Jonathan Powell
drpowell.bsky.social
Jonathan Powell
@drpowell.bsky.social
Free agent social scientist studying political instability and human security
Reposted by Jonathan Powell
A military coup appears to have happened in Guinea-Bissau. The warning signs were there, leading up to Sunday's elections. @drpowell.bsky.social & I wrote about these warning signs last week over at @africa.theconversation.com.

theconversation.com/guinea-bissa...
Guinea-Bissau’s presidential poll has already failed the credibility test
What’s at stake in Guinea-Bissau’s election is a wider regional crisis in which incumbents erode legitimacy.
theconversation.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Powell
Had the pleasure to join the good folks over at the Centre for African Conflict & Development to offer my perspective on the Madagascar coup and other related developments in their latest podcast episode.

open.spotify.com/episode/18ea...
EP 108: The Recent Coup in Madagascar with Dr Salah Ben Hammou
open.spotify.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Powell
Happy to share my latest piece at Foreign Policy w/ @drpowell.bsky.social. Madagascar’s recent coup reflects a wider “coupvolution” trend - civilians help topple leaders, only to be sidelined once the military takes over. Here's what they can do.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/06/m...
Madagascar’s ‘Coupvolution’ Is Following a Familiar Pattern
Gen Z protesters now have buyer's remorse.
foreignpolicy.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Powell
As we see a rise in coups across Africa, Salah Ben Hammou (@salahbhpolisci.bsky.social) and Jonathan Powell (@drpowell.bsky.social) have been making significant contributions to conversations about coups around the world, including in AF&S! Find their articles here: journals.sagepub.com/home/afs
Sharing my new article co-authored with @drpowell.bsky.social over at The Conversation on the coup in Madagascar. We explore what happens when regional organizations preach democracy but protect incumbents. This disconnect fuels instability and public distrust.

theconversation.com/madagascar-c...
Madagascar coup: why turning a blind eye to an unpopular president weakens regional bodies
As Malagasy citizens demanded accountability, international institutions conferred legitimacy on a president with dubious democratic credentials.
theconversation.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Powell
Guess it’s safe to share now: I’ve recently relocated to Abu Dhabi, UAE, in light of the rollbacks on DACA and increased targeting of its recipients in the U.S. Grateful to Rice University & the Baker Institute for making it possible to continue my postdoc. Open to any resources from folks here
September 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Powell
Sharing my latest with Kelsey Norman over at Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com. Here, we discuss how mutual aid networks in Sudan offer an alternative model of aid distribution in armed conflict.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/07/s...
Sudan’s New Model for Aid Distribution
Rather than rely on other countries or international organizations, local communities have banded together.
foreignpolicy.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM
All the Die Hard talk distracts us from recognizing a truly great Christmas movie: Lethal Weapon
December 15, 2024 at 7:17 PM
New commentary with @salahbhpolisci.bsky.social on post-coup politics. This will be the first of a number on the return of military rule and its relationship to broader shifts in global politics.

theconversation.com/gabons-coup-...
Gabon’s coup leaders have changed the constitution to entrench their power – it’s a growing trend in west Africa
Coup leaders in Gabon are using democratic tools to extend their stay in power.
theconversation.com
November 29, 2024 at 10:13 PM
A lot of trouble to go through for a captain… amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/n...
November 4, 2023 at 1:49 PM