Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 18/09/2026I'm trying to write stuff for my blog every now and then. Today, a post about political masochism, where I try to take issue with the idea that if something feels wrong, it must be right. It's tempting and sometimes correct, but it's a very bad political principle. www.trymnf.com/blog/politic...trymnf.comPolitical MasochismThere’s something appealing about the idea that if something feels right, it’s got to be, at some deeper level, wrong. And the corollary: that if something feels wrong, it’s got to be right. I think t... 000
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 03/09/2026Full paper here: doi.org/10.1080/09505431.2026.2716724 (cc @unioslo-arena.bsky.social @anuregnet.bsky.social)doi.orgSoftening the oligarchy: the normalization of Big Tech powerPublished in Science as Culture (Ahead of Print, 2026) 021
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 03/09/2026Elena (@elenaescalanteb.bsky.social) and I have tried our hands at science and technology studies! In @sciasculture.bsky.social, we find that most media coverage treats antitrust regulation as a depoliticized, technical exercise. We think this fails against the emerging tech oligarchy. 143
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftCompEurPol @compeurpol.bsky.social · 21/08/2026@trymnf.com Trym N. Fjørtoft discusses Delegation without a coherent nation: non-majoritarianism in EU and US single market governance Part of Craig Parsons & Katarzyna Andrejuk special issue 'Europe’s Single Market in American Perspective' link.springer.com/article/10.1...link.springer.comDelegation without a coherent nation: non-majoritarianism in EU and US single market governance - Comparative European PoliticsNon-majoritarian institutions like independent agencies and central banks play a significant role in market governance in the EU, the U.S., and everywhere. For many scholars, however, delegation to no... 001
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 10/08/2026There has been a converted attempt here (including by the current Home Sec) to promote the "Danish model" of anti-immigrant policy as being somehow consistent with social democratic/progressive values. So we should welcome this mask-off moment from the Danish PM. 19424166
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 19/05/2026My paper "Delegation without a coherent nation: non-majoritarianism in EU and US single market governance" is now out in @compeurpol.bsky.social. I try to challenge the common idea that delegation requires embedding in a "single democratic people" to be legitimate. ⇢ doi.org/10.1057/s412... 121
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 18/05/2026Good points. Any thoughts on the EU's democracy shield initiative, seems like they're vaguely trying to do something along the lines you suggest? 100
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 18/05/2026"For the EU, the conflict thus offers a chance to prove its (dormant) democratic value ... provided it stays the course and focuses on democracy as guiding principle of digital regulation rather than 'competitiveness' and 'innovation'" good stuff by @mpatberg.bsky.social 010
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftVlad Makszimov @vmakszimov.bsky.social · 06/05/2026Another day, another Hungarian captured institution performing independence. Today the Constitutional Court struck down the Orbán govt's retroactive decree that tried to kill Budapest's lawsuits over the "solidarity contribution." Looks like a win for rule of law. Is it? 🧵 1/9telex.huAz Alkotmánybíróság visszamenőleges hatállyal megsemmisítette a szolidaritási adóról szóló kormányrendelet egyes rendelkezéseitAz Országos Bírói Tanács jogorvoslati kérelmét tárgyalta az Alkotmánybíróság, a kifogásolt szabályokat megsemmisítették, Budapest tovább perelhet. 121
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftLuděk Stavinoha @stavinoha.bsky.social · 25/03/2026What's @frontex.bsky.social hiding, yet again? 26925
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftPolitical Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · 24/03/2026What makes technical expertise a legitimate source of authority? Trym Nohr Fjørtoft (@trymnf.com) examines “technical legitimacy”, proposing conditions under which expertise can justify delegation to non-majoritarian institutions. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/8ARyaUV @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #ECRs 042
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftDave Karpf @davekarpf.bsky.social · 05/03/2026New post: Can AI Replace Social Science Researchers? (No. No it can't. Come on, now.) davekarpf.beehiiv.com/p/can-ai-rep...davekarpf.beehiiv.comCan AI Replace Social Science Researchers?No. No it can't. Come on, now. 24459127
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftPolitical Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · 17/02/2026What makes technical expertise a legitimate source of authority? Trym Nohr Fjørtoft (@trymnf.com) examines "technical legitimacy", proposing conditions under which expertise can justify delegation to non-majoritarian institutions. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/b3DAdu1 @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #ECRsbuff.lySage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 063
