Brian Nkosi
@saziindlalifa.bsky.social
Development Studies graduate (SA), with a reading interest in development economics, macro, and political economy
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Despite what we are often told, this line from Mamdani’s inauguration speech is what true pragmatism actually looks like:
“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed. But never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed. But never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
January 1, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Despite what we are often told, this line from Mamdani’s inauguration speech is what true pragmatism actually looks like:
“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed. But never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
“Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed. But never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Very happy to have contributed this little think piece for the wonderful JHI forum on political economy in intellectual history!
In a new piece for the JHI Forum on political economy, Lotte Liste critically situates Reinhart Koselleck's concept of the Sattelzeit with Adam Smith's philosophy of history. @lottelist.bsky.social
Economy and History in the Sattelzeit: On Adam Smith’s Alleged Sobriety
by Lotte List
This think piece is part of a JHI Blog forum: “The Return of Political Economy in Intellectual History.”
web.sas.upenn.edu
December 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Very happy to have contributed this little think piece for the wonderful JHI forum on political economy in intellectual history!
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Economic Planning in the Anthropocene - the videos and slides of the 25-27 sept 2025 Geneva conference are available here. Enjoy !
www.unige.ch/sciences-soc...
@jksteinberger.bsky.social @louisoncf.bsky.social @cornelban.bsky.social @rosiecollington.bsky.social @ceciliarikap.bsky.social
www.unige.ch/sciences-soc...
@jksteinberger.bsky.social @louisoncf.bsky.social @cornelban.bsky.social @rosiecollington.bsky.social @ceciliarikap.bsky.social
- Economic Planning in the Anthropocene - UNIGE
www.unige.ch
December 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Economic Planning in the Anthropocene - the videos and slides of the 25-27 sept 2025 Geneva conference are available here. Enjoy !
www.unige.ch/sciences-soc...
@jksteinberger.bsky.social @louisoncf.bsky.social @cornelban.bsky.social @rosiecollington.bsky.social @ceciliarikap.bsky.social
www.unige.ch/sciences-soc...
@jksteinberger.bsky.social @louisoncf.bsky.social @cornelban.bsky.social @rosiecollington.bsky.social @ceciliarikap.bsky.social
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Happy to share “Pathways of the Environmental State” is a co-winner of the Environmental Sociology Student Paper award!
In my capacity as Policy & Research Committee Chair, I am delighted to announce the 2025 award winners of the ASA Environmental Sociology Section. Congrats to all, and thanks to the members of the committees for their service to the section and field!
June 2, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Happy to share “Pathways of the Environmental State” is a co-winner of the Environmental Sociology Student Paper award!
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
China has been trying for years to break the log jam of its high savings rate. Now, with Trump's help, they may actually do it. The Great Nation Builder strikes again.
There is a simple reason why China is in the stronger position compared to the US in this trade war: It is much easier to create demand domestically in the short run than it is to rebuild the workshop of the world.
April 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
China has been trying for years to break the log jam of its high savings rate. Now, with Trump's help, they may actually do it. The Great Nation Builder strikes again.
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
I spoke at length to the creator of the Liberty Phone, a US-manufactured smartphone, about the challenges of sourcing US-made components, tariffs, and the lack of product engineering expertise in US. The Chinese version costs $700, the US version costs $2,000.
www.404media.co/how-a-2-000-...
www.404media.co/how-a-2-000-...
How a $2,000 'Made in the USA' Phone Is Manufactured
"You could count the number of skilled electronics engineers on US soil, and there's probably a million in Shenzhen alone."
www.404media.co
April 10, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I spoke at length to the creator of the Liberty Phone, a US-manufactured smartphone, about the challenges of sourcing US-made components, tariffs, and the lack of product engineering expertise in US. The Chinese version costs $700, the US version costs $2,000.
www.404media.co/how-a-2-000-...
www.404media.co/how-a-2-000-...
