Dr Paul French
@drpaultjfrench.bsky.social
Criminologist.
PhD: Moral Panic, Extremism & Conspiracy Theory.
Saying things that are mildly interesting
https://linktr.ee/PauliticalCorrectness
PhD: Moral Panic, Extremism & Conspiracy Theory.
Saying things that are mildly interesting
https://linktr.ee/PauliticalCorrectness
Pinned
👋 I’m Paul, a criminology lecturer & writer. I post about:
🔎 Crime & justice
🌍 Politics & social issues
📚 Academia
Follow for analysis, deep dives & media critique. Let’s connect!
#Criminology #Politics #SocialIssues
🔎 Crime & justice
🌍 Politics & social issues
📚 Academia
Follow for analysis, deep dives & media critique. Let’s connect!
#Criminology #Politics #SocialIssues
Recalibrating Patriotism - my most recent article.
Subscribing is free!
open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
Subscribing is free!
open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
Recalibrating Patriotism
Why Loving Your Country Means Telling the Truth
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Recalibrating Patriotism - my most recent article.
Subscribing is free!
open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
Subscribing is free!
open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
Recording a contribution for TRT World earlier this evening on Sweden’s lower of the age of criminality from 15 to 13 to address violent gang related crime.
Do I think it will work?
Spoiler alert: No
#sweden #crime #criminology #drpaulfrench #teenager #age
Do I think it will work?
Spoiler alert: No
#sweden #crime #criminology #drpaulfrench #teenager #age
November 4, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Recording a contribution for TRT World earlier this evening on Sweden’s lower of the age of criminality from 15 to 13 to address violent gang related crime.
Do I think it will work?
Spoiler alert: No
#sweden #crime #criminology #drpaulfrench #teenager #age
Do I think it will work?
Spoiler alert: No
#sweden #crime #criminology #drpaulfrench #teenager #age
A great peice in @theguardian.com this morning concerning
@thereformpartyuk.bsky.social, Nigel Farage, Nathan Gill and connections to the Russians that Reform voters seem all too happy to turn a blind eye to...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
@thereformpartyuk.bsky.social, Nigel Farage, Nathan Gill and connections to the Russians that Reform voters seem all too happy to turn a blind eye to...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Reform UK, the Russian spy and rolls of Kremlin cash: the inside story of Nathan Gill
How did a former Mormon bishop end up pleading guilty to taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament?
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:09 AM
A great peice in @theguardian.com this morning concerning
@thereformpartyuk.bsky.social, Nigel Farage, Nathan Gill and connections to the Russians that Reform voters seem all too happy to turn a blind eye to...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
@thereformpartyuk.bsky.social, Nigel Farage, Nathan Gill and connections to the Russians that Reform voters seem all too happy to turn a blind eye to...
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
I’m not going to stop posting on Bluesky until I’m known as ‘that dude with all the typos and grammar errors.’
Renound.
Renound.
October 12, 2025 at 6:25 AM
I’m not going to stop posting on Bluesky until I’m known as ‘that dude with all the typos and grammar errors.’
Renound.
Renound.
A PhD after her Masters degree…
Lisa tells The Foucault Forum and @drpaulfrench of her long-term ambitions at the @University of Chester
#drpaulfrench #universityofchester #phd #education
Lisa tells The Foucault Forum and @drpaulfrench of her long-term ambitions at the @University of Chester
#drpaulfrench #universityofchester #phd #education
October 11, 2025 at 6:11 PM
A PhD after her Masters degree…
Lisa tells The Foucault Forum and @drpaulfrench of her long-term ambitions at the @University of Chester
#drpaulfrench #universityofchester #phd #education
Lisa tells The Foucault Forum and @drpaulfrench of her long-term ambitions at the @University of Chester
#drpaulfrench #universityofchester #phd #education
Reposted by Dr Paul French
Ever since I finished Question Time, Reform have massively been on the attack.
Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.
Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.
Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.
Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.
October 11, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Ever since I finished Question Time, Reform have massively been on the attack.
Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.
Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.
Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.
Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.
Share it far. Share it wide.
October 6, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Share it far. Share it wide.
I recently sat down with @coreyfrench1, a political activist from Strabane, County Tyrone, who’s been involved in politics since his teens.
We talked about what drives young people to get active, the challenges of grassroots politics, and what it means to fight for change in Northern Ireland today.
We talked about what drives young people to get active, the challenges of grassroots politics, and what it means to fight for change in Northern Ireland today.
Young People & Politics
YouTube video by The Foucault Forum
youtu.be
October 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I recently sat down with @coreyfrench1, a political activist from Strabane, County Tyrone, who’s been involved in politics since his teens.
We talked about what drives young people to get active, the challenges of grassroots politics, and what it means to fight for change in Northern Ireland today.
We talked about what drives young people to get active, the challenges of grassroots politics, and what it means to fight for change in Northern Ireland today.
🎓 Do you really need a degree to make a difference?
I spoke with Maddy Brown, Student Recruitment Coordinator at the @uochester, about the real value of higher education, and how passion, skills, and experience can shape your path just as much as a degree.
I spoke with Maddy Brown, Student Recruitment Coordinator at the @uochester, about the real value of higher education, and how passion, skills, and experience can shape your path just as much as a degree.
Do you really need a degree to make a difference?
YouTube video by The Foucault Forum
youtu.be
October 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM
🎓 Do you really need a degree to make a difference?
I spoke with Maddy Brown, Student Recruitment Coordinator at the @uochester, about the real value of higher education, and how passion, skills, and experience can shape your path just as much as a degree.
I spoke with Maddy Brown, Student Recruitment Coordinator at the @uochester, about the real value of higher education, and how passion, skills, and experience can shape your path just as much as a degree.
I’m researching for a book that I’m writing on my hometown (Strabane) during The Troubles.
I just wanted to very quickly share with you one of my favourite quotes so far from a former teacher:
I just wanted to very quickly share with you one of my favourite quotes so far from a former teacher:
October 4, 2025 at 10:46 AM
I’m researching for a book that I’m writing on my hometown (Strabane) during The Troubles.
I just wanted to very quickly share with you one of my favourite quotes so far from a former teacher:
I just wanted to very quickly share with you one of my favourite quotes so far from a former teacher:
STOP!
Never forget that Liz Truss is mental, tanked the economy, and the Conservatives put her there. Many of those same Tory’s are now with Reform. Farage praised her budget.
That is all; on you go.
Never forget that Liz Truss is mental, tanked the economy, and the Conservatives put her there. Many of those same Tory’s are now with Reform. Farage praised her budget.
That is all; on you go.
September 3, 2025 at 8:19 AM
STOP!
Never forget that Liz Truss is mental, tanked the economy, and the Conservatives put her there. Many of those same Tory’s are now with Reform. Farage praised her budget.
That is all; on you go.
Never forget that Liz Truss is mental, tanked the economy, and the Conservatives put her there. Many of those same Tory’s are now with Reform. Farage praised her budget.
That is all; on you go.
I hate to be the one to tell you…
But digesting memes, clipped videos, and listening to stupid confident people spout unverified claims on the Internet - all projected simply enough for you to understand - is not research.
Not even close.
But digesting memes, clipped videos, and listening to stupid confident people spout unverified claims on the Internet - all projected simply enough for you to understand - is not research.
Not even close.
August 31, 2025 at 6:57 AM
I hate to be the one to tell you…
But digesting memes, clipped videos, and listening to stupid confident people spout unverified claims on the Internet - all projected simply enough for you to understand - is not research.
Not even close.
But digesting memes, clipped videos, and listening to stupid confident people spout unverified claims on the Internet - all projected simply enough for you to understand - is not research.
Not even close.
You can be innocently ignorant on a topic; that’s fine, you can learn.
But when presented with factual information and you refuse to change your mind; that’s stupidity.
When that information debunks your falsehoods on immigration, that’s when you cross the line into bigotry and racism.
But when presented with factual information and you refuse to change your mind; that’s stupidity.
When that information debunks your falsehoods on immigration, that’s when you cross the line into bigotry and racism.
August 30, 2025 at 6:27 AM
You can be innocently ignorant on a topic; that’s fine, you can learn.
But when presented with factual information and you refuse to change your mind; that’s stupidity.
When that information debunks your falsehoods on immigration, that’s when you cross the line into bigotry and racism.
But when presented with factual information and you refuse to change your mind; that’s stupidity.
When that information debunks your falsehoods on immigration, that’s when you cross the line into bigotry and racism.
If you find yourself in a position where your identity centres largely on a flag, and tou clap seeing roundabouts vandalised, you might want to consider a hobby.
Crafts, maybe. Or skittles. Even just a daily crossword is good.
Crafts, maybe. Or skittles. Even just a daily crossword is good.
August 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
If you find yourself in a position where your identity centres largely on a flag, and tou clap seeing roundabouts vandalised, you might want to consider a hobby.
Crafts, maybe. Or skittles. Even just a daily crossword is good.
Crafts, maybe. Or skittles. Even just a daily crossword is good.
A @uklabour change I, as a criminologist, agree with. Short prison sentences are, on the whole, pointless for a large number of reasons. Making better use alternative sentences would be much more productive and cheaper.
August 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A @uklabour change I, as a criminologist, agree with. Short prison sentences are, on the whole, pointless for a large number of reasons. Making better use alternative sentences would be much more productive and cheaper.
Do all the Little Englanders sincerely think that if we stopped spending the small, small percentage of our national budget on refugees/asylum seekers, that the gov would invest that back into them?
That’s not how neoliberalism works, my uninformed little buddies.
You’ll still be left wanting.
That’s not how neoliberalism works, my uninformed little buddies.
You’ll still be left wanting.
August 3, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Do all the Little Englanders sincerely think that if we stopped spending the small, small percentage of our national budget on refugees/asylum seekers, that the gov would invest that back into them?
That’s not how neoliberalism works, my uninformed little buddies.
You’ll still be left wanting.
That’s not how neoliberalism works, my uninformed little buddies.
You’ll still be left wanting.
🧠 Does strain theory still explain crime today?
Durkheim, Merton, Agnew - they shaped how we think about deviance. But what about power, race, gender, or white-collar crime?
📝 New post explores what these theories got right and what they missed:
open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
#criminology
Durkheim, Merton, Agnew - they shaped how we think about deviance. But what about power, race, gender, or white-collar crime?
📝 New post explores what these theories got right and what they missed:
open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
#criminology
Does Strain Theory Still Hold Up?
A Critical Look at Anomie in Criminology
open.substack.com
July 28, 2025 at 6:16 AM
🧠 Does strain theory still explain crime today?
Durkheim, Merton, Agnew - they shaped how we think about deviance. But what about power, race, gender, or white-collar crime?
📝 New post explores what these theories got right and what they missed:
open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
#criminology
Durkheim, Merton, Agnew - they shaped how we think about deviance. But what about power, race, gender, or white-collar crime?
📝 New post explores what these theories got right and what they missed:
open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
#criminology
Psychological positivism gave us the idea that crime could be *understood* — not just punished.
But its legacy is double-edged.
Let’s talk strengths AND weaknesses. 👇
But its legacy is double-edged.
Let’s talk strengths AND weaknesses. 👇
July 27, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Psychological positivism gave us the idea that crime could be *understood* — not just punished.
But its legacy is double-edged.
Let’s talk strengths AND weaknesses. 👇
But its legacy is double-edged.
Let’s talk strengths AND weaknesses. 👇
Crime isn’t just about bad people. It’s often about broken systems.
