Patrick Porter
@patporter76.bsky.social
Prof, Int Security, @unibirmingham. Contributing ed, @TheCriticMag. @RUSI_org. @CatoFP. @RANDEurope. The Case for Realism, Stanford UP. 🇦🇺🇬🇧
Pinned
Patrick Porter
@patporter76.bsky.social
· May 31
https://sup.org/books/politics…
My book, "How to Survive a Hostile World: Power, Politics and The Case for Realism" w/ @stanfordpress is out in October. Defending the tradition in a time of war, climate crisis & economic dislocation.
sup.org/books/politics…
Now available for pre-order:
https://amzn.eu/d/bJNCT46
sup.org/books/politics…
Now available for pre-order:
https://amzn.eu/d/bJNCT46
Lad
A fabulous read: it excises recent distortions but also long-standing idealisations of Churchill's thinking about foreign affairs. What is revealed is a Churchill much more complex and nuanced.
November 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Lad
Reposted by Patrick Porter
"As we wrestle with our own predicaments abroad, the Churchill of history is a better guide than the Disney version".
@patporter76.bsky.social on why we need to engage with the contradictions & compromises of the actual Churchill, not the "loveable bulldog" of myth.
thecritic.co.uk/winston-chur...
@patporter76.bsky.social on why we need to engage with the contradictions & compromises of the actual Churchill, not the "loveable bulldog" of myth.
thecritic.co.uk/winston-chur...
Winston Churchill was not Tony Blair | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
Historian and culture warrior Andrew Roberts is right to rebuke the MAGA fringe and its line of attack on mid-century British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, now a figure of legend and myth.
thecritic.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
"As we wrestle with our own predicaments abroad, the Churchill of history is a better guide than the Disney version".
@patporter76.bsky.social on why we need to engage with the contradictions & compromises of the actual Churchill, not the "loveable bulldog" of myth.
thecritic.co.uk/winston-chur...
@patporter76.bsky.social on why we need to engage with the contradictions & compromises of the actual Churchill, not the "loveable bulldog" of myth.
thecritic.co.uk/winston-chur...
My piece in @TheCriticMag, "Winston Churchill was not Tony Blair."
Andrew Roberts is right to rebuke the MAGA fringe for their brand of ww2 revisionism. But Churchill was not consistently a champion of "internationalism and interventionism."
thecritic.co.uk/winston-chur...
Andrew Roberts is right to rebuke the MAGA fringe for their brand of ww2 revisionism. But Churchill was not consistently a champion of "internationalism and interventionism."
thecritic.co.uk/winston-chur...
Winston Churchill was not Tony Blair | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
Historian and culture warrior Andrew Roberts is right to rebuke the MAGA fringe and its line of attack on mid-century British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, now a figure of legend and myth.
thecritic.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 6:47 AM
My piece in @TheCriticMag, "Winston Churchill was not Tony Blair."
Andrew Roberts is right to rebuke the MAGA fringe for their brand of ww2 revisionism. But Churchill was not consistently a champion of "internationalism and interventionism."
thecritic.co.uk/winston-chur...
Andrew Roberts is right to rebuke the MAGA fringe for their brand of ww2 revisionism. But Churchill was not consistently a champion of "internationalism and interventionism."
thecritic.co.uk/winston-chur...
My piece in @TheCriticMag, "No, Cheney was not the boss of Bush."
The 43rd president was not deferential, and overruled his vice president on some important decisions.
thecritic.co.uk/no-cheney-wa...
The 43rd president was not deferential, and overruled his vice president on some important decisions.
thecritic.co.uk/no-cheney-wa...
No, Cheney was not the boss of Bush | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
The death of former U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney has revived an old canard from political discussion, decades old. It is the widespread notion that President George W. Bush, in office 2001-2009…
thecritic.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:31 AM
My piece in @TheCriticMag, "No, Cheney was not the boss of Bush."
The 43rd president was not deferential, and overruled his vice president on some important decisions.
thecritic.co.uk/no-cheney-wa...
The 43rd president was not deferential, and overruled his vice president on some important decisions.
thecritic.co.uk/no-cheney-wa...
