William Sheehan
@willsheehan.bsky.social
Historian of Empire, War, and Crime. Passing interest in public policy and politics. A few books!
Reposted by William Sheehan
Hard to overestimate the loss 800 university staff entails to society/economy/humanity. Thousands of combined years of skills and training vanishing, the hammer blows against fragile sources of knowledge and expertise, the dismemberment of entire disciplines.
Remarkable self-destruction.
Remarkable self-destruction.
Damage is being done to our University by management, with the livelihoods of precarious workers most at risk. This must stop. #anticas #UCU #StopStaffCuts
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2582884...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2582884...
800 staff leave Edinburgh University amid £140m cuts drive
Bosses at the institution want to cut £90m from their annual salary bill, which unions say could result in as many as 1,400 jobs being lost.
www.heraldscotland.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Hard to overestimate the loss 800 university staff entails to society/economy/humanity. Thousands of combined years of skills and training vanishing, the hammer blows against fragile sources of knowledge and expertise, the dismemberment of entire disciplines.
Remarkable self-destruction.
Remarkable self-destruction.
Absolutely agree. What a wonderful new age....
With aggressive nuclear powers like Russia and the USA, every single country will sooner or later obtain nukes - Just to avoid being blackmailed by the big two. Nuclear proliferation will explode.
www.euractiv.com/news/iran-wi...
www.euractiv.com/news/iran-wi...
Iran will not give up enrichment despite US war threat, FM warns | Euractiv
Iran's foreign minister declared on Sunday that his country was not intimidated by the US naval deployment in the Gulf
www.euractiv.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Absolutely agree. What a wonderful new age....
Reposted by William Sheehan
Good morning. The President of the United States was in the middle of the most serious child sex trafficking ring of the last quarter century.
He is referenced not a dozen times in the case files. Not 100 times. Not 1,000 times. He’s referenced 38,000 times.
He is referenced not a dozen times in the case files. Not 100 times. Not 1,000 times. He’s referenced 38,000 times.
February 8, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Good morning. The President of the United States was in the middle of the most serious child sex trafficking ring of the last quarter century.
He is referenced not a dozen times in the case files. Not 100 times. Not 1,000 times. He’s referenced 38,000 times.
He is referenced not a dozen times in the case files. Not 100 times. Not 1,000 times. He’s referenced 38,000 times.
Reposted by William Sheehan
Marc Bloch to be inducted into French Panthéon. 🗃️
Marc Bloch, historien et résistant juif, entrera au Panthéon le 23 juin
Marc Bloch, historien et résistant juif, entrera au Panthéon le 23 juin
La date du 16 juin avait été dans un premier temps pressentie pour son entrée au Panthéon, mais la cérémonie a dû être décalée de quelques jours en raison du G7 à Evian-les-Bains.
www.lemonde.fr
February 8, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Marc Bloch to be inducted into French Panthéon. 🗃️
Reposted by William Sheehan
Very pleased to share details of a new permanent academic job opportunity in Creative & Cultural Industries at University College Dublin. We are seeking candidates with a PhD whose work engages with the commercial creative industries. Deadline: 6 March 2026 universityvacancies.com/university-c....
February 5, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Very pleased to share details of a new permanent academic job opportunity in Creative & Cultural Industries at University College Dublin. We are seeking candidates with a PhD whose work engages with the commercial creative industries. Deadline: 6 March 2026 universityvacancies.com/university-c....
Reposted by William Sheehan
February 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
I mean it's probably marginally more bearable than watching Hegseth preening and squawking and waiting for non-existent applause.
Could you even imagine if President Obama made the troops sit through a a doc about Michelle??
Religious freedom group says US military members were 'pressured' by commanders to see 'Melania'
An active-duty enlisted member of the US military said their unit was "pressured" into seeing Amazon's "Melania" documentary about the first lady.
www.businessinsider.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:08 PM
I mean it's probably marginally more bearable than watching Hegseth preening and squawking and waiting for non-existent applause.
Reposted by William Sheehan
Leading American companies — including Palantir, Deloitte, and private prison giant GEO Group — raked in over $22B from ICE and CBP contracts last year.
Do not forget who is profiting from cruelty and human suffering.
https://www.ft.com/content/c74170d3-237d-459c-8642-bfd71530897d
Do not forget who is profiting from cruelty and human suffering.
https://www.ft.com/content/c74170d3-237d-459c-8642-bfd71530897d
Companies reap $22bn from Trump’s immigration crackdown
Palantir and Deloitte among beneficiaries of spending by government agencies
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Leading American companies — including Palantir, Deloitte, and private prison giant GEO Group — raked in over $22B from ICE and CBP contracts last year.
Do not forget who is profiting from cruelty and human suffering.
https://www.ft.com/content/c74170d3-237d-459c-8642-bfd71530897d
Do not forget who is profiting from cruelty and human suffering.
https://www.ft.com/content/c74170d3-237d-459c-8642-bfd71530897d
Yes, it is...
“The Epstein class” is a keeper.
Ossoff: We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It’s the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate.
February 7, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Yes, it is...
Reposted by William Sheehan
Right.
And with India (the latter already happened).
And with India (the latter already happened).
Honestly, Olaf, did you ever think we could be here? Where the US has abandoned the rule of law, and is clearly working on building a US-Russian alliance. Europe needs to have a sit down with China ASAP!!!
February 7, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Right.
And with India (the latter already happened).
And with India (the latter already happened).
Reposted by William Sheehan
Horrible. 😡 Arrest the Trump list α to Ω.
Trigger warning: child sex trafficking and child abuse
February 7, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Horrible. 😡 Arrest the Trump list α to Ω.
Why is this redacted? And why has the person never been investigated?
February 7, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Why is this redacted? And why has the person never been investigated?
Reposted by William Sheehan
I disagree on this causal relationship. I believe Trump is truly a gutter racist in the sense that his view of world is made up of a panoply of unexamined stereotypes. Trump’s political career is better explained by his belligerent sensitivity and narcissism, which easily coexists with racism.
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Opinion | This Is Just Who Trump Is
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:58 PM
I disagree on this causal relationship. I believe Trump is truly a gutter racist in the sense that his view of world is made up of a panoply of unexamined stereotypes. Trump’s political career is better explained by his belligerent sensitivity and narcissism, which easily coexists with racism.
Reposted by William Sheehan
3-year postdoc opportunity at Durham University - any department, any field. Detailed guidance in the link - note that you need a mentor from a relevant department to mentor and support your application.
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
addison-wheeler-fellowship - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
February 6, 2026 at 10:26 AM
3-year postdoc opportunity at Durham University - any department, any field. Detailed guidance in the link - note that you need a mentor from a relevant department to mentor and support your application.
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
Reposted by William Sheehan
First blog post exploring some stories from our lastest release, by project archivist, Sam McGrath.
Some very interesting (pro)files!
militarypensions.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/r...
Some very interesting (pro)files!
militarypensions.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/r...
Release 19 Highlights
Release 19 of the MSPC (February 2026) contains newly released files relating to nearly 1,089 men and women. A full list and breakdown is available here. Here are some highlights and interesting st…
militarypensions.wordpress.com
February 7, 2026 at 10:52 AM
First blog post exploring some stories from our lastest release, by project archivist, Sam McGrath.
Some very interesting (pro)files!
militarypensions.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/r...
Some very interesting (pro)files!
militarypensions.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/r...
Reposted by William Sheehan
The International Fellowships 2026 scheme, run with the @royalsociety.org, supports international early career researchers to undertake a two-year research career with UK partner organisations. Find out more and apply ahead of 11 March deadline: https://bit.ly/3LaMIBC
February 4, 2026 at 7:15 PM
The International Fellowships 2026 scheme, run with the @royalsociety.org, supports international early career researchers to undertake a two-year research career with UK partner organisations. Find out more and apply ahead of 11 March deadline: https://bit.ly/3LaMIBC
Reposted by William Sheehan
I was delighted to discuss my research on the Ulster Special Constabulary with the Irish History Podcast podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/i...
The Ulster Special Constabulary - A Troubled History
Podcast Episode · Irish History Podcast · 04/02/2026 · 45m
podcasts.apple.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:58 PM
I was delighted to discuss my research on the Ulster Special Constabulary with the Irish History Podcast podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/i...
