Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoAnna Girling @annagirling.bsky.social · 17/09/2026The Centre of African Studies is the only academic institute in Scotland of its kind - with its own budget, space, and leadership - and has produced, and brought to Edinburgh, generations of scholars. The proposal to close ('restructure') it diminishes the university, and Edinburgh, as a whole. 15132
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 11/09/2026PhD Commonwealth scholarships for residents of Bangladesh, Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia. Interested in supporting proposals focused on peace and security 🙂. bit.ly/4dvzzO6bit.lyCommonwealth Scholarships | Postgraduate study | Loughborough University 001
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoNanjala @nanjala.bsky.social · 26/08/2026This letter is long but worth reading through. Consider signing, especially if you’re an academic. 055
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoJosh Milburn @joshmilburn.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Reminder: Applications are due WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST for a lecturer/senior lecturer in philosophy in my department. Teaching/research area open, but it must speak to PPE. I'm happy to speak informally/unofficially to anyone interested in applying. #philjobs 036
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoAfrica Is a Country @africasacountry.bsky.social · 02/07/2026In the wake of yesterday's World Cup results for DRC and Senegal, it's worth reflecting on the actual situation of African football from our 2nd print edition: africasacountry.com/2026/07/the-...africasacountry.comThe globalization of African footballCan a continent dominate global football while losing control of its own game? 067
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Interesting summary of #Trump #Africa policy on @democracyinafrica.bsky.social. "...to describe it as ‘imperialist’ or ‘hegemonic’ or even ‘realist’ belies the fact that it does not seem to be delivering much... and is most clearly showing that US influence is waning". shorturl.at/hmmqGshorturl.atTrump and Africa | Democracy in AfricaAfrica is not high up the Trump Administration’s priority list. In fact, it is explicitly at the bottom. It appears only on the very last page of the 2025 National Security Strategy, and this position... 001
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Thread in French on warcrimes committed by Russian mercenaries in Mali and how they are enabled by the Malian military authorities. 101
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoGlobal Society @globalsociety.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Our host institution (@kent.ac.uk) is hiring a permanent Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in International Conflict Analysis. Please share to your networks! jobs.kent.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...jobs.kent.ac.ukJob Opportunity at the University of Kent: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in International Conflict AnalysisOn the 1 August 2026, The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent will form a pioneering new multi-university group called London and South- East (LASE) University Group. Should you join us... 0107
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 24/06/2026Worrying news from Colombia. It is worth reminding that de la Espriella has no government experience and that, in spite of his "tough on narcos" rethoric, he has become rich by defending in court paramilitary leaders with links to the drug traffic... 010
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 11/06/2026Starmer cut the development budget claiming he needed money for defence, prompting the Development minister to resign; now the defence people resign, because money is not enough. Whe will he learn that trying to please everyone means actually making everyone unhappy? www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...bbc.co.ukAl Carns resigns as armed forces minister hours after defence secretary steps downIn a letter to the prime minister, Carns says it is clear the change he had pushed for in terms of defence spending "is not going to come". 120
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoAlexandre Christoyannopoulos @alexchristoy.bsky.social · 03/06/2026🎙Enjoying roundtable on "Waging #war, making #peace" with @rogermacginty.bsky.social, @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social, Aaron Edwards, Claire Smith, and Mary Kaldor at #BISA2026 panel at 1:15pm: conference.bisa.ac.ukconference.bisa.ac.ukIs International Studies ready for what comes next? New thinking, new directionsThe BISA conference is renowned for being inclusive, diverse and friendly. We bring together a worldwide community of specialists to discuss, promote and develop international studies. 032
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoLoughborough International Relations, Politics and History @irph.bsky.social · 21/05/2026We're very pleased to share the new website of our Centre for Security Studies! The Centre is directed by @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social, and connects with researchers from across the University to analyse security challenges through an interdisciplinary lens. www.lboro.ac.uk/subjects/pol...lboro.ac.ukCentre for Security Studies | International Relations, Politics and History | Loughborough University 032
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 27/04/2026Quite shocking developments in Mali, where a major jihadist offensive is under way. 000
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 16/03/2026I am sure they will all be incredibly competent😜. Actually wish that someone becomes a candidate just to troll the party... 000
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoDon from RealSurf @mrrealsurf.bsky.social · 09/03/2026The flaw in this argument is that it presupposes Trump has the capacity to think strategically in any way, shape or form. He's into the second week of this without articulating anything resembling a coherent rationale for the attack . And he's given even less thought to an exit strategy. 062
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 09/03/2026I could not believe when I saw it but yes, the White House X account has shared a propaganda video that uses footage of action movies like Braveheart or Gladiator😖. These psychos cannot understand the differences between a film or video game and a real war... x.com/WhiteHouse/s...x.comThe White House on X: "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. 🇺🇸🔥 https://t.co/0502N6a3rL" / XJUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. 🇺🇸🔥 https://t.co/0502N6a3rL 000