Reposted by Patrick Porter
I've only just been able to watch this, as I was teaching at the time, but it's excellent.
Clear-eyed, challenging & wide-ranging, it grapples with hard questions about the stakes of the war, what Britons are willing to pay, the reliability of NATO & who supplies new weapons.
Well worth watching.
Clear-eyed, challenging & wide-ranging, it grapples with hard questions about the stakes of the war, what Britons are willing to pay, the reliability of NATO & who supplies new weapons.
Well worth watching.
Our webinar on "Whatever it Takes: The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine" is now online.
Starring @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvQ...
Starring @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvQ...
"Whatever it takes": The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine
YouTube video by Mile End Institute
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I've only just been able to watch this, as I was teaching at the time, but it's excellent.
Clear-eyed, challenging & wide-ranging, it grapples with hard questions about the stakes of the war, what Britons are willing to pay, the reliability of NATO & who supplies new weapons.
Well worth watching.
Clear-eyed, challenging & wide-ranging, it grapples with hard questions about the stakes of the war, what Britons are willing to pay, the reliability of NATO & who supplies new weapons.
Well worth watching.
Delighted to have been part of this!
Our webinar on "Whatever it Takes: The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine" is now online.
Starring @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvQ...
Starring @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvQ...
"Whatever it takes": The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine
YouTube video by Mile End Institute
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Delighted to have been part of this!
My latest piece for @TheCriticMag, "The Folly of Disarmament."
Zarah Sultana's glib, clickbait rhetoric does a disservice to the long tradition of serious leftist thought about defence and the working class.
thecritic.co.uk/the-folly-of...
Zarah Sultana's glib, clickbait rhetoric does a disservice to the long tradition of serious leftist thought about defence and the working class.
thecritic.co.uk/the-folly-of...
The folly of disarmament | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
This past week, the radical parliamentarian Zarah Sultana offered her thoughts on foreign and defence policy in various forums. NATO, we heard, is nothing but an “imperialist war machine”…
thecritic.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM
My latest piece for @TheCriticMag, "The Folly of Disarmament."
Zarah Sultana's glib, clickbait rhetoric does a disservice to the long tradition of serious leftist thought about defence and the working class.
thecritic.co.uk/the-folly-of...
Zarah Sultana's glib, clickbait rhetoric does a disservice to the long tradition of serious leftist thought about defence and the working class.
thecritic.co.uk/the-folly-of...
Reposted by Patrick Porter
It was great to discuss @patporter76.bsky.social's new book 📕 "How to Survive A Hostile World: Power, Politics, and the Case for Realism" (lnkd.in/e2J27rWC) yesterday at the University of Birmingham book launch event (with Rita Floyd and Marco Vieira). Get a copy today!
October 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
It was great to discuss @patporter76.bsky.social's new book 📕 "How to Survive A Hostile World: Power, Politics, and the Case for Realism" (lnkd.in/e2J27rWC) yesterday at the University of Birmingham book launch event (with Rita Floyd and Marco Vieira). Get a copy today!
Reposted by Patrick Porter
We'll be joined by
@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)
@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)
@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)
@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)
@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
October 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
We'll be joined by
@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)
@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)
@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)
@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)
@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)
@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
Reposted by Patrick Porter
Join @patporter76.bsky.social from 13:30 tomorrow for the book launch for his latest work. This book is for readers who are looking for sensible guidance on how to work within that reality and survive in an increasingly hostile world
Details here:
buff.ly/ksMO2pS
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
Details here:
buff.ly/ksMO2pS
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Join @patporter76.bsky.social from 13:30 tomorrow for the book launch for his latest work. This book is for readers who are looking for sensible guidance on how to work within that reality and survive in an increasingly hostile world
Details here:
buff.ly/ksMO2pS
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
Details here:
buff.ly/ksMO2pS
@stanfordpress.bsky.social
Reposted by Patrick Porter
A cogent and convincing article. (Back in 1968 Denis Healey announced the running down of UK commitments east of Suez, but the hankering for global clout hasn't eased off even now.)
October 12, 2025 at 11:19 AM
A cogent and convincing article. (Back in 1968 Denis Healey announced the running down of UK commitments east of Suez, but the hankering for global clout hasn't eased off even now.)
