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Anita Gohdes

@argohdes.bsky.social

4.2K followers 590 following 230 posts

Studying repression, the internet, and contentious politics. Professor @thehertieschool. Consultant @hrdag. she/her. Wrote a book on repression in the digital age: https://www.anitagohdes.net/book.html

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Anita Gohdes is a German academic and political scientist working at the intersection of international security and technology. She is currently Professor of International and Cyber Security at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany. .. more

Political science 43%

Sociology 29%

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Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · Aug 29

Happy to share this paper with @zacharyst.bsky.social
that was just published in the AJPS.

We study how civilian behavior on social media shifts during war, focusing on one of the most horrific episodes of the Syrian conflict - the siege of Aleppo: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Abstract of paper by Anita Gohdes and Zachary Steinert Threlkeld reading: Recent research emphasizes social media’s potential for citizens to express shared grievances. In active conflict, however, social media posts indicating political loyalties can pose severe risks to civilians. We develop a theory that explains how civilians modify their online behavior as part of efforts to improve their security during conflict. After major changes in territorial control, civilians should be more likely to post positive content, and more content that supports the winning side. We study social media behavior during and after the siege of Aleppo in November 2016. We match Aleppo-based Twitter users with users from other parts of Syria and use large language models to analyze changes in online behavior after the regime’s retaking of the city. Results show that users in Aleppo post more positive and pro-Assad content, but only when self-disclosing their location.

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

5/And much of Silicon Valley has become complicit. Cozying up to the US government. This might help the Valley at home but it further undermines its position globally. See Macron speech.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

The Brewing Transatlantic Tech War

How Silicon Valley got entangled in geopolitics—and lost.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Christine Kooi, Els Torreele , and 9 more Kim L. Scheppele, Christine Kooi, Els Torreele, Karsten Schubert, Damian Trilling, David Murakami Wood, Aleksandra Urman, Prokla Redaktion, Frank Fischer, Sarah Colvin, Karola Marky, Anita Gohdes

Signal @signal.org · 6d

We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...

signal.org

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

Sham Jaff @shamjaff.bsky.social · 8d

"The Taliban have yet to give an official reason for the shutdown." They don't need to. We already know it's about control. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Afghan women lose their 'last hope' as Taliban shut down internet

For many women, the internet was their last resource. An internet shutdown threatens to end this.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 8d

The Trump administration has reached a deal to deport about 400 Iranian immigrants to Iran, marking a rare display of cooperation between the two countries that immediately raised concerns among human rights advocates for the immigrants’ safety.

U.S. to deport immigrants to Iran, Tehran says, raising human rights concerns

The rare cooperation between Washington and Tehran would come as tensions mount over Iran’s nuclear program and the U.S. travel ban.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

Centre for International Security - Hertie School @hertiesecurity.bsky.social · 8d

📢 Applications now open for our International Security Fellowship!

For researchers working on topics related to our four core research areas: nuclear security, grand strategy, state & non-state actors, digital tech & security.

Apply by 31 Oct 2025 👇
lnkd.in/dZ2UCukQ

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Reposted by Jochen Müller

Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · 10d

And if you want to learn more about how people make a career in dictatorship, pre-order the authors' (Christian Gläßel and @ascharpf.bsky.social) new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship":

global.oup.com/academic/pro...

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Reposted by Pieter Vanhuysse, Els Torreele, Mark Rice , and 1 more Pieter Vanhuysse, Els Torreele, Mark Rice, Anita Gohdes

Patrick Iber @patrickiber.bsky.social · 12d

It was a true honor to talk to legendary political scientist Adam Przeworski about how he understands the present crisis, what he learned from Chile and Poland, and how to move forward from here www.dissentmagazine.org/article/how-...

How Democracies Fall Apart - Dissent Magazine

An interview with Adam Przeworski.

www.dissentmagazine.org

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Reposted by Monika Dommann

Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · 12d

This is big news. Microsoft ends Israeli military unit’s access to AI and data services after Guardian and +972 Magazine investigation 👇

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology in mass surveillance of Palestinians

Exclusive: Tech firm ends military unit’s access to AI and data services after Guardian reveals secret spy project

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

Amnesty International @amnesty.org · 13d

Iranian authorities have executed over 1,000 people thus far in 2025, the highest number of yearly executions in Iran that Amnesty has recorded in at least 15 years.

Read more:

Iran: Over 1,000 people executed as authorities step up horrifying assault on right to life

Iranian authorities have executed over 1,000 people thus far in 2025, the highest number of yearly executions in Iran that the organization has recorded in at least 15 years, said Amnesty International. The organization is calling on the Iranian authorities to establish an immediate moratorium on executions as a first step, and issuing an urgent […]

amn.st

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Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, Ingolf Kühn, Will Jennings , and 12 more Jan W. Mueller, Ingolf Kühn, Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Fabrizio Coticchia, Matthijs Rooduijn, Philipp Sarasin, James Connelly, Stuart J. Turnbull‐Dugarte, Christina Pagel, Claire Sécail, Joost van Spanje, Björn Bremer, David Spurrett, Anita Gohdes

Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 13d

For the Guardian, @turnbulldugarte.com and I discuss our research that clearly shows one thing: Labour's anti-immigration strategy will only strengthen Reform and weaken its own electoral prospects. It won't win voters back but ultimately normalizes the far right

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Our research makes it clear: by capitulating to the right, Labour is driving voters to Reform UK | Tarik Abou-Chadi and Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte

Mimicking Farage on immigration is senseless. Labour voters feel betrayed; anti-immigration voters see through the ruse, say academics Tarik Abou-Chadi and Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Prokla Redaktion, Anita Gohdes

Annika Brockschmidt @ardenthistorian.bsky.social · 14d

Vor 4 Jahren erschien übrigens mein Buch, „Amerikas Gotteskrieger“. Was gab es damals Empörung wegen des Titels (und Inhalts) - die Warnung vor christlichem Nationalismus & Theokratie (noch dazu von einer jungen Frau!) wurde als hysterisch abgetan. Jetzt titelt der Spiegel genau das: „Gotteskrieger“

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

Rami Jarrah @ramijarrah.bsky.social · 14d

Zelenskyy, a leader at war, uses the podium to plead not just for Ukraine, but for Syria too. I hope Al-Sharaa doesn’t return the favor with an overdose of pragmatism with Moscow. Russia might no longer murder our children, but it still murders Ukraine’s.

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Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · 17d

Go read @sanjanah.bsky.social's post.
Western democracies (and former democracies...) suddenly waking up to the social media outrage machine and how it plays into political violence would do well to look to the rest of the world and understand that none of this is new👇

Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 17d

However, this emphatically not new, and it's very frustrating to study the inadequate acknowledgement of how Global Majority countries, and contexts were the Petri dishes for what now ails Western democracies too. Wrote more on LinkedIn lnkd.in/p/gcPfuYWx #SocialMedia #Democracy

Comments by Anne Applebaum posted to The Atlantic's Instagram account speak to rise of contemporary American, and global populism instrumentalising social media as a vital vector for violent… | Sa...

lnkd.in

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 17d

lnkd.in

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

Ron Deibert @rondeibert.bsky.social · 20d

ICE has a new contract with Magnet for its mobile forensic extraction tool Graykey techcrunch.com/2025/09/18/i...

For travellers entering the US 🇺🇸, be prepared for possible device seizures. I spoke about this to CBC The Current @mattgalloway.bsky.social a while back here: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

ICE unit signs new $3M contract for phone-hacking tech | TechCrunch

Homeland Security Investigations, the law enforcement arm of ICE, adds phone-unlocking tech made by Magnet Forensics to its arsenal of technology used to power the Trump administration’s deportation c...

techcrunch.com

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Reposted by Nathan P. Kalmoe, Anita Gohdes

Jason Koebler @jasonkoebler.bsky.social · 24d

congrats to all the media outlets carrying on charlie's work of silencing speech

www.404media.co/behind-the-b...

Maybe it is appropriate then that so many large media institutions are carrying on his “work” to facilitate “open dialogue” by letting the right call for Civil War, retribution, and violence while firing anyone who simply accurately describes the things that Charlie Kirk said and did.

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Reposted by Dave O’Brien, Mark J. Brandt, Elizabeth Stokoe , and 10 more Dave O’Brien, Mark J. Brandt, Elizabeth Stokoe, Efrén O. Pérez, Paul E. Smaldino, Jason Reifler, Ingo Rohlfing, Neil Lee, Will Lowe, Jill A. Jacobson, Federica Genovese, Roman Senninger, Anita Gohdes

Dan de Kadt @dandekadt.bsky.social · 24d

LSE's Department of Methodogy is searching for an Assistant Professor in Computational Social Science. Applicants from across the social sciences are very welcome!

