Robert Ralston
@robertralston.bsky.social
Lecturer (assistant prof) at University of Birmingham. Grand Strategy; Politics of Decline/Declinism; Civil-Military Relations
Reposted by Robert Ralston
It's literally true. Remember when Biden called in airstrikes on the Western Kansas beef processing plants?
Brooke Rollins on the Omaha Steaks CEO saying beef prices could rise to $10/pound: "We are suffering from the last administration's literal war on cattle."
November 17, 2025 at 1:21 PM
It's literally true. Remember when Biden called in airstrikes on the Western Kansas beef processing plants?
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Check out this article from our new issue: Public Attitudes Toward Diversity, Promotion, and Leadership in the U.S. Military - Robert Ralston (@robertralston.bsky.social), Jennifer Spindel (@spindel.bsky.social), 2025 #NewIssue journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Check out this article from our new issue: Public Attitudes Toward Diversity, Promotion, and Leadership in the U.S. Military - Robert Ralston (@robertralston.bsky.social), Jennifer Spindel (@spindel.bsky.social), 2025 #NewIssue journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Trump and Hegseth's "Department of War" rebranding is more than just a name. It signals their vision of a force that disdains legality, as if whoever commits the most war crimes wins.
But as new research by @doncasler.bsky.social and @robertralston.bsky.social shows, the change is very unpopular,
But as new research by @doncasler.bsky.social and @robertralston.bsky.social shows, the change is very unpopular,
Most Americans oppose the ’Department of War’ rebranding
Even 42% of Republicans are no fans of the change.
goodauthority.org
November 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Trump and Hegseth's "Department of War" rebranding is more than just a name. It signals their vision of a force that disdains legality, as if whoever commits the most war crimes wins.
But as new research by @doncasler.bsky.social and @robertralston.bsky.social shows, the change is very unpopular,
But as new research by @doncasler.bsky.social and @robertralston.bsky.social shows, the change is very unpopular,
Reposted by Robert Ralston
I’ve seen hegemonic suicide before but in that one gorbachev was never accused of fellating brezhnev
November 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I’ve seen hegemonic suicide before but in that one gorbachev was never accused of fellating brezhnev
Reposted by Robert Ralston
The senior leadership team at @edinburghuniversity plan to cut staff expenditure by £90m, which is more than 10%.
This would mean about 1 in 8 members of staff losing their jobs. With hundreds of jobs already lost, a further 1,000+ jobs are on the line.
www.instagram.com/p/DQuFjwBjHB5/
This would mean about 1 in 8 members of staff losing their jobs. With hundreds of jobs already lost, a further 1,000+ jobs are on the line.
www.instagram.com/p/DQuFjwBjHB5/
November 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The senior leadership team at @edinburghuniversity plan to cut staff expenditure by £90m, which is more than 10%.
This would mean about 1 in 8 members of staff losing their jobs. With hundreds of jobs already lost, a further 1,000+ jobs are on the line.
www.instagram.com/p/DQuFjwBjHB5/
This would mean about 1 in 8 members of staff losing their jobs. With hundreds of jobs already lost, a further 1,000+ jobs are on the line.
www.instagram.com/p/DQuFjwBjHB5/
Reposted by Robert Ralston
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
@pedroaccorsi.bsky.social and @tanishafazal.bsky.social with a great new piece
Military medicine as a force multiplier. "A cross-national analysis of conventional wars since 1900 probes the plausibility of the argument and suggests a positive association between physician-to-population ratios and improved battlefield performance" www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Military Medicine and Military Effectiveness
Despite extensive scholarship on military effectiveness, the role of military medicine remains largely untested. We argue that robust medical capabilities improve effectiveness by preserving manpow...
www.tandfonline.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
@pedroaccorsi.bsky.social and @tanishafazal.bsky.social with a great new piece
my three year old's list for santa: a defibillator and CPR training book. they don't make this easy, do they?
November 7, 2025 at 12:11 PM
my three year old's list for santa: a defibillator and CPR training book. they don't make this easy, do they?
