Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
@avishaybsg.bsky.social
Normative Theory of Civ-Mil especially under democratic backsliding | Liberalism Rekindled Postdoctoral Fellow @Hebrew U | Ruderman Scholar in Residence and Senior Researcher at the INSS | Napper extraordinaire | Kartofellophile
Pinned
Things about politics I’ve come to believe strongly:
1. Less bad is better than more bad
2. Nostalgia is generally incorrect. Things weren’t better
3. Still, things can get much worse
4. Democracy is an outlier in human political history
5. Optimism is rooted in agency, not positive predictions
1. Less bad is better than more bad
2. Nostalgia is generally incorrect. Things weren’t better
3. Still, things can get much worse
4. Democracy is an outlier in human political history
5. Optimism is rooted in agency, not positive predictions
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
🚨 LSE Assistant Professor in Political Science 🚨
We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social
Any questions, please reach out to me
📣 Please share! 📣
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social
Any questions, please reach out to me
📣 Please share! 📣
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 AM
🚨 LSE Assistant Professor in Political Science 🚨
We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social
Any questions, please reach out to me
📣 Please share! 📣
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social
Any questions, please reach out to me
📣 Please share! 📣
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
At some point tonight I jolted awake from a hyper realistic dream in which I was giving my job talk, and someone asked a question I actually had to think about, so my brain just fully engaged
November 25, 2025 at 7:22 AM
At some point tonight I jolted awake from a hyper realistic dream in which I was giving my job talk, and someone asked a question I actually had to think about, so my brain just fully engaged
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
Cannot overstate how, from my perch as a national-security reporter, this would have been an earth-shattering scandal in a prior era.
Billionaire Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, pardoned by Donald Trump, has been accused of facilitating millions of dollars’ worth of payments to Hamas in the wake of its attack on Israel on October 7 2023. Zhao also financed the Trump family's entrance into the cryptocurrency market.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao accused of facilitating payments to Hamas
Crypto tycoon pardoned by Donald Trump faces US court complaint from families of victims of October 7 attack
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Cannot overstate how, from my perch as a national-security reporter, this would have been an earth-shattering scandal in a prior era.
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
🌟 JOB ALERT! 🌟
I’m hiring 1 postdoc for my ERC project ECONENGAGE (@ Gothenburg 🇸🇪)! Starting ca. Aug '26! Congenial colleagues + int'l & supportive environment. 💸 for conferences + workshops! Lots of professional networking opportunities with scholars! Deadline Jan 7th. Apply! (see more below 🧵)
I’m hiring 1 postdoc for my ERC project ECONENGAGE (@ Gothenburg 🇸🇪)! Starting ca. Aug '26! Congenial colleagues + int'l & supportive environment. 💸 for conferences + workshops! Lots of professional networking opportunities with scholars! Deadline Jan 7th. Apply! (see more below 🧵)
Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science PAR 2025/838
The Department of Political Science is an international academic environment that welcomes students, researchers and
web103.reachmee.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
🌟 JOB ALERT! 🌟
I’m hiring 1 postdoc for my ERC project ECONENGAGE (@ Gothenburg 🇸🇪)! Starting ca. Aug '26! Congenial colleagues + int'l & supportive environment. 💸 for conferences + workshops! Lots of professional networking opportunities with scholars! Deadline Jan 7th. Apply! (see more below 🧵)
I’m hiring 1 postdoc for my ERC project ECONENGAGE (@ Gothenburg 🇸🇪)! Starting ca. Aug '26! Congenial colleagues + int'l & supportive environment. 💸 for conferences + workshops! Lots of professional networking opportunities with scholars! Deadline Jan 7th. Apply! (see more below 🧵)
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
Super excited that a new edited volume, Bend But Do Not Break, is coming out, edited by Jaron Wharton, @klkuzminski.bsky.social @jkdemp.bsky.social @mzmargulies.bsky.social Keith Carter, and @carriealee.bsky.social
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
November 25, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Super excited that a new edited volume, Bend But Do Not Break, is coming out, edited by Jaron Wharton, @klkuzminski.bsky.social @jkdemp.bsky.social @mzmargulies.bsky.social Keith Carter, and @carriealee.bsky.social
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
Prime Minister Netanyahu has called up Defense Minister Katz and IDF Chief Zamir to his office to discuss their intensifying public clash. In a normal state of affairs that would be a good thing. We are not in a normal state of affairs so I’m much less confident.
This is after multiple moves by the minister to upset civ-mil norms, spite the Chief, and act as a sort of super-Chief. The Chief of the IDF now put out a scathing announcement asserting authority for his actions and criticisizing the minister for his. Translation in alt. 2/2
November 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Prime Minister Netanyahu has called up Defense Minister Katz and IDF Chief Zamir to his office to discuss their intensifying public clash. In a normal state of affairs that would be a good thing. We are not in a normal state of affairs so I’m much less confident.
The Department of Defense announces it's considering "court-martial proceedings or administrative measures" against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The ongoing Israeli #civmilsky omnishambles continues. In response to this move, which the IDF Chief didn't tell the Minister of Defense in advance about, the minister announced he would delay mil appointments and review the review of 10.7 investigations conducted by the Chief. 1/2
IDF chief called in several military leaders during 10.7 and sanctioned them. Most have already left service but have now been removed from reserve service. Partly as an attempt to reestablish trust within the ranks (which was severely shaken post 10.7).
