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Ben Christian

@benchristian.bsky.social
839 followers 462 following 42 posts

Postdoctoral Researcher @goetheuni.bsky.social // International Organizations: learning & change, internal criticism, self-legitimation, cynicism, trust ben-christian.com

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Dominik Herold @dominikherold.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
OUT NOW. Mein Buch »Radikale Demokratie und die Macht des Affektiven« gibt es ab heute druckfrisch in der Buchhandlung eures Vertrauens oder als Open-Access-Variante kostenlos per Download unter: short-url.org/1pADO
Zu sehen ist ein glücklicher Post-Doc, der das Buch zu seiner Dissertation »Radikale Demokratie und die Macht des Affektiven« in Händen hält.
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Cambridge University Press Political Science & IR @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org · 03/11/2025
#OpenAccess from @risjnl.bsky.social - From the bottom up? Frontline crisis management and informal policy change in international organisations - cup.org/4qKq5nw - @nkortendiek.bsky.social #FirstView
Promotional image for "Review of International Studies" featuring a partial view of the Earth on the right side and the text "#OpenAccess" on a dark background.
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Tobias Wille @tobiaswille.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
I’m very excited that years of work with Dorry Noyes (@mershoncenter.bsky.social) and a fantastic group of friends and colleagues finally resulted in this, I think, rather beautiful object. The Global Politics of Exemplarity! @normativeorders.bsky.social @prif.org @brisunipress.bsky.social 1/4
A photo of the book The Global Politics of Exemplarity.
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Dominik Herold @dominikherold.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Die Fahnen sind da! Im Februar erscheint mein Buch »Radikale Demokratie und die Macht des Affektiven« als fünfter Band der Philosophie & Kritik Reihe im Campus Verlag.
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
UN funding is under pressure. In a new article @the-peio.bsky.social, my colleagues Alex Tokhi and Lisbeth Zimmermann (@goetheuni.bsky.social) show that the participation of far-right parties in government has significant negative effects on the funding of IOs. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
The far right and international organizations: How the far right in government affects foreign aid funding - The Review of International Organizations
The far right is on the rise, winning elections, entering governments globally, and politicizing international cooperation. Existing research finds only very limited effects of far-right governments on international organizations (IOs), however.. We argue that the far right in government undermines IOs by systematically reducing their earmarked funding, as it cannot fully align its anti-migration agenda with the liberal mandates and purposes of most IOs. Using new data on earmarked funding to IOs from 37 OECD donor states between 1990 and 2020, we examine how far-right participation in government affects IO funding. Expanding the data on far-right parties beyond Western Europe, we employ three-way fixed effects and dynamic balancing weights to address both static and dynamic confounding with marginal structural models. Our results show that governments with far-right parties reduce earmarked funding contributions to IOs by almost 30%, without affecting bilateral aid commitments. This suggests that the far right not only politicizes IOs but also attempts to directly undermine their operation when IOs cannot be aligned with their anti-migration agenda.
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
UN funding is under pressure. In a new article @the-peio.bsky.social, my colleagues Alex Tokhi and Lisbeth Zimmermann (@goetheuni.bsky.social) show that the participation of far-right parties in government has significant negative effects on the funding of IOs. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
The far right and international organizations: How the far right in government affects foreign aid funding - The Review of International Organizations
The far right is on the rise, winning elections, entering governments globally, and politicizing international cooperation. Existing research finds only very limited effects of far-right governments on international organizations (IOs), however.. We argue that the far right in government undermines IOs by systematically reducing their earmarked funding, as it cannot fully align its anti-migration agenda with the liberal mandates and purposes of most IOs. Using new data on earmarked funding to IOs from 37 OECD donor states between 1990 and 2020, we examine how far-right participation in government affects IO funding. Expanding the data on far-right parties beyond Western Europe, we employ three-way fixed effects and dynamic balancing weights to address both static and dynamic confounding with marginal structural models. Our results show that governments with far-right parties reduce earmarked funding contributions to IOs by almost 30%, without affecting bilateral aid commitments. This suggests that the far right not only politicizes IOs but also attempts to directly undermine their operation when IOs cannot be aligned with their anti-migration agenda.
