Rory Cormac
@rorycormac.bsky.social
Professor: Subversion & Secret Statecraft | Author: Fakers (coming 2026); Disrupt & Deny; How to Stage a Coup; Crown, Cloak, & Dagger
Few things more depressing than a door locked that is usually open, a staircase roped off which is usually clear, and three security guards standing outside - as, hidden away from staff and students, council votes on whether to close music and languages. Terribly terribly sad day.
November 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Few things more depressing than a door locked that is usually open, a staircase roped off which is usually clear, and three security guards standing outside - as, hidden away from staff and students, council votes on whether to close music and languages. Terribly terribly sad day.
So proud! Another Cambridge UP book to add to the multiple “world leading” articles, £1.1m UKRI bid, fantastic community work, an app aimed at school kids etc etc etc.
An absolute superstar!
An absolute superstar!
A lovely end to another crazy week: I’ve been offered a contract by Cambridge University Press for my new book: The Symphony in the North Atlantic World: A Transnational History (1800-1914). Woohoo!
November 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
So proud! Another Cambridge UP book to add to the multiple “world leading” articles, £1.1m UKRI bid, fantastic community work, an app aimed at school kids etc etc etc.
An absolute superstar!
An absolute superstar!
It was quite something to hear a passionate call to protect music and languages during a Catholic Mass in Clifton estate yesterday.
I worry about the reputational impact in our own great city, let alone beyond
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
I worry about the reputational impact in our own great city, let alone beyond
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
University of Nottingham considers axing language and music degrees
Total of 48 degrees could disappear from Russell Group institution, with falling revenues and rising costs blamed
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It was quite something to hear a passionate call to protect music and languages during a Catholic Mass in Clifton estate yesterday.
I worry about the reputational impact in our own great city, let alone beyond
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
I worry about the reputational impact in our own great city, let alone beyond
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Personal experience of this one, sadly.
I watched my dad die of a brain tumour over the past 6 months. The final couple of weeks were cruel, unnecessary, undignified, and neither in his wishes nor interests
He begged me to let him die.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I watched my dad die of a brain tumour over the past 6 months. The final couple of weeks were cruel, unnecessary, undignified, and neither in his wishes nor interests
He begged me to let him die.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Peers suggest over 900 changes to assisted dying bill
Experts say the volume is a record, and backers of the bill fear opponents are using delaying tactics.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Personal experience of this one, sadly.
I watched my dad die of a brain tumour over the past 6 months. The final couple of weeks were cruel, unnecessary, undignified, and neither in his wishes nor interests
He begged me to let him die.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I watched my dad die of a brain tumour over the past 6 months. The final couple of weeks were cruel, unnecessary, undignified, and neither in his wishes nor interests
He begged me to let him die.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Rory Cormac
Heartbroken to share the news that recruitment to Undergraduate Music courses at the University of Nottingham has been suspended.
Please do contact us on [email protected] if you would like to support us.
Please do contact us on [email protected] if you would like to support us.
November 6, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Heartbroken to share the news that recruitment to Undergraduate Music courses at the University of Nottingham has been suspended.
Please do contact us on [email protected] if you would like to support us.
Please do contact us on [email protected] if you would like to support us.
Reposted by Rory Cormac
This quotes a university employee emailing about: "Attempting to retain the business in China".
The university says this doesn't reflect policy, but if it sees itself as a business, there's the issue.
Universities, like councils & the BBC, are *not businesses*.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
The university says this doesn't reflect policy, but if it sees itself as a business, there's the issue.
Universities, like councils & the BBC, are *not businesses*.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:47 AM
This quotes a university employee emailing about: "Attempting to retain the business in China".
The university says this doesn't reflect policy, but if it sees itself as a business, there's the issue.
Universities, like councils & the BBC, are *not businesses*.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
The university says this doesn't reflect policy, but if it sees itself as a business, there's the issue.