Reposted by Robert Ralston
I've written a piece for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social on the sources of grand strategic ideas. Best enjoyed over the weekend with a brew ☕
Thanks to @jackfdickens.bsky.social, @paullay.bsky.social, and the EI team for publishing.
Thanks to @jackfdickens.bsky.social, @paullay.bsky.social, and the EI team for publishing.
November 7, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I've written a piece for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social on the sources of grand strategic ideas. Best enjoyed over the weekend with a brew ☕
Thanks to @jackfdickens.bsky.social, @paullay.bsky.social, and the EI team for publishing.
Thanks to @jackfdickens.bsky.social, @paullay.bsky.social, and the EI team for publishing.
Reposted by Robert Ralston
“Indeed”
Academic tip: sometimes you have to write "Importantly," to get a sentence started and then you can go back and delete it.
November 7, 2025 at 3:24 AM
“Indeed”
Check out this piece in which @doncasler.bsky.social and I talk to Stacie Goddard about our recent survey. No one really likes the rebranding of the "Department of War" & a majority of Americans neither endorse the change nor see it as a matter of national security.
goodauthority.org/news/most-am...
goodauthority.org/news/most-am...
Most Americans oppose the ’Department of War’ rebranding
Even 42% of Republicans are no fans of the change.
goodauthority.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Check out this piece in which @doncasler.bsky.social and I talk to Stacie Goddard about our recent survey. No one really likes the rebranding of the "Department of War" & a majority of Americans neither endorse the change nor see it as a matter of national security.
goodauthority.org/news/most-am...
goodauthority.org/news/most-am...
Reposted by Robert Ralston
🧵New piece from me @goodauth.bsky.social on risks of striking Venezuela, focused on the added risk from Trump team of loyalists. Hint: it has to do with centralized role of Rubio, the nation's top diplomat, and the incompetence of advisers like SecDef Hegseth. 1/
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Trump may strike Venezuela. His team makes that very risky.
Take a close look at who is advising the president on U.S. policy.
goodauthority.org
November 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
🧵New piece from me @goodauth.bsky.social on risks of striking Venezuela, focused on the added risk from Trump team of loyalists. Hint: it has to do with centralized role of Rubio, the nation's top diplomat, and the incompetence of advisers like SecDef Hegseth. 1/
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Right, because that's how airstrikes work, he'll decide it is time to step down, and that will be that. WTAF? Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, the nation's top diplomat, knows better.
The Trump admin has identified targets in Venezuela that include military facilities used to smuggle drugs, U.S. officials say.
If Trump decides to move forward w/ airstrikes, they say, the targets would send a clear message to Maduro that it is time to step down.
www.wsj.com/world/americ...
If Trump decides to move forward w/ airstrikes, they say, the targets would send a clear message to Maduro that it is time to step down.
www.wsj.com/world/americ...
U.S. Eyes Striking Venezuelan Military Targets Used for Drug Trafficking
If President Trump decides to move forward with airstrikes, the targets would send a clear message to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro that it is time to step down, according to U.S. officials.
www.wsj.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Right, because that's how airstrikes work, he'll decide it is time to step down, and that will be that. WTAF? Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, the nation's top diplomat, knows better.
Reposted by Robert Ralston
If we can't stop this shit, let's at least all call them stormtroopers.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Pentagon readying thousands of Guard ‘reaction forces’ as U.S. mission widens
The Defense Department’s newly established “quick reaction force” within the National Guard is being readied for civil unrest missions in U.S. cities.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
If we can't stop this shit, let's at least all call them stormtroopers.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
It was great to discuss @patporter76.bsky.social's new book 📕 "How to Survive A Hostile World: Power, Politics, and the Case for Realism" (lnkd.in/e2J27rWC) yesterday at the University of Birmingham book launch event (with Rita Floyd and Marco Vieira). Get a copy today!
