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Philip Proudfoot

@philipproudfoot.bsky.social
6.7K followers 646 following 87 posts

Researcher of activism, labour, accountability, and humanitarianism in the Arab World & elsewhere | co-founder of The Accountability Archive | Personal account, views, especially the bad ones, are my own.

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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Read in the style of Adam Curtis: “People thought that by putting flags on lampposts, they were taking back their country. But those symbols of sovereignty were made thousands of miles away by workers who’d never heard of Britain. And while the flags fluttered, nothing had changed.”
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Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · 11/06/2025
"When the legal threshold for genocide is met, we must call it genocide – and act accordingly." Read the commentary from Martin Griffiths, former UN humanitarian chief and @philipproudfoot.bsky.social ac.pulse.ly/q5ldukwti0
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Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · 10/06/2025
"When the legal threshold for genocide is met, we must call it genocide – and act accordingly." Martin Griffiths, former UN humanitarian chief, writes for IDS and calls for action to prevent genocide in #Gaza 👇 ac.pulse.ly/yuhzem0hlv
ac.pulse.ly
It is genocide: Humanitarian law must be enforced in Gaza - Institute of Development Studies
On 30 May 2025, IDS Honorary Associate and former UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths described the situation in Gaza as genocide. Alongside IDS Research Fellow Philip Proudfoot, here he calls for a decisive realignment of humanitarian law and humanitarian action to halt genocide and other atroci...
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
With Martin Griffiths, former UN ERC, we write: "But above all, how we classify the carnage in Gaza matters. Words carry consequences & must trigger concrete steps. When the legal threshold for genocide is met, we must call it genocide – and act accordingly @ids.ac.uk www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/it-...
ids.ac.uk
It is genocide: Humanitarian law must be enforced in Gaza - Institute of Development Studies
On 30 May 2025, IDS Honorary Associate and former UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths described the situation in Gaza as genocide. Alongside IDS Research Fellow Philip Proudfoot, here he calls for ...
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Development Studies Association @devcomms.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
👋 Are you on BlueSky and coming to #DSA2025 ❓ We've spotted @keetieroelen.bsky.social with a paper on poverty, stigma and dignity in Bangladesh and @philipproudfoot.bsky.social on labour, social protection and livelihoods analysis 📊 🔎 Who else is coming to the conference at @cdsbath.bsky.social ❓
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Peter Taylor @petertaylor-uk.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Martin Griffiths, former UN Chief and IDS Honorary Associate and @philipproudfoot.bsky.social call for the law to be enforced to halt genocide in Gaza: www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/it-...
ids.ac.uk
It is genocide: Humanitarian law must be enforced in Gaza - Institute of Development Studies
On 30 May 2025, IDS Honorary Associate and former UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths described the situation in Gaza as genocide. Alongside IDS Research Fellow Philip Proudfoot, here he calls for ...
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
One thing AI is actually amazing at is languages. I’ve been asking it to read out loud Arabic news as I’m trying to keep up my fus7a and it’s unlike any other language tool. And chatGPT can also speak and recognise and hold a conversation in pretty much all spoken Arabic dialects too
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Trump is emboldened to announce he will commit war crime because the global north establishment — for 15-months — decided that Israel can act with total impunity. They destroyed the pretence of entire rules based order. And now they have the audacity to cry about consequences.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Brilliant as ever is Alex de Waal in LRB on Famine Classification in Gaza www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Alex de Waal · How to Measure Famine
During the past year, as starvation started to appear in Gaza, Israel has clashed with the United Nations and aid...
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
It’s a real struggle to not just collapse into a deep depression; always see myself as an optimist but everywhere is burning, the left is busy organising “networks” and “spaces” and a continued rightward slide feels inevitable. Feeling particularly doom-pilled today.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Google Earth / Maps is now updating its satellite imagery of Gaza. We now have a top-down view of some of the worst atrocities committed since the Second World War.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
For Development Studies / Academic BlueSky (if it exists here) … our new paper on the politics of social assistance in Lebanon is out, with the BASIC programme @ids.ac.uk It explores how Lebanon’s fractured social contract remained in place during the fiscal crisis. www.ids.ac.uk/publications...
ids.ac.uk
The Politics of Social Assistance in Lebanon - Institute of Development Studies
This brief examines the politics of social protection amid ongoing financial crisis in Lebanon. It finds that Lebanon’s political settlement remains characterised by sectarian-clientelism and fracture...
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Michael Burawoy was killed on Monday in a hit and run. Horrendous. Burawoy was one of the greatest sociologists of labour. www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/04/o...
mercurynews.com
Oakland resident dead in hit-and-run crash at intersection
The collision happened around 7:10 p.m. Monday near the entrance to Children’s Fairyland.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
The main takeaway from this is that it confirms proscription in Britain is a political tool not objective application of law: Countless journalists detained for writing about Palestine, but these two jokers can have a chat with the leader of a still proscribed organisation.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Aid — since it was formalised and linked to gov — has always served as a state arm. Trump merging USAID to the DoS is an acknowledgement of that fact. The same as DFID into FCDO. In some sense, this was inevitable, given the decline of activism and rise of donor-power. We need a new model.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Over at the other place, people seem to have not heard of a printer.
Image of a supermarket shelf in Canada with signs over American spirits, “buy Canadian instead”

In reply a person says, “this was planned you don’t just get signs like this overnight”
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Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · 30/01/2025
In-person course announcement! Develop your knowledge and skills to bring participatory action research into your social change work. Using Participatory Action Research to Improve Development Practice. 📅 May 12 to 16, 2025 📍 IDS, Brighton, UK Apply now👉 bit.ly/3B7s0gS
Using Participatory Action Research to Improve Development Practice

In-person course
May 12-16

Apply Now
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Free speech protects us from tyrants, gifts us an open society, free debate, and scientific progress. Pretty shit, then, that what its advocates actually mean is being racist online and bullying trans people.
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Lyla Mehta @lylamehta.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Maybe #Labour needs to focus on inequality & improve the lives of ordinary people instead of obssessing with runways, bats & top-down growth models. #UK www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Reform UK can win scores of Labour seats in England and Wales, says study
Analysis of a mega poll shows Keir Starmer would lose more seats than Tories amid voter discontent with main parties
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
What will Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE possibly do without USAID!? ….. Trump should really fix the American education system. Oh well.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
These people cannot conceptualise that if your democratic "choice" is between neoliberal A Team or neoliberal B team, with slightly different visions of how to tinker around the edges, then, perhaps, it doesn't feel like a choice. In this nightmare, an authoritarian who promises change is appealing.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Reform’s surge is easy to understand. It is the same as Brexit. People are fed up. The economic model Britain has pursued since the 1980s has failed. They want change — any change — and they don’t trust establishment parties to deliver it. Reform is an empty vessel, it just means “different”.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
You don’t hear much from the Stameroids these days — I think some might finally accepted you can’t just wear a nice suit and tell the economy to grow. And others, who believed he secretly had a plan, have learned that isn’t the case. It’s a shame this folly will cost us fascism.
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Declassified UK @declassifieduk.org · 30/01/2025
After 15 months of destroying Gaza, the UK reiterates that "Israel is an important regional partner for the UK" and that "the Ministry of Defence routinely conducts bilateral Defence engagement with the Israel Defense Forces". #DCUKparliament
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Declassified UK @declassifieduk.org · 30/01/2025
The UK government defends Israeli abuses against Palestinians in a variety of ways. Here, foreign minister Hamish Falconer can only refer to "reports" of Israel's mistreatment of detainees. #DCUKparliament
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Please, for the love of god, don’t vote for any political party in Britain that threatens to privatise the NHS.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
For around five years (2015-2020), many countries in the global north had a choice between (democratic) socialism or barbarism. Welcome to barbarism.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Unsure if this is a parody. “Let the adults handle politics now” *gestures to the burning planet granted to us by these ‘adults’*
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
The problem here is if you allow machines to learn then they will ... learn
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Fleur @dimchancecariad.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Spot on Centrists have brought this all about by ignoring the needs of the majority of the population. . .who simply want fair pay, decent public services . . .etc
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Liberal institutions—from centrist parties to multilateral orgs—are still fixated on ‘restoring order. But their ‘order’ birthed right-wing authoritarianism, enabled 15 months of genocide, eroded the power of labour, and rewarded capital. This isn’t a strategy. It’s a death cult
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
One of the things Britain is good at is universities. We punch above our weight and they’re key economic drivers across the country. So you’ll never guess which sector the government is going to allow to collapse next?
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
What liberal centrists get wrong is they believe right wing populists like Trump are trashing the international rules based order. No. It was trashed by liberal centrist global north governments who funded, armed, and ran political cover for a 15-month genocide.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
My mum has a brief cameo on this report (pushing the trolly) This is the hospice where she works as a nurse. It has been absolutely devastated by the governments refusal to find end-of-life-care properly 👇 t.co/rFB1taMSpo
t.co
https://www.channel4.com/news/absolutely-devastated-inside-durham-hospice-battling-1-3m-black-hole
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Establishment liberals are mindless zombies with no theory of capitalism’s collapse. The weirdo-right has a theory, but it’s something like ‘too many genders,’ ‘not enough neo-gothic buildings,’ and 'more crusades.’ We're stuck between zombies and wacky incels.
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Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · 21/01/2025
Women are often called "saviours" and "victims" in climate change debates. Read more about why this is a problem in this article co-authored by IDS fellow Deepta Chopra 👇 theconversation.com/women-are-se...
theconversation.com
Women are seen as ‘saviours’ or ‘victims’ in climate change debates: why this is a problem
Simple either/or ways of seeing women overlook the power dynamics and structural factors that give rise to the stereotypes.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
I suppose one hopeful outcome of the next few years is the rest of the world decides it’s had quite enough of the USA and instead builds a new alliance and institutions outside of an isolationist Trump administration.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Why was there an executive order from Trump to withdraw from WHO? well one can draw a direct line from the rapid circulation of conspiracy theory among his MAGA base on Twitter etc to that eventual decision, which will significantly harm public health. Ban Twitter.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Governments — that are not the USA — need to rediscover, in 2025, that they are, in fact “governments” — we do not need to be bossed around by a far right tech billionaire who delights in causing toxic political violence. Our governments can follow Brazil, simply ban Twitter, and he will fold.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Global North governments have two possible explanations for what they permitted to happen Gaza: 1. They believe Palestinians sit outside of humanity and the rules based order; the post-ww2 system doesn’t apply in Gaza. 2. They have simply allowed Israel to destroy that system.
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Lyla Mehta @lylamehta.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Excited to be speaking at this flagship @ids.ac.uk annual event on Recasting Development in 2025 that will explore key development trends. Please join us in person or online on 28 Jan, 16 hours, UK time. Registration details below.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
This is dangerous misinformation: “Now there’s a ceasefire, we can get aid in.” The humanitarian system delivers during wars because laws and customs protect aid workers & supply trucks. Israel violated these laws repeatedly—and not one Western state acted to enforce them.
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Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · 16/01/2025
IDS will hold its flagship event Recasting Development to explore key trends in development for the coming year with a focus on #Brazil #China #India #Indonesia and #SouthAfrica. Tuesday 28 January at 16:00 (UK time). Register: 👉 www.ids.ac.uk/news/join-id... With @petertaylor-uk.bsky.social
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Alongside lifesaving aid, it will be imperative Gazans receive massively scaled-up high-quality psychosocial support — this must also be understand as a priority need. Israel’s crimes risk an entire generation growing up with utterly debilitating mental illness.
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
We have to keep the pressure on, demanding the mother of all reckonings for Gaza, we need every crime documented, every act of complicity traced. We simply cannot — for the sake of humanity — allow these monsters to get away with genocide.
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Kristen @ansibledialectics.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
This article does suggest there's some truth to it www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
“What happened,” a senior Israeli government official told Channel 14, regarded as a mouthpiece for Netanyahu, “is that Witkoff delivered a stern message from the incoming president of the United States, who unequivocally demanded the deal’s conclusion.”
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Kristi Yamaguccimane @wapplehouse.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Honest question, @InternetHippo
I'm not a political expert but if you eliminated hamas but killed my whole family in the process my first move would be to start hamas 2
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Donald Trump ended this war — I don’t know what he plans next — but it was his envoy that achieved this. It was not the democrats — they prolonged it and will be forever tainted by blood. Liberals are going to have a hard time processing this
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Philip Proudfoot @philipproudfoot.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
We need UN investigators into Gaza asap. The world is not ready to learn the true depth of crime committed — but learn it the world must.
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