Noam Leshem
@noamleshem.bsky.social
Professor of Political Geography, Durham Uni. Violent conflict, political resurgence, colonial history.
Author of: 'Edges of Care: Living and Dying in No Man's Land' (Chicago 2025); 'Life After Ruin' (Cambridge 2017)
https://tinyurl.com/mtyd9m
Author of: 'Edges of Care: Living and Dying in No Man's Land' (Chicago 2025); 'Life After Ruin' (Cambridge 2017)
https://tinyurl.com/mtyd9m
Excited to be heading to the East Coast this week for this lecture at @sasn.rutgers.edu
November 7, 12:30, at the Art Library, Rutgers University.
If you're around, do come along:
November 7, 12:30, at the Art Library, Rutgers University.
If you're around, do come along:
November 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Excited to be heading to the East Coast this week for this lecture at @sasn.rutgers.edu
November 7, 12:30, at the Art Library, Rutgers University.
If you're around, do come along:
November 7, 12:30, at the Art Library, Rutgers University.
If you're around, do come along:
Just heading back from “The Game” project workshop in Bologna- superb work on the refugee route in the Balkans site.unibo.it/thegame/en
If you’re organising a workshop, having 17th century frescoes is a great start!
#unibo
If you’re organising a workshop, having 17th century frescoes is a great start!
#unibo
March 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Just heading back from “The Game” project workshop in Bologna- superb work on the refugee route in the Balkans site.unibo.it/thegame/en
If you’re organising a workshop, having 17th century frescoes is a great start!
#unibo
If you’re organising a workshop, having 17th century frescoes is a great start!
#unibo
Had a wonderful couple of days at @aberuni.bsky.social in Wales, talking to colleagues and students about the new book. Great discussion and getting to hang out with the brilliant Dr Mitch Rose was an extra treat.
Somehow, it's always sunny in Aberystwyth when I visit...
Somehow, it's always sunny in Aberystwyth when I visit...
March 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Had a wonderful couple of days at @aberuni.bsky.social in Wales, talking to colleagues and students about the new book. Great discussion and getting to hang out with the brilliant Dr Mitch Rose was an extra treat.
Somehow, it's always sunny in Aberystwyth when I visit...
Somehow, it's always sunny in Aberystwyth when I visit...
… and what a surprise to find a 2014 poster for a conference where I presented initial thinking on no-man’s land!
It’s still one of the best academic gatherings I’ve attended.
It’s still one of the best academic gatherings I’ve attended.
February 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
… and what a surprise to find a 2014 poster for a conference where I presented initial thinking on no-man’s land!
It’s still one of the best academic gatherings I’ve attended.
It’s still one of the best academic gatherings I’ve attended.
Great to back at Queens University Belfast to speak about my book. Great discussion about political indifference, abandonment and the rather bleak political moment we live in.
The clear skies this evening were an extra treat!
The clear skies this evening were an extra treat!
February 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Great to back at Queens University Belfast to speak about my book. Great discussion about political indifference, abandonment and the rather bleak political moment we live in.
The clear skies this evening were an extra treat!
The clear skies this evening were an extra treat!
Belfast friends- I’ll be speaking at Queen’s University about my new book, about disposable lives, state abandonment & the uncaring sovereign.
This Thursday, 20 Feb, 2pm.
More details in the poster 👇🏼
This Thursday, 20 Feb, 2pm.
More details in the poster 👇🏼
February 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Belfast friends- I’ll be speaking at Queen’s University about my new book, about disposable lives, state abandonment & the uncaring sovereign.
This Thursday, 20 Feb, 2pm.
More details in the poster 👇🏼
This Thursday, 20 Feb, 2pm.
More details in the poster 👇🏼
Pet store guy: “Yes, this toy is absolutely robust and long lasting.”
Fonzy:
Fonzy:
February 13, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Pet store guy: “Yes, this toy is absolutely robust and long lasting.”
Fonzy:
Fonzy:
I'm indebted to so many people who helped make this book happen, but perhaps more than anyone to Alasdair Pinkerton (@alpinkerton.bsky.social).
