Duncan Bell

@duncanbell.bsky.social

14K followers 1.9K following 380 posts

Teaches politics & history at Cambridge. Interests include empire, war, technology, architecture, science fiction, utopia. Currently writing a book on transhumanism

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Duncan Bell is professor of Political Thought and International Relations at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge.

Source: Wikipedia

Political science 52%

Sociology 20%

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Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · Dec 9

NEW ARTICLE:

Duncan Bell & Apolline Taillandier, "Cosmos-Politanism: Transhumanist Visions of Global Order from the First World War to the Digital Age," Perspectives on Politics (2024) @blazefutures.bsky.social

bit.ly/3D5vUY5

Cosmos-Politanism: Transhumanist Visions of Global Order from the First World War to the Digital Age | Perspectives on Politics | Cambridge Core

Cosmos-Politanism: Transhumanist Visions of Global Order from the First World War to the Digital Age

bit.ly

Reposted by Duncan Bell

John Gallagher @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social · 7h

"Listen, one more thing. That missionary we sent to Ethiopia."

"The one preaching Anglicanism to the entire Horn of Africa?"

"Him, yes. I just wanted to check that we sent someone with, you know, a normal name."

"A normal name."

"Ah. Who did we send?"

"We sent the Reverend Ethelstan Cheese."

Reposted by Will Jennings, Bruce D. Baker, Kevin F. McCarthy , and 5 more Will Jennings, Bruce D. Baker, Kevin F. McCarthy, Duncan Bell, Jacob T. Levy, Anne Norton, Magda Teter, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 1d

It’s beyond insane that our overarching internal security agency has spent months tweeting barely-coded messages of support for neo-Nazi groups and the entire media apparatus looks at it and says “That’s odd but certainly not part a major story that is relevant to current events, I’m sure”

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · 2d

This interview with John Bew is illuminating for those interested in the recent history of British foreign policy

samf.substack.com/p/interview-...

Interview with John Bew - adviser to four Prime Ministers

On Whitehall, Ukraine, Trump and the global challenges facing Britain

samf.substack.com

Reposted by Duncan Bell

Lyndsey Stonebridge @lyndseystonebri.bsky.social · 3d

So, they've started executing the poets already have they?

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · 4d

Yup

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · 5d

Jason Blakely, "In the Land of the Data Blind"

"Political scientists subscribing to the dominant approaches to American government face what philosophers of science call an epistemological crisis..."

harpers.org/archive/2026...

In the Land of the Data Blind, by Jason Blakely

Why political science can’t grasp Trumpism

harpers.org

Reposted by Duncan Bell

Patrick Iber @patrickiber.bsky.social · 7d

You know what on second thought this is exactly the way you would expect the winner of the FIFA Peace Prize to behave

Reposted by Duncan Bell

Marc Stears @mds49.bsky.social · 7d

The relationship with Donald Trump has killed the Starmer brand. Starmer came to office promising to respect voters, tell hard truths and prioritise substance over slogans and soundbites. By refusing to step out of line from Trumpian fantasy, he undermines each of those commitments.

Reposted by Robert W. Wallace, Tim Bale, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 4 more Robert W. Wallace, Tim Bale, Rosemary A. Joyce, Duncan Bell, Michael D. McDonald, Florencia Torche, Albin Wagener

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 7d

finally, we're living through precedented times

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · 9d

👇👇👇 cool new paper

Sarah Fine, "Philosophy with all the Feels," Performance Philosophy

www.performancephilosophy.org/journal/arti...

Performance Philosophy

Performance Philosophy is an emerging interdisciplinary field of thought, creative practice and scholarship. The international, peer-reviewed, open access journal publishes articles that interrogate w...

www.performancephilosophy.org

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Anna O. Law, Andrew Scott , and 6 more Diane Coyle, Anna O. Law, Andrew Scott, Tim Bale, Rosemary A. Joyce, Cameron Brick, Duncan Bell, Andrew Jacobs, Renaud Morieux

Dave Andress @davidandress.bsky.social · 17d

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years

An arrangement Rob and Dianne Parsons thought would last a few days ended up changing their lives.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Duncan Bell

Carol Atack @carolatack.bsky.social · 21d

Manuscript now submitted!

