James Hickson
@jmchickson.bsky.social
Political theorist and policy researcher at the Heseltine Institute, University of Liverpool.
Pinned
James Hickson
@jmchickson.bsky.social
· May 6
Delighted to share that @mwojciechowska.bsky.social and I have published our article, Why go local? Developing the research agenda for “local political theory”, in the European Journal of Political Theory. It's available open access here: doi.org/10.1177/1474...
Big thank you to @drjoehoover.bsky.social and @theorylab.bsky.social for inviting me to present my paper on Inequality, precarity, and domination in 'left behind' communities as part of their work in progress seminar series. Some great feedback to think about on the train back north...
November 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Big thank you to @drjoehoover.bsky.social and @theorylab.bsky.social for inviting me to present my paper on Inequality, precarity, and domination in 'left behind' communities as part of their work in progress seminar series. Some great feedback to think about on the train back north...
Reposted by James Hickson
TheoryLAB is excited to have @jmchickson.bsky.social presenting on "Inequality, precarity and domination in ‘left behind’ communities” at our Work in Progress Seminar Wed., 11 Nov. (4-5.30pm) at QM’s Mile End Campus. Message here or spir-theorylab@qmul.ac.uk for info or to join our mailing list.
November 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM
TheoryLAB is excited to have @jmchickson.bsky.social presenting on "Inequality, precarity and domination in ‘left behind’ communities” at our Work in Progress Seminar Wed., 11 Nov. (4-5.30pm) at QM’s Mile End Campus. Message here or spir-theorylab@qmul.ac.uk for info or to join our mailing list.
Reposted by James Hickson
📢 My new journal article is out today in Global Political Economy in a great collection edited by @jmchickson.bsky.social and @stellamorgana.bsky.social. I explore job insecurity across England’s mayoral combined authorities — and what this means for regional inequality and economic growth.
A🧵...
A🧵...
November 3, 2025 at 10:12 AM
📢 My new journal article is out today in Global Political Economy in a great collection edited by @jmchickson.bsky.social and @stellamorgana.bsky.social. I explore job insecurity across England’s mayoral combined authorities — and what this means for regional inequality and economic growth.
A🧵...
A🧵...
Reposted by James Hickson
Surveillance and propaganda reign supreme in the fictional world of “1984”—for which generations have found real-life parallels, again and again. The new film “Orwell: 2+2=5” argues that noting such similarities isn’t enough, writes Shirley Li:
It’s Not Enough to Read Orwell
A new film argues that, in an era of rising authoritarianism, audiences have become too numb to the speculative force of “1984.”
bit.ly
October 22, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Surveillance and propaganda reign supreme in the fictional world of “1984”—for which generations have found real-life parallels, again and again. The new film “Orwell: 2+2=5” argues that noting such similarities isn’t enough, writes Shirley Li:
Building on our workshop last year on The Global Politics of Precarity and Insecure Work, @stellamorgana.bsky.social and I are delighted to share a collection of 6 original commentary articles on this theme in @gpejournal.bsky.social
Read the full introduction here: doi.org/10.1332/2635...
Read the full introduction here: doi.org/10.1332/2635...
October 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Building on our workshop last year on The Global Politics of Precarity and Insecure Work, @stellamorgana.bsky.social and I are delighted to share a collection of 6 original commentary articles on this theme in @gpejournal.bsky.social
Read the full introduction here: doi.org/10.1332/2635...
Read the full introduction here: doi.org/10.1332/2635...
Reposted by James Hickson
What is the endgame in this toxic immigration debate: is it friends and neighbours thrown out of the country? | Jonthan Liew
What is the endgame in this toxic immigration debate: is it friends and neighbours thrown out of the country? | Jonthan Liew
The notion of remigration was abstract, but the right is dragging it towards respectability. If the goal is homogeneous whiteness, they should say it, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Liew
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 9:45 AM
What is the endgame in this toxic immigration debate: is it friends and neighbours thrown out of the country? | Jonthan Liew
Reposted by James Hickson
I’ve been frustrated to see so much of the ongoing story about asylum seekers and the protests against them covered without hearing from those seeking asylum and now being met with hostility and hatred
I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇
I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇
We escaped war and torture but now we feel unsafe in Britain
Special report: Amid protests and rising aggression towards asylum seekers across the country, we spoke to those being targeted
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
September 7, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I’ve been frustrated to see so much of the ongoing story about asylum seekers and the protests against them covered without hearing from those seeking asylum and now being met with hostility and hatred
I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇
I set out to speak to those directly affected to find out about the impact this is having 👇
Reposted by James Hickson
@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda
"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."
"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."
Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution
The government’s devolution bill is justified along economic growth lines. This risks the devolution agenda as a whole if it doesn't materalise.
politicalquarterly.org.uk
September 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda
"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."
"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."
Nice to be back in Manchester today for the MANCEPT workshops, where I presented on radical municipalism and republican political theory as part of the workshop on The City as a Normative Political Space: Institutions, Relations, and Republicanism.
September 3, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Nice to be back in Manchester today for the MANCEPT workshops, where I presented on radical municipalism and republican political theory as part of the workshop on The City as a Normative Political Space: Institutions, Relations, and Republicanism.
Reposted by James Hickson
"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."
@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda
@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda
Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution
The government’s devolution bill is justified along economic growth lines. This risks the devolution agenda as a whole if it doesn't materalise.
politicalquarterly.org.uk
August 28, 2025 at 9:26 AM
"Although the what of English devolution appears to be settled for now, the why remains much more volatile."
@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda
@jacknewman.bsky.social and @jmchickson.bsky.social discuss the tensions and ambiguity at the heart of the devolution agenda
Reposted by James Hickson
My take on the hefty English devolution & community empowerment bill that was introduced earlier this month.
One of several reforms the govt is quietly getting on with, it marks a shift towards a more coherent, standardised framework and places English devolution on a firmer constitutional footing.
One of several reforms the govt is quietly getting on with, it marks a shift towards a more coherent, standardised framework and places English devolution on a firmer constitutional footing.
The English devolution bill marks a major shift in how England is governed, with more powers for mayors & local areas—but concerns remain over accountability & local voice.
@alwalker.bsky.social explores this big moment for the governance of England.
www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/english...
@alwalker.bsky.social explores this big moment for the governance of England.
www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/english...
July 30, 2025 at 9:52 AM
My take on the hefty English devolution & community empowerment bill that was introduced earlier this month.
One of several reforms the govt is quietly getting on with, it marks a shift towards a more coherent, standardised framework and places English devolution on a firmer constitutional footing.
One of several reforms the govt is quietly getting on with, it marks a shift towards a more coherent, standardised framework and places English devolution on a firmer constitutional footing.
Reposted by James Hickson
Localism, Levelling up, and Taking Back Control: tensions in the ambiguous justification of English devolution
@jmchickson.bsky.social @jacknewman.bsky.social
#Englishdevolution #politicaldecentralisation #takingbackcontrol #levellingup #localism
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@jmchickson.bsky.social @jacknewman.bsky.social
#Englishdevolution #politicaldecentralisation #takingbackcontrol #levellingup #localism
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
July 23, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Localism, Levelling up, and Taking Back Control: tensions in the ambiguous justification of English devolution
@jmchickson.bsky.social @jacknewman.bsky.social
#Englishdevolution #politicaldecentralisation #takingbackcontrol #levellingup #localism
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@jmchickson.bsky.social @jacknewman.bsky.social
#Englishdevolution #politicaldecentralisation #takingbackcontrol #levellingup #localism
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by James Hickson
New article in @politicalquarterly.bsky.social by @jmchickson.bsky.social and @jacknewman.bsky.social - a timely intervention following the recent publication of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution
There is an increasingly powerful argument for the decentralisation of policy making in England's highly centralised political context. In recent years, this issue has represented one of the clearest....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 21, 2025 at 9:28 AM
New article in @politicalquarterly.bsky.social by @jmchickson.bsky.social and @jacknewman.bsky.social - a timely intervention following the recent publication of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
NEW: @jacknewman.bsky.social and I have just published our new article 'Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution' open access in @politicalquarterly.bsky.social. Read the article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...
Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution
There is an increasingly powerful argument for the decentralisation of policy making in England's highly centralised political context. In recent years, this issue has represented one of the clearest...
doi.org
July 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
NEW: @jacknewman.bsky.social and I have just published our new article 'Localism, Levelling Up and Taking Back Control: Tensions in the Ambiguous Justification of English Devolution' open access in @politicalquarterly.bsky.social. Read the article here: doi.org/10.1111/1467...
In a new blog for the @apaphilosophy.bsky.social, I explore how republican political philosophy can help us to illuminate the expansion of unchecked, arbitrary power in contemporary politics, and articulate why this poses such a threat to freedom and democracy blog.apaonline.org/2025/06/11/t...
The Republican Moment: Reviving Freedom and Democracy in an Authoritarian Age
Across the globe, authoritarianism is in the ascendancy. As Freedom House have reported, over the last two decades many repressive regimes across the world have increased their domestic power, and amp...
blog.apaonline.org
June 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
In a new blog for the @apaphilosophy.bsky.social, I explore how republican political philosophy can help us to illuminate the expansion of unchecked, arbitrary power in contemporary politics, and articulate why this poses such a threat to freedom and democracy blog.apaonline.org/2025/06/11/t...
Reposted by James Hickson
If any members have any ideas for applications for this funding, please get in touch with the group convenors by 20 June 👇
*PSA OPPORTUNITY* - New Excellence & Impact Fund available for PSA Specialist Groups.
📆 Apply by 30 June.
➡️ Full details online.
📆 Apply by 30 June.
➡️ Full details online.
PSA Excellence & Impact Fund | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
In recognition and celebration of our 75th anniversary, we are launching this new PSA Excellence & Impact Fund.
buff.ly
June 11, 2025 at 6:31 PM
If any members have any ideas for applications for this funding, please get in touch with the group convenors by 20 June 👇
Reposted by James Hickson
Delighted to share that @mwojciechowska.bsky.social and I have published our article, Why go local? Developing the research agenda for “local political theory”, in the European Journal of Political Theory. It's available open access here: doi.org/10.1177/1474...
May 6, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Delighted to share that @mwojciechowska.bsky.social and I have published our article, Why go local? Developing the research agenda for “local political theory”, in the European Journal of Political Theory. It's available open access here: doi.org/10.1177/1474...
Delighted to share that @mwojciechowska.bsky.social and I have published our article, Why go local? Developing the research agenda for “local political theory”, in the European Journal of Political Theory. It's available open access here: doi.org/10.1177/1474...
May 6, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Delighted to share that @mwojciechowska.bsky.social and I have published our article, Why go local? Developing the research agenda for “local political theory”, in the European Journal of Political Theory. It's available open access here: doi.org/10.1177/1474...
Brilliant panel led by @ariannagiovannini.bsky.social on the role of academia in shaping policy, particularly at the subregional level in England. Lots of valuable experience, insight, and advice from Patrick Diamond, Peter Murphy, @louisereardon.bsky.social, and @rileyresearch.bsky.social #PSA2025
April 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Brilliant panel led by @ariannagiovannini.bsky.social on the role of academia in shaping policy, particularly at the subregional level in England. Lots of valuable experience, insight, and advice from Patrick Diamond, Peter Murphy, @louisereardon.bsky.social, and @rileyresearch.bsky.social #PSA2025
Great to be in Birmingham for @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social conference. I'll be presenting a paper, written with Hannah McHugh, on 'Republican citizenship in an era of economic globalisation' on Wednesday as part of a @psapolthought.bsky.social panel on the politics of marginality & cosmopolitanism
April 14, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Great to be in Birmingham for @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social conference. I'll be presenting a paper, written with Hannah McHugh, on 'Republican citizenship in an era of economic globalisation' on Wednesday as part of a @psapolthought.bsky.social panel on the politics of marginality & cosmopolitanism
Reposted by James Hickson
I'm in LabourList, writing about Project Chainsaw, Scottish DOGE, and Labour talking about making Britain great again, all of which does nothing but signal desperation and a clanging lack of ideological self confidence.
labourlist.org/2025/03/labo...
labourlist.org/2025/03/labo...
‘Labour should drop the chainsaw rhetoric and stop trying to impress journalists' - LabourList
Morgan Jones argues that Labour does not need to riff on Milei and Musk.
labourlist.org
March 19, 2025 at 10:54 AM
I'm in LabourList, writing about Project Chainsaw, Scottish DOGE, and Labour talking about making Britain great again, all of which does nothing but signal desperation and a clanging lack of ideological self confidence.
labourlist.org/2025/03/labo...
labourlist.org/2025/03/labo...
Reposted by James Hickson
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 James Hickson
We are hiring TWO political theorists as well as a PPE position which is open to theorists (focus on history of economic thought) - please apply and circulate!
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/108445-...
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/108445-...
Lecturer in Political Theory
www.kcl.ac.uk
February 25, 2025 at 12:14 PM
We are hiring TWO political theorists as well as a PPE position which is open to theorists (focus on history of economic thought) - please apply and circulate!
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/108445-...
www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/108445-...
Reposted by James Hickson
Strongly worded warning by Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury select cttee, for the FT here - on deregulation of the City and financial services - to whose benefit? www.ft.com/content/57c1...
Show me the evidence that City deregulation will help growth
There is a severe risk of ‘Treasury capture’ as consumers are outgunned in the battle for the ear of policymakers
www.ft.com
February 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Strongly worded warning by Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury select cttee, for the FT here - on deregulation of the City and financial services - to whose benefit? www.ft.com/content/57c1...