Philip R. Conway
@prconway.bsky.social
Researching digital sovereignty and the green transition.
Interested in conflicting visions of security, possibility, and progress (among other things).
All in the context of🔥polycrisis🔥!!
He/him
https://philiprconway.net
Interested in conflicting visions of security, possibility, and progress (among other things).
All in the context of🔥polycrisis🔥!!
He/him
https://philiprconway.net
Pinned
Philip R. Conway
@prconway.bsky.social
· Aug 13
Another summer, another procession of record-smashing heatwaves.
After the heatwave of July 2022, I wrote this piece on dread, anger, and the duty to critique.
Re-reading it for the page proofs, I was struck by some things I wrote that already seem out of date, but also some that seem timely.
🧵
After the heatwave of July 2022, I wrote this piece on dread, anger, and the duty to critique.
Re-reading it for the page proofs, I was struck by some things I wrote that already seem out of date, but also some that seem timely.
🧵
A powerful and brilliantly presented assessment of the state of Big Tech geopolitics.
Their strategy, in short:
Become too big to fail and too depended upon to resist.
Their strategy, in short:
Become too big to fail and too depended upon to resist.
Please take a minute to scroll through this—and share it.
It's the story of our time.
The Authoritarian Stack: How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic American—And Why Europe Is Next.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
It's the story of our time.
The Authoritarian Stack: How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic American—And Why Europe Is Next.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
www.authoritarian-stack.info
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
A powerful and brilliantly presented assessment of the state of Big Tech geopolitics.
Their strategy, in short:
Become too big to fail and too depended upon to resist.
Their strategy, in short:
Become too big to fail and too depended upon to resist.
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
Please take a minute to scroll through this—and share it.
It's the story of our time.
The Authoritarian Stack: How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic American—And Why Europe Is Next.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
It's the story of our time.
The Authoritarian Stack: How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic American—And Why Europe Is Next.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
www.authoritarian-stack.info
November 5, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Please take a minute to scroll through this—and share it.
It's the story of our time.
The Authoritarian Stack: How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic American—And Why Europe Is Next.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
It's the story of our time.
The Authoritarian Stack: How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic American—And Why Europe Is Next.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
On Robert Jenrick's "white faces" comment as a symptom of the times
polycritical.substack.com/p/when-harle...
polycritical.substack.com/p/when-harle...
When Harlem came to Handsworth
Why comparing the present to the 1970s might be unfair on the 1970s
polycritical.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
On Robert Jenrick's "white faces" comment as a symptom of the times
polycritical.substack.com/p/when-harle...
polycritical.substack.com/p/when-harle...
Contemporary liberalism conflates democracy with Discourse. If people are talking then there must be democracy happening.
Professional talkers, in particular, are loathed to consider that there might be anything more sacred than talking. God forbid they might actually have to think.
Professional talkers, in particular, are loathed to consider that there might be anything more sacred than talking. God forbid they might actually have to think.
Also even putting the content of his speech aside that's not at all what he was doing! He was following the Shapiro model of provoking a reaction of frustration or outrage so he could clip it for a "COLLEGE LIBS OWNED BY FACTS AND LOGIC" compilation, not earnestly trying to persuade people
These people have smarted themselves into the dumbest fucking arguments.
Determining whether someone is "doing politics the right way" depends almost entirely on the content of their speech! If someone lies constantly and endorses authoritarians that's not practicing good politics.
Determining whether someone is "doing politics the right way" depends almost entirely on the content of their speech! If someone lies constantly and endorses authoritarians that's not practicing good politics.
September 13, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Contemporary liberalism conflates democracy with Discourse. If people are talking then there must be democracy happening.
Professional talkers, in particular, are loathed to consider that there might be anything more sacred than talking. God forbid they might actually have to think.
Professional talkers, in particular, are loathed to consider that there might be anything more sacred than talking. God forbid they might actually have to think.
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
September 11, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Starmer team kicking themselves that they didn’t think of it first.
A political party, that's topping the polls, lauding someone who called for human beings to be burned to death should be a moment for national self-reflection.
This is not who we are nor who we should become.
Reform UK are a plague on our national humanity. We must never permit them to govern.
This is not who we are nor who we should become.
Reform UK are a plague on our national humanity. We must never permit them to govern.
September 6, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Starmer team kicking themselves that they didn’t think of it first.
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
US has made an all-in bet on AI and Fossil Fuels. China on green tech. @katemac.bsky.social & I @parismarx.com podcast on how China's bet made Solar+batteries+EVs turn into business models of Coke cans-everywhere, cheap, accessible, satisfy the thirst for freedom.
techwontsave.us/episode/291_...
techwontsave.us/episode/291_...