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Interested in International Political Sociology? Join us today at 2 pm! :)
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Book Launch: Oxford Handbook of International Political Sociology Interested in all things IPS? Join us for our online book launch featuring Co-Editor Ole Jacob Sending and Discussant Ingvild Bode on June 16 at 2 pm (CEST). Details for the @dvpw.bsky.social event: www.dvpw.de/gliederung/a...
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Matthias Kranke @mattkranke.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
📢 Job announcement – 1 PhD researcher in my "Global Sustainability Governance" research group Please share this opportunity within your networks and encourage suitable candidates to apply (or consider applying yourself)! Happy to answer questions! Deadline: 4 June 👇 www.uni-due.de/karriere/ste...
uni-due.de
Stellenausschreibung
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Great to see @reformworks.bsky.social featuring findings from my ISQ article on internal criticism and organizational learning in IOs. In light of the recent developments, Katja asks: Will the UN Ever Learn to Reform? #UN80
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Katja @ReformWorks @reformworks.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Despite a professionalized learning architecture, the #UN struggles to learn. What is the missing piece? A culture of criticism. With member states stressing that #UN80 be informed by lessons from past reforms, we explore new research that shows how learning can really happen. 👉 bit.ly/UNlearns
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JEPP Journal @jeppjournal.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
▶️ @benchristian.bsky.social and Dirk Peters examine how trust and distrust define the post-Brexit relationship between the EU and the UK.
tandfonline.com
Establishing trust and distrust when states leave international organisations: the case of Brexit
Although EU and UK participants in Brexit negotiations emphasise the role that trust and distrust played for them, existing Brexit research has largely disregarded this factor. From a trust perspec...
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
How can trust be rebuilt when states leave international organizations? #Brexit Happy to see that Dirk Peters @prif.org and my article on this question has been assigned to the new issue @jeppjournal.bsky.social. Thread below, open access article here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Abstract of the article
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
How can trust be rebuilt when states leave international organizations? #Brexit Happy to see that Dirk Peters @prif.org and my article on this question has been assigned to the new issue @jeppjournal.bsky.social. Thread below, open access article here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Abstract of the article
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Wichtiges Symposium in Frankfurt, Anmeldungen sind weiterhin möglich. @dominikherold.bsky.social und ich organisieren einen Workshop zur Wissenschaftsfreiheit, kommt vorbei! :)
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Wichtiges Symposium in Frankfurt, Anmeldungen sind weiterhin möglich. @dominikherold.bsky.social und ich organisieren einen Workshop zur Wissenschaftsfreiheit, kommt vorbei! :)
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Beate Jahn & Sebastian Schindler have compiled a fantastic “Elgar Encyclopedia of International Relations." What makes it special is that it not only covers well-known IR concepts but also many less-established ones—such as art, failure, friendship, or post-truth. A great resource! 🙏 lmy.de/mjCbh
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Nele Kortendiek @nkortendiek.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
🏆 I feel deeply honored to receive the Chadwick Alger Prize for the best book on multilateral cooperation and international organization for "Global Governance on the Ground". Have a look at the book here academic.oup.com/book/59022 and let me know if you can't access it.
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Why do many IOs struggle to learn despite a plethora of formal learning processes and tools? In my new ISQ article, I argue that the criticism culture—the way IOs deal with criticism from their employees—is an overlooked but crucial variable to explain (the lack of) learning in IOs. 🧵 lmy.de/DsCjm
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Marine Gauthier @marinegauthier.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
🚨Why do IOs struggle to learn? Interesting new article showing how the « criticism culture ». This is insightful for understanding #safeguards and #accountability struggles—when critical voices are silenced and reports are polished, unintended harms may go unchecked. #InternationalOrganizations
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Eugene Chen @casquebleu.org · 05/03/2025
This article dives into the organizational culture of the #UN peace and security pillar and is a must-read for anyone working on peace operations.