Carol Atack @carolatack.bsky.social · Dec 1

A very exciting start to the month as the final contribution to the Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Political Thought arrived in my inbox - heading now to submission of a complete and formatted manuscript! Partial contents list as a teaser below:

Foreword: engaging with Greek political thought in the 21st century
Introduction and overview:
I Origins and beginnings
1 Before the Greeks: echoes of earlier societies’ thought on governance
2 Early Greek political thought in poetical texts: Hesiod, Theognis, lyric poets
3 Cosmology, order, and the political: the Presocratics
4 Political Thought in inscriptions, documents and other non-literary sources
5 The Politics of Political Theory in Athenian Drama

II Classical Greek political thought
6 Model constitutions: the emergence and development of the politeia tradition and typologies of political arrangements
7 Early Democratic Thought: Democritus, Anonymus Iamblichi, and Protagoras
8 Political Thinking in Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon
9 Socrates between City and Self: The Apologies of Xenophon and Plato
10 The concept of partnership in Plato's Republic
11 Civic Friendship and Virtue in Plato's Republic
12 Plato, politics and epistemology: the Republic and other dialogues
13 Building a new model for kingship in Plato’s Statesman
14 Plato's Laws: envisioning a new society
15 Criticisms of Democracy in Plato's Gorgias and Republic
16 Aristotle on the Partnership in Living Well and Living Together
17 Aristotle: defining the citizen
18 Aristotle on Justice, Friendship and Proportionate Reciprocity
19 Virtue and Politics: Isocrates and Xenophon
III Themes and contexts
20 Stasis, conflict and change in Greek political thinking
21 Mass participation in the polis: Ps-Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Plutarch
22 Citizenship and non-citizenship: status hierarchies in the polis
23 The Limits of Law: Nomos in Plato and Aristotle
24 Cities and their gods: religion in Greek political thought
25 Bad tyrants and good kings: single-person rule
26 Comparisons with others: Persia, Egypt and non-Greek societies in Greek political thought
27 Slavery and freedom as a political analogy
28 Sparta in Greek political thought: Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch

Reposted by Duncan Bell, Nick Hubble

Ken MacLeod @amendlocke.bsky.social · 22d

Talking about _The Player of Games_ by Iain M. Banks.
www.newscientist.com/video/250912...

Author Ken MacLeod on the life and work of the late Iain M. Banks

Sci-fi author Ken MacLeod shares stories about his friend, the late Iain M. Banks, author of the genre-redefining Culture series of science-fiction novels

www.newscientist.com

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · 23d

Post-doc positions:
"Academic freedom is under pressure today. This requires rescue havens of free research. ... [we] invite early career researchers, whose work is restricted due to political pressure in the USA..."

uni-freiburg.de/frias/call-f...

Call for Applications: Early Career Rescue Fellowship – Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies

uni-freiburg.de

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Philip N. Cohen, Robert C. Richards , and 10 more Anna O. Law, Philip N. Cohen, Robert C. Richards, Kevin Kenny, Duncan Bell, Jacob T. Levy, Margot C. Finn, Frederik Dhondt, Robert L. Tsai, David S. Tanenhaus, Aviel Roshwald, Karin Wulf, Melinda Baldwin

Holly Brewer @earlymodjustice.bsky.social · 24d

My forthcoming book—
For which I began research in 2006.
Is now posted on the website for Princeton University Press.

Cover will be added soon.

The King’s Slaves: The British Empire & the Origins of American Slavery

The King's Slaves

A provocative account of how empire and absolutism institutionalized slavery in America

press.princeton.edu

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Duncan Bell, Michael Morris , and 2 more Diane Coyle, Duncan Bell, Michael Morris, Paul Nightingale, Urška Demšar

madeline odent @oldenoughtosay.com · 24d

Absolutely nobody asked for this BUT

English Anglican cathedrals that have burned down, fallen over, and sank into the swamp: a thread.

Reposted by Claudia Landwehr

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · 24d

JOB:
Professorship of Public Policy @ the University of Cambridge

www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/profess...

Professorship of Public Policy

The Board of Electors to the Professorship of Public Policy invite applications from candidates whose work falls within the field of public policy. We are looking for a successful and dynamic leader

www.cam.ac.uk

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 6 more Shannon Vallor, Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Richard Ashby Wilson, Smith, Alan Richardson, Duncan Bell, Bessma Momani, Manisha Sinha

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 25d

The Onion, 23 years ago.

theonion.com/no-blood-for...

Point/Counterpoint: No Blood For Oil vs. Exactly How Much Oil Are We Talking About?

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Lesley A. Hall, Duncan Bell , and 4 more Diane Coyle, Lesley A. Hall, Duncan Bell, Andrew Jacobs, Margot C. Finn, Catriona Seth, Annette Yoshiko Reed

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 25d

Cambridge University Press has launched a new grant to support under-represented early career scholars from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations, including first generation scholars 👇 #BookSky

Cambridge University Press opens funding scheme for under-represented early career scholars

ebx.sh

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · 25d

Duncan Bell, "John Stuart Mill on Federation, Civilization and Empire," History of Political Thought (2024)

go.shr.lc/4mTZyBp

go.shr.lc

Reposted by Carl T. Bergstrom, Jonathan Wolff, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 3 more Carl T. Bergstrom, Jonathan Wolff, Rosemary A. Joyce, John Mullahy, Duncan Bell, Simon Glendinning

Martin Hebart @martinhebart.bsky.social · 26d

Ok, this is nuts. Once you see it you cannot unsee it. Do you see it?
(OP @drgbuckingham.bsky.social )

Reposted by Ben Harris‐Roxas, Duncan Bell

The Onion @theonion.com · 29d

Grandchildren Politely Decline David Cronenberg’s Bedtime Story Offer https://theonion.com/grandchildren-politely-decline-david-cronenbergs-bedtime-story-offer/

Grandchildren Politely Decline David Cronenberg’s Bedtime Story Offer

Kids Say They’re Okay Without Tale From Director Of ‘The Fly’

Reposted by Duncan Bell

Poorly Drawn Arsenal @poorlydrawnarsenal.com · 29d

What I would like to see in the second half is Arsenal score a goal and at the same time, if possible, don’t allow Wolves to score a goal. I think this would go a long way towards winning the game.

Reposted by Duncan Bell

Nick Harkaway @nickharkaway.com · Dec 12

“So, Nick, what kind of dog do you have?”

“She’s a werewolf.”

“Yeah, haha, that’s O SWEET JESUS -“

The dog, on her hind legs, looking like a kind of canine demon accountant. Grass underfoot and trees in the background. The whole thing is just WRONG.

Reposted by Nandita Sharma, Lesley A. Hall, Lynn Abrams , and 6 more Nandita Sharma, Lesley A. Hall, Lynn Abrams, Malcolm MacLean, Duncan Bell, Keith Lilley, Charlotte Taylor, Laura Kelly, Pratik Chakrabarti

Julia Laite @julialaite.bsky.social · Dec 11

When will this crisis get any attention whatsoever!? A THOUSAND ACADEMIC STAFF AT ONE INSTITUTION SERVED REDUNDANCY RISK NOTICES! And that's not counting what's surely being visited on professional services staff too. This is an economic catastrophe, to say nothing of the intellectual catastrophe!

lucynoakes1.bsky.social @lucynoakes1.bsky.social · Dec 11

Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:

Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.

Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk

Reposted by Mary Bosworth, Richard S.J. Tol, Howard Williams , and 35 more Mary Bosworth, Richard S.J. Tol, Howard Williams, Dave O’Brien, Jonathan Wolff, Joanna Bourke, Elizabeth Stokoe, Martin Paul Eve, Charles West, Helen King, Lynn Abrams, Malcolm MacLean, John Foot, Jonathan Hopkin, Mike Rowe, Ben Worthy, Duncan Bell, Holger Nehring, Keith Lilley, Tom Griffin, Matthew Kelly, Adrian Vickers, Margot C. Finn, Michael H. Whitworth, Jonathan Birch, Laura Kelly, Pratik Chakrabarti, Stuart White, Katrina Navickas, Kathleen Kennedy, Mary Burke, Hayley Bennett, Pascale Aebischer, Kate Bradley, Stijn Smismans, Renaud Morieux, François Guesnet, Andrew Perchard

lucynoakes1.bsky.social @lucynoakes1.bsky.social · Dec 11

Duncan Bell @duncanbell.bsky.social · Dec 11

Congratulations! This is an excellent thesis

Charlotte Cull @charlottecull.bsky.social · Dec 11

So pleased to have passed my Viva! Thank you to my brilliant examiners @emilyrobinson.bsky.social & @duncanbell.bsky.social, and especially to my fantastic supervisors @davidedgerton.bsky.social and Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite.