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Ken McDonagh

@kenmcdonagh.bsky.social
1.7K followers 4.2K following 320 posts

Associate Prof in IR, DCU, research EU security & defence, occasional runner, dad of triplets, mo thuairim fèin

PostsRepliesMedia
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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Latest publication: Hammers & Nails: Military Innovation as a Strategic Dead End In this article I argue that innovation has become an end-in-itself, supplanting the much harder challenge of defining a meaningful, justifiable and achievable strategy. www.militarystrategymagazine.com/article/hamm...
militarystrategymagazine.com
Hammers and Nails: Military Innovation as a Strategic Dead End - Military Strategy Magazine
This article argues that contemporary Western military innovation has become a strategic dead end. Tracing the evolution of military innovation from the Revolution in Military Affairs through counteri...
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Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 21h
It’s also really clear to me this week that the people telling us that AI will transform work…haven’t seen a lot of jobs where people work.
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Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Most TV is just this now.
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Izzy Kamikaze @izzykamikaze.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Mam made the front page, which would delight her! Funeral arrangements/condolences are here: rip.ie/death-notice...
Front page story in the Carlow Nationalist, "Trailblazing Margaret was the first female reporter in a local paper."
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Roberta Metsola @president.europarl.europa.eu · 29/09/2026
Good to have you back at @europarl.europa.eu, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Our Parliament will continue to support all Belarusians fighting for a democratic future rooted in freedom and respect for human rights. You can always count on us.
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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Having real #MeToo flashbacks today, what with various news stories going around, and thinking a lot about how women were encouraged to rip themselves open and show off our trauma, in all its Technicolor glory, so that men might begin to believe us
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Wendy Lyon @wendylyon.eurosky.social · 29/09/2026
This goes for Ireland too. I have not seen one single MSM journalist ask O’Callaghan, Burke, or Lawless how they reconcile their desire to cut immigration numbers with their own governmental reports showing an economic need for MORE inward migration. #speirghorm
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Max @maxtegman.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
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Christina Wolbrecht @cwolbrecht.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I mean, COME ON.
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Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
My department - @ucdpolitics.bsky.social - is hiring two PERMANENT posts in any area of politics, international relations, theory, or development studies. Please apply if you are on the academic job market, and if you're not, please do us a solid & spread the word! Deadline NOV 9.
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Andy Scollick @andyscollick.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
What happens on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown has ramifications for Northern Ireland, Ireland and UK politics. If the PSNI (police) force a path through the nationalist residents and protect a loyalist triumphalist hate march ('Orange parade') along the road, it could spark widespread unrest.
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Ruth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
This is a poor take that suggests Owen Jones doesn't know much about Russia in the 1990s, including Russia-US or wider Russia-West relations in the 1990s. By giving only one part of the story, he is repeating the Russian political elite's self-serving line that it was all the West's fault. Long 🧵
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Ken McDonagh @kenmcdonagh.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
This is not usually a literary account but if you haven’t read this yet, get your hands on it! A remarkable novel
Picture of the cover of “Said the Dead” a novel by Doireann Nì Ghrìofa
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Katja Bego @katjabego.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Absolutely delighted to see my book reviewed so positively by Tim Judah in the @financialtimes.com! www.ft.com/content/f5ca...
ft.com
Undersea cables: the battle for the ocean floor
Two books take a deep dive into the hybrid wars over the vital arteries without which most of modern life would grind to a halt
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Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The BBC of course are not bothering to live report what is going on right now but apparently believe this is news...
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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I think this is pretty hard to justify. The education reporters might I suppose argue that the Orr story is a politics one and hence goes to that desk. But we also have the student complaints, mentioned in the FT long read and apparently reopened this week.
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Dublin City University @dublincityuni.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
#ICYMI: A new book, 'Fearless! Vincent Browne's Magill and Ireland in the 1980s', by DCU’s Prof. Kevin Rafter, tells the story of the influential current affairs magazine and Irish life in the 1980s. Read more: launch.dcu.ie/4y1tGQZ
Prof Kevin Rafter at the launch of his new book Fearless! at the Mansion House. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie(L-R) Pat Kenny, Prof Kevin Rafter, Mariel Deegan (New Island Books) and Dara Calleary TD, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht at the launch of Fearless! at the Mansion House Dublin. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie
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Sharrow 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇮🇪🦄💙📚🎃 @sharrow.eurosky.social · 21/09/2026
We used such 'social media' platforms to create too much progressive change. It would not be possible to grow grass roots engagement and to organise the way we were able to for #MarriageEquality and #Repeal.
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Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Virginia Woolf scholars – you have the floor.
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Dublin City University @dublincityuni.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
DCU Arts & Culture and the @artscouncilireland.bsky.social have announced two Writers in Residence positions for 2027. The closing date for applications is Thursday, October 1st, at 5:30pm. For more information, click here: launch.dcu.ie/3TAQrfO
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Harsh. Fair.
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Dublin City University @dublincityuni.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Why is reaching leadership still so hard for women? Prof Yseult Freeney of DCU Business School notes workplace cultures haven't kept pace. The 1950s 'ideal worker' norm penalises women who handle most caregiving, making structural change essential. Read more in @irishtimes.com: launch.dcu.ie/4yCmniD
Prof Yseult Freeney
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Jacqueline Antonovich @jackiantonovich.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
LOVE to see one of my bestie's work out there. I've been following Noah's work since we were wee grad students at Michigan. His work is amazing!
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Vincent Morley @vmstarai.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
He has a more general book on the same subject that covers the period 1600-1900: cic.ie/shop/leabhai...
cic.ie
Béarla sa Ghaeilge - Cabhair Choigríche: An Códmheascadh Gaeilge/ Béarla I Litríocht na Gaeilge 1600-1900 | Cló Iar-Chonnacht
Ról an Bhéarla mar mheán tánaisteach i réimsí áirithe ceapadóireachta Gaeilge sa tréimhse 1600-1900 ó thaobh na teangeolaíochta agus na litríochta araon de.
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EU Institute for Security Studies @euiss.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Today’s #SOTEU touched on several questions EUISS has been working on closely: Europe’s security architecture, how to sustain support for Ukraine & the strategic enablers Europe still lacks. Some of our proposals ↓
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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
It’s not an “impossible position”. Sheeran is a very wealthy, successful musician who was asked by a stadium owner to kick a fellow musician off his tour for political reasons. He could choose to kick Macklemore off or to say no thanks, we’ll play elsewhere. www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...
independent.co.uk
Ed Sheeran in an ‘impossible position’ over Macklemore Gaza row, says Lisa Nandy
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Thomas von Boguslawski @thomasvb.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Breaking: #Finland has decided to join the French initiative on Forward Deterrence: www.presidentti.fi/en/joint-sta...
presidentti.fi
Joint Statement on Finland’s Participation in French Forward Deterrence - Presidentti
In his speech on nuclear deterrence doctrine, given on March 2nd at Île Longue, the President of the French Republic has expressed the European dimension of France’s vital interests, and articulated t...
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Jess Miers 🦝 @jmiers230.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I did a somewhat deep dive into the recent OpenAI and Anthropic "hacks" for an upcoming interview. IMO, the AI companies are better off running with the "rogue AI" story because the real story is actually pretty embarrassing. Like making your Wi-Fi password "wifi" embarrassing. 🧵
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Vatnik Soup @vatniksoup.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
In today’s Vatnik Soup, we’ll introduce the “Safeguard Swiss neutrality” ballot initiative, which goes to a nationwide vote in Switzerland on 27 September. Superficially, its promise can sound appealing: peace, sovereignty, and permanent armed neutrality. But most of that is a distraction:
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Christoph Harig @charig.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Defence secretary Pistorius doesn't want AfD government to see National Defence Plan (so they can't share it with Russia) Will be hard to navigate this issue with an ever stronger AfD, though. How is national defence supposed to work if single states are excluded? www.focus.de/politik/deut...
focus.de
Pistorius will streng geheimen Plan vor AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt verbergen
Verteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius überlegt, im Falle einer AfD-Regierungsübernahme einen geheimen Plan aus der Staatskanzlei von Sachsen-Anhalt zu entfernen.
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John Gibbons 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @thinkorswim.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Incredibly, this RTÉ news report describes a criminal act of bribery and vote-rigging as a “striking attempt to persuade voters to back his party”. The degree to which news media continues to sane-washed this unhinged tyrant is a stain that will never wash off. www.rte.ie/news/us/2026...
rte.ie
Trump offers Americans $5,000 if Republicans win Congress
US President Donald Trump said he would pay every American adult a $5,000 (€4,299) "Trump dividend" if Republicans retain control of Congress in November's midterm election, a striking attempt to pers...
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Ken McDonagh @kenmcdonagh.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Fr Dougal Maguire sitting on a couch, the text reads "So I took the liberty of taping the conversation"
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Royal Irish Academy @ria.ie · 10/09/2026
'Drumcondra' by Ruth McManus is the latest publication from the Royal Irish Academy’s Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA) research programme. We are excited about this new publication and the launch of it in mid November! 👀 Pre-order 'Drumcondra' on our website: shop.ria.ie/products/dru...
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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 10/09/2026
A dark blizzard of disinformation is warping the public’s perception of our great city. But we know the truth: our homicide rate is lower than every major US city, neighbourhood crimes are down and we’ve been ranked #1 city in the world 11 years in a row. My piece for The Times.
thetimes.com
We must fight back against troll army’s lies about London
There is a dark blizzard of disinformation online, where our capital is described as a lawless dystopia in decline — this couldn’t be further from the truth
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Charles Fourier @charlesfourier.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Bill Bryson’s words seem appropriate to post right now
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Kaja Kallas @kajakallas.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The public glorification afforded to a convicted war criminal in Belgrade is an affront to the memory of the victims, their families, and all those who suffered during the conflicts in the Western Balkans. (1/2)
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Jen Keane @zenbuffy.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
A significant contributor to the gender pay gap and the continuing financial disparity between men and women is the undervaluing of all of the unpaid care work done by women in Ireland. Women all over Ireland get up early, every morning, and go to work, unpaid and unvalued.
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
80 year-olds with pro-Palestine signs: arrested as terrorists. Greens planning to block a road, to highlight an existential crisis: sent down for years. Masked far-right thugs blocking roads and ports, using intimidation, obstruction & threatening behaviour: no arrests. The real two-tier policing.
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Gordon Hodson @gordonhodsonphd.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
#AcademicSky If you, or someone you know, doesn't get why it's concerning that #reading rates & reading comprehension are declining precipitously, read this by @rosehorowitch.bsky.social at @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
theatlantic.com
The End of Reading Is Here
Optimists once believed that universal literacy was inevitable. Now it seems that the age of reading might be a short anomaly in human history.
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Catherine Baker @cat-baker.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
My first solo-author article, Is the Far-Right Anti-Science?, is now published in Social Epistemology. It explores the far-right’s epistemic struggle to claim scientific authority, attacking and co-opting science to legitimise white supremacy & misogyny—an issue academia must increasingly attend to
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Josef O'Shea @josefoshea.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
English Graves for English Corpses
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Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Maybe Dr James Orr was only hired by the University of Cambridge as they needed to get the quota of white male academics up. His fall from grace is perhaps due to his over-promotion and the fact that rich white men aren't really suited to positions of trust and authority. #r4today #Arday
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Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 04/09/2026
So, if I understand Nigel Farage's argument correctly it is: "Everyone I trusted and elevated into a position of responsibility is constantly doing crimes that benefit me but of which I somehow have no knowledge. I am a man with the character, judgement, and intelligence to run the country." Ok.
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Asheesh Kapur Siddique @asheeshks.org · 03/09/2026
This article succeeds where most on the same topic fail (most notably Heller's infamous New Yorker piece on the 'end of the English major') bc it shows the relationship between 'declining majors' and 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤, 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 defunding and disinvestment in programs administrators want to diminish or end.
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Social Democrats @social-democrats.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The NTA’s decision to hike bus and rail fares by an average of 15% is a retrograde step that will further discourage commuters from using public transport. It flies in the face of Ireland’s climate action objectives and takes no account of the cost-of-living crisis.
socialdemocrats.ie
Bus and rail fare increases a slap in the face for commuters - Social Democrats
Increases to bus and rail fares being announced today by the National Transport Authority (NTA) fly in the face of Ireland’s climate action objectives and take no account of the cost-of-living crisis,...
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
New from me: The academic summer discourse was dominated by the Arday case. Defenders of his accuser cited academic freedom. The Trump administration agreed, even as it and red state governments dismantle academic freedom at home in much more profound ways.🧵 donmoynihan.substack.com/p/which-stor...
donmoynihan.substack.com
Which stories about academia matter?
The Arday affair got more attention than systematic assaults on academic freedom
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Dublin City University @dublincityuni.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
DCU is thrilled to announce the appointment of acclaimed dancer and choreographer Mónica Muñoz as the new @artscouncilireland.bsky.social Children and Young People’s Arts (CYPA) Dancer-in-Residence. Read more: launch.dcu.ie/4xDNTfG
Mónica Muñoz
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Global Abortion Rights News @globalabortionnews.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Olivia Rodrigo raised $20 million for women's well-being with a benefit show featuring a women-led lineup. Her show raised $10 million and Melinda French Gates pledged another $10 million. Rodrigo said the festival's artists and activists give her hope despite the “regression of women's rights."
nbcboston.com
Olivia Rodrigo's festival is uniting women and girls behind nonprofits promoting their well-being
Few superstars are better suited to bridge the gap between Gen Z and nonprofits, which have struggled to build relationships with younger donors.
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Dublin City University @dublincityuni.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Did social media companies fail to protect democratic integrity during the Irish presidential election? DCU researchers have highlighted major issues with how social media companies handled electoral integrity during the election campaign. Read more via The Journal: launch.dcu.ie/3SBIGWu
Photo by Niall_Majury on iStock
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Catherine E. de Vries @catherinedevries.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
We’re hiring! Poli Sci & IR department at IE University in Madrid is hiring three tenure-track Assistant Professors, starting 1st of September 2027, in: Comparative Politics: lnkd.in/ePDfwjJB International Relations: lnkd.in/eDu5vGTf Political Economy: lnkd.in/eciDukTA 1/3
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