Maria Sobolewska

@profsob.bsky.social

6.6K followers 1.3K following 500 posts

Professor of Political Science at Manchester University. British politics, race and ethnicity, representation.

Videos

Political science 70%

Sociology 23%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Rebecca Tushnet, Maria Sobolewska

Naomi Alderman @naomialderman.bsky.social · 4d

yes of all the horror stories of AI, I think the use of "synthetic publics" to do research on might be - in a very crowded field - the worst one?

*as a novelist* - I can write you fake characters who believe whatever you like. it is just stories.

this is a whole culture developing AI psychosis.

Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 4d

Pleased to see this piece. Personally, I find these uses of synthetic data v concerning and I find the traction and endorsements that this work has to be quite baffling, esp given the well-storied role of algorithmic targeting in undermining democracy

gquaggiotto.bsky.social @gquaggiotto.bsky.social · 4d

"We risk inheriting a future in which institutions answer to synthetic publics rather than real ones" rebootdemocracy.ai/blog/researc...

Reposted by Jane Green, Maria Sobolewska

Political Quarterly @politicalquarterly.bsky.social · 4d

The most-read PQ article of 2025 was....

.... Drumroll....

'The Most Disproportionate UK Election: How the Labour Party Doubled its Seat Share with a 1.6Point Increase in Vote Share in 2024'

Congrats, @martamiori.bsky.social @profjanegreen.bsky.social!

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 4d

Errr… it’s delicious 🤤

The Daily Tism @thedailytism.com · 4d

For reasons nobody can make sense of, a disgusting dense sphere made of dried fruit and candied peel is due to be served in homes around the world on December 25th.

Non-autistics celebrate most wonderful time of year with worst pudding imaginable

Neurotypicals have once more opted to celebrate a cherished day in the winter calendar with a dessert option unanimously thought to be revolting, it has been announced. For reasons nobody can make…

thedailytism.com

Reposted by Maria Sobolewska

The Daily Tism @thedailytism.com · 4d

For reasons nobody can make sense of, a disgusting dense sphere made of dried fruit and candied peel is due to be served in homes around the world on December 25th.

Non-autistics celebrate most wonderful time of year with worst pudding imaginable

Neurotypicals have once more opted to celebrate a cherished day in the winter calendar with a dessert option unanimously thought to be revolting, it has been announced. For reasons nobody can make…

thedailytism.com

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Steve Peers, Tom Griffin , and 1 more Shannon Vallor, Steve Peers, Tom Griffin, Maria Sobolewska

Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 4d

gquaggiotto.bsky.social @gquaggiotto.bsky.social · 4d

"We risk inheriting a future in which institutions answer to synthetic publics rather than real ones" rebootdemocracy.ai/blog/researc...

Research Radar: Synthetic Data Is Redefining Representation

As governments experiment with AI to simulate public opinion, new questions are emerging about who these systems truly represent. This Research Radar examines the Collective Intelligence Project’s Dig...

rebootdemocracy.ai

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 4 more Jonathan Portes, Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Tim Bale, Mark Priestley, Glen O’Hara, Maria Sobolewska

Anthony Painter @anthonypainter.bsky.social · 4d

The UK will celebrate net emigration and depopulation come 2027.

And by 2028 it will start to realise, with an ageing society and low growth, what a really silly thing it has done.

The right will go "pro-natalist", the centre-left will be completely stuck.

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 9d

I’d defo go for a pint if I had just saved Liverpool from rampage. Nothing male about that

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 9d

Good news of the day.
I first came to the UK university system on an Erasmus exchange so I might be biased, but I am so happy British students can choose to experience this great opportunity again 🙌🙌

Pippa Crerar @pippacrerar.bsky.social · 10d

EXCL: An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme

Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Charles West, Michael H. Whitworth, Maria Sobolewska

Naomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · 10d

😍We are rejoining Erasmus. Official announcement tomorrow😍

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme

Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Martin J. Attrill, Paula Giliker , and 5 more Joanna Bryson, Martin J. Attrill, Paula Giliker, Margot C. Finn, Gary Sheffield, Catriona Seth, James A. Benn, Maria Sobolewska

Pippa Crerar @pippacrerar.bsky.social · 10d

UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme

Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Michael H. Whitworth, Maria Sobolewska

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 10d

From a professional comms perspective, I'd say a good start for Labour combatting far right rhetoric would be to stop repeating it, saying they "understand it" or including its stock tropes in official documents pretty much any time they talk about migration.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Starmer's communications chief to address cabinet on media strategy overhaul

Exclusive: David Dinsmore to advise ministers as they step up efforts to combat far-right rhetoric online

Keir Starmer's Whitehall communications chief will address the cabinet on overhauling the government's media strategy on Tuesday as ministers increasingly try to combat far-right rhetoric online.

