ProfAFinlayson
@profafinlayson.bsky.social
Prof of Political & Social Theory @ UEA: regularly a political theorist, often a political analyst, always a rhetorician. Sometimes I teach people how to make political speeches; usually they are happy about it. Mostly I study Reactionary Digital Politics.
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
I’ve never been wholly convinced that the BBC is nothing more than a hotbed of cultural liberals but listening to them fail to defend themselves, blind to the political moves happening all around them, insisting they followed the rules it’s hard not to conclude…
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I’ve never been wholly convinced that the BBC is nothing more than a hotbed of cultural liberals but listening to them fail to defend themselves, blind to the political moves happening all around them, insisting they followed the rules it’s hard not to conclude…
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
This is a really fascinating discussion of changing linguistic conventions and how women are expected to write differently.
debuk.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/e...
debuk.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/e...
Enough already!!! Punctuation, silly women and soundbite science
One of last week’s media talking points was a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (JESP), which attracted attention mainly because of its claim that women use exclamati…
debuk.wordpress.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 AM
This is a really fascinating discussion of changing linguistic conventions and how women are expected to write differently.
debuk.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/e...
debuk.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/e...
The lesson here is: everything is fan culture. Just as politics is now centred on fan's emotional and consumerist identification with the dramas & conflicts of larger-than-life celebrities so too is business. A terrible misallocation of capital but joy for the fandom.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders
The richest man in the world will get hundreds of millions of new shares if he hits his targets.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The lesson here is: everything is fan culture. Just as politics is now centred on fan's emotional and consumerist identification with the dramas & conflicts of larger-than-life celebrities so too is business. A terrible misallocation of capital but joy for the fandom.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A recommended read. It might seem like kreminology of the fringes of US right-wing politics but it’s really about how and why an avant-garde is now the mainstream. This will affect UK politics where the extreme is also now in the ascendant using similar methods.
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
www.thenation.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:21 PM
A recommended read. It might seem like kreminology of the fringes of US right-wing politics but it’s really about how and why an avant-garde is now the mainstream. This will affect UK politics where the extreme is also now in the ascendant using similar methods.
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Like @voice21oracy.bsky.social, we're delighted to see prominence given to oracy in the recently published Curriculum and Assessment Review. Here's their response voice21.org/voice-21-res...
Voice 21 responds to the Curriculum and Assessment Review - Voice 21
voice21.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Like @voice21oracy.bsky.social, we're delighted to see prominence given to oracy in the recently published Curriculum and Assessment Review. Here's their response voice21.org/voice-21-res...
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
My new article with @econsocjournal.bsky.social on Gary Becker's analyses on suicide is out! I use Becker's assertion that ‘Most (if not all!) deaths are to some extent suicides’ to reflect on how the late Chicago School framed death and mortality as a choice, thus normalising mortality inequality
‘Most (if not all!) deaths are to some extent suicides’: Human capital and endogenous mortality in Gary Becker’s work
Chicago School economist and Nobel Memorial Prize winner Gary Becker writes that ‘most (if not all!) deaths are to some extent “suicides” in the sense that they could have been postponed if more re...
www.tandfonline.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:23 PM
My new article with @econsocjournal.bsky.social on Gary Becker's analyses on suicide is out! I use Becker's assertion that ‘Most (if not all!) deaths are to some extent suicides’ to reflect on how the late Chicago School framed death and mortality as a choice, thus normalising mortality inequality
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
I’m just a small-town political scientist, & it’s still relatively early, but it appears that The Actual Democrats did not Need To Do any of the Things or Learn any of the Obvious Lessons that Ezra Douthglesias said they Must Do & Learn.
November 5, 2025 at 2:08 AM
I’m just a small-town political scientist, & it’s still relatively early, but it appears that The Actual Democrats did not Need To Do any of the Things or Learn any of the Obvious Lessons that Ezra Douthglesias said they Must Do & Learn.
