Randy Besco
@randybesco.bsky.social
Political Science at the University of Toronto. Elections and Voting. Immigration, Race and Ethnicity. Political Psychology.
You're too busy and don't have time to do all the reviews?
Easy step one, stop reviewing for Elsevier journals.
Later you can also stop editing and submitting to them. (sorry to Electoral Studies, but this calls for market discipline, time to devalue those assets)
Easy step one, stop reviewing for Elsevier journals.
Later you can also stop editing and submitting to them. (sorry to Electoral Studies, but this calls for market discipline, time to devalue those assets)
Elsevier are not only rip-off merchants in relation to university libraries but provide perhaps the worst experience for peer reviewers of any of the publishers.
Kent, Essex and apparently Sussex all decline to be gouged by Elsevier Read & Publish deals. Others may well follow. 1/2
January 23, 2026 at 6:24 PM
You're too busy and don't have time to do all the reviews?
Easy step one, stop reviewing for Elsevier journals.
Later you can also stop editing and submitting to them. (sorry to Electoral Studies, but this calls for market discipline, time to devalue those assets)
Easy step one, stop reviewing for Elsevier journals.
Later you can also stop editing and submitting to them. (sorry to Electoral Studies, but this calls for market discipline, time to devalue those assets)
So LLMs have guidelines about discussing presidents?
Trying out ChatGTP5.2, and it reasons:
"OK, I’m thinking through how to respect guidelines on discussing influential politicians. Redirecting to general topics like race and elections research instead of focusing on Obama as an individual."
Trying out ChatGTP5.2, and it reasons:
"OK, I’m thinking through how to respect guidelines on discussing influential politicians. Redirecting to general topics like race and elections research instead of focusing on Obama as an individual."
January 20, 2026 at 6:26 PM
So LLMs have guidelines about discussing presidents?
Trying out ChatGTP5.2, and it reasons:
"OK, I’m thinking through how to respect guidelines on discussing influential politicians. Redirecting to general topics like race and elections research instead of focusing on Obama as an individual."
Trying out ChatGTP5.2, and it reasons:
"OK, I’m thinking through how to respect guidelines on discussing influential politicians. Redirecting to general topics like race and elections research instead of focusing on Obama as an individual."
Reviewing PhD applications for next year, and I can't believe the number and quality of them.
We always have good applicants, but this year we could easily admit three full cohorts. And I suspect the acceptance rate will be really high too.
We always have good applicants, but this year we could easily admit three full cohorts. And I suspect the acceptance rate will be really high too.
January 19, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Reviewing PhD applications for next year, and I can't believe the number and quality of them.
We always have good applicants, but this year we could easily admit three full cohorts. And I suspect the acceptance rate will be really high too.
We always have good applicants, but this year we could easily admit three full cohorts. And I suspect the acceptance rate will be really high too.
I was an external examiner for a PhD defense for the first time today, and it was a great experience. I went in person rather than zoom. That has costs, but I think its worth it. Partly because its an important event, but also somehow being in person makes it important.
10/10 would examine again.
10/10 would examine again.
December 15, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I was an external examiner for a PhD defense for the first time today, and it was a great experience. I went in person rather than zoom. That has costs, but I think its worth it. Partly because its an important event, but also somehow being in person makes it important.
10/10 would examine again.
10/10 would examine again.
New work on on Immigration attitudes, out in @irpp.org with @natashagoel.bsky.social
We show dramatical increase in anti-immigration opinion in Canada over the past couple of years.
Its very different than previous shifts like in 1990s...
We show dramatical increase in anti-immigration opinion in Canada over the past couple of years.
Its very different than previous shifts like in 1990s...
In 2015, only 16% strongly agreed Canada had too much immigration. By 2024, that number doubled to 33%.
This IRPP paper by @randybesco.bsky.social and @natashagoel.bsky.social reveals a striking reversal in Canadians’ views on immigration: centre.irpp.org/research-stu...
This IRPP paper by @randybesco.bsky.social and @natashagoel.bsky.social reveals a striking reversal in Canadians’ views on immigration: centre.irpp.org/research-stu...
December 4, 2025 at 7:43 PM
New work on on Immigration attitudes, out in @irpp.org with @natashagoel.bsky.social
We show dramatical increase in anti-immigration opinion in Canada over the past couple of years.
Its very different than previous shifts like in 1990s...
We show dramatical increase in anti-immigration opinion in Canada over the past couple of years.
