckmuppets who are involved www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
FDA declines to review Moderna's mRNA flu shot
Under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Food and Drug Administration has taken an aggressive stance against mRNA technology.
www.nbcnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:32 PM
I genuinely cannot believe the degree to which we are pissing away this generational breakthrough, even given the fuckmuppets who are involved www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Robert M. Hutchins in 1952. How idealistic the world looked. Something like that vision of freedom to lean and think is certainly needed now.
February 10, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Robert M. Hutchins in 1952. How idealistic the world looked. Something like that vision of freedom to lean and think is certainly needed now.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
We knew from the moment we heard it that “social cohesion” would be one of those Orwellian terms which would be used to cover all manner of state sanctioned abuse and deprivation of civic freedoms.
It fuels the very unrest it pretends to seek to quell.
It fuels the very unrest it pretends to seek to quell.
February 10, 2026 at 12:13 AM
We knew from the moment we heard it that “social cohesion” would be one of those Orwellian terms which would be used to cover all manner of state sanctioned abuse and deprivation of civic freedoms.
It fuels the very unrest it pretends to seek to quell.
It fuels the very unrest it pretends to seek to quell.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
As someone who recently fled the US, I am begging the Australian government to not make the same mistakes and open the flood gates to a police state through weaponized anti-semitism. This is not the way to do it.
February 10, 2026 at 2:18 AM
As someone who recently fled the US, I am begging the Australian government to not make the same mistakes and open the flood gates to a police state through weaponized anti-semitism. This is not the way to do it.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
crickets from the free speech crowd, of course
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
February 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
crickets from the free speech crowd, of course
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
That so many of the folks who claimed to care so much about campus free speech in yesteryear are suddenly uninterested today when the problem is just flagrantly, obviously worse (but entails costs in their social circles) tells me they are hypocrites, and I will not listen to them again.
February 9, 2026 at 3:36 AM
That so many of the folks who claimed to care so much about campus free speech in yesteryear are suddenly uninterested today when the problem is just flagrantly, obviously worse (but entails costs in their social circles) tells me they are hypocrites, and I will not listen to them again.
Yet many of these billionaires are also running monopoly businesses, which are also taking large amounts public money. Therefore they are distorting the market.
February 8, 2026 at 5:28 AM
Yet many of these billionaires are also running monopoly businesses, which are also taking large amounts public money. Therefore they are distorting the market.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
The next UK general election is *THREE AND A HALF YEARS AWAY*. How broken is British politics when you have more time left to get your act together than an entire term of Australian government, but everyone in UK Labour and politics has decided to shit the bed instead. You're all an embarassment.
February 6, 2026 at 2:59 PM
The next UK general election is *THREE AND A HALF YEARS AWAY*. How broken is British politics when you have more time left to get your act together than an entire term of Australian government, but everyone in UK Labour and politics has decided to shit the bed instead. You're all an embarassment.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Had literally *any* other nation done this the anger being heard across the media airwaves and from politicians would be deafening and unending.
Australia vows to repair ‘distressing’ damage to war graves in Gaza bulldozed by Israeli army
Australia vows to repair ‘distressing’ damage to war graves in Gaza bulldozed by Israeli army
Satellite photographs show rows of gravestones removed and soil disturbed at the Gaza War Cemetery where more than 250 Australians are buried
*
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The Australian government has vowed to repair the graves of dozens of Australian soldiers in Gaza after satellite imagery and witness testimony revealed they had been bulldozed by the Israel Defense Forces.
But it could be months or years before authorities can access the Commonwealth war cemetery in Gaza and Australian graves might face further damage as conflict continues in the occupied territory. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Had literally *any* other nation done this the anger being heard across the media airwaves and from politicians would be deafening and unending.
Something all historians should remember.
For (3), that doesn't mean a book has to be pop history or even pitched at a lay audience. Instead I'm basically asking, "could a normal reader follow the argument here, with perhaps a few trips to Wikipedia?"
So my main concerns are jargon or books with really, really technical arguments.
So my main concerns are jargon or books with really, really technical arguments.
February 5, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Something all historians should remember.
Not even King George III
February 4, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Not even King George III
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Masked thugs on the streets.
Measles outbreaks across the nation.
Blatant government corruption.
Coverup of group of elite sex offenders.
Ruling party trying to rig elections.
Leader building grandiose monuments to himself.
Collapse of remnants of nonpartisan civil service.
Third world America.
Measles outbreaks across the nation.
Blatant government corruption.
