John Nilsson-Wright
@jnilssonwright.bsky.social
Fuji Bank Professor of Japanese Politics & the International Relations of East Asia, Cambridge; Head, Japan and Koreas Programme,
@CamGeopolitics , University of Cambridge
@CamGeopolitics , University of Cambridge
Some thoughts on the state of South Korea's politics and diplomacy a year on from Yoon's extraordinary martial law declaration.
engelsbergideas.com/essays/the-l...
engelsbergideas.com/essays/the-l...
The long tail of Seoul's political crisis
A year on from the martial law disaster, South Korean democracy has recovered from its existential moment. Yet it would be premature to assume the country is back on a stable democratic track.
engelsbergideas.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Some thoughts on the state of South Korea's politics and diplomacy a year on from Yoon's extraordinary martial law declaration.
engelsbergideas.com/essays/the-l...
engelsbergideas.com/essays/the-l...
An optimistic perspective ahead of 2026. The Trump Vibe Shift Is Dead www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/o...
Opinion | The Trump Vibe Shift Is Dead
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:04 AM
An optimistic perspective ahead of 2026. The Trump Vibe Shift Is Dead www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/o...
Confirmation that the authoritarian turn is real, global & a challenge to the democratic present AND the progressive past. To understand this appeal, focus on the emotional unmooring of Chileans who talk of “malestar,” - or unease, unrest, malaise. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/o...
Opinion | Chile’s Election Is More Than Just a Swerve to the Right
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Confirmation that the authoritarian turn is real, global & a challenge to the democratic present AND the progressive past. To understand this appeal, focus on the emotional unmooring of Chileans who talk of “malestar,” - or unease, unrest, malaise. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/o...
A provocative but productive starting point - what if feeling, or rather its subjective experiential quality, is not universal. The similarities and differences between the work of Rob Boddice and Javier Moscoso is fascinating.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
What if Our Ancestors Didn’t Feel Anything Like We Do?
The historians who want to know how our ancestors experienced love, anger, fear, and sorrow
www.theatlantic.com
December 13, 2025 at 8:22 AM
A provocative but productive starting point - what if feeling, or rather its subjective experiential quality, is not universal. The similarities and differences between the work of Rob Boddice and Javier Moscoso is fascinating.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Trump continues to seek to corrupt the soul of America…the coarsening of values and the weakening of moral guardrails is an insidious thing.
smids://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/opinion/trump-boat-strikes.html?smid=url-share
smids://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/opinion/trump-boat-strikes.html?smid=url-share
Opinion | What Trump Is Really Doing With His Boat Strikes
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Trump continues to seek to corrupt the soul of America…the coarsening of values and the weakening of moral guardrails is an insidious thing.
smids://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/opinion/trump-boat-strikes.html?smid=url-share
smids://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/opinion/trump-boat-strikes.html?smid=url-share
A useful but sobering discussion of the state of populism in Europe and the failures of current governments to confront the challenge adequately.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
Opinion | They Were Supposed to Save Europe. Instead, They’re Condemning It to Horrors.
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:50 AM
A useful but sobering discussion of the state of populism in Europe and the failures of current governments to confront the challenge adequately.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
During the 1st Trump admin, I raised at a European workshop the possibility that the US might withdraw its troops from the Korean peninsula - an idea met with deep scepticism. Now the idea seems worryingly plausible as Chungin Moon explains in this compelling piece.
www.cirsd.org/en/horizons/...
www.cirsd.org/en/horizons/...
Thinking the Unthinkable | An East Asia without the U.S.? - CIRSD
CIRSD
www.cirsd.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:00 AM
During the 1st Trump admin, I raised at a European workshop the possibility that the US might withdraw its troops from the Korean peninsula - an idea met with deep scepticism. Now the idea seems worryingly plausible as Chungin Moon explains in this compelling piece.
www.cirsd.org/en/horizons/...
www.cirsd.org/en/horizons/...
Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
www.globalasia.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Without a doubt the most chilling account of the erosion of legal norms in Trump’s America. A full authoritarian, intimidatory assault on the rule of law in the United States. ‘It’s a Culture Now of Fear’: A Year of Chaos Inside the Justice Department www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
60 Attorneys on the Year of Chaos Inside Trump’s Justice Department
Sixty former staffers describe an environment of suspicion and intimidation within the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Without a doubt the most chilling account of the erosion of legal norms in Trump’s America. A full authoritarian, intimidatory assault on the rule of law in the United States. ‘It’s a Culture Now of Fear’: A Year of Chaos Inside the Justice Department www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
@fareedzakaria.bsky.social is right to focus on the politics of nostalgia as a powerful explanation for #populism's contemporary and historical appeal. But equally powerful is the sense of anger and the agency that this emotion provides to the disaffected.
wapo.st/4orQjcD
wapo.st/4orQjcD
Opinion | The lessons Democrats need to learn to win again
Continued success for Democrats depends on drawing the right insights from this week’s elections.
wapo.st
November 9, 2025 at 10:10 AM
@fareedzakaria.bsky.social is right to focus on the politics of nostalgia as a powerful explanation for #populism's contemporary and historical appeal. But equally powerful is the sense of anger and the agency that this emotion provides to the disaffected.
wapo.st/4orQjcD
wapo.st/4orQjcD
An interesting opportunity to think about Asian development from a comparative perspective from a thoughtful and experienced and distinguished sociologist.
New event! The four talent giants: National strategies for human resource development across Japan, Australia, China, and India, with Gi-Wook Shin & @jnilssonwright.bsky.social
🗓️Mon 10th Nov, 11:00-12:30
🗺️Bradfield Room, Darwin
🖋️https://bit.ly/4ntLG0k
🗓️Mon 10th Nov, 11:00-12:30
🗺️Bradfield Room, Darwin
🖋️https://bit.ly/4ntLG0k
October 31, 2025 at 3:17 PM
An interesting opportunity to think about Asian development from a comparative perspective from a thoughtful and experienced and distinguished sociologist.
Timothy Cho’s story is extraordinary and testimony to his courage, resilience and faith.
Professor @jnilssonwright.bsky.social, Darwin Fellow and Head of the Japan and Koreas Programme at the Centre for Geopolitics, contributed to this powerful documentary by the BBC World Service on the life of North Korean defector and human rights activist Timothy Cho.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...?
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...?
Heart and Soul - The right thing: A deal with God - BBC Sounds
The North Korean defector who challenged God from a prison cell in Shanghai
www.bbc.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Timothy Cho’s story is extraordinary and testimony to his courage, resilience and faith.
New video of our recent Korea Foundation-한국국제교류재단 conference on US-Japan-ROK relations. Thanks to KF, @camgeopolitics.bsky.social @crasshlive.bsky.social , FAMES, @darwincollegecam.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
sinel1: youtu.be/Q5g2aFRTmtg?...
Panel2: youtu.be/T17_gZAfFQQ?...
sinel1: youtu.be/Q5g2aFRTmtg?...
Panel2: youtu.be/T17_gZAfFQQ?...
Alliances in Alignment: Panel 1 - Trilateralism: the Past and the Present
YouTube video by Centre for Geopolitics
youtu.be
October 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
New video of our recent Korea Foundation-한국국제교류재단 conference on US-Japan-ROK relations. Thanks to KF, @camgeopolitics.bsky.social @crasshlive.bsky.social , FAMES, @darwincollegecam.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
sinel1: youtu.be/Q5g2aFRTmtg?...
Panel2: youtu.be/T17_gZAfFQQ?...
sinel1: youtu.be/Q5g2aFRTmtg?...
Panel2: youtu.be/T17_gZAfFQQ?...
Identifying the populist phenomenon and the sharp drop in faith in #democracy is depressingly easy. Understanding the root causes of this is harder, but it is surely not merely a function of economic precariousness.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
France is not alone in its political crisis – belief in a democratic world is vanishing | Simon Tisdall
The populist right offers a solution in the form of turning back the clock. Macron and his counterparts need to find a different answer fast, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Identifying the populist phenomenon and the sharp drop in faith in #democracy is depressingly easy. Understanding the root causes of this is harder, but it is surely not merely a function of economic precariousness.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Fascinating & illuminating discussion w/all star cast of commentators from #Japan, #SouthKorea, the #USA and #Europe. Thanks to Korea Foundation for support w/ Yuichi Hosoya Jeffrey Hornung Sheila Smith G Garbagni E Howell, Giwook Shin, Akita Hiroyuki Young-kwan Yoon Chris Hughes & Kuyoun Chung
October 12, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Fascinating & illuminating discussion w/all star cast of commentators from #Japan, #SouthKorea, the #USA and #Europe. Thanks to Korea Foundation for support w/ Yuichi Hosoya Jeffrey Hornung Sheila Smith G Garbagni E Howell, Giwook Shin, Akita Hiroyuki Young-kwan Yoon Chris Hughes & Kuyoun Chung
Professor #Chunginmoon of #Yonsei university provides an illuminating perspective on #ROK-#Japan-#US #trilateralism.