My piece in @TheCriticMag: in the eternal argument between continentalism and blue water worldwide posture, Britain should prioritise its region more, and fret about worldwide importance less. Instead of obsessing with being "global", be serious.
thecritic.co.uk/against-glob...
thecritic.co.uk/against-glob...
Against global Britain | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
Fifteen years ago at a London foreign policy breakfast in a bunker, a pathology that blights British statecraft reared its head. “We’ve got to have a global role”, insisted a senior member of…
thecritic.co.uk
October 12, 2025 at 5:58 AM
My piece in @TheCriticMag: in the eternal argument between continentalism and blue water worldwide posture, Britain should prioritise its region more, and fret about worldwide importance less. Instead of obsessing with being "global", be serious.
thecritic.co.uk/against-glob...
thecritic.co.uk/against-glob...
If Oxford is within your range this Tuesday, 14th October, @OxfordCCW is launching my book on realism at All Souls Library, 130pm. An all star panel: Jeanne Morefield, @SeanMolloyIR, Susan Martin and @blagden_david. All welcome! Pets not encouraged.
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk/events/2025/...
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk/events/2025/...
How to Survive a Hostile World by Patrick Porter — The Changing Character of War Centre
Tuesday 14 October, 13.30 Old Library, All Souls
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
If Oxford is within your range this Tuesday, 14th October, @OxfordCCW is launching my book on realism at All Souls Library, 130pm. An all star panel: Jeanne Morefield, @SeanMolloyIR, Susan Martin and @blagden_david. All welcome! Pets not encouraged.
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk/events/2025/...
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk/events/2025/...
Reposted by Patrick Porter
How to Survive a Hostile World is a defense of an ancient way of thinking about international politics: realism. Patrick Porter defends the realist approach to understanding the world by addressing the most robust critiques of the tradition https://ow.ly/Gz2T50X7kmC
October 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
How to Survive a Hostile World is a defense of an ancient way of thinking about international politics: realism. Patrick Porter defends the realist approach to understanding the world by addressing the most robust critiques of the tradition https://ow.ly/Gz2T50X7kmC
"The monks of Lindisfarne rejected violence in their dedication to the life to come. But the Vikings who laid their world to waste prayed to different gods." My piece in @TheCriticMag, making the case for Realism in international politics. Book now out!
thecritic.co.uk/the-case-for...
thecritic.co.uk/the-case-for...
The case for realism | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
Look at the wreckage, from Ukraine to Gaza. Where there is less wreckage, note the air of growing menace.
thecritic.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 7:43 AM
"The monks of Lindisfarne rejected violence in their dedication to the life to come. But the Vikings who laid their world to waste prayed to different gods." My piece in @TheCriticMag, making the case for Realism in international politics. Book now out!
thecritic.co.uk/the-case-for...
thecritic.co.uk/the-case-for...
Reposted by Patrick Porter
Out now, folks! Be like Judah.
Halfway through this, and really enjoying it so far. It's accessible, compelling, well-argued and filled with literary asides like this one:
"In the quiet of night, adversaries wait for their moment."
So manipulative, @patporter76.bsky.social!
"In the quiet of night, adversaries wait for their moment."
So manipulative, @patporter76.bsky.social!
Looking forward to going through this, @patporter76.bsky.social! Just arrived today.
(I'll note that I always get a chuckle out of how much work goes into defending an approach whose name suggests it needs none.)
(I'll note that I always get a chuckle out of how much work goes into defending an approach whose name suggests it needs none.)
September 21, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Out now, folks! Be like Judah.
My book is being launched on 14 October in Oxford, All Soul's College, at 1:30pm. How to Survive a Hostile World: Power, Politics and the Case for Realism. A world class panel of Jeanne Morefield, Susan Martin, @blagden_david @SeanMolloyIR All Welcome!
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk/events/2025/...
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk/events/2025/...
How to Survive a Hostile World by Patrick Porter — The Changing Character of War Centre
Tuesday 14 October, 13.30 Old Library, All Souls
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk
September 19, 2025 at 5:38 AM
My book is being launched on 14 October in Oxford, All Soul's College, at 1:30pm. How to Survive a Hostile World: Power, Politics and the Case for Realism. A world class panel of Jeanne Morefield, Susan Martin, @blagden_david @SeanMolloyIR All Welcome!
