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Reposted by Caroline Bhattacharya

Stephen Holden Bates @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social · Aug 5

📢📢📢 First systematic study of House of Commons specialisation in 40 years. 📢📢📢

Our typology is not perfect but we think it’s a pretty good start…

Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Aug 4

🔊 New article in The Journal of Legislative Studies

With @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social, we ask: do UK MPs specialise in specific policy areas or remain generalists? In the first comprehensive study in 40+ years, we analysed 1,295 backbenchers from 2001-2019 to find out.

doi.org/10.1080/1357...

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Aug 4

This research and typology can provide the foundation for testing the party cartel theory and distributional theories on a least-likely case for specialisation.
Our novel, multi-dimensional approach can also be applied to other legislatures and parliaments.

📖 Full paper: doi.org/10.1080/1357...

Policy specialisation in the twenty-first century UK House of Commons

We provide the first systematic analysis of policy specialism in the UK Parliament for nearly two generations through the development of a novel, multifaceted classification of specialisation/gener...

doi.org

Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Aug 4

Some interesting patterns:
- Women MPs are less likely and ethnic-minority MPs more likely to be Generalists
- Conservative MPs are more generalist when in government
- International affairs is the top specialisation area
- 9 in 10 members of the Defence Committee specialise (partially) in defence

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Aug 4

But:
There is evolution. The link between formal (committee) and informal specialisation has tightened significantly since the 1970s. Select committee reforms appear to be fostering more coherent policy expertise.

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Aug 4

Key finding:
Generalism still dominates the House of Commons, as it did in the 1970s. Nearly half of all MPs remain generalists, confirming the UK Parliament's reputation as "inhospitable" to specialisation.

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Aug 4

We identified 5 distinct types:
- Generalists (48%)
- Specialists (24%)
- Semi-Specialists (22%)
- Active Generalists (5%)
- Indeterminates (1%)

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Aug 4

Using unsupervised topic modelling and k-means clustering, we examined 5 key parliamentary activities: select committee membership, speeches, written questions, Early Day Motions, and Private Members' Bills.

On average, PMBs show the highest topic concentration, and speeches show the lowest.

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Aug 4

🔊 New article in The Journal of Legislative Studies

With @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social, we ask: do UK MPs specialise in specific policy areas or remain generalists? In the first comprehensive study in 40+ years, we analysed 1,295 backbenchers from 2001-2019 to find out.

doi.org/10.1080/1357...

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Apr 22

We will also be joined by the editors of 'Exploring Parliament' - @estrangeirada.bsky.social @louisevthompson.bsky.social @ameakin.bsky.social -who will make opening remarks, reflecting on the book’s unique approach

Sign up for the event 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/book-l...

Book launch: 'Exploring Parliament' - introductory remarks.

Thursday 15 May, 17.30-18.30

Introductory remarks will be delivered by the editors Professor Cristina Leston Bandeira, Dr Louise Thompson and Dr Alexandra Meakin.

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Apr 22

EVENT | Book launch: 'Exploring Parliament'

📅Thursday 15 May, 17.30

Join us for the official launch of the second edition of 'Exploring Parliament', with a panel of the book’s authors to discuss their chapters and insights.

🎫Register:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/book-l...

IfG event banner for an event titled 'Book launch: 'Exploring Parliament'. The event is on Thursday 15 May from 17.30 to 18.30.

Speakers include:
Professor Nicholas Allen, Professor of Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London
Dr Sean Haughey, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool
Chloe Mawson, Clerk Assistant at the House of Lords
Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
Margaret McKinnon, Director Member and Members’ Staff Services Team at the House of Commons
Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London (UCL)
The event will be chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

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Julius Kölzer @juliusk.bsky.social · Apr 22

What are the political consequences of long-term population loss? In a new paper for German Politics @benjaminhoehne.bsky.social, Hendrik Träger and I find that East German places more affected by depopulation provided stronger support for the AfD in recent state elections.🧵👇
shorturl.at/cujwa

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Apr 19

@dianastirbu.bsky.social @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social @jackliddall16.bsky.social @laurenrmartin.bsky.social @gracecooper1.bsky.social have great ideas for future activities of @psa-parliaments.bsky.social, and I am excited to watch from a distance.

And not like that I promise 😆

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Apr 19

I said goodbye to @psa-parliaments.bsky.social. I really enjoyed being a Membership Officer and then Co-convenor.

Thanks for the amazing gifts!!! The mug will be a great representation of parliament in my new Cambridge uni office – and the print will have a special place in my home office.

