Seán Hanley
@drseanhanley.bsky.social
Assoc Professor in Comparative Central and East European Politics, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies. Personal take on politics, Eastern Europe and suburbia.
Bloomsbury already looking pretty festive this evening.
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Bloomsbury already looking pretty festive this evening.
A supplement to your compulsory company training - courtesy of @privateeyenews.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 10:59 PM
A supplement to your compulsory company training - courtesy of @privateeyenews.bsky.social
Žádné velké překvapení – podle Volební kalkulačky bych, kdybych mohl volit v Česku, volil Piráty. Jsem přece (alespoň podle dcery) ‚chin-stroking centrist‘… :)
August 19, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Žádné velké překvapení – podle Volební kalkulačky bych, kdybych mohl volit v Česku, volil Piráty. Jsem přece (alespoň podle dcery) ‚chin-stroking centrist‘… :)
Sculpture at Goodwood Art Foundation near Chichester has something of a brutalist Soviet vibe. Juxtaposition with rolling Sussex countryside is intentional.
August 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Sculpture at Goodwood Art Foundation near Chichester has something of a brutalist Soviet vibe. Juxtaposition with rolling Sussex countryside is intentional.
Spied this intriguing product promoting UCL’s bicentennial.
The “properties” seem to be events in the institution’s 200 year history.
The “properties” seem to be events in the institution’s 200 year history.
July 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Spied this intriguing product promoting UCL’s bicentennial.
The “properties” seem to be events in the institution’s 200 year history.
The “properties” seem to be events in the institution’s 200 year history.
Mayor of Sussex? Sprawling county/-ies with all kinds of different localities. Total lunacy.
Pointless piece of centralisation intended to benefit governing party and Tories with little change in service delivery.
Pointless piece of centralisation intended to benefit governing party and Tories with little change in service delivery.
July 18, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Mayor of Sussex? Sprawling county/-ies with all kinds of different localities. Total lunacy.
Pointless piece of centralisation intended to benefit governing party and Tories with little change in service delivery.
Pointless piece of centralisation intended to benefit governing party and Tories with little change in service delivery.
Well, surely a sign that you’ve made it as a populist (ex-)academic when Private Eye makes you a figure of fun.
July 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Well, surely a sign that you’ve made it as a populist (ex-)academic when Private Eye makes you a figure of fun.
The wooden airship (“Gulliver”) at Prague’s Dox gallery really isthe coolest thing. Pure Jules Verne.
June 12, 2025 at 6:56 AM
The wooden airship (“Gulliver”) at Prague’s Dox gallery really isthe coolest thing. Pure Jules Verne.
Not much sign of an election campaign getting underway, but the Czech media is already worrying that the election will be stolen - not clear how and by whom since populist forces seem on course for a big victory without any manipulation or stealing needed.
June 6, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Not much sign of an election campaign getting underway, but the Czech media is already worrying that the election will be stolen - not clear how and by whom since populist forces seem on course for a big victory without any manipulation or stealing needed.
Vždycky se mi líbilo, že české graffiti má takový zvláštní filozofický nádech.
June 4, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Vždycky se mi líbilo, že české graffiti má takový zvláštní filozofický nádech.
“ From a distance, it looked a bit like a bitcoin wallet.”
Cartoon on scandal rocking the Czech government.
It’s really not a good idea if you’re the minister of justice to accept a donation to public funds of £30 million in crypto currency from a guy with a drug darkmarket conviction.
Cartoon on scandal rocking the Czech government.
It’s really not a good idea if you’re the minister of justice to accept a donation to public funds of £30 million in crypto currency from a guy with a drug darkmarket conviction.
June 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
“ From a distance, it looked a bit like a bitcoin wallet.”
Cartoon on scandal rocking the Czech government.
It’s really not a good idea if you’re the minister of justice to accept a donation to public funds of £30 million in crypto currency from a guy with a drug darkmarket conviction.
Cartoon on scandal rocking the Czech government.
It’s really not a good idea if you’re the minister of justice to accept a donation to public funds of £30 million in crypto currency from a guy with a drug darkmarket conviction.
I donated £10 for this cake at the Ukrainian community stall at our local Village Day and I bloody well intend to enjoy it.
May 31, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I donated £10 for this cake at the Ukrainian community stall at our local Village Day and I bloody well intend to enjoy it.