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 09/03/2026I am finding this by Gareth Evans quite out of touch. Trump and Netanyahu do not "face an uphill battle" in arguing that the Iran war would be "illegal but morally defensible". They have no interest in facing that battle, because they do not care about the R2P. www.globalr2p.org/publications...globalr2p.orgWhen Is an Illegal War Morally Defensible? - Global Centre for the Responsibility to ProtectIn international relations, manifestly illegal government action can sometimes be morally defensible. While historical examples of legitimacy trumping legality are few and far between, they do exist. ... 010
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoAbu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 05/03/2026“Gulf states can no longer believe the United States can or will protect them from existential threats. And even as they are forced to openly cooperate with Israel in its war, they increasingly view it as a threat.” My new piece on the Gulf and the Iran war. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/05/i...foreignpolicy.comThe United States Could Lose the GulfIran’s attacks on its neighbors are a reminder that the United States cannot protect them. 611754
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoWolfram Lacher @wlacher.bsky.social · 05/03/2026The DFG (German Research Foundation) has a programme funding stays of up to three months at German academic institutions for researchers in early career phases and of all disciplines from MENA (www.dfg.de/en/news/news...) and Sub-Saharan Africa (www.dfg.de/en/news/news...).dfg.deTWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Programme 098
Reposted by Giulia Piccolinoelia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 04/03/2026The IDF just ordered the *entirety of south Lebanon* to be forcibly displaced. They are emptying the land of its population, creating a massive crisis, and will now proceed to further annihilate large parts of Lebanon. The very nation state of Lebanon is being destroyed. 723091459
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 04/03/2026The four countries - Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan - are all affected by armed conflict. So it is perfecly normal that their citizens are "likely to make an asylum claim after originally coming to the UK to study". Shame on you Shabana Mahmood! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukMahmood to stop study visas from four countries due to 'abuse'The government will end study visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, due to what she says is abuse. 030
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoElizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 04/03/2026🧵Cans of Worms possibly opened by Trump's war of choice in Iran, a running list: (not exhaustive, with the caveat that I am not an expert on the region so these are questions from a US foreign policy perspective, please add others) 1/? 1023782
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 03/03/2026For those who still think that this war has anything to do with freedom for the Iranian people, worth reading #Hegseth's speech in full: "No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars".war.gov 131
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 27/02/2026#Reform logic. Muslims voting for a non religious white woman, whose a party is headed by a gay Jewish man, is "dangerous sectarianism". White men claiming that you need to be an "ethnic English" to truly belong and threatening to deport hundred thousands is perfectly fine and normal...manchestereveningnews.co.ukReform blame 'woke progressives, sectarianism and Islamists' for election defeatMatt Goodwin said the Greens were 'riding a very dangerous wave' 010
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 27/02/2026Fantastic that not only the Green have won this by election and humiliated Labour, but also that they are over 10% above Reform. Clearly the people of Gorton and Denton have chosen hope over hate! 💚💚💚 And now perhaps Matt Goodwin should eat his electoral leaflets 😂! www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...bbc.co.ukNew Green MP says 'we can win anywhere' as Starmer vows to 'keep fighting' after by-election lossHannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, wins the Gorton and Denton by-election, with Reform coming in second and Labour in third. 000
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoAfrica Spectrum @africaspectrum.bsky.social · 25/02/2026Celebrating Africa Spectrum at 60 🎉 ➡️Former Editor-in-Chief @grauvogelj.bsky.social (2018–2022) highlights articles from her tenure that impressed her for their strong empirical grounding & for raising important ethical questions for Global North-based #Africanstudies scholars. Thread 🧵 141
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 25/02/2026Watched this brilliant play based on the research that our @elhistorioso.bsky.social carried out in the #BBC archives. It tells about #LGBTQ+ people in 1950s England and the bigotry that dominated British society www.lboro.ac.uk/arts/whats-o... @lborouniversity.bsky.social @irph.bsky.sociallboro.ac.ukThe BBC's First Homosexual | LU ArtsMulti-award-winning writer Dr Stephen M Hornby's play based on the transcript of a banned BBC documentary on homosexuality in 1954. 051
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 24/02/2026"Universities are perpetually fundraising and often avoid asking hard questions about where the money came from.... Epstein’s malevolent genius was understanding personal and professional vulnerabilities and then offering a bundle of bespoke rewards". www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comWhy are so many academics in the Epstein files? It’s not just about money | Christopher MarquisIn a university ecosystem that breeds hunger for status, Epstein made scholars feel like celebrities 000
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 23/02/2026#Reform wants to deport hundreds of thousands people who are legally in the UK and have Indefinite Leave to Remain. To understand what it means, the deportation of people of Asian origin by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin is probably the closest example. Will Zia Yusuf also deport his own parents? 000
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoLoughborough International Relations, Politics and History @irph.bsky.social · 20/02/2026This week, over 150 Part C students presented at the IRPH Dissertation Conference. Attached are just four title slides (from Mia Rose Tanswell, Niam Bhattacharya, Joshua Ryan, and Amelia Henley) giving a tiny sample of the range of topics we explored together. 031
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 20/02/2026When you are too much of a racist and ass***e even for #Reform. Ironically (but perhaps not so surprisingly) this guy who campaigned for an anti-immigration party seems to be a migrant himself... #Gorton and #Denton #VoteGreen 001
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 20/02/2026Very happy to see that the @greenparty.org.uk has won in a constituency that seemed impossible to gain just a few years ago! Proud to have given a tiny contribution to this campaign! 💚🎉 000
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Today we have a by-election for a local councillor in #Leicester. And next week is time to beat the awful #MatthewGoodwin in Greater Manchester. Let's vote for change! @greenparty.org.uk 000
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 08/02/2026This government is managing to make everyone discontent, basically. The Reformers won't vote for them anyway and the traditional Labour voters will be repelled by this kind of language. 010
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 05/02/2026PhD proposals wanted for the annual scholarship competition at @lborouniversity.bsky.social School of Social Sciences and Humanities! Looking forward to receiving proposals on #peace and #security, internal #conflicts, #PVE, particularly but not exclusively with a focus on #WestAfrica. 031
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoIva Vukušić @vukusiciva.bsky.social · 01/02/2026Good morning. These institutions, built over decades, are flawed, but we'll miss them when they're gone. Scary to think where we got to. #UN www.bbc.com/news/article...bbc.comUN risks 'imminent financial collapse', secretary general warnsAntónio Guterres says the international body could run out of money by July due to members' unpaid fees. 12310
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 30/01/2026New slide for the introductive lecture of my International Conflict Management module... 🤨 000
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 22/01/2026The members of the Orwellian #BoardofPeace: Jared Kushner's only qualification – being Donald Trump's son-in-law 🙄 010
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 20/01/2026Research in dusty #BBC archives on how #LGBT people were portrayed in the media in the 1950s by my friend and colleague Marcus Collins comes to life in a play! Thanks to @theguardian.com for telling the story. @irph.bsky.social @lboropr.bsky.social 031
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoAlexandre Christoyannopoulos @alexchristoy.bsky.social · 14/01/2026📢 Delighted to announce publication of #pacifist rejoinders to the #Hitler question, with @ejisbisa.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1017/eis..... Paper tackles head on some of arguments pacifist detractors expect victory over, complicating their critique, & expanding unpacking pacifist critique. 195
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 16/01/2026If the next elections in the US are free and fair, Trump and the Republican party will lose them. IF is the important word here though... 010
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 15/01/2026Actually an interesting read if you go beyond the misleading headline. "Because airpower leaves no persistent leverage—it is essentially ephemeral in nature—which can be used to compel the adversary to take the desired action, by itself, it struggles with achieving political goals". 000
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 15/01/2026I am not sure whether we should be shocked at the cynism, or releaved that the US is for the moment not making things even worse with an ill-conceived intervention: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...theguardian.comTrump says Iran has told him ‘killing has stopped’ as he pulls back from strike threatsUS president says he has been assured by Tehran ‘there’s no plan for executions’ of protesters 000
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 14/01/2026Trump is an autocrat, but for me, rather than Hitler or Mussolini, the precedent that comes to mind is Leopold II of Belgium, a kleptocrapt obsessed with the idea of "owning" (rather than ruling) a foreign territory. He wants Greenland like Leopold wanted Congo. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold...en.wikipedia.orgLeopold II of Belgium - Wikipedia 150
Reposted by Giulia Piccolinofrancesco strazzari @zaz.bsky.social · 14/01/2026The Manifacturing of the Pahlavi popularity - a detailed analysis exposing how large part of the repressive traits of today’s Iran (Evin prison included) have unmistakable roots in the Shah era. legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2026/01/1...legrandcontinent.euIran : qui est Reza Pahlavi, le fils du shah qui se prépare à devenir vice-roi?Alors que les manifestations s’intensifient en Iran dans la répression sanglante du régime, Trump parle de regime change — et le fils du dernier shah d’Iran, Reza Pahlavi, s'active en coulisse. Qui e... 074
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoThe Guardian @theguardian.com · 13/01/2026With thousands dead, the Iranian regime may survive these protests – but not in its current form | Sanam Vakiltheguardian.comWith thousands dead, the Iranian regime may survive these protests – but not in its current form | Sanam VakilWith fear, surveillance and brute force only set to increase, there are disturbing parallels with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, says Sanam Vakil of Chatham House 64619
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 13/01/2026Friends on social media, is there any account that you recommend to follow on the situation in Iran? I am tired of Western media that only seem to look at Trump and his mate Reza Pahlavi, ignoring the complexity of the opposition to the regime and the rest of the diaspora. 010
Giulia Piccolino @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social · 13/01/2026Very interesting piece from @wpr.bsky.social on how Trump is replacing the liberal 'standard treatment' for civil wars with agreements that are 'leader-to-leader and largely unilateral', 'substitute economic enforcement for institutional oversight' and have 'no political strings attached'. 032
Reposted by Giulia PiccolinoJudah Grunstein @judah-grunstein.bsky.social · 13/01/2026Great thread on the crisis of Conflict Studies in the age of authoritarian conflict management. Worth reading the entire thing. 1379