Sokol Lleshi
@sokol-lleshi.bsky.social
Asst. Prof. of Political science UNYT, Albania. PhD political science @CEU. @AUBGedu alumnus. RM@V-Dem | memory politics | state socialism | critical discourse analysis | political ethnography | party politics | norm diffusion | Eastern Europe
Pinned
Sokol Lleshi
@sokol-lleshi.bsky.social
· Feb 26
📢 I am delighted to announce a new publication “Explaining Change in the Albanian State Identity: Discourses of Regionalisation and Foreign Policy of Local Elites” at the Southeastern Europe co-authored with my colleague Marsela Sako. A 🧵 on findings and implications: brill.com/view/journal...
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
At long last, some enforcement by Commission re Slovakia's backsliding with letter of formal notice sent yesterday for breach of several fundamental principles of EU law, particularly the principles of primacy, autonomy, effectiveness and uniform application of EU law
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
November infringements package: key decisions
Overview by policy area\n\nIn its regular package of infringement decisions, the European Commission takes legal action against Member States that fail to comply with their obligations under EU law. T...
ec.europa.eu
November 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
At long last, some enforcement by Commission re Slovakia's backsliding with letter of formal notice sent yesterday for breach of several fundamental principles of EU law, particularly the principles of primacy, autonomy, effectiveness and uniform application of EU law
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
Yes. But also, Orbán was in power for 14 years until finally a successful challenger emerged and Orbán's popularity drastically declined. So the interesting question to ask is: Why now? And why was Magyar so much more successful in his anti-corruption messaging than others before him?
Hungary’s Orban seemed undefeatable a year ago.
Then Peter Magyar broke through with a powerful anti-corruption platform, rapidly consolidated the fractured opposition, and now leads Fidesz comfortably.
Anti-corruption defeats authoritarianism worldwide. It will work here, too.
Then Peter Magyar broke through with a powerful anti-corruption platform, rapidly consolidated the fractured opposition, and now leads Fidesz comfortably.
Anti-corruption defeats authoritarianism worldwide. It will work here, too.
November 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Yes. But also, Orbán was in power for 14 years until finally a successful challenger emerged and Orbán's popularity drastically declined. So the interesting question to ask is: Why now? And why was Magyar so much more successful in his anti-corruption messaging than others before him?
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
🚨 New article out!
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
October 22, 2025 at 3:14 PM
🚨 New article out!
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
NEW! The public opinion effects of antisemitic elite cues: a survey experiment on the Hungarian Soros campaign in @eepolitics.bsky.social w/ @bencehamrak.bsky.social @erinjenne.bsky.social G.Simonovits. Soros cues worked through partisan motivated reasoning & not antisemitism doi.org/10.1080/2159...
October 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
NEW! The public opinion effects of antisemitic elite cues: a survey experiment on the Hungarian Soros campaign in @eepolitics.bsky.social w/ @bencehamrak.bsky.social @erinjenne.bsky.social G.Simonovits. Soros cues worked through partisan motivated reasoning & not antisemitism doi.org/10.1080/2159...
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
We are excited that our first annual interdisciplinary WZB conference "The Future of #Democracy?" starts this evening with a public dialogue on "Democracy at Stake", featuring U.S. Democrat @betoorourke.bsky.social and @annaluehrmann.bsky.social at Akademie der Künste, Berlin.
October 8, 2025 at 5:16 PM
We are excited that our first annual interdisciplinary WZB conference "The Future of #Democracy?" starts this evening with a public dialogue on "Democracy at Stake", featuring U.S. Democrat @betoorourke.bsky.social and @annaluehrmann.bsky.social at Akademie der Künste, Berlin.
"While this playbook has done little to advance Hungary as a country, it has worked from the regime’s perspective. The strategic goal of exporting illiberalism is to secure the long-term survival of Orbán’s political system by shaping a foreign policy environment favorable to it."
An optimistic take on Orbán's position in #Hungary and abroad
The Era of Orbánism as an Exportable Model May Be Ending - VSquare.org
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s once-admired “illiberal model” is faltering — plagued by economic crisis, voter frustration, and collapsing governance. With the 2026 election looming, his future — and the global appeal of his system — is at stake as his government faces its biggest political test.
vsquare.org
September 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
"While this playbook has done little to advance Hungary as a country, it has worked from the regime’s perspective. The strategic goal of exporting illiberalism is to secure the long-term survival of Orbán’s political system by shaping a foreign policy environment favorable to it."
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
Very much this. In the US, AP operates very much as a subfield of pol sci in its own right. The case for making it a sub-sub-field of comparative politics grows stronger each day.
Comparative Politics already uses different frameworks for legislatures, civil society, the executive, parties etc depending on regime type.
