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Theo

@theobromin.bsky.social
156 followers 356 following 64 posts

Postdoc, Department of Geography, Uni Bonn | Infrastructure, Labour, Comics | @tear-reviews.bsky.social | he/er

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Wisse van Engelen @wissevanengelen.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Another PhD chapter out 📖 In this one, we zoom in on the 240-km-long fence that encloses the Okavango Delta in Botswana, aiming to separate wildlife & livestock. As elephants are trampling the fence and people respond in ambivalent ways, we ask broader questions about coexistence and infrastructure
A panel of photos of the Southern Buffalo Fence in northern Botswana. On the top left, an aerial view of the fence, on the bottom left a damaged
section of the fence, with poles knocked over. On the top right an elephant crossing the fence, on the middle right a wildlife scout illustrating how female elephants damage the fence by stepping on the fence cable using his own foot, on the bottom right an impala with its leg tangled up in the fence wire.
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Techno-Optimism Archive @technooptimismarch.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
New technologies have long been expected to solve social problems. In the 19th century, the telegraph was sold as a way to end war by reducing misunderstanding between nations. Today we are launching Techno-Optimism Archive, which collects historical press materials documenting old tech promises
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Zali Fung @zalifung.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
New paper in @politicalgeography.bsky.social 🚨 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... I show how authoritarianism not only erodes civil and political rights, but undermines the organisations designed to protect those rights and hold state and corporate actors accountable 1/3
sciencedirect.com
Pursuing accountability under authoritarian rule: Thailand's National Human Rights Commission and community struggles for justice
Rising authoritarianism in Southeast Asia and globally underscores the need for geographers to critically interrogate this concept, its uneven effects…
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News Vibe @newsvibe.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Visiting Ngara Please like, share, follow, and reply. What do you think about this? #news africasacountry.com/2026/02/visitin…
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Territory, Politics, Governance @rsa-tpg.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
New Special Issue with the free-to-read editorial 'Under construction – towards critical perspectives on infrastructuring and infrastructured labour in Africa', guest edited by Theo Aalders, Prince Guma, Evelyne Owino & Dr Gideon Tups. doi.org/10.1080/2162...
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ᗧ͇̿ · · ᗣ͇̿ᗣ͇̿ᗣ͇̿ᗣ͇̿ @davidegilbert.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Thanks to @drxdunlap.bsky.social and @theobromin.bsky.social for the editorial input, and Human Geography for publishing
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Arne Rieber @arnerieber.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Hey #geosky kindly share this CfP for this years RGS-IBG conference 🙂 @theobromin.bsky.social and myself are hosting a session on infrastructure, the politics of deception and breaking the future! Deadline for submission is February 20!
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Jacobin Magazin @jacobinmagazin.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Auch Kerem Schamberger unterstützt das Jacobin-Crowdfunding. Uns fehlen nur noch wenige Hundert Euro, um Stufe 2 zu erreichen. Hier kannst du mitmachen: jacobin.de/2.0
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julián gómez-delgado @juliangomezdelgado.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Is infrastructure sabotage always a destructive act led by seditious individuals? no my new article in Human Geography studies Colombian public sector workers ‘breaking’ infrastructure to oppose privatization in 1992, and argues sabotage can reshape policies, politicize society & more
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Our Intervention on the limitation of free speech at German Universities, based on experiences with organising pro-Palestinian events. gh.copernicus.org/articles/80/...
gh.copernicus.org
Trapdoors: Palestine solidarity and the authoritarian potential of invisible academic bureaucracies
Abstract. In this intervention, we raise concerns about the latent authoritarian potential of academic bureaucracies to restrict or even prohibit spaces for critical exchange on highly politicized iss...
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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
If you only read one of this trio, make it Life After Cars by @brooklynspoke.bsky.social & @sgoodyear.bsky.social. It’s the most accessible and informative, as well as the most practical.
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Call for Abstracts - AAG 2026 | SF Deadline: October 23rd Join my Panel at next year's AAG conference on "Infrastructure Monsters and the Specter of Sabotage". We talkin' horror stories, queer geography, ghosts, Marx' specters, ruination, sabotage, and much more! @geographers.bsky.social #GeoSky
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Geographers for Justice in Palestine @geogboycott.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
What is the history of member-driven change in the AAG? Our archival research has shown that member-driven political activity has been common in AAG's history, including struggles around the Equal Rights Amendment; the US funding of contras in Nicaragua; and nuclear proliferation and war.
What is the history of member-driven change in the AAG? (hint: there have indeed been previous member votes in AAG, and some were even on "troubling world events"!). The graphic shows the AAG newsletter heading and describes following posts as "a look into the AAG archives"
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Mark Levine @marklevinephotos.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
American Goldfinch got at it in the sky above Seapowet Marsh in Tiverton, RI #bird #birdphotography #americangoldfinch #itsabirdeatbirdworld
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Can sabotage be an act of care? A way to build the future? In our new @antipodeonline.bsky.social article, Eric Kioko & I introduce the Sabotage Matrix, a tool to rethink infrastructure sabotage as both destructive and constructive. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
A 2x2 matrix titled "Sabotage Matrix", showing the material and immaterial effects of infrastructure sabotage, divided into destructive (left) and constructive (right) axes.

