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Michael Higham

@michaelhigham11.bsky.social
315 followers 276 following 27 posts

Associate lecturer at King's College London. Researching political narratives and legitimacy in the EU. www.kcl.ac.uk/people/michael-higham

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Michael Higham
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Good, non-alarmist piece by Georgina Mcnamara about rising emigration from the UK. www.ft.com/content/744e...
ft.com
Why more young workers are leaving the UK behind
The gap between Britons leaving and returning has grown every year since 2022 — but claims of a ‘brain drain’ overstate the problem
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Nathalie Tocci @nathalietocci.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
My views on the manufactured Ceuta migration crisis www.cnn.com/2026/08/04/t...
cnn.com
Migrant crisis in Spain was ‘a manufactured political crisis,’ says analyst | CNN
Bianna Golodryga speaks with Nathalie Tocci a former adviser to tje EU Foreign Policy Chief, about the recent influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta las...
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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 17/05/2026
Let it be clear: you are wanted here.
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Steve Akehurst @steveakehurst.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
I'll go nation by nation now. In England, why did people not vote Labour? Interesting split here where non-Labour voters overall cite competence/cost of living/migration BUT Labour 2024 defectors talk about values - Lab as 'Tory lite', uncertainty over what they stand for. (sorry for small graph)
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Britain "at the heart of Europe", 2026 edition:
Diagramm of different status of integration in Europe, with the UK at the margins.
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Michael Higham @michaelhigham11.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
This is truly important work by @hopenothate.org.uk.
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Arguably @arguablymag.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Exclusive: Sadiq Khan calls for “very talented” Andy Burnham to be allowed to return as an MP and says the UK should rejoin the EU without a second referendum. www.arguably.uk/p/sadiq-khan...
arguably.uk
Sadiq Khan on how to rejoin the EU
The mayor on why Andy Burnham should return and why we don’t need a second referendum
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Simon Hix @simonhix.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
On 7 May 2026, Britain ran a PR experiment: Scottish Parliament: a Mixed-Member Proportional system Welsh Senedd: a (new) Low-Magnitude Party List system Same day, same political context, different outcomes. Which version of PR would be better for Westminster? 🧵
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EU Council @consilium.europa.eu · 09/05/2026
Happy Europe Day! 🇪🇺❤️ Unity. Solidarity. Cooperation. Let’s celebrate what Europe has achieved. Looking back to 9 May 1950, when Europe turned a corner, shaping the EU we know today.
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Labour has done a great deal of damage to itself and the country by making “win over a caricature of Reform voters” and “panicked stakeholder management” its only governing priority. Time to make “win over a caricature of Green voters” and “panicked stakeholder management” the aim instead.
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Simon Kuestenmacher @simongerman600.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
From the outside, there are indeed funny aspects to Brexit. The fact that migration went heaps up is certainly the funniest bit.
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Ukraїner in English @ukrainer-en.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
In a recent interview, French political analyst Nicolas Tenzer explains why many political leaders avoid addressing Russia’s crimes despite overwhelming evidence. Here’s what he said 👇
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POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 24/04/2026
Europeans have to step up and defend their own interests because the U.S., China and Russia are now all “dead against” them, French President Emmanuel Macron warned today.
politico.eu
Europeans must recognize US, China and Russia are ‘dead against’ us, says Macron
French president also said he expected tensions with the U.S. to outlast Trump
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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
The key question is why? Why is the EU a target for Trump and the US? The answer is neo-royalism. The EU is a rules based system that puts constraints on personalist leaders. This is not simply a beef or spat. It is a competition between orders. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org
Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System | International Organization | Cambridge Core
Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System - Volume 79 Issue S1
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Seb Schmoller @schmoller.net · 15/02/2025
Exceptionally grim @financialtimes.com essay by Keir Giles of @chathamhouse.bsky.social: archive.ph/287LE
Looking back at the 1930s, we used to wonder how it seemed that everybody could see war coming but do nothing to stop it. Now we understand, as we see the same mistakes repeated one after another.
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Thu Nguyen @onethuthree.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Perhaps a good time to bring up again our proposal with @dimitrispieker.bsky.social and Ulrich Karpenstein on how to suspend Hungary’s voting rights based on a breach of solidarity in CFSP: www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...
delorscentre.eu
A Matter of Solidarity: A New Approach to Revive Article 7 TEU Against Hungary
Viktor Orbán increasingly undermines the EU’s collective interests. The Hungarian government systematically uses its veto powers to block Ukrainian military aid and accession negotiations and to dilu...
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Mujtaba Rahman @mijrahman.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
This is what electoral interference in European elections looks like - per the USG NSS strategy last year
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
I never really sign stuff. But this was different. It's not about trying to facilitate or block a particular party's route to power. It's about an electoral system that's unsuited to the political realities we face today and risks giving us government after government with no convincing mandate.
politicshome.com
Over 50 Academics Warn That Voting System Is Not Fit For Multi-Party Politics
Dozens of academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an 'unprecedented' s...
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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 07/02/2026
Lack of a common foe enfeebled Europe — but not any more, says Simon Kuper ft.trib.al/DSHzkRZ
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Richard Corbett CBE @richardcorbett.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
On Brexit, are there “glimmers of hope that the UK may be preparing to turn the page of this costly national psychodrama” asks Martin Leng: big-europe.eu/publications...
big-europe.eu
Brexit Britain has one viable option left: Europe
Almost ten years since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, the Brexiteers’ pilgrimage to ‘sunlit uplands’ has instead become a national Via Dolorosa – a painful procession of...
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Simon Nixon @nixonsimon.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
One of the most depressing things about Carney’s brilliant speech is the certain knowledge that neither Keir Starmer nor any other senior British politician of any party could have given anything like it - even if they understood the arguments.
pm.gc.ca
“Principled and pragmatic: Canada’s path” Prime Minister Carney addresses the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
Thank you, Larry.It’s a pleasure – and a duty – to be with you at this turning point for Canada and for the world.Today, I’ll talk about the rupture in the world order, the end of a nice story, and th...
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Mujtaba Rahman @mijrahman.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
European weakness on full display by these horribly contorted responses from Merz, Macron and Starmer - neither condoning nor condemning US actions in Venezuela Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Reflections on the European Council decision to borrow €90 billion and lend it to Ukraine. Tl; dr: Ukraine benefits, but not enough; Putin & Trump will be encouraged; the EU & individual member-states have shown that it’s still too easy to intimidate them. 🧵1/13
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 16/12/2025
If we can't even identify our enemies then how can we fight them? Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
theatlantic.com
The Longest Suicide Note in American History
The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy targets liberal democracy itself.
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Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
The Berlin meeting.
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Persuasive letter on populism as a cognitive short-cut in the @financialtimes.com
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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 23/09/2025
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Graphic with the headline “London is the greatest city in the world” set against a bright view of the River Thames with the Shard, Tower Bridge and the city skyline.

The text celebrates what makes London special: regularly voted the number one city in the world, incredible diversity with over 300 languages spoken, world-class transport, world leader in finance tech and life sciences, best museums and galleries many free to visit, world-leading nightlife, food sport and music for every taste, host to the world’s best sporting events, home to seven Premier League clubs, globally-ranked universities, a city where you can be yourself and love who you love, and a place for everyone.
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UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
Read in full 👉
ukandeu.ac.uk
Commission President Von der Leyen’s 2025 State of the Union Address. A call to action, but is anybody listening? - UK in a changing Europe
Hussein Kassim reflects on Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union address on Wednesday 10 September and her terms as President of the European Commission.
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Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
This very much aligns with my view: eulogy for the transatlantic alliance has now to be written. Time for Europe to move on. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Trump or no Trump, Europe’s relationship with the US will never recover | Nathalie Tocci
Optimists cling to a faith in the old alliance, but the best we can achieve is an amicable divorce, says Guardian Europe columnist Nathalie Tocci
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Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 10/09/2025
Europe’s State of the Union address is becoming a political ritual, symbolizing the slow maturing of the EU as a political entity, writes columnist Caroline de Gruyter. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/09/e...
foreignpolicy.com
Europe Has Found Its True Language
The State of the Union has become a yearly ritual that breathes life into the EU.
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Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte @turnbulldugarte.com · 05/09/2025
Radical right accommodation really does not work. New paper out with this exceptionally talented team @katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk doi.org/10.31235/osf...
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Jeremy Cliffe @jeremycliffe.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
- 8/20 He stresses that while the EU's first decades could draw on memories of war and the goodwill of strong economic growth, those have both dried up (correct, but for my money this was the weakest part of his speech: as the experience in central and eastern Europe is very different).
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Jeremy Cliffe @jeremycliffe.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
Just got round to watching Mario Draghi's speech in Rimini in the original Italian. It is easily the most important speech on Europe so far this year and I hope someone (@grandcontinent.bsky.social?‬) publishes it in English and other EU languages soon. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMME...
youtube.com
Mario Draghi’s Full Speech: Europe’s Harsh Reality — Powerless on the Global Stage! -ITALIAN-
YouTube video by EU Debates | eudebates.tv
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
Meanwhile, UK politicians continue their race to the bottom as to who can talk the most nonsense about immigration... www.ft.com/content/8bfd...
ft.com
Rich economies will need foreign workers to fuel growth, policymakers warn
Central bankers say low birth rates in world’s largest economies pose threat to productivity and prices
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
Thoughts ahead of Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy & European leaders. First, Trump wants both sides to stop fighting, but is only prepared to put pressure on Ukraine. If Putin had any worries on that score, the Alaska summit will have reassured him. Sanctions are postponed, again. 1/16
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The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
It is only sentimental American exceptionalism that makes what Trump is doing any different from "increasingly dictatorial president uses military to assert power in capital city".
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Michael Higham @michaelhigham11.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Its clear that Mr Clegg would greatly benefit from taking our 2nd year undergraduate module: Introduction to the Integration of the European Union!
observer.co.uk
The EU must reinvent itself... or die
World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.
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Satan’s Niece @krissychula.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
This is high art
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Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Carney: Canada must be looking elsewhere to expand our trade, to build our economy, and to protect our sovereignty. Canada is ready to take a leadership role in building a coalition of likeminded countries who share our values… If the US no longer wants to lead, Canada will
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Michael Higham @michaelhigham11.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
I think we’ve reached the point where this discourse is no longer helpful. It’s hardly breaking news that the EU/Europe has been heavily dependent on the US for its security. What we should be discussing is how do we move away from this dependency in as fast and as sustainable way as possible.
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Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
This is the one article to read on contemporary (and future) U.S. politics. Laid out analytically and clearly. There is a hint of optimism (which I do not share but do appreciate).
foreignaffairs.com
The Path to American Authoritarianism
What comes after democratic breakdown.
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Jakub Jaraczewski @jakubjaraczewski.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
🇬🇧🇪🇺 I am increasingly convinced that the British government, despite a massive parliamentary majority and no veto-capable head of state standing in its way, is going to pull off one of the more spectacular self-inflicted political suicides that will make Scholz govt look like it had a good run.
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Claes de Vreese @claesdevreese.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
“We find that fact-checks are successful in debunking misperceptions. Moreover, this debunking effect is consistent across countries” Posting this key finding from our recent 16 country study. For no particular reason today. doi.org/10.1080/1520...
doi.org
When are Fact-Checks Effective? An Experimental Study on the Inclusion of the Misinformation Source and the Source of Fact-Checks in 16 European Countries
Despite increasing academic attention, several questions about fact-checking remain unanswered. First, it remains unclear to what extent fact-checks are effective across different political and med...
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European Commission @ec.europa.eu · 24/12/2024
Snowy greetings from our space sentinels! 🛰️ From Scandinavian fjords to Alpine peaks, Europe's snow-covered landscapes were captured by Copernicus satellites. Copernicus provides crucial data to monitor our planet’s health, track climate change, and support disaster response.
A satellite view of Scandinavia in winter, showcasing snow-covered land in white and surrounding water bodies in deep blue and black. The red tones highlight areas with vegetation, likely captured in infrared. The landscape features fjords, frozen lakes, and the Baltic Sea. EU and Copernicus logos are visible.  Satellite image of Italy captured by the Copernicus Programme, showing the Italian peninsula surrounded by the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The Alps in the north and the Apennine mountain range are visible, partially covered in snow. Cloud cover is scattered across parts of the landscape and sea, with vibrant turquoise hues along some coastal areas. The image includes the Copernicus Programme and European Union logos in the top-right corner. Satellite image of the Alps region captured by the Copernicus Programme, showing the snow-covered mountain range stretching across parts of Europe, including northern Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Surrounding areas feature green lowlands, brownish terrain, and bodies of water like the Adriatic Sea to the southeast. Cloud cover is visible over parts of the landscape and coastlines. The image includes the Copernicus Programme and European Union logos in the top-left corner. A satellite image showing Mount Etna, Italy, with snow-covered areas visible in white, surrounded by volcanic terrain rendered in shades of red and brown to highlight vegetation and lava flows. The striking red tones indicate infrared data used to distinguish land features. The image includes a scale and Copernicus and EU program logos.
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Michael Higham @michaelhigham11.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
The normalisation of ideas espoused by the radical right - I.e., we need to reduce immigration - based on the electoral ‘threat’ that not endorsing them poses, is now particularly concerning as even the centre-left are partaking in it.
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Luigi Scazzieri @lscazzieri.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
This suggests Labour is being far too shy in its approach to the EU reset, particularly on mobility issues. As the article says it's possible that the change in Leave voters' view on free movement is due to the post-Brexit surge in non-EU migration. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Majority of Brexit voters ‘would accept free movement’ to access single market
Europe-wide polling finds UK and EU leaders now out of step with public opinion and pursue ‘ambitious reset’
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