On Geopolitics, Currents - Episode 3 is available now! President Lee Jae-myung and South Korean Foreign Policy in a time of uncertainty
With Prof @jnilssonwright.bsky.social
Listen on:
Apple podcasts: bit.ly/Currents3Apple
Spotify: bit.ly/Currents3Spot
With Prof @jnilssonwright.bsky.social
Listen on:
Apple podcasts: bit.ly/Currents3Apple
Spotify: bit.ly/Currents3Spot
October 3, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Professor #Chunginmoon of #Yonsei university provides an illuminating perspective on #ROK-#Japan-#US #trilateralism.
Some thoughts, ahead of this weekend’s LDP presidential election, on the challenges for Japan’s governing party.
engelsbergideas.com/essays/japan...
engelsbergideas.com/essays/japan...
Japan between the Great Powers
Japan’s longtime-ruling party has survived potentially fatal setbacks before. But recovering from the current political crisis and navigating a new era of Great Power competition will require a great ...
engelsbergideas.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Some thoughts, ahead of this weekend’s LDP presidential election, on the challenges for Japan’s governing party.
engelsbergideas.com/essays/japan...
engelsbergideas.com/essays/japan...
Reposted by John Nilsson-Wright
Great discussion with Steve Herman, @newsguy.bsky.social , until recently VOA’s chief national correspondent, abou the threats to press freedom, personal liberty and the Open Society in #Trump's America.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
On Geopolitics Currents - Episode 2: Trump and the Fourth Estate
YouTube video by Centre for Geopolitics
www.youtube.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Great discussion with Steve Herman, @newsguy.bsky.social , until recently VOA’s chief national correspondent, abou the threats to press freedom, personal liberty and the Open Society in #Trump's America.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Will Shut Down www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/b...
A further effort by Trump to muzzle the media. For more on this see:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
A further effort by Trump to muzzle the media. For more on this see:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Will Shut Down
www.nytimes.com
August 2, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Will Shut Down www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/b...
A further effort by Trump to muzzle the media. For more on this see:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
A further effort by Trump to muzzle the media. For more on this see:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
Great discussion with Steve Herman, @newsguy.bsky.social , until recently VOA’s chief national correspondent, abou the threats to press freedom, personal liberty and the Open Society in #Trump's America.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
On Geopolitics Currents - Episode 2: Trump and the Fourth Estate
YouTube video by Centre for Geopolitics
www.youtube.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Great discussion with Steve Herman, @newsguy.bsky.social , until recently VOA’s chief national correspondent, abou the threats to press freedom, personal liberty and the Open Society in #Trump's America.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3291...
www.asahi.com/articles/AST...
Excellent video explainer of Ishiba’s problems, including results of his meeting yesterday with Suga, Aso and Kishida - none of whom were prepared to endorse his continuation as PM. Race for successor likely to kick off in 2nd half of August.
Excellent video explainer of Ishiba’s problems, including results of his meeting yesterday with Suga, Aso and Kishida - none of whom were prepared to endorse his continuation as PM. Race for successor likely to kick off in 2nd half of August.
【解説人語】首相退陣論、強まる圧力 「ポスト石破」3つのポイント：朝日新聞
参院選で大敗した石破茂首相（自民党総裁）の進退が焦点になっています。23日には、麻生太郎、菅義偉両元首相、岸田文雄前首相の首相経験者3氏との異例の会談もありました。 会談後、記者団の取材に応じた石破…
www.asahi.com
July 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
www.asahi.com/articles/AST...
