Melissa Butcher
@melissa-geog.bsky.social
Programme Director. Human geographer. Lover of maps and long distances. Writing about 'The Trouble with Freedom', re-imagining the USA's future. Unshakable faith in the power of a conversation.
Pinned
Melissa Butcher: The Trouble with Freedom
Few words carry more weight in American life, or cause more division, than freedom. The idea once unified the nation, but now it has become the battle cry of a country at war with itself.
thetroubleclub.com
Looking forward to speaking at the Trouble Club in January …
thetroubleclub.com/whats-on/mel...
thetroubleclub.com/whats-on/mel...
Looking forward to speaking at the Trouble Club in January …
thetroubleclub.com/whats-on/mel...
thetroubleclub.com/whats-on/mel...
Melissa Butcher: The Trouble with Freedom
Few words carry more weight in American life, or cause more division, than freedom. The idea once unified the nation, but now it has become the battle cry of a country at war with itself.
thetroubleclub.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Looking forward to speaking at the Trouble Club in January …
thetroubleclub.com/whats-on/mel...
thetroubleclub.com/whats-on/mel...
Reposted by Melissa Butcher
25% OFF 2026 New Titles on the @waterstones.bsky.social website & app for a limited time only!
Pre-order from thousands of titles using discount code OCTOBER25 at checkout.
Valid 14-17th October & online only, a great opportunity to grow your TBR pile for next year!
Titles listed below. #booksky
Pre-order from thousands of titles using discount code OCTOBER25 at checkout.
Valid 14-17th October & online only, a great opportunity to grow your TBR pile for next year!
Titles listed below. #booksky
October 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM
25% OFF 2026 New Titles on the @waterstones.bsky.social website & app for a limited time only!
Pre-order from thousands of titles using discount code OCTOBER25 at checkout.
Valid 14-17th October & online only, a great opportunity to grow your TBR pile for next year!
Titles listed below. #booksky
Pre-order from thousands of titles using discount code OCTOBER25 at checkout.
Valid 14-17th October & online only, a great opportunity to grow your TBR pile for next year!
Titles listed below. #booksky
For those interested in how we got to be where we are politically in the USA (with some lessons for Europe as well), The Trouble With Freedom is now available for preorder, with 25% discount code at Waterstones until 17th October.
#WPreorder
www.waterstones.com/book/the-tro...
#WPreorder
www.waterstones.com/book/the-tro...
October 14, 2025 at 7:33 AM
For those interested in how we got to be where we are politically in the USA (with some lessons for Europe as well), The Trouble With Freedom is now available for preorder, with 25% discount code at Waterstones until 17th October.
#WPreorder
www.waterstones.com/book/the-tro...
#WPreorder
www.waterstones.com/book/the-tro...
Speaking on ABC TV today about political polarisation in the USA (coming in at 51 minutes).
@manchesterup.bsky.social
iview.abc.net.au/video/NU2522...
@manchesterup.bsky.social
iview.abc.net.au/video/NU2522...
Afternoon Briefing: Tuesday 16/9/2025
Live from Parliament House in Canberra, Melissa Clarke speaks with Stephen Dziedzic, Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh, Minister for Pacific Affairs Pat Conroy, Michael McCormack, Ed Hus...
iview.abc.net.au
September 16, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Speaking on ABC TV today about political polarisation in the USA (coming in at 51 minutes).
@manchesterup.bsky.social
iview.abc.net.au/video/NU2522...
@manchesterup.bsky.social
iview.abc.net.au/video/NU2522...
Reflections on escalating political violence in the USA based on my research over the last few years.
Manchester University Press
Thomas J Cull
Cumberland Lodge
theconversation.com/charlie-kirk...
Manchester University Press
Thomas J Cull
Cumberland Lodge
theconversation.com/charlie-kirk...
Charlie Kirk was emblematic of a country polarised and imploding
Charlie Kirk’s murder shows how deeply polarised American society has become.
theconversation.com
September 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reflections on escalating political violence in the USA based on my research over the last few years.
