iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Melissa Schwartzberg

Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

New from @maschwar.bsky.social Melissa Schwartzberg, in response to Danielle Allen's repeated serious misreading of the moment and of the Trump administration's bad faith with respect to higher education. www.chronicle.com/article/dani...

chronicle.com

Danielle Allen Is Wrong About Trump

Dealmaking under duress is always undemocratic.

12813

Reposted by Melissa Schwartzberg

Daniel Drezner @dandrezner.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A few thoughts on academic freedom (mostly courtesy of @jacobtlevy.bsky.social) and how even some university trustees don’t entirely understand the concept. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/thats-not-...

danieldrezner.substack.com

That’s Not How Academic Freedom Works, Vanderbilt Trustees!!

Maybe do some homework if you’re gonna be a university trustee?

35121

Reposted by Melissa Schwartzberg

Malcolm Quinn @malrog.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Excellent closing plenary to the ISUS 2026 conference by Melissa Schwartzberg (Princeton). She argued that Bentham sees utilitarianism and democracy as compatible ‘with respect to the value associated with being treated as the best judge of one’s own interests.’

fll.um.edu.mo

ISUS Home - Faculty of Law | University of Macau

ISUS 2026 Macau, 23-25 July 2026 The 18th Conference of the International Society for Utilitarian Studies will take place on 23–25 July 2026 at the Faculty of Law of the University of

021

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Peter Gabriel, Don't Give Up. REM, Everybody Hurts.

070

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

A return to onsite childcare at the annual meetings like cognate social science associations - the American Sociological Association and the American Economic Association - still offer their membership.

070

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Big Bird is anxious, but I doubt he is Jewish, in part because he is so sincerely worried about Santa Claus on Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. (I have thought about this a lot over my life.)

160

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Did he teach at Harvard? I thought he had been at the New School forever.

100

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

I did a summer workshop in nonfiction prose with him as a college student, before I even really knew political theory was a thing - I was much more interested in long-form journalism and was shocked to discover his other interests once I shared them!

140

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

I'm so sorry, Robert - may her memory be a blessing.

000

Reposted by Melissa Schwartzberg

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

I have an article forthcoming in the Annual Review of Political Science called, "Participatory Democracy & Its Limits." It focuses on limited citizen attention & how participation can backfire, w/ land use as an example. Abstract below; here's a preprint: kevinjelliott.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...

Abstract:
This review surveys the limits of participatory democracy and reconsiders its merits, with
particular emphasis on the limited attention of citizens. I trace the development of participatory
democracy within political science and democratic theory and suggest participation has fallen out
of its previously central role as a criterion of democratic quality. What remains is a set of
functions and pitfalls which I explore in a series of inquiries into participation 1) in local land
use planning, 2) in lottocracy and electoral democracy, and 3) in its relationship to
representation. I then explore how participatory democracy intersects with the production and
circulation of knowledge in complex modern societies and conclude with thoughts for future
research informed by the discussion

69218

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

NYU Politics is hiring two visiting assistant professors, preferably in political theory, in support of civic education courses for the 2026-27 academic year. Feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions. apply.interfolio.com/179756

apply.interfolio.com

Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

088

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Pleased to see the enduring influence of my late NYU colleague and teacher Russell Hardin - from Ezra Klein's column in today's NYTimes. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/o...

0246

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

NOT WELL. See, at far left, mailer received on Monday (amidst the general haul for a District 2 resident). There were several decent alternatives, including the SNL-famous Harvey Epstein.

130

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Delighted to announce that Democratic Deals is the co-recipient of the David Easton Award from APSA’s Foundation of Political Theory section!

150

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Truly astonishing. It makes me want to rewatch Succession just to focus on her performance.

030

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Grateful to Brook Manville for a terrific conversation about Democratic Deals: civicbargain.substack.com/p/can-better...

civicbargain.substack.com

Can Better Political Bargaining Make Better Democracy?

A new book explains why and how.

010

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Faculty fellow position at NYU in XE: Experimental Humanities and Social Engagement, open to political theorists: apply.interfolio.com/165002

apply.interfolio.com

Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

010

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

It's remarkable how consistently I hear these accounts - I suspect such feelings of efficacy and respect for others' judgment are the mechanisms underlying the finding that jury service increases voter participation (Gastil et al., e.g., www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...)

journals.uchicago.edu

Jury Service and Electoral Participation: A Test of the Participation Hypothesis | The Journal of Politics: Vol 70, No 2

The participation hypothesis holds that when people undertake one civic activity, their likelihood of future political participation increases. Three original studies test this hypothesis by linking t...

051

Reposted by Melissa Schwartzberg

Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

@maschwar.bsky.social has much to say on the crucial democratic role of juries melissaschwartzberg.com

melissaschwartzberg.com

Melissa Schwartzberg

530026

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Probably - send me an email in an hour and I will check our library.

110

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

We will be in Monastiraki in Athens, Karakoy in Istanbul, but are happy to explore.

000

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Looking for restaurant recommendations in Athens and Istanbul - taking the teenagers, who prefer less elegant (e.g., no tasting menus), but otherwise very flexible.

300

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

It was just really boring - even I abandoned it.

000

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

You appreciate robust commitment to the bit, as do I. I am just sorry he took off the sunglasses.

000

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Do you have a view on Jeremy Strong's hat? Because I have views.

100

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

The NOMOS volume on Protest and Dissent has a number of great papers that could complement those selections.

110

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

No, it has been shut down, but it has been written in the stars and inscribed on the hearts of all NYU faculty evermore.

120

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

We now have one dog photo, dozens more requests to be removed from the list, a (repeated) call for unionization/divestment, a (frankly sad) repeated mention of a recently deceased brother, and a call to celebrate 30 years of service by aforementioned vice provost.

170

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

We have hit 100 on the main thread, and people have started posting memes:

030

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

I have to say, I am enjoying it way more than I should.

020

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Two deans emeriti have now asked to be removed (but without noting the irony)

020

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

I did not even have the ability to email the entire Politics department faculty before I became chair - I have no idea. And the *true* irony is that it was via an IT email address.

130

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Who himself has just asked people to stop replying all while noting the irony of doing so!

010

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Three additional threads have popped up. One - from a vice provost - features a reiteration of his prior note/irony of so doing.

150

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

I believed we as a culture had transcended the reply-all storm, but a student managed to email the *entire NYU faculty* across schools. Guesses as to how many people have already responded to tell others to stop replying all, while acknowledging the irony of having done so?

5313

Reposted by Melissa Schwartzberg

Micah @rincewind.run · 08/12/2024

I think there is a good argument that Juror #59 is the greatest juror the justice system has ever produced “And he disrespected the Wu-Tang Clan” what a line to go out on, what a legend

1240960

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Following! (Curious about what the crowd-sourcing might produce.)

110

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Because I always use cats (via Ober) to teach Aristotle, it will pair nicely. What are the conditions for chihuahua flourishing?

110

Melissa Schwartzberg @maschwar.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Watching the National Dog Show - next year's ancients class will definitely have a week called: "Is this chihuahua the highest expression of chihuahuaness?"

4111

Reposted by Melissa Schwartzberg

Charles Girard @charlesgirard.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

The Tocqueville Review has published on its website an English version of the tribute to Bernard Manin originally published in Le Monde (with Philippe Urfalino and @maschwar.bsky.social). tocqueville21.com/blog-info/be...

tocqueville21.com

Bernard Manin: A Tribute - Tocqueville21

Bernard Manin (1951-2024) Political theory has just lost one of its towering figures: Bernard Manin passed away on Friday November 1, 2024. Director of Studies at the École des Hautes Études en Scienc...

084