Juha Tuovinen
@juhatuovinen.bsky.social
Constitutional lawyer at Durham Law School
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
This as not simply populism, it's an extreme assault on public institutions and structures. The last week has been about the BBC, but comes alongside mounting attacks on judicial independence/the European Court of Human Rights. Treating each issue in isolation will see them killed off one by one.
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 11:32 AM
This as not simply populism, it's an extreme assault on public institutions and structures. The last week has been about the BBC, but comes alongside mounting attacks on judicial independence/the European Court of Human Rights. Treating each issue in isolation will see them killed off one by one.
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Four (!) three-year postdoc positions available at @au.dk: international.au.dk/about/profil...
Join an incredible team & help understand the psychological & political implications of the clash between high-speed society & slow-speed democracy.
Please share! @tboeggild.bsky.social can help with Qs
Join an incredible team & help understand the psychological & political implications of the clash between high-speed society & slow-speed democracy.
Please share! @tboeggild.bsky.social can help with Qs
Four three-year postdoctoral positions in the project Slow-Motion Democracy - Vacancy at Aarhus University
Vacancy at Department of Political Science, Aarhus University
international.au.dk
November 6, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Four (!) three-year postdoc positions available at @au.dk: international.au.dk/about/profil...
Join an incredible team & help understand the psychological & political implications of the clash between high-speed society & slow-speed democracy.
Please share! @tboeggild.bsky.social can help with Qs
Join an incredible team & help understand the psychological & political implications of the clash between high-speed society & slow-speed democracy.
Please share! @tboeggild.bsky.social can help with Qs
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Hurricane Melissa has done catastrophic damage to Western Jamaica. We are used to hurricanes, but this is the worst hurricane on record that has ever hit the island. There has been devastation to infrastructure and housing. If you are able to, please donate to relief efforts: supportjamaica.gov.jm
October 31, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Hurricane Melissa has done catastrophic damage to Western Jamaica. We are used to hurricanes, but this is the worst hurricane on record that has ever hit the island. There has been devastation to infrastructure and housing. If you are able to, please donate to relief efforts: supportjamaica.gov.jm
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
In memory of Conor Gearty, Public Law's 2007 symposium on his Hamlyn Lectures, "Can Human Rights Survive?" is available to read here: www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/content/dam/...
www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
In memory of Conor Gearty, Public Law's 2007 symposium on his Hamlyn Lectures, "Can Human Rights Survive?" is available to read here: www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/content/dam/...
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Thanks for the “recommended” tag, Larry!
Excited to share my job-market paper, which uses the recent religious charter school case to show how faith-based entities secure public funds while sidestepping constitutional limits—a phenomenon I term “private disestablishment.”
Excited to share my job-market paper, which uses the recent religious charter school case to show how faith-based entities secure public funds while sidestepping constitutional limits—a phenomenon I term “private disestablishment.”
September 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Thanks for the “recommended” tag, Larry!
Excited to share my job-market paper, which uses the recent religious charter school case to show how faith-based entities secure public funds while sidestepping constitutional limits—a phenomenon I term “private disestablishment.”
Excited to share my job-market paper, which uses the recent religious charter school case to show how faith-based entities secure public funds while sidestepping constitutional limits—a phenomenon I term “private disestablishment.”
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Thanks for highlighting, Larry! This chapter argues that education law has privileged parental choice & religious freedom while sidelining equality. I argue for re-centering education as a right that secures both liberty & equality—the foundation of democratic citizenship.
Mukherjee on the Right to Education, buff.ly/0JzIfI1 - Gaurav Mukherjee (University of Connecticut Law; NYU Law; University of Melbourne - Asian Law Centre) has posted The Right to Education: Reconciling Liberty & Equality (Oxford Handbook on Economic and Social Rights) on SSRN.
Mukherjee on the Right to Education
Gaurav Mukherjee (University of Connecticut - School of Law; New York University School of Law; University of Melbourne - Asian Law Centre) has posted The Right to Education: Reconciling Liberty &…
buff.ly
August 18, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Thanks for highlighting, Larry! This chapter argues that education law has privileged parental choice & religious freedom while sidelining equality. I argue for re-centering education as a right that secures both liberty & equality—the foundation of democratic citizenship.