Manchester University Press
Thomas J Cull
Cumberland Lodge
theconversation.com/charlie-kirk...
Manchester University Press
Thomas J Cull
Cumberland Lodge
theconversation.com/charlie-kirk...
Fantastic news …. Congratulations to Dr Irna Nurlina!
🎓So proud of our amazing PhD student Dr Irna Nurlina for passing her Viva today 😭 With huge thanks to @maranogueira.bsky.social & Rita Padawangi for being generous & thoughtful examiners 🙏 (& Joel for being a great chair & @melissa-geog.bsky.social as ace co-sup!)
May 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Fantastic news …. Congratulations to Dr Irna Nurlina!
Reposted by Melissa Butcher
Our Programme Director @melissa-geog.bsky.social writes about the book that inspired the creation of our education charity, and the lessons it can teach us today ✍️
Amy Buller’s Darkness of Germany describes the difficult decisions Germans faced as fascists took over their country – including whether to flee or stay and fight.
What interviews with ordinary Germans living under the Nazis can teach us about our current politics
Amy Buller’s Darkness of Germany describes the difficult decisions Germans faced as fascists took over their country – including whether to flee or stay and fight.
tcnv.link
April 30, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Our Programme Director @melissa-geog.bsky.social writes about the book that inspired the creation of our education charity, and the lessons it can teach us today ✍️
Looking forward to being part of this event next week on whether democracy really is in decline ... there's also drinks and pizza afterwards!
Democracy in decline? The risk and rise of authoritarianism
The Conversation, Campaign for Social Science & Sage welcome Melissa Butcher & Scott Williamson to discuss global challenges to democracy
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 29, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Looking forward to being part of this event next week on whether democracy really is in decline ... there's also drinks and pizza afterwards!
Looking forward to being part of the conversation…
Co-hosted by @uk.theconversation.com, @acadsocsciences.bsky.social, and Sage, this event is part of our Social Science Perspectives series – exploring critical issues through social science research.
@melissa-geog.bsky.social @scottrw630.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk @cumberlandlodge.bsky.social
@melissa-geog.bsky.social @scottrw630.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk @cumberlandlodge.bsky.social
April 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Looking forward to being part of the conversation…
Young people have a key role to play in shaping local spaces. Join us @cumberlandlodge.bsky.social, along with a youth panel and @localtrust.org.uk, for a webinar exploring why youth voices matter in community development.
16 April, 11am, Register for free: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
16 April, 11am, Register for free: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Blueprint for Belonging: Young Voices on Social Capital. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Join us as we explore youth perspectives on social capital and the future of society.
With the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the government has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes and deliver ...
us02web.zoom.us
April 2, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Young people have a key role to play in shaping local spaces. Join us @cumberlandlodge.bsky.social, along with a youth panel and @localtrust.org.uk, for a webinar exploring why youth voices matter in community development.
16 April, 11am, Register for free: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
16 April, 11am, Register for free: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Applications are open for our 2025-27 Fellowship scheme, and now available to early career professionals as well as PhD students. Details below and on the website @cumberlandlodge.bsky.social
Cumberland Lodge Fellowships - Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge has re-launched its two-year fellowship scheme in 2025, offering 10 places each year for emerging leaders.
www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk
April 2, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Applications are open for our 2025-27 Fellowship scheme, and now available to early career professionals as well as PhD students. Details below and on the website @cumberlandlodge.bsky.social
Panel discussion with colleagues from Birkbeck, UoL, Centre for British Political Life, on the impact of the USA's new Republican administration. Recorded a few hours before the monumental blow up between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump in Power: A Panel Discussion
Donald Trump is now President for a second time, in a Presidency that will be consequential for the US and the world.
bbkbritpol.substack.com
March 3, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Panel discussion with colleagues from Birkbeck, UoL, Centre for British Political Life, on the impact of the USA's new Republican administration. Recorded a few hours before the monumental blow up between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Oooh it just got real!
COVER REVEAL!
'The trouble with freedom' looks at how Americans have been divided by the very value that unites them.