Universities, like councils & the BBC, are *not businesses*.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Rory Cormac
“Propaganda operations in the Cold War were designed to undermine authority, chip away at orthodox ideas, and encourage questioning"
@rorycormac.bsky.social reveals to @telegraphnews.bsky.social how the CIA once tried to recruit Sir Winston Churchill 🔗➡️ tinyurl.com/mvp47n4h
Image cc: The Telegraph
@rorycormac.bsky.social reveals to @telegraphnews.bsky.social how the CIA once tried to recruit Sir Winston Churchill 🔗➡️ tinyurl.com/mvp47n4h
Image cc: The Telegraph
October 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“Propaganda operations in the Cold War were designed to undermine authority, chip away at orthodox ideas, and encourage questioning"
@rorycormac.bsky.social reveals to @telegraphnews.bsky.social how the CIA once tried to recruit Sir Winston Churchill 🔗➡️ tinyurl.com/mvp47n4h
Image cc: The Telegraph
@rorycormac.bsky.social reveals to @telegraphnews.bsky.social how the CIA once tried to recruit Sir Winston Churchill 🔗➡️ tinyurl.com/mvp47n4h
Image cc: The Telegraph
Reposted by Rory Cormac
@jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, and @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social's new article is a super read on an important but neglected area of covert action:
www.cambridge.org/core/service...
www.cambridge.org/core/service...
www.cambridge.org
October 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
@jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, and @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social's new article is a super read on an important but neglected area of covert action:
www.cambridge.org/core/service...
www.cambridge.org/core/service...
Publishers: we have a strict word limit
Also publishers: all dates in the endnotes must be written out in full
Also publishers: all dates in the endnotes must be written out in full
October 21, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Publishers: we have a strict word limit
Also publishers: all dates in the endnotes must be written out in full
Also publishers: all dates in the endnotes must be written out in full
Reposted by Rory Cormac
New article out with @rorycormac.bsky.social & @jrovner.bsky.social on Sabotage in World Politics: how does it work, what is it good for, and how is it different from subversion?
#OpenAccess from @ejisbisa.bsky.social -
Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics - https://cup.org/4o2MQBc
- @jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social
#FirstView
Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics - https://cup.org/4o2MQBc
- @jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social
#FirstView
October 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
New article out with @rorycormac.bsky.social & @jrovner.bsky.social on Sabotage in World Politics: how does it work, what is it good for, and how is it different from subversion?
Reposted by Rory Cormac
🔥 "Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics" from
@jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social is a must-read.
👉 Read this timely article here: cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org/core/journal...
@jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social is a must-read.
👉 Read this timely article here: cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org/core/journal...
October 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
🔥 "Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics" from
@jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social is a must-read.
👉 Read this timely article here: cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org/core/journal...
@jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social is a must-read.
👉 Read this timely article here: cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Rory Cormac
What is sabotage? How does it work as a tool of statecraft? And what are its limits? Check out my new article with @rorycormac.bsky.social and @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social. Open access
#OpenAccess from @ejisbisa.bsky.social -
Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics - https://cup.org/4o2MQBc
- @jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social
#FirstView
Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics - https://cup.org/4o2MQBc
- @jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social
#FirstView
October 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
What is sabotage? How does it work as a tool of statecraft? And what are its limits? Check out my new article with @rorycormac.bsky.social and @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social. Open access
When the MI5 chief warns that AI and hostile states are reshaping espionage in real time, it’s not a thriller plot - it’s just Thursday.
(Ps interesting reference to “threat” in the context of China given the spy trial fiasco)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
(Ps interesting reference to “threat” in the context of China given the spy trial fiasco)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
MI5 operating in new era of terror and state threats, says chief
In an annual speech, Sir Ken McCallum says the security service is operating in
www.bbc.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 6:17 PM
When the MI5 chief warns that AI and hostile states are reshaping espionage in real time, it’s not a thriller plot - it’s just Thursday.
(Ps interesting reference to “threat” in the context of China given the spy trial fiasco)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
(Ps interesting reference to “threat” in the context of China given the spy trial fiasco)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The UK’s China spy trial collapsed because, legally, China wasn’t an “enemy” at the time.
Apparently, you can’t spy for a country unless the government has officially decided it dislikes them enough 🤷♂️
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Apparently, you can’t spy for a country unless the government has officially decided it dislikes them enough 🤷♂️
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Government will publish evidence in collapsed China case, PM says
The Tories and Lib Dems had called for witness statements provided to prosecutors to be released.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The UK’s China spy trial collapsed because, legally, China wasn’t an “enemy” at the time.
