Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 04/09/2026The conclusion draws out recommendations for protecting public admin including: 💡Constitutional protections 💡The use of state committees 💡Oversight of the police and army 💡Strengthening civil service culture 💡The civil service standing up to autocrats 💡Overseas support for good public admin 000
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 04/09/2026For my own part, I argue that public administration is an essential part of democracy, using the real democracy approach: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... 100
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Out now! Democratic Backsliding and Public Administration The new special issue of Policy Studies brings scholars from around the world together to make rich contributions examining how democracy and public are linked - and facing threats. www.tandfonline.com/toc/cpos20/4... 131
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 30/07/2026ICYMI Call for papers…. tobysjames.com/journal-spec...tobysjames.comThe Governance of Football: Policy, Politics and PossibilitiesFootball (‘soccer’) is the world’s largest sport. World cups mark major international mega events, which can trigger economic development, and have wider cultural and political co… 011
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 19/07/2026The world is a big place. Third isn’t too bad at all. 000
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Might be of interest: @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social; @psasport.bsky.social @ipsa.org @apsa.bsky.social 111
Reposted by Toby S. JamesToby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Call for papers: The Governance of Football: Policy, Politics and Possibilities With @policy-studies.bsky.social tobysjames.com/journal-spec...tobysjames.comThe Governance of Football: Policy, Politics and PossibilitiesFootball (‘soccer’) is the world’s largest sport. World cups mark major international mega events, which can trigger economic development, and have wider cultural and political co… 168
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 06/07/2026UEFA's take on FIFA's #Balogun decision: 'When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake.... 'We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.' www.uefa.com/news-media/n...uefa.comUEFA statement on the Balogun caseStatement on decision related to Folarin Balogun 010
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Harry Kane's voice was much better suited to Live Forever than Wonderwall at the end of game 010
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 01/07/2026The book also: 🗳️ Argues that major societal megatrends mean that the holding of elections has moved into an age of complexity 🗳️Remeasures electoral integrity worldwide using tools and indicators suitable for this new age 🗳️Develops important lessons for the theory of democracy and elections 110
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Electoral integrity is therefore defined as: “A set of principles to be achieved in elections that empower the everyday citizen and help to realise the ideals of democracy.” 100
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Elections serve a purpose. They are not social practices held merely to comply with national laws and international obligations. They are designed to enable people to have power over their own lives and over their communities. 100
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 01/07/2026OUT NOW! What is Electoral Integrity? Conceptualising Election Quality in an Age of Complexity, with Cambridge University Press And it is FREE to download until 14 July 2026 www.cambridge.org/core/element... Holly Ann Garnett and I redefine electoral integrity around human empowerment..cambridge.orgWhat is Electoral Integrity?Cambridge Core - American Studies - What is Electoral Integrity? 122
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Call for papers: The Governance of Football: Policy, Politics and Possibilities With @policy-studies.bsky.social tobysjames.com/journal-spec...tobysjames.comThe Governance of Football: Policy, Politics and PossibilitiesFootball (‘soccer’) is the world’s largest sport. World cups mark major international mega events, which can trigger economic development, and have wider cultural and political co… 168
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 20/05/2026Thanks Maria! Historically, voting rights have only helped people to receive other rights. Elections are also about listening - and those living in the UK without citizenship have a perspective and experience worth listening to. 130
Reposted by Toby S. JamesPolitical Quarterly @politicalquarterly.bsky.social · 18/05/2026What if unenfranchised adults could vote? If all UK residents could vote, 257 seats could have had a different outcome at the 2024 general election. By @tobysjames.bsky.social and Jamie Underwood politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/what-if...politicalquarterly.org.ukWhat if Unenfranchised Adults Could Vote? The Case for Residence-Based Voting in the UKIf all UK residents could vote, 257 seats could have had a different outcome at the 2024 general election. 0188
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 25/04/2026Policy Studies is looking to appoint two Associate Editors! We are looking to appoint Associate Editors for: * Economics and/or * Public Administration Scholars in the Global South are especially encouraged to apply. Find out more here: think.taylorandfrancis.com/editor_recru... 022
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Congratulations! And great to see you this morning! 110
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 23/03/2026Also see our evidence in Parliament last week: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/... and bills.parliament.uk/publications... 000
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 23/03/2026The Representation of the People Bill is working it's way through Parliament. Here are some ways in which it can be amended to further strengthen democracy: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...blogs.lse.ac.ukHow the Representation of the People Bill can be amended to strengthen democracy | LSE British PoliticsThe Government's new Representation of the People Bill is set to transform the way the UK votes, including a move towards automatic voter registration. 111
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 14/02/2026Changes are coming to UK elections.... theconversation.com/voting-in-su...theconversation.comVoting in supermarkets, bank cards as ID and £500,000 fines for breaking the rules – how British elections could be about to changeMeasures which will modernise elections to enable young people to vote more easily are included in the bill. 012
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 05/02/2026Call for papers! The call for our forthcoming summer conference is now, in collaboration with the Carter Center This year we are teaming up with the journal Politics As ever, it is free and runs across multiple time zones Deadline: March 31 www.electoralintegrityproject.com/2026-virtual... 013