IDF chief summons top military commanders ahead of sanctions over Oct. 7 failures
Officials summoned by Zamir include Air Force, Navy chiefs, other top generals; Zamir said looking to rebuild trust in IDF after military-led Oct. 7 probes were found inadequate
www.timesofisrael.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The ongoing Israeli #civmilsky omnishambles continues. In response to this move, which the IDF Chief didn't tell the Minister of Defense in advance about, the minister announced he would delay mil appointments and review the review of 10.7 investigations conducted by the Chief. 1/2
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
This from @rosabrooks.bsky.social is as true today as it was when it was published in 2016.
#civmilsky
#civmilsky
Opinion | The military wouldn’t save us from President Trump’s illegal orders
The White House could manipulate the law to get what it wants.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:39 PM
This from @rosabrooks.bsky.social is as true today as it was when it was published in 2016.
#civmilsky
#civmilsky
The thing about withdrawing US support if Ukraine doesn’t fold, is that if it Europe shows up, what you’ve done is lost influence and clout. But if Europe doesn’t show up, what you’ve done is lost influence and clout. And also Ukraine.
❗️🇪🇺🇺🇦 The full text of the EU plan to end the war in Ukraine is published by The Telegraph
November 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The thing about withdrawing US support if Ukraine doesn’t fold, is that if it Europe shows up, what you’ve done is lost influence and clout. But if Europe doesn’t show up, what you’ve done is lost influence and clout. And also Ukraine.
IDF chief called in several military leaders during 10.7 and sanctioned them. Most have already left service but have now been removed from reserve service. Partly as an attempt to reestablish trust within the ranks (which was severely shaken post 10.7).
IDF chief summons top military commanders ahead of sanctions over Oct. 7 failures
Officials summoned by Zamir include Air Force, Navy chiefs, other top generals; Zamir said looking to rebuild trust in IDF after military-led Oct. 7 probes were found inadequate
www.timesofisrael.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:21 PM
IDF chief called in several military leaders during 10.7 and sanctioned them. Most have already left service but have now been removed from reserve service. Partly as an attempt to reestablish trust within the ranks (which was severely shaken post 10.7).
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
so, contra the "last person to talk to him narrative", it looks like trump *planned* to have a good meeting with mamdani
what's up with that? few thoughts -
what's up with that? few thoughts -
November 23, 2025 at 12:14 PM
so, contra the "last person to talk to him narrative", it looks like trump *planned* to have a good meeting with mamdani
what's up with that? few thoughts -
what's up with that? few thoughts -
On its face, this is not a promising sign from Mamdani. I say on its face, because I’m leaving open the possibility that he doesn’t consider Jewish immigration to Israel as such “a violation of international law”. But it’s far from being as clear as it should be.
After protest at synagogue, Mamdani says Israel immigration event misused ‘sacred space’ | The Times of Israel
www.timesofisrael.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:57 AM
On its face, this is not a promising sign from Mamdani. I say on its face, because I’m leaving open the possibility that he doesn’t consider Jewish immigration to Israel as such “a violation of international law”. But it’s far from being as clear as it should be.
Hey Siri, is this a CivMil crisis?
November 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Hey Siri, is this a CivMil crisis?
I have a paper I've been wanting to write for some time, about the state's duty of ignorance.
(Kindly, don't steal the idea)
(Kindly, don't steal the idea)
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I have a paper I've been wanting to write for some time, about the state's duty of ignorance.
(Kindly, don't steal the idea)
(Kindly, don't steal the idea)
At least he didn’t plagiarize a bit of his acknowledgements
November 20, 2025 at 10:08 AM
At least he didn’t plagiarize a bit of his acknowledgements
This is a really good conversation, and even though I follow this closely, I learned a lot. One thing I was sorry @lioneltrolling.bsky.social and Klein didn't discuss more is the role of American Catholicism in this phenomenon
November 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This is a really good conversation, and even though I follow this closely, I learned a lot. One thing I was sorry @lioneltrolling.bsky.social and Klein didn't discuss more is the role of American Catholicism in this phenomenon
The fact that he was emailing Epstein specifically about it is like the 16th worst thing about Summers’ emails
November 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The fact that he was emailing Epstein specifically about it is like the 16th worst thing about Summers’ emails
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
Political infrastructures can be used for good or evil.
Bureaucracy is essential to freedom, it’s just hard to see this because not only can it enable tyranny, the mechanisms that make freedom possible superficially resemble tyranny as well. Postal services and secret police alike keep standardized registries of the names and homes of the citizenry.
Look it's weird to say "the city is liberation. Bigness is liberation. Bureaucracy is liberation." But it so often is. The village is inherently tyrannical. Sherly Jackson knew this.
November 18, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Political infrastructures can be used for good or evil.
Rolled credits on Hades II. What a game. Now to true ending.
November 18, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Rolled credits on Hades II. What a game. Now to true ending.
Another thing no Democratic president would dare do, partially because of HR record and partially because of commitment to Israeli qualitative military edge (QME)
President Donald Trump said he plans to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia - just ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Another thing no Democratic president would dare do, partially because of HR record and partially because of commitment to Israeli qualitative military edge (QME)
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
President Donald Trump said he plans to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia - just ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit
November 17, 2025 at 8:39 PM
President Donald Trump said he plans to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia - just ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit
The military matters to the future of American democracy. Trump knows it, and so should his critics
November 17, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The military matters to the future of American democracy. Trump knows it, and so should his critics
Also, summers’ advisees shouldn’t suffer the consequences of the reckoning.
November 16, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Also, summers’ advisees shouldn’t suffer the consequences of the reckoning.