Precolonial states and postcolonial democratisation
Seminar
Existing studies suggest that historical states have been an impediment to democratisation because they resisted the colonial transmission of nascent democratic institutions. However, I argue that existing theories do not explain democratisation in “late-decolonized states” well, which were…
Book Launch: 'The Radical Jewish Tradition: Revolutionaries, resistance fighters and firebrands'
Book launch
Before the Second World War, the majority of Jews were working class and part of a wider struggle alongside their non-Jewish comrades on the left. The book celebrates Jewish radicalism from the Tsarist Empire to Poland and Germany, from London to New York. To illuminate this background, the issue…
High Court & Supreme Court oral argument: Interruptions, interventions, judicial strategy, & the effect of institutional rules
Seminar
This presentation compares the apex courts of Australia and the United States. There are a number of highly significant institutional differences between the two courts, including the powers of the Chief Justice, length of oral argument, and variable panel sizes. Yet, there are similar patterns in…
A China Shock or a Multinational Shock? The Role of MNC Value Chains in the Trade Shock
Seminar
Countries do not directly trade, firms do. Multinational firms (MNCs) account for most of the value of global imports and exports. How do MNC trade and investment behaviors in emerging markets affect electoral outcomes in advanced economies? To address this question, we examine the ownership…
Reciprocal Communication and Political Deliberation on Twitter
Seminar
Social media platforms such as Twitter/X and Reddit are increasingly important for political communication: opinion leaders and influencers use social media for one-to-many communication, but these spaces also enable ordinary citizens to form opinions by engaging in one-to-one discussion about…
Constitution-Making in Divided Societies: Lessons from the Turkish CRC Experience
Seminar
Inclusive negotiations between different segments of society are rare in Turkish constitutional history. However, between 2011 and 2013 the country made an attempt that diverged from this pattern. The Constitutional Reconciliation Commission (CRC), consisted of three representatives from each of…
Can Constitutional Reform Constrain Electoral Violence?
Seminar
Constitution-making is promoted as a means to encourage democratisation and peaceful politics. However, there is a dearth of studies investigating whether, and if so under which conditions, constitutional reform can induce such positive outcomes. This study suggests that constitutional reform can…