Scott Williamson
@scottrw630.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Politics at Oxford studying authoritarianism, migration, and the Middle East. https://www.scott-williamson.com
Pinned
Scott Williamson
@scottrw630.bsky.social
· Nov 27
The King Can Do No Wrong
Cambridge Core - Middle East Government,Politics and Policy - The King Can Do No Wrong
www.cambridge.org
My book is out! I’m grateful for the many people in Jordan, Tunisia, Stanford, and elsewhere who helped it reach this point.
If you’re interested in why some autocrats stay popular or why ruling monarchs are so durable in today’s world, this book is for you!
www.cambridge.org/core/books/k...
If you’re interested in why some autocrats stay popular or why ruling monarchs are so durable in today’s world, this book is for you!
www.cambridge.org/core/books/k...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
Reposted by Scott Williamson
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Scott Williamson
@brendannyhan.bsky.social is right: young people are reluctant to come to the defense of institutions that have excluded them, ignored them, and crushed their movements
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
November 25, 2025 at 3:37 AM
@brendannyhan.bsky.social is right: young people are reluctant to come to the defense of institutions that have excluded them, ignored them, and crushed their movements
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
In this paper we use data from Argentina to contribute to the debate about the dangers of polarisation. We explore if partisans rely on regime stereotypes to stigmatise rivals; are more emotional in victory/defeat; and display conditional democratic commitments
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Strong Partisans, Conditional Democrats? Partisanship and Reactions to Electoral Outcomes in Argentina - Ezequiel Gonzalez-Ocantos, Carlos Meléndez, 2025
Partisans who back self-interested illiberal measures jeopardize democracy. We explore important precursors of support for backsliding using survey and focus gr...
journals.sagepub.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 AM
In this paper we use data from Argentina to contribute to the debate about the dangers of polarisation. We explore if partisans rely on regime stereotypes to stigmatise rivals; are more emotional in victory/defeat; and display conditional democratic commitments
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
Postdoc call‼️
I am opening a call for a postdoctoral position within my ERC project CONSENT.
Come to Madrid to be part of my research team and more broadly of the @ipp-csic.bsky.social community.
Application deadline: December 10th.
Call details: tinyurl.com/yfu83p9m
I am opening a call for a postdoctoral position within my ERC project CONSENT.
Come to Madrid to be part of my research team and more broadly of the @ipp-csic.bsky.social community.
Application deadline: December 10th.
Call details: tinyurl.com/yfu83p9m
Dropbox
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Postdoc call‼️
I am opening a call for a postdoctoral position within my ERC project CONSENT.
Come to Madrid to be part of my research team and more broadly of the @ipp-csic.bsky.social community.
Application deadline: December 10th.
Call details: tinyurl.com/yfu83p9m
I am opening a call for a postdoctoral position within my ERC project CONSENT.
Come to Madrid to be part of my research team and more broadly of the @ipp-csic.bsky.social community.
Application deadline: December 10th.
Call details: tinyurl.com/yfu83p9m
Reposted by Scott Williamson
Cas Mudde spells out what has become largely the consensus among researchers: moving right on immigration will not weaken the far right nor strengthen social democracy. If your reaction is "but in Denmark" please at least familiarize yourself with Danish politics
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Cas Mudde spells out what has become largely the consensus among researchers: moving right on immigration will not weaken the far right nor strengthen social democracy. If your reaction is "but in Denmark" please at least familiarize yourself with Danish politics
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
Applying the changes to settlement to refugees already here would be particularly cruel and will create so much anxiety.
@stellacreasy.bsky.social is quite right when she says "the Home Secretary needs to come clean asap as there will be refugees with jobs and mortgages that could be affected.”
@stellacreasy.bsky.social is quite right when she says "the Home Secretary needs to come clean asap as there will be refugees with jobs and mortgages that could be affected.”
The i Paper is reporting that once the changes are brought in, the 20 year route will be applied to refugees who are already here.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
I can't over emphasise the level of terror this will cause to our refugee population, and the lack of detail and timescale will make it very difficult to calm nerves.
November 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Applying the changes to settlement to refugees already here would be particularly cruel and will create so much anxiety.
@stellacreasy.bsky.social is quite right when she says "the Home Secretary needs to come clean asap as there will be refugees with jobs and mortgages that could be affected.”