Its very different than previous shifts like in 1990s...
Very satisfying year for Toronto to win the American League baseball championship. Just sayin.
October 21, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Very satisfying year for Toronto to win the American League baseball championship. Just sayin.
Love to see our beautiful wildlife on @utm.utoronto.ca campus
September 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Love to see our beautiful wildlife on @utm.utoronto.ca campus
I copy pasted some text from a french-language Word document. And now Word thinks my entire document must be french, and underlined everything in red as misspelled 🤦
September 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I copy pasted some text from a french-language Word document. And now Word thinks my entire document must be french, and underlined everything in red as misspelled 🤦
Paper submitted 💪
September 11, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Paper submitted 💪
This an interesting phrasing from the Minister of Indigenous services.
"Canadians and Indigenous peoples" echoes a common phrasing "Canadians and Quebecers" used by Quebec nationalist politicians as a way of emphasizing that these are two separate groups of peoples.
"Canadians and Indigenous peoples" echoes a common phrasing "Canadians and Quebecers" used by Quebec nationalist politicians as a way of emphasizing that these are two separate groups of peoples.
September 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This an interesting phrasing from the Minister of Indigenous services.
"Canadians and Indigenous peoples" echoes a common phrasing "Canadians and Quebecers" used by Quebec nationalist politicians as a way of emphasizing that these are two separate groups of peoples.
"Canadians and Indigenous peoples" echoes a common phrasing "Canadians and Quebecers" used by Quebec nationalist politicians as a way of emphasizing that these are two separate groups of peoples.
Another example of universities corrupting our youth 🤣
September 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Another example of universities corrupting our youth 🤣
Free paper idea!
Do people from Ontario actually know or care less about provincial politics than people in other provinces?
Do people from Ontario actually know or care less about provincial politics than people in other provinces?
Perhaps more accurate would be that Ontarians don’t care much about provincial politics (that’s my experience after 25 years in this province). Friends and family in Alberta also seem to care much more about provincial politics.
September 2, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Free paper idea!
Do people from Ontario actually know or care less about provincial politics than people in other provinces?
Do people from Ontario actually know or care less about provincial politics than people in other provinces?
The Paper Skygest feed is excellent and you should all add it.
If you want to see research/paper posts, its clearly the best thing around. Almost like old academic twitter.
If you want to see research/paper posts, its clearly the best thing around. Almost like old academic twitter.
*Please repost* @sjgreenwood.bsky.social and I just launched a new personalized feed (*please pin*) that we hope will become a "must use" for #academicsky. The feed shows posts about papers filtered by *your* follower network. It's become my default Bluesky experience bsky.app/profile/pape...
August 19, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The Paper Skygest feed is excellent and you should all add it.
If you want to see research/paper posts, its clearly the best thing around. Almost like old academic twitter.
If you want to see research/paper posts, its clearly the best thing around. Almost like old academic twitter.
I'm just finishing my American Politics syllabus, and used a bunch of podasts/substacks/explainers.
So thank you very much to @goodauth.bsky.social @adambonica.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social @juliaazari.bsky.social @egojunk.bsky.social @proflupton.bsky.social @sarahbinder.bsky.social and..
So thank you very much to @goodauth.bsky.social @adambonica.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social @juliaazari.bsky.social @egojunk.bsky.social @proflupton.bsky.social @sarahbinder.bsky.social and..
August 15, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I'm just finishing my American Politics syllabus, and used a bunch of podasts/substacks/explainers.
So thank you very much to @goodauth.bsky.social @adambonica.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social @juliaazari.bsky.social @egojunk.bsky.social @proflupton.bsky.social @sarahbinder.bsky.social and..
So thank you very much to @goodauth.bsky.social @adambonica.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social @juliaazari.bsky.social @egojunk.bsky.social @proflupton.bsky.social @sarahbinder.bsky.social and..
Totally forgot that Converse 1964 include a discussion of ideology and mass support of the Nazi party!
August 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Totally forgot that Converse 1964 include a discussion of ideology and mass support of the Nazi party!
Adding some material to our PhD Canadian course on political behavior of Quebec nationalism/sovereignty.
Do you have recommendations for classic or influential pieces?
Do you have recommendations for classic or influential pieces?
August 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Adding some material to our PhD Canadian course on political behavior of Quebec nationalism/sovereignty.
Do you have recommendations for classic or influential pieces?
Do you have recommendations for classic or influential pieces?
Here is a fun chart: turnout over time.