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
“People should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions.” @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social and @shaneharris.bsky.social share the group chat in which officials planned strikes on Yemen: theatln.tc/UHOLqA9E
March 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
“People should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions.” @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social and @shaneharris.bsky.social share the group chat in which officials planned strikes on Yemen: theatln.tc/UHOLqA9E
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
I want us to study the history of resistance to slave catchers right now. I want us to study how slave catchers worked, how they were sanctioned, who paid them, and why they did what they did, right now. I want us to study the hyperlocal and networked ways slave catchers were impeded. Right now.
March 26, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I want us to study the history of resistance to slave catchers right now. I want us to study how slave catchers worked, how they were sanctioned, who paid them, and why they did what they did, right now. I want us to study the hyperlocal and networked ways slave catchers were impeded. Right now.
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Immigrants, trans people, palestinian rights activists, eventually it’s going to be your turn when the regime decides you are an enemy
March 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Immigrants, trans people, palestinian rights activists, eventually it’s going to be your turn when the regime decides you are an enemy
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Graze open sources parts of their tool chain, while committing to making more it of available. Woot!
Making @bsky.app billionaire proof means making real commitments to community - that's why, today, we're open sourcing our core engine for algorithmic matching. This is a work in progress, but we wanted to get it out as quickly as possible - and if you're a dev, and want to work with it, DM us!
GitHub - graze-social/grazer: Graze Core Algorithm Engine
Graze Core Algorithm Engine. Contribute to graze-social/grazer development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
January 30, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Graze open sources parts of their tool chain, while committing to making more it of available. Woot!
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Maxime Ricard, Julien Antouly and I have a new paper out. It tells the story of France's retreat from the Sahel through the lens of the imaginaries at work among French decision-makers (with a historical perspective) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14650045.2024.2446437
January 15, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Maxime Ricard, Julien Antouly and I have a new paper out. It tells the story of France's retreat from the Sahel through the lens of the imaginaries at work among French decision-makers (with a historical perspective) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14650045.2024.2446437
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Now out from behind the paywall: @maricohen.bsky.social
goes long on the crisis facing the field of genocide studies as institutions that emerged from the study of the Holocaust grapple with—or ignore—genocide in Gaza. jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide...
goes long on the crisis facing the field of genocide studies as institutions that emerged from the study of the Holocaust grapple with—or ignore—genocide in Gaza. jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide...
Can Genocide Studies Survive a Genocide in Gaza?
A discipline born from the study of the Holocaust faces its contradictions as Israel stands accused of the “crime of crimes.”
jewishcurrents.org
January 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Now out from behind the paywall: @maricohen.bsky.social
goes long on the crisis facing the field of genocide studies as institutions that emerged from the study of the Holocaust grapple with—or ignore—genocide in Gaza. jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide...
goes long on the crisis facing the field of genocide studies as institutions that emerged from the study of the Holocaust grapple with—or ignore—genocide in Gaza. jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide...
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Must reads for web developers - how modern browsers work:
1️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt1
2️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt2
3️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt3
4️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt4
and browser.engineering a free to read book on the topic
1️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt1
2️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt2
3️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt3
4️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt4
and browser.engineering a free to read book on the topic
January 12, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Must reads for web developers - how modern browsers work:
1️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt1
2️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt2
3️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt3
4️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt4
and browser.engineering a free to read book on the topic
1️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt1
2️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt2
3️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt3
4️⃣ bit.ly/browsers-pt4
and browser.engineering a free to read book on the topic
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
In an era of Trump, it’s more urgent than ever to move beyond a technocratic stance on climate policy and learn from historical movements that won.
My pick for @ProSyn book of 2024: Kevin Young’s Abolishing Fossil Fuels.
My pick for @ProSyn book of 2024: Kevin Young’s Abolishing Fossil Fuels.
