Doug Thompson
@dithomps.bsky.social
Political theorist. Rewriting the global history of political thought from the perspective of bureaucrats, 3000 BCE to the present.
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/douglas-i-thompson/home
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/douglas-i-thompson/home
Pinned
Doug Thompson
@dithomps.bsky.social
· Jun 19
Delighted to see my article, "The Bureaucratic Origins of Political Theory," in print in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social. It is my favorite thing I've written, and I hope you'll read it.
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
So much of the excellent work that people in my field have done in recent years to expand our geographic horizons has been heavily dependent on scholarship in other fields that began this work much earlier.
Interdisciplinary research and even simply reading are truly transformative.
Interdisciplinary research and even simply reading are truly transformative.
Until recently, my academic field—political theory/history of ideas—had a ‘canon’ that cut out the *entire* first half of the record of human political thought.
This ‘canon’ was arbitrarily drawn from 4 times and places *only*: (1) a single century in the ancient Aegean, almost all from Athens…
This ‘canon’ was arbitrarily drawn from 4 times and places *only*: (1) a single century in the ancient Aegean, almost all from Athens…
I need folks to know "classics are classic for a reason" re: creative work is not the great argument you think it is, mostly because it leaves entirely unexamined the *reasons* some things persist in culture, of which "quality," subjective in any event, is only one reason and often not the main one.
August 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
So much of the excellent work that people in my field have done in recent years to expand our geographic horizons has been heavily dependent on scholarship in other fields that began this work much earlier.
Interdisciplinary research and even simply reading are truly transformative.
Interdisciplinary research and even simply reading are truly transformative.
Reposted by Doug Thompson
Greek & Roman historian here. Fact check: true. Ancient Mediterranean historians worth our salt don’t just read about Greeks and Romans.
August 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Greek & Roman historian here. Fact check: true. Ancient Mediterranean historians worth our salt don’t just read about Greeks and Romans.
Until recently, my academic field—political theory/history of ideas—had a ‘canon’ that cut out the *entire* first half of the record of human political thought.
This ‘canon’ was arbitrarily drawn from 4 times and places *only*: (1) a single century in the ancient Aegean, almost all from Athens…
This ‘canon’ was arbitrarily drawn from 4 times and places *only*: (1) a single century in the ancient Aegean, almost all from Athens…
I need folks to know "classics are classic for a reason" re: creative work is not the great argument you think it is, mostly because it leaves entirely unexamined the *reasons* some things persist in culture, of which "quality," subjective in any event, is only one reason and often not the main one.
August 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Until recently, my academic field—political theory/history of ideas—had a ‘canon’ that cut out the *entire* first half of the record of human political thought.
This ‘canon’ was arbitrarily drawn from 4 times and places *only*: (1) a single century in the ancient Aegean, almost all from Athens…
This ‘canon’ was arbitrarily drawn from 4 times and places *only*: (1) a single century in the ancient Aegean, almost all from Athens…
Democratizing “reconstruction” moments only happen in the US when the anti-democratization party is totally excluded (1865, 1932) or when the parties are *both* internally split on “race.”
Neither is true in 2025. So what’s the path forward?
Neither is true in 2025. So what’s the path forward?
Until now, the basic structure of how the US Constitution "works" has been "refounded" 4 times. We are now *very* far into the 5th "refounding." Dr. McMillan Cottom is right. There is no easy path toward quickly & peacefully reversing this.
Why? Let's look at the other "refounding" moments. (1/)
Why? Let's look at the other "refounding" moments. (1/)
I’m going to be very honest and clear.
I am fully preparing myself to die under this new American regime. That’s not to say that it’s the end of the world. It isn’t. But I am almost 50 years old. It will take so long to do anything with this mess that this is the new normal for *me*.
I am fully preparing myself to die under this new American regime. That’s not to say that it’s the end of the world. It isn’t. But I am almost 50 years old. It will take so long to do anything with this mess that this is the new normal for *me*.
July 3, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Democratizing “reconstruction” moments only happen in the US when the anti-democratization party is totally excluded (1865, 1932) or when the parties are *both* internally split on “race.”
Neither is true in 2025. So what’s the path forward?
Neither is true in 2025. So what’s the path forward?
Until now, the basic structure of how the US Constitution "works" has been "refounded" 4 times. We are now *very* far into the 5th "refounding." Dr. McMillan Cottom is right. There is no easy path toward quickly & peacefully reversing this.
Why? Let's look at the other "refounding" moments. (1/)
Why? Let's look at the other "refounding" moments. (1/)
I’m going to be very honest and clear.
I am fully preparing myself to die under this new American regime. That’s not to say that it’s the end of the world. It isn’t. But I am almost 50 years old. It will take so long to do anything with this mess that this is the new normal for *me*.
I am fully preparing myself to die under this new American regime. That’s not to say that it’s the end of the world. It isn’t. But I am almost 50 years old. It will take so long to do anything with this mess that this is the new normal for *me*.
July 3, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Until now, the basic structure of how the US Constitution "works" has been "refounded" 4 times. We are now *very* far into the 5th "refounding." Dr. McMillan Cottom is right. There is no easy path toward quickly & peacefully reversing this.
Why? Let's look at the other "refounding" moments. (1/)
Why? Let's look at the other "refounding" moments. (1/)
Reposted by Doug Thompson
@jamellebouie.net's recent columns advance the view that the US Constitution extends far beyond the brief formal text & those informal & unwritten pieces are central to the character of the constitutional order.
I just published an article detailing a similar view, but develop it a bit differently:
I just published an article detailing a similar view, but develop it a bit differently:
Folk Constitutionalism, or Why it Matters How Ordinary People Think about the Constitution
A truly inclusive democratic politics must be understandable, or cognitively tractable, for ordinary people busy with the rest of their lives. This extends not only to everyday politics and policy,...
doi.org
November 5, 2024 at 5:12 PM
@jamellebouie.net's recent columns advance the view that the US Constitution extends far beyond the brief formal text & those informal & unwritten pieces are central to the character of the constitutional order.
I just published an article detailing a similar view, but develop it a bit differently:
I just published an article detailing a similar view, but develop it a bit differently:
Reposted by Doug Thompson
Now is a moment to reshare this video
June 22, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Now is a moment to reshare this video
Reposted by Doug Thompson
👀 👀 👀
Delighted to see my article, "The Bureaucratic Origins of Political Theory," in print in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social. It is my favorite thing I've written, and I hope you'll read it.
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
June 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
👀 👀 👀
Reposted by Doug Thompson
Inject this in my veins ❤️
Delighted to see my article, "The Bureaucratic Origins of Political Theory," in print in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social. It is my favorite thing I've written, and I hope you'll read it.
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
June 21, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Inject this in my veins ❤️
Sadly, these numbers will shift in reaction to any Iranian retaliation. US military casualties especially will produce a media frenzy for war. I’m old enough to remember 2003.
This escalation was 100% elective, launched without evidence or argument, violating Article I of the US Constitution.
This escalation was 100% elective, launched without evidence or argument, violating Article I of the US Constitution.
REMINDERS:
- Americans opposing bombing Iran outnumber warmongers by a margin of 20% (45-25)
- ONLY 25% of Americans support airstrikes against Iran at this time.
- Americans opposing bombing Iran outnumber warmongers by a margin of 20% (45-25)
- ONLY 25% of Americans support airstrikes against Iran at this time.
They are not going to mention in their headlines ofc but even @washingtonpost.com can't hide the numbers:
- Americans opposing bombing Iran outnumber warmongers by a margin of 20% (45-25)
- ONLY 25% of Americans support airstrikes against Iran at this time.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
- Americans opposing bombing Iran outnumber warmongers by a margin of 20% (45-25)
- ONLY 25% of Americans support airstrikes against Iran at this time.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
June 22, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Sadly, these numbers will shift in reaction to any Iranian retaliation. US military casualties especially will produce a media frenzy for war. I’m old enough to remember 2003.
This escalation was 100% elective, launched without evidence or argument, violating Article I of the US Constitution.
This escalation was 100% elective, launched without evidence or argument, violating Article I of the US Constitution.
Reposted by Doug Thompson
This is fascinating.
Delighted to see my article, "The Bureaucratic Origins of Political Theory," in print in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social. It is my favorite thing I've written, and I hope you'll read it.
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
June 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This is fascinating.
Reposted by Doug Thompson
June 19, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Doug Thompson
🎯🧵"Beginning the history of political thought at the actual beginning (and not half-way through, as we usually do) opens up a whole new vista on the entire 5,000+ record of human political ideas.
Crucially, it restores bureaucracy as a central theme of history of human political reflection."
Crucially, it restores bureaucracy as a central theme of history of human political reflection."
Delighted to see my article, "The Bureaucratic Origins of Political Theory," in print in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social. It is my favorite thing I've written, and I hope you'll read it.
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
June 19, 2025 at 6:56 PM
🎯🧵"Beginning the history of political thought at the actual beginning (and not half-way through, as we usually do) opens up a whole new vista on the entire 5,000+ record of human political ideas.
Crucially, it restores bureaucracy as a central theme of history of human political reflection."
Crucially, it restores bureaucracy as a central theme of history of human political reflection."
Reposted by Doug Thompson
Inaugurating Mesopotamian school of Political theory (obscured til now by philhellenism), calling for a proper focus on bureaucracy (elided til now because… slavery), noting the centrality of writing to labor, and vice versa, this (un)timely, frame-shifting essay is BIG. Bravo @dithomps.bsky.social
Delighted to see my article, "The Bureaucratic Origins of Political Theory," in print in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social. It is my favorite thing I've written, and I hope you'll read it.