Coverup of group of elite sex offenders.
Ruling party trying to rig elections.
Leader building grandiose monuments to himself.
Collapse of remnants of nonpartisan civil service.
Third world America.
February 4, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Masked thugs on the streets.
Measles outbreaks across the nation.
Blatant government corruption.
Coverup of group of elite sex offenders.
Ruling party trying to rig elections.
Leader building grandiose monuments to himself.
Collapse of remnants of nonpartisan civil service.
Third world America.
Measles outbreaks across the nation.
Blatant government corruption.
Coverup of group of elite sex offenders.
Ruling party trying to rig elections.
Leader building grandiose monuments to himself.
Collapse of remnants of nonpartisan civil service.
Third world America.
Or railways getting surpassed.
February 3, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Or railways getting surpassed.
Great work. I imagine it’s a bit like being at a massacre site. Idyllic nature, but horror in the memory held within the bricks.
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Great work. I imagine it’s a bit like being at a massacre site. Idyllic nature, but horror in the memory held within the bricks.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Follow the money.
If we had mainstream political journalists worth the name, they'd focus far less on the superficial race-horse politics of One Nation v LNP.
And far more on the links between Rinehart, MAGA, One Nation, Advance, IPA & other RW 'think tanks', and the global Atlas Network. #auspol
If we had mainstream political journalists worth the name, they'd focus far less on the superficial race-horse politics of One Nation v LNP.
And far more on the links between Rinehart, MAGA, One Nation, Advance, IPA & other RW 'think tanks', and the global Atlas Network. #auspol
Gina Rinehart’s company donated almost $900k to rightwing group Advance, latest data shows
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Gina Rinehart’s company donated almost $900k to rightwing group Advance, political donations data shows
Clive Palmer’s Minerology was the single biggest political donor in 2024-25, giving $53.1m to Trumpet of Patriots, which failed to win a seat
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Follow the money.
If we had mainstream political journalists worth the name, they'd focus far less on the superficial race-horse politics of One Nation v LNP.
And far more on the links between Rinehart, MAGA, One Nation, Advance, IPA & other RW 'think tanks', and the global Atlas Network. #auspol
If we had mainstream political journalists worth the name, they'd focus far less on the superficial race-horse politics of One Nation v LNP.
And far more on the links between Rinehart, MAGA, One Nation, Advance, IPA & other RW 'think tanks', and the global Atlas Network. #auspol
They might get a few Nats seats, if ALP preferences go to ON before Nats. How many extra senate seats?
February 1, 2026 at 9:12 AM
They might get a few Nats seats, if ALP preferences go to ON before Nats. How many extra senate seats?
Caribbean. Jamaica? The question is work or pleasure? Or both.
February 1, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Caribbean. Jamaica? The question is work or pleasure? Or both.
Tomato salad tonight!
February 1, 2026 at 6:58 AM
Tomato salad tonight!
It irritates me our journal articles are behind paywalls. And we can plié use crappy services to make them free.
February 1, 2026 at 4:35 AM
It irritates me our journal articles are behind paywalls. And we can plié use crappy services to make them free.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
On the rare occasion that I write for a publication that offers a fee, I ask that they donate it to charity.
I don't think it's ethical to ask to be paid twice for work done as a salaried academic.
I don't think it's ethical to ask to be paid twice for work done as a salaried academic.
As an academic, I feel strongly that it’s unethical for me to sell subscription-only content in a newsletter. I am already being paid to do intellectual work and share it with the world. Asking people to pay me for my analysis would be a kind of embezzlement.
February 1, 2026 at 3:41 AM
On the rare occasion that I write for a publication that offers a fee, I ask that they donate it to charity.
I don't think it's ethical to ask to be paid twice for work done as a salaried academic.
I don't think it's ethical to ask to be paid twice for work done as a salaried academic.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council says he is heartened by the fact that Albanese is welcoming this visit and “bringing into line many of his colleagues who are a little bit more equivocal about it”
#auspol #BringingIntoLine
#auspol #BringingIntoLine
Legal challenge to Israeli president's visit - ABC listen
Some Jewish groups have welcomed plans for a visit from Israeli president Isaac Herzog next month, but a collection of Jewish and Muslim leaders say he should not be allowed in the country while he fa...
www.abc.net.au
January 30, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council says he is heartened by the fact that Albanese is welcoming this visit and “bringing into line many of his colleagues who are a little bit more equivocal about it”
#auspol #BringingIntoLine
#auspol #BringingIntoLine