PIR at Royal Holloway
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rhulpir.bsky.social
PIR at Royal Holloway
@rhulpir.bsky.social
320 followers 160 following 140 posts
Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London
https://linktr.ee/rhulpirp
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and-education/departments-and-schools/politics-and-international-relations/
Posts Replies Media Videos
rhulpir.bsky.social
🎉 Many congratulations to former PIRP PhD student Matthew Polacko
@mattpolacko.bsky.social for winning the 2025 EPSR Early Careers Prize for his article Who benefits from the social democratic march to the middle?

ecpr.eu/news/news/de...
Matthew Polacko is awarded the 2025 EPSR Early Careers Prize
European Consortium for Political Research
ecpr.eu
October 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
📣 New Publication Alert! In this article, Prof Jennifer Piscopo @jennpiscopo.bsky.social and her co-authors propose a new framework for analysing "feminists vs conservative" battles over abortion reform.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Adoption and Implementation as a Two-Stage Process: Feminist Strategies and Conservative Resistance in the Quest for Legislative Abortion Reform | Perspectives on Politics | Cambridge Core
Adoption and Implementation as a Two-Stage Process: Feminist Strategies and Conservative Resistance in the Quest for Legislative Abortion Reform
www.cambridge.org
October 21, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
gbenedetto.bsky.social
A few weeks ago at @cont.europarl.europa.eu I was honoured to present research on the #EUbudget audit and #discharge for 1996 that led to the resignation of the @ec.europa.eu in 1999. www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/e... @euauditors.bsky.social @rhulpir.bsky.social #BrusselsTreaty1975
Conference on 50 years of the budgetary Treaty of Brussels | Other events | Events | CONT | Committees | European Parliament
All the available information relating to other public CONT events involving external speakers. Links to programmes and contributions from speakers.
www.europarl.europa.eu
October 12, 2025 at 10:03 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
Dr Michael Bacon @michaelbacon.bsky.social speaks to the Telegraph about his experience of spending three years in psychoanalysis as a child.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
andreucasas.bsky.social
🚨Hiring a fully funded (3.5 years) PhD for the @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social to research social media and politics. Candidates should have quantitative/computational skills and/or be interested in content curation/moderation. UK home candidates only unfortunately. www.royalholloway.ac.uk/media/hquftp...
www.royalholloway.ac.uk
September 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
jeanmonnetrhul.bsky.social
Today I presented work on the downfall of the European Commission led by Jacques Santer at @cont.europarl.europa.eu together with other experts. #Discharge #EUbudget cc: @rhulpir.bsky.social
People in a committee room
September 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
rhulpir.bsky.social
📣 Congratulations to @andreucasas.bsky.social on winning a Future Leaders Fellowship from @ukri.org! As part of the project, Andreu launches the London Social Media Observatory @ldnsocmedobs.bsky.social, a multidisciplinary research centre for cutting-edge research on social media and politics!
andreucasas.bsky.social Andreu Casas @andreucasas.bsky.social · Sep 16
🚨Very honored to receive the Future Leaders Fellowship from @ukri.org I’ll use this 2.3 million £ investment to create the London Social Media Observatory, for cutting-edge research on social media and politics, and novel computational tools for social science research. www.ukri.org/news/ukri-an...
September 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
rhulpir.bsky.social
Congratulations to Dr Daniela Lai @danielalai.bsky.social, who has been elected as President of the European International Studies Association @europeanisa.bsky.social for 2025-2027!
Dr Lai speaking in front of a microphone, with a screen in the background stating that she is the new EISA president
September 9, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
philosophyrhul.bsky.social
Dr Anthony Bruno has published a new book, Facticity and the Fate of Reason After Kant, with Oxford University Press!

Available here: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com
September 8, 2025 at 11:06 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
📣 One more day until the @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social Teaching and Learning Network Conference is taking place at Royal Holloway, organised by PIRP’s Lyn Johnstone and Nat Rutherford!
www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
Political Studies Association Teaching and Learning Network Conference | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
Theme: Teaching Well4th-5th September 2025 This year’s PSA TLN annual conference will take place on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th of September at Royal Holloway, University of London, in Egham, Surrey.
www.psa.ac.uk
September 3, 2025 at 11:14 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
A perfect occasion to read the Roadmap to Votes at 16 and the Pathways to Participation for Marginalised Young People report: hollodec.github.io/images/ssia_...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
July 17, 2025 at 9:55 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
🚨 Launching: A Roadmap to Votes at 16 🚨

Kaat Smets and @jamessloam.bsky.social contributed to A Roadmap to Votes at 16 🗳️ - a report co-created with organisations, teachers, youth workers and young people to make Votes at 16 a success.

👉 Read the full report: docsend.com/view/9nnhamt...
A square image with a pink background. The logo for Democracy Classroom is in the bottom right-hand corner. In the bottom left is the title "A roadmap to votes at 16". From the title is a snaking path which has groups of cartoon people clustered along it. Some groups are holding discussions; one is in a classroom; one is on a protest; and the final is queuing at a polling booth. Another pink square with the democracy classroom logo. There is a large block of text which says "Launching the roadmap to votes at 16, a shared vision to support young people to engage in democracy". There is a smaller cartoon image of two women helping each other carry a large object up a flight of stairs.
July 16, 2025 at 10:03 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
Kaat Smets, @jamessloam.bsky.social and @ainebennett.bsky.social are today launching their report "Pathways to Participation for Marginalised Young People" in collaboration with Partnership for Young London and the Pan-London CiCC
hollodec.github.io/images/ssia_...
The front page of the report. The background is navy blue. The Royal Holloway and Partnership for Young London logos are in the top left hand corner. Underneath this is the title "Pathways to Participation for Marginalised Young People". In the centre of the page is an image of three young people talking intently. Under the image is the text "Kaat Smets, James Sloam and Aine Bennett in collaboration with Matthew Walsham and Nora Zia from Partnership for Young London and Louisa Foyle from Pan-London CiCC".
July 11, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
gbenedetto.bsky.social
I am delighted that this is now published in @wepsocial.bsky.social : our assessment of the 2020 negotiations on #RuleofLaw #conditionality and grants vs loans in the #RRF. #FunctionalSpillover #EUbudget
wepsocial.bsky.social WEP Journal @wepsocial.bsky.social · Jul 5
Online first: "Exploring the EU’s response to the COVID-19 and Rule of Law crises through functional spill-over" by David Moloney & @gbenedetto.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0140...
Abstract of the article "Exploring the EU’s response to the COVID-19 and Rule of Law crises through functional spill-over" by David Moloney and Giacomo Benedetto. Published online first in West European Politics. Abstract reads: Through the framework of functional spill-over, this study examines the positions taken by the EU27 member states on two key issues in the negotiations of the European Union budget package of 2020. The two issues are the constitution of generalised deficiencies in the Rule of Law Conditionality regulation, and whether the Recovery and Resilience Facility would provide financial assistance in the form of loans or grants. First, our analysis shows that functional spill-over was present in the policy preferences of all of the EU27 – including in the positions of the member states that were opposed to the regulations. Second, our analysis highlights the nuances of the policy preferences of all member states and coalitions within the Council. These findings offer insights into intra-Council negotiations on matters related to the provision of financial assistance at the EU level, and the Union’s attempts to address Rule of Law backsliding.
July 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
jeanmonnetrhul.bsky.social
Last month I was very pleased to host a Jean Monnet seminar in London on the democratic versus audit-based accountabilities within the EU's finances #EUbudget. Thanks to María-Luisa Sánchez-Barrueco, Andreea Hancu Budui, and Paul Stephenson for their papers. 1/2
Four people standing in front of a PowerPoint screen
July 3, 2025 at 7:51 PM
rhulpir.bsky.social
Five of our 2nd-year undergraduates have recently completed a week's work experience in the House of Commons🧑‍⚖️
Each worked with a different select committee, they met MPs and the speaker of the house, and attended PMQs and OPQs
Well done all!
Five young women stand arm-in-arm in a low-lit wood-paneled room lined with oil paintings. The same five young women sit in a panel in front of a dramatic red painting. Their hands are clasped in front of them and they have name signs on their desks. The same five young women stand in front of the houses of parliament.
July 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
chanret.bsky.social
Sharing a blog post by @rhulpir.bsky.social final year student @tayapanter.bsky.social on the % of MPs who are [active] on BlueSky v. X:

hollodec.github.io/2025/06/26/b...

Three key takeaways (1/n)
Right-wing MPs are more active on X/Twitter and less present on Bluesky
(This is a lightly edited version of an essay written by Taya Panter, a final year undergraduate in PIRP. Taya wrote the essay for Nick Allen’s Parliamentary Studies module.)
hollodec.github.io
June 26, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
jeanmonnetrhul.bsky.social
I am delighted to have been nominated for a @royalholloway.bsky.social Education Excellence Award. One of the comments from a nominating student said:

'From facilitating the greatest and most inspirational lectures and seminars...

1/2
Education Excellence Award 2025, banner.
June 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
ainebennett.bsky.social
In the Linen Hall library finishing prep for this roundtable and panel I am very excited to be on tomorrow at #BISA2025
If you're also in Belfast, come and join us! 🌈🎓
June 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
yoavgalai.bsky.social
Students made thus website after a doing week-long workshop with @trillingual.bsky.social on social justice and journalism. Some powerful stories from our graduates, and incredible visuals as well well worth a read at - rtn.earth
rhulpir.bsky.social PIR at Royal Holloway @rhulpir.bsky.social · Jun 9
Last week, students embarked on an intensive week-long workshop on Social Justice Journalism led by @trillingual.bsky.social convened by @yoavgalai.bsky.social from PIRP. Students researched and wrote the articles, made the visuals and designed the website at: rtn.earth
RTN: Reclaim the Narrative
A social justice journalism project at Royal Holloway, University of London
rtn.earth
June 9, 2025 at 10:43 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
Our PhD student Samer Jaber's latest analysis of the Israel-Palestine conflict is out now in @aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
Israel’s strategic failure is now apparent
Israeli aggression and expansionism are not signs of ascendance; rather they point to inevitable failure.
www.aljazeera.com
June 9, 2025 at 9:32 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
Last week, students embarked on an intensive week-long workshop on Social Justice Journalism led by @trillingual.bsky.social convened by @yoavgalai.bsky.social from PIRP. Students researched and wrote the articles, made the visuals and designed the website at: rtn.earth
RTN: Reclaim the Narrative
A social justice journalism project at Royal Holloway, University of London
rtn.earth
June 9, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
jeanmonnetrhul.bsky.social
Are they worth it? Democratic and audit-based accountabilities in the EU's finances. Workshop at Bedford Square, London, 19 June 2025: www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and...

#EUbudget

@uaces.bsky.social @rhulpir.bsky.social @royalholloway.bsky.social @euinuk.bsky.social
Are they worth it? Democratic and audit-based accountabilities in the EU’s finances
www.royalholloway.ac.uk
June 9, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Reposted by PIR at Royal Holloway
philosophyrhul.bsky.social
This is taking place tomorrow!
philosophyrhul.bsky.social Philosophy at RHUL @philosophyrhul.bsky.social · May 20
Dr Roberto Buonamano who is visiting us from the University of Technology Sydney will be presenting "From the Exception to Form-of-Life: What Agamben's political ontology can tell us about human rights" 4-5:30pm on Friday 6th June in Room 1-02 in Senate House - we hope to see you there! 🧑‍🏫📚
June 5, 2025 at 9:24 AM
rhulpir.bsky.social
Students of Law and Social Science are taking part in a week-long workshop on social justice journalism led by @trillingual.bsky.social and PIRP’s @yoavgalai.bsky.social
Watch this space for student work!
visualwriting.org/sj/
A classroom with 10 young people watching a presentation from a white man in a grey shirt. The man is stood in front of a slide that says "Types of news writing: 1. News story" and has a screenshot from the BBV news. Some students are watching intently, while others take notes by hand or on their laptops.
June 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM