Ihsan Yilmaz
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ihsanylmz.bsky.social
Ihsan Yilmaz
@ihsanylmz.bsky.social
190 followers 160 following 14 posts

Research Professor at Melbourne Deakin Uni. Religion and Politics; Digital Politics; Emotions; Populism; Authoritarianism; Transnationalism.

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Political science 70%
Sociology 17%
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ihsanylmz.bsky.social
Ihsan Yilmaz @ihsanylmz.bsky.social · Mar 30
Can you please circulate?

PhD Scholarship:

The Effectiveness of Authoritarian Sharp Power Online in Influencing Diaspora Groups

www.deakin.edu.au/study/fees-a...
HDR Scholarship - Sharp power effectiveness
PhD Scholarship to research The Effectiveness of Authoritarian Sharp Power Online in Influencing Diaspora Groups
www.deakin.edu.au

ihsanylmz.bsky.social
Ihsan Yilmaz @ihsanylmz.bsky.social · 27d
The Rise of Social Media and the Fall of Western Democracy www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/o...
Opinion | The Rise of Social Media and the Fall of Western Democracy
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

bkenes.bsky.social
Bülent Kenes @bkenes.bsky.social · Oct 8
The six copies of the book titled “Hybrid Transnationalism and Repression: Turkey’s Diaspora Under Authoritarian Islamist Siege”, which I co-authored with my dear friend @ihsanylmz.bsky.social , have just arrived from the publisher.

ihsanylmz.bsky.social
Ihsan Yilmaz @ihsanylmz.bsky.social · Oct 3
It Begins With a Joke. Comics in the World’s Largest Democracy Know Where It Ends. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/w...
It Begins With a Joke. Comics in the World’s Largest Democracy Know Where It Ends.
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

casmudde.bsky.social
Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · Oct 2
An absolutely depressing read on the state of higher education in the UK… solidarity with my colleagues.
Where now for Britain’s Universities?
UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.
politicalquarterly.org.uk

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

casmudde.bsky.social
Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · Oct 2
Horrible news to wake up to. My heart goes out to everyone affected. 💔
Manchester synagogue attack latest: suspect shot after four people injured in vehicle and stabbing attack, police say
Keir Starmer will fly home early from Europe to chair a Cobra meeting, while Greater Manchester mayor tells people to avoid the area
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

nateschenkkan.bsky.social
Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · Sep 30
This is US cooperation in transnational repression www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-de...
Iran Confirms Deportation Of 120 Citizens From US This Week
Iran has confirmed that approximately 120 of its citizens will be deported from the United States and returned home this week.
www.rferl.org

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · Sep 28
The week in Trump absurdities: from Turkey’s ‘rigged elections’ to ‘your countries are going to hell’
The week in Trump absurdities: from Turkey’s ‘rigged elections’ to ‘your countries are going to hell’
The president, in five days, has claimed Tylenol causes autism, he was sabotaged at the UN and pronounced his rivals ‘guilty as hell’
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz, Matthijs Rooduijn

jwmueller-pu.bsky.social
Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · Sep 23
'It has been widely observed that the speed of America’s democratic slide surpasses that of other “elective autocracies” such as Narendra Modi’s India and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Turkey. But that understates Trump’s impatience.'
America’s accelerating exit from itself
After the Kirk murder, Trump is pulverising the country’s founding principles with astonishing ease
www.ft.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

heissenstat.bsky.social
Howard Eissenstat @heissenstat.bsky.social · Sep 22
I'd describe the new push to recognize Palestine as "mostly harmless"...

were it not for the fact that these efforts are mostly a fig leaf for not taking more aggressive action to stop what virtually every international human rights organization now describes as a genocide.

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · Sep 21
Breaking News: Britain, Canada and Australia formally recognized Palestinian statehood.
Britain, Australia and Canada Recognize a Palestinian State
The announcements came on the eve of the annual gathering of the U.N. General Assembly.
nyti.ms

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz, Steve Peers, Caroline Krafft , and 10 more

mark-carney.bsky.social
Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · Sep 21
Today, Canada recognises the State of Palestine.
 
My statement: www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/stat...
Quote graphic featuring the following quote from Prime Minister Carney’s statement on Canada’s recognition of Palestine: “Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.”

