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Jan-Werner Mueller

@jwmueller-pu.bsky.social
18K followers 922 following 2.2K posts

Political Theory and Intellectual History. Politics of Architecture and Iconography. Some Public Affairs Commentary. Posting in a personal capacity. Texts mostly in LRB, Guardian, Foreign Policy, Architectural Review. Representation: Wylie.

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Reposted by Jan-Werner Mueller
Nomi Claire Lazar @nomiclairelazar.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Alberta separatists have gone to Washington offering Canadian fresh water and oil in exchange for (illegal?) US interference in the referendum.
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Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 03/10/2026
This country won't control its sex pests, so long as there's profit to be made.
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Matt Steinglass @mattsteinglass.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Part of the US MAGA objection to European speech laws is that people can be prosecuted in Germany for insulting public officials. Undersecretary of State Sarah Rogers has attacked Germany for proceeding against someone who called a Green official fat.
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Unless Congress reclaims its power, this will just become the new normal. A good first step would be to impeach Vought. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/u...
nytimes.com
National Science Foundation Diverted $1.4 Billion in Science Funds Mandated by Congress
The move, affecting about one-fifth of the National Science Foundation’s primary research budget, is the latest sign of how the White House is asserting more control over grants.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
10/14 in Berlin:
urania.de
Straße, Platz, Palast
Jan-Werner Müller, Charlotte Klonk und Bundeskanzler a.D. Olaf Scholz diskutieren über die Verbindung von Städtebau, politischem Denken und Macht.
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Benjamin McKean @blmckean.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Genuinely wonder how Rufo’s boss at the Manhattan Institute, Reihan Salam, thinks about this and his role in mainstreaming this open racism
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Recall Arendt on thinking -- or rather, not thinking -- in cliches.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"Es gilt, die politische Phantasie nicht länger an weitere vermeintliche Exzellenzuniversitäten...zu verschwenden, sondern für eine Reform zu verwenden, die das Verhältnis von Grundfinanzierung und Drittmitteln vom Kopf auf die Füße stellt und endlich das überkommene Personalmodell reformiert."
faz.net
Ein Plädoyer für die Abschaffung des Exzellenzwettbewerbs an den Hochschulen
Die Exzellenzstrategie zieht ihre Brandspur weiter durch das Wissenschaftssystem. Ihr Nutzen ist fraglich, ihre Nachteile sind riesig. Warum gibt es sie noch?
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
10/14 in Berlin:
urania.de
Straße, Platz, Palast
Jan-Werner Müller, Charlotte Klonk und Bundeskanzler a.D. Olaf Scholz diskutieren über die Verbindung von Städtebau, politischem Denken und Macht.
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stevelevitsky.bsky.social @stevelevitsky.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Lucan Way and I have been writing about competitive authoritarianism for more than 25 years. We never thought we'd write this piece. www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/com...
journalofdemocracy.org
Competitive Authoritarianism in America | Journal of Democracy
The United States has slid into competitive authoritarianism. The slide has been modest and remains reversible—but it is real. Even after Donald Trump, American democracy will remain fragile.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"Es gilt, die politische Phantasie nicht länger an weitere vermeintliche Exzellenzuniversitäten...zu verschwenden, sondern für eine Reform zu verwenden, die das Verhältnis von Grundfinanzierung und Drittmitteln vom Kopf auf die Füße stellt und endlich das überkommene Personalmodell reformiert."
faz.net
Ein Plädoyer für die Abschaffung des Exzellenzwettbewerbs an den Hochschulen
Die Exzellenzstrategie zieht ihre Brandspur weiter durch das Wissenschaftssystem. Ihr Nutzen ist fraglich, ihre Nachteile sind riesig. Warum gibt es sie noch?
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Recall Arendt on thinking -- or rather, not thinking -- in cliches.
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Lily Mason @lilymasonphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
My new JOD piece arguing against the “cure polarization” approach to saving democracy.