Apparently, you can’t spy for a country unless the government has officially decided it dislikes them enough 🤷♂️
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Apparently, you can’t spy for a country unless the government has officially decided it dislikes them enough 🤷♂️
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
University inefficiency 101:
- Arrive on campus at 11 after an off-campus meeting
- No parking anywhere
- Security won’t lift the stupid cross-campus barrier
- Exit & drive around in heavy traffic to other entrance: also full
- Drive home
- Cycle back in
- Miss 2 meetings
👏 Perfect 👏 system 👏
- Arrive on campus at 11 after an off-campus meeting
- No parking anywhere
- Security won’t lift the stupid cross-campus barrier
- Exit & drive around in heavy traffic to other entrance: also full
- Drive home
- Cycle back in
- Miss 2 meetings
👏 Perfect 👏 system 👏
a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a window with his hands on his head .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a window with his hands on his head .
media.tenor.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:06 PM
University inefficiency 101:
- Arrive on campus at 11 after an off-campus meeting
- No parking anywhere
- Security won’t lift the stupid cross-campus barrier
- Exit & drive around in heavy traffic to other entrance: also full
- Drive home
- Cycle back in
- Miss 2 meetings
👏 Perfect 👏 system 👏
- Arrive on campus at 11 after an off-campus meeting
- No parking anywhere
- Security won’t lift the stupid cross-campus barrier
- Exit & drive around in heavy traffic to other entrance: also full
- Drive home
- Cycle back in
- Miss 2 meetings
👏 Perfect 👏 system 👏
Nerd that I am, I’ve been thinking about (theorising is too strong!!) covert action for 15 years.
And this in the new Oxford Handbook National Security Intelligence offers a neat distillation:
And this in the new Oxford Handbook National Security Intelligence offers a neat distillation:
October 15, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Nerd that I am, I’ve been thinking about (theorising is too strong!!) covert action for 15 years.
And this in the new Oxford Handbook National Security Intelligence offers a neat distillation:
And this in the new Oxford Handbook National Security Intelligence offers a neat distillation:
I’ve got 6 excitable 8 year olds running around my house.
I’ve just made a tactical switch from man marking to zonal marking.
Wish me luck!
I’ve just made a tactical switch from man marking to zonal marking.
Wish me luck!
a man in a jeep jersey is standing next to two other men
ALT: a man in a jeep jersey is standing next to two other men
media.tenor.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I’ve got 6 excitable 8 year olds running around my house.
I’ve just made a tactical switch from man marking to zonal marking.
Wish me luck!
I’ve just made a tactical switch from man marking to zonal marking.
Wish me luck!
Reposted by Rory Cormac
Dr Dan Lomas @sandbaggerone.bsky.social recently contributed to this @thetimes.com piece on the priorities of the new MI6 chief Blaise Metreweli
Read it here 🔗 tinyurl.com/4puhmcud
Find out more about Dan and his research on intelligence services 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/daniel.lomas
Read it here 🔗 tinyurl.com/4puhmcud
Find out more about Dan and his research on intelligence services 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/daniel.lomas
MI6’s new chief aims to restore British influence in Middle East
Blaise Metreweli, 48, is the youngest ever boss of the Secret Intelligence Service
tinyurl.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Dr Dan Lomas @sandbaggerone.bsky.social recently contributed to this @thetimes.com piece on the priorities of the new MI6 chief Blaise Metreweli
Read it here 🔗 tinyurl.com/4puhmcud
Find out more about Dan and his research on intelligence services 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/daniel.lomas
Read it here 🔗 tinyurl.com/4puhmcud
Find out more about Dan and his research on intelligence services 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/daniel.lomas
Reposted by Rory Cormac
📚 Congratulations to @rorycormac.bsky.social on the publication of his new co-edited book 'Covert Action: National Approaches to Unacknowledged Intervention'
📖 Read more here🔗 tinyurl.com/3cdbynaa
ℹ️ Find out more about Rory and his research 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/rory.cormac
📖 Read more here🔗 tinyurl.com/3cdbynaa
ℹ️ Find out more about Rory and his research 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/rory.cormac
October 9, 2025 at 11:40 AM
📚 Congratulations to @rorycormac.bsky.social on the publication of his new co-edited book 'Covert Action: National Approaches to Unacknowledged Intervention'
📖 Read more here🔗 tinyurl.com/3cdbynaa
ℹ️ Find out more about Rory and his research 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/rory.cormac
📖 Read more here🔗 tinyurl.com/3cdbynaa
ℹ️ Find out more about Rory and his research 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/rory.cormac
My copy editor has (correctly) put loads of em dashes into the book but now it looks like it’s been written by chat gpt!!
