Sten Hansson
@stenhansson.bsky.social
Associate Professor @UniTartu interested in #government #communication #blameavoidance #disasters #disinformation #discoursestudies
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=AmIeTJYAAAAJ
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=AmIeTJYAAAAJ
Pinned
Sten Hansson
@stenhansson.bsky.social
· May 7
New article out now! We propose a framework for studying how changes in political leadership affect the language of government communication journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
November 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Reposted by Sten Hansson
It is indisputable that Brexit has been an economic disaster, and notable that none of its political architects have paid any price.
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM
It is indisputable that Brexit has been an economic disaster, and notable that none of its political architects have paid any price.
The Discursive Construction of Morality in Political Blame Games
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) The Discursive Construction of Morality in Political Blame Games
PDF | Morality is pervasive, touching all aspects of social life. The aim of this volume is to provide an introduction to research on how morality is... | Find, read and cite all the research you need...
www.researchgate.net
November 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The Discursive Construction of Morality in Political Blame Games
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...
Public Media: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
🚨New Cambridge Element 🚨
Cognition and Conspiracy Theories by Andreas Musolff is now free to read until November 17th!
https://cup.org/47PLKBW
#Linguistics #LangSky 🐦🐦
Cognition and Conspiracy Theories by Andreas Musolff is now free to read until November 17th!
https://cup.org/47PLKBW
#Linguistics #LangSky 🐦🐦
November 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🚨New Cambridge Element 🚨
Cognition and Conspiracy Theories by Andreas Musolff is now free to read until November 17th!
https://cup.org/47PLKBW
#Linguistics #LangSky 🐦🐦
Cognition and Conspiracy Theories by Andreas Musolff is now free to read until November 17th!
https://cup.org/47PLKBW
#Linguistics #LangSky 🐦🐦
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Coercive impoliteness and blame avoidance in government communication www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Coercive impoliteness and blame avoidance in government communication
As government officeholders face criticism for misconduct or policy failures, they are tempted to communicate in self-defensive ways. In this paper, I…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 9, 2024 at 4:30 PM
Coercive impoliteness and blame avoidance in government communication www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Many dictatorships use foreign helpers to influence democracies.
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Many dictatorships use foreign helpers to influence democracies.
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Communication-Related Vulnerability of War Refugees:
The Case of Ukrainians Escaping Russia's Invasion
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The Case of Ukrainians Escaping Russia's Invasion
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy | PSO Journal | Wiley Online Library
When war refugees arrive in a host country, they may find themselves in a vulnerable condition and struggle to cope in a foreign setting. This article presents a systematic approach to identifying im...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Communication-Related Vulnerability of War Refugees:
The Case of Ukrainians Escaping Russia's Invasion
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The Case of Ukrainians Escaping Russia's Invasion
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Politicization of Government Social Media Communication: A Linguistic Framework and Case Study
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Politicization of Government Social Media Communication: A Linguistic Framework and Case Study - Nic DePaula, Sten Hansson, 2025
Social media communication of government agencies should ideally be truthful and impartial to sustain public trust in government and support democratic goals. H...
journals.sagepub.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Politicization of Government Social Media Communication: A Linguistic Framework and Case Study
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Are victimhood claims in political party manifestos and election programs on the rise? Yes, they are! Check out a brand new paper authored by @marlenevoit.bsky.social , @lucaskohler.bsky.social et al. -- published yesterday in @polpsyispp.bsky.social. Open Access: doi.org/10.1111/pops....
Victimhood claims in German political manifestos
Political campaigns often work with victimhood claims—stories construed around an (alleged) injustice that needs to be redressed or retaliated against. Notably, scholars have argued that victimhood c...
doi.org
November 7, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Are victimhood claims in political party manifestos and election programs on the rise? Yes, they are! Check out a brand new paper authored by @marlenevoit.bsky.social , @lucaskohler.bsky.social et al. -- published yesterday in @polpsyispp.bsky.social. Open Access: doi.org/10.1111/pops....
Together apart: representations of the European Union in Anglosphere’s foreign policy discourse 2021–2024 -- by @monikameislova.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Together apart: representations of the European Union in Anglosphere’s foreign policy discourse 2021–2024
This article analyses and interprets the ways in which the European Union (EU) was discursively represented within the official elite foreign policy discourse of five Anglosphere countries – ...
www.tandfonline.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Together apart: representations of the European Union in Anglosphere’s foreign policy discourse 2021–2024 -- by @monikameislova.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Are Insinuated Ad Hominem Arguments Rhetorically Effective?
Yes, but Conditions Apply
@steve-os.bsky.social #argumentation
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Yes, but Conditions Apply
@steve-os.bsky.social #argumentation
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Are Insinuated Ad Hominem Arguments Rhetorically Effective? Yes, but Conditions Apply - Argumentation
Personal attacks, which might convey damaging accusations, can take either an explicit or an implicit form. When they are communicated implicitly, they are referred to as insinuations. Their implicit ...
link.springer.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Are Insinuated Ad Hominem Arguments Rhetorically Effective?
Yes, but Conditions Apply
@steve-os.bsky.social #argumentation
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Yes, but Conditions Apply
@steve-os.bsky.social #argumentation
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Winning Legitimacy and Dodging Blame: How Government Communication Shapes Media Sentiments and Responsibility Attribution in Consensus Democracies -- by @celinejhonegger.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
European Policy Analysis | PSO Policy Research Journal | Wiley Online Library
How do governments' discursive credit-claiming and blame-deflection strategies shape perceived policy legitimacy in times of crisis? Despite the importance of legitimacy in conflictual times, systema...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Winning Legitimacy and Dodging Blame: How Government Communication Shapes Media Sentiments and Responsibility Attribution in Consensus Democracies -- by @celinejhonegger.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
New York Times editorial board has compiled "a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
October 31, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New York Times editorial board has compiled "a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
Reposted by Sten Hansson
A review of government social media communication literature + suggestions for future research
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Government Communication on Social Media: Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions | Review | Media and Communication
Sten Hansson, Nic DePaula
www.cogitatiopress.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A review of government social media communication literature + suggestions for future research
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
A position paper on critical language awareness by @linguadigitalis.bsky.social and others from Groningen and Cape Town
www.frontiersin.org/journals/com...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/com...
Frontiers | Critical language awareness as a future imperative: seeing the ‘water’
This position paper argues that critical language awareness (CLA) must be recognised as a core, future-oriented metacognitive competency. In our time marked ...
www.frontiersin.org
October 29, 2025 at 6:35 AM
A position paper on critical language awareness by @linguadigitalis.bsky.social and others from Groningen and Cape Town
www.frontiersin.org/journals/com...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/com...
A review of government social media communication literature + suggestions for future research
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Government Communication on Social Media: Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions | Review | Media and Communication
Sten Hansson, Nic DePaula
www.cogitatiopress.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A review of government social media communication literature + suggestions for future research
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Studies of government social media communication may be classified based on:
1️⃣ whether their focus is mainly on the senders, messages, media, audiences, or effects of communication
2️⃣ the domains of government policy and public administration that they address
1️⃣ whether their focus is mainly on the senders, messages, media, audiences, or effects of communication
2️⃣ the domains of government policy and public administration that they address
Government Communication on Social Media: Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions | Review | Media and Communication
Sten Hansson, Nic DePaula
www.cogitatiopress.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Studies of government social media communication may be classified based on:
1️⃣ whether their focus is mainly on the senders, messages, media, audiences, or effects of communication
2️⃣ the domains of government policy and public administration that they address
1️⃣ whether their focus is mainly on the senders, messages, media, audiences, or effects of communication
2️⃣ the domains of government policy and public administration that they address
Reposted by Sten Hansson
The (short) book to go with the talk:
October 23, 2025 at 7:49 AM
The (short) book to go with the talk:
Reposted by Sten Hansson
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
For the final in this series David talks to historian @aysezarakol.bsky.social about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
For the final in this series David talks to historian @aysezarakol.bsky.social about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:47 AM
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
For the final in this series David talks to historian @aysezarakol.bsky.social about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
For the final in this series David talks to historian @aysezarakol.bsky.social about the prospects for democracy in the age of strongman politics, from Trump to Erdogan, from Orban to Modi. Does democracy have the wherewithal to resist its pull?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Join us for our next LIP talk
We are delighted to welcome Teun A. van Dijk (Centre of Discourse Studies, Barcelona) for the third talk of the term.
Title: Discourse and Ideologies of the Radical Right
Date & Time: Tuesday 28th October, 1-2pm (UK time)
Location: MS Teams
Online link: lnkd.in/eyvGGc7G
We are delighted to welcome Teun A. van Dijk (Centre of Discourse Studies, Barcelona) for the third talk of the term.
Title: Discourse and Ideologies of the Radical Right
Date & Time: Tuesday 28th October, 1-2pm (UK time)
Location: MS Teams
Online link: lnkd.in/eyvGGc7G
October 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Join us for our next LIP talk
We are delighted to welcome Teun A. van Dijk (Centre of Discourse Studies, Barcelona) for the third talk of the term.
Title: Discourse and Ideologies of the Radical Right
Date & Time: Tuesday 28th October, 1-2pm (UK time)
Location: MS Teams
Online link: lnkd.in/eyvGGc7G
We are delighted to welcome Teun A. van Dijk (Centre of Discourse Studies, Barcelona) for the third talk of the term.
Title: Discourse and Ideologies of the Radical Right
Date & Time: Tuesday 28th October, 1-2pm (UK time)
Location: MS Teams
Online link: lnkd.in/eyvGGc7G
Reposted by Sten Hansson
Government Communication on Social Media:
Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Government Communication on Social Media: Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions | Review | Media and Communication
Sten Hansson, Nic DePaula
www.cogitatiopress.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Government Communication on Social Media:
Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Government Communication on Social Media:
Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Government Communication on Social Media: Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions | Review | Media and Communication
Sten Hansson, Nic DePaula
www.cogitatiopress.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Government Communication on Social Media:
Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Research Foci, Domains, and Future Directions
www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcomm...
Reposted by Sten Hansson
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11