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
June 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Inaugurating Mesopotamian school of Political theory (obscured til now by philhellenism), calling for a proper focus on bureaucracy (elided til now because… slavery), noting the centrality of writing to labor, and vice versa, this (un)timely, frame-shifting essay is BIG. Bravo @dithomps.bsky.social
Delighted to see my article, "The Bureaucratic Origins of Political Theory," in print in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social. It is my favorite thing I've written, and I hope you'll read it.
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
June 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Delighted to see my article, "The Bureaucratic Origins of Political Theory," in print in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social. It is my favorite thing I've written, and I hope you'll read it.
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Like most people, I learned in school that political theory began in Athens in the 5th c. BCE. This is wrong. (1/)
Reposted by Doug Thompson
Provoking domestic insurgency through unprofessional paramilitary violence then asking the highly professional US military to fight against their fellow citizens to protect the fake-military goons is a recipe for total collapse of military morale.
bsky.app/profile/greg...
bsky.app/profile/greg...
Crucial, overlooked point from @barbmcquade.bsky.social: Trump using the National Guard in American cities is also really bad for members of the Guard themselves.
"I don’t think they signed up to fight against in combat with their fellow citizens."
Transcript here:
newrepublic.com/article/1963...
"I don’t think they signed up to fight against in combat with their fellow citizens."
Transcript here:
newrepublic.com/article/1963...
June 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Provoking domestic insurgency through unprofessional paramilitary violence then asking the highly professional US military to fight against their fellow citizens to protect the fake-military goons is a recipe for total collapse of military morale.
bsky.app/profile/greg...
bsky.app/profile/greg...
86 percent of the US population (almost 300 million people) live in metropolitan areas.
To dominate them all militarily is impossible.
www.census.gov/library/stor....
To dominate them all militarily is impossible.
www.census.gov/library/stor....
June 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
86 percent of the US population (almost 300 million people) live in metropolitan areas.
To dominate them all militarily is impossible.
www.census.gov/library/stor....
To dominate them all militarily is impossible.
www.census.gov/library/stor....
The LA metro area population (12.8 million) is larger than 45 US states.
The LA metro area GDP ($1.3 trillion) is greater than all but 16 *nation-states*.
Mobilizing a single infantry battalion and a loose collection of ARNG companies is a major constitutional escalation AND a sign of weakness.
The LA metro area GDP ($1.3 trillion) is greater than all but 16 *nation-states*.
Mobilizing a single infantry battalion and a loose collection of ARNG companies is a major constitutional escalation AND a sign of weakness.
Essential we hold two thoughts in our head at the same:
There is no doubt the Trumpists want an authoritarian police state, and the situation is acutely dangerous. But being lawless does not make Trump omnipotent.
Obscuring that distinction is an act of defeatism that only serves the regime.
There is no doubt the Trumpists want an authoritarian police state, and the situation is acutely dangerous. But being lawless does not make Trump omnipotent.
Obscuring that distinction is an act of defeatism that only serves the regime.
there really seems to be a strange “green lantern theory of fascism” that some people on this website have internalized, in which the white house’s desire for martial law — it’s desire for organized repression — is tantamount to a guarantee that it will happen
June 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The LA metro area population (12.8 million) is larger than 45 US states.
The LA metro area GDP ($1.3 trillion) is greater than all but 16 *nation-states*.
Mobilizing a single infantry battalion and a loose collection of ARNG companies is a major constitutional escalation AND a sign of weakness.
The LA metro area GDP ($1.3 trillion) is greater than all but 16 *nation-states*.
Mobilizing a single infantry battalion and a loose collection of ARNG companies is a major constitutional escalation AND a sign of weakness.
Grading interrupted again by a friendly anole.
May 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Grading interrupted again by a friendly anole.
How am I supposed to finish grading with this beautiful visitor on my laptop?
May 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM
How am I supposed to finish grading with this beautiful visitor on my laptop?
A story in three parts about summer 2025, which will live in infamy…
April 29, 2025 at 2:34 AM
A story in three parts about summer 2025, which will live in infamy…
He is risen in the polls.
If Jesus had focused more on kitchen table issues and less on unpopular outcasts like lepers and prostitutes, he might have won more support from white working-class Judeans.
April 20, 2025 at 11:13 AM
He is risen in the polls.
Meh, I prefer the original...
youtu.be/zYGSW7PGLVg?...
youtu.be/zYGSW7PGLVg?...
April 8, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Meh, I prefer the original...
youtu.be/zYGSW7PGLVg?...
youtu.be/zYGSW7PGLVg?...
The best part is when she gesticulates toward the guy’s head with her muzzle.
April 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The best part is when she gesticulates toward the guy’s head with her muzzle.
