Helene von Bismarck
@helenebismarck.bsky.social
Historian and Writer, Anglophile and European. Dr. Phil. FRHistS. Senior Associate Fellow, RUSI.
All views strictly my own.
All views strictly my own.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
On Bregman, I was there in the audience and I can’t see what the BBC have gained by removing this line except more bad publicity. I will say that no such edits or censorship occurred when I gave the Reith Lectures and free-speech defenders might want think about whether this is the world they want.
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
On Bregman, I was there in the audience and I can’t see what the BBC have gained by removing this line except more bad publicity. I will say that no such edits or censorship occurred when I gave the Reith Lectures and free-speech defenders might want think about whether this is the world they want.
Not good.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Not good.
This is so important. People who study international relations love to fight over whether interests or values define relationships. It is both. An interest is something you define. And your values come into the equation. It is not either or.
What Trump has made me realise is how much the post-Cold War relationship hinged on shared values rather than shared interests. Trump is illustrating how, whether on Ukraine and Gaza, our interests diverge and, absent those values, there's not much holding us together.
November 25, 2025 at 9:38 AM
This is so important. People who study international relations love to fight over whether interests or values define relationships. It is both. An interest is something you define. And your values come into the equation. It is not either or.
That terrible liberal democracy where there are regular elections, a free economy, imperfect but at least existing social services. A horrible terrible place, compared to, what?
November 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
That terrible liberal democracy where there are regular elections, a free economy, imperfect but at least existing social services. A horrible terrible place, compared to, what?
This nonsense is not just mad and pernicious, it is just wildly entitled. Of course there are problems in Britain. But have a little look at the world around you, or indeed at the past. Where will you have such a nice free secure future? Genuine question.
November 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
This nonsense is not just mad and pernicious, it is just wildly entitled. Of course there are problems in Britain. But have a little look at the world around you, or indeed at the past. Where will you have such a nice free secure future? Genuine question.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
I represented @houseoflords.parliament.uk at a Summit in Stockholm to remind the world of Crimea’s plight since 2014: killings, children sent to Russian camps, cultural heritage destroyed etc. Zelensky put it powerfully in his speech to us ‘Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen’.
November 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I represented @houseoflords.parliament.uk at a Summit in Stockholm to remind the world of Crimea’s plight since 2014: killings, children sent to Russian camps, cultural heritage destroyed etc. Zelensky put it powerfully in his speech to us ‘Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen’.
That would presuppose that the author understands European integration. Which they don‘t.
November 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
That would presuppose that the author understands European integration. Which they don‘t.
Poland comes to mind.
November 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Poland comes to mind.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
We found that Jewish people were targeted with a wave of hatred & calls for violence on X after the heinous UK Heaton Park Synagogue attack.
Following this research, more than 30 cross-party MPs & peers are urging Ofcom to take action against antisemitism on X.
More in @politicshome.bsky.social ⤵️
Following this research, more than 30 cross-party MPs & peers are urging Ofcom to take action against antisemitism on X.
More in @politicshome.bsky.social ⤵️
Cross-Party MPs Demand Ofcom Investigation Into Antisemitism On X
Exclusive: A cross-party group of MPs and peers has demanded that Ofcom take action against a surge in antisemitic posts and calls for violence aga...
www.politicshome.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:20 PM
We found that Jewish people were targeted with a wave of hatred & calls for violence on X after the heinous UK Heaton Park Synagogue attack.
Following this research, more than 30 cross-party MPs & peers are urging Ofcom to take action against antisemitism on X.
More in @politicshome.bsky.social ⤵️
Following this research, more than 30 cross-party MPs & peers are urging Ofcom to take action against antisemitism on X.
More in @politicshome.bsky.social ⤵️
I haven’t been there but Cap Verden are not too far away and the weather would be nice?
November 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I haven’t been there but Cap Verden are not too far away and the weather would be nice?
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
This week we also launched a new Applied History Fellowship scheme, with @ihr.bsky.social and DC Thomson: bit.ly/4ijiuII
Fellowships will support recent post-doc historians and demonstrate the appeal of historical skills for employers. £12,000 for 6 months. Closing date: 31 Jan 2026 #Skystorians
Fellowships will support recent post-doc historians and demonstrate the appeal of historical skills for employers. £12,000 for 6 months. Closing date: 31 Jan 2026 #Skystorians
Society launches call for new Applied History Fellowships, with the Institute of Historical Research and DC Thomson - RHS
In November 2025, the Society joins with partners the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) and publisher DC Thomson to launch a new Applied History Fellowship programme to support recent post-doctor...
bit.ly
November 22, 2025 at 4:26 PM
This week we also launched a new Applied History Fellowship scheme, with @ihr.bsky.social and DC Thomson: bit.ly/4ijiuII
Fellowships will support recent post-doc historians and demonstrate the appeal of historical skills for employers. £12,000 for 6 months. Closing date: 31 Jan 2026 #Skystorians
Fellowships will support recent post-doc historians and demonstrate the appeal of historical skills for employers. £12,000 for 6 months. Closing date: 31 Jan 2026 #Skystorians
I once did a Radio debate with a British MP who informed the presenter that "the americans always call us first, it is just instinctive, we are so similar in so many ways“.
November 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I once did a Radio debate with a British MP who informed the presenter that "the americans always call us first, it is just instinctive, we are so similar in so many ways“.