So much of the work in AP is likely no longer valid because the regime type has changed
So much of the work in AP is likely no longer valid because the regime type has changed
I genuinely wonder when Americanist political scientists will collectively admit the US has transitioned into autocracy. Scholars' pipelines of research are always set up long in advance, but it's still pretty surprising how little it seems to have budged
August 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Very much this. In the US, AP operates very much as a subfield of pol sci in its own right. The case for making it a sub-sub-field of comparative politics grows stronger each day.
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
I keep saying this but it remains true: Dems have not learned the central lesson of Reconstruction, that multiracial democracy cannot survive when those working to overthrow the rule of law & fair elections are allowed to operate with impunity.
the problem for Ds right now is not winning elections. they are doing fine at winning elections.
the problem is what happens *between elections.* as in, if you don't fight fascism between elections, election outcomes start not to matter. 1
the problem is what happens *between elections.* as in, if you don't fight fascism between elections, election outcomes start not to matter. 1
August 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I keep saying this but it remains true: Dems have not learned the central lesson of Reconstruction, that multiracial democracy cannot survive when those working to overthrow the rule of law & fair elections are allowed to operate with impunity.
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
I enjoyed reading this reflection on “Teaching under Trump” by @davekarpf.bsky.social
I wish more colleagues would reflect on the growing gap between what we teach our student about politics and the real-world politics students live in.
I wish more colleagues would reflect on the growing gap between what we teach our student about politics and the real-world politics students live in.
What it's like being a political communication professor right now
Misgivings, Grievances, and Thanks as I look ahead to my fifteenth year.
davekarpf.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I enjoyed reading this reflection on “Teaching under Trump” by @davekarpf.bsky.social
I wish more colleagues would reflect on the growing gap between what we teach our student about politics and the real-world politics students live in.
I wish more colleagues would reflect on the growing gap between what we teach our student about politics and the real-world politics students live in.
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
Please share this thread. It is important that political scientists, in Europe and across the world, understand why EPSS exists and why we are encouraging people to attend our inaugural conference, in Belfast next June.
EPSA have announced that they will hold a conference in July 2026.
😵💫 We understand that there might be some confusion about EPSS and EPSA.
👉🏽 So we thought we would clarify some things.
A short 🧵
😵💫 We understand that there might be some confusion about EPSS and EPSA.
👉🏽 So we thought we would clarify some things.
A short 🧵
August 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Please share this thread. It is important that political scientists, in Europe and across the world, understand why EPSS exists and why we are encouraging people to attend our inaugural conference, in Belfast next June.
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
Autocracy in Hungary (latest): Orban's Soviet-reminiscent "Office for the Defence of Sovereignty" is targeting a law professor (for 1st time tbomk) for the "crime" of speaking at a roundtable on what could happen should the opposition win the next parliamentary elections...
telex.hu/belfold/2025...
telex.hu/belfold/2025...
Lánczi Tamás feljelenti Fleck Zoltánt, szerinte a Tisza Pártnak kellett volna a hatósághoz fordulni
A Szuverenitásvédelmi Hivatal elnöke szerint a „forradalomra van szükség, nem kormányváltásra” kijelentés alkalmas az alkotmányos rend erőszakos megváltoztatása bűntett előkészületének megállapítására...
telex.hu
August 7, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Autocracy in Hungary (latest): Orban's Soviet-reminiscent "Office for the Defence of Sovereignty" is targeting a law professor (for 1st time tbomk) for the "crime" of speaking at a roundtable on what could happen should the opposition win the next parliamentary elections...
telex.hu/belfold/2025...
telex.hu/belfold/2025...
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
🌅📙 64.3
How does polarization influence voter turnout? 🤝
@morganlcj.bsky.social uses two studies 📊 to determine whether #Polarization brings forward more voters by giving them clearer choices ⚖️
Are #EuropeanPolitics shifting? 🇪🇺
🔗 buff.ly/SZi2lfa
How does polarization influence voter turnout? 🤝
@morganlcj.bsky.social uses two studies 📊 to determine whether #Polarization brings forward more voters by giving them clearer choices ⚖️
Are #EuropeanPolitics shifting? 🇪🇺
🔗 buff.ly/SZi2lfa
Dimensions of polarization, realignment and electoral participation in Europe: The mobilizing power of the cultural dimension
MORGAN LE CORRE JURATIC
buff.ly
August 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
🌅📙 64.3
How does polarization influence voter turnout? 🤝
@morganlcj.bsky.social uses two studies 📊 to determine whether #Polarization brings forward more voters by giving them clearer choices ⚖️
Are #EuropeanPolitics shifting? 🇪🇺
🔗 buff.ly/SZi2lfa
How does polarization influence voter turnout? 🤝
@morganlcj.bsky.social uses two studies 📊 to determine whether #Polarization brings forward more voters by giving them clearer choices ⚖️
Are #EuropeanPolitics shifting? 🇪🇺
🔗 buff.ly/SZi2lfa
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
We have just rejected an(other) article for the use of AI. The AI had hallucinated a publication apparently written by a certain J.E. Richardson, and another (by G. Mautner) apparently published in CDS 16(2). Funnily enough, I recognised both were fictional.