📖 Free to read: open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
#criminology #drpaulfrench #anomie #strain #crimeanddeviance #socialtheory #merton #durkheim #substack
📖 Free to read: open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
#criminology #drpaulfrench #anomie #strain #crimeanddeviance #socialtheory #merton #durkheim #substack
When Structure Breaks Down: How Anomie and Strain Shaped Criminology
From Positivism to Social Structure
open.substack.com
July 27, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Crime isn’t just about bad people. It’s often about broken systems.
📖 Free to read: open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
#criminology #drpaulfrench #anomie #strain #crimeanddeviance #socialtheory #merton #durkheim #substack
📖 Free to read: open.substack.com/pub/drpaultj...
#criminology #drpaulfrench #anomie #strain #crimeanddeviance #socialtheory #merton #durkheim #substack
Finally! Some acknowledgement of my work 🤩
#criminology #drpaulfrench #moron #fanstagram #popular #trending #viralpost❤️
#criminology #drpaulfrench #moron #fanstagram #popular #trending #viralpost❤️
July 27, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Finally! Some acknowledgement of my work 🤩
#criminology #drpaulfrench #moron #fanstagram #popular #trending #viralpost❤️
#criminology #drpaulfrench #moron #fanstagram #popular #trending #viralpost❤️
@mrjamesob.bsky.social makes an error, then apologies, when presenting live = right wing press out in full force.
In 2014, a Muslim ‘Trojan Horse’ conspiracy was spread unchecked from the same right wing new outlets, based on a mere anonymous letter. The distortions of this is still with us today.
In 2014, a Muslim ‘Trojan Horse’ conspiracy was spread unchecked from the same right wing new outlets, based on a mere anonymous letter. The distortions of this is still with us today.
July 25, 2025 at 6:32 AM
@mrjamesob.bsky.social makes an error, then apologies, when presenting live = right wing press out in full force.
In 2014, a Muslim ‘Trojan Horse’ conspiracy was spread unchecked from the same right wing new outlets, based on a mere anonymous letter. The distortions of this is still with us today.
In 2014, a Muslim ‘Trojan Horse’ conspiracy was spread unchecked from the same right wing new outlets, based on a mere anonymous letter. The distortions of this is still with us today.
In my professional opinion as a criminologist…
Marcus Rashford to Barcelona is a bigger crime than 2005 Thomas Gravesen to Real Madrid.
Fight me.
Marcus Rashford to Barcelona is a bigger crime than 2005 Thomas Gravesen to Real Madrid.
Fight me.
July 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
In my professional opinion as a criminologist…
Marcus Rashford to Barcelona is a bigger crime than 2005 Thomas Gravesen to Real Madrid.
Fight me.
Marcus Rashford to Barcelona is a bigger crime than 2005 Thomas Gravesen to Real Madrid.
Fight me.
Criminology didn’t always care about psychology.
Once upon a time, it was all about free will and punishment.
But in the early 20th century, a new idea emerged…
Once upon a time, it was all about free will and punishment.
But in the early 20th century, a new idea emerged…
July 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Criminology didn’t always care about psychology.
Once upon a time, it was all about free will and punishment.
But in the early 20th century, a new idea emerged…
Once upon a time, it was all about free will and punishment.
But in the early 20th century, a new idea emerged…
I’ve asked before and I’ll ask again…
Why does Reform UK Ltd receive such disproportionate media airtime?
Were is similar for other parties with single-digit MPs?
Why does Reform UK Ltd receive such disproportionate media airtime?
Were is similar for other parties with single-digit MPs?
July 21, 2025 at 5:44 AM
I’ve asked before and I’ll ask again…
Why does Reform UK Ltd receive such disproportionate media airtime?
Were is similar for other parties with single-digit MPs?
Why does Reform UK Ltd receive such disproportionate media airtime?
Were is similar for other parties with single-digit MPs?