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
This is a very informative #longread by @benlorber8.bsky.social at @thenation.com, covering the rise of Nick Fuentes. If, like me, the different far right sects in the US are a bit of a mystery to you, you’ll learn a lot. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Nick Fuentes Has Officially Breached the MAGA Gates
How the right’s crisis over US support for Israel has provided the white nationalist with the opening he needs to be welcomed into the MAGA fold.
www.thenation.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 PM
This is a very informative #longread by @benlorber8.bsky.social at @thenation.com, covering the rise of Nick Fuentes. If, like me, the different far right sects in the US are a bit of a mystery to you, you’ll learn a lot. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
I’m reluctant to take part in ‘Xmas ad discourse’ but the John Lewis one provokes a question.
Does a party & government dominated by 90s indie-kids (fans of ‘authentically’ revamped musical tradition) have problems appealing to the rave demographic (open to loved-up rule-breaking experiences’?)
Does a party & government dominated by 90s indie-kids (fans of ‘authentically’ revamped musical tradition) have problems appealing to the rave demographic (open to loved-up rule-breaking experiences’?)
November 4, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I’m reluctant to take part in ‘Xmas ad discourse’ but the John Lewis one provokes a question.
Does a party & government dominated by 90s indie-kids (fans of ‘authentically’ revamped musical tradition) have problems appealing to the rave demographic (open to loved-up rule-breaking experiences’?)
Does a party & government dominated by 90s indie-kids (fans of ‘authentically’ revamped musical tradition) have problems appealing to the rave demographic (open to loved-up rule-breaking experiences’?)
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Annie Kelly has a new miniseries about Trad wives, and the first two episodes dropped today on our new network cursedmedia.net
Check it out!! And peep this trailer I made for the occasion!
Check it out!! And peep this trailer I made for the occasion!
October 30, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Annie Kelly has a new miniseries about Trad wives, and the first two episodes dropped today on our new network cursedmedia.net
Check it out!! And peep this trailer I made for the occasion!
Check it out!! And peep this trailer I made for the occasion!
My sister has written and published a fine obituary for our mother who died in August. She really had a particular sort of quintessential 20th century life. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...
Jean Finlayson obituary
Other lives: Campaigning journalist who wrote for the Guardian and the Times
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
My sister has written and published a fine obituary for our mother who died in August. She really had a particular sort of quintessential 20th century life. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...
Is our politics sliding into decadence or is the discourse of decadence to blame?
I'll be talking about all that on Nov. 6th at Goldsmiths with people from Classics, Ancient History, Literature & Theatre. Sadly, practical dimension but the talk will be good. bads.gold.ac.uk/decadent-pol...
I'll be talking about all that on Nov. 6th at Goldsmiths with people from Classics, Ancient History, Literature & Theatre. Sadly, practical dimension but the talk will be good. bads.gold.ac.uk/decadent-pol...
2025: Decadent Politics — BADS
BADS Jeudis 2025
bads.gold.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Is our politics sliding into decadence or is the discourse of decadence to blame?
I'll be talking about all that on Nov. 6th at Goldsmiths with people from Classics, Ancient History, Literature & Theatre. Sadly, practical dimension but the talk will be good. bads.gold.ac.uk/decadent-pol...
I'll be talking about all that on Nov. 6th at Goldsmiths with people from Classics, Ancient History, Literature & Theatre. Sadly, practical dimension but the talk will be good. bads.gold.ac.uk/decadent-pol...
I am heading back to my Somerset-ish homelands on 18th Nov. to take part in the (impressive) Bristol Festival of Economics. I am part of a panel on polarisation alongside people much more expert than I, who will make it well worth attending.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/divided-we...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/divided-we...
Divided we stand?
Part of the Festival of Economics 2025
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I am heading back to my Somerset-ish homelands on 18th Nov. to take part in the (impressive) Bristol Festival of Economics. I am part of a panel on polarisation alongside people much more expert than I, who will make it well worth attending.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/divided-we...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/divided-we...
It's too late to worry about what will happen when AI slop deepfakes are deployed by ideological entrepreneurs to promote internecine conflict, poison public discourse and disable the functioning of democratic deliberation.
That's what's happening now.
www.reddit.com/r/ABoringDys...
That's what's happening now.
www.reddit.com/r/ABoringDys...
From the ABoringDystopia community on Reddit: Ragebaiters are using AI to create videos of black women screaming at people and being public nuisances, in order to divide people.
Explore this post and more from the ABoringDystopia community
www.reddit.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM
It's too late to worry about what will happen when AI slop deepfakes are deployed by ideological entrepreneurs to promote internecine conflict, poison public discourse and disable the functioning of democratic deliberation.
That's what's happening now.
www.reddit.com/r/ABoringDys...
That's what's happening now.
www.reddit.com/r/ABoringDys...
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
1. Prison and Probation Service (and CJS generally) brought to its knees by cuts, subcontracting, & endless 'efficiency reforms'.
2. Bad consequences follow.
3. Outrage from those who brought the service to its knees.
2. Bad consequences follow.
3. Outrage from those who brought the service to its knees.
October 26, 2025 at 7:05 PM
1. Prison and Probation Service (and CJS generally) brought to its knees by cuts, subcontracting, & endless 'efficiency reforms'.
2. Bad consequences follow.
3. Outrage from those who brought the service to its knees.
2. Bad consequences follow.
3. Outrage from those who brought the service to its knees.
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:47 AM
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
BREAKING: economist discovers “second shift,” a concept coined by sociologists almost 50 years ago; gives it new, stupider, and less explicitly labor-oriented name
October 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
BREAKING: economist discovers “second shift,” a concept coined by sociologists almost 50 years ago; gives it new, stupider, and less explicitly labor-oriented name
An observation on language and the Caerphilly by-election result.
I’ve read that the result is the outcome of ‘tactical voting’.
I define tactical voting as this reasoning.
I support party x.
I oppose party y.
In order to achieve the latter I will vote party z (1/2)
I’ve read that the result is the outcome of ‘tactical voting’.
I define tactical voting as this reasoning.
I support party x.
I oppose party y.
In order to achieve the latter I will vote party z (1/2)
October 24, 2025 at 12:57 PM
An observation on language and the Caerphilly by-election result.
I’ve read that the result is the outcome of ‘tactical voting’.
I define tactical voting as this reasoning.
I support party x.
I oppose party y.
In order to achieve the latter I will vote party z (1/2)
I’ve read that the result is the outcome of ‘tactical voting’.
I define tactical voting as this reasoning.
I support party x.
I oppose party y.
In order to achieve the latter I will vote party z (1/2)
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Not quite sure why the media is presenting the Caerphilly result as a disaster for Labour, rather than as a perfect execution of its electoral strategy.
That strategy for *months* now has been to tell everybody who might otherwise be inclined to vote for them to fuck off.
And off they have fucked.
That strategy for *months* now has been to tell everybody who might otherwise be inclined to vote for them to fuck off.
And off they have fucked.
October 24, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Not quite sure why the media is presenting the Caerphilly result as a disaster for Labour, rather than as a perfect execution of its electoral strategy.
That strategy for *months* now has been to tell everybody who might otherwise be inclined to vote for them to fuck off.
And off they have fucked.
That strategy for *months* now has been to tell everybody who might otherwise be inclined to vote for them to fuck off.
And off they have fucked.
Is this the result of under-awarding or over-applying? It’s both of course but it’s a particular problem that institutions require evidence of applying as part of promotions: they incentivise activity which cannot in all cases pay off, using up resources in performative performance review (1/3).
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
October 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Is this the result of under-awarding or over-applying? It’s both of course but it’s a particular problem that institutions require evidence of applying as part of promotions: they incentivise activity which cannot in all cases pay off, using up resources in performative performance review (1/3).
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Labour is not sure how to respond, partly because its own policy is ambiguous
Senior Labour figures have expressed dismay at the Party's "cowardly" and "incompetent" response to Tory shadow minister Katie Lam calling for legal migrants to "go home".
"What’s the point of us saying we’re anti-racist when we fail to call out racism," said one MP.
"What’s the point of us saying we’re anti-racist when we fail to call out racism," said one MP.
Exclusive: Labour Anger Erupts Over Party's Response To Katie Lam Immigration Row
"What’s the point of us saying we’re anti-racist when we fail to call out racism," said one MP.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Labour is not sure how to respond, partly because its own policy is ambiguous
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
For the final in this series David talks to historian @aysezarakol.bsky.social about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
For the final in this series David talks to historian @aysezarakol.bsky.social about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:47 AM
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
For the final in this series David talks to historian @aysezarakol.bsky.social about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
For the final in this series David talks to historian @aysezarakol.bsky.social about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com