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Isabelle DeSisto @isadesisto.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Our article with @grigopop.bsky.social and @jacobtucker.bsky.social is now out in @bjpols.bsky.social! This has been a very long journey from the initial draft to publication, so we are very excited 😀 I'll summarize our findings in the next few of posts in the thread.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"[L]’Empereur était pressé de me montrer une carte de Paris, sur laquelle on voyait tracées par Lui-Même, en bleu, en rouge, en jaune et en vert, suivant leur degré d’urgence, les différentes voies nouvelles qu’il se proposait de faire exécuter..." Is there such a thing as a Caesarist City?
cambridge.org
The Caesarist City | Modern Intellectual History | Cambridge Core
The Caesarist City - Volume 23 Issue 3
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
apollo-magazine.com/jan-werner-m...
apollo-magazine.com
Does democracy have an architecture of its own?
Jan-Werner Müller’s new book explores the question of how we might design truly democratic spaces, but Edwin Heathcote suggests that the answer lies in our own behaviour
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Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
He is not burning cash. He is investing money to shape political discourse and public opinion in line with his ideology and interests. And it's a successful strategy. Also, for a billionaire losing 10 million is like losing 1000 pounds for a middle class person.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"[L]’Empereur était pressé de me montrer une carte de Paris, sur laquelle on voyait tracées par Lui-Même, en bleu, en rouge, en jaune et en vert, suivant leur degré d’urgence, les différentes voies nouvelles qu’il se proposait de faire exécuter..." Is there such a thing as a Caesarist City?
cambridge.org
The Caesarist City | Modern Intellectual History | Cambridge Core
The Caesarist City - Volume 23 Issue 3
053
Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
apollo-magazine.com/jan-werner-m...
apollo-magazine.com
Does democracy have an architecture of its own?
Jan-Werner Müller’s new book explores the question of how we might design truly democratic spaces, but Edwin Heathcote suggests that the answer lies in our own behaviour
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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Hegseth says “anti-American losers in our media” are committing “treason” by not obediently amplifying his Iran war lies. He hasn’t held a war briefing for reporters at the Pentagon since May. Which means he hasn’t justified his actions to the public, even though he’s conducting a war in our name.
nytimes.com
In Speech, Hegseth Targets Diversity, Transgender People, Reporters and Iran
In his “State of the Force” address, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth focused on the culture war and accused reporters of “treason” over Iran war coverage.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Joining the International of Rogue States, the axis of corruption…:
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
👇🎯
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
👇🎯
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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
It's not a "phenomenal moment." I don't care that Klobuchar dunked & won the rhetorical battle. It's a five-alarm fire for American democracy & it needs to be treated as such by everyone in the media & our political system & our society.
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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
These ads go in the same category as brazen, easily disproven lies after ICE killings. It’s not about persuasion. It’s a display of power. They could have passed them off as PAC-funded. They added “paid for by the U.S. government” because they want us to know they can break the law with impunity.
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Cethan Leahy @cethanleahy.com · 30/09/2026
I think we underrate that JCO came up in 20th century New York literary circles where everyone said five most devastating insults before breakfast and as one of the last one standing, her competition is guys who get sad if their chatbot isn't sufficiently nice to them.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Joining the International of Rogue States, the axis of corruption…:
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Ben Yoel @benyoel.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
How do elections in backsliding settings shape attitudes toward democracy? @gabrielagreilinger.com and I fielded two surveys: 1 pre/post & 1 after Hungary's election. In short, elections appear to increase satisfaction among winners, even months after. Working paper: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com
Democratic Attitudes When Backsliding Reverses: Evidence from Hungary
Increasingly, opposition actors in settings undergoing democratic backsliding have been able to unseat anti-democratic incumbents. But unseating an anti-democra
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Reuters @reuters.com · 30/09/2026
UK police ask prosecutors to consider manslaughter charges over Grenfell fire reut.rs/4rDEjHv
reut.rs
UK police ask prosecutors to consider manslaughter charges over Grenfell fire
British police said on Wednesday they had asked ​prosecutors to consider charges including corporate manslaughter ‌and gross negligence manslaughter against dozens of people over the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people.