The governing Together coalition in Czechia is campaigning on economy, pointing out that it’s a lot better under them than Babiš.
Strikes a duff note to me though.If people don’t feel or don’t believe it, economic stats count for little - makes me think of Remain campaign. Get a narrative.
Strikes a duff note to me though.If people don’t feel or don’t believe it, economic stats count for little - makes me think of Remain campaign. Get a narrative.
May 27, 2025 at 11:18 AM
The governing Together coalition in Czechia is campaigning on economy, pointing out that it’s a lot better under them than Babiš.
Strikes a duff note to me though.If people don’t feel or don’t believe it, economic stats count for little - makes me think of Remain campaign. Get a narrative.
Strikes a duff note to me though.If people don’t feel or don’t believe it, economic stats count for little - makes me think of Remain campaign. Get a narrative.
In Birmingham for a workshop. Looked from my hotel window that Elon Musk was extending his influence, but turns out it was an office development branded with a Roman number 10 not big tech oligarchy taking over.
May 9, 2025 at 8:46 AM
In Birmingham for a workshop. Looked from my hotel window that Elon Musk was extending his influence, but turns out it was an office development branded with a Roman number 10 not big tech oligarchy taking over.
Discuss
(Source: Private Eye letters page)
(Source: Private Eye letters page)
May 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Discuss
(Source: Private Eye letters page)
(Source: Private Eye letters page)
Charles University in Prague will be making a gradual and coordinated exit from Elon Musk’s X.
Other institutions should follow suit.
Other institutions should follow suit.
April 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Charles University in Prague will be making a gradual and coordinated exit from Elon Musk’s X.
Other institutions should follow suit.
Other institutions should follow suit.
April 1, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Some interesting contrasts and a useful round up, but honestly these historical analogies are really tired…
www.facebook.com/share/p/1D9m...
www.facebook.com/share/p/1D9m...
March 28, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Some interesting contrasts and a useful round up, but honestly these historical analogies are really tired…
www.facebook.com/share/p/1D9m...
www.facebook.com/share/p/1D9m...
Here is my new Substack with occasional thoughts on democracy and autocracy in Central Europe
open.substack.com/pub/drseanha...
open.substack.com/pub/drseanha...
March 22, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Here is my new Substack with occasional thoughts on democracy and autocracy in Central Europe
open.substack.com/pub/drseanha...
open.substack.com/pub/drseanha...
Hmm, I always had Harry Potter down as a Lib Dem.
March 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Hmm, I always had Harry Potter down as a Lib Dem.
British tabloid coverage of international politics is basic but sometimes spot on
March 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
British tabloid coverage of international politics is basic but sometimes spot on
Reshelving books – I reckon Rory Stewart would get along with E M Forster and Karel Čapek.
March 17, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Reshelving books – I reckon Rory Stewart would get along with E M Forster and Karel Čapek.
Took a selfie with JS Mill and considered world-turned-upside-down. Good prep for 'Politics, Populism, Polarisation' panel @pavolszalai.bsky.social, Marketa Boubinová, Adriana Svítková & @timhaughton.bsky.social at the LSE Central European Conference Great discussion (h/t @bohdanakurylo.bsky.social)
March 15, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Took a selfie with JS Mill and considered world-turned-upside-down. Good prep for 'Politics, Populism, Polarisation' panel @pavolszalai.bsky.social, Marketa Boubinová, Adriana Svítková & @timhaughton.bsky.social at the LSE Central European Conference Great discussion (h/t @bohdanakurylo.bsky.social)
Yeah, as Slovak cartoonist Shooty points out, Robert Fico (and Central European populists generally) don’t count for a whole lot in today’s world of illiberalism.
Indeed, Trump and Putin would probably carve up Slovakia without a second thought (with Trump getting the real estate options ).
Indeed, Trump and Putin would probably carve up Slovakia without a second thought (with Trump getting the real estate options ).
March 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Yeah, as Slovak cartoonist Shooty points out, Robert Fico (and Central European populists generally) don’t count for a whole lot in today’s world of illiberalism.
Indeed, Trump and Putin would probably carve up Slovakia without a second thought (with Trump getting the real estate options ).
Indeed, Trump and Putin would probably carve up Slovakia without a second thought (with Trump getting the real estate options ).