December 23, 2024 at 1:20 PM
In an era of Trump, it’s more urgent than ever to move beyond a technocratic stance on climate policy and learn from historical movements that won.
My pick for @ProSyn book of 2024: Kevin Young’s Abolishing Fossil Fuels.
My pick for @ProSyn book of 2024: Kevin Young’s Abolishing Fossil Fuels.
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
December 20, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
I would say Class & Nation is comfortably one of Amin’s best, if not his best book. In his later work he refers to it frequently and approvingly, and yet it’s out of print. Given renewed interest in the national question, imperialism, and dependency theory it needs to be picked up by a publisher.
December 18, 2024 at 3:12 PM
I would say Class & Nation is comfortably one of Amin’s best, if not his best book. In his later work he refers to it frequently and approvingly, and yet it’s out of print. Given renewed interest in the national question, imperialism, and dependency theory it needs to be picked up by a publisher.
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
At the height of the global energy crisis in 2022 that threw people around the world into energy poverty, quarterly net profits in stock market-listed oil and gas companies were at a record globally.
From our latest paper: scholarworks.umass.edu/server/api/c...
From our latest paper: scholarworks.umass.edu/server/api/c...
December 17, 2024 at 1:02 AM
At the height of the global energy crisis in 2022 that threw people around the world into energy poverty, quarterly net profits in stock market-listed oil and gas companies were at a record globally.
From our latest paper: scholarworks.umass.edu/server/api/c...
From our latest paper: scholarworks.umass.edu/server/api/c...
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
I remembered this great post by @drmitchpdx.bsky.social on the USPS from 2011. neweconomicperspectives.org/2011/09/late...
Latest in Deficit Terrorism: Postal Service Default
By Mitch Green Americans living in rural areas should brace themselves for a new dose of pain. As the USPS approaches the end of its fiscal year, where it will be unable to make payment of $5.5 bi…
neweconomicperspectives.org
December 16, 2024 at 9:51 PM
I remembered this great post by @drmitchpdx.bsky.social on the USPS from 2011. neweconomicperspectives.org/2011/09/late...
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
“Middle classness is not really an economic category at all; it was always more social and political."
davidgraeber.org/papers/anthr...
davidgraeber.org/papers/anthr...
November 25, 2024 at 1:25 PM
“Middle classness is not really an economic category at all; it was always more social and political."
davidgraeber.org/papers/anthr...
davidgraeber.org/papers/anthr...
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
My high schooler had to pick a topic for a medical ethics essay and he chose abortion. This should go over well in Utah.
November 22, 2024 at 10:31 PM
My high schooler had to pick a topic for a medical ethics essay and he chose abortion. This should go over well in Utah.
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
Research shows there's a Goldilocks effect in corporate environmental commitments. Either too little or too much and capital goes on strike. The problem is that what capital thinks is too much is just what's needed. theconversation.com/why-big-oil-...
Why big oil and gas firms might want the Paris agreement to survive
ExxonMobil’s CEO has warned Trump not to walk away from global climate treaties. But what’s his underlying aim?
theconversation.com
November 22, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Research shows there's a Goldilocks effect in corporate environmental commitments. Either too little or too much and capital goes on strike. The problem is that what capital thinks is too much is just what's needed. theconversation.com/why-big-oil-...
Reposted by Brian Nkosi
'Also “quite exceptional”, he said, was that Merian took the entire book production process “into her own hands”, from the voyage to Suriname to the commercialisation of the work, which was sold to merchants and scientists across Europe.' 1/2
How a little-known 17th-century female scientist changed our understanding of insects
Maria Sibylla Merian’s beautiful and disturbing illustrations, which shaped how we look at the natural world, will be on show at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum
www.theguardian.com
September 1, 2024 at 10:38 AM
'Also “quite exceptional”, he said, was that Merian took the entire book production process “into her own hands”, from the voyage to Suriname to the commercialisation of the work, which was sold to merchants and scientists across Europe.' 1/2