@stellacreasy.bsky.social is quite right when she says "the Home Secretary needs to come clean asap as there will be refugees with jobs and mortgages that could be affected.”
Reposted by Scott Williamson
NEW -
Dynamic Democratic Backsliding - https://cup.org/3X48Yzq
"I formulate and test predictions about how different sequences of backsliding shape accountability."
- Eddy S. F. Yeung
#OpenAccess
Dynamic Democratic Backsliding - https://cup.org/3X48Yzq
"I formulate and test predictions about how different sequences of backsliding shape accountability."
- Eddy S. F. Yeung
#OpenAccess
November 19, 2025 at 9:30 AM
NEW -
Dynamic Democratic Backsliding - https://cup.org/3X48Yzq
"I formulate and test predictions about how different sequences of backsliding shape accountability."
- Eddy S. F. Yeung
#OpenAccess
Dynamic Democratic Backsliding - https://cup.org/3X48Yzq
"I formulate and test predictions about how different sequences of backsliding shape accountability."
- Eddy S. F. Yeung
#OpenAccess
Reposted by Scott Williamson
The Founders were so concerned about bribery that the Constitution forbids it three separate times. Two emoluments clauses ban officials—unambiguously including the president—from accepting things of value, plus bribery is the only named impeachable offense besides treason.
Unprecedentedly corrupt.
Unprecedentedly corrupt.
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The Founders were so concerned about bribery that the Constitution forbids it three separate times. Two emoluments clauses ban officials—unambiguously including the president—from accepting things of value, plus bribery is the only named impeachable offense besides treason.
Unprecedentedly corrupt.
Unprecedentedly corrupt.
Reposted by Scott Williamson
Research on this is clear: the uncertainty created by this policy will lead to people integrate less into British society. It is trading-off the reasonable policy goal of integration for the useless symbolism of immigration numbers. Bad policy to appease the far right.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Research on this is clear: the uncertainty created by this policy will lead to people integrate less into British society. It is trading-off the reasonable policy goal of integration for the useless symbolism of immigration numbers. Bad policy to appease the far right.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
And we knew this. This wasn't speculation. We studied it, we had the talking points. We trained volunteers to explain this to people. It's not a surprise. Rich people don't flee places with good quality of life when we increase the quality of life. They might try to cheat us, but they don't leave.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 AM
And we knew this. This wasn't speculation. We studied it, we had the talking points. We trained volunteers to explain this to people. It's not a surprise. Rich people don't flee places with good quality of life when we increase the quality of life. They might try to cheat us, but they don't leave.
Reposted by Scott Williamson
2/🧵 New piece with @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social in @NewRepublic: We analyzed 60,000+ respondents in the 2024 Cooperative Election Study. Gen Z has the lowest racial resentment of any generation. The generational shift overwhelms the education divide that supposedly defines modern politics.
The Shocking Truth About Gen Z Voters Is That They’re Pretty Great
Stop panicking: They are the most progressive generation ever, especially on race. If that surprises you, you’ve been listening to the wrong story.
newrepublic.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
2/🧵 New piece with @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social in @NewRepublic: We analyzed 60,000+ respondents in the 2024 Cooperative Election Study. Gen Z has the lowest racial resentment of any generation. The generational shift overwhelms the education divide that supposedly defines modern politics.
Reposted by Scott Williamson
This is why Dems should run on creating mechanisms of accountability especially on corruption.
The Epstein story gets a something that is tearing at the heart of the electorate: elite impunity. The idea that wealthy and powerful people can do terrible things *at scale* and face no consequences for them. Whatever political party actually stops it could rule the country for a generation.
November 12, 2025 at 10:25 PM
This is why Dems should run on creating mechanisms of accountability especially on corruption.
Reposted by Scott Williamson
A month ago I looked at what I called Labour's midlife crisis- an obsession with chasing socially conservative Reform-curious voters and ignoring groups of disaffected voters with social attitudes much closer to Labour voters. But some people thought there was method in their madness. Was there? 1/n
November 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A month ago I looked at what I called Labour's midlife crisis- an obsession with chasing socially conservative Reform-curious voters and ignoring groups of disaffected voters with social attitudes much closer to Labour voters. But some people thought there was method in their madness. Was there? 1/n
Reposted by Scott Williamson
Kind of wild that while food assistance was withheld from millions of families, one Trump-supporting billionaire (Ellison) saw his net worth grow more this year than the entire SNAP budget. And the YTD gains of the other four richest men would’ve fully covered salaries for all 2M federal employees.
