Ian Bruff
@ianbruff.bsky.social
Critical political economist, University of Manchester.
Pinned
Ian Bruff
@ianbruff.bsky.social
· Oct 20
www.bloomsbury.com
Rowman & Littlefield was recently taken over by Bloomsbury. I am very pleased to see that the 'Transforming Capitalism' book series, of which I was Managing Editor from 2014-23, now has a webpage again: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/series/tr...
Timely piece!
"Around Europe, labor parties have alienated their base by forming grand coalitions with the center-right . In Denmark, Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats have pursued this strategy with the same dismal results."
From my analysis Jacobin on the state of Danish politics after the local elections
From my analysis Jacobin on the state of Danish politics after the local elections
In Denmark, Social Democracy Is Failing
Around Europe, old labor parties have alienated their base by forming grand coalitions with center-right forces. In Denmark, Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats have pursued this same strategy with t...
jacobin.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Timely piece!
Reposted by Ian Bruff
Glasman: 'We will keep fighting the 1955 general election until you give us the RIGHT answer!'
The newspaper of British Conservativism: 'What a necessary voice!'
The newspaper of British Conservativism: 'What a necessary voice!'
November 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Glasman: 'We will keep fighting the 1955 general election until you give us the RIGHT answer!'
The newspaper of British Conservativism: 'What a necessary voice!'
The newspaper of British Conservativism: 'What a necessary voice!'
Reposted by Ian Bruff
CSSGJ is pleased to host Dr.Ian Bruff on 24th November at 6p.m. (UK time). The title of his talk is 'All that has Never Been True: The Dismal Ruins of Neoliberalism'. Please register www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-that-h... @abieler.bsky.social @ianbruff.bsky.social @sinembal.bsky.social
All that has Never Been True: The Dismal Ruins of Neoliberalism
All that has Never Been True: The Dismal Ruins of the Neoliberalism = Free Markets Assumption - a public talk by Ian Bruff
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 5:24 AM
CSSGJ is pleased to host Dr.Ian Bruff on 24th November at 6p.m. (UK time). The title of his talk is 'All that has Never Been True: The Dismal Ruins of Neoliberalism'. Please register www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-that-h... @abieler.bsky.social @ianbruff.bsky.social @sinembal.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian Bruff
𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐳𝐢𝐣 𝐝𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞 - 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 (Full album, 2025) | Black metal, hardcore
Today we feature a band that has a special place in hearts: @terzijdehorde.bsky.social, from Utrecht, NL, & their visceral, vitalistic black metal/hardcore fusion.
Today we feature a band that has a special place in hearts: @terzijdehorde.bsky.social, from Utrecht, NL, & their visceral, vitalistic black metal/hardcore fusion.
November 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐳𝐢𝐣 𝐝𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞 - 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 (Full album, 2025) | Black metal, hardcore
Today we feature a band that has a special place in hearts: @terzijdehorde.bsky.social, from Utrecht, NL, & their visceral, vitalistic black metal/hardcore fusion.
Today we feature a band that has a special place in hearts: @terzijdehorde.bsky.social, from Utrecht, NL, & their visceral, vitalistic black metal/hardcore fusion.
Reposted by Ian Bruff
'PFI was a disaster - Labour musn't repeat it'
Read our LabourList article, which warns this government against using new NHS private finance - no matter what name it's packaged under.
Read our LabourList article, which warns this government against using new NHS private finance - no matter what name it's packaged under.
'PFI was a disaster — Labour mustn't repeat it' - LabourList
PFI has been a disaster - so why are Labour considering going back to it asks We Own It's Sophie Conquest.
labourlist.org
November 21, 2025 at 10:27 AM
'PFI was a disaster - Labour musn't repeat it'
Read our LabourList article, which warns this government against using new NHS private finance - no matter what name it's packaged under.
Read our LabourList article, which warns this government against using new NHS private finance - no matter what name it's packaged under.