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 10d

Should the FT journalists talk to each other? 🤔

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 12d

I think what you’re missing here is that this policy proposal is entirely based on vibes and not on any practical forethought / we all know from Trump’s current run that gives are so much more powerful as a policy making tool

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 12d

Don’t forget the time! All the time that it wastes! How much actual research we’d be able to do if we had that time back

Reposted by Valerie Mueller, Sebastiaan Faber, Maria Sobolewska

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 13d

This is an insane proposal, which has to be taken serious anyway, as that is the time and place we live in.

Expect similar plans to be discussed in GOP-controlled states soon (in my state higher teaching loads have been pushed by some Republicans for a while).

Proposed Model Bill Would Change College Tenure, Teaching, & Research

Three conservative groups have proposed model legislation that would dramatically change faculty tenure paths, teaching loads, research activities and hiring authority

www.forbes.com

Reposted by Christina Pagel, Maria Sobolewska

Federica Genovese @fgenovese.bsky.social · 15d

Tone and intent aside: that a far-right American president tells us Europeans that we are weak and decaying is a bit jarring, sure, but somehow I find the far-right Europeans cheering for that while the rest of Europeans shrug it away with a "it's just Trump" equally if not more depressing.

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 20d

That universities are politically bad for them, and that they are ‘not worth’ the money for most students. The second one demonstrably false as having a degree continues to be an economic gain. The first one is sure- if you want an authoritarian state Unis are bad for that

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 20d

Universities employ more than twice the number of people of car manufacturing for example, and used to be one of UK’s most profitable sectors. The government’s started killing them in a way that would not happen in any other sector, hurting growth in the name of ideologically blinkered view

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 20d

They are obviously concentrated more than let’s say Tesco employees, there are many Unis across the country but obviously they create a local contraction. As there is one uni in most smaller cities/towns.
What you refuse to accept is that it’s not just Southend, the whole sector is losing jobs

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 20d

No, they are concentrated, just in multiple places across the country. So sure, if anything worse than the steel works!

Reposted by Dave O’Brien, Benjamin Braun, Hannah Walker , and 1 more Dave O’Brien, Benjamin Braun, Hannah Walker, Maria Sobolewska

Felipe @ftraposo.bsky.social · 21d

📢 Call for Submissions

UK-based early career researchers in political science, political economy & public policy: apply to our January Early Career Workshop at LSE.
🗓️ Deadline: 28 Dec 2025
🔗 forms.gle/HXU4DnBq9HmX...

LSE - Political Economy and Political Science Early Career Workshop

We invite submissions for the LSE Political Economy and Political Science Early Career Workshop. This workshop is designed to support the development of early-career scholars’ research, including PhD,...

forms.gle

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 22d

I have no words for this … it is indeed a dark day

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 22d

GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament

Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 22d

Fab, congrats 🙌

Reposted by Maria Sobolewska

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 22d

The thing is, those pushing ever increasingly draconian anti-asylum/anti-immigration measures, such as Labour in the UK, will undoubtedly look at this and decide to go even further. Hard-line migration policies are demonstrably harmful, and counter productive. Always have been, always will be. 2/

THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING WITH THREE DIFFERENT ANTI-ASYLUM ACTS

WELL DID IT WORK FOR THOSE PEOPLE?

NO, IT NEVER DOES, I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE SOMEHOW DELUDE THEMSELVES INTO THINKING IT MIGHT, BUT...

...BUT IT MIGHT WORK FOR US.

Reposted by Jan Rath, Maria Sobolewska

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 22d

It's almost like every single reputable expert who has been saying this exact thing for years was right.
Home Office recognised this fact 15 years ago. Successive governments, globally, continue to ignore it, and continue to push harmful "tougher" policies. 1/

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...