Robert Falkner

@robertfalkner.bsky.social

2.3K followers 1.3K following 180 posts

Professor of International Relations at LSE & Academic Dean of TRIUM Global EMBA. Global environmental politics, international political economy & global business.
https://www.robertfalkner.org

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Economics 19%

Environmental science 16%

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Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 22h

Dieter Helm's big essay in The Times ("The COPs have failed" 8 Nov) prompted me to write a letter to the editor, to correct the muddle that Helm gets into on international climate policy and the #COP process.

Below is my response.

www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 21h

Terrifying 😨

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 22h

So what's the main target of Helm's polemic? Of course, Secretary of State Ed Miliband who made net zero "such a divisive political chasm." No mention of the politicians and newspapers (incl the Times) on the right who have systematically undermined the UK's climate consensus.

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 22h

His advocacy of the "polluter pays principle" is part of the standard economist's response. And it's correct. But if we took this seriously (we never did), you can't at the same time complain about the costs of the green energy transition and call for help for the biggest industrial polluters.

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 22h

Interestingly, Helm does not dismiss net zero altogether (though he feeds the conservative attack on the UK's net zero policy). In fact, he wants an even stronger net zero target that includes carbon imports, which would make UK climate policy even more onerous.

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 22h

What of the alternative that Helm suggests, "a bottom-up coalition of unilateralist countries on carbon targets"? Germany tried this in the G7 in 2023, but when the US rejects climate science and China and Russia continue to push fossil fuels, there are few large emitters to make such a club work.

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 22h

For one, a "top-down legally binding treaty" is not on the agenda at #COP30 in Brazil. This idea died back in 2009, at the Copenhagen COP. In many ways, the 2015 Paris Agreement offers all the benefits that Helm seems to want out of "bottom-up" climate action. Why rehash these decades-old debates?

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 22h

We've heard it all before - the #COP process is not working, we don't need a "top-down legally binding treaty", better to work "bottom-up" with a few unilateralist countries, UK climate leadership is pointless - but he offers few if any viable alternatives.

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 5d

Hard to believe these days, but there was once a time when the US government led the debate on how to combat climate change and improve environmental quality.

All Our Yesterdays @allouryesterdays.bsky.social · 6d

60 yrs ago today (Nov 5, 1965), the 1st US government report to warn about climate change was published.
"Restoring the Quality of Our Environment" included warning of C02 build-up and sea-level rise/melting ice-caps.

allouryesterdays.info/2025/11/04/6...

1/n

Reposted by Robert Falkner, Gavin A. Schmidt, Ken Caldeira , and 3 more Robert Falkner, Gavin A. Schmidt, Ken Caldeira, Richard Waite, Daniel Huppmann, Philip Bell

All Our Yesterdays @allouryesterdays.bsky.social · 6d

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 8d

Job alert!

The LSE's International Relations dept is hiring an Assistant Professor (Education) in International Political Economy. This is for academics whose primary responsibility is education. Apply by 30 Nov 2025.

Salary min. £68,087 pa incl London allowance.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...

Assistant Professor (Education) in International Political Economy

Assistant Professor (Education) in International Political Economy, , <p style="text-align: center;"><em><span>LSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive university</span></...

jobs.lse.ac.uk

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Anna O. Law, Robert Falkner , and 10 more Cas Mudde, Anna O. Law, Robert Falkner, Brigitte Nerlich, Tim Bale, Luigina Ciolfi, Margot C. Finn, Lisa Ann Richey, Sebastian Karcher, Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, Brooke Harrington, David Stott, Will M. Gervais

Tits McGee @scientits.bsky.social · 17d

The German company that makes the mechanical ladder used in the Louvre heist has used the image to advertise, with the text 'When you need to move fast'

10/10 response, no notes

Image of the mechanical ladder outside the Louvre

Text below says WENN'S MAL WIEDER SCHNELL GEHEN MUSS (When you need to move fast)

Underneath is more German text which translates as "The Böcker Agilo transports your treasures weighing up to 400kg at 42m/min - quiet as a whisper."

