Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 8d

Americans have less faith in the ability of the country’s political system to solve problems than they had five years ago, with a large majority now believing that the U.S. is incapable of overcoming its deep divisions, according to a poll by The New York Times and Siena University. nyti.ms/476StrS

A line graph titled "Most Americans Think the Country's Divisions Cannot Be Overcome, Poll Says." It shows 64% of respondents saying that America's political system is too politically divided to solve the nation's problems, and 33% saying the system can still address the nation's problems.

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · 8d

The organizers of a proposed section on #HumanRights within the American Society for Public Administration are looking for expressions of interest -- 300 names are needed to make the proposal go (as I understand it). If you are interested, fill out this survey.

pace.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

pace.qualtrics.com

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · 11d

I joined Professor Andrew Podger for a discussion on the Management Matters podcast, hosted by James-Christian Blockwood, president of the US National Academy of Public Administration

www.buzzsprout.com/1073332/epis...

How Does This Look to the Neighbors? International Insights on America with Governance Scholars Alasdair Roberts and Andrew Podger - Management Matters with James-Christian Blockwood

This week's episode of Management Matters features an external view on what's happening in American governance, and the quest to learn more about how international observers are thinking about America...

www.buzzsprout.com

The Hill Times @hilltimes.com · 16d

UNLOCKED | A great primer for tonight’s Politics & the Pen: Q&As with all five Shaughnessy Cohen nominees

www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0...

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · 17d

Be part of shaping ASPA’s potential new Administration and Human Rights Section—take the quick survey today

pace.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

pace.qualtrics.com

Kenneth Armstrong @profkaarmstrong.bsky.social · 22d

It is 20 years since Conor Gearty gave the Hamlyn Lectures on Can Human Rights Survive?
As a mark of respect following the dreadful news of his, Cambridge University Press & Assessment has made these lectures Open Access for the remainder of the year. You can find them here:
lnkd.in/e5Xrt2G5

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · 22d

I spoke with Shaye Ganam of QR770AM Calgary this morning about yesterday's op-ed in @theglobeandmail.com

open.spotify.com/episode/6zf2...

We're missing a vision for Canada

open.spotify.com

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Centre for Public Policy @uofgpolicy.bsky.social · 23d

New blog from @alasdairroberts.bsky.social, part of our #EGPA2025 series.

📝 Prof. Alasdair Roberts writes about the temptation of centralisation in times of crisis, warning however that it "may be a formula for fragility, not resilience."

Read 🔗 www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...

Text reads The temptation and danger of centralisation, Professor Alasdair Roberts, University of Massachusetts Amherst, EGPA 2025 conference, Blog series. Includes a photo of Alasdair Roberts at the conference and the University of Glasgow and Centre for Public Policy logos

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · 23d

I wrote this short piece for the @uofglasgow.bsky.social Centre for Public Policy blog, to accompany my comments in a plenary session at the EGPA conference on August 28.

www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...

The temptation and danger of centralisation

17 September 2025: Following his contribution at the European Group for Public Administration conference in August, Professor Alasdair Roberts writes about the tendency to lean towards centralisation ...

www.gla.ac.uk

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · 23d

My op-ed in today's @theglobeandmail.com, based on my book from @mcgillqueensup.bsky.social

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: We’re missing a vision for Canada

We are living in a different world, and we need to talk about what that means for all of us

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Jörg Broschek 🇨🇦 @jbroschek.bsky.social · 23d

"Canada today is suffering from the vision thing. This is not a criticism of any one person. It is a criticism of an entire political system that is incapable of generating a vision of where we are trying to go as a country."

By @alasdairroberts.bsky.social

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: We’re missing a vision for Canada

We are living in a different world, and we need to talk about what that means for all of us

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · 29d

I'm looking forward to giving a presentation by Zoom to public policy faculty at the American University in Cairo next Wednesday, September 17. Zoom link here if you are interested.

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Sep 3

The Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration @apjournalpa.bsky.social has embedded the short explainer video for my article, "The Crisis of Design in American Government," in the article abstract itself -- a neat innovation:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/...

