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Aditya Balasubramanian

@abalasub.bsky.social
1.1K followers 350 following 78 posts

Senior Lecturer at ANU School of History Working on Roads Book: Toward a Free Economy @princetonupress.bsky.social Order: tinyurl.com/5andt77x (USA/UK) tinyurl.com/2p88pvmv (India)

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Reposted by Aditya Balasubramanian
Greg Britton @gmbritton.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
We just published the 50th anniversary edition of THE CHEESE AND THE WORMS by Carlos Ginzburg in April. What an honor it has been to be his American publisher--this book changed everything. www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/... @hopkinspress.bsky.social
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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Puts me in mind of the famous Eric Williams quote, “British historians wrote almost as if Britain had introduced Negro slavery solely for the satisfaction of abolishing it”
Trump claims credit for Iran deal that averts depression
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Dave Andress @davidandress.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
The HEADLINE is about being "Pro-Palestinian". The ARTICLE is 95% about antisemitism. Palestinians = well, what? Nothing? Cannon-fodder? A handy folk-demon? A blank slate to project insecurities onto? Human rights, schmuman rights...
bbc.co.uk
NHS staff should be banned from wearing pro-Palestinian badges, report recommends
The recommendation is one of several from Lord Mann, whose review examined antisemitism within the organisation.
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vijay iyer @vijayiyer.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
‘“I no longer consider Columbia University a safe place to work for Jews who dare to dissent from the political agenda of its most ardently pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian donors and trustees,” wrote Joseph Howley, a classics professor, in his claim.’ www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
‘We were attacked as bad Jews’: Columbia faculty who supported Gaza protests file claims with Trump’s antisemitism fund
Faculty who support Palestinian rights are applying for compensation, claiming they faced harassment as Jews for their positions
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UN Environment Programme @unep.org · 03/06/2026
More than 1 billion Africans walk or cycle every day. Yet many roads remain unsafe for those who use them On #BicycleDay, see how African cities are investing in cycling infrastructure to improve health, ease congestion & cut pollution #NowForClimate: ow.ly/zowT50Z6Nwa #WorldEnvironmentDay
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Perhaps when we stop posing binary rhetorical questions such as this, we might begin to make meaningful assessments.
nature.com
Will AI ruin the social sciences — or revolutionize them?
The technology can whip up spurious findings and pollute survey responses, but it could also make research more rigorous.
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Gabrielle Hecht 🇵🇷 • she/elle/ella/cis⚔️ • AOC 4USpresident @gabriellehecht.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
“He might have seemed humble in office, but in his post-presidential, Netflix-producing afterlife, Obama has erected the largest, costliest and most audacious complex [presidential library] of them all. Behold the $850m Obamalisk – or, as it sometimes feels morbidly like, the Obamausoleum.”
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Hindus For Human Rights @hfhr.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
On Mabo Day, we remember Eddie Koiki Mabo and the generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who refused the lie of terra nullius. Land, memory, law, and dignity are connected. Justice begins by telling the truth. Learn more: www.nma.gov.au/defining-mom...
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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Because it was time to address the dark clouds overhead at #RolandGarros: I wrote about how Alexander Zverev is almost certainly going to win the French Open, and how people around the sport are feeling about that likelihood. Read here: www.benrothenberg.com/p/alexander-...
benrothenberg.com
Anyone But
As Alexander Zverev closes in on a near-certain French Open title, a sport that once held its breath is now sighing.
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LPE Blog @lpeblog.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Week in review: @veenadubal.bsky.social and @azizaahmed.bsky.social on how feminists transformed the law and science of AIDS, @lookheron.bsky.social on market governance in Trumpworld, and @abalasub.bsky.social on the misnomer of modern Indian capital. Plus, the best of LPE from around the web 🧵
lpeproject.org
Weekly Roundup: March 6
Veena Dubal and Aziza Ahmed on how feminists transformed the law and science of AIDS, Luke Herrine on market governance in Trumpworld, and Aditya Balasubramanian on the misnomer of modern Indian…
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Jason Jackson @jasonbjackson.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Really honored to have my new @harvardpress.bsky.social book be part of an @lpeblog.bsky.social symposium! I am deeply grateful to @lpeproject.bsky.social colleagues for the opportunity, and to my respondents @maggor.bsky.social, @abalasub.bsky.social & Amy Cohen for engaging with my work. 🙏
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LPE Blog @lpeblog.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Today, @abalasub.bsky.social continues our symposium on *Traders, Speculators, and Captains of Industry.* Given that Indian firms spend virtually nothing on R&D, he asks, how we should understand the modernity of so-called “modern Indian capitalists”?
lpeproject.org
Modern(izing) Indian Capital?
Jason Jackson’s erudite Traders, Speculators, and Captains of Industry shows that, for more than a century, Indian firms labeled as “traditional” capital faced policy hostility…
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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Bringing together stories of environment and Empire, genocide and ecocide, war and peace – Sunil Amrith's The Burning Earth is a razor-sharp study of accountability for the climate crisis. The Burning Earth is shortlisted for the British Academy Book Prize. Learn more here bit.ly/3WsTunW
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melindacooper.bsky.social @melindacooper.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
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Aditya Balasubramanian @abalasub.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Beyond ridiculous decision www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
thecrimson.com
A Surprise Tenure Denial in Harvard’s Gender Studies Program Leaves Some Faculty Shaken | News | The Harvard Crimson
Durba Mitra’s colleagues thought she was a near-perfect tenure candidate. When her bid was shot down in June, they were left questioning the process.
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Micah Muscolino @mmuscolino.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
On modern China, see press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
press.princeton.edu
Making It Count
A history of how Chinese officials used statistics to define a new society in the early years of the People’s Republic of China
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Aditya Balasubramanian @abalasub.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Found Rule of Experts overrated but @adamtooze.bsky.social’s Statistics and the German State is outstanding and so worthy of being retaught and re-read. Prob my favorite of his books after Wages
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Tim McLellan @timmclellan.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Private consultants are taking control of how public universities are evaluated and run. My submission to the Senate university governance inquiry raises concerns about the impact of Nous Group and their dodgy UniForum data on our universities. www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor... A thread
Image shows a screenshot of the conclusion of the linked Senate inquiry submission. This text can be found on page 10.