Reposted by Valerie M. Delmotte, Robert Falkner, Jennie C. Stephens , and 6 more Valerie M. Delmotte, Robert Falkner, Jennie C. Stephens, Silvia Secchi, Martijn Duineveld, Anthony Burke, Federica Genovese, Matthias Schmelzer, Giulio Mattioli

Climate Social Science Network @cssn.org · 27d

It's finally here! 100+ scholars, global scope, practical insights. “Climate Obstruction: A Global Assessment” shows how organized interests stall policy—and how governance can respond.

Open access available now! Or order for paperback and hardcover. cssn.org/wp-content/u...

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · 27d

The new McCarthyism of MAGA America:

Rutgers historian Mark Bray, who wrote book on postwar anti-fascism, leaves US after death threats and having his home address published on social media. Turning Point USA labelled him a “financier” for leftwing movements.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

US anti-fascism expert leaves country day after being blocked from flying to Spain

Rutgers University professor who published book on antifa was told at gate his trip was cancelled after Trump threats

www.theguardian.com

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Oct 3

The Conservatives are about to pledge to ditch the UK's Climate Change Act. Time to re-post this @carbonbrief.org analysis of why Kemi Badenoch is wrong to claim that climate policy is driving sky-high energy costs.

www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-wh...

Factcheck: Why Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is wrong about UK’s net-zero goal - Carbon Brief

The leader of the opposition Conservative party, Kemi Badenoch, has shattered the political consensus on climate change in a speech attacking the UK’s net-zero by 2050 target.

www.carbonbrief.org

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Robert Falkner, Martín Lodge , and 12 more Jan W. Mueller, Robert Falkner, Martín Lodge, Alexander Wuttke, Kurt Vandaele, Cornelia Woll, Nick Pearce, Jonathan Hopkin, Dagmar Hoffmann, Milena Büchs, Ben Rosamond, Stuart White, Raúl Pacheco-Vega, Karsten Mäuse, Jeroen Van Bouwel

Hertie School @hertieschool.bsky.social · Oct 2

The Hertie School mourns the passing of Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Claus Offe, Professor Emeritus of Political Sociology, an extraordinary scholar, teacher and colleague.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who had the privilege to know him.

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Sep 18

Cancel culture on the rise again in US…

Reposted by Stacy D. VanDeveer

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Sep 15

As many suspected, the economic costs of this summer's heatwave and wildfire season in Europe turned out to be higher than originally expected - and are set to rise in future years.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Europe’s summer of extreme weather caused €43bn of short-term losses, analysis finds

Greatest damage from heat, drought and flooding done in Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Bulgaria

www.theguardian.com

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Sep 12

My favourite event with Conor is, of course, our GRI debate on Climate Change, Displacement and International Justice, held online during Covid (Conor starts at 15:29 mins): www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY2k...

We will miss you. RIP

Climate Change, Displacement and International Justice | LSE Online Event

YouTube video by LSE

www.youtube.com

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Sep 12

His sharp intellect, enthusiasm and boundless energy led him to make seminal contributions to British legal and political debates. And who can forget his captivating presence as a passionate speaker in the LSE public events programme?

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Sep 12

Sad day at LSE. Conor Gearty has died.

He will be sorely missed, among his colleagues in the law school and across the LSE and beyond. A passionate scholar and advocate of human rights, he became the first director of the LSE Centre for the Study of Human Rights while continuing to practice law.

Reposted by Robert Falkner

Ben Waber @bwaber.bsky.social · Sep 10

Next was “The Market in Global International Society” by Barry Buzan and @robertfalkner.bsky.social, who demonstrate the flaws in analyzing the state and market separately and how to better understand political economy. Highly recommend

Full review: bookwyrm.social/user/bwaber/... (6/8)

Validate User

academic.oup.com

Reposted by Robert Falkner, Steve Peers, Aurélien Mondon

Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · Sep 9

A textbook case of how not to report polls.

