Belen Gonzalez
@belengonzalez.bsky.social
Head of Research for International Security, Peace, and Conflict at the Department of Political Science, University of Zurich | https://belengonzalezsimon.weebly.com
Guest Professor, University of Konstanz | DFG Project: The Dynamics of Mass Protest Event
Guest Professor, University of Konstanz | DFG Project: The Dynamics of Mass Protest Event
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
What's happening in ICE also seems to go in the FBI.
The current US administration seeks to staff key security agencies with unprofessional careerists rather than skilled professionals. See 👇
🙏 for a great post and featuring our work/new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship", @donmoyn.bsky.social!
The current US administration seeks to staff key security agencies with unprofessional careerists rather than skilled professionals. See 👇
🙏 for a great post and featuring our work/new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship", @donmoyn.bsky.social!
New from me:
Kash Patel is engaged in purges, removal of real accountability, and impunity for loyalists at the FBI.
Researchers told me that these are the exact patterns that create abusive national security organizations under authoritarianism. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-the-fb...
Kash Patel is engaged in purges, removal of real accountability, and impunity for loyalists at the FBI.
Researchers told me that these are the exact patterns that create abusive national security organizations under authoritarianism. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-the-fb...
How the FBI Became the Face of Deprofessionalization
What research tells us about national security under authoritarianism
donmoynihan.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:53 PM
What's happening in ICE also seems to go in the FBI.
The current US administration seeks to staff key security agencies with unprofessional careerists rather than skilled professionals. See 👇
🙏 for a great post and featuring our work/new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship", @donmoyn.bsky.social!
The current US administration seeks to staff key security agencies with unprofessional careerists rather than skilled professionals. See 👇
🙏 for a great post and featuring our work/new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship", @donmoyn.bsky.social!
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Kein besserer Start in den Morgen als mit einem starken ZEIT-Artikel meines großartigen Hertie-Kollegen Christian Gläßel und @ascharpf.bsky.social: www.zeit.de/politik/ausl... (Freebie-Link)
Rekrutierung bei ICE: Repression als Karrierechance
Das Ziel: 3.000 Festnahmen pro Tag. Die US-Einwanderungsbehörde ICE geht nicht zimperlich vor, und den schmutzigen Job machen Leute mit fragwürdiger Eignung. Kein Zufall.
www.zeit.de
November 13, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Kein besserer Start in den Morgen als mit einem starken ZEIT-Artikel meines großartigen Hertie-Kollegen Christian Gläßel und @ascharpf.bsky.social: www.zeit.de/politik/ausl... (Freebie-Link)
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Thanks @hcrichardson.bsky.social for featuring our work on the staffing of secret police organizations and how it is related to ICE.
Our forthcoming book delves deeper into the authoritarian security apparatus and examines who serves where and why:
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Our forthcoming book delves deeper into the authoritarian security apparatus and examines who serves where and why:
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
October 27, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Thanks @hcrichardson.bsky.social for featuring our work on the staffing of secret police organizations and how it is related to ICE.
Our forthcoming book delves deeper into the authoritarian security apparatus and examines who serves where and why:
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Our forthcoming book delves deeper into the authoritarian security apparatus and examines who serves where and why:
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Fantastic special issue - Thanks so much for putting it together @laiabalcells.bsky.social @apvjustino.bsky.social @andrearuggeri.bsky.social 💪
[full disclosure: our article is part of it as well]
[full disclosure: our article is part of it as well]
September 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Fantastic special issue - Thanks so much for putting it together @laiabalcells.bsky.social @apvjustino.bsky.social @andrearuggeri.bsky.social 💪
[full disclosure: our article is part of it as well]
[full disclosure: our article is part of it as well]
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
I started the year with a great personal achievement.
After years in the making, our book manuscript is ready and under contract with Oxford University Press.
So stay tuned for deep insights into the security apparatus of dictatorships.
Small preview 👇
After years in the making, our book manuscript is ready and under contract with Oxford University Press.
So stay tuned for deep insights into the security apparatus of dictatorships.
Small preview 👇
March 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I started the year with a great personal achievement.
After years in the making, our book manuscript is ready and under contract with Oxford University Press.
So stay tuned for deep insights into the security apparatus of dictatorships.
Small preview 👇
After years in the making, our book manuscript is ready and under contract with Oxford University Press.
So stay tuned for deep insights into the security apparatus of dictatorships.
Small preview 👇
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
🚨JOB ALERT🚨
👉ERC Project DEMOLAW
🏦Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen
🤓Public Policy, Comp. Text Analysis, R/Python, #NLProc
⏰3+1 years
📆Deadline: 05/11/2024
🎓Postdoc: short.sg/j/49273108
🎓Predoc: short.sg/j/49278053
❗️Please share
👉ERC Project DEMOLAW
🏦Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen
🤓Public Policy, Comp. Text Analysis, R/Python, #NLProc
⏰3+1 years
📆Deadline: 05/11/2024
🎓Postdoc: short.sg/j/49273108
🎓Predoc: short.sg/j/49278053
❗️Please share
September 23, 2024 at 7:20 AM
🚨JOB ALERT🚨
👉ERC Project DEMOLAW
🏦Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen
🤓Public Policy, Comp. Text Analysis, R/Python, #NLProc
⏰3+1 years
📆Deadline: 05/11/2024
🎓Postdoc: short.sg/j/49273108
🎓Predoc: short.sg/j/49278053
❗️Please share
👉ERC Project DEMOLAW
🏦Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen
🤓Public Policy, Comp. Text Analysis, R/Python, #NLProc
⏰3+1 years
📆Deadline: 05/11/2024
🎓Postdoc: short.sg/j/49273108
🎓Predoc: short.sg/j/49278053
❗️Please share
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Are you an expert in dealing with lobby registers, transparency laws, corporate registers and the like?
You want to understand how autocrats and their regimes influence foreign democracies?
We (@alexdukalskis.bsky.social) have some funds to hire someone for some work on a freelance basis. ⬇️
You want to understand how autocrats and their regimes influence foreign democracies?
We (@alexdukalskis.bsky.social) have some funds to hire someone for some work on a freelance basis. ⬇️
August 21, 2024 at 6:42 AM
Are you an expert in dealing with lobby registers, transparency laws, corporate registers and the like?
You want to understand how autocrats and their regimes influence foreign democracies?
We (@alexdukalskis.bsky.social) have some funds to hire someone for some work on a freelance basis. ⬇️
You want to understand how autocrats and their regimes influence foreign democracies?
We (@alexdukalskis.bsky.social) have some funds to hire someone for some work on a freelance basis. ⬇️
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
In a follow-up article in @thejop.bsky.social, we study how sportswashing works and what publicity/image effects autocracies achieve from hosting sports events
Case: 2022 ⚽ World Cup in Qatar
doi.org/10.1086/730728
Case: 2022 ⚽ World Cup in Qatar
doi.org/10.1086/730728
Does sportswashing work? First insights from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar | The Journal of Politics: Vol 0, No ja
doi.org
June 11, 2024 at 9:34 AM
In a follow-up article in @thejop.bsky.social, we study how sportswashing works and what publicity/image effects autocracies achieve from hosting sports events
Case: 2022 ⚽ World Cup in Qatar
doi.org/10.1086/730728
Case: 2022 ⚽ World Cup in Qatar
doi.org/10.1086/730728
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Just learned that our APSR article on sports mega events in autocracies has won the Best Article Award by @apsa.bsky.social's Democracy & Autocracy section 🥳🍾
@pearceaedwards.bsky.social
🙏 to the committee: @annemeng.bsky.social Jean Hong, Lisa Mueller, Anibal Perez-Linan
doi.org/10.1017/S000...
@pearceaedwards.bsky.social
🙏 to the committee: @annemeng.bsky.social Jean Hong, Lisa Mueller, Anibal Perez-Linan
doi.org/10.1017/S000...
International Sports Events and Repression in Autocracies: Evidence from the 1978 FIFA World Cup | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
International Sports Events and Repression in Autocracies: Evidence from the 1978 FIFA World Cup - Volume 117 Issue 3
doi.org
June 11, 2024 at 9:31 AM
Just learned that our APSR article on sports mega events in autocracies has won the Best Article Award by @apsa.bsky.social's Democracy & Autocracy section 🥳🍾
@pearceaedwards.bsky.social
🙏 to the committee: @annemeng.bsky.social Jean Hong, Lisa Mueller, Anibal Perez-Linan
doi.org/10.1017/S000...
@pearceaedwards.bsky.social
🙏 to the committee: @annemeng.bsky.social Jean Hong, Lisa Mueller, Anibal Perez-Linan
doi.org/10.1017/S000...
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
@alexdukalskis.bsky.social and I had the pleasure talking to @cjcmichel.bsky.social about our new paper on dictators and their contracting of Western PR firms.
The exchange is part of the podcast series by the Human Rights Foundation.
Check it out!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
The exchange is part of the podcast series by the Human Rights Foundation.
Check it out!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
Dissidents and Dictators: Whitewashing Dictators on Apple Podcasts
Show Dissidents and Dictators, Ep Whitewashing Dictators - May 30, 2024
podcasts.apple.com
May 31, 2024 at 6:27 AM
@alexdukalskis.bsky.social and I had the pleasure talking to @cjcmichel.bsky.social about our new paper on dictators and their contracting of Western PR firms.
The exchange is part of the podcast series by the Human Rights Foundation.
Check it out!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
The exchange is part of the podcast series by the Human Rights Foundation.
Check it out!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
🚨 4-year postdoc position in computational social science at University of Zurich. Come work with me and @fgilardi.bsky.social at @ipz.bsky.social !
Application deadline is June 30. Job ad & details: ⬇️
www.ipz.uzh.ch/de/ueber-uns...
polisky csssky socsky commsky
Application deadline is June 30. Job ad & details: ⬇️
www.ipz.uzh.ch/de/ueber-uns...
polisky csssky socsky commsky
June 6, 2024 at 8:12 AM
🚨 4-year postdoc position in computational social science at University of Zurich. Come work with me and @fgilardi.bsky.social at @ipz.bsky.social !
Application deadline is June 30. Job ad & details: ⬇️
www.ipz.uzh.ch/de/ueber-uns...
polisky csssky socsky commsky
Application deadline is June 30. Job ad & details: ⬇️
www.ipz.uzh.ch/de/ueber-uns...
polisky csssky socsky commsky
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
✨ Call for papers ✨
Digital Democracy Workshop
University of Zurich, 24-25 October 2024
Submission deadline: 2 June 2024
Pls share widely!
democracy.dsi.uzh.ch/news/24-25-1...
Digital Democracy Workshop
University of Zurich, 24-25 October 2024
Submission deadline: 2 June 2024
Pls share widely!
democracy.dsi.uzh.ch/news/24-25-1...
May 7, 2024 at 8:58 AM
✨ Call for papers ✨
Digital Democracy Workshop
University of Zurich, 24-25 October 2024
Submission deadline: 2 June 2024
Pls share widely!
democracy.dsi.uzh.ch/news/24-25-1...
Digital Democracy Workshop
University of Zurich, 24-25 October 2024
Submission deadline: 2 June 2024
Pls share widely!
democracy.dsi.uzh.ch/news/24-25-1...
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Last week, Christian Gläßel and I kicked off our DFG-funded Anatomy of the Authoritarian Security Apparatus project w. a book workshop @hertiesecurity.bsky.social
Natasha Lindstaedt Erica Frantz @belengonzalez.bsky.social Kristen Harkness @smsaideman.bsky.social, @feiyonah.bsky.social Yuri Zhukov
Natasha Lindstaedt Erica Frantz @belengonzalez.bsky.social Kristen Harkness @smsaideman.bsky.social, @feiyonah.bsky.social Yuri Zhukov
April 9, 2024 at 3:46 PM
Last week, Christian Gläßel and I kicked off our DFG-funded Anatomy of the Authoritarian Security Apparatus project w. a book workshop @hertiesecurity.bsky.social
Natasha Lindstaedt Erica Frantz @belengonzalez.bsky.social Kristen Harkness @smsaideman.bsky.social, @feiyonah.bsky.social Yuri Zhukov
Natasha Lindstaedt Erica Frantz @belengonzalez.bsky.social Kristen Harkness @smsaideman.bsky.social, @feiyonah.bsky.social Yuri Zhukov
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Which dictatorships hire Public Relations (PR) firms, under what conditions, and with what effects?
Christian Gläßel, @alexdukalskis.bsky.social, and I offer first answers with data on 7k contracts between autocracies and US-based PR firms (1945–2022).
Christian Gläßel, @alexdukalskis.bsky.social, and I offer first answers with data on 7k contracts between autocracies and US-based PR firms (1945–2022).
April 3, 2024 at 1:39 PM
Which dictatorships hire Public Relations (PR) firms, under what conditions, and with what effects?
Christian Gläßel, @alexdukalskis.bsky.social, and I offer first answers with data on 7k contracts between autocracies and US-based PR firms (1945–2022).
Christian Gläßel, @alexdukalskis.bsky.social, and I offer first answers with data on 7k contracts between autocracies and US-based PR firms (1945–2022).
The new "Research Handbook on Authoritarianism" is now out! We (+ Christian Gläßel & @ascharpf.bsky.social ) contribute with a chapter on the competence-loyalty trade-off in the security apparatus of autocracies. 🧵👇
Excited that the brand new "Research Handbook on Authoritarianism" just got published!
Our contribution (with Christian Gläßel & @belengonzalez.bsky.social) is on military officers.
Check it out:
doi.org/10.4337/9781...
Feels great to be part of such an esteemed group of scholars!
Our contribution (with Christian Gläßel & @belengonzalez.bsky.social) is on military officers.
Check it out:
doi.org/10.4337/9781...
Feels great to be part of such an esteemed group of scholars!
Research Handbook on Authoritarianism
"Research Handbook on Authoritarianism" published on 14 Mar 2024 by Edward Elgar Publishing.
doi.org
March 13, 2024 at 10:59 PM
The new "Research Handbook on Authoritarianism" is now out! We (+ Christian Gläßel & @ascharpf.bsky.social ) contribute with a chapter on the competence-loyalty trade-off in the security apparatus of autocracies. 🧵👇
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Super happy that our article on the conflict potential of illegal sand mining in Africa is now published online (and open access) with @EnvSecJournal: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
February 21, 2024 at 9:13 AM
Super happy that our article on the conflict potential of illegal sand mining in Africa is now published online (and open access) with @EnvSecJournal: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
I'm hiring a postdoc!
> Aug 2024 - July 2027
> PhD completed or close to completion
> Interest in digital technology & politics
> Causal inference and/or computational social science
> Salary: CHF 81,400/yr
Pls help me spread the word!
jobs.uzh.ch/offene-stell...
> Aug 2024 - July 2027
> PhD completed or close to completion
> Interest in digital technology & politics
> Causal inference and/or computational social science
> Salary: CHF 81,400/yr
Pls help me spread the word!
jobs.uzh.ch/offene-stell...
UZH: Three-Year Post-Doctoral Research Position in the Research Group of Professor Fabrizio Gilardi
The Department of Political Science at the University of Zurich (http://www.ipz.uzh.ch) invites applications for a post-doctoral research position in the research group of Professor Fabrizio Gilardi (...
jobs.uzh.ch
February 13, 2024 at 2:54 PM
I'm hiring a postdoc!
> Aug 2024 - July 2027
> PhD completed or close to completion
> Interest in digital technology & politics
> Causal inference and/or computational social science
> Salary: CHF 81,400/yr
Pls help me spread the word!
jobs.uzh.ch/offene-stell...
> Aug 2024 - July 2027
> PhD completed or close to completion
> Interest in digital technology & politics
> Causal inference and/or computational social science
> Salary: CHF 81,400/yr
Pls help me spread the word!
jobs.uzh.ch/offene-stell...
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
We are planning the first WhoGov Workshop to be held in Oslo on the 29-30th of August 2024. We welcome all research using WhoGov in some capacity and we have funding to cover travel expenses for participants.
Find the call for papers through the link or use the QR code: bit.ly/WhoGov_Workshop
Find the call for papers through the link or use the QR code: bit.ly/WhoGov_Workshop
February 1, 2024 at 10:41 AM
We are planning the first WhoGov Workshop to be held in Oslo on the 29-30th of August 2024. We welcome all research using WhoGov in some capacity and we have funding to cover travel expenses for participants.
Find the call for papers through the link or use the QR code: bit.ly/WhoGov_Workshop
Find the call for papers through the link or use the QR code: bit.ly/WhoGov_Workshop
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
New paper in the Journal of Peace Research with Tabea Palmtag and @tobirommel.bsky.social! 🥳
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
January 30, 2024 at 5:37 PM
New paper in the Journal of Peace Research with Tabea Palmtag and @tobirommel.bsky.social! 🥳
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
We have been collecting a lot of data on evolving public opinion on international cooperation in the DISINTEGRATION project. Some of this data is now publicly available for download in the SWISSUbase repository. Check it out!
🥁Exciting Update! 📣 The DISINTEGRATION 5-wave panel survey on 🇨🇭Swiss public opinion is now out, revealing key shifts in attitudes. Dive into our data to explore how attitudes on Switzerland’s relations with 🇪🇺Europe and the 🌍World have evolved. Access it here: doi.org/10.48573/enm...
January 25, 2024 at 12:06 PM
We have been collecting a lot of data on evolving public opinion on international cooperation in the DISINTEGRATION project. Some of this data is now publicly available for download in the SWISSUbase repository. Check it out!
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
We are advertising a Pre-Doc/PhD position at Humboldt. You get a nice office in the heart of Berlin, free coffee, and a tremendous community of scholars working on cutting-edge social science. Your own project can be on whatever excites you! Deadline is Feb 21. Ad is below.
POLISKY
POLISKY
January 23, 2024 at 3:18 PM
We are advertising a Pre-Doc/PhD position at Humboldt. You get a nice office in the heart of Berlin, free coffee, and a tremendous community of scholars working on cutting-edge social science. Your own project can be on whatever excites you! Deadline is Feb 21. Ad is below.
POLISKY
POLISKY
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Attention: Open call for a Ph.D. scholarship in my Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen (we include all sub-fields). Excellent PhD Programme, great salary and it's in the middle of wonderful Copenhagen! Deadline for application: 25 February 2024. Start date: 1 September 2024
PhD scholarship at the Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
jobportal.ku.dk
January 16, 2024 at 7:04 AM
Attention: Open call for a Ph.D. scholarship in my Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen (we include all sub-fields). Excellent PhD Programme, great salary and it's in the middle of wonderful Copenhagen! Deadline for application: 25 February 2024. Start date: 1 September 2024
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Henry A. Kissinger died last week.
Few people know that as an academic he used a soft power campaign to get foreign politicians, intellectuals, and cultural figures enthusiastic about the United States.
Who did Kissinger target with his soft power campaign?
polisky
Few people know that as an academic he used a soft power campaign to get foreign politicians, intellectuals, and cultural figures enthusiastic about the United States.
Who did Kissinger target with his soft power campaign?
polisky
December 4, 2023 at 8:52 AM
Henry A. Kissinger died last week.
Few people know that as an academic he used a soft power campaign to get foreign politicians, intellectuals, and cultural figures enthusiastic about the United States.
Who did Kissinger target with his soft power campaign?
polisky
Few people know that as an academic he used a soft power campaign to get foreign politicians, intellectuals, and cultural figures enthusiastic about the United States.
Who did Kissinger target with his soft power campaign?
polisky
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
Small feature in the ZDF Heute about Saudi Arabia's role in international sports.
www.zdf.de/nachrichten/...
www.zdf.de/nachrichten/...
Saudi-Arabiens Sport wie "Brot und Spiele"
Die Sportoffensive Saudi-Arabiens soll Menschenrechtsverletzungen legitimieren, die Jugend begeistern und neue Geldquellen erschließen.
www.zdf.de
November 21, 2023 at 8:29 AM
Small feature in the ZDF Heute about Saudi Arabia's role in international sports.
www.zdf.de/nachrichten/...
www.zdf.de/nachrichten/...
Reposted by Belen Gonzalez
There will be another TOPIQ talk @ipz.bsky.social tomorrow 5pm CET (online) Andrew McNeil will present new work on the effects of (lacking) social mobility on political discontent. Registration here: www.urpp-equality.uzh.ch/en/registrat...
November 6, 2023 at 10:35 AM
There will be another TOPIQ talk @ipz.bsky.social tomorrow 5pm CET (online) Andrew McNeil will present new work on the effects of (lacking) social mobility on political discontent. Registration here: www.urpp-equality.uzh.ch/en/registrat...