Please reach out if you would like any more details.

Assistant Professor in Computational Social Science

Assistant Professor in Computational Social Science, , LSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive university <p styl...

jobs.lse.ac.uk

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Reposted by Tarik Abou‐Chadi, Anita Gohdes

Michaël Jarjour @jarjour.bsky.social · 28d

Today, Trustfund is launching into private beta. With @trustfnd.com trustworthy creators can set up Collaborations to help each other earn more income and grow faster.

If you post to inform, not to sell, Trustfund is made for you. Reserve your username at trustfnd.com

Trustfund

Collaboration tools for the world's trustworthy creators.

trustfnd.com

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Reposted by Anita Gohdes

Authoritarian Political Systems Group @apsgworkshop.bsky.social · 29d

Join us next week for the first workshop of the season!
@fabiolaschwarz.bsky.social and @kpaula.bsky.social (TU Munich) will present their work on internet shutdowns and protests in diverse political regimes.
Lisa Garbe (@wzb.bsky.social) and Ryan Shandler (Georgia Instit of Techn) will discuss!

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Reposted by David M. Farrell

Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · Sep 4

Huge congratulations to @iepolisci.bsky.social for hiring the iconic @catherinedevries.bsky.social! And huge congrats dear Catherine, so awesome 👏🏻

IE Political Science @iepolisci.bsky.social · Sep 4

We are super excited that Catherine de Vries will join IE University as Full Professor of Political Science, Chair of our Department, and Vice Dean at IE's SPEGA in January.

We look forward to having her as a colleague and leader in our growing department!

www.catherinedevries.eu

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Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Mirya R. Holman, Anita Gohdes

IE Political Science @iepolisci.bsky.social · Sep 4

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Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · Sep 4

Super news Carl, congrats!!!

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Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · Sep 1

Welcome Mauro! Great to have you @hertiesecurity.bsky.social.

Mauro Gilli @maurogilli.bsky.social · Sep 1

I am happy to share that I have joined the Hertie School (@hertieschool.bsky.social) in Berlin as a Professor of Military Strategy and Technology.

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Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Cornelia Woll, Anita Gohdes

Mauro Gilli @maurogilli.bsky.social · Sep 1

I am happy to share that I have joined the Hertie School (@hertieschool.bsky.social) in Berlin as a Professor of Military Strategy and Technology.

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Reposted by Gavin A. Schmidt, Steve Peers, Dirk Pilat , and 4 more Gavin A. Schmidt, Steve Peers, Dirk Pilat, Alison Phipps, Timothy D. McBride, Southern Africa, Anita Gohdes

Lisa O’Carroll @lisaocarroll.bsky.social · Sep 1

The Guardian has today printed the names, and where possible, images, of all the media workers killed in Gaza, as part of an international day of action involving more than 150 media organisations.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

The deadly toll on journalists in the Gaza war

With foreign media barred, Palestinians have reported alone, facing the ‘most deliberate effort to kill and silence’ them ever

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David H. Kaye, Ralf Michaels, Anita Gohdes

Jannis J Grimm @jannisgrimm.bsky.social · Aug 29

Just today, I was asked by @amnesty.de journal about the conditions of protest in Germany and whether we are seeing a new quality of police violence at protests. You can guess my answer from this video. 2yrs ago we were discussing illegal pain compliance holds, now it's punches straight to the face

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Reposted by Steven Van de Walle, Holger Nehring, Anita Gohdes

Lukasz Olejnik @lukaszolejnik.bsky.social · Aug 29

📣AI propaganda factories🏭 are now operational. My study shows how small, open-weight models can run as fully automatic generators in influence campaigns. mechanising personas, engagement, cadence. Possible for State, non-state, and micro-actors, including and bedroom ones.

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Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Jennifer A. Richeson, Linda R. Tropp , and 1 more Stephen M. Walt, Jennifer A. Richeson, Linda R. Tropp, Anita Gohdes

Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · Aug 25

And again: a hospital, and again: journalists.

edition.cnn.com/2025/08/25/m...

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Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Marc Lynch, Anita Gohdes

Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · Aug 23

“Most of the headlines I see about higher ed these days focus on the AI problem. For me, the much bigger issue is the authoritarianism problem.”

@davekarpf.bsky.social

davekarpf.substack.com/p/what-its-l...

What it's like being a political communication professor right now

Misgivings, Grievances, and Thanks as I look ahead to my fifteenth year.

davekarpf.substack.com

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