Contrary to popular wisdom, there is no long slow decline. In fact, there is a single, permeant step down in 2000.
I'm pretty sure I know why, but surely someone has published on this before?
Contrary to popular wisdom, there is no long slow decline. In fact, there is a single, permeant step down in 2000.
I'm pretty sure I know why, but surely someone has published on this before?
July 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Here is a fun chart: turnout over time.
Contrary to popular wisdom, there is no long slow decline. In fact, there is a single, permeant step down in 2000.
I'm pretty sure I know why, but surely someone has published on this before?
Contrary to popular wisdom, there is no long slow decline. In fact, there is a single, permeant step down in 2000.
I'm pretty sure I know why, but surely someone has published on this before?
When I google CPSA @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social I accidentally get College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta.
But when I google PSRM @psrm.bsky.social I get the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova, which seems much more entertaining.
But when I google PSRM @psrm.bsky.social I get the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova, which seems much more entertaining.
July 9, 2025 at 3:48 PM
When I google CPSA @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social I accidentally get College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta.
But when I google PSRM @psrm.bsky.social I get the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova, which seems much more entertaining.
But when I google PSRM @psrm.bsky.social I get the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova, which seems much more entertaining.
Paper accepted!
Literally no one around in my department today, so I'm just going to walk around fist pumping to myself.
Literally no one around in my department today, so I'm just going to walk around fist pumping to myself.
July 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Paper accepted!
Literally no one around in my department today, so I'm just going to walk around fist pumping to myself.
Literally no one around in my department today, so I'm just going to walk around fist pumping to myself.
Oh a new journal request for a review just arrived. I don't have time right now, but I'm sure in a month I'll have lots of time to do it.
June 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Oh a new journal request for a review just arrived. I don't have time right now, but I'm sure in a month I'll have lots of time to do it.
Looking forward to presenting “Electoral Discrimination Reconsidered”, with Selen Onculoglu at #CPSA_ACSP25
The last few years have seen a) major changes in racial politics b) new null results c) methodological developments.
So: do ethnic minority candidates really get less votes?
The last few years have seen a) major changes in racial politics b) new null results c) methodological developments.
So: do ethnic minority candidates really get less votes?
June 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Looking forward to presenting “Electoral Discrimination Reconsidered”, with Selen Onculoglu at #CPSA_ACSP25
The last few years have seen a) major changes in racial politics b) new null results c) methodological developments.
So: do ethnic minority candidates really get less votes?
The last few years have seen a) major changes in racial politics b) new null results c) methodological developments.
So: do ethnic minority candidates really get less votes?
I did a bunch of media interviews this week for the election, and I know it's better to talk in sound bites rather than paragraphs. But its honestly quite difficult.
April 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I did a bunch of media interviews this week for the election, and I know it's better to talk in sound bites rather than paragraphs. But its honestly quite difficult.
Updating my CV, and realized I've reviewed for 33 separate journals (not all this year thankfully). And this is on a relatively narrow set of topics. There is a lot of journals out there!
April 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Updating my CV, and realized I've reviewed for 33 separate journals (not all this year thankfully). And this is on a relatively narrow set of topics. There is a lot of journals out there!
ChatGPT and Copilot can't even format a citation right, what is the point.
It supposedly accesses the web, but can't even find the author and date of a news article, so makes it up.
I see people posting about amazing results, but then I get this kind of problem and don't know what to think.
It supposedly accesses the web, but can't even find the author and date of a news article, so makes it up.
I see people posting about amazing results, but then I get this kind of problem and don't know what to think.
April 25, 2025 at 1:39 PM
ChatGPT and Copilot can't even format a citation right, what is the point.
It supposedly accesses the web, but can't even find the author and date of a news article, so makes it up.
I see people posting about amazing results, but then I get this kind of problem and don't know what to think.
It supposedly accesses the web, but can't even find the author and date of a news article, so makes it up.
I see people posting about amazing results, but then I get this kind of problem and don't know what to think.
Its important that a paper address a gap in previous knowledge, but under no circumstances should it refer to "filling a gap".
Similarly, it should review the relevant literature, but must not have a section called "literature review".
Similarly, it should review the relevant literature, but must not have a section called "literature review".
April 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Its important that a paper address a gap in previous knowledge, but under no circumstances should it refer to "filling a gap".
Similarly, it should review the relevant literature, but must not have a section called "literature review".
Similarly, it should review the relevant literature, but must not have a section called "literature review".