Reposted by William Sheehan
Sir Guenter Treitel came to the UK on the Kindertransport. He became the foremost authority on English contract law.
Famously, he held the Rolling Stones to their contract to play the Magdalen Ball in 1964 for £100 - they had suddenly become superstars after being booked as unknowns in 1963.
Famously, he held the Rolling Stones to their contract to play the Magdalen Ball in 1964 for £100 - they had suddenly become superstars after being booked as unknowns in 1963.
Magdalen launches Sir Guenter Treitel Scholarships.
Each year, three Sir Guenter Treitel Scholars will be provided with full funding (fees and maintenance) to study the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at Magdalen College.
Read more: www.magd.ox.ac.uk/news/magdale...
Each year, three Sir Guenter Treitel Scholars will be provided with full funding (fees and maintenance) to study the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at Magdalen College.
Read more: www.magd.ox.ac.uk/news/magdale...
February 6, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Sir Guenter Treitel came to the UK on the Kindertransport. He became the foremost authority on English contract law.
Famously, he held the Rolling Stones to their contract to play the Magdalen Ball in 1964 for £100 - they had suddenly become superstars after being booked as unknowns in 1963.
Famously, he held the Rolling Stones to their contract to play the Magdalen Ball in 1964 for £100 - they had suddenly become superstars after being booked as unknowns in 1963.
Reposted by William Sheehan
🗝️ New Exhibition in Killarney and Tralee: ‘Soldiers of Destiny’
Historian and UCD Press author Dr Owen O’Shea presents a new exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in County Kerry, which will go on public display at Kerry library branches during February and March.
@owenoshea.bsky.social
Historian and UCD Press author Dr Owen O’Shea presents a new exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in County Kerry, which will go on public display at Kerry library branches during February and March.
@owenoshea.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 4:55 PM
🗝️ New Exhibition in Killarney and Tralee: ‘Soldiers of Destiny’
Historian and UCD Press author Dr Owen O’Shea presents a new exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in County Kerry, which will go on public display at Kerry library branches during February and March.
@owenoshea.bsky.social
Historian and UCD Press author Dr Owen O’Shea presents a new exhibition on the early years of Fianna Fáil in County Kerry, which will go on public display at Kerry library branches during February and March.
@owenoshea.bsky.social
This system is not working and needs to be changed. As a step towards that, make all current student loans interest free.
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/f...
£99,987 and counting: graduates trapped by ballooning student loans
As their debts rise, graduates reveal how loans are reshaping careers, finances and faith in the system
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:56 PM
This system is not working and needs to be changed. As a step towards that, make all current student loans interest free.
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/f...
Save this, you know you're going to need it...
February 6, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Save this, you know you're going to need it...
Reposted by William Sheehan
Book launch in Bloomsbury for The Cambridge Urban History of Europe, 27 March, 6:15 pm. #Skystorians
IAS Book Launch: The Cambridge Urban History of Europe
We are pleased to host the international launch of this three-volume urban history of Europe - from ancient to contemporary times - and to welcome the editors and many of the contributors.
www.ucl.ac.uk
February 6, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Book launch in Bloomsbury for The Cambridge Urban History of Europe, 27 March, 6:15 pm. #Skystorians
Reposted by William Sheehan
'A lecturer whose job is at risk has said a fully costed proposal has been put forward to the University of Essex in a bid to save 400 full-time roles.'
These include 'Changes to the career-break policy, enhancing the voluntary redundancy offer and allowing staff to move to fractional contracts'.
These include 'Changes to the career-break policy, enhancing the voluntary redundancy offer and allowing staff to move to fractional contracts'.
Proposal to save 400 University of Essex jobs put forward
A lecturer says an alternative, fully costed plan has been presented to the University of Essex.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 9:04 AM
'A lecturer whose job is at risk has said a fully costed proposal has been put forward to the University of Essex in a bid to save 400 full-time roles.'
These include 'Changes to the career-break policy, enhancing the voluntary redundancy offer and allowing staff to move to fractional contracts'.
These include 'Changes to the career-break policy, enhancing the voluntary redundancy offer and allowing staff to move to fractional contracts'.