November 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Kind of wild that while food assistance was withheld from millions of families, one Trump-supporting billionaire (Ellison) saw his net worth grow more this year than the entire SNAP budget. And the YTD gains of the other four richest men would’ve fully covered salaries for all 2M federal employees.
Reposted by Scott Williamson
Let's just say--I doubt the Senator had to lean very hard.
The reporting is a little sparse here, but it suggests the lecturer was removed because a student complained to one of her US Senators, who then leaned on IU.
Indiana University removed a Lecturer from her "Diversity, Human Rights, and Social Justice" course after a student filed a complaint about a graphic the instructor showed in class, which included "Make America Great Again" as an example of "Covert White Supremacy."
www.wfyi.org/news/article...
www.wfyi.org/news/article...
November 11, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Let's just say--I doubt the Senator had to lean very hard.
Reposted by Scott Williamson
This is really something. Trump/GOP efforts to rig midterms running into serious trouble
November 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM
This is really something. Trump/GOP efforts to rig midterms running into serious trouble
Reposted by Scott Williamson
"But the true message—the prospective message—is that pardons will be available to everyone who joins him in election subversion in 2026 and 2028. This wave of preemptive pardons is a permission slip, an encouragement for election subversion in the future."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Pardon the Corruption
Trump’s blanket pardons for stop-the-steal illegality aren’t only about settling scores from past elections. They’re about laying the groundwork to subvert future ones.
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
"But the true message—the prospective message—is that pardons will be available to everyone who joins him in election subversion in 2026 and 2028. This wave of preemptive pardons is a permission slip, an encouragement for election subversion in the future."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
On this Veterans Day, more than any before, let us remember the valiant service of Black, Hispanic, Navajo, Japanese and other non-white Americans who fought bravely for the ideals of a country that failed to live up to them, and whose legacy a racist GOP is desperately trying to erase.
Two panels highlighting the role of African American soldiers in the liberation of the Netherlands have been removed from the American Military Cemetary Margraten. The Cemetary is controlled by the AMBC, and the panels were removed in line with current Trump policy.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Monument: Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun...
www.nrc.nl
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
On this Veterans Day, more than any before, let us remember the valiant service of Black, Hispanic, Navajo, Japanese and other non-white Americans who fought bravely for the ideals of a country that failed to live up to them, and whose legacy a racist GOP is desperately trying to erase.
Reposted by Scott Williamson
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
“Israeli soldiers have described a free-for-all in Gaza and a breakdown in norms and legal constraints, with civilians killed at the whim of individual officers.”
The stories will get worse over time as censorship erodes. But we knew and didn’t stop it.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
The stories will get worse over time as censorship erodes. But we knew and didn’t stop it.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Israeli soldiers speak out on killings of Gaza civilians
IDF soldiers tell documentary of opening fire unprovoked and arbitrary designations of who was an enemy
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
“Israeli soldiers have described a free-for-all in Gaza and a breakdown in norms and legal constraints, with civilians killed at the whim of individual officers.”
The stories will get worse over time as censorship erodes. But we knew and didn’t stop it.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
The stories will get worse over time as censorship erodes. But we knew and didn’t stop it.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Scott Williamson
Thread: part of an ongoing project to erase people of color from military history:
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Thread: part of an ongoing project to erase people of color from military history:
Reposted by Scott Williamson
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Scott Williamson
I am grateful for the strong commitment to lawful free speech here, but in the spirit of free speech and open disagreement, I don’t think that the position of institutional neutrality outlined by President Kramer in this interview is the right one: blogs.lse.ac.uk/highereducat... (1)
‘If it’s lawful speech, don’t ask us to condemn it’ - LSE Higher Education
Into his second year as President and Vice-Chancellor of the LSE, Larry Kramer has dealt with a pro-Palestinian encampment, academic freedom infringements, and visa restrictions for foreign students. ...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I am grateful for the strong commitment to lawful free speech here, but in the spirit of free speech and open disagreement, I don’t think that the position of institutional neutrality outlined by President Kramer in this interview is the right one: blogs.lse.ac.uk/highereducat... (1)