Stuart Russell
@stuarterussell.bsky.social
Political scientist disguised as an economist at the World Bank. Mainly interested in the intersection of politics and bureaucracy, especially in West Africa.
www.stuarterussell.com.
www.stuarterussell.com.
Jad Abumrad's new series on Fela Kuti is an absolute triumph of podcasting. Beautifully done. open.spotify.com/episode/416u...
Introducing Fela Kuti: Fear No Man
open.spotify.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Jad Abumrad's new series on Fela Kuti is an absolute triumph of podcasting. Beautifully done. open.spotify.com/episode/416u...
Reposted by Stuart Russell
Mai Hassan, associate professor of @mitpolisci.bsky.social and faculty director of the MIT-Africa Program, co-authored a guest essay in @nytimes.com discussing the consequences of the international community recognizing Sudan’s juntas.
Read here: nytimes.com/2025/09/21/o...
Read here: nytimes.com/2025/09/21/o...
nytimes.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Mai Hassan, associate professor of @mitpolisci.bsky.social and faculty director of the MIT-Africa Program, co-authored a guest essay in @nytimes.com discussing the consequences of the international community recognizing Sudan’s juntas.
Read here: nytimes.com/2025/09/21/o...
Read here: nytimes.com/2025/09/21/o...
Reposted by Stuart Russell
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🚨 What if intro political science textbooks were better and cheaper?
We built one:
✅ $1/chapter
✅ Modular & flexible
✅ Written by top scholars
✅ Full (free!) instructor resources
🌐 www.politicsexperiment.com
Help us spread the word! @rudalev.bsky.social & I are the editors!
🚨 What if intro political science textbooks were better and cheaper?
We built one:
✅ $1/chapter
✅ Modular & flexible
✅ Written by top scholars
✅ Full (free!) instructor resources
🌐 www.politicsexperiment.com
Help us spread the word! @rudalev.bsky.social & I are the editors!
Home Page - A Political Science Experiment
www.PoliticsExperiment.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
1/
🚨 What if intro political science textbooks were better and cheaper?
We built one:
✅ $1/chapter
✅ Modular & flexible
✅ Written by top scholars
✅ Full (free!) instructor resources
🌐 www.politicsexperiment.com
Help us spread the word! @rudalev.bsky.social & I are the editors!
🚨 What if intro political science textbooks were better and cheaper?
We built one:
✅ $1/chapter
✅ Modular & flexible
✅ Written by top scholars
✅ Full (free!) instructor resources
🌐 www.politicsexperiment.com
Help us spread the word! @rudalev.bsky.social & I are the editors!
Reposted by Stuart Russell
You have to bring the teachers along when you implement educational reform! waynesandholtz.com/pdfs/PSL_PE_... by @wsandholtz.bsky.social
June 16, 2025 at 1:35 PM
You have to bring the teachers along when you implement educational reform! waynesandholtz.com/pdfs/PSL_PE_... by @wsandholtz.bsky.social
Reposted by Stuart Russell
JOB ALERT: Come work as lab manager / research associate at the Global Diversity Lab at MIT -- a great opportunity for recent undergraduates considering a PhD in political science #development #climate #diversity Recent LM's went to Stanford, Yale, Berkeley
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
Research Support Associate 2
MIT - Research Support Associate 2 - Cambridge MA 02139
careers.peopleclick.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
JOB ALERT: Come work as lab manager / research associate at the Global Diversity Lab at MIT -- a great opportunity for recent undergraduates considering a PhD in political science #development #climate #diversity Recent LM's went to Stanford, Yale, Berkeley
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
Reposted by Stuart Russell
JOB! Please RT.
Swarthmore is hiring for our Social Science Quantitative Lab Associate to support & do teaching quant methods to undergrads. Especially looking for people familiar with sociology and/or political science, and R. Apply by 4/18.
apply.interfolio.com/165892
Happy to answer questions.
Swarthmore is hiring for our Social Science Quantitative Lab Associate to support & do teaching quant methods to undergrads. Especially looking for people familiar with sociology and/or political science, and R. Apply by 4/18.
apply.interfolio.com/165892
Happy to answer questions.
April 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
JOB! Please RT.
Swarthmore is hiring for our Social Science Quantitative Lab Associate to support & do teaching quant methods to undergrads. Especially looking for people familiar with sociology and/or political science, and R. Apply by 4/18.
apply.interfolio.com/165892
Happy to answer questions.
Swarthmore is hiring for our Social Science Quantitative Lab Associate to support & do teaching quant methods to undergrads. Especially looking for people familiar with sociology and/or political science, and R. Apply by 4/18.
apply.interfolio.com/165892
Happy to answer questions.
Reposted by Stuart Russell
Any senator is free to use the rules of the chamber to take up Booker’s filibuster after he collapses in exhaustion.
Who will step up?
Who will step up?
April 1, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Any senator is free to use the rules of the chamber to take up Booker’s filibuster after he collapses in exhaustion.
Who will step up?
Who will step up?
Reposted by Stuart Russell
If you're young and are interested in international development, it is hard to beat doing an ODI Fellowship
careers.odi.org/postings/71e...
It is a rare opportunity for foreigners to work as a civil servant in a low or lower-middle income country
Why is this a good idea? 👇
careers.odi.org/postings/71e...
It is a rare opportunity for foreigners to work as a civil servant in a low or lower-middle income country
Why is this a good idea? 👇
ODI Fellowship Scheme 2025-27
Job Opening: ODI Fellowship Scheme 2025-27 at ODI Global in Global.
careers.odi.org
March 17, 2025 at 9:24 AM
If you're young and are interested in international development, it is hard to beat doing an ODI Fellowship
careers.odi.org/postings/71e...
It is a rare opportunity for foreigners to work as a civil servant in a low or lower-middle income country
Why is this a good idea? 👇
careers.odi.org/postings/71e...
It is a rare opportunity for foreigners to work as a civil servant in a low or lower-middle income country
Why is this a good idea? 👇
Welcome, @tanukumar.com! Really excited to have you onboard!
I'll be starting at the World Bank as a Governance Specialist in the Public Institutions and Data Analytics Unit in May. Excited to work with a great team on important work, and to be back in my hometown is a dream. Thanks to everyone at CGU for all you've taught me.
March 7, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Welcome, @tanukumar.com! Really excited to have you onboard!
Reposted by Stuart Russell
This tariff strategy makes sense if your only goal is to have everyone talking about you all the time.
March 6, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This tariff strategy makes sense if your only goal is to have everyone talking about you all the time.
Reposted by Stuart Russell
I just can't get it out of my head why this isn't a much bigger story. I guess it's because people are generally so totally cynical about US politics already.
March 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I just can't get it out of my head why this isn't a much bigger story. I guess it's because people are generally so totally cynical about US politics already.
Reposted by Stuart Russell
There are two views of US politics right now:
1. The fight is electoral. It implies, wait for thermostatic public opinion to kick in in 18 months
2. The fight is bureaucratic. It implies, stop the pillaging of the economy and the evisceration of the state right now
I’m Team 2 all the way
1. The fight is electoral. It implies, wait for thermostatic public opinion to kick in in 18 months
2. The fight is bureaucratic. It implies, stop the pillaging of the economy and the evisceration of the state right now
I’m Team 2 all the way
March 4, 2025 at 12:06 PM
There are two views of US politics right now:
1. The fight is electoral. It implies, wait for thermostatic public opinion to kick in in 18 months
2. The fight is bureaucratic. It implies, stop the pillaging of the economy and the evisceration of the state right now
I’m Team 2 all the way
1. The fight is electoral. It implies, wait for thermostatic public opinion to kick in in 18 months
2. The fight is bureaucratic. It implies, stop the pillaging of the economy and the evisceration of the state right now
I’m Team 2 all the way
Reposted by Stuart Russell
you're free to cover whatever topic you wish, as long as it's the topic I want. that topic? freedom
New: Jeff Bezos emailed staff at the Washington Post this morning announcing that the Post opinion pages going forward were largely going to focus on defending personal liberties and free markets. Current opinion section editor David Shipley is out.
February 26, 2025 at 2:46 PM
you're free to cover whatever topic you wish, as long as it's the topic I want. that topic? freedom
Reposted by Stuart Russell
The DOGE firings have nothing to do with “efficiency” or “cutting waste.” They’re a direct push to weaken federal agencies perceived as liberal. This was evident from the start, and now the data confirms it: targeted agencies overwhelmingly those seen as more left-leaning. 🧵⬇️
February 20, 2025 at 2:18 AM
The DOGE firings have nothing to do with “efficiency” or “cutting waste.” They’re a direct push to weaken federal agencies perceived as liberal. This was evident from the start, and now the data confirms it: targeted agencies overwhelmingly those seen as more left-leaning. 🧵⬇️
Reposted by Stuart Russell
New, from me: I talked with producers from Last Week Tonight about politicization of government, so was looking forward to seeing this episode. Its a good one, worth sharing.
(Plus, what does the research say about politicization and government performance).
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-resea...
(Plus, what does the research say about politicization and government performance).
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-resea...
What research tells us about politicization and state capacity
Also, Last Week Tonight on Trump's government takeover
donmoynihan.substack.com
February 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
New, from me: I talked with producers from Last Week Tonight about politicization of government, so was looking forward to seeing this episode. Its a good one, worth sharing.
(Plus, what does the research say about politicization and government performance).
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-resea...
(Plus, what does the research say about politicization and government performance).
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-resea...
Reposted by Stuart Russell
Institutions are not self-executing. Enough people must be willing to do the right thing by the rules.
February 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Institutions are not self-executing. Enough people must be willing to do the right thing by the rules.
Reposted by Stuart Russell
Just to repeat, the White House has provided *no evidence* to back up the President’s claim of widespread fraud in USAID. The evidence it has presented points in precisely the other direction.
www.cgdev.org/blog/white-h...
www.cgdev.org/blog/white-h...
The White House Demonstrates USAID’s Efficiency
The White House issued a press release three days ago apparently designed to justify the ongoing stop-work orders at USAID, alongside pulling agency staff out of the field and locking them out of thei...
www.cgdev.org
February 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Just to repeat, the White House has provided *no evidence* to back up the President’s claim of widespread fraud in USAID. The evidence it has presented points in precisely the other direction.
www.cgdev.org/blog/white-h...
www.cgdev.org/blog/white-h...
Reposted by Stuart Russell
Re: a debate during Trump I, can we all agree that this is a “constitutional crisis”?
February 1, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Re: a debate during Trump I, can we all agree that this is a “constitutional crisis”?
Reposted by Stuart Russell
USAID was never pure altruism, not even close.
But to have an agency that exists to help people no matter where they live, because we think it's the right thing to do - that's the kind of country we should try to be, and the country many around the world think we are.
No longer
But to have an agency that exists to help people no matter where they live, because we think it's the right thing to do - that's the kind of country we should try to be, and the country many around the world think we are.
No longer
February 1, 2025 at 2:15 AM
USAID was never pure altruism, not even close.
But to have an agency that exists to help people no matter where they live, because we think it's the right thing to do - that's the kind of country we should try to be, and the country many around the world think we are.
No longer
But to have an agency that exists to help people no matter where they live, because we think it's the right thing to do - that's the kind of country we should try to be, and the country many around the world think we are.
No longer
Reposted by Stuart Russell
Trump has not just paused new foreign aid. Today Marco Rubio sent a cable to all US diplomatic missions calling for immediate “stop work” orders on *existing* projects.
This is sweeping and reckless. People are going to die.
This is sweeping and reckless. People are going to die.
January 25, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Trump has not just paused new foreign aid. Today Marco Rubio sent a cable to all US diplomatic missions calling for immediate “stop work” orders on *existing* projects.
This is sweeping and reckless. People are going to die.
This is sweeping and reckless. People are going to die.
As part of an ongoing World Bank project, I am hiring a RA to help clean + analyze administrative data from Ghana's public financial management systems. Please see details and apply via DIME's spring recruitment drive here: datanalytics.worldbank.org/dime-applica.... Deadline is January 31. (1/3)
DIME Recruitment Dashboard
datanalytics.worldbank.org
January 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM
As part of an ongoing World Bank project, I am hiring a RA to help clean + analyze administrative data from Ghana's public financial management systems. Please see details and apply via DIME's spring recruitment drive here: datanalytics.worldbank.org/dime-applica.... Deadline is January 31. (1/3)
Reposted by Stuart Russell
Straight up looting: let the wealthiest corporations carve up the state’s functions and delegate them to themselves, for profit.
The word for this in comparative politics it “predatory state.” A low autonomy, low capacity, captured state.
The word for this in comparative politics it “predatory state.” A low autonomy, low capacity, captured state.
January 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Straight up looting: let the wealthiest corporations carve up the state’s functions and delegate them to themselves, for profit.
The word for this in comparative politics it “predatory state.” A low autonomy, low capacity, captured state.
The word for this in comparative politics it “predatory state.” A low autonomy, low capacity, captured state.
Reposted by Stuart Russell
In a democracy, when and where should majorities rule? And when should their powers be limited? Steve Levitsky and I propose a framework to think through these questions in a new piece in the January 2025 issue of 'Journal of Democracy'
muse.jhu.edu/article/947880
muse.jhu.edu/article/947880
January 2, 2025 at 10:11 PM
In a democracy, when and where should majorities rule? And when should their powers be limited? Steve Levitsky and I propose a framework to think through these questions in a new piece in the January 2025 issue of 'Journal of Democracy'
muse.jhu.edu/article/947880
muse.jhu.edu/article/947880
Reposted by Stuart Russell
Applications are open for the third year of the Pathways summer research program at MIT! Please share with interested undergrads. (TL;DR is: paid opportunity to check out PhD life for students who might not think it's open to them) @nlnathan.bsky.social
December 16, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Applications are open for the third year of the Pathways summer research program at MIT! Please share with interested undergrads. (TL;DR is: paid opportunity to check out PhD life for students who might not think it's open to them) @nlnathan.bsky.social