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Ross Carroll

@rosscarroll.bsky.social
6.2K followers 1.3K following 274 posts

Political theorist at Dublin City University. Author of Edmund Burke (Polity, 2024) and Uncivil Mirth: Ridicule in Enlightenment Britain (Princeton UP, 2021). Increasingly interested in abolition/emancipation and multigenerational democracy.

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Reposted by Ross Carroll
Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Anyway, as much as we may mock, this is the wholly forseeable end-point of a system where universities are (a) deliberately starved of resources; (b) deliberately bereft of public mission and vocation; (c) deliberately placed in the hands of an intellecually/morally bankrupt management class.
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Xero Reynolds 41/100 on Patreon @artificer-ind.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Still patiently waiting to be "left behind" by AI rather than it chasing me across every damn space like a slasher in a low budget flick.
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This looks like a fabulous resource.
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Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I do wonder if the people convinced "AI" can only be a good thing for universities think it's just a weird coincidence that "AI" is also the favoured tool of the planet's biggest fuckheads as they gleefully hollow out the public sphere.
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Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
We are a people undefeated in the deployment of empty symbolic gestures.
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Britain and Ireland Association for Political Thought @biapt.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
We are thrilled to announce that @shukyingchan.bsky.social is the winner of our Early-career prize for 2026! Our warmest congratulations to her. The competition was fierce this year. Full announcement below 👇 www.associationforpoliticalthought.ac.uk/biapt-early-...
associationforpoliticalthought.ac.uk
BIAPT Early-career prize winner 2026 - Shuk Ying Chan - BIAPT
Dr Shuk Ying Chan is a Lecturer in Political Theory in the Department of Political Science at University College London. She was awarded a PhD in Politics by the University of Princeton in 2021 and si...
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Britain and Ireland Association for Political Thought @biapt.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
We are delighted to announce that Dr Paul Sagar of Kings College London is the winner of our Mid-career prize! Heartiest of congratulations to him. Our full statement is below. 👇 www.associationforpoliticalthought.ac.uk/biapt-mid-ca...
associationforpoliticalthought.ac.uk
BIAPT Mid-career prize winner 2026 - Paul Sagar - BIAPT
We are delighted to award the BIAPT Mid-Career Prize to Dr Paul Sagar, who is Reader in Political Theory at Kings College London. Sagar has made a seismic contribution to our field over the last decad...
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
“Education … consists in creating motives. To show what is beneficial, what is obligatory, what is good - that is the task of education. Education concerns itself with the motives for effective action.” Simone Weil was on to something here.
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
That is quite the epigraph to a memoir.
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
'Staff across the university will learn their fate on Tuesday after a 10-week process over proposals originally expected to put around 190 full-time equivalent posts at risk.' A harrowingly anxious weekend for Dundee colleagues ahead. 1/3
thecourier.co.uk
EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University cuts shake-up revealed as compulsory redundancies loom
Hundreds of staff will learn their fate on Tuesday as Principal Nigel Seaton delivers update.
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Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
The provincialism of US academia is truly undefeated.
No US sociologists I've talked to had heard of Arday 2 weeks ago. Granted, not a random sample.

He didn't publish in flagship soc journals or top soc of ed journals. His apt was in education.

If he was famous, it wasn't for his work. And there lies the problem.
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Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
"Arday was treated [by Cambridge] not as a scholar but as a mascot, one who was particularly expedient for an institution that had been regularly embarrassed by its historic record on race." Really good piece by Jason Okundaye. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
The takedown of Jason Arday has overjoyed the right, and must be a wake-up call for the left | Jason Okundaye
The Cambridge academic has rightly now resigned. But that won’t end the targeting of senior black figures or the lazy way institutions promote faux equality, says Guardian columnist Jason Okundaye
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Ken McDonagh @kenmcdonagh.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Delighted and honoured to be joining the RIA Standing Committee for International Affairs along with several excellent @dublincityuni.bsky.social colleagues and colleagues from across the island of Ireland.
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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
How long before we start using the concept of ‘artisanal writing’? (Previously known as ‘writing’ before AI.)
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Britain and Ireland Association for Political Thought @biapt.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
There’s still time to submit to our Exeter conference. Our keynotes will be @davinacooper.bsky.social, @camilavergara.bsky.social, Stephen Gardiner, @raunaku.bsky.social, Richard Whatmore, and Musab Younis! This is not one to miss! Deadline is Friday, July 31st. Details 👇
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Oh how I don’t miss this.
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Fred Logue @fplogue.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Government goes to High Court to block Ryder Cup impact report being released www.independent.ie/business/iri...
independent.ie
Government goes to High Court to block Ryder Cup impact report being released
Government decision suggests political sensitivity around cost of hosting 2027 match at Adare Manor
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Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ @olivia.science · 12/09/2025
"We are told that AI is inevitable, that we must adapt or be left behind. But universities are not tech companies. Our role is to foster critical thinking, not to follow industry trends uncritically." www.ru.nl/en/research/...
ru.nl
‘Opposing the inevitability of AI at universities is possible and necessary’ | Radboud University
Since the widespread release of ChatGPT in December of 2022, AI has taken over much of the world by storm – including academia. Most of this happened with very little pushback, despite a myriad of iss...
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Ken McDonagh @kenmcdonagh.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Nothing says "I'm being over taxed" more than having $7 million dollars to spare to splosh on lobbying...
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Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
An unpopular take I have is that defending the humanities as essentially "reading," with reading taken as a collective moral good for some reason, is bad. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on humanities cuts in universities: academic departments are more than cost centres | Editorial
Editorial: Literature, the arts and social sciences must not be sacrificed as higher education funding is squeezed
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John Gallagher @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Look on the bright side, England, it's only 3.5 prime ministers until the next world cup!
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hell bent for average goaltending @theoilluminati.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
forever reminded of what jorge luis borges wrote on the falkland/malvinas war: two bald men fighting over a comb
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Ben K. @benjaminkabak.com · 15/07/2026
Coming Home Status: Nope
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Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
I mean, you want them to lose, but to lose like this when they had it in the bag is just 👌👌
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John Gibbons 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @thinkorswim.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Grim reminder of acute vulnerability of intensive livestock systems to soaring global temperatures, not to mention the hellish conditions suffered by so many animals. news.mongabay.com/short-articl...
news.mongabay.com
Extreme heat wave in France kills hundreds of thousands of poultry
Record temperatures have been causing mass poultry deaths in western France since June 22, Reuters reported. The heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit), is also behind th...
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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The Command Economy.
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Melissa Terras @melissaterras.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
I've just spent a day at Exeter with wonderful colleagues who are all wondering what is to become of them. It is disgraceful how staff are being treated. But sure, Lisa, enjoy your pimm's on the terrace... (and thanks rosscarroll.bsky.social‬ for sharing this).
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Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The BBC commentary team as Brave England draw level with one of the world's most under-resourced teams.
Meme of gobshite who came third over-celebratinf
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Because I did a cert while working there, @universityofexeter.bsky.social considers me an alumnus. I’ve been invited to eat canapés in the House of Lords with the VC so I can hear the “latest news.” What news would that be now? That Exeter is laying off 150 of my former colleagues for no reason?
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Des Fitzgerald @desfitzgerald.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
This makes more sense when you understand "Oxford" as an institution largely formed around extraction and enclosure, practices laundered by its secondary function junction as an unchallenging elite finishing school.
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Dónal Hassett @donalh.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
So much to love about Pico waving the Irish flag, not least that he, a proud Irishman of African heritage and as Dublin as can be, embodies the kind of Irishness that the far right can't abide but is a thriving feature in communities across the island.
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Ken McDonagh @kenmcdonagh.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The year is 2109, Earth has been reduced to a barren wasteland, but AGI has finally been created. The last human alive asks the machine: "How can we solve climate change?" AGI: "Eh...you probably shouldn't have built so many data centres, LOL."
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olgacronin.bsky.social @olgacronin.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Tonight a Garda AI bill is set to pass in Seanad, allowing gardai - categorise ppl by skin tone, age, gender - identify an unknown suspect based on biometrics, - “localise” an identified person by tracking their movements Dr Róisín Costello and I outline issues👇#AIAct www.iccl.ie/news/garda-a...
iccl.ie
Garda AI bill leaves Irish public vulnerable to discriminatory technologies without safeguards - ICCL and Trinity law professor
The government is giving gardaí AI powers to analyse our biometric data. This is a serious threat to our fundamental rights.
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Roman Senninger @rsenninger.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
The Department of Political Science at Aarhus University is hiring both Assistant Professors and Associate Professors. Assistant Professor: international.au.dk/about/profil... Associate Professor: international.au.dk/about/profil... Please share these opportunities with your networks!
international.au.dk
Assistant Professor in Political Science - Vacancy at Aarhus University
Vacancy at Department of Political Science, Aarhus University
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
I’ll see you your bread vending machine and raise you a BBQ propane vending machine!
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João Florêncio @noisybits.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
c.org/zGdWtyWgpb
c.org
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
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Exeter Green Party @exetergreens.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Exeter Green Party stands in solidarity with the Exeter University and College Union in condemning the University of Exeter’s announcement of sweeping job cuts. These plans will recklessly imperil the University’s vital contributions to the social, cultural, and economic life of the city. 1/4
Graphic which reads: Statement of solidarity with Exeter University and College Union.
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Ben Phillips @benphillips1989.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
A statement from Exeter UCU branch @ucu.org.uk - please share far and wide.
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
“Here we are at the 2046 World Cup hosted by the group of islands formerly known as the Netherlands. Argentina, as always, are captained by their talisman, Lionel Messi, who will turn 59 during the tournament.”
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Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 15/06/2026
No operational, tactical or strategic reason to do this except performative viciousness, humiliated frustration, and impotent rage. There are no words.
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
So long, Chicago. You made me smile.
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Many thanks, @chountisdefabbri.bsky.social! I’m glad you found something to appreciate in the book.
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
The situation for the political theorists at Essex in a travesty. Please read and share.
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Trust me, Exeter is truly lovely and the political theory community there is terrific. This will be a conference to savour.
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
I’ve been reading up on UDL because I’m interested in making my teaching more accessible to different kinds of learners. But so much of it looks like a Trojan horse for Ed-tech companies. I want to be wrong about this, but the more I learn the more suspicious I get.
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Britain and Ireland Association for Political Thought @biapt.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
We are delighted to invite nominations (including self-nominations) for the 2026 BIAPT Early-Career and Mid-Career prizes! The deadline for nominations is May 22nd. Full details are below 👇 www.associationforpoliticalthought.ac.uk/biapt-prizes...
associationforpoliticalthought.ac.uk
BIAPT Prizes 2026: call for nominations - BIAPT
Britain and Ireland Association for Political Thought Prizes Nominations are invited for two prizes: The BIAPT Early-Career Prize 2026 Open to political theorists within eight years of award of their ...
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
I gave my first keynote last week at the #BIAPT2026 conference in Edinburgh. My title was “Enlightenment Emancipation and its Abolitionist Critics.” I had the post-dinner slot so it was like delivering a wedding speech. Although such speeches don’t usually involve a handout or contain an argument…
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Dr. Katja Thieme (she/they) @katjathieme.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
So. What are best strategies for us as researchers? How do we divert this sewage, what infrastructural elements help drain it out of the system? What are best—and by that I mean efficient, least effortful—practices whenever we encounter this kind of crap? We need public education in info hygiene.
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Holly Brewer @earlymodjustice.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
My forthcoming book— For which I began research in 2006. Is now posted on the website for Princeton University Press. Cover will be added soon. The King’s Slaves: The British Empire & the Origins of American Slavery
press.princeton.edu
The King's Slaves
A provocative account of how empire and absolutism institutionalized slavery in America
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Ross Carroll @rosscarroll.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
It was fun to write on ‘Humour as Political Opposition’ for this volume. The punchline is that humour can be subversive in certain contexts but that doesn’t mean it’s an effective tool of political opposition. Indeed, it is best not thought of as a ‘tool’ at all. www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/han...
e-elgar.com
Handbook on Opposition Politics
‘A truly refreshing study of the concept and dimensions of opposition politics covering cases from across the globe. The Handbook eloquently highlights the importance of opposition politics, which is ...
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