Reposted by Axel Bruns, İhsan Yılmaz

timothyjgraham.bsky.social
Timothy Graham @timothyjgraham.bsky.social · Sep 20
The road to authoritarianism - total information control.

bsky.app/profile/scot...
scottnover.bsky.social Scott Nover @scottnover.bsky.social · Sep 19
NEW: The Pentagon told journalists it will require them to pledge they won’t gather any information — even unclassified — that hasn’t been expressly authorized for release, and will revoke the press credentials of those who do not obey. @washingtonpost.com
Pentagon demands journalists pledge to not obtain unauthorized material
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is imposing strict new rules that would severely limit the ability of journalists to report on the Pentagon.
www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

casmudde.bsky.social
Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · Sep 19
I wrote for @theguardian.com about the “Unite the Kingdom” rally.

High time to pull head out of the sand and learn from other countries — if only on what NOT to do!
After the far-right mass rally in London, Britain must learn lessons from abroad – and fast | Cas Mudde
This is no time for complacent exceptionalism. The UK is part of the fourth phase of the far right in the postwar era, and its politicians must respond, says political scientist Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz, Naomi Priest

jonpiccini.bsky.social
Jon Piccini @jonpiccini.bsky.social · Sep 19
Australia's universities are blighted by a "culture of consequence-free, rotten failure", according to the former chair of a senate inquiry examining governance at public universities. ... "There's no other sector in the country where failure is rewarded so handsomely and with so little scrutiny."
'Rotten' Australian university culture lashed in long-running senate inquiry
Australia's universities are blighted by a "culture of consequence-free, rotten failure", a senate inquiry has found.
www.abc.net.au

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

liselhintz.bsky.social
Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · Sep 18
Trump's emotional targeting of comedy figures is so telling. Hypermasculine strongmen DESPISE being made fun of.

Again, look to Turkey. Experts literally testified on whether comparing Erdoğan to Gollum was an insult. A guy sharing a meme was jailed.

And then there's the satire magazine closures.

ihsanylmz.bsky.social
Ihsan Yilmaz @ihsanylmz.bsky.social · Sep 17
What Democrats Can Learn From Charlie Kirk www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/o...
Opinion | What Democrats Can Learn From Charlie Kirk
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, İhsan Yılmaz

nicholasdanfort.bsky.social
Nicholas Danforth @nicholasdanfort.bsky.social · Sep 17
My latest from @foreignpolicy.com

"Just recently, Turkey stood out for its repeated assaults on international norms. Now, those norms have been shattered by a host of bigger and more aggressive actors, and Turkey looks almost calm in comparison.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/17/t...
Erdogan’s Irredentism Just Can’t Keep Up
As international norms crumble, Turkey’s revisionist policies appear less provocative in comparison.
foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

heissenstat.bsky.social
Howard Eissenstat @heissenstat.bsky.social · Sep 13
My comments in FT

“What the government seems to want to do is not destroy the CHP but to take it over; not to eradicate it, but to neuter it..." Turkey could then become like the joke about the Shah’s Iran “where there is a ‘Yes’ party and a ‘Yes, Sir’ party.”

www.ft.com/content/423f...
Is this the end of Atatürk’s party?
[FREE TO READ] A campaign threatens to give President Erdoğan control of Turkey’s largest opposition force, started by the nation’s founder
www.ft.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, İhsan Yılmaz

draege.bsky.social
Jonas Draege @draege.bsky.social · Sep 11
My article "Film-Making the Nation Great Again" with
@liselhintz.bsky.social is out now in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social!

doi.org/10.1017/S153...

We show how Turkey’s ruling party instrumentalizes history through emotionally evocative videos to legitimize the authoritarian incumbent

🧵
Author Screenshot (T.C. İletişim Başkanlığı 2020)

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz, Jo Barraket, Catriona Seth

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · Sep 7
Warsaw opens metro station ‘express’ library to get commuters off their phones
Warsaw opens metro station ‘express’ library to get commuters off their phones
Metroteka aims to encourage people to read more in country that lost majority of libraries in second world war
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Axel Bruns, İhsan Yılmaz

crikey.com.au
Crikey @crikey.com.au · Sep 4
The golden rule of reporting on neo-Nazis? Don’t interview them.
How to report on neo-Nazis without giving them what they want
Media coverage of the anti-immigration marches was a 'propaganda triumph' for Australian neo-Nazis, who use media-baiting tactics to spread their message.
www.crikey.com.au

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

australia.theguardian.com
Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · Sep 4
Daniel Andrews’ photo with dictators is a glaring reminder of Australia’s hypocrisy on human rights | Daniela Gavshon
Daniel Andrews’ photo with dictators is a glaring reminder of Australia’s hypocrisy on human rights | Daniela Gavshon
A government can’t half care about human rights. And Australia’s ‘disagree where we must’ approach with China enables abuse and undermines our national interest * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A photo of former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews alongside the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, during a military parade in Beijing raised troubling questions. Earlier, former New South Wales premier Bob Carr sought to pre-emptively justify his possible attendance at the event (although he didn’t in the end) in an opinion piece. While it is difficult for the Australian government to control the actions of former officials, the photo still raises the question how the two former premiers found themselves in a situation where they were either in a photo or contemplated attending an event with all these known grave violators of human rights. Perhaps it is because the Australian government sends mixed messages about responding to human rights abuses when committed by some governments. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

alexdukalskis.bsky.social
Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · Sep 3
“Diffusion of Digital Authoritarian Practices in China’s Neighbourhood: The Cases of Iran and Pakistan.”

by Galib Bashirov, Shahram Akbarzadeh, @ihsanylmz.bsky.social and Zahid Shahab Ahmed

in @democratization.bsky.social (2025)

#AutumnReading
Diffusion of digital authoritarian practices in China’s neighbourhood: the cases of Iran and Pakistan
This article examines mechanisms for the diffusion of digital authoritarian practices, focusing on China and two of its regional partners in South and West Asia: Iran and Pakistan. We investigate t...
doi.org

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz, Marcus Matthias Keupp

bloomberg.com
Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · Sep 1
Here’s what you need to know to start your day
Modi Shores Up Ties With China, Russia in Defiance of Trump
Good morning. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Vladimir Putin today after he reset relations with China. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees the war in Ukraine dragging on with no clear end in sight. And the UK wins a £10 billion deal from Norway’s navy. Listen to the day’s top stories.
bloom.bg

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Jan W. Mueller, Archon Fung , and 12 more

dziblatt.bsky.social
Daniel Ziblatt @dziblatt.bsky.social · Aug 28
A new piece I wrote appearing in FOREIGN AFFAIRS today

www.foreignaffairs.com/germany/warn...
Warnings From Weimar
Why bargaining with authoritarians fails.
www.foreignaffairs.com

ihsanylmz.bsky.social
Ihsan Yilmaz @ihsanylmz.bsky.social · Aug 8
Foreign interference can be hidden in plain sight. Here’s how countries use ‘sharp power’ in Australia

theconversation.com/foreign-inte...
Foreign interference can be hidden in plain sight. Here’s how countries use ‘sharp power’ in Australia
Authoritarian nations are using new tactics, from emotional manipulation to digital surveillance, to sway diaspora attitudes in their favour.
theconversation.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz

newlinesmag.bsky.social
New Lines Magazine @newlinesmag.bsky.social · Aug 4
The dam of Gaza genocide denial has well and truly broken. While Israel’s supporters in the West still reject the charge, many media outlets are coming off the fence. Genocide scholar Martin Shaw reflects on the shift for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
The Dam of Gaza Genocide Denial Has Broken
Several prominent media outlets are coming off the fence over Israel’s actions, but a conspiracy of helplessness still prevails
newlinesmag.com

Reposted by Axel Bruns, İhsan Yılmaz

katemfitzgerald.bsky.social
Kate FitzGerald @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social · Aug 1
Happy publication week! 🎉

I had the genuine pleasure of chatting with @arielbogle.bsky.social and @cameronwilson.bsky.social last week about their new book, CONSPIRACY NATION.

Can confirm, it’s an excellent read.

You can hear their thoughts on the link below: open.spotify.com/episode/00Go...
Episode 31: Conspiracy Nation Book Launch with Ariel Bogle and Cameron Wilson
Read Them Sideways · Episode
open.spotify.com

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz, Stuart White

jwmueller-pu.bsky.social
Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · Jul 31
👇
gregsargent.bsky.social Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · Jul 31
Wow. A group of top scholars at Harvard just sent a letter to its president, Alan Garber, warning against surrendering to Trump.

Signatories include Steven Levitsky, Dani Rodrik, Ryan Enos, Theda Skocpol, and Steven Walt.

Someone forwarded it to me. Read it here:

ihsanylmz.bsky.social
Ihsan Yilmaz @ihsanylmz.bsky.social · Jul 31
The mathematics of starvation: how Israel caused a famine in Gaza www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
The mathematics of starvation: how Israel caused a famine in Gaza
Israel controls the flow of food into Gaza. It has calculated how many calories Palestinians need to stay alive. Its data shows only a fraction has been allowed in
www.theguardian.com