Ben Tonra

@bentonra.bsky.social

3.8K followers 840 following 1.6K posts

Professor of International Relations at UCD Dublin; Dundrum Methodist Church; Royal Irish Academy; Azure Forum, IDSA and Gym Dad. Mix of Mayo, Kerry, West Virginia and suburban Maryland.

Videos

Political science 84%

Sociology 11%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Ben Tonra

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 1h

The Zeiten, they are wending.

61% of Germans say their country invested too little in its military capabilities.
66% say we relied too much on the US for our security.

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Andrew Curry, Ben Tonra

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 1h

That’s a lot.

67% of Germans say that “When in doubt, we can and should no longer rely on military assistance from the US.”

Study: www.moreincommon.de/wp-content/u...

Reposted by Jane Suiter, Ben Tonra

Brian Gormley D7 @bgormley.bsky.social · 9h

Media outlets need to break ties with X

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Una Mullally: Media outlets need to break ties with X

The presence of media outlets on X does not have a diluting effect on the concentration of misinformation on the platform. If it did, then we wouldn’t be where we are

www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Conor Hogarty @conorhogarty.bsky.social · 1d

Given the glacial pace of improvement regarding the Defence Forces, all sources of funding need to be examined and exploited.
From todays @IrishTimes 👇
@micheal-martin.bsky.social
@simonharrisireland.bsky.social

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d

The facts may be wrong but the animosity is real. www.linkedin.com/posts/dan-o-...

Another Ireland-hostile opinion piece in the The Wall Street Journal, the paper of record of corporate America. Free-riding needs to end. Leadership in Dublin is needed urgently. | Dan O'Brien | ...

Another Ireland-hostile opinion piece in the The Wall Street Journal, the paper of record of corporate America. Free-riding needs to end. Leadership in Dublin is needed urgently. | 62 comments on Li...

www.linkedin.com

Reposted by Erik Jones, Ben Tonra

Andrej Matisak @matisaksk.bsky.social · 2d

Transatlantic Crisis? Why This Time is Different, by @erik-jones.bsky.social
erikjones.net/2025/11/02/t...

Transatlantic Crisis? Why This Time is Different

The transatlantic relationship was never easy, but it was resilient. This time feels different. Two decades of analysis show why.

erikjones.net

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d

Not your average Methodist day out 😇

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Conor Hogarty @conorhogarty.bsky.social · 2d

Once again, 🇮🇪 lack of investment in defence and security has repercussions and assistance will be required from our 🇪🇺 partners.
When decades of neglect and indifference is your defence policy of choice, expect no less.
@simonharrisireland.bsky.social
@micheal-martin.bsky.social

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d

‘God only knows what will be tried on us’: EU leaders’ safety in Ireland next year comes under spotlight…

…as does Ireland’s capacity to defend itself.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

‘God only knows what will be tried on us’: EU leaders’ safety in Ireland next year comes under spotlight

Friendly warships and threats from drones: planning steps up for major summit in Ireland next year as part of the EU presidency

www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Niall Ó Conghaile @nialloconghaile.bsky.social · 3d

Interrsting

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

EU plans hub to tackle disinformation threat from Russia and others

Move follows ‘escalating hybrid attacks’ by Russia and other foreign powers spreading fake articles across social media

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

EUwatch 🇪🇺 @euwatch.live · 3d

Taiwan's vice president calls for closer EU ties in address to lawmakers in Brussels

Taiwan's VP calls for closer EU ties in rare address in Brussels

EU member states, like most countries, have no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan and follow the "One China" policy.

www.euronews.com

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 3d

Looking forward to this event next week. Part of a short series in cooperation with the French Embassy Dublin.

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 3d

Just curious… at what point does this become the President simply working around Congress indefinitely?

If Congress has happily handed over its legislative functions to Executive authority and Executive Orders… is it even required any longer?

Is the US parliament prorogued?!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

MSNBC: Where's the urgency to end this shutdown in Washington?

JEFFRIES: That's a great question. It should be asked of Mike Johnson. Where's the urgency in actually bringing the House back into session? They have canceled votes for the last 6 weeks.

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Prof David Farrell, UCD @davidfarrell-ucd.bsky.social · 3d

It was wonderful to have been able to do the honours as 'introducer' for my former lecturer and old friend @ucddublin.bsky.social

www.ucd.ie/spire/newsan...

National University of Ireland Awards an Honorary Doctorate to Maurice Manning

www.ucd.ie

Reposted by Philip Nel, Ben Tonra

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 3d

European Commission considering big cuts to the GDPR to boost Europe's tech sector. This would a mistake, aiding U.S. and Chinese tech giants at EU firms' expense.

www.iccl.ie/digital-data...

Cutting GDPR will harm EU tech competitiveness

Grave cuts to the GDPR would aid U.S. and Chinese tech giants at Europe’s expense

www.iccl.ie

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Shona Murray @shonamurray.bsky.social · 3d

www.ifj.org/media-centre...

Italy: IFJ-EFJ call for the reinstatement of journalist Gabriele Nunziati / IFJ

Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati, Brussels correspondent for the Nova news agency, was told his collaboration with the agency was stopped on 27 October after asking European Commission spokeswoman...

www.ifj.org

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 3d

Who will be asked to step up to defend Irish skies from the kinds of attacks being suffered elsewhere in Europe today - whether kinetic or cyber?

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 3d

A serious and substantial illustration of the parlous state of Irish security and defence - and our incapacity to defend our own air and sea space.

It's one thing to choose to be irresponsible for oneself - it's something else thereby to endanger others.

www.thejournal.ie/eu-presidenc...

Concerns across Europe that Ireland's military shortfalls could put major summit at risk

Security concerns are being raised as Ireland prepares to take on the rotating presidency of the EU next summer.

www.thejournal.ie

Reposted by Ben Tonra

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 4d

From the EU-UK ‘Common Understanding’ in May:

“32. The SPS Agreement should provide for an appropriate financial contribution from the United Kingdom to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union’s work in this policy area.”

EU demands UK pay into budget as part of relationship ‘reset’

Growing tension between London and Brussels just six months after summit set out to build stronger ties

on.ft.com

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 4d

Special criminal court doubtless ready willing and able…

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 4d

Gardaí arrest far-right suspects ‘intent on minority attack’ in anti-terrorism operation

That’s right. ‘Anti-terrorism’

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Gardaí arrest far-right suspects ‘intent on minority attack’ in anti-terrorism operation

Special Detective Unit operation in Laois first of its kind in State, with homes evacuated in North by PSNI

www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Andrew Scott , and 4 more Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Andrew Scott, Ben Tonra, Stephen Jones, Gary Sheffield, Christina Pagel

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 4d

must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda

news.sky.com/story/the-x-...

Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how

news.sky.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 4d

Recommender algorithms controlled by unfriendly foreign powers threaten democracy and security. They artificially boost authoritarians and break society apart. They silence the rest of us.

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 5d

Any Irish GDP figures are dodgy of course. Would GNI give hugely different relative pattern?

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 5d

Janey Mac… look at Ireland.

Crazy….

Agnes C. Poirier @agnescpoirier.bsky.social · 5d

And some in #France think we should #tax more… What about we spend less and better?
#Budget

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 5d

FFS

Seriously?!

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Agnes C. Poirier @agnescpoirier.bsky.social · 5d

And some in #France think we should #tax more… What about we spend less and better?
#Budget

Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 5d

Fascinating tension between Tr*mp who wants what he wants *now* and wants to kill the filibuster and the GOP in the Senate with an eye to the longer game - knowing what Democrats could do come midterms and next majority.

Here’s hoping they tear strips off one another in the meantime.