Reposted by Ian Bruff
This part from the #Covid19 inquiry speaks directly to something myself and Linsey McGoey wrote about in 2020 (published as journal article in 2024 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....): the construction of *impossibility to act* as the key feature of post-liberalism (a thread 🧵👇)
November 21, 2025 at 8:39 AM
This part from the #Covid19 inquiry speaks directly to something myself and Linsey McGoey wrote about in 2020 (published as journal article in 2024 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....): the construction of *impossibility to act* as the key feature of post-liberalism (a thread 🧵👇)
Reposted by Ian Bruff
The Fetzer Institute published my writings about Infrastructures of Mystery! How do we build a world that scaffolds the wonder of existence - whatever that may mean for different people (and it differs a lot!)? #spirituality #politics #infrastructure fetzer.org/case-study/i...
Infrastructures of Mystery — Scaffolding the Wonder of Existence
fetzer.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:32 AM
The Fetzer Institute published my writings about Infrastructures of Mystery! How do we build a world that scaffolds the wonder of existence - whatever that may mean for different people (and it differs a lot!)? #spirituality #politics #infrastructure fetzer.org/case-study/i...
Reposted by Ian Bruff
Publication Day for our Open Access book w/ Bristol Uni Press
"The Material Geographies of the Belt and Road Initiative: Infrastructures + Political Ecologies on the New Silk Road"
Edited w/ Elia Apostolopoulou, Han Cheng + Alan Wiig
Link here >> bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-material...
"The Material Geographies of the Belt and Road Initiative: Infrastructures + Political Ecologies on the New Silk Road"
Edited w/ Elia Apostolopoulou, Han Cheng + Alan Wiig
Link here >> bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-material...
November 20, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Publication Day for our Open Access book w/ Bristol Uni Press
"The Material Geographies of the Belt and Road Initiative: Infrastructures + Political Ecologies on the New Silk Road"
Edited w/ Elia Apostolopoulou, Han Cheng + Alan Wiig
Link here >> bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-material...
"The Material Geographies of the Belt and Road Initiative: Infrastructures + Political Ecologies on the New Silk Road"
Edited w/ Elia Apostolopoulou, Han Cheng + Alan Wiig
Link here >> bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-material...
Reposted by Ian Bruff
Reminder: Join us on 27 November to discuss 'Coloniality dressed in green'!
With author @stefanzylinski.bsky.social who will explain how climate finance risks becoming a new tool for colonial rule
With discussants Johannes Jaeger and Ewa Dziwok
Register here: bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
With author @stefanzylinski.bsky.social who will explain how climate finance risks becoming a new tool for colonial rule
With discussants Johannes Jaeger and Ewa Dziwok
Register here: bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: CPERN monthly workshop - November 2025. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Stefan Zyinski will present his article 'Coloniality dressed in Green'
available: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/gpe/3/2/article-p315.xml
Discussants are Johannes Jaeger and...
bham-ac-uk.zoom.us
November 20, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reminder: Join us on 27 November to discuss 'Coloniality dressed in green'!
With author @stefanzylinski.bsky.social who will explain how climate finance risks becoming a new tool for colonial rule
With discussants Johannes Jaeger and Ewa Dziwok
Register here: bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
With author @stefanzylinski.bsky.social who will explain how climate finance risks becoming a new tool for colonial rule
With discussants Johannes Jaeger and Ewa Dziwok
Register here: bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Ian Bruff
It's focus-group disease reinforcing UK state managers' belief that the only legitimate expression of state capacity is through punitiveness. This has a long history, but post-financial crisis austerity has cemented it. Ironically, such displays of strength are destablilising both govt and society.
I simply do not understand how the govt can simultaneously believe (1) they don’t have enough political capital to breach the manifesto on tax and (2) they have enough to political capital to pick an unwinnable fight with their own MPs on immigration.
November 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
It's focus-group disease reinforcing UK state managers' belief that the only legitimate expression of state capacity is through punitiveness. This has a long history, but post-financial crisis austerity has cemented it. Ironically, such displays of strength are destablilising both govt and society.
Really useful and accessible encyclopedia entry on neoliberalism by @cbtansel.net and @rosamaryon.bsky.social - great for teaching and research, too! link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...
Neoliberalism
link.springer.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Really useful and accessible encyclopedia entry on neoliberalism by @cbtansel.net and @rosamaryon.bsky.social - great for teaching and research, too! link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...
Reposted by Ian Bruff
My commentary on Brett Heino’s wonderful new book *Literary Geographies and the Work of David Ireland*
@springer.springernature.com @springernature.com
@springer.springernature.com @springernature.com
Mapping the World of David Ireland - Progress in Political Economy (PPE)
In Literary Geographies and the Work of David Ireland, subtitled “An Australian Atlas”, Brett Heino has delivered a classic book on political economy, space, and literature. It is highly original and ...
www.ppesydney.net
November 17, 2025 at 7:32 PM
My commentary on Brett Heino’s wonderful new book *Literary Geographies and the Work of David Ireland*
@springer.springernature.com @springernature.com
@springer.springernature.com @springernature.com
Reposted by Ian Bruff
and it's a feature, not a bug, of whatever mangled faction this is that is running Labour. these people are able to do one thing and one thing alone - fight factional wars against the left.
they're absolutely shit at literally anything else.
they're absolutely shit at literally anything else.
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
and it's a feature, not a bug, of whatever mangled faction this is that is running Labour. these people are able to do one thing and one thing alone - fight factional wars against the left.
they're absolutely shit at literally anything else.
they're absolutely shit at literally anything else.
Interesting post-publication addition! I wonder if Mahmood's proposals will be the final straw for many 'forever Labour' soft-leftists. FWIW, I fully agree with the article that this Labour leadership would be fine with going into coalition with the Tories post-2029.
Thanks Ian. The one qualification I would make now is that there's circumstantial evidence for a massive exit of members to the Greens even since the article was written, which might yet finally hand the husk of the party over to to Streeting. But we're not there yet.
Excellent piece by @jemgilbert.bsky.social I found especially interesting his point that the membership's centre of gravity remains soft left, meaning the 'what next for Labour' question has to be engaged with. It also made me think of the policy platform for Starmer's 2020 leadership campaign...
November 17, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Interesting post-publication addition! I wonder if Mahmood's proposals will be the final straw for many 'forever Labour' soft-leftists. FWIW, I fully agree with the article that this Labour leadership would be fine with going into coalition with the Tories post-2029.
Excellent piece by @jemgilbert.bsky.social I found especially interesting his point that the membership's centre of gravity remains soft left, meaning the 'what next for Labour' question has to be engaged with. It also made me think of the policy platform for Starmer's 2020 leadership campaign...
While many socialists are rightly repulsed by the misdeeds of the Starmer government, its tenure will come to an end soon enough. When it does, we must be ready to renew the Labour Party’s radical mission.
Reclaiming Labour
While many socialists are rightly repulsed by the misdeeds of the Starmer government, its tenure will come to an end soon enough. When it does, we must be ready to renew the Labour Party’s radical mis...
tribunemag.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Excellent piece by @jemgilbert.bsky.social I found especially interesting his point that the membership's centre of gravity remains soft left, meaning the 'what next for Labour' question has to be engaged with. It also made me think of the policy platform for Starmer's 2020 leadership campaign...
Reposted by Ian Bruff
Late to this, but if the Sunday Times is correct that Morgan McSweeney spent one and a half hours last week with Lord Glasman then he isn't fit to fill any senior position in government.
November 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Late to this, but if the Sunday Times is correct that Morgan McSweeney spent one and a half hours last week with Lord Glasman then he isn't fit to fill any senior position in government.
