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
We have entered a twilight zone that would have been hard to believe in 2015, despite the warning signed being there.
Israel’s Knesset has approved the execution for Palestinian detainees bill in its first reading, it needs two more to become law.
After the vote, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir handed out baklava to celebrate.
After the vote, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir handed out baklava to celebrate.
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 AM
We have entered a twilight zone that would have been hard to believe in 2015, despite the warning signed being there.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Never forget this most extraordinary rendition of the Whitlam Dismissal from the "Gillies Report" ABC TV
Still thrilled to have been a bit player in the BEST of Australian satire!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7f...
Still thrilled to have been a bit player in the BEST of Australian satire!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7f...
The Gillies Report Il Dismissale
YouTube video by NockturneSA
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Never forget this most extraordinary rendition of the Whitlam Dismissal from the "Gillies Report" ABC TV
Still thrilled to have been a bit player in the BEST of Australian satire!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7f...
Still thrilled to have been a bit player in the BEST of Australian satire!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7f...
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Australia’s retirement system assumes seniors are homeowners. Suggesting forever renters need to suck it up and accept their fate is heartbreaking. Political elite have given up on a big chunk of Aussies.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Forever renters want solutions. Experts say look at Vienna
Australia has a growing cohort of forever renters and experts say the government should be looking to examples in other countries where more social and affordable housing options are being developed.
www.abc.net.au
November 7, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Australia’s retirement system assumes seniors are homeowners. Suggesting forever renters need to suck it up and accept their fate is heartbreaking. Political elite have given up on a big chunk of Aussies.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
November 7, 2025 at 4:27 AM
When are people gonna stop using the term “ late stage capitalism”? I’m 45 years old and I can remember it being used for all of my adult life. And arguably Lenin’s “highest stage of capitalism” phrase articulated the same sentiment. Maybe latest stage of capitalism would be more appropriate.
The fact that 30% of our stock market is wrapped up in “help-kids-kill-themselves” technology seems to be an important datapoint in the evolution of late stage capitalism.
ChatGPT advised a suicidal young woman on how to take her own life, telling her "If you choose death, I'm with you - till the end, without judging."
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
When are people gonna stop using the term “ late stage capitalism”? I’m 45 years old and I can remember it being used for all of my adult life. And arguably Lenin’s “highest stage of capitalism” phrase articulated the same sentiment. Maybe latest stage of capitalism would be more appropriate.
ChatGPT appears to love the “ ;” .
A) is this semicolon use a tell for student misuse of AI.
B) will we now see a re-popularisation of the “;”?
A) is this semicolon use a tell for student misuse of AI.
B) will we now see a re-popularisation of the “;”?
November 7, 2025 at 12:32 AM
ChatGPT appears to love the “ ;” .
A) is this semicolon use a tell for student misuse of AI.
B) will we now see a re-popularisation of the “;”?
A) is this semicolon use a tell for student misuse of AI.
B) will we now see a re-popularisation of the “;”?
Why is every time I start writing an article I suddenly end up with a 20,000 word manuscript!
November 6, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Why is every time I start writing an article I suddenly end up with a 20,000 word manuscript!
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Dick Cheney passing on the same day as a Muslim socialist wins NYC is definitely evidence of a higher power.
November 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Dick Cheney passing on the same day as a Muslim socialist wins NYC is definitely evidence of a higher power.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Dick Cheney died far too old and far too free. The fact that such monsters get to pass away in their eighties surrounded by loved ones instead of alone in a cage is an indictment of our entire civilization.
November 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Dick Cheney died far too old and far too free. The fact that such monsters get to pass away in their eighties surrounded by loved ones instead of alone in a cage is an indictment of our entire civilization.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
“incredibly stupid”, “absolutely disgraceful”…
Despite ANU’s own socially responsible investment policy, the university invested in and profited from Elbit systems shares - “a key enabler of the Israel Defense Forces in its commission of war crimes”. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Despite ANU’s own socially responsible investment policy, the university invested in and profited from Elbit systems shares - “a key enabler of the Israel Defense Forces in its commission of war crimes”. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
ANU bought shares in Israeli weapons maker after pledging to stop controversial arms investments
Exclusive: University says Elbit Systems, whose drones have been used extensively in Gaza, not on any controversial weapons list when shares bought and sold this year
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
“incredibly stupid”, “absolutely disgraceful”…
Despite ANU’s own socially responsible investment policy, the university invested in and profited from Elbit systems shares - “a key enabler of the Israel Defense Forces in its commission of war crimes”. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Despite ANU’s own socially responsible investment policy, the university invested in and profited from Elbit systems shares - “a key enabler of the Israel Defense Forces in its commission of war crimes”. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
We are proud to share that JICH has received over 58k downloads in 2025's 3rd quarter - a 76% increase from this time last year! Well done to our editorial team and all our supporters - @andrekosvarnava.bsky.social @evansmithhist.bsky.social @jonasgjerso.bsky.social @yiannicart.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
We are proud to share that JICH has received over 58k downloads in 2025's 3rd quarter - a 76% increase from this time last year! Well done to our editorial team and all our supporters - @andrekosvarnava.bsky.social @evansmithhist.bsky.social @jonasgjerso.bsky.social @yiannicart.bsky.social
When colonial civilian government and the military disagree: ‘The Military duties imposed on me by Lord Minto are not the fixing proportions for Coolies, or preparing minute regulations for Grass contracts’ major general Gillespie to TS raffles on irritating tasks of government!