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 17/02/2026New paper forthcoming in Comparative European Politics! I argue that the legitimacy of non-majoritarian institutions doesn't hang on their embedding in a coherent democratic people. Preprint here, typeset version coming soon. → www.trymnf.com/files/papers... 010
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftKarl Bode @karlbode.com · 13/02/2026oh my god who could have ever predicted this in a million years (Politico was one of countless outlets, including CNN, Reuters, and others, that repeatedly propped up the lie that Republicans had done a miraculous good faith 180 on antitrust reform and monopoly power, something that was never real) 554976
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 11/02/2026John Erik Fossum og jeg har meninger om demokratiets stilling i Europa. I Internasjonal Politikk nå – sammen med andre gode bidrag fra @unioslo-arena.bsky.social og @nupinytt.bsky.social. → doi.org/10.23865/int... 031
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftPolitical Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · 31/01/2026What makes technical expertise a legitimate source of authority? Trym Nohr Fjørtoft (@trymnf.com) examines “technical legitimacy”, proposing conditions under which expertise can justify delegation to non-majoritarian institutions. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/b3DAdu1 @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #ECRs 065
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftTrym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 27/01/2026My Technical Legitimacy piece is now out in @polstudies.bsky.social! Pretty happy with this one, where I try to sort out the common claim that neutrality and expertise may be sources of legitimacy for unelected bodies. ➡ doi.org/10.1177/0032... 032
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 27/01/2026My Technical Legitimacy piece is now out in @polstudies.bsky.social! Pretty happy with this one, where I try to sort out the common claim that neutrality and expertise may be sources of legitimacy for unelected bodies. ➡ doi.org/10.1177/0032... 032
Reposted by Trym Nohr Fjørtoftjamelle @jamellebouie.net · 12/01/2026i think powell's response here is a demonstration of the folly of the idea that democratic accountability requires presidential control. what if the president is not acting in the public interest? you want independent agencies to be able to push back and pursue their *congressional mandate* 89107121957
Reposted by Trym Nohr Fjørtoftmaurice stierl @mauricestierl.bsky.social · 18/12/2025Wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian: "Since migration has become the cornerstone of the current authoritarian turn, it is precisely around migration that resistance needs to form." www.theguardian.com/world/commen...theguardian.comTen years of fortress Europe has served only cruelty, profiteers and racists. The next decade is up to us | Maurice StierlThe hard right and far right are the political winners from the migration ‘crisis’, but only because centrist parties keep legitimising them, says migration and border researcher Maurice Stierl 212248
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftTrym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 15/12/2025My paper "Technical Legitimacy" has just been accepted for publication in @polstudies.bsky.social. A preprint available here for those who just can't wait for the typeset version: www.trymnf.com/files/papers... 053
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 15/12/2025My paper "Technical Legitimacy" has just been accepted for publication in @polstudies.bsky.social. A preprint available here for those who just can't wait for the typeset version: www.trymnf.com/files/papers... 053
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftKevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 24/11/2025Rachel Carson, in giving advice to a high schooler who was going to debate Silent Spring, showed a better awareness than many contemporary Democrats of how an opponent will ascribe positions to you that you do not espouse in bad faith to win over a public too inattentive to check for themselves. 1382
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftUlrik Eriksen @ulriken1.bsky.social · 16/10/2025Ok, her har vi jo en ny KI-skandale. Og den innbefatter jo attpåtil Riksrevisjonen. De har gått helt god for et notat fra Menon (av alle steder) om at KI vil effektivisere staten med 155 000 årsverk. Hvordan Menon har kommet frem til tallet? Ved å spørre Chat GPT. www.scup.com/doi/10.18261... 411445
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftKevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 15/10/2025I'm gonna try to articulate something I've been thinking about for a while, regarding *why* disillusionment, distrust, & dissatisfaction with democracy are rising. Almost everything I read takes this phenomenon as an exogenous shock, assuming no one chose to make it so. I suspect that's incomplete. 2026865
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftOlúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 23/09/2025"Common decency stigmatizes people that do not participate in it—removes them from voluntary association. We indeed have to live with one another, but terms and conditions apply." me on why Ezra Klein should be ashamed / why shame is Good Actually www.bostonreview.net/articles/how...bostonreview.netHow Can We Live Together? - Boston ReviewEzra Klein is wrong: shame is essential. 20070931984
