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Zeynep Somer-Topcu

@zeynsom.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1.4K following 124 posts

Professor of Government at UT-Austin. Research on European politics, parties, elections, and voters. Close follower of everything Turkish, European and American.

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Reposted by Zeynep Somer-Topcu
epovb.bsky.social @epovb.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Congratulations to Lilliana Mason (Johns Hopkins), winner of the Philip E. Converse Book Award for Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity. Many thanks to the committee: Zeynep Somer-Topcu (chair), Sierra Davis, Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte & Hans Hassell.
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Michelangelo Landgrave @landgravephd.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Gooooooooal!
static.klipy.com
England Football Penguin
ALT: England Football Penguin
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R. Daniel Kelemen @rdanielkelemen.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Brexit referendum was ten years ago today.. I wrote this a couple days later. The predictions have held up well- though Brexit did less damage to EU than I suspected and was even worse for UK economy than I imagined. www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/uni...
foreignaffairs.com
London Falling
British politicians—and many voters—have blamed the European Union for their problems for years. Now they will have to find something new to bang on about as they deal with an economic downturn and in...
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Sara Hobolt @sarahobolt.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
What a wonderful few days in Belfast for #EPSS2026 and what a fantastic community! Thank you to everyone who joined the conference with such enthusiasm A special thanks to @simonhix.bsky.social @kenbenoit.bsky.social @macartan.bsky.social & the rest of the EPSS Council for making it all possible
EPSS Council
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EPSS @epssnet.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Great conversations and excellent turnout at the Diversity Panel at the EPSS General Conference today.
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Free lunch on a first come first served basis. Come early!
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EPSS @epssnet.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
🥪Starting soon - EPSS Diversity Lunch Roundtable: Tackling Barriers in the Discipline: Disability, Chronic Illness, Neurodivergence, and Mental Health 12:30-13:30 | Bar 2, with Andrej Cvetić, Catherine de Vries, Amélie Godefroidt, Anne Rasmussen, Stefanie Reher and Timon Scheuer
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EPSS @epssnet.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Also, if you want to watch England-Croatia with a bunch of political scientists, it’s on in Lagan Suite A in the Hilton.
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EPSS @epssnet.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ A particularly warm welcome to all those participants that are attending #EPSS for the very first time. We are so happy you are here! A huge thanks to Queens University for sponsoring the first-time attendee reception tonight! 🙏
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Woot woot!
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EPSS @epssnet.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Welcome to Belfast! 🎉Tonight marks the informal start of #EPSS2026! Before the conference officially opens, there are two great ways to ease in.
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Please check the EPSS diversity-related events and notes and join us next week!
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Howard Eissenstat @heissenstat.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
The shit that we insisted was going to happen in Turkey finally happened just as we predicted. The only difference is that, ten years down the line, barely anybody outside of Turkey even cares anymore...
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
During the coalition negotiations in class where students are trying to form a majority coalition: AfD: come on CDU, we are both at 8 on the L-R scale, you don’t want to form a coalition with SPD! CDU: are you willing to have open borders? AfD: never CDU: then no way we can cooperate Principles!
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Tiffany Barnes @tiffanydbarnes.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Our @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org author shared insights from her book: “The truth is, they’d always been standing in political quicksand. As @zeynsom.bsky.social describes in her book “Glass Ceilings, Glass Cliffs, and Quicksands,” female leaders often operate in more precarious environments.”
huffpost.com
MAGA Women Are Learning The Hard Way What The 'Glass Cliff' Phenomenon Is
Experts break down what women in Trump's orbit should learn from his latest dismissals.
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
One thing I forgot to say in this interview: Good riddance!
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I am very proud of this paper, and if you are into voter perceptions of party positions, you will like it too. :)
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
The deadline is approaching fast (next Tuesday). If you are an EPSS member and can mentor, or would like to get advice (or both), we look forward to your applications!
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Denis Cohen @denis-cohen.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Great to see this go live 👇 As part of the EPSS Diversity Committee, I’m especially excited about this mentoring program—open to all EPSS members, both as mentors and as mentees. 🗓️ Fill out the survey by March 31 to participate. ℹ️ FAQ: epssnet.org/about/divers...
epssnet.org
Mentorship program - EPSS
The EPSS Diversity Committee is happy to announce the launch of our mentoring program. This initiative builds on the success of this scheme by the LGBTQ+ group in previous years. The EPSS Mentoring Program is a new initiative designed  to develop a new network of contacts within the EPSS community.  Our mentoring program is designed …
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Please apply and spread the word.
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Please forward to your colleagues!
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
There are many days when I am so glad that I study European politics. Today is one of those days when I do not care enough or need to watch the SOTU.
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
And, here we go. No surprises but big disappointments every day: www.kut.org/education/20...
kut.org
UT System votes to limit 'controversial topics' in class, raising concerns about academic freedom
This is the latest move by the state to have more control over what is taught at public universities.
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Overhead at the sauna room, as a young woman was conversing with an older woman: - I am a junior at Penn State - What are you doing here in Austin in the middle of the semester? - Oh, I am taking the semester off to open my third eye. - (perplexed) What's next? - Law school Gen Z to the core!
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Inspired by @mcopelov.bsky.social I asked my small, all senior comparative parties class what their first political memory was: several Obama 2012 reelection, 1 Obama 2008, 1 bin Ladin’s capture, 1 arab spring (she is from UAE). So glad nobody said 2016 Trump!
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
So, now what stops Turkey from taking over Syria, Russia from taking over Ukraine, and China from taking over Taiwan? US?
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
WTF?!!
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EPSS @epssnet.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

📢 Since launching EPSS in June 2025, we’ve been thrilled by the positive feedback from across the political science community. Now that Call for Papers for EPSS Conference in Belfast has closed, we want to share the response has been extraordinary! 🧵
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utgovernment.bsky.social @utgovernment.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
🔥 When fancy faculty @zeynsom.bsky.social coauthor with fancy alum @josephfcozza.bsky.social in fancy journals. Congrats.
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Lesbian and gay party leaders receive lower leadership evaluations than straight leaders in the UK, and the effects are consistent across genders. Interesting yet discouraging findings in our BJPS paper. @josephfcozza.bsky.social @gdilandro.bsky.social Andrea Aldrich @utgovernment.bsky.social
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
It was great to host the Comparative Representation in Advanced Parliamentary Democracies workshop at UT. It is always fun and inspiring to hear about the cutting-edge research. @utgovernment.bsky.social
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Daniel Ziblatt @dziblatt.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Senator Merkley is on hour 20 of reading How Democracies Die, mixed w commentary, on u.s. senate floor
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utgovernment.bsky.social @utgovernment.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Proud to have not one -- but TWO -- UT Austin PhDs on this list. Congratulations Oguzhan Alkan @oguzhan-alkan.bsky.social (advisor: @zeynsom.bsky.social; BA: @buicinmezunlar.bsky.social) and Allison Verrilli @averrilli.bsky.social (advisor: @hlw.bsky.social; BA: @notredame.bsky.social). Hook'em.
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Such a great honor for such a superb dissertation! Congratulations @oguzhan-alkan.bsky.social @utgovernment.bsky.social
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
I can't believe it's been ONLY eight months
media.tenor.com
a man in a red sweater is talking to another man in a black jacket .
ALT: a man in a red sweater is talking to another man in a black jacket .
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Still confused about EPSA vs. EPSS? Which conference should you go to? Here is a link to clarify things: epssnet.org/uncategorize... TL;DR: "EPSA" community will be in Belfast. Same community, new organisation, bigger mission; slightly new name; and a very different foundation @epssnet.bsky.social
media.tenor.com
a man with glasses says look can 't you see it 's obvious netflix
ALT: a man with glasses says look can 't you see it 's obvious netflix
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Looking forward to seeing your paper, panel, roundtable etc. proposals for the Party Politics section of EPSS. Don't forget: submissions are due on November 7, and the conference will take place in Belfast on June 18-20. @epssnet.bsky.social @sarahwagner.bsky.social
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Are you interested in how parties' parliamentary behavior (e.g., passing bills, calling for elections, forming coalitions, cooperating/conflicting) affects voters (e.g., electoral behavior, perceptions, affective polarization)? Please let me know. I am putting together an MPSA panel proposal.
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Jae-Hee Jung @jaeheejung.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Come and learn about party communication, today at noon! 🙌
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APSA- Political Organizations & Parties Section @apsa-pop.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Do you want to know more about how parties use social media/internet? The Political Parties' Online Communication Strategies in Election Campaigns panel is at 12pm today, @rdassonneville.bsky.social @zeynsom.bsky.social @christinagahn.bsky.social @jaeheejung.bsky.social @apsa.bsky.social #APSA25
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APSA- Political Organizations & Parties Section @apsa-pop.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Congrats to our award winners!
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
how can a conference venue top this ever? #APSA25 @apsa.bsky.social
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Vicente Valentim @valentimvicente.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
If you're attending #APSA2025 and interested in applying for a job at IE (see below), @guillermotoral.com, Zoe Xincheng Ge, and me will be at the Career Open House today at 4pm. Consider dropping by! connect.apsanet.org/apsa2025/car...
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Since June, the Council and the diversity committee have been working hard to ensure EPSS is the best European PSCI association for all of us. Now it is time to make the Belfast conference a huge success. Join, apply, spread the word!
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APSA- Political Organizations & Parties Section @apsa-pop.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
📣 APSA-POP Section Business Meeting 🗓️ Fri, Sept 12 • ⏰ 12:00 PM (Vancouver, PT) 📍 Vancouver, BC (room info TBA) All members welcome—bring a colleague! 🤝 Agenda includes reports, updates, and awards 🏆 #APSA25 @apsa.bsky.social
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Mohamed Nasr @monasr.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
🚨 New Working Paper 🚨 I’m excited to share a new working paper, co-authored with @bethsimas.bsky.social and @zeynsom.bsky.social : “Candidate Gender and Position Switching” Full paper here 👉 www.researchgate.net/publication/... 🧵
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Simon Hix @simonhix.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Please share this thread. It is important that political scientists, in Europe and across the world, understand why EPSS exists and why we are encouraging people to attend our inaugural conference, in Belfast next June.
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Constantin Wurthmann @wurthmann.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Participating in a for-profit conference (EPSA) can be problematic in the context of German academia, as it may be interpreted as commissioning a service without a proper public tender... joining #EPSS makes it easy to avoid trouble!
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Zeynep Somer-Topcu @zeynsom.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Please read and share with your communities. 💌
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