Journalist & researcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social takes a trip into the ferociously polarised world of American politics, hoping to find out what’s going on beneath the surface.
'The trouble with freedom' looks at how Americans have been divided by the very value that unites them.
Journalist & researcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social takes a trip into the ferociously polarised world of American politics, hoping to find out what’s going on beneath the surface.
February 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Oooh it just got real!
Reposted by Melissa Butcher
COVER REVEAL!
'The trouble with freedom' looks at how Americans have been divided by the very value that unites them.
Journalist & researcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social takes a trip into the ferociously polarised world of American politics, hoping to find out what’s going on beneath the surface.
'The trouble with freedom' looks at how Americans have been divided by the very value that unites them.
Journalist & researcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social takes a trip into the ferociously polarised world of American politics, hoping to find out what’s going on beneath the surface.
February 28, 2025 at 1:28 PM
COVER REVEAL!
'The trouble with freedom' looks at how Americans have been divided by the very value that unites them.
Journalist & researcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social takes a trip into the ferociously polarised world of American politics, hoping to find out what’s going on beneath the surface.
'The trouble with freedom' looks at how Americans have been divided by the very value that unites them.
Journalist & researcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social takes a trip into the ferociously polarised world of American politics, hoping to find out what’s going on beneath the surface.
My article for The Conversation on the latest research pointing to the anti-democratic tendencies of Gen Z ... there's more hope than the headlines suggest. @cumberlandlodge.bsky.social
theconversation.com/if-we-listen...
theconversation.com/if-we-listen...
If we listen to how Gen Z really feel about democracy they might stop telling us they prefer authoritarianism
Young people want to get involved with politics – but they’re held back by a vast sense of distrust.
theconversation.com
January 30, 2025 at 11:14 PM
My article for The Conversation on the latest research pointing to the anti-democratic tendencies of Gen Z ... there's more hope than the headlines suggest. @cumberlandlodge.bsky.social
theconversation.com/if-we-listen...
theconversation.com/if-we-listen...
We are looking for a Programme Officer ... if you're interested in working with young people to strengthen democracy, promote social cohesion and develop ethical leadership please feel free to apply.
www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/programme-of...
www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/programme-of...
Programme Officer - Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge is seeking a new Programme Officer to develop and deliver its programme of educational activity.
www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk
January 6, 2025 at 5:05 PM
We are looking for a Programme Officer ... if you're interested in working with young people to strengthen democracy, promote social cohesion and develop ethical leadership please feel free to apply.
www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/programme-of...
www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/programme-of...
It’s off to the publishers!
January 2, 2025 at 11:08 AM
It’s off to the publishers!
Getting ready to serve 130 Christmas lunches. Feel free to pay forward …. www.crisis.org.uk
December 25, 2024 at 11:58 AM
Getting ready to serve 130 Christmas lunches. Feel free to pay forward …. www.crisis.org.uk
Managed to reboot The Trouble with Freedom website … I am at peace with the digital world today! thetroublewithfreedom.wordpress.com
The Trouble with Freedom
Re-imagining America's Future at a Difficult Time
thetroublewithfreedom.wordpress.com
November 15, 2024 at 4:29 PM
Managed to reboot The Trouble with Freedom website … I am at peace with the digital world today! thetroublewithfreedom.wordpress.com
The podcast from last week's post-USA Election panel with Birkbeck, Department of Politics Centre for British Political Life. Thoughts on the future of the USA, and how that might impact on the rest of us .... bbkbritpol.substack.com/p/birkbeck-c...
Birkbeck Centre For British Political Life: What do the results of the US election mean, for the United States and the World?
The November 2024 election in the US is one of the most consequential and important in modern history, with clash not just of ideologies but two very different visions of how American democracy may lo...
bbkbritpol.substack.com
November 15, 2024 at 9:31 AM
The podcast from last week's post-USA Election panel with Birkbeck, Department of Politics Centre for British Political Life. Thoughts on the future of the USA, and how that might impact on the rest of us .... bbkbritpol.substack.com/p/birkbeck-c...