The text is too long for alt text, but here is the first three quarters of the text:

Conclusion

Over the past decade, Nous Group’s UniForum data has quietly taken on the status of authoritative benchmark for the quality of a range of professional and academic services performed by public universities in Australia and across the world. This authoritative status is performed through scientific-looking graphs and scientific-sounding jargon designed to imply UniForum data is generated through rigorous methods and backed by expert consensus. This performance of authority is significant: it lends UniForum data an air of credibility and facticity that makes acting upon its results irresistible.

When one begins to open the black box and examine how UniForum data is actually produced, however, it becomes difficult to justify the degree to which Australian university executives are relying upon it in their decision-making. My analysis is based on a review of publicly available documents, and it is therefore possible that Nous or its clients would point to things not in the public domain that address some of the conceptual and methodological flaws that I have highlighted in UniForum. But the fact that the underlying UniForum data and methodology is not in the public domain is itself one of the key causes for concerns. When the stakes are so high, it cannot be acceptable for Nous Group and its clients to simply tell university staff and governing councils, ‘trust us, these numbers are based on rigorous methods and analysis.’ The lack of rigor, external scrutiny, and transparency in UniForum’s underlying data and methodology would be a cause for concern in any public institution, but it is especially concerning in the context of universities where rigorous, transparent, and accountable knowledge production is a core part of what we do. ...
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Gabrielle Hecht 🇵🇷 • she/elle/ella/cis⚔️ • AOC 4USpresident @gabriellehecht.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
And let me take this opportunity to say again: WHITE PPL ARE NOT OPPRESSED IN SOUTH AFRICA
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eileen chengyin chow @chowleen.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Celebrating my beloved, brilliant colleague Prasenjit Duara on the occasion of his 75th and his retirement. “Colleague” doesn’t quite encompass my fondness and gratitude. Prasenjit has been mentor, teacher, friend, and teammate. I am so happy we will be toasting and roasting him for two whole days!
photo of Professor Prasenjit Duara at the Duke conference on Global China - profile and medium shot of Prasenjit, in glasses and light suit jacket, other conference participants in background.
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Durba Mitra @durba.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
thank u to @itihaasnaama.bsky.social for recommending my new book The Future That Was alongside these amazing authors @kalramnath.bsky.social @abalasub.bsky.social 🥰💕 youtube.com/shorts/S99MW...
youtube.com
ये किताबें पढ़कर इतिहास के सारे बवाल समझ आ जाएंगे| Book Recommendations
YouTube video by The Lallantop
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Michael McDonnell @historymatterssyd.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
All cuts, at all Unis, should be stopped until the rot at the top of every single one of them has been thoroughly examined. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
abc.net.au
How one of the world's most prestigious universities fell from grace
The prestige of the Australian National University is fast fading. It must now respond to explosive allegations.
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Global Intellectual History @global-ih.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
8/8 The issue ends with a second regular review by Raheel Bashir (Jawaharlal Nehru University) on "Toward a Free Economy: Swatantra and Opposition Politics in Democratic India" (@princetonupress.bsky.social, 2023) by @abalasub.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The book cover
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 04/08/2025
ELIZABETH WARREN: What Zohran is saying is 'I want people to be able to afford to live in NYC' FABER: But raising taxes in order to do it? WARREN: Oh my goodness! Oh dear! Are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry?
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Xavi Ruiz @xruiztru.bsky.social · 26/07/2025
This map shows how unevenly Nobel Prizes have been distributed across the world.
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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Taylor Fritz is getting clowned by players like Shelton and Tiafoe about a video in which he couldn't do basic multiplication, but there's a bigger story about how tennis players are being set up to succeed—and fail—on social media videos. Read it at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/taylor-fri...
benrothenberg.com
Tennis, Under the Influencers
Taylor Fritz's wins are adding up in Washington, but maybe don't ask him to multiply.
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Aditya Balasubramanian @abalasub.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
There is a special place in hell for T&F
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Tim McLellan @timmclellan.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
This is based on an interview I did last week. For days, I’ve been anxious about repercussions for speaking to media. I was totally overwhelmed to discover today that my colleagues have all stuck their necks out with me. I have the best colleagues! www.canberratimes.com.au/story/901572...
canberratimes.com.au
'Hunger Games scenario': four ANU lecturers and only three jobs
Four lecturers going for three jobs speak out about the stress and the cost.
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Our ANU @ouranu.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Honours student, Pippa, spoke about her thesis on the history of higher education in Australia which was about “universities and governments putting profits over people.” She said she would like to see Vice Chancellor Bell, “demanding more public funding.” www.canberratimes.com.au/story/901699...
canberratimes.com.au
Staff hope to find a way through ANU trouble, say cuts aren't the answer
'Education funding has been under attack for decades.'
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Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 09/07/2025
What's up with Justice Jackson? She started making her mark and speaking out early, and some of her dissents are so pointed Kagan and Sotomayor don’t even join them. The far right is out for her, and even Republican justices are getting snarky. So what's up? Here’s my take 🧵
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Aditya Balasubramanian @abalasub.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
I just texted a friend that celebrity culture in academia should die but every rule has exceptions. Friends, Romans, the woman who gave us Life as Surplus, Family Values, Counterrevolution and more has joined and made this platform worth it. Welcome, Melinda! Follow her!! @melindacooper.bsky.social
melindacooper.bsky.social
melindacooper.bsky.social
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Ntina Tzouvala @ntinatzouvala.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Comrades! Friends! Nemeses! The CfP for the annual meeting of Australian Progressive Legal Studies is open until next Friday, 11th of July. Send us your abstracts on all things law, political economy and modern authoritarianism. The one and only Melinda Cooper (!!!) will deliver the keynote.
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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 25/06/2025
Breaking news: Former New York state governor Andrew Cuomo has conceded to progressive rival Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary for New York City’s next mayor www.ft.com/content/e4b8...
Zohran Mamdani. Overlaid text reads: Breaking news - Andrew Cuomo concedes New York mayoral primary to Zohran Mamdani
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Catherine Fletcher @catherinefletcher.info · 20/06/2025
Hello recent History PhDs! My School is supporting applications to the BA postdoc fellowship scheme (and selected applications to the Leverhulme). If you've always wanted to work with me or my super colleagues, get in touch! We have an excellent grants team to help you write your application.
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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
there are a million reasons not to vote for cuomo but let’s start with the fact that he doesn’t fucking live here
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NTEU ACT @nteuact.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
""I honestly don't feel like we've had anything from the university executive apart from gaslighting, from day one, it's really demoralising," one attendee said." @nteunion.bsky.social stands with #ANU staff. Things cannot continue as they are. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/899465...
canberratimes.com.au
'Really demoralising': staff looking for changes to ANU leadership
'The first actual town hall we've had in quite a long time...'
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SpryWit @sprywit.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
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Aviel Roshwald @avielroshwald.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Seems fitting that Trump named his social network after Pravda.
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Aditya Balasubramanian @abalasub.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Super chuffed to get an AHR review! academic.oup.com/ahr/article-...
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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Read it and weep on.ft.com/3FGos7B
Who would bet against Trump in the battle for public opinion? Less than 200 days into his second term, he has trampled over more laws and ripped up more precedents than any leader in US history. He has enriched himself and his family with overseas crypto sales and golf resort deals, launched a war on leading universities and medical institutions, ignored serial court orders to give deportees legal rights, declared, paused and partially resumed economic war on the world, and targeted his enemies with investigations and stripped them of security protection. Trump's assault on democratic norms has been breathtaking in scale and speed. Yet his approval rating is still at 45 per cent.
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𝒩𝒾𝒸𝑜𝓁𝒶𝓈 𝒸 𝒢𝓇𝑒𝓎 @nicolascgrey.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
i uploaded A Night of Knowing Nothing and the short films of Payal Kapadia onto the internet archive. archive.org/details/a.-nig…
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Warwick Anderson @wombatscholar.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
The great historian of Southeast Asia, Anthony (Tony) Reid, died yesterday in Canberra, aged 85. His studies transformed our understanding of Indonesia and the region. A professor at the ANU for many years, he also founded institutes at UCLA & NUS. And he was a lovely person
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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
On Coco Gauff and her parents, a feel-good story in a sport full of cautionary tales, who were the big winners today at #RolandGarros. www.benrothenberg.com/p/coco-gauff...
benrothenberg.com
Coco Gauff Inherits the Earth
After winning her second major at Roland Garros, Coco Gauff stays grounded.
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Aditya Balasubramanian @abalasub.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Super excited for this. Yay Durba!!
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