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk/events/2025/...
www.ccw.ox.ac.uk/events/2025/...
My piece in The Critic, "Alliances are overrated." Some anti-Trumpists revere them as an overcorrection. While they can be valuable, they are not a reliable substitute for self-help. And they are best managed without sentimentality as a means to an end.
thecritic.co.uk/alliances-ar...
thecritic.co.uk/alliances-ar...
Alliances are overrated | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
Appalled by President Donald Trump and his overt contempt towards U.S. alliances, offended national security officials, commentators and scholars have fallen prey to an overcorrection.
thecritic.co.uk
September 18, 2025 at 5:43 AM
My piece in The Critic, "Alliances are overrated." Some anti-Trumpists revere them as an overcorrection. While they can be valuable, they are not a reliable substitute for self-help. And they are best managed without sentimentality as a means to an end.
thecritic.co.uk/alliances-ar...
thecritic.co.uk/alliances-ar...
Lad
Just started it yesterday, Patrick, and your writing is such a pleasure to read. You might turn me into a real(ish)ist yet!
September 16, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Lad
Out now, folks!
Looking forward to going through this, @patporter76.bsky.social! Just arrived today.
(I'll note that I always get a chuckle out of how much work goes into defending an approach whose name suggests it needs none.)
(I'll note that I always get a chuckle out of how much work goes into defending an approach whose name suggests it needs none.)
How to Survive a Hostile World | Stanford University Press
The oldest ideas are the best. This book is a defense of an ancient way of thinking about international politics: realism. Patrick Porter, a scholar of international relations, defends the realist app...
www.sup.org
September 16, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Out now, folks!
My piece in @TheCriticMag, Imperial Trump. This president is no isolationist, given the record of what he does in office. But the label will persist regardless, thanks to political convenience and the mediocrity of many commentators.
thecritic.co.uk/imperial-tru...
thecritic.co.uk/imperial-tru...
Imperial Trump | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
Not so isolationist, then? Seven months into the second presidency of Donald Trump, the word “isolationist” is a demonstrably inaccurate description of this ruler’s statecraft. If bombing Iran and…
thecritic.co.uk
September 2, 2025 at 3:42 AM
My piece in @TheCriticMag, Imperial Trump. This president is no isolationist, given the record of what he does in office. But the label will persist regardless, thanks to political convenience and the mediocrity of many commentators.
thecritic.co.uk/imperial-tru...
thecritic.co.uk/imperial-tru...
We have liftoff! With thanks to @stanfordpress. To be launched in Oxford with @OxfordCCW, details to follow. Coming in October.
August 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
We have liftoff! With thanks to @stanfordpress. To be launched in Oxford with @OxfordCCW, details to follow. Coming in October.
My article in @TheCriticMag: looking back eighty years on, there were no good choices for Truman when he launched atomic strikes on Japan, morally or strategically.
thecritic.co.uk/trumans-choi...
thecritic.co.uk/trumans-choi...
Truman’s choice | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
Somehow, the idea persists that American President Harry Truman’s decision to attack Imperial Japan with atomic bombs in August 1945 was obviously wrong — strategically and morally.
thecritic.co.uk
August 12, 2025 at 10:39 PM
My article in @TheCriticMag: looking back eighty years on, there were no good choices for Truman when he launched atomic strikes on Japan, morally or strategically.
thecritic.co.uk/trumans-choi...
thecritic.co.uk/trumans-choi...
My piece on AUKUS in @TheCriticMag. We need a little more Machiavelli downunder.
thecritic.co.uk/the-trouble-...
thecritic.co.uk/the-trouble-...
The trouble with AUKUS | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine
How should Australia secure itself against serious military powers? For decades, the question was peripheral in public life. Sure, the security problem haunted debates about borders or terrorism.
thecritic.co.uk
August 5, 2025 at 6:25 AM
My piece on AUKUS in @TheCriticMag. We need a little more Machiavelli downunder.
thecritic.co.uk/the-trouble-...
thecritic.co.uk/the-trouble-...