Al's a great friend and wonderful scholar, who's now doing the real important work as MP for Surrey Heath. @surreyheathlibdems.bsky.social
Al's a great friend and wonderful scholar, who's now doing the real important work as MP for Surrey Heath. @surreyheathlibdems.bsky.social
January 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I'm indebted to so many people who helped make this book happen, but perhaps more than anyone to Alasdair Pinkerton (@alpinkerton.bsky.social).
Al's a great friend and wonderful scholar, who's now doing the real important work as MP for Surrey Heath. @surreyheathlibdems.bsky.social
Al's a great friend and wonderful scholar, who's now doing the real important work as MP for Surrey Heath. @surreyheathlibdems.bsky.social
That's also where the cover image for the book was taken.
January 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
That's also where the cover image for the book was taken.
In 2022, I spent time in an abandoned colonial train station in north Sudan, now used as a refuelling station by Sudanese gold miners.
Violence and dreams are pushing thousands (and a few Western fools) to try their luck in a border territory called Bir Tawil, unclaimed by either Sudan or Egypt.
Violence and dreams are pushing thousands (and a few Western fools) to try their luck in a border territory called Bir Tawil, unclaimed by either Sudan or Egypt.
January 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
In 2022, I spent time in an abandoned colonial train station in north Sudan, now used as a refuelling station by Sudanese gold miners.
Violence and dreams are pushing thousands (and a few Western fools) to try their luck in a border territory called Bir Tawil, unclaimed by either Sudan or Egypt.
Violence and dreams are pushing thousands (and a few Western fools) to try their luck in a border territory called Bir Tawil, unclaimed by either Sudan or Egypt.
In 1998, the Colombian gov. abandoned a region the size Switzerland in the western Amazon to the control of FARC guerrillas.
150,000 civilians were left behind.
From his canoe, Isaias Sanchez shared stories of violence, of a state that doesn't care, but also of love and loss of rivers and forests.
150,000 civilians were left behind.
From his canoe, Isaias Sanchez shared stories of violence, of a state that doesn't care, but also of love and loss of rivers and forests.
January 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
In 1998, the Colombian gov. abandoned a region the size Switzerland in the western Amazon to the control of FARC guerrillas.
150,000 civilians were left behind.
From his canoe, Isaias Sanchez shared stories of violence, of a state that doesn't care, but also of love and loss of rivers and forests.
150,000 civilians were left behind.
From his canoe, Isaias Sanchez shared stories of violence, of a state that doesn't care, but also of love and loss of rivers and forests.
The book starts in Sheikh Sa'ed, a small Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem. 4000 people and a single access road, cut off by the Israeli wall, stranded on a steep hill.
"Welcome to the end of the world", one guy told me as we reached the dead end.
It's abandonment up close and personal.
"Welcome to the end of the world", one guy told me as we reached the dead end.
It's abandonment up close and personal.
January 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The book starts in Sheikh Sa'ed, a small Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem. 4000 people and a single access road, cut off by the Israeli wall, stranded on a steep hill.
"Welcome to the end of the world", one guy told me as we reached the dead end.
It's abandonment up close and personal.
"Welcome to the end of the world", one guy told me as we reached the dead end.
It's abandonment up close and personal.
Research for the book gave me a chance to work with some wonderful people in beautiful and heartbreaking places around the world.
We're witnessing sovereign abandonment increasingly normalized as a political instrument.
But stories of people comprise the heart of this book.
Here are a few...
🧵👇
We're witnessing sovereign abandonment increasingly normalized as a political instrument.
But stories of people comprise the heart of this book.
Here are a few...
🧵👇
January 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Research for the book gave me a chance to work with some wonderful people in beautiful and heartbreaking places around the world.
We're witnessing sovereign abandonment increasingly normalized as a political instrument.
But stories of people comprise the heart of this book.
Here are a few...
🧵👇
We're witnessing sovereign abandonment increasingly normalized as a political instrument.
But stories of people comprise the heart of this book.
Here are a few...
🧵👇
A lot of people will be relieved with the reported ceasefire in #Gaza. For all the right reasons.
But the devastation Israel inflicted will take decades to repair. The loss and pain will be felt for generations.
And Israel keeps its stranglehold on Palestinian lives.
This is not return to normal.
But the devastation Israel inflicted will take decades to repair. The loss and pain will be felt for generations.
And Israel keeps its stranglehold on Palestinian lives.
This is not return to normal.
January 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A lot of people will be relieved with the reported ceasefire in #Gaza. For all the right reasons.
But the devastation Israel inflicted will take decades to repair. The loss and pain will be felt for generations.
And Israel keeps its stranglehold on Palestinian lives.
This is not return to normal.
But the devastation Israel inflicted will take decades to repair. The loss and pain will be felt for generations.
And Israel keeps its stranglehold on Palestinian lives.
This is not return to normal.
I’m loving John Jeremiah Sullivan’s ‘Pulp Head: Dispatches from the Other America’.
In an essay on reality TV and American culture he writes: “This is us, a people of savage sentimentality, weeping and lifting weights.”
In an essay on reality TV and American culture he writes: “This is us, a people of savage sentimentality, weeping and lifting weights.”
January 13, 2025 at 11:05 AM
I’m loving John Jeremiah Sullivan’s ‘Pulp Head: Dispatches from the Other America’.
In an essay on reality TV and American culture he writes: “This is us, a people of savage sentimentality, weeping and lifting weights.”
In an essay on reality TV and American culture he writes: “This is us, a people of savage sentimentality, weeping and lifting weights.”
At 6pm on New Year's Eve, a box arrived from @uchicagopress.bsky.social with physical copies of my new book.
A decade of research, fieldwork and writing come down to this moment, and what a moving moment it is. I won't lie, there were a couple of tears...
The book will be released Jan 16.
A decade of research, fieldwork and writing come down to this moment, and what a moving moment it is. I won't lie, there were a couple of tears...
The book will be released Jan 16.
January 2, 2025 at 10:16 AM
At 6pm on New Year's Eve, a box arrived from @uchicagopress.bsky.social with physical copies of my new book.
A decade of research, fieldwork and writing come down to this moment, and what a moving moment it is. I won't lie, there were a couple of tears...
The book will be released Jan 16.
A decade of research, fieldwork and writing come down to this moment, and what a moving moment it is. I won't lie, there were a couple of tears...
The book will be released Jan 16.
No man’s land like Rukban can appear in no time.
Jordan closed the border back in 2016 and overnight thousands were stranded.
/3
Jordan closed the border back in 2016 and overnight thousands were stranded.
/3
December 8, 2024 at 6:04 PM
No man’s land like Rukban can appear in no time.
Jordan closed the border back in 2016 and overnight thousands were stranded.
/3
Jordan closed the border back in 2016 and overnight thousands were stranded.
/3
Had such a wonderful conversation with an interdisciplinary group of colleagues and students at @uoft.bsky.social today. Lots of ideas to think about on the train to Ottawa.
Big thanks to Heather Dorries tor organising the seminar and to everybody who made me feel so welcome!
Big thanks to Heather Dorries tor organising the seminar and to everybody who made me feel so welcome!
December 5, 2024 at 11:44 PM
Had such a wonderful conversation with an interdisciplinary group of colleagues and students at @uoft.bsky.social today. Lots of ideas to think about on the train to Ottawa.
Big thanks to Heather Dorries tor organising the seminar and to everybody who made me feel so welcome!
Big thanks to Heather Dorries tor organising the seminar and to everybody who made me feel so welcome!
Fun! Post the LAST SENTENCE of your last article:
"The imperative is not to simply find more effective ways of regarding the pain of others [...] but to see witnessing as a window into the political moment, into the production of subjects, norms & conditions of political possibility."
"The imperative is not to simply find more effective ways of regarding the pain of others [...] but to see witnessing as a window into the political moment, into the production of subjects, norms & conditions of political possibility."
December 4, 2024 at 8:28 PM
Fun! Post the LAST SENTENCE of your last article:
"The imperative is not to simply find more effective ways of regarding the pain of others [...] but to see witnessing as a window into the political moment, into the production of subjects, norms & conditions of political possibility."
"The imperative is not to simply find more effective ways of regarding the pain of others [...] but to see witnessing as a window into the political moment, into the production of subjects, norms & conditions of political possibility."
On the train from Ottawa to Toronto to give a book talk tomorrow. So glad I didn’t fly. It’s snowing and the landscape is simply stunning.
December 4, 2024 at 7:18 PM
On the train from Ottawa to Toronto to give a book talk tomorrow. So glad I didn’t fly. It’s snowing and the landscape is simply stunning.
2/ University of Ottawa: Friday, Dec 6, 9-10:30am, @cepi-cips.bsky.social with @markbsalter.bsky.social
November 29, 2024 at 5:03 PM
2/ University of Ottawa: Friday, Dec 6, 9-10:30am, @cepi-cips.bsky.social with @markbsalter.bsky.social
Dates for my upcoming book talks in Canada are finalised, so, of you're around, come along and spread the word:
Toronto: Thursday, Dec. 5 11am-1pm: Department of Geography @uoft.bsky.social
Toronto: Thursday, Dec. 5 11am-1pm: Department of Geography @uoft.bsky.social
November 29, 2024 at 5:03 PM
Dates for my upcoming book talks in Canada are finalised, so, of you're around, come along and spread the word:
Toronto: Thursday, Dec. 5 11am-1pm: Department of Geography @uoft.bsky.social
Toronto: Thursday, Dec. 5 11am-1pm: Department of Geography @uoft.bsky.social
6/ Archaeology is often a precursor to colonisation.
Israeli has a long history of this. Moshe Dayan a general who oversaw the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, was also an avid archaeologist. These days, the whole West Bank os dotted with Jewish archaeology that entrenches Israel's expansion.
Israeli has a long history of this. Moshe Dayan a general who oversaw the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, was also an avid archaeologist. These days, the whole West Bank os dotted with Jewish archaeology that entrenches Israel's expansion.
November 21, 2024 at 1:26 PM
6/ Archaeology is often a precursor to colonisation.
Israeli has a long history of this. Moshe Dayan a general who oversaw the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, was also an avid archaeologist. These days, the whole West Bank os dotted with Jewish archaeology that entrenches Israel's expansion.
Israeli has a long history of this. Moshe Dayan a general who oversaw the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, was also an avid archaeologist. These days, the whole West Bank os dotted with Jewish archaeology that entrenches Israel's expansion.
5/ Erlich is a symptom, not an aberration.
Looking for ancient Jewish sites in Lebanon simply weaponises history, archaeology and geography to serve colonial fantasies.
He might not be a tenured scholar, but he's very much at home in the colonial traditions of Israeli scholarship.
Looking for ancient Jewish sites in Lebanon simply weaponises history, archaeology and geography to serve colonial fantasies.
He might not be a tenured scholar, but he's very much at home in the colonial traditions of Israeli scholarship.
November 21, 2024 at 1:26 PM
5/ Erlich is a symptom, not an aberration.
Looking for ancient Jewish sites in Lebanon simply weaponises history, archaeology and geography to serve colonial fantasies.
He might not be a tenured scholar, but he's very much at home in the colonial traditions of Israeli scholarship.
Looking for ancient Jewish sites in Lebanon simply weaponises history, archaeology and geography to serve colonial fantasies.
He might not be a tenured scholar, but he's very much at home in the colonial traditions of Israeli scholarship.
4/ Israeli military field command, those directing the fighting in Gaza & Lebanon, is full of right-wing settlers who see this war as a chance to reoccupy parts of the Biblical "greater Israel".
Some soldiers have even placed patches w a map of the "promised land" on their uniforms.
Some soldiers have even placed patches w a map of the "promised land" on their uniforms.
November 21, 2024 at 1:26 PM
4/ Israeli military field command, those directing the fighting in Gaza & Lebanon, is full of right-wing settlers who see this war as a chance to reoccupy parts of the Biblical "greater Israel".
Some soldiers have even placed patches w a map of the "promised land" on their uniforms.
Some soldiers have even placed patches w a map of the "promised land" on their uniforms.