October 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
It was great to discuss @patporter76.bsky.social's new book 📕 "How to Survive A Hostile World: Power, Politics, and the Case for Realism" (lnkd.in/e2J27rWC) yesterday at the University of Birmingham book launch event (with Rita Floyd and Marco Vieira). Get a copy today!
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Arne Slot and Geert Wilders tonight:
October 29, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Arne Slot and Geert Wilders tonight:
Reposted by Robert Ralston
and what the fuck is “cost recovery” for humanities research funding????
Now on p. 50 we learn that research culture will also shift to underpin those changes, with more going to those who have, and less going to those who have not. This will become a dynamic process, part of the doom loop across most of the sector. (4/?)
October 29, 2025 at 11:29 AM
and what the fuck is “cost recovery” for humanities research funding????
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Clearly their pilots lacked the Warrior Ethos; they must have been DEI hires.
What is the normal rate for throwing F/A-18s into the sea? Because this year seems to be running above that rate
US Navy helicopter, fighter jet crash in South China Sea in separate incidents
A U.S. Navy helicopter and a fighter jet crashed separately into the South China Sea within the space of an hour during routine operations conducted from the same aircraft carrier on Sunday, the U.S. Navy said, adding all personnel were safe.
www.reuters.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Clearly their pilots lacked the Warrior Ethos; they must have been DEI hires.
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Folks, I'm very pleased to share a trio of recent, open-access, papers that investigate - and demonstrate - the relationship between military medicine and military effectiveness:
October 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Folks, I'm very pleased to share a trio of recent, open-access, papers that investigate - and demonstrate - the relationship between military medicine and military effectiveness:
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Striking line in the Atlantic's story on the Venezuela build-up. "The U.S. hasn’t sent this many ships to the Caribbean since the Cuban missile crisis." www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
The U.S. Is Preparing for War in Venezuela
More U.S.-military firepower is headed to the Caribbean as Trump escalates his anti-Maduro rhetoric.
www.theatlantic.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Striking line in the Atlantic's story on the Venezuela build-up. "The U.S. hasn’t sent this many ships to the Caribbean since the Cuban missile crisis." www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Robert Ralston
I’m old enough to remember when everybody agreed that higher education was a “market” and offering “choice” was how the universities were meant to grow
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
October 27, 2025 at 7:32 AM
I’m old enough to remember when everybody agreed that higher education was a “market” and offering “choice” was how the universities were meant to grow
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Seems to me there’s a slight contradiction between insisting US must topple a dictator in Venezuela while Trump is trying to become one here in the US.
October 26, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Seems to me there’s a slight contradiction between insisting US must topple a dictator in Venezuela while Trump is trying to become one here in the US.
Reposted by Robert Ralston
The foreign policy of a personalist regime.
The U.S. hasn’t sent this many ships to the Caribbean since the Cuban missile crisis. W/ Ford's arrival, will be about as many as were used to defend Israel from Iran missile strikes. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec... by @nancyayoussef.bsky.social, Gisela Salim-Peyer, and @jonlemire.bsky.social
The U.S. Is Preparing for War in Venezuela
More U.S.-military firepower is headed to the Caribbean as Trump escalates his anti-Maduro rhetoric.
www.theatlantic.com
October 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The foreign policy of a personalist regime.
Reposted by Robert Ralston
In this post, I explain why fentanyl smuggling isn't moral equivalent of war/terrorism and can't justify Trump's extrajudicial killings.... and how on this point I'm in rare agreement with John Yoo: reason.com/volokh/2025/...
Why Fentanyl Smuggling isn't War and Cannot Justify Extrajudicial Killing
Thus, Trump's attacks on boats in the Carribean have no moral or legal justification.
reason.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:34 PM
In this post, I explain why fentanyl smuggling isn't moral equivalent of war/terrorism and can't justify Trump's extrajudicial killings.... and how on this point I'm in rare agreement with John Yoo: reason.com/volokh/2025/...
Reposted by Robert Ralston
Holy shit! That motherfucker TORE DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE!
October 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Holy shit! That motherfucker TORE DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE!