Sign in

Sarah Bush

@sarahbush.bsky.social
2K followers 246 following 73 posts

professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania studying democracy promotion, elections, women's rights, NGOs; new book: amzn.to/3RIvGc0

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contemporary International NGOs by @sarahbush.bsky.social & @jenniferhadden.bsky.social via @universitypress.cambridge.org (2025) #AutumnReading
amazon.ie
Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contemporary International NGOs : Bush, Sarah Sunn, Hadden, Jennifer: Amazon.ie: Books
Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contemporary International NGOs : Bush, Sarah Sunn, Hadden, Jennifer: Amazon.ie: Books
021
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Aaron Erlich @aaronerlich.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
An article about Trump's iconography citing our work in the UAE in the Guardian. A well-researched read! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... @mcgillpolisci.bsky.social @cpsjournal.bsky.social @sarahbush.bsky.social @laurenrprather.bsky.social
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Trump’s omnipresence: commanding attention like a king | Editorial
Editorial: The president’s image and name are proliferating in Washington and beyond, overturning well-advised democratic taboos on glorifying sitting leaders
024
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Our research on authoritarian iconography was highlighted today in the Guardian
031
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Jeff Colgan @jeffcolgan.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Great to see new books by CSL members @jenniferhadden.bsky.social and @kathrynchelminski.bsky.social on display at ISA2026! (And hat tip to Jen's co-author @sarahbush.bsky.social )
Book: Crowded Out Book
033
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
New article out today in @iojournal.bsky.social that tackles a pressing question: As the US retreats from democracy promotion, will autocracies abandon liberal norms and return to overt repression? Our @danieladonno.bsky.social Jon Pevehouse and @cjschneider.bsky.social answer: not so fast.🧵1/
22811
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Looking forward to this book event on "Crowded Out" @watsonschoolbrown.bsky.social featuring the dream team of Patricia Bromley, Judith Kelley, and Kathryn Sikkink - the event will be streamed, so please join us online! events.brown.edu/watson/event...
events.brown.edu
Jennifer Hadden book event — The Future of International NGOs
Watson faculty member Jennifer Hadden and co-author Sarah Bush recently published a book titled “Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contem...
030
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Mike Goldfien @mikegoldfien.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Excited that my article, "To Agree or Not to Agree: Hawks, Doves, and Regime Type in International Rivalry and Rapprochement," is now out at International Security. @intsecurity.bsky.social @mitpress.bsky.social @belfercenter.bsky.social. direct.mit.edu/isec/article...
direct.mit.edu
To Agree or Not to Agree: Hawks, Doves, and Regime Type in International Rivalry and Rapprochement
Abstract. Existing scholarship emphasizes hawks’ advantages in making peace, but it is squarely focused on electorally accountable leaders, even though most international rivalries feature at least on...
2219
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Global development in crisis: Responding to America’s retreat fiia.fi/en/publicati...
fiia.fi
Global development in crisis: Responding to America's retreat
A definitive shift in both resources and rhetoric has upended the global development sector. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the policies of the new US administration, although many European sta...
020
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Glad to have my research with @jenniferhadden.bsky.social featured in this article: "After the aid cuts: What's next for INGOs?" www.devex.com/news/after-t...
devex.com
After the aid cuts: What's next for INGOs?
“We all knew that we needed to change, and now we all have to change,” says Tessie San Martin, the CEO of FHI 360. “This has been an accelerant to the things that had to happen already.”
081
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Glad to have our @jenniferhadden.bsky.social @foreignaffairs.com article featured in @wsj.com by Walter Russell Mead - “Authors Sarah Bush and Jennifer Hadden put their fingers on one of the most important international developments of our time.” Thank you! www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
wsj.com
Opinion | The Decline and Fall of NGOs
‘Civil society’ looked like the future when the Cold War ended. It doesn’t anymore.
211
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Judah Grunstein @judah-grunstein.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Brilliant survey by @sarahbush.bsky.social and @jenniferhadden.bsky.social that puts the "foreign agent" laws into perspective. Those were/are a big part of the problem, but the factors driving the decline of NGOs' power in global governance go a lot deeper and wider.
foreignaffairs.com
The End of the Age of NGOs?
How civil society lost its post–Cold War power.
4184
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Rubio Restricts U.S. Criticism of Tainted Foreign Elections www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/u...
nytimes.com
Rubio Restricts U.S. Criticism of Tainted Foreign Elections
000
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 16/07/2025
Read @sarahbush.bsky.social‬ and @jenniferhadden.bsky.social on how governments around the world are undermining NGOs—and making it harder for civil society to work on politically sensitive issues, including human rights and environmental protection.
foreignaffairs.com
The End of the Age of NGOs?
How civil society lost its post–Cold War power.
01210
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
statesunited.org/resources/wh...
statesunited.org
When Americans Trust Elections, They Are More Likely To Vote - States United Democracy Center
000
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
ssir.org/articles/ent...
ssir.org
Retire ‘Foreign Assistance’ (SSIR)
Development aid is not a handout but a catalyst for partnership in global stability.
020
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Happy Fourth of July
25726
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Maryam Deloffre @mzdeloffre.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Insightful and important piece on the rise and fall of NGOs by @sarahbush.bsky.social and @jenniferhadden.bsky.social. Sobering analysis of the factors that have led to the waning power of civil society worldwide.
141
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 03/07/2025
“Overall, the NGO sector has less political opportunity and capacity than it once had,” write @sarahbush.bsky.social and @jenniferhadden.bsky.social. “The result is an end to the era of NGOs—a boon to autocratic governments that have seen their advocacy as a threat.”
foreignaffairs.com
The End of the Age of NGOs?
How civil society lost its post–Cold War power.
075
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Huss/ein Banai @hbanai.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Insightful piece by @sarahbush.bsky.social and @jenniferhadden.bsky.social (for your fall syllabi): reader.foreignaffairs.com/2025/07/03/t...
reader.foreignaffairs.com
The End of the Age of NGOs?
How Civil Society Lost Its Post–Cold War Power
244
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Trump Is Undermining Policies Against Transnational Repression www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trum...
lawfaremedia.org
Trump Is Undermining Policies Against Transnational Repression
The Biden administration made policies to protect exiles and diasporas a priority. Trump 2.0 has already undercut these efforts.
010
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Cambridge University Press Political Science & IR @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org · 24/06/2025
"A must-read for scholars of organizational theory, international institutions, and global civil society." Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contemporary International NGOs by @sarahbush.bsky.social & @jenniferhadden.bsky.social, Out Now & #OpenAccess #PoliSci #NGO 💙📚 cup.org/4ni11SN
cup.org
Crowded Out
Cambridge Core - Comparative Politics - Crowded Out
061
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Christina Cottiero @ccottiero.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
With @sarahbush.bsky.social & @laurenrprather.bsky.social we document the rise of low-quality election monitors who legitimate host elections regardless of fraud & show that authoritarian-led regional IOs--esp. those anchored by Russia--have pioneered the tactic link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Zombies ahead: Explaining the rise of low-quality election monitoring - The Review of International Organizations
The international election monitoring regime has become considerably more complex in the twenty-first century. Although the number of organizations engaged in high-quality election monitoring has plat...
152
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
📢 New Book! I’m so happy to share that “Crowded Out” – my new book coauthored with @jenniferhadden.bsky.social – is now out with @universitypress.cambridge.org. Here’s why we hope you’ll want to read it. 🧵 1/
193
Reposted by Sarah Bush
intlcollaboration.bsky.social @intlcollaboration.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
The International Collaboration Section is thrilled to announce its 2024 award winners! Many thanks to the award committee members for their hard work. 🧵
1123
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Thought provoking and creative! I converted a final paper assignment to an oral exam assignment in my spring class in large part due to AI concerns, and I was extremely happy with the results.
0132
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
This is a very good and detailed piece on the impacts of the administration’s proposed reorganization of the Bureau of Democracy, Rights, and Labor (DRL) www.justsecurity.org/114200/state...
justsecurity.org
The State Department Reorg Guts Human Rights Diplomacy
"Congress should urge Secretary Rubio to modify the proposed plan in ways that would sustain bipartisan U.S. efforts to advance democracy and human rights across the globe."
12918
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Guy Grossman @guygrossman.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
My fantastic colleague @sarahbush.bsky.social has a new book ("Saturation Point"), which is featured in Penn's Arts and Science magazine. omnia.sas.upenn.edu/story/satura...
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
Saturation Point
In her new book, Associate Professor of Political Science Sarah Bush explores the increasingly crowded landscape of international NGOs.
162
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Saskia Brechenmacher @saskiabr.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Checking in from parental leave to share my latest paper with @carnegiedcg.bsky.social! What's behind the contemporary anti-gender backlash? How does it manifest across different countries and regions? And why has it been difficult to mount an effective response? 🔽 🔽 🔽
097
Reposted by Sarah Bush
cambridgebookshop.bsky.social @cambridgebookshop.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
We have some very exciting new books from @cambridgeup.bsky.social, including 'Tolkien and the Mystery of Literary Creation' by Giuseppe Pezzini for all the #LOTR fans, 'Global Challenges to Democracy', and many more. 🤩 Check them out here: 🔗 www.cambridgebookshop.co.uk/collections/new-books
Window display of Cambridge University Press Bookshop showing multiple copies of the book 'Tolkien and the Mystery of Literary Creation' by Giuseppe PezziniHand holding book titled 'Global Challenges To Democracy: Comparative Perspectives on Backsliding, Autocracy and Resilience', on a blurred backgroundHand holding book titled 'Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contemporary International NGOs' by Sarah Sunn Bush & Jennifer Hadden, on a blurred backgroundWooden shelves in the Cambridge University Press Bookshop showing a display of colourful books, with a small sign saying 'Publication date 15th May'
043
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 02/06/2025
In a new essay, Robert Keohane and the late Joseph Nye argue that soft power matters, even in the short run—and warn that by fixating on coercion, “Trump is neglecting a key source of American strength.”
foreignaffairs.com
The End of the Long American Century
Trump and the sources of U.S. power.
22111
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Excited for this book’s release. I got an early look (blurbed it!) and taught from the chapter on transnational sports last month. The links between democracy, autocracy, human rights, and global sports (including NBA, LIV, Olympics) sparked great discussion in class.
343
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Maya Sen @mayasen.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
This piece in the NY Times correctly hones in on why international students are vital to US interests Kicking them out will destroy the research & development pipeline that has propelled the US into global leadership in science & tech
911541
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
A nice feature from @sas.upenn.edu dives into my forthcoming book with @jenniferhadden.bsky.social -- "Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contemporary International NGOs" omnia.sas.upenn.edu/story/satura...
omnia.sas.upenn.edu
Saturation Point
In her new book, Associate Professor of Political Science Sarah Bush explores the increasingly crowded landscape of international NGOs.
197
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Guy Grossman @guygrossman.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
WHYY has published a story on the implications of the Trump administration's decision to gut USAID for the work of researchers in our lab (PDRI-DevLab). You may find it interesting: whyy.org/articles/pen...
whyy.org
Penn researchers lose funding and jobs after USAID shutdown
Researchers say losing USAID funding means less research that benefits the U.S. government, fewer opportunities for students, and a loss of trust in the U.S. overseas.
18538
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
An insightful piece
120
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Matthew Cebul @matthewcebul.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Kicking off my time at @harvardash.bsky.social, @sharangrewal.bsky.social and I reflect on how the Trump administration's open embrace of illiberalism could fuel increased global repression -- but also protest -- during Trump's second term.
ash.harvard.edu
US democratic backsliding encourages repression abroad — but also protest – Ash Center
077
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Lauren Prather @laurenrprather.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
This fits very well with research on why men in developed countries are more opposed to climate change mitigation policies than women by @sarahbush.bsky.social and Amanda Clayton. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org
Facing Change: Gender and Climate Change Attitudes Worldwide | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
Facing Change: Gender and Climate Change Attitudes Worldwide - Volume 117 Issue 2
1268
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Oona Hathaway @oonahathaway.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
This is a dangerous development. “The State Department is changing its mind about human rights” www.npr.org/2025/04/18/n...
npr.org
The State Department is changing its mind about what it calls human rights
The agency's annual human rights reports are being purged of references to prison conditions, political corruption and other abuses.
41809353
Reposted by Sarah Bush
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 09/04/2025
President Trump has frozen billions of dollars in federal funds in an attempt to rid higher education of what he calls its woke ideology. Our reporter spoke to the president of Princeton University, Christopher L. Eisgruber, who has vowed to fight. Listen to "The Daily."
nytimes.com
The University President Willing to Fight Trump
Christopher L. Eisgruber of Princeton University talks about the administration’s move to freeze billions of dollars in funding to higher education institutions.
521159226
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Coming soon… 👀
Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contemporary International NGOs
050
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Insightful piece.
000
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Grateful that @h-diplo.bsky.social published a roundtable on “Monitors and Meddlers” today - the book that @laurenrprather.bsky.social I published in 2022 issforum.org/ISSF/PDF/RJI...
issforum.org
141
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
Informative piece that covers a number of important points about humanitarian aid. The links show the human consequences of the US' drastic cuts as well as the broader context, which includes many European donors also cutting aid.
087
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Anjali Dayal @anjalikdayal.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
bsky.app/profile/reil... this is bonkers and deeply disturbing. Private security, DOJ, DOGE, and the DC police together worked to take control over a private building the government *does not own* and dismiss the staff *whom the president does not employ,* removing them, it seems, with armed force
22800399
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD @vvsmider.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
My story: I’m a single father and cancer researcher whose wife died of a rare cancer. Science and biomedical research is personal to me. Here is my op-ed in my hometown newspaper. Pls fwd. www.vindy.com/opinion/edit...
vindy.com
DOGE ends America’s golden age of biomedical research
Biomedical research impacts all of us. I became curious about how drugs work after my mom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was a small boy. She received “gold shots” as treatment, which ...
10533282
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Some scattered thoughts after the most shocking and horrible moment of US diplomacy most of us have ever seen. Not even sure what the point of writing anything about this is, but here goes. 1/
201813380
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Maryam Deloffre @mzdeloffre.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
We're on the Hill! @pfirchow.bsky.social @apaczynska.bsky.social @democracyprofdc.bsky.social and Louis Berg are delivering the Open Letter to Congress as we speak. Over 217 scholars of foreign assistance have signed to demand Congress take action. @schatz.bsky.social
Two scholars delivering a letter and standing in front of Rep Brian Schatz's office.A scholar delivering a letter and standing in front of the Committee of Foreign Affairs' office.
1159
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Glad to have participated in this event. Recording for those who are interested: youtu.be/TGMUyTmC5P0?...
youtu.be
The State of Democracy in 2025
YouTube video by Perry World House
151
Reposted by Sarah Bush
Perry World House @perryworldhouse.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
In 2024, two billion people in over 70 countries exercised their right to vote in national elections. The results were all over the map. Join us as we discuss w/ @ndidemocracy.bsky.social President @tcwittes.bsky.social and @upenn.edu's @sarahbush.bsky.social: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-state-...
eventbrite.com
The State of Democracy in 2025
Join Perry World House as we discuss how we should be thinking about democracy, and democracy promotion, in 2025.
032
Sarah Bush @sarahbush.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Updating my spring syllabus and wanted to re-share a teaching resource I created in 2023 with Ryan Pike and @jenniferhadden.bsky.social - it's an educational case study called that can be downloaded for free here: shopcases.som.yale.edu/products/pro...
shopcases.som.yale.edu
Protecting Giants: NGO Decision-making for Elephant Conservation
Despite the benefits associated with elephant conservation and substantial prior efforts by NGOs to preserve elephant populations, the habitat range and population of African elephants has continued t...
131