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
"The sabotaging of what normally is a consensual procedure is a test-run for prying away ever more members of the center-right from what remains of Angela Merkel’s legacy through US-style culture war."
Right-Wing Culture Warfare Comes to Germany
Jan-Werner Mueller worries that the governing Christian Democrats is beginning to engage in opportunistic norm-breaking.
www.project-syndicate.org
August 14, 2025 at 6:13 PM
"The sabotaging of what normally is a consensual procedure is a test-run for prying away ever more members of the center-right from what remains of Angela Merkel’s legacy through US-style culture war."
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
The next Public Law Conference will be held at University of Cape Town, 1-4 July 2026. The theme is Public Law and the Future of Constitutional Democracy. 2026 marks the 30 year anniversary since the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. More details coming soon.
August 9, 2025 at 12:57 AM
The next Public Law Conference will be held at University of Cape Town, 1-4 July 2026. The theme is Public Law and the Future of Constitutional Democracy. 2026 marks the 30 year anniversary since the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. More details coming soon.
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
1/3 Academic freedom is becoming an increasingly pressing issue worldwide, challenged in diverse political and legal contexts. Here are some recent resources : Special issue on academic freedom, edited by Kriszta Kovács and Janika Spannagel: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Global Constitutionalism: Volume 14 - Issue 1 | Cambridge Core
Cambridge Core - Global Constitutionalism - Volume 14 - Issue 1
www.cambridge.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
1/3 Academic freedom is becoming an increasingly pressing issue worldwide, challenged in diverse political and legal contexts. Here are some recent resources : Special issue on academic freedom, edited by Kriszta Kovács and Janika Spannagel: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Publication day! 💫
Our Verfassungsbook “Indian Constitutionalism at Crossroads: 2014-2024”, edited by ANMOL JAIN (@anmoljain-law.bsky.social) and TANJA HERKLOTZ (@tanjaherklotz.bsky.social) is now available in print and online! 📚
Check it out now! verfassungsblog.de/books/
Our Verfassungsbook “Indian Constitutionalism at Crossroads: 2014-2024”, edited by ANMOL JAIN (@anmoljain-law.bsky.social) and TANJA HERKLOTZ (@tanjaherklotz.bsky.social) is now available in print and online! 📚
Check it out now! verfassungsblog.de/books/
July 3, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Publication day! 💫
Our Verfassungsbook “Indian Constitutionalism at Crossroads: 2014-2024”, edited by ANMOL JAIN (@anmoljain-law.bsky.social) and TANJA HERKLOTZ (@tanjaherklotz.bsky.social) is now available in print and online! 📚
Check it out now! verfassungsblog.de/books/
Our Verfassungsbook “Indian Constitutionalism at Crossroads: 2014-2024”, edited by ANMOL JAIN (@anmoljain-law.bsky.social) and TANJA HERKLOTZ (@tanjaherklotz.bsky.social) is now available in print and online! 📚
Check it out now! verfassungsblog.de/books/
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Populism remains an important necessary concept to understand current political transformations. But analysts need to move away from it as the main focus. Authoritarian nativism, white supremacy, racism, sexism and fascism are the ideologies at the core of the current erosion of liberal democracy 1/
May 1, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Populism remains an important necessary concept to understand current political transformations. But analysts need to move away from it as the main focus. Authoritarian nativism, white supremacy, racism, sexism and fascism are the ideologies at the core of the current erosion of liberal democracy 1/
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Holding out for the day when I can afford to buy back all the articles I’ve published
Taylor bought back all of her music! Debut and Reputation (and all the other original recordings) belong to her now! The full letter is on her website.
May 30, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Holding out for the day when I can afford to buy back all the articles I’ve published
I’d strongly prefer being called a (potentially) “lucky loser” than being on the reserve list…
I like the concept of 'lucky loser' in tennis - someone eliminated in the qualifiers but allowed into the main tournament if another player withdraws.
We should have it in academia. When your paper is rejected, but getting a note a couple of weeks later saying they'll take it after all.
We should have it in academia. When your paper is rejected, but getting a note a couple of weeks later saying they'll take it after all.
May 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I’d strongly prefer being called a (potentially) “lucky loser” than being on the reserve list…
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Beauty of the English language: "in sync" is so much crisper and more elegant than Gleichschaltung.
Linda McMahon: "Universities should continue to be able to do research as long as they're abiding by the laws and in sync, I think, with the administration and what the administration is trying to accomplish."
May 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Beauty of the English language: "in sync" is so much crisper and more elegant than Gleichschaltung.
Remember those - partially very silly - changes that Meta announced to its content moderation policies in January? The @oversightboard.bsky.social has pushed back gently but it may also have adapted its own approach to better suit Meta's new stance...
How much has the Oversight Board adapted its practice to Meta’s new content moderation policy?
JUHA TUOVINEN (@juhatuovinen.bsky.social) illustrates, based on two recent cases, that the Board is tending toward a more permissive stance on discriminatory speech.
verfassungsblog.de/the-meta-ove...
JUHA TUOVINEN (@juhatuovinen.bsky.social) illustrates, based on two recent cases, that the Board is tending toward a more permissive stance on discriminatory speech.
verfassungsblog.de/the-meta-ove...
![Quote from our published article by author Juha Tuovinen: “[T]his trend appears to protect the expressions of those who use vague or humorous forms of language to spread hateful messages.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lwsmic4fvtzizgyujtgczkgv/bafkreig56mhqbcncffybcs22ws4rsfdymnzur36nepgi23dqols6sdxnla@jpeg)
May 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Remember those - partially very silly - changes that Meta announced to its content moderation policies in January? The @oversightboard.bsky.social has pushed back gently but it may also have adapted its own approach to better suit Meta's new stance...
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Why the new Hungarian Transparency Bill is an attack on the foundations of the European Union:
RENÁTA UITZ on the notorious transparency bill, why constitutional democracy in Hungary is under threat — and what the European Union should do now.
verfassungsblog.de/hungary-tran...
RENÁTA UITZ on the notorious transparency bill, why constitutional democracy in Hungary is under threat — and what the European Union should do now.
verfassungsblog.de/hungary-tran...
May 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Why the new Hungarian Transparency Bill is an attack on the foundations of the European Union:
RENÁTA UITZ on the notorious transparency bill, why constitutional democracy in Hungary is under threat — and what the European Union should do now.
verfassungsblog.de/hungary-tran...
RENÁTA UITZ on the notorious transparency bill, why constitutional democracy in Hungary is under threat — and what the European Union should do now.
verfassungsblog.de/hungary-tran...
This is an under-appreciated point in much of the thinking about democratic backsliding - much of society continues as "normal" and many not actively participating in the cruelty will even benefit in some way.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
America Is Watching the Rise of a Dual State
For most people, the courts will continue to operate as usual—until they don’t.
www.theatlantic.com
May 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
This is an under-appreciated point in much of the thinking about democratic backsliding - much of society continues as "normal" and many not actively participating in the cruelty will even benefit in some way.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
What if a TikTok ban says more about empire than about safety?
MARIE LAUR (marielaur.bsky.social) uncovers how the French TikTok ban in New Caledonia exposed colonial legacies at the heart of digital censorship and emergency powers.
verfassungsblog.de/the-tiktok-b...
MARIE LAUR (marielaur.bsky.social) uncovers how the French TikTok ban in New Caledonia exposed colonial legacies at the heart of digital censorship and emergency powers.
verfassungsblog.de/the-tiktok-b...
April 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
What if a TikTok ban says more about empire than about safety?
MARIE LAUR (marielaur.bsky.social) uncovers how the French TikTok ban in New Caledonia exposed colonial legacies at the heart of digital censorship and emergency powers.
verfassungsblog.de/the-tiktok-b...
MARIE LAUR (marielaur.bsky.social) uncovers how the French TikTok ban in New Caledonia exposed colonial legacies at the heart of digital censorship and emergency powers.
verfassungsblog.de/the-tiktok-b...
I have yet to read this carefully but I'm surprised the Meta Oversight Board allowed the display of the apartheid era South African flag. It's considered hate speech in SA and very few people would display if not to support apartheid.
www.oversightboard.com/decision/bun...
www.oversightboard.com/decision/bun...
Posts Displaying South Africa’s Apartheid-Era Flag | Oversight Board
Following a review of two Facebook posts containing images of South Africa’s 1928-1994 flag, the majority of the Board has upheld Meta’s decisions to keep them up. They do not clearly advocate for exc...
www.oversightboard.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I have yet to read this carefully but I'm surprised the Meta Oversight Board allowed the display of the apartheid era South African flag. It's considered hate speech in SA and very few people would display if not to support apartheid.
www.oversightboard.com/decision/bun...
www.oversightboard.com/decision/bun...
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
1/7 Can the executive ‘safeguard’ the constitution? The UK Constitution Committee says yes, but I worry. The plural UK executive means this is unlikely. And if we want internal executive checks like the civil service to work, we need to strengthen them now. Trump 2.0 is a warning.
How can we ensure that executive actors view themselves as stewards and guardians of the constitution?
BEN YONG (@bymyong.bsky.social) reflects on the promise and limits of institutional safeguards.
verfassungsblog.de/executive-co...
BEN YONG (@bymyong.bsky.social) reflects on the promise and limits of institutional safeguards.
verfassungsblog.de/executive-co...
April 1, 2025 at 7:07 AM
1/7 Can the executive ‘safeguard’ the constitution? The UK Constitution Committee says yes, but I worry. The plural UK executive means this is unlikely. And if we want internal executive checks like the civil service to work, we need to strengthen them now. Trump 2.0 is a warning.
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
🚨NEW ARTICLE 🚨 with Adam Peresman, @honoratam.bsky.social & @thoruplars.bsky.social
We show that those often seen as most critical of research - populists! - have relatively *high* trust in scientists across 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇿 🇩🇰 & are willing to follow their advice: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
🧵(1/4)
We show that those often seen as most critical of research - populists! - have relatively *high* trust in scientists across 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇿 🇩🇰 & are willing to follow their advice: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
🧵(1/4)
March 16, 2025 at 11:36 AM
🚨NEW ARTICLE 🚨 with Adam Peresman, @honoratam.bsky.social & @thoruplars.bsky.social
We show that those often seen as most critical of research - populists! - have relatively *high* trust in scientists across 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇿 🇩🇰 & are willing to follow their advice: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
🧵(1/4)
We show that those often seen as most critical of research - populists! - have relatively *high* trust in scientists across 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇿 🇩🇰 & are willing to follow their advice: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
🧵(1/4)
A good explainer of the constitutional theory side of Trump
Trump is not just grabbing power; he's also claiming authority.
How might conservative defenders of the theory of the unitary executive end up justifying his moves in court?
New column in The Guardian.
How might conservative defenders of the theory of the unitary executive end up justifying his moves in court?
New column in The Guardian.
Trump is concentrating power. A key faction of judges supports the idea | Jan-Werner Müller
The ‘unitary executive’ theory – backed by some conservative lawyers – is largely bogus. But it could wreak havoc on democracy
www.theguardian.com
March 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
A good explainer of the constitutional theory side of Trump
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Call for papers! @katyhayward.bsky.social, @anuragdeb.bsky.social, Ewan Smith and I are organising a conference on parity of esteem as a constitutional principle at QUB on 9-10 April. We've a few slots for presenters left, so still time to submit an abstract!
www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI...
www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI...
Call for Papers - Conference: Parity of Esteem under the Good Friday Agreement and Beyond | Research | Queen's University Belfast
www.qub.ac.uk
March 3, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Call for papers! @katyhayward.bsky.social, @anuragdeb.bsky.social, Ewan Smith and I are organising a conference on parity of esteem as a constitutional principle at QUB on 9-10 April. We've a few slots for presenters left, so still time to submit an abstract!
www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI...
www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI...
Reposted by Juha Tuovinen
Along with Stuart Macdonald and @drkatyvaughan.bsky.social, I am compiling a new Concise Encyclopaedia of Terrorism Law, to be published by @elgarpublishing.bsky.social. We already have a fantastic line up of contributors, but now we are looking for more!
February 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Along with Stuart Macdonald and @drkatyvaughan.bsky.social, I am compiling a new Concise Encyclopaedia of Terrorism Law, to be published by @elgarpublishing.bsky.social. We already have a fantastic line up of contributors, but now we are looking for more!
The one where Ben figures out Parliament's pronouns.
Parliament is a ‘they’. But it is also an ‘it’.
Trying to expand my audience to public lawyers, parliamentary nerds and … metaphysicians
Trying to expand my audience to public lawyers, parliamentary nerds and … metaphysicians
Ben Yong: What—and Who—is Parliament? ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/02/13/b...
February 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The one where Ben figures out Parliament's pronouns.