Grammatical errors are now a weird sign of authenticity. We are artisanal writers
Grammatical errors are now a weird sign of authenticity. We are artisanal writers
October 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM
My copy editor has (correctly) put loads of em dashes into the book but now it looks like it’s been written by chat gpt!!
Grammatical errors are now a weird sign of authenticity. We are artisanal writers
Grammatical errors are now a weird sign of authenticity. We are artisanal writers
Me writing: I’ll fact check that at the revisions stage
At revisions: I’ll check it at copy edit
At copy edit: I’ll check it at proofs
At proofs: if it’s still here by now I must’ve fact checked it already
🤷♂️ 🤷♂️ 🤷♂️
At revisions: I’ll check it at copy edit
At copy edit: I’ll check it at proofs
At proofs: if it’s still here by now I must’ve fact checked it already
🤷♂️ 🤷♂️ 🤷♂️
October 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Me writing: I’ll fact check that at the revisions stage
At revisions: I’ll check it at copy edit
At copy edit: I’ll check it at proofs
At proofs: if it’s still here by now I must’ve fact checked it already
🤷♂️ 🤷♂️ 🤷♂️
At revisions: I’ll check it at copy edit
At copy edit: I’ll check it at proofs
At proofs: if it’s still here by now I must’ve fact checked it already
🤷♂️ 🤷♂️ 🤷♂️
@lucatrenta.bsky.social I got a message saying you DM’d me but I don’t have direct messenger on here anymore since they did that age verification thing so can’t read it. Sorry
October 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
@lucatrenta.bsky.social I got a message saying you DM’d me but I don’t have direct messenger on here anymore since they did that age verification thing so can’t read it. Sorry
“The geographies of the information research department”
Enjoyed this “critical geographical analysis” of British covert operations
And there’s me thinking that geography was just oxbow lakes and erosion!
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
Enjoyed this “critical geographical analysis” of British covert operations
And there’s me thinking that geography was just oxbow lakes and erosion!
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
Area | RGS Geography Journal | Wiley Online Library
This paper develops a historical and political geographical analysis of the UK Foreign Office's Information Research Department (IRD). To date, there has been no geographical study of IRD and through...
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:15 AM
“The geographies of the information research department”
Enjoyed this “critical geographical analysis” of British covert operations
And there’s me thinking that geography was just oxbow lakes and erosion!
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
Enjoyed this “critical geographical analysis” of British covert operations
And there’s me thinking that geography was just oxbow lakes and erosion!
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
Oh turns out it’s on preorder.
Loving the blurbs from early readers:
“Often laugh out loud”;
“Monty Python meets le Carré”;
Fun, fascinating and absurd;
“Spy thrillers have nothing on Fakers”
Can’t wait to share it!
www.amazon.co.uk/Fakers-Top-S...
Loving the blurbs from early readers:
“Often laugh out loud”;
“Monty Python meets le Carré”;
Fun, fascinating and absurd;
“Spy thrillers have nothing on Fakers”
Can’t wait to share it!
www.amazon.co.uk/Fakers-Top-S...
Fakers: A Top-Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line: Amazon.co.uk: Cormac, Rory: 9780198917007: Books
Buy Fakers: A Top-Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line by Cormac, Rory (ISBN: 9780198917007) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligib...
www.amazon.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Oh turns out it’s on preorder.
Loving the blurbs from early readers:
“Often laugh out loud”;
“Monty Python meets le Carré”;
Fun, fascinating and absurd;
“Spy thrillers have nothing on Fakers”
Can’t wait to share it!
www.amazon.co.uk/Fakers-Top-S...
Loving the blurbs from early readers:
“Often laugh out loud”;
“Monty Python meets le Carré”;
Fun, fascinating and absurd;
“Spy thrillers have nothing on Fakers”
Can’t wait to share it!
www.amazon.co.uk/Fakers-Top-S...
Enjoyed this study on anglocentrism in covert action scholarship. It says I’m wrong merely to point to an evidence bias. Shame it didn’t come out before we did the below 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
October 1, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Enjoyed this study on anglocentrism in covert action scholarship. It says I’m wrong merely to point to an evidence bias. Shame it didn’t come out before we did the below 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....