Matthew D. Stephen
@mstephen.bsky.social
Prof of IPE @ Helmut Schmidt Uni Hamburg, IR stuff, 🇳🇿, 🇩🇪, DFG Heisenberg Fellow, formerly WZB Berlin, rando
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=k0d0H2QAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
sites.google.com/view/matthewstephen
https://www.china-hegemony.com/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=k0d0H2QAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
sites.google.com/view/matthewstephen
https://www.china-hegemony.com/
Pinned
Matthew D. Stephen
@mstephen.bsky.social
· Aug 27
The Diffusion of Global Power and the Decline of Global Governance | Ethics & International Affairs | Cambridge Core
The Diffusion of Global Power and the Decline of Global Governance
doi.org
New, somewhat bleak, piece from me on the decline of global governance:
doi.org/10.1017/S089...
Part of a Roundtable on Global Governance in Hard Times with @benjaminfaude.bsky.social, @ninareiners.bsky.social, @yoramhaftel.bsky.social, @stephofmann.bsky.social, John Karlsrud, & Julia Morse
doi.org/10.1017/S089...
Part of a Roundtable on Global Governance in Hard Times with @benjaminfaude.bsky.social, @ninareiners.bsky.social, @yoramhaftel.bsky.social, @stephofmann.bsky.social, John Karlsrud, & Julia Morse
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
Tolerating int'l law & norm violations enables their destruction. They must be clearly condemned & punished b/c the stakes are so high: "international law could seem “remote, esoteric, formal & complicated” but stressed prohibition on the use of force by states had made the world much more peaceful"
November 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Tolerating int'l law & norm violations enables their destruction. They must be clearly condemned & punished b/c the stakes are so high: "international law could seem “remote, esoteric, formal & complicated” but stressed prohibition on the use of force by states had made the world much more peaceful"
In a field in England
October 24, 2025 at 5:08 PM
In a field in England
"Even the most advanced systems make small mistakes or slightly misunderstand directions, requiring a human to carefully review their work and make changes where needed."
Sounds a lot like working with student assistants...
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Sounds a lot like working with student assistants...
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Just How Bad Would an AI Bubble Be?
The entire U.S. economy is being propped up by the promise of productivity gains that seem very far from materializing.
www.theatlantic.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:25 AM
"Even the most advanced systems make small mistakes or slightly misunderstand directions, requiring a human to carefully review their work and make changes where needed."
Sounds a lot like working with student assistants...
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Sounds a lot like working with student assistants...
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
"‘Baleful influence’: a conceptual analysis of militarism" by Bryan Mabee and Srdjan Vucetic is out now in EJIR and available online.
You can read it here: t1p.de/4s6sq
You can read it here: t1p.de/4s6sq
October 20, 2025 at 11:43 AM
"‘Baleful influence’: a conceptual analysis of militarism" by Bryan Mabee and Srdjan Vucetic is out now in EJIR and available online.
You can read it here: t1p.de/4s6sq
You can read it here: t1p.de/4s6sq
Nice to see @wzb.bsky.social research making headlines
German study shows how far right sets agenda thanks to mainstream parties reshaping their communications to respond to what are initially fringe issues, boosting the spread of these ideas and signalling to voters that these ideas and stances were legitimate
shorturl.at/OFfig
shorturl.at/OFfig
German far right setting agenda as opponents amplify its ideas, study finds
Normalisation of far-right stances likely to affect success of such parties at ballot boxes across Europe, say researchers
www.theguardian.com
October 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Nice to see @wzb.bsky.social research making headlines
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
This is what is left of Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
October 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This is what is left of Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
The Department of Politics and IR (together with the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and St Antony’s College) has opened an Associate Professor position in Latin America politics 🌎
Apply and become my departmental *and* college colleague:
Apply and become my departmental *and* college colleague:
my.corehr.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The Department of Politics and IR (together with the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and St Antony’s College) has opened an Associate Professor position in Latin America politics 🌎
Apply and become my departmental *and* college colleague:
Apply and become my departmental *and* college colleague:
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
NEW: Since October 2023, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit has released dozens of 3D animations illustrating alleged Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian sites
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
October 8, 2025 at 4:58 PM
NEW: Since October 2023, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit has released dozens of 3D animations illustrating alleged Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian sites
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war
Part of the decline of global governance is a relocation of governance from formal to informal institutions, where rules and accountability are lower.
A short piece by @stevebmann.bsky.social and myself
A short piece by @stevebmann.bsky.social and myself
👣 From #Ukraine to global finance, informal organisations are stepping into gaps left by traditional institutions.
⏩ With speed + flexibility, these informal bodies are quietly reshaping #InternationalOrder, write @stevebmann.bsky.social & @mstephen.bsky.social.
👉 bit.ly/3VPrHht
⏩ With speed + flexibility, these informal bodies are quietly reshaping #InternationalOrder, write @stevebmann.bsky.social & @mstephen.bsky.social.
👉 bit.ly/3VPrHht
Why the resurgence of power politics favours informal governance
From Ukraine to global finance, informal organisations are stepping into gaps left by traditional institutions at a time of great power competition. With speed, flexibility, and a lack of constraining...
bit.ly
October 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Part of the decline of global governance is a relocation of governance from formal to informal institutions, where rules and accountability are lower.
A short piece by @stevebmann.bsky.social and myself
A short piece by @stevebmann.bsky.social and myself
Lesenswert!
Hochaktuell sind die neuen WZB-Mitteilungen zum Thema Weltordnung, denn die Regeln, nach denen das globale Zusammenleben über Jahrzehnte funktionierte, gelten nicht mehr. Ein Heft über Krieg & Frieden, über Demokratie, Profit & Wissenschaft, über China, Amerika und die EU.
www.wzb.eu/de/publikati...
www.wzb.eu/de/publikati...
October 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Lesenswert!
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
"konkrete Prognosen, insbesondere mit Verweis auf Jahreszahlen, seien in solchen Zusammenhängen grundsätzlich kaum seriös zu treffen."
Eine Prognose und ihre Geschichte: #Russland könnte bis 2029 in der Lage sein, #NATO Territorium anzugreifen, warnen Bundesverteidigungsminister Pistorius und ranghohe Militärs. Woher aber stammt diese Prognose und welche Informationen liegen ihr zugrunde?
www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
Woher kommt die Russland-Prognose 2029?
Russland könnte bis 2029 in der Lage sein, NATO-Territorium anzugreifen, warnen Bundesverteidigungsminister Pistorius und ranghohe Militärs. Woher aber stammt diese Prognose und welche Informationen l...
www.tagesschau.de
September 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
"konkrete Prognosen, insbesondere mit Verweis auf Jahreszahlen, seien in solchen Zusammenhängen grundsätzlich kaum seriös zu treffen."
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
tired: Great Man theory of history
wired: Broken Man theory of history
wired: Broken Man theory of history
September 23, 2025 at 3:22 PM
tired: Great Man theory of history
wired: Broken Man theory of history
wired: Broken Man theory of history
DJT going strong to win the Muamar Gaddafi Cup for most deranged General Assembly address 🏆👏
September 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
DJT going strong to win the Muamar Gaddafi Cup for most deranged General Assembly address 🏆👏
Disappointed that New Zealand did not join in with this move, but hopefully it will come during the UN General Assembly meetings in the coming days 🇳🇿🇵🇸
BREAKING: The U.K., Canada and Australia officially recognize a Palestinian state, a significant shift away from alignment with the U.S.
U.K, Canada and Australia formally recognize a Palestinian state, breaking with the U.S.
The announcements Sunday marked a significant shift in foreign policy, with several other European nations and U.S. allies set to follow suit in the coming days.
nbcnews.to
September 21, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Disappointed that New Zealand did not join in with this move, but hopefully it will come during the UN General Assembly meetings in the coming days 🇳🇿🇵🇸
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
The Trump regime is seeking "regime change in Europe" former Chatham House director Robin Niblet tells the New York Times.
This American-led global far right movement is turning into the Comintern of our times, warns Dutch historian @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/w...
This American-led global far right movement is turning into the Comintern of our times, warns Dutch historian @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/w...
September 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The Trump regime is seeking "regime change in Europe" former Chatham House director Robin Niblet tells the New York Times.
This American-led global far right movement is turning into the Comintern of our times, warns Dutch historian @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/w...
This American-led global far right movement is turning into the Comintern of our times, warns Dutch historian @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/w...
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
I am calling for a moratorium on new tote bags. We all have more than enough tote bags already. Stop giving me tote bags at conferences. I do not want or need any more tote bags.
September 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I am calling for a moratorium on new tote bags. We all have more than enough tote bags already. Stop giving me tote bags at conferences. I do not want or need any more tote bags.
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
„There will be no Palestinian state,” declared Netanyahu last week. “This place is ours.”
It‘s getting harder to explain why this is so fundamentally categorically different from Putin‘s „There should be no Ukraine. This place is ours“.
www.ft.com/content/9b90...
It‘s getting harder to explain why this is so fundamentally categorically different from Putin‘s „There should be no Ukraine. This place is ours“.
www.ft.com/content/9b90...
September 18, 2025 at 4:56 AM
„There will be no Palestinian state,” declared Netanyahu last week. “This place is ours.”
It‘s getting harder to explain why this is so fundamentally categorically different from Putin‘s „There should be no Ukraine. This place is ours“.
www.ft.com/content/9b90...
It‘s getting harder to explain why this is so fundamentally categorically different from Putin‘s „There should be no Ukraine. This place is ours“.
www.ft.com/content/9b90...
No, China isn't an existential threat to the international order
Steven Langendonk and I weigh in on China's goals for global governance and plea for sobriety
thediplomat.com/2025/09/what...
Steven Langendonk and I weigh in on China's goals for global governance and plea for sobriety
thediplomat.com/2025/09/what...
What China Wants With Global Governance
While increasingly widespread, the view of China as an existential challenge to the current world order reflects political alarmism more than sober analysis.
thediplomat.com
September 16, 2025 at 10:59 AM
No, China isn't an existential threat to the international order
Steven Langendonk and I weigh in on China's goals for global governance and plea for sobriety
thediplomat.com/2025/09/what...
Steven Langendonk and I weigh in on China's goals for global governance and plea for sobriety
thediplomat.com/2025/09/what...
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
1/2 There’s nothing like a good dose of long term historical perspective to put white supremacist Great Replacement ideas & Christian Nationalists in their place. ‘Huge sections of global populations’ were only sealed off from each other 11,500 years ago after the last ice age.
September 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
1/2 There’s nothing like a good dose of long term historical perspective to put white supremacist Great Replacement ideas & Christian Nationalists in their place. ‘Huge sections of global populations’ were only sealed off from each other 11,500 years ago after the last ice age.
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
Reliably excellent analysis of the Israeli attack on Qatar from @jricole.bsky.social. I've been following Juan's work for over 20 years now, and this is why.
www.juancole.com/2025/09/reas...
www.juancole.com/2025/09/reas...
Top 4 Reasons Netanyahu Bombed Negotiators' Offices in Qatar
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) - The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bombed the building being used by civilian Hamas negotiators in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, in the midst of ongo...
www.juancole.com
September 10, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Reliably excellent analysis of the Israeli attack on Qatar from @jricole.bsky.social. I've been following Juan's work for over 20 years now, and this is why.
www.juancole.com/2025/09/reas...
www.juancole.com/2025/09/reas...
Norms and laws against the use of force and also genocide are good actually
September 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Norms and laws against the use of force and also genocide are good actually
This is how norms die (in this case the prohibition on the use of force)
""Every boatload of any form of drug that poisons the American people is an imminent threat." The definition of threat is being warped to the point of being meaningless. At this point, almost anything or anyone would would qualify.
U.S. military strikes on suspected drug smugglers spark legal and diplomatic concerns
The Trump White House is signaling a new war on drug cartels. On Monday, the president released video of what the administration says was a strike on a drug-running boat off the coast of Venezuela. Ni...
www.pbs.org
September 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This is how norms die (in this case the prohibition on the use of force)
Reposted by Matthew D. Stephen
First Politico, now Euractiv comparing Europe's current plight to China's "century of humiliation"
September 3, 2025 at 10:10 AM
First Politico, now Euractiv comparing Europe's current plight to China's "century of humiliation"