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Le Monde @lemonde.fr · 30/09/2026
William Marx, professeur au Collège de France : « Nous entrons peut-être dans une période où la littérature sera produite en grande partie par des machines, pour des machines »
lemonde.fr
William Marx, professeur au Collège de France : « Nous entrons peut-être dans une période où la littérature sera produite en grande partie par des machines, pour des machines »
L’intelligence artificielle bouleverse le monde littéraire alors que la tendance est aux textes sincères et rares. Dans ce contexte, le cas de Thélyson Orélien était voué à faire polémique, analyse l’historien de la littérature dans une tribune au « Monde ».
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Nils Gilman @nilsgilman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Most historians today argue that the key policies that made possible the US’s economic resurgence under Reagan were mostly initiated by Carter: military buildup, deregulation, taming of inflation, support for the strong $, etc. Reagan’s main policy innovation—tax cuts for the rich—was a net negative
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Dan Hirschman @asociologist.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"what we need to demand from universities far and wide is clear: Cease to be a place where sexual assault is often subject to less punishment than protesting and plagiarism." Cornell philosophy prof @katemanne.bsky.social in The Cut:
thecut.com
What It Feels Like at Cornell Right Now
As a professor at the Ivy League school, Kate Manne has known many, many victims. There’s a palpable feeling on campus, she writes, that this is big.
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Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Contrary to this op-ed, we don't actually have to give up on papers! New in @chronicle.com How to Assign Research Papers Again Three ways to counter AI and restore confidence in the integrity of student writing www.chronicle.com/article/how-...
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
FT has independently corroborated Kimberly Guilfoyle’s statement that the US was behind the collapse of the Romanian government of PM Bolojan over its refusal to buy US gas at above market prices: "We can do that to any country we want. We can do that here too." www.ft.com/content/7af7...
ft.com
Donald Trump’s ambassador to Greece causes stir in Romania
Kimberly Guilfoyle told embassy dinner in Athens ‘we can do that to any country’, in reference to Romanian government’s fall
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"There can be no compact when one party is not acting in good faith, nor under conditions of duress. There is no civic duty to comply when a representative, even one with an electoral mandate, acts beyond the scope of legal authority."
chronicle.com
Danielle Allen Is Wrong About Trump
Dealmaking under duress is always undemocratic.
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This is where having a Secretary of Education who cares and is knowledgeable about education would be an advantage
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Angela Mitropoulos @mitropoulos.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In case anyone required the data on "It's gender."
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Zack Beauchamp @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Nobody seems to bat an eye that Rufo's podcast partner is a longtime anonymous troll who called gays "f*ggots," referred to Asians as "mongoloids," and explicitly sees his partnership with Rufo as a strategy of normalizing what most of us would see as bigotry www.vox.com/politics/368...
vox.com
An inside look at how the far right is mainstreaming itself
An radical troll got unmasked — and then spilled the beans.
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Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A major structural hazard with extreme media ownership concentration is that oligarchs impose their ideological agendas--which almost always skew to the far right--on everyone. This capture of core info and communication infrastructures must be dismantled if we're to have any semblance of democracy.
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Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"the more we dug into Rubin’s claims and data, the more we realized that the assessments should not be kept confidential. The claims were too extreme, the institutions behind it were too prominent, and...media attention to the...project and to sociology’s supposed 'politicization' was too immense"
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Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Alternative hed: A Trump 2024 Campaign Ad Returns. This Time, You Paid For It.
A Trump 2024 Campaign Ad Returns, Now Brought to You by the Government The ad, which experts said could break federal law, shows President Trump vowing to "expel the warmongers" from the government, even as he wages a war with Iran.
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Posted Sept. 26
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Subversive film director suggests at the start of this piece of taxpayer-funded partisan propaganda that Trump should be put away in storage.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Alt-Erlaa, Vienna.
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Jan-Werner Mueller @jwmueller-pu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Schieflage - Denkanstoß? Rechtschreibfehler - Denkanstoß?
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Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The idea that people want AI oversight to happen "all of a sudden" ignores years of research, warnings, and policy efforts. The delay hasn’t been a lack of awareness; it’s been because of years of industry lobbying against regulation, political resistance, and inaction.
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