Top-left (Q1): Labeled "Destructive material effects" with a photo of a partially dismantled dam.

Top-right (Q2): Labeled "Constructive material effects" with a photo of a dislodged water pipe on dry earth.

Bottom-left (Q3): Labeled "Destructive ideational effects", with the quote: "We are saying [sabotage] is good, because it has made the things that were in darkness to come into the light."

Bottom-right (Q4): Labeled "Constructive ideational effects", with the quote: "The reason for us being included, it is because of the destructions they have seen."

The vertical axis is labeled "Material" (top) and "Immaterial" (bottom), and the horizontal axis is labeled "Destructive" (left) and "Constructive" (right).
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The Baffler @thebaffler.com · 04/02/2025
In the wake of the LA fires, many have called for mutual aid—which is necessary. But as @sarahljaffe.bsky.social writes, there are limits to what these networks can do. The challenge is to build something big enough to support a society.
thebaffler.com
Organized Abandonment | Sarah Jaffe
In a time of escalating climate catastrophe, we need something other than paeans to resilience.
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
And this is why, conversely, my flavor of radical anti-militarism comes in the shape of a swaggering gym bro creatine'd up to the gills.
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Es ist auffällig, dass Bellizisten genau diejenigen Dinge als verteidigungswert auflisten, die drohen, durch grenzenlose Aufrüstung verdrängt zu werden.
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Shotgun Ayame 🤠🍉🏳️‍🌈 @yamebleibt.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Irgendwie ein bisschen traurig wie Ole grade zum einzigen Vertreter einer eigentlich ziemlich verbreiteten und auch relativ unspektakulären Position wird. Und auch spannend wie die Gegenseite sich da lieber an ihm als Person abarbeitet als die Position mal ernst zu nehmen
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CRC-TRR 228 Future Rural Africa @crctrr228.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
New Publication! @arnerieber.bsky.social, Eric Kioko & @theobromin.bsky.social examine how stalled infrastructure projects shape local economies & aspirations. They explore the non-economy of anticipation & infrastructural violence in the case of the Thwake Dam. 📰 ➡️ crc-trr228.de/new-publicat...
crc-trr228.de
New Publication: Infrastructural Promises and the Non-Economy of Anticipation - Lessons from the Thwake Dam - Collaborative Research Center TRR 228
In this article, Arne Rieber, Eric Kioko and Theo Aalders (Project C03 Green Futures) examine how the promises of large-scale infrastructure projects shape
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Arn Keeling @arnkeeling.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Looks interesting! As I sometimes say about large scale mining projects (& associated infrastructure), the first impact is the plan.
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Journal of Political Ecology @jpoliticalecology.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Rieber, A., Kioko, E. M. & Aalders, T., (2025) “The non-economy of anticipation in the construction phase of large dams”, Journal of Political Ecology 32(1): 6117. doi.org/10.2458/jpe.... @changetanzania.bsky.social @arnerieber.bsky.social @pollenetwork.bsky.social
doi.org
The non-economy of anticipation in the construction phase of large dams
Large-scale infrastructure projects often include government promises and visions designed to win the approval and support of affected populations and to attract much-needed funding for implementation...
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Arne Rieber @arnerieber.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Really happy to see our article in JPE! In it, we discuss the 'non-economy of anticipation', a double vision in the construction phase of infrastructure, where future promises collide with the actual realities of implementation. We show how this leads to apathy and infrastructural violence.
Screenshot of the article page on the website of Journal of Political Ecology
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CRC-TRR 228 Future Rural Africa @crctrr228.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
New Publication! @theobromin.bsky.social & Detlef Müller-Mahn explore how labor shapes future-making in East African infrastructure projects. 📰➡️https://crc-trr228.de/new-publication-how-labour-has-the-potential-to-make-marginalised-futures-visible-and-real/
crc-trr228.de
New Publication: How Labour has the Potential to Make Marginalised Futures Visible and Real - Collaborative Research Center TRR 228
In this recent publication, researchers Theo Aalders and Detlef Müller-Mahn (Project C03 Green Futures) explore how labor shapes future-making in East African
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Stephan Anpalagan @stephananpalagan.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Keine Ausraster bei „Nius“ und Axel Springer. Kein 5-Punkte-Plan von Merz. Keine Forderung nach Gesetzesverschärfungen von Markus Söder. Kein Brennpunkt. Keine Sondersendung bei Markus Lanz. Die Tagesschau spricht von „Autofahrt“.
Tagesschau: „Nach Autofahrt in Menschengruppe. Haftbefehl gegen Tatverdächtigen.“
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
So, anyone wanna speculate how SPD and Greens will justify going into a coalition with Merz' CDU anyway? - "If we don't do it the AfD will" - "apart from the support from the AfD, the 5-point-plan isn't that bad in essence" - "I can fix him"
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CRC-TRR 228 Future Rural Africa @crctrr228.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