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftAsheesh Kapur Siddique @asheeshks.org · 23/09/2025when the interview goes well: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a... 171041180
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 22/09/2025Written with a great team of people: Katarzyna Andrejuk, Craig Parsons, Susanne Schmidt, Andy Smith, and Jarle Trondal – all part of the SINGLEMARKETS project at @unioslo-arena.bsky.social 010
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 22/09/2025We've done hundreds of interviews with small and large businesses, associations and officials. It's striking that Americans tend to see barriers to trade between US states as given and not a political problem. Europeans businesses much more likely to look to the EU for solutions. 100
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 22/09/2025Both are part of a special issue that compares the single markets in the EU and US. We find – surprisingly! – that the market in both construction services and spirits is more harmonised in the EU than the US. More American barriers to trade, and much less political will to harmonise. 100
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 22/09/2025Two new publications today, both in Publius: The Journal of Federalism. 🏗️ Why Do Americans Not Care about Interstate Barriers in Construction? doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjaf027 🍸 Federal Spirits: Single Markets and the Case of Spirits Drinks doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjaf033doi.orgAmerican Services in European Perspective: Why Do Americans Not Care about Interstate Barriers in Construction?Abstract. The European Union identifies the sector of construction services as a priority for its agenda to remove barriers to cross-border activity. Takin 131
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftEurope Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 17/07/2025Serbia, Sprint Insight poll: Scenario: joint government vs. student list Student list-*: 55% SNS/SPS+-EPP: 42% Fieldwork: 23 June - 05 July 2025 Sample size: 1458 ➤ europeelects.eu/serbia 081
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftPavlos Roufos @proufos.bsky.social · 08/07/2025This should be deeply embedded into everyone’s understanding: the pursuit of EU migration policy and the equivalent law-enforcement & surveillance agencies consistently violate the EU’s own laws. wearesolomon.com/mag/format/i...wearesolomon.comFrontex unlawfully shared thousands of people's personal data with EuropolUnder the banner of fighting migrant smuggling, Frontex has collected, and unlawfully siphoned to Europol, personal data for years—quietly drawing thousands of migrants, as well as EU citizens aiding ... 1107
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftBenjamin Braun @benbraun.social · 01/07/2025🚨New article🚨 The consensus is that contestation pushed central banks to talk 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 about inequality & climate. Our theory: At first, CBs seek to ward off politicization by talking 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 about controversial topics. We tested this 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬.🧵 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 310338
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftToby Vogel 🇪🇺 @tobyvogel.bsky.social · 08/05/2025...endorsement of Putin's imperial war of conquest in Ukraine. Vučić, the autocratic leader of an EU candidate country, is siding with the EU's geopolitical adversary. This is a pretty black and white affair: the EU has to react with meaningful measures, beyond mere statements. 022
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftToby Vogel 🇪🇺 @tobyvogel.bsky.social · 08/05/2025Aleksandar Vučić, treated by the EU as its closest ally in the Balkans, has arrived in Moscow to attend Putin's spectacle tomorrow, defying very clear warnings by EU leaders. Slovakia's Robert Fico is also expected to attend. With their presence, these leaders signal their endorsement of... 124
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftJo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 25/04/2025A footnote from David Miller, expressing highly recognisable reservations about the rise of the journal article. 1115739
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftNY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 07/04/2025Analysis | Trump is finally giving us the recession that Biden could never deliver. 534575941
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftToby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 01/04/2025Man, just LOOK at how everyone's reaction to Le Pen goes exactly in the quadrant my model says it would 2328
Trym Nohr Fjørtoft @trymnf.com · 01/04/2025Hør meg og @mariannedahl.bsky.social i Ekko om studentdemonstrasjoner og demokrati i Europa 📻 radio.nrk.no/serie/ekko/M...radio.nrk.noEkko - Ekko i P2 - NRK RadioBankane: Venn eller fiende? Dei tener stort medan vi slit. Vi ser på kvifor vi treng bankar og korleis dei eigentleg fungerar. Norsk plastoptimist i India Korleis kan ein bergensk ildsjel og ein indi... 063
Reposted by Trym Nohr FjørtoftKevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 13/02/2025Agree, with the exception that I have found republican worries about arbitrary power very helpful lately 042
Reposted by Trym Nohr Fjørtoftlastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 10/02/2025In virtue of romantically engaged individuals having mixed their labour with the night, 2211