The crisis of design in American government

The American political system confronts two distinct crises. The first is the crisis of the moment, stemming from President Trump’s controversial actions since January 2025. The second is the deepe...

www.tandfonline.com

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Centre for Public Policy @uofgpolicy.bsky.social · Aug 28

…after Prof Kuhlmann’s opening remarks and highlighting multiple challenges we’re hearing from Prof @anandmenon.bsky.social on Brexit - where are we now, how is it impacting us now?

And Prof @alasdairroberts.bsky.social on the geopolitical situation that’s emerging and how it might impact the EU.

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Aug 8

Through several American state-level freedom-of-information laws, I have obtained documents that explain where this anonymous complaint originated. I plan to write about this at a later date. I'm still waiting for responses to some FOI requests, which make take a bit of time.

Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 22

In January, I published an article about the accrediting organization NASPAA.

This article was under investigation for several months.

Here's my statement about that. Non-US scholars, especially in the Global South, may be interested.

alasdairroberts179720.substack.com/p/someone-wa...

Someone wanted my NASPAA article removed from publication.

What happened when I published an article critical of the accrediting organization NASPAA? A five-month investigation into the integrity of my research. Here's what it uncovered.

alasdairroberts179720.substack.com

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Aug 6

I've added an addendum for those of you interested in how the COPE complaint process works -- or rather, doesn't. Although Taylor & Francis is a member of COPE, COPE will not accept a complaint about T&F's non-compliance with its conflict-of-interest rules, because the journal is not a COPE member.

Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 22

In January, I published an article about the accrediting organization NASPAA.

This article was under investigation for several months.

Here's my statement about that. Non-US scholars, especially in the Global South, may be interested.

alasdairroberts179720.substack.com/p/someone-wa...

Someone wanted my NASPAA article removed from publication.

What happened when I published an article critical of the accrediting organization NASPAA? A five-month investigation into the integrity of my research. Here's what it uncovered.

alasdairroberts179720.substack.com

Anton Angelo @angelo-af.bsky.social · Aug 5

One story, amongst many others on why our knowledge creation system is suffering. thank you #nerdnite @retractionwatch.com @elsevierconnect.bsky.social

The answer? Publish less.

Nerd Nite ChCh: Russell J Stanford and the Enshittification of the Creation of Knowledge

YouTube video by Nerd Nite Christchurch

youtu.be

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Apr 5

Oped from faculty at Columbia University, Harvard University, and Princeton University: "We must not avert our eyes" from threats to academic freedom.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/04/o...

Academic freedom under siege: Universities must resist political interference and reform internally - The Boston Globe

Columbia, Harvard, Princeton council chairs unite against federal overreach.

www.bostonglobe.com

Jörg Broschek 🇨🇦 @jbroschek.bsky.social · Jul 22

Great piece - it's important to centre federalism again.

I would add: To generate the benefits outlined in the article, Canada should emulate EU intergovernmental governance rather than the G7.

As a mature federation without a robust system of intergovernmental relations, we should envision....

Aaron Wherry @aaronwherry.bsky.social · Jul 22

New from me: Are first ministers' meetings cool again?

With links to the wise analysis of @alasdairroberts.bsky.social, @jaredwesley.ca, @jbroschek.bsky.social and Jenn Wallner.

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

ANALYSIS | Are first ministers' meetings cool again? | CBC News

When Mark Carney sits down with the premiers on Tuesday, it will be the third time in four months that he and the premiers have met face-to-face. That is, by recent standards, an unusual amount of tim...

www.cbc.ca

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Aaron Wherry @aaronwherry.bsky.social · Jul 22

New from me: Are first ministers' meetings cool again?

With links to the wise analysis of @alasdairroberts.bsky.social, @jaredwesley.ca, @jbroschek.bsky.social and Jenn Wallner.

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

ANALYSIS | Are first ministers' meetings cool again? | CBC News

When Mark Carney sits down with the premiers on Tuesday, it will be the third time in four months that he and the premiers have met face-to-face. That is, by recent standards, an unusual amount of tim...

www.cbc.ca

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 22

In January, I published an article about the accrediting organization NASPAA.

This article was under investigation for several months.

Here's my statement about that. Non-US scholars, especially in the Global South, may be interested.

alasdairroberts179720.substack.com/p/someone-wa...