August 29, 2025 at 7:26 AM
US has made an all-in bet on AI and Fossil Fuels. China on green tech. @katemac.bsky.social & I @parismarx.com podcast on how China's bet made Solar+batteries+EVs turn into business models of Coke cans-everywhere, cheap, accessible, satisfy the thirst for freedom.
techwontsave.us/episode/291_...
techwontsave.us/episode/291_...
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
Challenging podcast by @ceps.eu with @dacemoglumit.bsky.social going from whether AI is a revolution or part of AI to how the necessary institutional innovations are best made
🎧 New episode alert! 🎧
@dacemoglumit.bsky.social & @carlotaperez.bsky.social join us to rethink AI, innovation & inequality.
💡 The big question: Should organisational design be treated as a public policy concern?
Listen on:
🎧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: bit.ly/44HL3sK
🎧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬: bit.ly/3GGklJ5
@dacemoglumit.bsky.social & @carlotaperez.bsky.social join us to rethink AI, innovation & inequality.
💡 The big question: Should organisational design be treated as a public policy concern?
Listen on:
🎧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲: bit.ly/44HL3sK
🎧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬: bit.ly/3GGklJ5
July 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Challenging podcast by @ceps.eu with @dacemoglumit.bsky.social going from whether AI is a revolution or part of AI to how the necessary institutional innovations are best made
Capitalism always needs a Next Big Thing. This need is demand-driven, not supply-driven. It’s structural.
Seekers of the NBT don’t particularly care what that thing is. However, they will dive into each iteration of the same old story with equally evangelical zeal.
Seekers of the NBT don’t particularly care what that thing is. However, they will dive into each iteration of the same old story with equally evangelical zeal.
just here to point out i've been right about the AI bubble since 2023 and only not before that cos i hadn't yet bothered
my quick crib was realising they were the crypto guys, like actually the same individual guys
my quick crib was realising they were the crypto guys, like actually the same individual guys
August 22, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Capitalism always needs a Next Big Thing. This need is demand-driven, not supply-driven. It’s structural.
Seekers of the NBT don’t particularly care what that thing is. However, they will dive into each iteration of the same old story with equally evangelical zeal.
Seekers of the NBT don’t particularly care what that thing is. However, they will dive into each iteration of the same old story with equally evangelical zeal.
I studied International Relations as an undergrad because:
1. I’d been politicised by being a moody teenager.
2. I’d taken Politics at A Level.
3. During that time, 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq had happened.
4. A guy in my class mentioned his dad had studied IR. (I’d never heard of it before.)
1. I’d been politicised by being a moody teenager.
2. I’d taken Politics at A Level.
3. During that time, 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq had happened.
4. A guy in my class mentioned his dad had studied IR. (I’d never heard of it before.)
Note to course leads: this is WHY calling your course some cool academic specificity the kids won't know until they get to uni is bad.
Yeah. Sure. It's super-accurate now. Great.
They ain't finding it bro. All they searched for was "history" or "science"
Yeah. Sure. It's super-accurate now. Great.
They ain't finding it bro. All they searched for was "history" or "science"
August 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I studied International Relations as an undergrad because:
1. I’d been politicised by being a moody teenager.
2. I’d taken Politics at A Level.
3. During that time, 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq had happened.
4. A guy in my class mentioned his dad had studied IR. (I’d never heard of it before.)
1. I’d been politicised by being a moody teenager.
2. I’d taken Politics at A Level.
3. During that time, 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq had happened.
4. A guy in my class mentioned his dad had studied IR. (I’d never heard of it before.)
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
Inappropriate media photos illustrating heatwaves - this one wins a special prize for having a caption about increased drowning accidents.
Via @ketanjoshi.co
Via @ketanjoshi.co
August 14, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Inappropriate media photos illustrating heatwaves - this one wins a special prize for having a caption about increased drowning accidents.
Via @ketanjoshi.co
Via @ketanjoshi.co
Another summer, another procession of record-smashing heatwaves.
After the heatwave of July 2022, I wrote this piece on dread, anger, and the duty to critique.
Re-reading it for the page proofs, I was struck by some things I wrote that already seem out of date, but also some that seem timely.
🧵
After the heatwave of July 2022, I wrote this piece on dread, anger, and the duty to critique.
Re-reading it for the page proofs, I was struck by some things I wrote that already seem out of date, but also some that seem timely.
🧵
August 13, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Another summer, another procession of record-smashing heatwaves.
After the heatwave of July 2022, I wrote this piece on dread, anger, and the duty to critique.
Re-reading it for the page proofs, I was struck by some things I wrote that already seem out of date, but also some that seem timely.
🧵
After the heatwave of July 2022, I wrote this piece on dread, anger, and the duty to critique.
Re-reading it for the page proofs, I was struck by some things I wrote that already seem out of date, but also some that seem timely.
🧵
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
It's always a pleasure to talk to @parismarx.com and this was no exception.
This time, why and what it means to expand #digital #sovereignty for people and the planet, what different governments are doing and why it is not enough
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
This time, why and what it means to expand #digital #sovereignty for people and the planet, what different governments are doing and why it is not enough
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
August 7, 2025 at 6:30 AM
It's always a pleasure to talk to @parismarx.com and this was no exception.
This time, why and what it means to expand #digital #sovereignty for people and the planet, what different governments are doing and why it is not enough
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
This time, why and what it means to expand #digital #sovereignty for people and the planet, what different governments are doing and why it is not enough
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
✍️ From Digital Feudalism to Digital Sovereignty
Catch up on our recent IIPP #RethinkingTheState Forum panel chaired by Prof @rainerkattel.bsky.social & featuring @mazzucatom.bsky.social, @francescabria.bsky.social, @ceciliarikap.bsky.social & Mike Braken
🔗 Watch the recording here: buff.ly/gIsnILK
Catch up on our recent IIPP #RethinkingTheState Forum panel chaired by Prof @rainerkattel.bsky.social & featuring @mazzucatom.bsky.social, @francescabria.bsky.social, @ceciliarikap.bsky.social & Mike Braken
🔗 Watch the recording here: buff.ly/gIsnILK
July 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
✍️ From Digital Feudalism to Digital Sovereignty
Catch up on our recent IIPP #RethinkingTheState Forum panel chaired by Prof @rainerkattel.bsky.social & featuring @mazzucatom.bsky.social, @francescabria.bsky.social, @ceciliarikap.bsky.social & Mike Braken
🔗 Watch the recording here: buff.ly/gIsnILK
Catch up on our recent IIPP #RethinkingTheState Forum panel chaired by Prof @rainerkattel.bsky.social & featuring @mazzucatom.bsky.social, @francescabria.bsky.social, @ceciliarikap.bsky.social & Mike Braken
🔗 Watch the recording here: buff.ly/gIsnILK
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
Why do we listen to Odd Lots?
“Capitalists will lie to you,but they don’t lie to themselves"
Its Charismatic Megafauna in “Cambrian explosion” that blew open “neoliberal hegemony” of economic discourse over the past decade
Congrats Joe & Tracy! @tracyalloway.bsky.social
nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
“Capitalists will lie to you,but they don’t lie to themselves"
Its Charismatic Megafauna in “Cambrian explosion” that blew open “neoliberal hegemony” of economic discourse over the past decade
Congrats Joe & Tracy! @tracyalloway.bsky.social
nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
August 3, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Why do we listen to Odd Lots?
“Capitalists will lie to you,but they don’t lie to themselves"
Its Charismatic Megafauna in “Cambrian explosion” that blew open “neoliberal hegemony” of economic discourse over the past decade
Congrats Joe & Tracy! @tracyalloway.bsky.social
nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
“Capitalists will lie to you,but they don’t lie to themselves"
Its Charismatic Megafauna in “Cambrian explosion” that blew open “neoliberal hegemony” of economic discourse over the past decade
Congrats Joe & Tracy! @tracyalloway.bsky.social
nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
FWIW what I know of (straight) online dating is that most people seem to be having a fairly awful time, but they have very different awful times depending on whether they are male or female.
Someone shouting at me on here about how I’m an idiot because women can get thousands of matches on a dating app but men can send out thousands of approaches and never get a match has made me really curious about incel math
August 3, 2025 at 11:56 AM
FWIW what I know of (straight) online dating is that most people seem to be having a fairly awful time, but they have very different awful times depending on whether they are male or female.
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
“The postwar order rested on three pillars: American hegemony, the fossil-fuel energy system, and an open, multilateral trading order. America has now attacked each pillar at the foundation of its hydrocarbon global order.” —
New: @katemac.bsky.social & I
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/bri...
New: @katemac.bsky.social & I
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/bri...
July 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
“The postwar order rested on three pillars: American hegemony, the fossil-fuel energy system, and an open, multilateral trading order. America has now attacked each pillar at the foundation of its hydrocarbon global order.” —
New: @katemac.bsky.social & I
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/bri...
New: @katemac.bsky.social & I
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/bri...
“UK suspending trade talks with Israel over Gaza blockade, Lammy tells MPs”
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
May 20, 2025 at 1:54 PM
“UK suspending trade talks with Israel over Gaza blockade, Lammy tells MPs”
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
The ‘Life on Mars’ sequel we never knew we needed.
Milei looks like a 70’s Welshman who passed out drunk on his nephew’s stag do in Brynamman RFC & mysteriously woke up in the Vatican
April 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
The ‘Life on Mars’ sequel we never knew we needed.
It can be difficult to know, these days, what point there is in abstract thought when the direction of things is so concrete and, in many ways, so obvious.
However, a critical theory of integrity, sincerity, and seriousness might be a good place to start.
However, a critical theory of integrity, sincerity, and seriousness might be a good place to start.
April 6, 2025 at 10:42 AM
It can be difficult to know, these days, what point there is in abstract thought when the direction of things is so concrete and, in many ways, so obvious.
However, a critical theory of integrity, sincerity, and seriousness might be a good place to start.
However, a critical theory of integrity, sincerity, and seriousness might be a good place to start.
In my experience, non-UK academics are baffled when they hear about how top-down UK HE teaching is. Which is not to say that pressures toward the erosion of autonomy and academic freedom aren’t being felt elsewhere, but the UK seems decades ahead of the curve, at least in terms of bureaucratisation.
UK HE Management for the last 5 years:
There can be no single point of failure. All teaching must be done in teams. Teaching must be generic so anyone in team can cover sickness absence. Expensive staff should design and deliver content. Cheaper staff can be used for classroom discussions. 4/
There can be no single point of failure. All teaching must be done in teams. Teaching must be generic so anyone in team can cover sickness absence. Expensive staff should design and deliver content. Cheaper staff can be used for classroom discussions. 4/
April 6, 2025 at 9:47 AM
In my experience, non-UK academics are baffled when they hear about how top-down UK HE teaching is. Which is not to say that pressures toward the erosion of autonomy and academic freedom aren’t being felt elsewhere, but the UK seems decades ahead of the curve, at least in terms of bureaucratisation.
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
Individual academic output feels so futile these days—writing silly little articles, giving silly little talks. But the attacks on academia show the continued importance of critical intellectual work as a collective endeavor. Anyone finding ways to work through this tension? I’m struggling with it.
March 16, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Individual academic output feels so futile these days—writing silly little articles, giving silly little talks. But the attacks on academia show the continued importance of critical intellectual work as a collective endeavor. Anyone finding ways to work through this tension? I’m struggling with it.
It never ceases to amaze me how Trump is still able to take people by surprise. He’s a mob-adjacent real estate tycoon. Of course he’d want to turn Gaza into tacky condos. He wants his cut.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
Trump says US will ‘take over’ Gaza Strip in shock announcement during Netanyahu visit
President’s plan, which critics said was ‘ethnic cleansing by another name’, would involve the permanent resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2025 at 8:06 AM
It never ceases to amaze me how Trump is still able to take people by surprise. He’s a mob-adjacent real estate tycoon. Of course he’d want to turn Gaza into tacky condos. He wants his cut.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
We all know the line "the first time as tragedy, the second as farce," but this section from Marx's Eighteenth Brumaire resonates with today remarkably well.
The (liberal) US feels dishonoured. Brought to its knees by con-artists and pro-wrestlers. Through its tears of shame, it sees nothing.
The (liberal) US feels dishonoured. Brought to its knees by con-artists and pro-wrestlers. Through its tears of shame, it sees nothing.
January 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
We all know the line "the first time as tragedy, the second as farce," but this section from Marx's Eighteenth Brumaire resonates with today remarkably well.
The (liberal) US feels dishonoured. Brought to its knees by con-artists and pro-wrestlers. Through its tears of shame, it sees nothing.
The (liberal) US feels dishonoured. Brought to its knees by con-artists and pro-wrestlers. Through its tears of shame, it sees nothing.
Reposted by Philip R. Conway
🚨My new article, ‘Conspiracy theory, anti-globalism, and the Freedom Convoy: The Great Reset and conspiracist delegitimation,’ co-authored with Scott Watson @uvic.bsky.social is out @risjnl.bsky.social bit.ly/4j9sNPz #conspiracytheory #greatreset #greatreplacement #worldeconomicforum #fredomconvoy
January 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
🚨My new article, ‘Conspiracy theory, anti-globalism, and the Freedom Convoy: The Great Reset and conspiracist delegitimation,’ co-authored with Scott Watson @uvic.bsky.social is out @risjnl.bsky.social bit.ly/4j9sNPz #conspiracytheory #greatreset #greatreplacement #worldeconomicforum #fredomconvoy