Vaida Niksaite
@vaidanik.bsky.social
Historian of modern Europe, working on diasporas, mass politics, propaganda, crowdfunding. Research fellow at the Lithuanian Institute of History · associate @ox.ac.uk and @ulbruxelles.bsky.social
A book as smart and engaging as its title. @clairedederer.bsky.social reflects not just on polanskis, wagners, and other picassos, but also on ourselves, redemption, love, and more.
October 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A book as smart and engaging as its title. @clairedederer.bsky.social reflects not just on polanskis, wagners, and other picassos, but also on ourselves, redemption, love, and more.
First time working at the National Archives in Kew, London, this week. So efficient, friendly, and brutalist. Really, can it get any better?
September 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
First time working at the National Archives in Kew, London, this week. So efficient, friendly, and brutalist. Really, can it get any better?
New Historiographical Perspectives on Influence and Propaganda successfully steered through two major strikes in France and the waves of seasonal viruses. Many 🙏 to our panelists for the stimulating exchanges - it was wonderful to have you all in Brussels!
calenda.org/1290551?lang...
calenda.org/1290551?lang...
September 22, 2025 at 2:51 PM
New Historiographical Perspectives on Influence and Propaganda successfully steered through two major strikes in France and the waves of seasonal viruses. Many 🙏 to our panelists for the stimulating exchanges - it was wonderful to have you all in Brussels!
calenda.org/1290551?lang...
calenda.org/1290551?lang...
Still in Oxford, but my first farewells will be at the Old Boys School, as today the Faculty of History moves out of this building. It’s been a real privilege to spend two years here - with great people - in what was once Lawrence of Arabia’s high school.
August 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Still in Oxford, but my first farewells will be at the Old Boys School, as today the Faculty of History moves out of this building. It’s been a real privilege to spend two years here - with great people - in what was once Lawrence of Arabia’s high school.
OK, so I found out about this book a little too late - still going to read it!
August 3, 2025 at 1:36 PM
OK, so I found out about this book a little too late - still going to read it!
Foraging in Oxford.
August 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Foraging in Oxford.
"To be generally in favour of, or against, migration would be like being generally in favour of or against, say, the economy. (…) Still, this is the way the migration debates are usually conducted, particularly in the media and politics."
May 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"To be generally in favour of, or against, migration would be like being generally in favour of or against, say, the economy. (…) Still, this is the way the migration debates are usually conducted, particularly in the media and politics."
Of all the strange things that happen in Oxford, May Morning certainly stands out – massive crowds fill the streets at dawn to hear a boy choir sing, then go watch some trees dance in the streets. Brilliant.
May 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Of all the strange things that happen in Oxford, May Morning certainly stands out – massive crowds fill the streets at dawn to hear a boy choir sing, then go watch some trees dance in the streets. Brilliant.
This was a very powerful rendition of Shostakovich’s 8th quartet (in its upscaled version). 👏 to the Carduccis et al. One more rendezvous left at the Barbican, London, on 29 May.
April 30, 2025 at 12:09 AM
This was a very powerful rendition of Shostakovich’s 8th quartet (in its upscaled version). 👏 to the Carduccis et al. One more rendezvous left at the Barbican, London, on 29 May.
One of those books I wish I had written.
A brilliant piece of work by @mathae.bsky.social – recommended whether you're an Elvis fan or not.
A brilliant piece of work by @mathae.bsky.social – recommended whether you're an Elvis fan or not.
April 17, 2025 at 5:08 PM
One of those books I wish I had written.
A brilliant piece of work by @mathae.bsky.social – recommended whether you're an Elvis fan or not.
A brilliant piece of work by @mathae.bsky.social – recommended whether you're an Elvis fan or not.
Kelefa Sanneh, music critic at The New Yorker, has written a history of “moving the crowd” that’s far too sophisticated and enlightening to count as a guilty pleasure – but I enjoyed it just as much. Can’t recommend it enough.
April 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Kelefa Sanneh, music critic at The New Yorker, has written a history of “moving the crowd” that’s far too sophisticated and enlightening to count as a guilty pleasure – but I enjoyed it just as much. Can’t recommend it enough.
“Contrary to what many of you might imagine, a career in letters is not without its drawbacks - chief among them the unpleasant fact that one is frequently called upon to actually sit down and write.” (I figured there’s no better guide to NY than Fran Lebowitz)
April 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM
“Contrary to what many of you might imagine, a career in letters is not without its drawbacks - chief among them the unpleasant fact that one is frequently called upon to actually sit down and write.” (I figured there’s no better guide to NY than Fran Lebowitz)
Finally saw #Flow – a visual and conceptual delight. @gintszilbalodis.bsky.social conveys the magic of nature in a way that recalls the best of Miyazaki. In the region I come from, Flow seems on its way to becoming an icon – perhaps a Baltic Totoro. Well, that’s my wish!
March 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Finally saw #Flow – a visual and conceptual delight. @gintszilbalodis.bsky.social conveys the magic of nature in a way that recalls the best of Miyazaki. In the region I come from, Flow seems on its way to becoming an icon – perhaps a Baltic Totoro. Well, that’s my wish!
A must-read for anyone interested in the collapse of the #USSR.
@unabergmane.bsky.social shows that around 1989, there was more going on than the Fall of the Wall.
The book left me obsessed with the concept of the "politics of uncertainty" – I see it everywhere I turn now.
Even more obsessively,
@unabergmane.bsky.social shows that around 1989, there was more going on than the Fall of the Wall.
The book left me obsessed with the concept of the "politics of uncertainty" – I see it everywhere I turn now.
Even more obsessively,
March 19, 2025 at 4:33 PM
A must-read for anyone interested in the collapse of the #USSR.
@unabergmane.bsky.social shows that around 1989, there was more going on than the Fall of the Wall.
The book left me obsessed with the concept of the "politics of uncertainty" – I see it everywhere I turn now.
Even more obsessively,
@unabergmane.bsky.social shows that around 1989, there was more going on than the Fall of the Wall.
The book left me obsessed with the concept of the "politics of uncertainty" – I see it everywhere I turn now.
Even more obsessively,
An interesting debate took place yesterday at the Oxford Unity society on whether there is a moral difference between American and Russian foreign policy. The “no difference” camp, backed by the legendary Russian journalist Vladimir Pozner, appears to have won the most "ayes".
February 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM
An interesting debate took place yesterday at the Oxford Unity society on whether there is a moral difference between American and Russian foreign policy. The “no difference” camp, backed by the legendary Russian journalist Vladimir Pozner, appears to have won the most "ayes".
Highly recommend "The Editorial Office" (2024) by Roman Bondarchuk – a dark, comically absurd social and media satire set on the eve of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Trailer and more info here:
www.berlinale.de/en/2024/prog...
www.berlinale.de/en/2024/prog...
February 20, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Highly recommend "The Editorial Office" (2024) by Roman Bondarchuk – a dark, comically absurd social and media satire set on the eve of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Trailer and more info here:
www.berlinale.de/en/2024/prog...
www.berlinale.de/en/2024/prog...
Vilius Jomantas’ 1920 poster “Lend to the Treasury. Liberty and Happiness Guaranteed” promoted citizen financial mobilisation, a key element of Lithuania’s survival strategy during the post-WWI frontier conflicts.
More here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
More here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
February 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Vilius Jomantas’ 1920 poster “Lend to the Treasury. Liberty and Happiness Guaranteed” promoted citizen financial mobilisation, a key element of Lithuania’s survival strategy during the post-WWI frontier conflicts.
More here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
More here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Petras Kalpokas’ 1919 poster “Bonds Bring Bread” called on Lithuanian citizens to support the newly established state financially. Popular fundraising served as both a financial lifeline and a means of political mobilisation and legitimation.
More here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
More here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
February 10, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Petras Kalpokas’ 1919 poster “Bonds Bring Bread” called on Lithuanian citizens to support the newly established state financially. Popular fundraising served as both a financial lifeline and a means of political mobilisation and legitimation.
More here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
More here:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Rereading "Against the World" (2023), the latest book by Tara Zahra – a beautifully written, illuminating, and timely account of what scholars of internationalisms and globalism have long overlooked: resistance to these trends.
February 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Rereading "Against the World" (2023), the latest book by Tara Zahra – a beautifully written, illuminating, and timely account of what scholars of internationalisms and globalism have long overlooked: resistance to these trends.
At the Barbican, Brutalism meets Shostakovich – and they’re a perfect match! 👏 Jakub Hrůša & the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
More Shostakovich this year at the Barbican, London (and likely near you) to mark the composer’s 50th death anniversary.
More Shostakovich this year at the Barbican, London (and likely near you) to mark the composer’s 50th death anniversary.
February 1, 2025 at 12:45 PM
At the Barbican, Brutalism meets Shostakovich – and they’re a perfect match! 👏 Jakub Hrůša & the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
More Shostakovich this year at the Barbican, London (and likely near you) to mark the composer’s 50th death anniversary.
More Shostakovich this year at the Barbican, London (and likely near you) to mark the composer’s 50th death anniversary.
Join us for the conference “Propaganda and Influence: New Historiographical Perspectives.”
Call for papers (in French or English) open until 1 March 2025.
calenda.org/1217954?lang...
@hugodecursi.bsky.social
Call for papers (in French or English) open until 1 March 2025.
calenda.org/1217954?lang...
@hugodecursi.bsky.social
January 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Join us for the conference “Propaganda and Influence: New Historiographical Perspectives.”
Call for papers (in French or English) open until 1 March 2025.
calenda.org/1217954?lang...
@hugodecursi.bsky.social
Call for papers (in French or English) open until 1 March 2025.
calenda.org/1217954?lang...
@hugodecursi.bsky.social