Someone wanted my NASPAA article removed from publication.

What happened when I published an article critical of the accrediting organization NASPAA? A five-month investigation into the integrity of my research. Here's what it uncovered.

alasdairroberts179720.substack.com

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 22

I spoke with the CBC's @aaronwherry.bsky.social about the need to revive national leaders' summits in Canada, based on my book from @mcgillqueensup.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

ANALYSIS | Are first ministers' meetings cool again? | CBC News

When Mark Carney sits down with the premiers on Tuesday, it will be the third time in four months that he and the premiers have met face-to-face. That is, by recent standards, an unusual amount of tim...

www.cbc.ca

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 20

The editors of @apjournalpa.bsky.social asked me to make a short explainer video about my new article, "The Crisis of Design in American Government." You can watch it here. The article is open access and the link is in the YouTube notes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eanh...

The crisis of design in American government

YouTube video by Alasdair Roberts

www.youtube.com

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 18

R2, I believe

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 15

My article "False globalism: Public administration in the United States in the twenty-first century," originally published in January, is now open access -- read online or download for free here:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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Doug Hall 🍁 @doughallphd.bsky.social · Jul 11

If you haven't yet had an opportunity to read @alasdairroberts.bsky.social's new book, "The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century", this interview with Josianne Paul, Director of the Canada School of Public Service will whet your appetite! www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtpT...

Facing Forward: Canada's Adaptability in a Changing World

YouTube video by Canada School of PS / École de la FP du Canada

www.youtube.com

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 10

In my article "The Crisis of Design in American Government," published last week, I discuss the dangers of centralization, especially when combined with Trumpian populism at the center, in an era of climate change. Full article here:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 9

Access to Information (ATIA) reform discussion on Thursday: Details here

www.eventbrite.ca/e/cippic-sum...

CIPPIC Summer Speaker Series 2025: Reforming Access to Information(Virtual)

Join us July 9 for Reforming Access to Information in Canada, a panel on the state of access to information in Canada.

www.eventbrite.ca

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jul 1

I contributed a chapter, "Estrategias Para Gobernar: Los Fundamentos De La Administración Pública," to Debates Emergentes Sobre Administración Y Políticas Públicas, edited by Mauricio I. Dussauge-Laguna and Alberto Casas Benitez. Details here.

www.flacso.edu.mx/libro/debate...

Debates emergentes sobre administración y políticas públicas - Flacso

Este libro presenta un conjunto de estudios realizados por especialistas sobre administración y políticas públicas. Los capítulos ofrecen una visión panorámica de las discusiones internacionales contemporáneas en estas disciplinas académicas, al mismo tiempo que demuestran la riqueza, la diversidad y la vitalidad que hoy en día las caracterizan. Cada texto es una aportación original y sugerente a una cuestión central de la administración de las instituciones gubernamentales, la construcción de soluciones a los problemas públicos o las relaciones entre los ciudadanos y el Estado. Las contribuciones son diversas en sus metodologías, perspectivas teóricas y alcances empíricos, sin embargo, comparten la virtud de presentar discusiones especializadas de forma accesible para cualquier lector. Autores B. Guy Peters, Michael Howlett, Donald Moynihan, Eric Giannella, Pamela Herd, Julie Sutherland, Salvador Parrado, Martin Lodge, Eva Thomann, Jörn Ege, Christel Koop, Michele Scotto di Vettimo, Alketa Peci, Pablo Sanabria-Pulido, Ricardo A. Bello-Gómez, Cristian Pliscoff, Alasdair Roberts, Guillaume Fontaine, María Aristigueta, Greta Nasi, Paolo Belardinelli, Nicola Bellé y Maria Cucciniello.

www.flacso.edu.mx

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Alasdair Roberts @alasdairroberts.bsky.social · Jun 30

My Levine Lecture given at @au-spa.bsky.social in May is now available online, open-access, from @apjournalpa.bsky.social. You can read it here:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The crisis of design in American government

The American political system confronts two distinct crises. The first is the crisis of the moment, stemming from President Trump’s controversial actions since January 2025. The second is the deepe...

www.tandfonline.com

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