Excellent video explainer of Ishiba’s problems, including results of his meeting yesterday with Suga, Aso and Kishida - none of whom were prepared to endorse his continuation as PM. Race for successor likely to kick off in 2nd half of August.
Excellent video explainer of Ishiba’s problems, including results of his meeting yesterday with Suga, Aso and Kishida - none of whom were prepared to endorse his continuation as PM. Race for successor likely to kick off in 2nd half of August.
#Ishiba has ltd room for manoeuvre and no obvious path for governing. Prefectural party chapters demanding resignation & looking to convene joint LDP house convention to vote against PM. Also, key opposition party heads (Ishin, DPFP, CDP) won’t coop w/ LDP
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
［社説］国政の停滞回避へ石破首相は進退判断を - 日本経済新聞
自民党内で石破茂首相（党総裁）の辞任を求める声が強まってきた。経済や外交など国政に停滞は許されず、政権運営にこのまま展望が開けないのであれば首相は進退を判断すべきだ。参院選で自民党は大敗し、公明党と合わせた議席で衆院に続いて参院でも過半数を失った。首相は自公で過半数の議席確保を「必達目標」としていたにもかかわらず、比較第1党として「国政に停滞を招かない」と続投を表明した。そう断言するのなら首
www.nikkei.com
July 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
#Ishiba has ltd room for manoeuvre and no obvious path for governing. Prefectural party chapters demanding resignation & looking to convene joint LDP house convention to vote against PM. Also, key opposition party heads (Ishin, DPFP, CDP) won’t coop w/ LDP
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
The first in our new On Geopolitics podcasts is out. With @suzanneraine.bsky.social offering her dispassionate and historically informed perspective, we talk to Nobukatsu Kanehara, one of Japan’s leading strategic thinkers.
On Geopolitics Currents - Episode 1: Japan’s foreign policy challenges in the new Trump era is out now! Listen now with
@jnilssonwright.bsky.social and @suzanneraine.bsky.social
Apple bit.ly/Currents1Apple
Spotify bit.ly/Currents1Spot
YouTube bit.ly/Currents1YouT
@jnilssonwright.bsky.social and @suzanneraine.bsky.social
Apple bit.ly/Currents1Apple
Spotify bit.ly/Currents1Spot
YouTube bit.ly/Currents1YouT
Currents - Episode 1: Japan’s foreign policy challenges in the new Trump era
Podcast Episode · On Geopolitics · 07/23/2025 · 41m
bit.ly
July 23, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The first in our new On Geopolitics podcasts is out. With @suzanneraine.bsky.social offering her dispassionate and historically informed perspective, we talk to Nobukatsu Kanehara, one of Japan’s leading strategic thinkers.
#Japan's PM #Ishiba announces intention to resign w/in month, following breakthrough in trade talks w/ #US. This was inevitable, given need to take responsibility for 3 electoral defeats: metropolitan, lower & upper house elections
www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/202...
www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/202...
石破首相退陣へ、月内にも表明する方向で調整…関税協議の妥結踏まえ意向固める
【読売新聞】 石破首相（自民党総裁）は２３日、米国の関税措置を巡る日米協議が妥結したことを踏まえ、退陣する意向を固め、周辺に伝えた。月内にも退陣を表明する方向だ。２０日投開票の参院選で自民、公明両党が惨敗した後、首相は続投を表明した
www.yomiuri.co.jp
July 23, 2025 at 5:38 AM
#Japan's PM #Ishiba announces intention to resign w/in month, following breakthrough in trade talks w/ #US. This was inevitable, given need to take responsibility for 3 electoral defeats: metropolitan, lower & upper house elections
www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/202...
www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/202...
www.asahi.com/articles/AST... My thoughts on the recent Japanese Upper House election, courtesy of Asahi Shinbun
「タブーが消え、ポピュリストの波がきた」 英有識者がみる参院選：朝日新聞
20日の参院選では、与党である自民党と公明党が大敗し、国民民主党や参政党が議席を伸ばしました。国外の有識者には、この状況はどう見えるのか。日本の現代政治に詳しい英ケンブリッジ大のジョン・ニルソンライ…
www.asahi.com
July 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
www.asahi.com/articles/AST... My thoughts on the recent Japanese Upper House election, courtesy of Asahi Shinbun