Adam Scharpf
@ascharpf.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen
Researching dictatorships and the dark side of politics | https://www.adamscharpf.net/
Author of "Making a Career in Dictatorship", OUP | https://tinyurl.com/ystwm3tf
Researching dictatorships and the dark side of politics | https://www.adamscharpf.net/
Author of "Making a Career in Dictatorship", OUP | https://tinyurl.com/ystwm3tf
Pinned
Remember that viral paper on underachievers in the secret police? For @bostonglobe.com, I interviewed author Adam Scharpf about his conclusions — and what his wide-ranging research tells us about agencies like ICE. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/28/o...
When ICE sends its people, they’re not sending their best - The Boston Globe
Repressive enforcement agencies are often stocked with underachievers.
www.bostonglobe.com
The @bostonglobe.com features our new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship," which comes out next month.
Thank you, @svobodster.bsky.social, for the article!
Thank you, @svobodster.bsky.social, for the article!
Reißerischer Titel, aber lesenswerter Artikel:
Interview mit meinem Ko-Autor Christian Gläßel über unser neues Buch „Making a Career in Dictatorship“ auf @krautreporter.bsky.social.
👇
Interview mit meinem Ko-Autor Christian Gläßel über unser neues Buch „Making a Career in Dictatorship“ auf @krautreporter.bsky.social.
👇
Autokratien brauchen karrieregeile Menschen, keine Sadisten
Warum beteiligen sich Menschen in Autokratien an Repressionen? Der Politikwissenschaftler Christian Gläßel sagt: weil sie unter Karrieredruck stehen.
krautreporter.de
January 29, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Reißerischer Titel, aber lesenswerter Artikel:
Interview mit meinem Ko-Autor Christian Gläßel über unser neues Buch „Making a Career in Dictatorship“ auf @krautreporter.bsky.social.
👇
Interview mit meinem Ko-Autor Christian Gläßel über unser neues Buch „Making a Career in Dictatorship“ auf @krautreporter.bsky.social.
👇
Donald Trump just officially launched his "Board of Peace" (BoP) at the World Economic Forum.
Some fear that the goal is to undermine the United Nations.
But which countries participate, which don't, and which haven't yet decided?
Let's quickly look at this!
[Caution: Data-based hot take]
Some fear that the goal is to undermine the United Nations.
But which countries participate, which don't, and which haven't yet decided?
Let's quickly look at this!
[Caution: Data-based hot take]
Board of Peace - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 22, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Donald Trump just officially launched his "Board of Peace" (BoP) at the World Economic Forum.
Some fear that the goal is to undermine the United Nations.
But which countries participate, which don't, and which haven't yet decided?
Let's quickly look at this!
[Caution: Data-based hot take]
Some fear that the goal is to undermine the United Nations.
But which countries participate, which don't, and which haven't yet decided?
Let's quickly look at this!
[Caution: Data-based hot take]
Largely unnoticed outside of Argentina, President Milei is planning a massive expansion of the intelligence service's powers – SIDE.
Among other things, agents would be allowed to arrest citizens.
I spoke with the Buenos Aires Herald about possible consequences and parallels to the country's past.
Among other things, agents would be allowed to arrest citizens.
I spoke with the Buenos Aires Herald about possible consequences and parallels to the country's past.
Rights groups warn SIDE arrest powers risk 'persecution and intimidation' - Buenos Aires Herald
More than 20 NGOs said that the decree granting broad discretion to intelligence services could become ‘a tool for massive surveillance’
buenosairesherald.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Largely unnoticed outside of Argentina, President Milei is planning a massive expansion of the intelligence service's powers – SIDE.
Among other things, agents would be allowed to arrest citizens.
I spoke with the Buenos Aires Herald about possible consequences and parallels to the country's past.
Among other things, agents would be allowed to arrest citizens.
I spoke with the Buenos Aires Herald about possible consequences and parallels to the country's past.
Our book, "Making a Career in Dictatorship: The Secret Logic Behind Repression and Coups," will be shipping in less than a month.
For all those curious, here is the updated information kit with summaries, pointers, and more:
tinyurl.com/4n5da6p6
For all those curious, here is the updated information kit with summaries, pointers, and more:
tinyurl.com/4n5da6p6
January 19, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Our book, "Making a Career in Dictatorship: The Secret Logic Behind Repression and Coups," will be shipping in less than a month.
For all those curious, here is the updated information kit with summaries, pointers, and more:
tinyurl.com/4n5da6p6
For all those curious, here is the updated information kit with summaries, pointers, and more:
tinyurl.com/4n5da6p6
Thanks a lot, @andrew.heiss.phd, for the shout-out.
Perennial reminder of this excellent paper about how secret police forces are swamped with underachievers
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”
(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)
January 16, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Thanks a lot, @andrew.heiss.phd, for the shout-out.
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
We are happy to release the Paths to Power Dashboard. It is the perfect tool for politics nerds!
You can find it here: ptp.isv.sv.uio.no/ptp/
It allows you to explore governments from 1966-2021 using the PtP and WhoGov datasets. See examples below.
The app has been programmed by Stuart Bramwell.
You can find it here: ptp.isv.sv.uio.no/ptp/
It allows you to explore governments from 1966-2021 using the PtP and WhoGov datasets. See examples below.
The app has been programmed by Stuart Bramwell.
January 14, 2026 at 11:44 AM
We are happy to release the Paths to Power Dashboard. It is the perfect tool for politics nerds!
You can find it here: ptp.isv.sv.uio.no/ptp/
It allows you to explore governments from 1966-2021 using the PtP and WhoGov datasets. See examples below.
The app has been programmed by Stuart Bramwell.
You can find it here: ptp.isv.sv.uio.no/ptp/
It allows you to explore governments from 1966-2021 using the PtP and WhoGov datasets. See examples below.
The app has been programmed by Stuart Bramwell.
Thanks for referring to our research, @donmoyn.bsky.social!
For those who want to understand the actions of authoritarian security organizations, here is the info kit of our forthcoming book “Making a Career in Dictatorship”.
It includes short chapter summaries and more:
tinyurl.com/599d6uc5
For those who want to understand the actions of authoritarian security organizations, here is the info kit of our forthcoming book “Making a Career in Dictatorship”.
It includes short chapter summaries and more:
tinyurl.com/599d6uc5
January 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Thanks for referring to our research, @donmoyn.bsky.social!
For those who want to understand the actions of authoritarian security organizations, here is the info kit of our forthcoming book “Making a Career in Dictatorship”.
It includes short chapter summaries and more:
tinyurl.com/599d6uc5
For those who want to understand the actions of authoritarian security organizations, here is the info kit of our forthcoming book “Making a Career in Dictatorship”.
It includes short chapter summaries and more:
tinyurl.com/599d6uc5
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
I spoke with the authors of the study, Christian Gläßel and
@ascharpf.bsky.social, who drew direct parallels between the creation of secret police in authoritarian regimes and what is happening under the Trump administration.
Right now, the signals of impunity for loyalists stands out.
@ascharpf.bsky.social, who drew direct parallels between the creation of secret police in authoritarian regimes and what is happening under the Trump administration.
Right now, the signals of impunity for loyalists stands out.
January 11, 2026 at 3:25 PM
I spoke with the authors of the study, Christian Gläßel and
@ascharpf.bsky.social, who drew direct parallels between the creation of secret police in authoritarian regimes and what is happening under the Trump administration.
Right now, the signals of impunity for loyalists stands out.
@ascharpf.bsky.social, who drew direct parallels between the creation of secret police in authoritarian regimes and what is happening under the Trump administration.
Right now, the signals of impunity for loyalists stands out.
The @bostonglobe.com features our new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship," which comes out next month.
Thank you, @svobodster.bsky.social, for the article!
Thank you, @svobodster.bsky.social, for the article!
Remember that viral paper on underachievers in the secret police? For @bostonglobe.com, I interviewed author Adam Scharpf about his conclusions — and what his wide-ranging research tells us about agencies like ICE. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/28/o...
When ICE sends its people, they’re not sending their best - The Boston Globe
Repressive enforcement agencies are often stocked with underachievers.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:23 PM
The @bostonglobe.com features our new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship," which comes out next month.
Thank you, @svobodster.bsky.social, for the article!
Thank you, @svobodster.bsky.social, for the article!
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
🚨Job alert! 🚨
I'm advertising a PhD position (66%) in Comparative Politics at HU Berlin. Ideal candidates combine a research interest in autocratic politics, conflict, and/or political violence with strong quantitative methods skills.
⏳ 4 (+2) years | 🗓 DL 16.01; Start March/April 26
More info:
I'm advertising a PhD position (66%) in Comparative Politics at HU Berlin. Ideal candidates combine a research interest in autocratic politics, conflict, and/or political violence with strong quantitative methods skills.
⏳ 4 (+2) years | 🗓 DL 16.01; Start March/April 26
More info:
Research fellow (m/f/d) in the field of “contentious politics/political violence/autocratic politics” - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
www.hu-berlin.de
January 6, 2026 at 11:17 AM
🚨Job alert! 🚨
I'm advertising a PhD position (66%) in Comparative Politics at HU Berlin. Ideal candidates combine a research interest in autocratic politics, conflict, and/or political violence with strong quantitative methods skills.
⏳ 4 (+2) years | 🗓 DL 16.01; Start March/April 26
More info:
I'm advertising a PhD position (66%) in Comparative Politics at HU Berlin. Ideal candidates combine a research interest in autocratic politics, conflict, and/or political violence with strong quantitative methods skills.
⏳ 4 (+2) years | 🗓 DL 16.01; Start March/April 26
More info:
Thank you, @liviagershon.bsky.social, for featuring my work on how personal beliefs shape the loyalty of military personnel - even to illegal orders.
The execution of on-the-ground violence was closely correlated with a mindset among officers in which “teachers, students, unionists, and everybody holding liberal, Marxist, or anti-Catholic values became a viable target”
(Post based on work by @ascharpf.bsky.social)
daily.jstor.org/the-committe...
(Post based on work by @ascharpf.bsky.social)
daily.jstor.org/the-committe...
The Committed Officers of Argentina’s Dirty War - JSTOR Daily
The viciousness of Argentina’s Dirty War resulted not only from orders from above but from ideological buy-in at the ground level.
daily.jstor.org
January 5, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Thank you, @liviagershon.bsky.social, for featuring my work on how personal beliefs shape the loyalty of military personnel - even to illegal orders.
Thanks for the shout-out!
Paging @iansociologo.bsky.social and the article that apparently will just keep racking up the citations...
December 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Thanks for the shout-out!
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics
by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social is now published by OUP in the USA (rest of world soon)
If you are interested in why you see so many dictatorships & illiberal leaders influencing world politics then this is the book for you.
by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social is now published by OUP in the USA (rest of world soon)
If you are interested in why you see so many dictatorships & illiberal leaders influencing world politics then this is the book for you.
July 1, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics
by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social is now published by OUP in the USA (rest of world soon)
If you are interested in why you see so many dictatorships & illiberal leaders influencing world politics then this is the book for you.
by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social is now published by OUP in the USA (rest of world soon)
If you are interested in why you see so many dictatorships & illiberal leaders influencing world politics then this is the book for you.
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
📣 Final Call for visiting fellowships for postdocs at the @mzesunimannheim.bsky.social! Great opportunity to spend 2-4 weeks in a fantastic academic environment! See 👇 for details!
📣 Attention, postdoctoral researchers!
❗ Apply now for our MZES Visiting Fellowships 😊
💡 Spend 2-4 weeks at the MZES to share ideas
💰 Funding for accommodation, travel, daily allowance
📆 Deadline: 28 November
Full information:
👉 www.mzes.uni-mannheim.de/en/news/deta...
❗ Apply now for our MZES Visiting Fellowships 😊
💡 Spend 2-4 weeks at the MZES to share ideas
💰 Funding for accommodation, travel, daily allowance
📆 Deadline: 28 November
Full information:
👉 www.mzes.uni-mannheim.de/en/news/deta...
November 24, 2025 at 7:54 AM
📣 Final Call for visiting fellowships for postdocs at the @mzesunimannheim.bsky.social! Great opportunity to spend 2-4 weeks in a fantastic academic environment! See 👇 for details!
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
📣 We're hiring a postdoc in political science for our ReJust project @uni-konstanz.de!
Project with Dirk Leuffen @leuffen.bsky.social and Urs Fischbacher
3-year position | Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025 | Start: April 2026
Please share widely 🙏
Project with Dirk Leuffen @leuffen.bsky.social and Urs Fischbacher
3-year position | Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025 | Start: April 2026
Please share widely 🙏
Postdoctoral Research Position
Deadline: 15.12.2025
stellen.uni-konstanz.de
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 AM
📣 We're hiring a postdoc in political science for our ReJust project @uni-konstanz.de!
Project with Dirk Leuffen @leuffen.bsky.social and Urs Fischbacher
3-year position | Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025 | Start: April 2026
Please share widely 🙏
Project with Dirk Leuffen @leuffen.bsky.social and Urs Fischbacher
3-year position | Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025 | Start: April 2026
Please share widely 🙏
What's happening in ICE also seems to go in the FBI.
The current US administration seeks to staff key security agencies with unprofessional careerists rather than skilled professionals. See 👇
🙏 for a great post and featuring our work/new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship", @donmoyn.bsky.social!
The current US administration seeks to staff key security agencies with unprofessional careerists rather than skilled professionals. See 👇
🙏 for a great post and featuring our work/new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship", @donmoyn.bsky.social!
New from me:
Kash Patel is engaged in purges, removal of real accountability, and impunity for loyalists at the FBI.
Researchers told me that these are the exact patterns that create abusive national security organizations under authoritarianism. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-the-fb...
Kash Patel is engaged in purges, removal of real accountability, and impunity for loyalists at the FBI.
Researchers told me that these are the exact patterns that create abusive national security organizations under authoritarianism. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-the-fb...
How the FBI Became the Face of Deprofessionalization
What research tells us about national security under authoritarianism
donmoynihan.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:53 PM
What's happening in ICE also seems to go in the FBI.
The current US administration seeks to staff key security agencies with unprofessional careerists rather than skilled professionals. See 👇
🙏 for a great post and featuring our work/new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship", @donmoyn.bsky.social!
The current US administration seeks to staff key security agencies with unprofessional careerists rather than skilled professionals. See 👇
🙏 for a great post and featuring our work/new book "Making a Career in Dictatorship", @donmoyn.bsky.social!
Wie lässt sich das brutale Vorgehen von Trump's ICE Agenten erklären? Und warum erinnert es so sehr an Diktaturen und ihre Geheimpolizei? Unser neues Buch liefert Antworten - wie wir heute in der @zeit.de erklären.
Buch: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Buch: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
November 13, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Wie lässt sich das brutale Vorgehen von Trump's ICE Agenten erklären? Und warum erinnert es so sehr an Diktaturen und ihre Geheimpolizei? Unser neues Buch liefert Antworten - wie wir heute in der @zeit.de erklären.
Buch: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Buch: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Many dictatorships use foreign helpers to influence democracies.
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Many dictatorships use foreign helpers to influence democracies.
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Thanks @hcrichardson.bsky.social for featuring our work on the staffing of secret police organizations and how it is related to ICE.
Our forthcoming book delves deeper into the authoritarian security apparatus and examines who serves where and why:
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Our forthcoming book delves deeper into the authoritarian security apparatus and examines who serves where and why:
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
October 27, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Thanks @hcrichardson.bsky.social for featuring our work on the staffing of secret police organizations and how it is related to ICE.
Our forthcoming book delves deeper into the authoritarian security apparatus and examines who serves where and why:
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Our forthcoming book delves deeper into the authoritarian security apparatus and examines who serves where and why:
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
👇
The article below is part of the forthcoming book Making a Career in Dictatorship: The Secret Logic behind Repression and Coups, written by Christian Gläßel and Adam Scharpf (@ascharpf.bsky.social)
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
October 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
👇
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
🚨 New article out!
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
October 22, 2025 at 3:14 PM
🚨 New article out!
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
We are hiring PhDs and postdocs to work on the ERC project GETGOV, where I am the PI.
We will investigate governing elites since 1789. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun and result in great research!
Postdocs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhDs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
We will investigate governing elites since 1789. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun and result in great research!
Postdocs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhDs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science (3-4 years) (288628) | University of Oslo
Job title: Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science (3-4 years) (288628), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Monday, November 17, 2025
www.jobbnorge.no
October 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
We are hiring PhDs and postdocs to work on the ERC project GETGOV, where I am the PI.
We will investigate governing elites since 1789. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun and result in great research!
Postdocs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhDs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
We will investigate governing elites since 1789. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun and result in great research!
Postdocs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhDs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
Are you interested in research on corruption/illicit finance/kleptocracy? We are hiring a Research Fellow at @acdatacollective.bsky.social: acdatacollective.org/wp-content/u...
Please share in your networks, this could be a great gig.
Please share in your networks, this could be a great gig.
acdatacollective.org
October 1, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Are you interested in research on corruption/illicit finance/kleptocracy? We are hiring a Research Fellow at @acdatacollective.bsky.social: acdatacollective.org/wp-content/u...
Please share in your networks, this could be a great gig.
Please share in your networks, this could be a great gig.
Reposted by Adam Scharpf
So many echoes from this article for US politics....
September 27, 2025 at 4:43 PM
So many echoes from this article for US politics....
We know that Putin and other dictators try to build a new world order. Soft power plays a crucial role in this.
Today, Russia hosts the Intervision 2025 – a competitor event to the Eurovision Song Contest.
Which regimes participate in this contest?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervi...
Today, Russia hosts the Intervision 2025 – a competitor event to the Eurovision Song Contest.
Which regimes participate in this contest?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervi...
Intervision 2025 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
September 20, 2025 at 3:56 PM
We know that Putin and other dictators try to build a new world order. Soft power plays a crucial role in this.
Today, Russia hosts the Intervision 2025 – a competitor event to the Eurovision Song Contest.
Which regimes participate in this contest?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervi...
Today, Russia hosts the Intervision 2025 – a competitor event to the Eurovision Song Contest.
Which regimes participate in this contest?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervi...