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Paul Cairney

@paulcairney.bsky.social
5.5K followers 1.8K following 309 posts

Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of Stirling, UK. Past my best. Photo 11 years out of date. paulcairney.wordpress.com/cv

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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Get the Ryanair look on the runway
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Boring but worthy www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
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PSA Parliaments @psa-parliaments.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
🚨 New blog alert! As Scottish Parliament returns from recess, this piece by @ruxandrasrbn.bsky.social looks at the new process for First Minister's Questions, how it compares internationally and offers reflections on the potential implications of these changes. Read here: wp.me/pcjoA9-23o
wp.me
A new First Minister’s Questions procedure in the Scottish Parliament: How will it work? – PSA Parliaments
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Environmental Information: Use and Influence (Dalhousie Univ.) @eiui.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
#Storytelling can play a major role in influencing people’s beliefs, opinions, & behaviors. In a study of the mechanisms underlying persuasion of stories in #climate #change #communication, Adornetti et al. found identification with characters is key in narrative persuasion doi.org/10.3389/fcom...
Title, authors’ names and affiliations, abstract, key words, and publication information from a paper about the effect of stories as a persuasion mediator in climate change narratives
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I know that this is the smallest thing, but I have started to write with Aptos rather than my beloved Times New Roman and am loving it. A bigger deal than shifting from Coke Zero to Pepsi Max.
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Magda Breyer @mabreyer.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
How do individuals normatively assess changes to the social order and what does this tell us about electoral realignment? New publication with @dpzollinger.bsky.social and Tabea Palmtag out now in the Journal of European Public Policy 😊 doi.org/10.1080/1350...
The title and abstract of the article in a screenshot
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Tim Gill @timgill924.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Due to AI, I am now requiring all my students perform a Tiny Desk concert as their final exam. They have to collectively write three songs built around three different sociological concepts. If I’m not tapping my toe, they all fail. If I’m out of my seat dancing, it’s an A.
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Luca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
“As we try to keep everyone cool and calm at the rescue centre during the heatwave, I thought I'd repost a compilation of everyone's favourite clips of the dogs choosing their own toys!” #rescuedog #toys #joy IG: @fetcherdog Animal Shelter, Kent, England
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
You never forget your first axe
Axe throwing set for kids
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Dungcargum, in the NE of Scotland. When you have crammed in a lot of gum, while driving in the car, go past a phenomenal amount of stinky dung, and have to decide whether or not to stop chewing.
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Teams is still terrific for conducting and transcribing interviews, except when it comes to recording the positive noises I make when someone is saying something interesting and I want them to continue. Hello!
Paul Cairney
Here.
Yeah. 
Hello!Uncle Leo (a character from Seinfeld) saying Hello!
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
My first research assistant job (1995, while a Masters student) involved mapping all the regional boundaries in England to highlight the mismatch and invite the UK government to do something about it.
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Environmental Information: Use and Influence (Dalhousie Univ.) @eiui.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
"Scenarios are tools for characterising uncertainty, not for making predictions of one most-likely future." Lazurko et al. present a framework to help researchers & practitioners make #biodiversity scenarios intentional, transparent, & aligned with policy-relevant questions. doi.org/10.1002/pan3...
 Title, authors’ names and affiliations, keywords, and abstract from a paper on developing a framework to facilitate coherent design choices for scenarios exploring biodiversity futures
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
You can't orchestrate the money markets
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Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Do you wonder about how women in the UK are known to be ‘more traditionalist’ and yet vote more progressive? Well, wonder no more! @cerifowler.bsky.social and I have a new paper in @electoralstudies.bsky.social on how this supposed paradox is a measurement artefact 1/ 8
sciencedirect.com
Theories and measurement of political values and under-represented groups: the case of women in the UK
This paper argues that the primary divide in values (Inglehart, 1977; 1990) between safety and self-expression lies in a different place for discrimin…
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Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
In our case we argue that the liberal/authoritarian scale contains one such item: support for censorship. We show this single item make women ‘more traditionalist’ We show women associate this item with pornography, and for many women this is an area of threat/safety. 5/8
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Daniel Burke - 🍺Innkeep @innkeep.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Le Guin on the idea that there is a secret to getting good at writing.
I will dispose of the first myth as quickly as possible. The “secret” is skill. If you haven’t learned how to do something, the people who have may seem to be magicians, possessors of mysterious secrets. In a fairly simple art, such as making pie crust, there are certain teachable “secrets” of method that lead almost infallibly to good results; but in any complex art, such as housekeeping, piano-playing, clothes-making, or story-writing, there are so many techniques, skills, choices of method, so many variables, so many “secrets,” some teachable and some not, that you can learn them only by methodical, repeated, long-continued practice — in other words, by work.
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
If Algeria lose 2-0 and Croatia lose 3-0 Scotland might get one more chance to lose 5-0.
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Delighted to see Scotland offer such strong support to Vinicius Jr #goldenboot
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Ally Brown @allybrown.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
THREAD: How do the dynamics of devolution and the politics of health inequality interact? My new paper in @cphjournal.bsky.social explores the differentiation function of area-health comparisons. 🚨Contains Andy Burnham content!🚨 journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jc... 1/9
journalhosting.ucalgary.ca
Framing health inequalities to tell political stories: Devolution makes the difference | Journal of Critical Public Health
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Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Tim is right, of course. Which means Burnham will be asked over and over and cant provide a straight answer. He has to say he’s getting on with the job of fixing the country, and everyone will roll their eyes, still wondering if there will be an early election if the polls change dramatically…
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Burnham should show his mettle and grit, grasp the nettle, become PM, call a snap election, win 900 seats, turn around the country, get a late call up for England, and win the world cup 10-0. Not necessarily in that order.
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Yet again, the ice lolly brigade trots out this biased framing of the key social Q: do you want an ice cream? The ice cream club is far more accepting of any absolute weirdo who says they want a Calippo. In my day, you were thankful to get an ice pole at home or one scoop of ice cream from the van.
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Aileen McHarg @aileenmcharg.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
I have a chapter in this book on the (constitutional) effect of Brexit on Scotland. I'm sure it will surprise no-one that I don't think it has been good: www.cambridge.org/core/books/b...
cambridge.org
The Brexit Effect, 2016–2026
Cambridge Core - British Government, Politics and Policy - The Brexit Effect, 2016–2026
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Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Oooh, we're entering the era of academic journals dropping their "qualitative checklists". Well done, Implementation Science. Maybe I'll send you a paper now. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Embracing complexity by reducing rigidity: guiding principles for the intersection of implementation science and qualitative research - Implementation Science
In this editorial we reflect on recent contributions that have focused on how researchers should involve qualitative research in implementation science. Implementation science as a discipline has firm...
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Dr Andrew S. Roe-Crines 🏳️‍🌈 @andrewcrines.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
In full, here are the three job adverts, with details of the role we're seeking to hire - they are: i) T&S (three year fixed) www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRW437/l... ii) T&R (perm) www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRW437/l... iii) Research Associate (fixed) www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRT154/r...
jobs.ac.uk
Lecturer in Politics and/or International Relations - Grade 7 at University of Liverpool
Discover an exciting academic career path as a Lecturer in Politics and/or International Relations - Grade 7 at jobs.ac.uk. Don't miss out on this job opportunity - apply today!
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Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
My contribution to the Brexit 10-year anniversary industry. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
politicshome.com
The Professor Will See You Now: Tribal politics
Lessons in political science. This week: tribal politics
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Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
It's a sort of recommendation...
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Environmental Information: Use and Influence (Dalhousie Univ.) @eiui.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Much research about #science-policy interfaces focuses on providing #evidence to #policymakers. But the interfaces are 2-way & understanding policy processes is needed. @paulcairney.bsky.social et al. discuss the importance of overcoming “patchy knowledge" of those processes doi.org/10.1080/2574...
Title, authors’ names and affiliations, abstract, and keywords from a paper about interviewing policymaker elites to strengthen understanding of policy processes
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Prof Dave O'Brien @drdaveobrien.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
This morning the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have published a refreshed and updated list of Areas of Research Interest. These are an important way for researchers to engage with policy, so please do read them! www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
DCMS Areas of Research Interest
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European Journal of Political Research @ejprjournal.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
65.2 🫐 The honest, the efficient, & the trustworthy 🕊️ 🏭️ 🚓 @adinaakbik.bsky.social & Christina L. Toenshoff examine the relationships between national stereotypes and #Policy preference within the EU, uncovering the influence of stereotypes in #PublicOpinion
buff.ly
The honest, the efficient, and the trustworthy: National stereotypes and public support for EU redistribution | European Journal of Political Research | Cambridge Core
The honest, the efficient, and the trustworthy: National stereotypes and public support for EU redistribution - Volume 65 Issue 2
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
youtube.com/shorts/gJRtz... Mabel was not awestruck when encountering the rutting buck
youtube.com
20 May 2026
YouTube video by Paul Cairney
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Just received this in my inbox - interesting both for what it says and that the Mayor's office (Burnham's office) saw the need to say it. Burnham can *run* for Westminster and remain Mayor while doing it, but if he wins he has to immediately resign. That's good for Burnham & Lab prospects imho 1/2
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Holyrood @holyroodmag.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
New from Professor Alistair Clark - Must do better: What the Q Manivannan row reveals about Scottish Parliament lawmaking www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
holyrood.com
Must do better: What the Q Manivannan row reveals about Scottish Parliament lawmaking
The Green MSP has done nothing wrong, but the new session is off to an inauspicious start
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Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
King (1975).
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Academy of Social Sciences @acadsocsciences.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
In this blog Prof Catherine Durose, @sarahayres.bsky.social, Prof John Boswell, @paulcairney.bsky.social, @ianelliott.bsky.social, Prof Matthew Flinders, Prof Steve Martin & Prof Liz Richardson make the case for an optimistic & constructive agenda for English devolution. acss.org.uk/walking-on-t...
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Kenny Stewart @kennystew.art · 09/05/2026
Pals, here is the complete session 7 starter pack for Members of the Scottish Parliament:
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Natalie Brender @nataliebrender.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Terrific short piece by @paulcairney.bsky.social that's equally applicable to Canada's federal govt. Important for advocates (in public health and otherwise) to get past the 'speaking truth to power' understanding of advocacy that buys into this mistaken view of how policymaking works.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
Policymaking doesn’t work the way Westminster thinks | LSE British Politics
There is a prevailing story in Westminster about how policymaking works. That story is a myth, but it still matters.
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Prevention is back on the agenda. Why it is so difficult to progress (England) doi.org/10.1016/j.so... Why policy is not so preventive (UK and devolved government) paulcairney.wordpress.com/wp-content/u... Prevention as a buzzword: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
doi.org
Redirecting
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Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
I suggested this in an essay I wrote at medical school in about 1979. Though I said “born after 1980”. I didn’t get a very good mark. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed
The
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Same, until I bought a bright red padlock.
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BJPIR @bjpir.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
📣 New #openaccess #BJPIR article out now! 'Beyond blunders: British political studies and successful public policy' by Matthew Flinders, @ianelliott.bsky.social, Catherine Durose, Liz Richardson, @sarahayres.bsky.social, John Boswell, @paulcairney.bsky.social & Steve Martin. 🔗 buff.ly/cMwJrH9
buff.ly
Beyond blunders: British political studies and successful public policy - Matthew Flinders, Ian C Elliott, Catherine Durose, Liz Richardson, Sarah Ayres, John Boswell, Paul Cairney, Steve Martin, 2026
British political studies has traditionally focused on the analysis of policy failures. This is reflected in a vast literature on catastrophes and crises which ...
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Dr Paul Anderson @paulanderson88.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
🎨 Are you experimenting with creative methods to research or teach politics? 📸 Have you used visual, participatory, or arts-based approaches like photography, storytelling, or collaging? 💡 What insights have creative methods helped you uncover that traditional approaches might miss?
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
@merylkenny.bsky.social I may be in the midst of the world's biggest Reply-All conversation.
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Chris McCorkindale @chrismccork.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
New report by the Constitution [etc] Committee of the Scottish Parliament: digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/R... Both the report and evidence base (see www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-...) are valuable resources in the debate about democratic pathways to an independence referendum.
parliament.scot
Options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum
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Sarah Ayres @sarahayres.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Check out the latest article from the Positive Public Policy (PoPP) Gang. It explores the chequered history of British public administration and explores the potential for a positive future. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @paulcairney.bsky.social @ianelliott.bsky.social @wiley.com
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
<em>Public Administration Review</em> | ASPA Journal | Wiley Online Library
Public services, public servants, and the study of Public Administration are operating in a context of global turbulence. Our review of the state of the discipline suggests that a core strength of Br...
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David Brady @davebrady72.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Here’s my new Substack post about the value of being curious about new fields and literatures. open.substack.com/pub/davebrad...
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
A Chequered History but Positive Future for British Public Administration onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
<em>Public Administration Review</em> | ASPA Journal | Wiley Online Library
Public services, public servants, and the study of Public Administration are operating in a context of global turbulence. Our review of the state of the discipline suggests that a core strength of Br...
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Paul Cairney @paulcairney.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
The number of ginger people in senior positions in the UK government is getting perilously low.
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