There are parts of US history that are truly inspiring, there are parts that are extremely dark. True of most countries. This whole emotional, identity-obsessed approach to politics ("we are ONE THING“) is delusional and, given what is currently going on, dangerous.
November 22, 2025 at 9:14 AM
There are parts of US history that are truly inspiring, there are parts that are extremely dark. True of most countries. This whole emotional, identity-obsessed approach to politics ("we are ONE THING“) is delusional and, given what is currently going on, dangerous.
America is vast. That fact in itself has shaped& defined its politics and culture. And it is really far away. Sounds trivial but it matters. I have always thought of myself as an Atlanticist. The current transatlantic rift is shocking. But America was never our Appendix. How arrogant to think that.
November 22, 2025 at 9:11 AM
America is vast. That fact in itself has shaped& defined its politics and culture. And it is really far away. Sounds trivial but it matters. I have always thought of myself as an Atlanticist. The current transatlantic rift is shocking. But America was never our Appendix. How arrogant to think that.
In 2010 I first spent an extended period of time in the US on research. And my main takesway from that time was how deluded Europeans in general are if we think of the US as little more than a very powerful extension of Europe on the other side of the Atlantic. This is not an anti-american point.
'America is British'.
It turns out Danny Kruger is peak 'Americans are the same as us'.
Until this mindset – conscious and subconscious – is defeated in Britain, we'll never see ourselves as properly European.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
It turns out Danny Kruger is peak 'Americans are the same as us'.
Until this mindset – conscious and subconscious – is defeated in Britain, we'll never see ourselves as properly European.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘America is British’. Heaven is ‘a socialist state’. David Attenborough is ‘anti-human’ – the startling theories of Reform MP Danny Kruger
He was a Conservative party big-hitter who wrote speeches for David Cameron and worked with Boris Johnson before he suddenly jumped ship. He talks family, flags and why Nigel Farage is ‘top dog’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
In 2010 I first spent an extended period of time in the US on research. And my main takesway from that time was how deluded Europeans in general are if we think of the US as little more than a very powerful extension of Europe on the other side of the Atlantic. This is not an anti-american point.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
Good morning and welcome to your short thread of FT Weekend highlight giftlinks for this very cold morning. Why not stay in bed and enjoy some high quality journalism. Links are free 300x that's all I have and the actual paper with all the weekend journalism you need is in the shops now!
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Good morning and welcome to your short thread of FT Weekend highlight giftlinks for this very cold morning. Why not stay in bed and enjoy some high quality journalism. Links are free 300x that's all I have and the actual paper with all the weekend journalism you need is in the shops now!
Or, more simply, say yes and do no.
November 21, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Or, more simply, say yes and do no.
Why do men think LinkedIn is a dating Site?
Don‘t answer that.
I am just screaming into the void.
Don‘t answer that.
I am just screaming into the void.
November 21, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Why do men think LinkedIn is a dating Site?
Don‘t answer that.
I am just screaming into the void.
Don‘t answer that.
I am just screaming into the void.
This is very true. I supported lockdown because on balance it seemed necessary to avoid a catastrophe and because it seemed like the least back option. I still thought it was a terrible thing especially for children. Thinking that does not make me a lunatic COVID-sceptic.
I think that seems likely yeah. One of the almost infinite number of ways in which the culture war-ification of everything is ruining the world is it becomes impossible to have these conversations because saying e.g. "lockdown had some downsides" suggests you're One Of Them
November 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
This is very true. I supported lockdown because on balance it seemed necessary to avoid a catastrophe and because it seemed like the least back option. I still thought it was a terrible thing especially for children. Thinking that does not make me a lunatic COVID-sceptic.
London is wonderful.
A friend from US has been staying in London this week - sight-seeing, culture, bars and restaurants. Central London has been buzzing. It’s been great and I’ve been proud of it. So there
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
London is wonderful.
I think everyone is just very Stuck in old thinking. There is no sentence I have heard more often in my Research in recent years than "we had no other choice“. Which is obviously nonsense, the choice is just a Risk. It is all a but fatalistic.
November 21, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I think everyone is just very Stuck in old thinking. There is no sentence I have heard more often in my Research in recent years than "we had no other choice“. Which is obviously nonsense, the choice is just a Risk. It is all a but fatalistic.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
Thanks @helenebismarck.bsky.social!
Yes, @columnist.bsky.social, I tried in my book to puncture some common UK delusions while warning of the dangers of entrenching a culture of despair. The country still has a lot going for it, as I point out.
linktr.ee/whateveryone...
Yes, @columnist.bsky.social, I tried in my book to puncture some common UK delusions while warning of the dangers of entrenching a culture of despair. The country still has a lot going for it, as I point out.
linktr.ee/whateveryone...
November 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Thanks @helenebismarck.bsky.social!
Yes, @columnist.bsky.social, I tried in my book to puncture some common UK delusions while warning of the dangers of entrenching a culture of despair. The country still has a lot going for it, as I point out.
linktr.ee/whateveryone...
Yes, @columnist.bsky.social, I tried in my book to puncture some common UK delusions while warning of the dangers of entrenching a culture of despair. The country still has a lot going for it, as I point out.
linktr.ee/whateveryone...
I think it is great you are speaking to the Mittelstand. From what I hear there is a lot of concern.
November 21, 2025 at 8:55 AM
I think it is great you are speaking to the Mittelstand. From what I hear there is a lot of concern.