In their latest publication, our researchers @arnerieber.bsky.social & @theobromin.bsky.social alongside Kenn Munene look at how affected households navigate the state of uncertainty that is formed by threating images of displacement, in the context of the proposed High Grand Falls Dam in Kenya.
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Joe Kassabian @jkass99.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
-guy gets caught jerking it in his car -blames it on asylum seekers - pure EU vibes nltimes.nl/2025/01/08/g...
nltimes.nl
Groningen mayor forced to resign after claims he was caught masturbating in his car
Koen Schuiling was forced to resign as mayor of Groningen by the Minister of Interior Affairs Judith Uitermark, NOS reported. The ministry was set to suspend Schuilding if he did not announce his depa...
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Arne Rieber @arnerieber.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Our article in Futures is finally out! It took some time, but it was a lot quicker than the dam project we researched - one that was supposed to be fast-tracked. So, why being sassy about the promise of the dam being fast-tracked? Because it matters: shorturl.at/eq5HL @theobromin.bsky.social
shorturl.at
Displaced futures or futures in displacement? Anticipations around the proposed High Grand Falls Dam in Kenya
At COP27, the Kenyan and UK governments signed a climate finance agreement to accelerate the implementation of the High Grand Falls mega-dam on Tana R…
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Zali Fung @zalifung.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Recent article in @natureandspace.bsky.social: I examine long-proposed ‘amorphous’ dams & diversions in the Salween River Basin & show how speculation & rumour are deployed strategically by differently placed actors working towards project development or demise. Open access!
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
My New Year's resolution was to publish an article at "Territory, Politics, Governance" about infrastructure, labour, and future making - and I'm already done! @giubresearch.bsky.social #Geosky
The title page of the article "The hard work of future-making: alienated futures, invisible labour and liberation"
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Leon Simons @leonsimons.com · 26/12/2024
China approves Tibet mega dam 🤯 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion) 🤯 About 70 GW of power capacity 🤯 300 trillion watt-hours (TWh) of electricity to be generated annually 🤯 2.2 Exajoule of energy. 🤯 Almost 0.4% of today's global annual energy use
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
This article is incredibly useful in naming a subcutaneous understanding of infrastructure projects as sites of contestation that permeates much of the literature without ever being named as such. Great contribution! #Geosky @giubresearch.bsky.social
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Arne Rieber @arnerieber.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Online first! Our new article, part of an exciting SI on unintended consequences of infrastructures in Review of Regional Research: "Political Arenas of Infrastructure Development—the Case of a Dam Project in Kenya" together with Detlef Müller-Mahn doi.org/10.1007/s100... #geosky #crc228
doi.org
Political arenas of infrastructure development—the case of a dam project in Kenya - Review of Regional Research
State-led infrastructure development plays an increasingly important role in social transformation, especially in the Global South, which is also pushing the topic on research agendas in the social sc...
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Department of Geography Bonn @giubresearch.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
#mittwochsimGIUB Dec. 11, 5:15pm AK Krit Geo Bonn together with the kollektiv #orangotango and Daniel Hofinger on "Eigentum kartieren - Theorie und Praxis des #CounterMapping von 'Wem gehört Bonn?'" Where? Lecture Hall @giubresearch.bsky.social #crticalcartography #Bonn #akkritgeobonn
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Mean Fat Girl @artistsali.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
AI art is scabbing. AI art is a LABOR issue. youtu.be/4kSjbkM5mnU?...
youtu.be
AI art is scabbing
YouTube video by Ok2BeFat Streams
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Hyunsu Yim @hyunsuinseoul.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Breaking: S. Korean President Yoon has been placed under travel ban - Justice Ministry
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Prof Lisa Schipper 🌍🍉💪 @lisaschipper.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Food for thought for the weekend - Colonial fantasies of invulnerability to climate change y @ckweatherill.bsky.social Open access. www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
tandfonline.com
Colonial fantasies of invulnerability to climate change
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
It's almost like to economic injustices don't affect everyone equally.
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shiftio (oh junge!) @shifter.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
"Ich rede von Pediküre für unsere Zehen, Zehen. Wir probieren alle unsere Klamotten an, Klamotten. Jungs lassen unsere Handys platzen, Handys. Wir lassen unsere Lieblings-CDs fallen. Wir fahren zu den Partys. Wir versuchen, ein bisschen angesäuselt zu werden." -- Elfriede Jelinek
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Christian Eymery @christianeymery.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Das muss ein Ende haben. #Gewalt #Frauen
Gewalt gegen Frauen
Anzahl weiblicher Opfer 2023 im Vergleich zu 2022

› Femizide:
938 (+1 Prozent)

› Sexualstraftaten:
52.330 (+6,2 Prozent)

• Häusliche Gewalt: 180.715 (+5,6 Prozent)


Digitale Gewalt:
17.193 (+25 Prozent)

Menschenhandel:
591 (+6,9 Prozent)
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Arne Rieber @arnerieber.bsky.social · 05/01/2024
#POLLEN24 – (Latest) Call for papers Political Arenas around Infrastructuring Africa's Future - Negotiation and Contestation in times of new growth agendas and infrastructure-led development models Abstracts to fttheodory@mzumbe.ac.tz and arieber@uni-bonn.de by end of next week #geosky
Call for Papers for the POLLEN24 Panel: Political Arenas of Infrastructuing Africa's Future
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 05/01/2024
Wie würde Bild die protestierenden Bauern in einem Gegenteil-Universum nennen? - Karotten-Chaoten - Hamassentierhalter - Rüben-RAF - Taliba(uer)n - Islamisthaufen - Gülle-Gangster - Vieh-hadisten
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 18/12/2023
If you haven't watched Scavengers Reign yet what are you even doing
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 13/12/2023
Roads are so metaphorically rich that it is incredibly satisfying to write about them but also very difficult. This is my first magazine article ever, written together with @aprzhu.bsky.social #GeoSky #AcademicSky www.guernicamag.com/vanishing-li...
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april zhu @aprzhu.bsky.social · 12/12/2023
It is said that Al-Shabaab is why Kenya's largest infrastructure megaproject, in Lamu on the north coast, cannot progress. But if we see Lamu less a battlefield than a frontier—LAPSSET an echo of a colonial railway with no raison d’être—we find a different story. guernicamag.com/vanishing-li...
guernicamag.com
Vanishing Line
How can a Kenyan road unfurl toward the future when it can’t seem to escape the past?
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özge inan @oezgeinan.bsky.social · 13/12/2023
immer wenn ihr probleme mit eurem arbeitgeber habt solltet ihr euch fragen "was würde claus weselsky tun"
Zitatkachel Claus Weselsky: 
"Ab dem 8. Januar sollte man mit längeren
Arbeitskämpfen rechnen. (...) Wir müssen nicht unbefristet streiken, um das System
Bahn zum Stehen zu bringen."
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 11/12/2023
How Walter Benjamin's writing about the angel of history feels like vs. the actual painting
The "Buff Doge vs Cheems"-meme, where the buff Doge's head is a Magic The Gathering card of the epic-looking "angel of ruins", while the cheems doge is the actual painting by paul klee that looks a bit pathetic tbh.
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Theo @theobromin.bsky.social · 18/11/2023
anyone with an abo of sz who can send me a pdf of this article? www.sueddeutsche.de/projekte/art...
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Stefan Ouma @econgeo.bsky.social · 09/11/2023
antipodeonline.org/2023/11/08/v... #geosky #geography #geo
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