I went to school and college with James, and I've been thinking the same thing. This 'dumb racist' caricature is both wrong and hugely damaging. Read the whole thread for something much more well-written than I could manage!
when I hear Starmer speak about immigration and race he's spitting in the face of the Labour voters I knew growing up in Manchester, who put themselves on the line against the National Front - and often the police - in the 1970s and 1980s.
Ultimately the vision of britain that starmer has is profoundly cynical, nasty and just not true. He thinks that abidicating his responsibility in showing that another option is maturity and doing the difficult thing, but he's literally just creating the hateful country he is so afraid of
November 16, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I went to school and college with James, and I've been thinking the same thing. This 'dumb racist' caricature is both wrong and hugely damaging. Read the whole thread for something much more well-written than I could manage!
Reposted by Ian Bruff
My new article on everyone’s favourite PM, Liz Truss, is out in New Political Economy 🧵
When neoliberalism meets technocracy: intra-elite conflict and the realignment of Britain’s macroeconomic regime under Liz Truss
This article offers a new account of Liz Truss’s premiership by analysing the political economy of the 2022 mini-Budget crisis. Engaging with literature on depoliticisation, statecraft, and the Cit...
www.tandfonline.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 PM
My new article on everyone’s favourite PM, Liz Truss, is out in New Political Economy 🧵
Reposted by Ian Bruff
Two and a half thoughts on Hegseth and his war on beardos as expressed here: bsky.app/profile/atru...
The references to broken-windows policing and zero-tolerance approaches here, neither of which do much about "crime" but lots to justify stop & frisk policing and incarceration of Black people, reveal the deep historical roots of Trumpism & that Hegseth's 'common sense agenda' is about racial order.
November 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Two and a half thoughts on Hegseth and his war on beardos as expressed here: bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Ian Bruff
With just a few weeks until publication, it's possible to pre-order my book in time for Xmas! For anyone who wants to read a decolonial approach to populism and understand why we are still so attached to the idea of 'populism'
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/europes-popu... @brisunipress.bsky.social
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/europes-popu... @brisunipress.bsky.social
Europe’s Populist Condition
Europe’s Populist Condition; Challenging the notion that populism is an anomaly in European politics, this book argues that the main threat to democracy is the exclusionary nature of European democrat...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM
With just a few weeks until publication, it's possible to pre-order my book in time for Xmas! For anyone who wants to read a decolonial approach to populism and understand why we are still so attached to the idea of 'populism'
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/europes-popu... @brisunipress.bsky.social
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/europes-popu... @brisunipress.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian Bruff
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Ian Bruff
November 4, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Reposted by Ian Bruff
We need to combat the Big Lie about neoliberalism. It was not about the free market, it's about redistributing income upward cepr.net/publications...
New York Times Pushes Blatant Lies About Neoliberalism
The notion that economic policy over recent decades was about leaving things to the market is a sick lie that obscures the real drivers of inequality.
cepr.net
November 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
We need to combat the Big Lie about neoliberalism. It was not about the free market, it's about redistributing income upward cepr.net/publications...
Reposted by Ian Bruff
Reading about how one motivation for younger people to get involved in the Mamdani campaign was loneliness and a desire to find community brought me back to thinking about alchemizing the loneliness pandemic into social action. Wrote about that a few years ago: anticiplay.medium.com/heart-conste...
Heart constellations: killing the capitalist god of loneliness
How can loneliness be the starting point of social change? And how can games help?
anticiplay.medium.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reading about how one motivation for younger people to get involved in the Mamdani campaign was loneliness and a desire to find community brought me back to thinking about alchemizing the loneliness pandemic into social action. Wrote about that a few years ago: anticiplay.medium.com/heart-conste...
Seeing Kerbdog live this evening >>>>>>>>> Celebrity Traitors
November 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Seeing Kerbdog live this evening >>>>>>>>> Celebrity Traitors