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Why do many IOs struggle to learn despite a plethora of formal learning processes and tools? In my new ISQ article, I argue that the criticism culture—the way IOs deal with criticism from their employees—is an overlooked but crucial variable to explain (the lack of) learning in IOs. 🧵 lmy.de/DsCjm
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Fanny Badache @fannybadache.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Very happy to announce that I have been granted a #MCSA postdoctoral fellowship to conduct research on diversity among peacekeeping staff @ceri-sciencespo.bsky.social
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Sabrina B. Arias @sabrinabarias.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Surely this will never happen to me again, but I had TWO papers come out yesterday! In @jpeaceresearch.bsky.social, I introduce a new corpus of all 17,324 UNGA & UNSC resolutions from 1946-2018. Users will have searchable resolution texts, but also key metadata: citations, topics & reuse. 1/5
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Dominik Herold @dominikherold.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Weltweit sind autoritäre Ideologien, nationale Egoismen und die Verweigerung sozial-ökologischer Transformation scheinbar unaufhaltsam auf dem Vormarsch. Die Ideen der universellen Menschenrechte, der demokratischen Selbstbestimmung und der globalen Solidarität sind ins Hintertreffen geraten.
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Today, 2pm CET… :)
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Nele Kortendiek @nkortendiek.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
It's here! 🥳 Very excited to finally hold "Global Governance on the Ground" in my hands. Through an in-depth look at the case of migration and asylum, the book argues that IOs not only govern global challenges through rules, standards, expertise, and numbers but also through practice in the field.
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
"Bourdieu & IR": Our IPS group @DVPW is organizing an online talk on Bourdieu-inspired IR research with three excellent speakers: Catriona Standfield, @deepaknair.bsky.social & Leonie Holthaus (@tuda.bsky.social). 17 January, 2pm - please join us! :) Registration: holthaus@pg.tu-darmstadt.de
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Amoz JY Hor @amozhor.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
We found it surprising at how little was written on Emotions and Global Governance, so @jittipm.bsky.social and I wrote this essay for the Oxford Handbook on Emotions and IR (edited by @simonkoschut.bsky.social & @andrewagross.bsky.social) :)
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
"Bourdieu & IR": Our IPS group @DVPW is organizing an online talk on Bourdieu-inspired IR research with three excellent speakers: Catriona Standfield, @deepaknair.bsky.social & Leonie Holthaus (@tuda.bsky.social). 17 January, 2pm - please join us! :) Registration: holthaus@pg.tu-darmstadt.de
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
New blog post @lseblogs.bsky.social: In response to recent commentaries, Lisbeth Zimmermann, Johanna Speyer and I argue that the rules-based international order will not survive if its institutions only work in powerful states’ interests. #IOs #inequality #Trump wp.me/p3I2YF-eDx
wp.me
The rules-based international order will not survive if its institutions only work in powerful states’ interests
The current international order is in crisis, but what action to take to address this is hotly debated. One pathway recently outlined in a USAPP blog post is to reform global institutions to give m…
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Tim Heinkelmann-Wild @heinkelmann-wild.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
In a world where power is distributed unequally, int' orders must balance the rule of the powerful & the inclusion of the weak. But how to recalibrate them to ensure the order’s future resilience? Three smart colleagues from Frankfurt wrote a stimulating response to our own suggestions👇
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
New blog post @lseblogs.bsky.social: In response to recent commentaries, Lisbeth Zimmermann, Johanna Speyer and I argue that the rules-based international order will not survive if its institutions only work in powerful states’ interests. #IOs #inequality #Trump wp.me/p3I2YF-eDx
wp.me
The rules-based international order will not survive if its institutions only work in powerful states’ interests
The current international order is in crisis, but what action to take to address this is hotly debated. One pathway recently outlined in a USAPP blog post is to reform global institutions to give m…
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Minseon Ku @minseonku.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Created a starter pack based on a handful of scholars I could find here working on diplomacy. Hopefully more will join or be active on this space soon. Let me know if you want to be added! go.bsky.app/L45tvLg
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Kseniya Oksamytna @kseniyaoksamytna.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
It's been a fantastic project working together with amazing @oisintansey.bsky.social, @birtegippert.bsky.social and Sarah von Billerbeck! "United Nations Peacekeeping and the Politics of Authoritarianism" is open access, out in early 2025 If you're an academic, please order a copy for your library
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Dr Georgina Holmes @drgholmes.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
go.bsky.app/RHqYVwb
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Nele Kortendiek @nkortendiek.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
🎉🔜My book "Global Governance on the Ground" is coming out in just two weeks! I will do a proper thread soon. For now, go have a look: global.oup.com/academic/pro... (and pre-order for your library 🤓)
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Ricky Clark @rickyclark.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
I've seen so many great starter packs, but I've yet to encounter one on int'l organizations and cooperation. So, I made one. It is no doubt incomplete, but I hope you find it helpful nonetheless. Feel free to circulate and, if you have suggestions on who to add, send them my way! go.bsky.app/RbHqH38
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 12/09/2024
With "Broken Solidarities", @felixanderl.bsky.social has written a truly fascinating book @brisunipress.bsky.social about how open global governance divides and rules. I wrote a (far less fascinating) book review at FJSB. Have a look - and then read the book! :) www.degruyter.com/document/doi...
degruyter.com
Scheitern durch Fragmentierung
Article Scheitern durch Fragmentierung was published on September 30, 2024 in the journal Forschungsjournal Soziale Bewegungen (volume 37, issue 3).
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Matthias Kranke @mattkranke.bsky.social · 16/04/2024
🚨 Introduction to special section on "quantified futures", co-authored with John Berten, now out in BJPIR. Great collaboration with John and the contributors! 👇 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 19/04/2024
Very happy to see this article published @jeppjournal.bsky.social! Dirk Peters (@prif.org) and I analyze how trust is lost (and can be rebuilt) when states leave international organizations. #Brexit Open access here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
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Global Studies Quarterly @gsqjournal.bsky.social · 11/03/2024
🚨New Article🚨 "“Just Theater!”—How Self-Legitimation Practices Can Backfire in International Organizations" by Ben Christian Read OPEN ACCESS here: academic.oup.com/isagsq/artic...
academic.oup.com
“Just Theater!”—How Self-Legitimation Practices Can Backfire in International Organizations
Abstract. Working in international organizations (IOs) is not always a pleasure. Contradictory external demands make it difficult to do the right thing, constan
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 29/02/2024
Very happy to share this new article @gsqjournal.bsky.social! Analyzing the perceptions of IO staff, I show that self-legitimation practices of IO leadership can also backfire and destabilize the organization. Open access here: academic.oup.com/isagsq/artic...
academic.oup.com
“Just Theater!”—How Self-Legitimation Practices Can Backfire in International Organizations
Abstract. Working in international organizations (IOs) is not always a pleasure. Contradictory external demands make it difficult to do the right thing, constan
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 12/01/2024
How do IOs change? @kseniyaoksamytna.bsky.social tackles this big question in her excellent book “Advocacy & Change in IOs”. I wrote a review @the-peio.bsky.social, highlighting what makes this book so special. A must-read for scholars of IOs, norms & peacekeeping! link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Kseniya Oksamytna. 2023. Advocacy and Change in International Organizations: Communication, Protecti...
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Ben Christian @benchristian.bsky.social · 04/10/2023
A comfortable office chair in my size, great colleagues like @mirkoheinzel.bsky.social & Theresa Squatrito, and a very cool department -- I'm looking forward to exciting weeks as a Visiting Fellow at LSE. If you are in London and up for a coffee, please let me know!
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