'50%? Oh my god!'
'Oh, you mean a 9-point increase'?

Reposted by Robert Falkner

EUI Department of History @eui-history.bsky.social · Sep 3

Are you researching how corporate actors shaped international organisations in the long #20thcentury?

🚨Submit your proposal for our #CfP: Extractivist Enterprise and International Organisations, 1919-1989

📅 Deadline to submit proposals: 6 October 2025

You can find all the information below 👇

Reposted by Robert Falkner, John G. McNutt

LSE International Relations @lseir.bsky.social · Aug 29

📰 Professor @robertfalkner.bsky.social spoke with @newscientist.com about the challenges of global environmental negotiations.

“The consensus rule in international environmental negotiations has always been the Achilles heel of the UN #environment process,” he said.

🔗 bit.ly/4g2YoRN
#AcademicSky

How to tackle environmental issues when the world can't agree

The failure to agree a global treaty on plastic pollution highlights how the UN’s requirement for unanimity holds back environmental policy, but there are better ways to make progress

bit.ly

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Aug 13

The other post is focused on international relations and international security.

Salaries for both posts are no less than ca. £65k.

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOD974/a...

Assistant Professor in International Relations at London School of Economics and Political Science

Apply for the Assistant Professor in International Relations role on jobs.ac.uk, the top job board for academic positions in higher education. View details and apply now.

www.jobs.ac.uk

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Aug 13

Job posting: 2 Assistant Professor positions in the LSE's International Relations department.

One in International Political Economy, preferably with a focus on climate/environment or global business.

Deadline is 7 September. Please distribute in your networks.

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOD919/a...

Assistant Professor in International Political Economy at London School of Economics and Political Science

Recruiting now: Assistant Professor in International Political Economy on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board

www.jobs.ac.uk

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Robert Falkner, Laia Balcells , and 7 more Anna O. Law, Robert Falkner, Laia Balcells, Justin H. Kirkland, Ingo Rohlfing, Matthijs Rooduijn, Steffen Ganghof, Federica Genovese, Tarik Abou‐Chadi, Maria Sobolewska

Danbischof @danbischof.bsky.social · Aug 4

🎓📢 We’re hiring!

Come join us @uni-muenster.de 🇩🇪 as a W3 Professor in Political Science (🌍 IR & ♻️ Sustainability)

💼 Permanent position
📍 Münster, Germany
🕒 Deadline: Sept 26, 2025

jobs.zeit.de/jobs/w3-prof...

W3 Professorship in "Political Science with a Focus on International Sustainability" - Universität Münster

Universität Münster bietet Stelle als W3 Professorship in "Political Science with a Focus on International Sustainability" in Münster - jetzt bewerben!

jobs.zeit.de

Reposted by Robert Falkner

Global Environmental Politics @gepjournal.bsky.social · Jul 23

📽️ New GEP Youtube video! Check out this stellar discussion between Associate Editor @yixiansun.bsky.social and GEP co-authors @jfmorin.bsky.social and @cyncouette.bsky.social on addressing the emerging #environmental problem of #spacedebris 🚀. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzR4...

Jean-Frédéric Morin and Cynthia Couette on the governance of orbital debris

YouTube video by Global Environmental Politics Journal

www.youtube.com

Robert Falkner @robertfalkner.bsky.social · Jul 23

Always amazes me how little Oxford colleges are willing to pay for part-time lecturers. 3 contact hours per week, plus exam duties, admissions, admin and pastoral duties. But £8,284-£9,154 per annum??? Ahh, at least "some lunches and dinners free of charge..."

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOA269/c...

College Lecturer (Career Development) in Politics (International Relations) at Pembroke College

Recruiting now: College Lecturer (Career Development) in Politics (International Relations) on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board

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