Ben Rogers
@ben-rog.bsky.social
Urbanist & writer; Professor @UoL University of London; Distinguished Fellow @LSECities; Founding Director
@CentreforLondon; Chair @DesignSouthEast. Interests include Citizenship, public realm, urban government and democracy, sustainable urbanism, London
@CentreforLondon; Chair @DesignSouthEast. Interests include Citizenship, public realm, urban government and democracy, sustainable urbanism, London
Very annoying when a serious news outlet runs a story celebrating the design of a building without mentioning the architect. Happens the time yet too www.bbc.com/news/article...
Leeds Uni lecture theatre block voted best city building
Leeds' Roger Stevens Building was chosen from a shortlist of 10, all built between 1965 and 2025.
www.bbc.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Very annoying when a serious news outlet runs a story celebrating the design of a building without mentioning the architect. Happens the time yet too www.bbc.com/news/article...
Deadline approaching: Call for papers: The City as a Normative Political Space: Institutions, Relations, and Republicanism MANCEPT Workshop philevents.org/event/show/1...
MANCEPT Workshop: The City as a Normative Political Space: Institutions, Relations, and Republicanism
While mainstream political theory has long focused predominantly on the nation state, it has largely been silent about the city. Slowly, however, the city is gaining prominence in political theory, pa...
philevents.org
April 21, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Deadline approaching: Call for papers: The City as a Normative Political Space: Institutions, Relations, and Republicanism MANCEPT Workshop philevents.org/event/show/1...
Incredibly gratifying
What a pleasingly cheerful map.
The second most spoken language in each London borough.
April 6, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Incredibly gratifying
As Americans take to the streets, a new piece by me on public protest as the last line of defence in the fight for #democracy #HandsOff2025
Under Trump, Americans could turn from civil protest to civic revolution writes @ben-rog.bsky.social of LSE Cities blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
April 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
As Americans take to the streets, a new piece by me on public protest as the last line of defence in the fight for #democracy #HandsOff2025
Americans have a proud tradition of civil disobedience but not much experience of using the streets to defend democracy. That might have to change. One for @fromtga.bsky.social @lseusablog.bsky.social @gideonrachman.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk
April 4, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Americans have a proud tradition of civil disobedience but not much experience of using the streets to defend democracy. That might have to change. One for @fromtga.bsky.social @lseusablog.bsky.social @gideonrachman.bsky.social @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
Yes to this
Pressure grows on Government to allow @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social to charge a London tourist tax, as @centreforlondon.bsky.social
says revenues from visitors’ hotel stays could help safeguard arts and culture across the capital
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
says revenues from visitors’ hotel stays could help safeguard arts and culture across the capital
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
Pressure grows on ministers to allow London tourist tax
Think tank says revenues from visitors’ hotel stays could help fund arts and culture across the capital
www.standard.co.uk
April 4, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Yes to this
The rule of law is often described as democracy's last defence. Wrong. It's the public square. Just look at #Turkey Me, for @lseusablog.bsky.social blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
April 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The rule of law is often described as democracy's last defence. Wrong. It's the public square. Just look at #Turkey Me, for @lseusablog.bsky.social blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
Definitely more thinking to be done here. Obvious alternative would be to beef up powers of Assembly but easier to justify if Mayor gets more powers. Also councils should be careful what you wish for. If MCA’s are your model, gov might say, then let’s radically reduce # of London boroughs
Great devo scoop by @londoncentric.media.
Some quick thoughts ...
www.londoncentric.media/p/the-plan-t...
Some quick thoughts ...
www.londoncentric.media/p/the-plan-t...
The plan to make Sadiq Khan share power in London
Exclusive: London's councils want a "radical" change that could curtail the mayor's power — by following the lead of Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester.
www.londoncentric.media
April 4, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Definitely more thinking to be done here. Obvious alternative would be to beef up powers of Assembly but easier to justify if Mayor gets more powers. Also councils should be careful what you wish for. If MCA’s are your model, gov might say, then let’s radically reduce # of London boroughs
Some English peeps are getting jolly cross
March 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Some English peeps are getting jolly cross
Reposted by Ben Rogers
This is very good by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com. Also, the tasks that AI is taking over fastest (defined, complicated, programmable) are often those most easily performed from home, while the tasks that are more messy, complex, interactive may still be better in person/office. www.ft.com/content/471b...
Why hasn’t AI taken your job yet?
New research shows ChatGPT’s inability to cope with ‘messy’ multitasking is still protecting some human workers
www.ft.com
March 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
This is very good by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com. Also, the tasks that AI is taking over fastest (defined, complicated, programmable) are often those most easily performed from home, while the tasks that are more messy, complex, interactive may still be better in person/office. www.ft.com/content/471b...
Reposted by Ben Rogers
Update from today’s #Turkey protests. Hundreds continue to protest across the country. Protests spreading fast & getting stronger despite harsh police response, including tear/pepper gas in Ankara & Istanbul. Protests not just in large cities but also conservative places like Konya & Trabzon.
March 20, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Update from today’s #Turkey protests. Hundreds continue to protest across the country. Protests spreading fast & getting stronger despite harsh police response, including tear/pepper gas in Ankara & Istanbul. Protests not just in large cities but also conservative places like Konya & Trabzon.
Various books and articles i have done have been pilfered which is bad - but I also wish i could lay claim to the articles by some of the other Ben Rogerses - especially the astrophysicist
Just checked, it takes 10 seconds.
They used my first book.
6 years of work.
They used my first book.
6 years of work.
Meta used at least 16 of my books, and numerous articles, to help train the AI it will use to make billions.
Authors, search your name here:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Authors, search your name here:
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
March 20, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Various books and articles i have done have been pilfered which is bad - but I also wish i could lay claim to the articles by some of the other Ben Rogerses - especially the astrophysicist
For female followers: this is bold!
March 15, 2025 at 10:37 PM
For female followers: this is bold!
Reposted by Ben Rogers
I'm afraid I must inform you we are discussing Canadian membership of the EU again.
NEARLY HALF OF CANADIANS SAY THEY WOULD SUPPORT JOINING THE EU.
NEARLY HALF OF CANADIANS SAY THEY WOULD SUPPORT JOINING THE EU.
With the US-Canada trade war heating up, Canadians are looking for friends elsewhere.
Perhaps surprisingly, nearly half of Canadians say they would support joining the European Union
open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
Perhaps surprisingly, nearly half of Canadians say they would support joining the European Union
open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
Surprising Share Of Canadians Support EU Membership
New polling suggests Canadians are rapidly warming up to the idea of joining the European Union
open.substack.com
March 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I'm afraid I must inform you we are discussing Canadian membership of the EU again.
NEARLY HALF OF CANADIANS SAY THEY WOULD SUPPORT JOINING THE EU.
NEARLY HALF OF CANADIANS SAY THEY WOULD SUPPORT JOINING THE EU.
Fun fact: the cost is of building a tunnel across the Thames is about the same as UK gov has given to help Ukraine.
Lower Thames Crossing has cost £1.2bn even before construction starts
Outlay on items including consultants, planning and legal fees jumps from £800mn two years ago
www.ft.com
March 7, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Fun fact: the cost is of building a tunnel across the Thames is about the same as UK gov has given to help Ukraine.
Reposted by Ben Rogers
I guess most grant proposals work out like this
March 4, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I guess most grant proposals work out like this
I am not a big Oscars fan but delighted No Other Land won best documentary. And the acceptance speeches were a moment of hope when there is not much of that around youtu.be/6N3CUwe3LPA?...
Israeli Palestinian documentary 'No Other Land' wins Oscar
YouTube video by ynetnews
youtu.be
March 3, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I am not a big Oscars fan but delighted No Other Land won best documentary. And the acceptance speeches were a moment of hope when there is not much of that around youtu.be/6N3CUwe3LPA?...
The official site for donations to Ukraine seems to be down I hope its because of surge in donations and not combined Russian-US cyber attack war.ukraine.ua/donate/
Donate to Ukraine’s defenders
The National Bank of Ukraine has decided to open a special fundraising account to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
war.ukraine.ua
February 28, 2025 at 10:48 PM
The official site for donations to Ukraine seems to be down I hope its because of surge in donations and not combined Russian-US cyber attack war.ukraine.ua/donate/
Feels like the US has crossed the Rubicon now this is Europe’s moment www.nytimes.com/video/us/pol...
Video: Trump, Zelensky and Vance Argue Over Ukraine War
President Trump and Vice President JD Vance scolded President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine during a meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, claiming he was not grateful enough for U.S. aid.
www.nytimes.com
February 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Feels like the US has crossed the Rubicon now this is Europe’s moment www.nytimes.com/video/us/pol...
Reposted by Ben Rogers
Ce soir plus que jamais aux côtés des ukrainiens et de Volodymyr Zelensky.
Dans ces tempêtes où les vents mauvais soufflent forts, rassemblons nous derrière le président ukrainien.
Il s’agit de nos valeurs,
il s’agit de notre démocratie,
il s’agit de notre liberté.
Nous vaincrons.
Slava ukraini !
Dans ces tempêtes où les vents mauvais soufflent forts, rassemblons nous derrière le président ukrainien.
Il s’agit de nos valeurs,
il s’agit de notre démocratie,
il s’agit de notre liberté.
Nous vaincrons.
Slava ukraini !
February 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Ce soir plus que jamais aux côtés des ukrainiens et de Volodymyr Zelensky.
Dans ces tempêtes où les vents mauvais soufflent forts, rassemblons nous derrière le président ukrainien.
Il s’agit de nos valeurs,
il s’agit de notre démocratie,
il s’agit de notre liberté.
Nous vaincrons.
Slava ukraini !
Dans ces tempêtes où les vents mauvais soufflent forts, rassemblons nous derrière le président ukrainien.
Il s’agit de nos valeurs,
il s’agit de notre démocratie,
il s’agit de notre liberté.
Nous vaincrons.
Slava ukraini !
Reposted by Ben Rogers
I always struggle a little to explain my students why Marxists are right about freedom in the capitalist state. Jeff Bezos does it so much better.
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 4:09 PM
I always struggle a little to explain my students why Marxists are right about freedom in the capitalist state. Jeff Bezos does it so much better.
Reposted by Ben Rogers
How strange it is to be alive when the USA jumped the shark.
February 20, 2025 at 8:47 AM
How strange it is to be alive when the USA jumped the shark.
Just watched this on Prime. It’s really powerful and in many ways universal story of expropriation and exile. It did not win at tonight’s BAFTAs. Hope it triumphs at Oscars.
Made by a team of Palestinian and Israeli activist filmmakers, the Academy Award-nominated documentary "No Other Land" is a look at life under occupation in a small West Bank village.
The co-directors of 'No Other Land' on Trump's Gaza plan, the Oscars and the fight ahead
Made by a team of Palestinian and Israeli activist filmmakers, the Academy Award-nominated documentary is a look at life under occupation in a small West Bank village.
www.latimes.com
February 16, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Just watched this on Prime. It’s really powerful and in many ways universal story of expropriation and exile. It did not win at tonight’s BAFTAs. Hope it triumphs at Oscars.