A reminder: AI generates slop.
A reminder: AI generates slop.
July 31, 2025 at 7:38 AM
We have just rejected an(other) article for the use of AI. The AI had hallucinated a publication apparently written by a certain J.E. Richardson, and another (by G. Mautner) apparently published in CDS 16(2). Funnily enough, I recognised both were fictional.
A reminder: AI generates slop.
A reminder: AI generates slop.
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
I really think universities underestimate how true this is for a lot of students and their parents. They don’t want us to try to pretend to be cool. They want us to be a bit dusty, and very serious. Enthusiastic, definitely! But also nerdy. We’re selling them ACADEMIA.
The kids aren't stupid. They either want to come to uni because they want to study. Or because they think it leads to a job. They also know it's going to cost them money AND time.
They want a uni brand/site to FEEL like a university. They expect it to be a bit old school. Not a game. Not a company.
They want a uni brand/site to FEEL like a university. They expect it to be a bit old school. Not a game. Not a company.
July 31, 2025 at 8:54 AM
I really think universities underestimate how true this is for a lot of students and their parents. They don’t want us to try to pretend to be cool. They want us to be a bit dusty, and very serious. Enthusiastic, definitely! But also nerdy. We’re selling them ACADEMIA.
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
I have a piece on Foreign Policy, arguing that Ukraine's recent cronyism and corruption crisis is as much about the changing global order as it is Ukraine's own political-economic history.
🧵/1
foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/29/u...
🧵/1
foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/29/u...
Ukraine’s Cronyism Crisis Offers a Warning to the ‘De-risking’ World
A series of scandals has put Kyiv’s public institutions under the microscope.
foreignpolicy.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:20 AM
I have a piece on Foreign Policy, arguing that Ukraine's recent cronyism and corruption crisis is as much about the changing global order as it is Ukraine's own political-economic history.
🧵/1
foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/29/u...
🧵/1
foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/29/u...
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
Imagine being disappeared in one dictatorship, making it to America, and then being disappeared again
July 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Imagine being disappeared in one dictatorship, making it to America, and then being disappeared again
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
The Georgian & Serbian leaders' pivots away from the EU accession path show the bloc's waning appeal.
To keep #enlargement on track, the EU should focus on candidate countries that are making genuine progress toward membership, says @dimitarbechev.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
To keep #enlargement on track, the EU should focus on candidate countries that are making genuine progress toward membership, says @dimitarbechev.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
The EU’s Waning Attractiveness
The Georgian and Serbian leaders’ pivots away from the path to EU accession show the bloc’s waning appeal. To keep EU enlargement on track, Brussels should focus on candidate countries that are making...
carnegieendowment.org
June 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The Georgian & Serbian leaders' pivots away from the EU accession path show the bloc's waning appeal.
To keep #enlargement on track, the EU should focus on candidate countries that are making genuine progress toward membership, says @dimitarbechev.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
To keep #enlargement on track, the EU should focus on candidate countries that are making genuine progress toward membership, says @dimitarbechev.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
libertiesjournal.com/online-artic...
A fascinating reflection piece by Thomas Pepinsky on quandaries and merits of teaching comparative politics. Discussing current & controversial events in the classroom that affect students as citizens as much as communities is no liberation theology.
A fascinating reflection piece by Thomas Pepinsky on quandaries and merits of teaching comparative politics. Discussing current & controversial events in the classroom that affect students as citizens as much as communities is no liberation theology.
Teaching and Democracy in America
Every year, hundreds of thousands of college students enroll in a course whose title is something like “Principles of Comparative Politics” or “Introduction to Comparative Government.” These are bread...
libertiesjournal.com
June 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM
libertiesjournal.com/online-artic...
A fascinating reflection piece by Thomas Pepinsky on quandaries and merits of teaching comparative politics. Discussing current & controversial events in the classroom that affect students as citizens as much as communities is no liberation theology.
A fascinating reflection piece by Thomas Pepinsky on quandaries and merits of teaching comparative politics. Discussing current & controversial events in the classroom that affect students as citizens as much as communities is no liberation theology.
Reposted by Sokol Lleshi
🚨 Big News for European Political Science 🚨
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the European Political Science Society (EPSS): a new, member-led, not-for-profit association built to support our scholarly community.
🔗 epssnet.org
Here’s a thread with everything you need to know.
🧵
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the European Political Science Society (EPSS): a new, member-led, not-for-profit association built to support our scholarly community.
🔗 epssnet.org
Here’s a thread with everything you need to know.
🧵
June 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
🚨 Big News for European Political Science 🚨
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the European Political Science Society (EPSS): a new, member-led, not-for-profit association built to support our scholarly community.
🔗 epssnet.org
Here’s a thread with everything you need to know.
🧵
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the European Political Science Society (EPSS): a new, member-led, not-for-profit association built to support our scholarly community.
🔗 epssnet.org
Here’s a thread with everything you need to know.
🧵