Reposted by Toby S. JamesPatrick Dunleavy @patrickdunleavy.bsky.social · 15/12/2025Happy Holidays to the 14,240 readers who have downloaded our book “Australia’s Evolving Democracy” or any chapter during its first year of publication. Many thanks from all our authors - we are hugely grateful! It’s open access, and always will be. press.lse.ac.uk/books/e/10.3... 154
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 28/11/2025By which benchmarks should we assess political leaders? How are Starmer, Badenoch and Farage performing, and why? Watch our expert book launch from this week! lnkd.in/eAjMwpja Academics and teachers - do consider adding it to your course syllabuses!lnkd.inLinkedInThis link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn 021
Reposted by Toby S. JamesTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 27/11/2025The @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social via @tobysjames.bsky.social kindly recorded this event. I gave Kemi Badenoch a grade D. But then I hadn't heard her supposedly brilliant Budget response. So should that have been a D+ or a C-?youtube.comThe State of Political Leadership in BritainYouTube video by UEA Public Events and Engagement 385
Reposted by Toby S. JamesTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 26/11/2025Finally got round to a deep reading of @tobysjames.bsky.social and Charles Clarke’s interview with Boris Johnson (done in Feb 2025). It’s well worth it. This passage in particular stuck out. Don’t agree that doing something different would have saved BJ’s skin but a refreshingly honest admission. 155
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 24/11/2025The State of Political Leadership in Britain Join us for this tomorrow! Free and open to all, online and in person. events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3d662e... 050
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 21/11/2025Crisis of political leadership? What crisis? Join us on Tuesday forms.office.com/e/dnX1qZ4pVR 120
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 21/11/2025The Canadian Parliament is considering whether the system used for overseas voting is sufficient for Canadian democracy. I drew from UK-based studies to give evidence about whether proxy voting may help. And learnt a lot about the value of overseas constituencies... tobysjames.com/2025/11/21/o...tobysjames.comOverseas voting in CanadaThe Canadian House of Commons is examining how overseas voting works in Canadian elections. At present, special ballots can be issued to electors overseas. However, there are concerns inside Canada… 020
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 10/11/2025@timbale.bsky.social @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @emmanuelleavril.bsky.social 000
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 10/11/2025The State of Political Leadership in Britain Roundtable with Charles Clarke, Tim Bale, Emmanuelle Avril and Patrick Diamond Tuesday 25th November 1pm-2.30pm The registration link is: forms.office.com/e/dnX1qZ4pVR. We will send a join link 24 hours before the event 131
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 24/10/2025💡 How do different scholars do research on electoral integrity? How should they? 📖 In this new chapter for the Oxford Handbook of Electoral Integrity, I profile three rival approaches Recognition of different pathways would greatly benefit research and policy academic.oup.com/edited-volum... 010
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 17/10/2025Universal suffrage is often said to be a defining feature of democracy, but not the reality for many elections around the world. In this new piece, we map the arguments for enfranchising all residents and the number of unenfranchised adults in the UK. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 052
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 06/10/2025Available here: www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/britis... www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/britis... 010
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 06/10/2025New contributing authors include: Victoria Honeyman, Anand Menon, Alan Wager Dr Andrew S. Roe-Crines-Crines, Timothy Heppell, Ben Worthy, Mark Bennister, Anthony Seldon, Peter Dorey and Patrick Diamond. 100
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 06/10/2025The books also include an interview with Boris Johnston himself with some candid reflections on his own time as leader..... 100
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 06/10/2025The books now include new chapters on Jeremy Corbyn, Kier Starmer, Theresa May, Boris Johnston and Rishi Sunak. We also have new chapters on Brexit and political leadership, updated conceptual frameworks and leadership league tables. 100
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 06/10/2025📣 Out now! Second editions of the British Labour Leaders and British Conservative Leaders books Edited alongside Charles Clarke, @timbale.bsky.social and Patrick Diamond for @bitebackpublishing.bsky.social 163
Reposted by Toby S. JamesPolicy & Politics @policy-politics.bsky.social · 24/09/2025🔍What is the value of poll-worker voice in the delivery of elections? ✨⬇️New research on the blog from @tobysjames.bsky.social and Alistair Clark! Thank you both! policyandpoliticsblog.com/2025/09/24/t...policyandpoliticsblog.comThe value of poll-worker voice in the delivery of electionsby Toby S. James and Alistair Clark In their recent article published in Policy & Politics, Toby S. James and Alistair Clark explore how the perspectives of poll workers can inform and improve … 021
Reposted by Toby S. JamesStuart Turnbull-Dugarte @turnbulldugarte.com · 05/09/2025Radical right accommodation really does not work. New paper out with this exceptionally talented team @katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk doi.org/10.31235/osf... 582153963
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 05/09/2025New! Just out in Democratization @HollyAnnGarnett and I on electoral integrity resilience www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... Open access and free to read... 042
Reposted by Toby S. JamesElectoral Integrity Project @electoralintegrity.bsky.social · 27/08/2025💡 Introducing... The Oxford Handbook on Electoral Integrity Edited by Holly Ann Garnett and @tobysjames.bsky.social Chapters are now being published online ahead of the print version out next year.... 📖 electoralintegrityproject.com/oxford-handb... 064
Toby S. James @tobysjames.bsky.social · 18/07/2025Why automatic voter registration is good news for UK democracy…. theconversation.com/automatic-vo...theconversation.comAutomatic voter registration: a huge step forward for democracy – and a chance to bring missing millions into electionsAs part of a raft of new measures, people will no longer need to register themselves to vote. 152
Reposted by Toby S. JamesPaul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 17/07/2025In case you’re interested, here’s the report by @tobysjames.bsky.social and myself on Automatic Voter Registration - something that the government has now said it’s working towards. www.jrrt.org.uk/wp-content/u...jrrt.org.uk 275