November 2, 2025 at 4:15 AM
When colonial civilian government and the military disagree: ‘The Military duties imposed on me by Lord Minto are not the fixing proportions for Coolies, or preparing minute regulations for Grass contracts’ major general Gillespie to TS raffles on irritating tasks of government!
John Bastin was right, that you can only write a Collingwood version of SEA history using Raffles. What Bastin missed however, was the crucial element that it was by a series of unforeseen events that TS Raffles manuscripts survived.
biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/files/pdf/Vo...
biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/files/pdf/Vo...
biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg
November 2, 2025 at 1:06 AM
John Bastin was right, that you can only write a Collingwood version of SEA history using Raffles. What Bastin missed however, was the crucial element that it was by a series of unforeseen events that TS Raffles manuscripts survived.
biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/files/pdf/Vo...
biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/files/pdf/Vo...
biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg
November 2, 2025 at 12:53 AM
John Bastin was right, that you can only write a Collingwood version of SEA history using Raffles. What Bastin missed however, was the crucial element that it was by a series of unforeseen events that TS Raffles manuscripts survived.
biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/files/pdf/Vo...
biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/files/pdf/Vo...
When you just paid $300 for copy of an archive file, but realised you already have it. But then realise that you now have the first draft of a report with all the corrections and changes.
a black and white photo of a man with a caption that says i don 't know what my feelings are doing
Alt: a black and white photo of a man with a caption that says i don 't know what my feelings are doing
media.tenor.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
When you just paid $300 for copy of an archive file, but realised you already have it. But then realise that you now have the first draft of a report with all the corrections and changes.
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Well done, Netherlands on booting out the pro-genocide, Islamophobe.
Palestine plays an important role in determining the outcome of one more election of one more country. When will our politicians realize what a majority of humanity wants?
#Netherlands #D66 #Democrats66
Palestine plays an important role in determining the outcome of one more election of one more country. When will our politicians realize what a majority of humanity wants?
#Netherlands #D66 #Democrats66
🇳🇱 In a major upset, Dutch elections saw far-right leader Geert Wilders – famous for his anti-Islam rhetoric and strong support for Israel – lose to the center-left liberal “Democrats 66” party. The D66 are led by Rob Jetten, an openly gay 38-year-old who is a vocal supporter of Palestine...
November 1, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Well done, Netherlands on booting out the pro-genocide, Islamophobe.
Palestine plays an important role in determining the outcome of one more election of one more country. When will our politicians realize what a majority of humanity wants?
#Netherlands #D66 #Democrats66
Palestine plays an important role in determining the outcome of one more election of one more country. When will our politicians realize what a majority of humanity wants?
#Netherlands #D66 #Democrats66
The recalcitrance of AI in following the same order multiple times suggests it has OD on James Scott’s weapons of the weak!
October 30, 2025 at 3:40 AM
The recalcitrance of AI in following the same order multiple times suggests it has OD on James Scott’s weapons of the weak!
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
Australian colleagues have been exploring the redirection of British slave-owners capital from the Caribbean into the colonisation of Australia. As Britons ended slavery they intensified the destruction of Indigenous societies. Latest addition from Zoe Laidlaw:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Capital, Agents and Absentees: Port Phillip Pastoralism and the Profits of Slavery
This article reveals that British-based merchants invested capital made from the Atlantic slave complex in the early Port Phillip District’s pastoral sector. It traces the capital that underpinned ...
www.tandfonline.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Australian colleagues have been exploring the redirection of British slave-owners capital from the Caribbean into the colonisation of Australia. As Britons ended slavery they intensified the destruction of Indigenous societies. Latest addition from Zoe Laidlaw:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
I can declare that ChatGPT is now very good at transcribing late 18th century early 19th century handwriting!
October 28, 2025 at 5:43 AM
I can declare that ChatGPT is now very good at transcribing late 18th century early 19th century handwriting!
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
And I'm not disagreeing with you either! It's just...we got here by going here and I'd love to hear the 'what now' conversation embrace, at least a little, the idea that maybe the beggar-thy-neighbor approach that led to crushing funding disparities is part of the problem.
October 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
And I'm not disagreeing with you either! It's just...we got here by going here and I'd love to hear the 'what now' conversation embrace, at least a little, the idea that maybe the beggar-thy-neighbor approach that led to crushing funding disparities is part of the problem.
Just moved some bookcase around on Sunday afternoon!
October 26, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Just moved some bookcase around on Sunday afternoon!
Reposted by Gareth Knapman
1/7 Some important books have been published recently, by leading experts on the history of slavery. What they say is critical when weighing up Commonwealth reparations claims.
October 25, 2025 at 7:27 AM
1/7 Some important books have been published recently, by leading experts on the history of slavery. What they say is critical when weighing up Commonwealth reparations claims.
I so wish this actually said “ great and valorous duds which wrested this Colony”
October 24, 2025 at 2:58 AM
I so wish this actually said “ great and valorous duds which wrested this Colony”
When you realise the file you need, was the one you didn’t copy in the archive.
a man with his eyes closed and his hands on his face
Alt: a man with his eyes closed and his hands on his face
media.tenor.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
When you realise the file you need, was the one you didn’t copy in the archive.
#HistIR Interesting point to consider with the history of international relations is the role of translations in transforming our opinions. Grotius wrote in Latin. he used the word imperium not sovereignty. our English translation comes from the French translation of 1724 which used souversinete
October 22, 2025 at 5:32 AM
#HistIR Interesting point to consider with the history of international relations is the role of translations in transforming our opinions. Grotius wrote in Latin. he used the word imperium not sovereignty. our English translation comes from the French translation of 1724 which used souversinete