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Apr 19

I had a fantastic time at #PSA25 earlier this week. Thanks to @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @unibirmingham.bsky.social @astonuniversity.bsky.social for organising a great conference. Special shout out to @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social!

@psa-parliaments.bsky.social loved the room with the view.

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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · Apr 18

'“If we’re going for going to mobilize, it’s going to be the most prominent, the most well-endowed, the most privileged and protected of us in civil society who have to take the lead,” Levitsky said.'

This professor studies dictatorships. He helped convince Harvard to stand up to Trump

Harvard professor Steve Levitsky has spent decades studying democracies and how they fail. He's now raising alarm bells over what he sees as a slide toward autocracy under President Trump.

www.latimes.com

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PSA Parliaments @psa-parliaments.bsky.social · Apr 14

Two of our most loyal and valued members (and former Convenors) getting rewarded for their incredible contributions to political and parliamentary studies and teaching.

Massive congratulations to @estrangeirada.bsky.social & @ameakin.bsky.social

We couldn’t be more happy and excited for you!

Alexandra Meakin @ameakin.bsky.social · Apr 14

A total honour to receive this at #psa25 today! Huge thanks to my incredible @polisatleeds.bsky.social colleagues for the nomination, the @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social judges, and, of course, my brilliant students who make teaching so much fun!

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PSA Parliaments @psa-parliaments.bsky.social · Apr 15

And our very own @carolinebha.bsky.social is presenting research she has worked on with @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social and @calixtebloquet.bsky.social on the impact of committee membership/chairs in @houseofcommons.parliament.uk on the coverage of women’s issues #PSA25

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Alexandra Meakin @ameakin.bsky.social · Apr 14

It was a double celebration for @polisatleeds.bsky.social as my outstanding officemate @estrangeirada.bsky.social received the Sir Isaiah Berlin Prize 2025 for outstanding professional contributions to political studies 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Cristina Leston-Bandeira and me, holding our PSA certificates and looking proud

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Alexandra Meakin @ameakin.bsky.social · Apr 14

A total honour to receive this at #psa25 today! Huge thanks to my incredible @polisatleeds.bsky.social colleagues for the nomination, the @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social judges, and, of course, my brilliant students who make teaching so much fun!

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Reposted by Caroline Bhattacharya

Sophia Hunger @sophiahunger.bsky.social · Apr 14

🚨 Join us for the next edition Summer School for Women* in Political Methodology in Bremen 🚨

Open to PhD students and early career scholars Fully-funded places available for applicants, deadline 1st of May 📅 summerschoolwpm.org

Image of a building of the University of Bremen with the text "Summer School for Women in Political Methodology" and "20 to 26 July at the University of Bremen" writen on it.

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European Journal of Politics and Gender @ejpgjournal.bsky.social · Apr 14

Events unfolding in Gaza are on our news screens almost everyday.

In this timely piece, Jemima Repo (@nclpolitics.bsky.social) writes on how attacks on social reproduction can be understood as a means of ethnic cleansing.

Repo's essay is available OPEN ACCESS

doi.org/10.1332/2515...

Genocide and the destruction of the means of social reproduction in Gaza

"Genocide and the destruction of the means of social reproduction in Gaza" published on 25 Nov 2024 by Bristol University Press.

doi.org

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PSA Parliaments @psa-parliaments.bsky.social · Apr 13

We hope to see many of you tomorrow at #PSA25 in Birmingham

Here is our academic programme for Day 1👇

We will also have our Annual General Meeting and a 🍕 night

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Reposted by Caroline Bhattacharya

PSA Parliaments @psa-parliaments.bsky.social · Apr 13

Here you can find out about all our panels and other activities at @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social General Conference #PSA25

psaparliaments.org/2025/03/31/p...

PSA Parliaments at #PSA25 – PSA Parliaments

psaparliaments.org

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Caroline Bhattacharya @carolinebha.bsky.social · Apr 4

Here is something for my (thin) folder of academic accomplishments

✔️ Frontpage of @theconversation.com

Massive thanks to @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social & William Horncastle for including me in the project

Link to the piece: tinyurl.com/29kvhmwf

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Reposted by Caroline Bhattacharya

PSA Parliaments @psa-parliaments.bsky.social · Apr 1

Last chance to sign up for tomorrow's online roundtable co-organised by @iparl.bsky.social @psagermanpol.bsky.social and us

The Bundestag after the 2025 election: What has changed? What to expect?
2 April, 1:30pm BST | 14:30 CET

forms.office.com/e/8EN9X1qmyL

Zoom link will be send in the morning

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