Cas Mudde

@casmudde.bsky.social

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Cas Mudde is a Dutch political scientist who focuses on political extremism and populism in Europe and the United States. His research includes the areas of political parties, extremism, democracy, civil society, and European politics. Mudde identifies himself as a political leftist. .. more

Political science 82%

Sociology 13%

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Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 11d

Brilliant cartoon by Glen Le Lievre

Cartoon of redacted legal document with silhouette of Donald Trump in the redactions. By glen le lievre

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 45m

❤️

Calvin and Hobbes @calvin-and-hobbes.bsky.social · 5h

On December 31, 1995, Bill Watterson published the final 'Calvin & Hobbes' comic strip. #CalvinandHobbes

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 3h

A classic. I wonder whether they ever showed that in the U.S. (during the day).

Reposted by Steve Peers, Bessma Momani, Jelena Subotić , and 1 more Steve Peers, Bessma Momani, Jelena Subotić, Simon Lester

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 3h

My wish for 2026 is that Europeans will be as critical and vigilant about authoritarianism and racism in their own country as they are about them in the U.S. and that Americans will be as critical and vigilant about authoritarianism and racism in the U.S. as Europeans are.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 3h

I want to re-read that one next. I really liked it, the first time I read it, but that was before I read most academic literature on the topic (and knew even less about Latin America).

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 3h

That was very well said: “small provocations”

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 3h

That’s what I meant with his “analyses” were usually mundane and trivial.

He acknowledges earlier elements of the global aspects of soccer in various chapters, but because the book is just a collection of stories, rather than an analysis/synthesis, he never connects them.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 3h

8. But for Americans who are unfamiliar with soccer (beyond CL and EPL), Foer’s book is probably more accessible and familiar.

#TheEnd

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 3h

7. So, in re-reading, I have actually become a bit milder. I think Simon Kuper’s “Soccer against the Enemy” is a much better non-academic introduction into the topic of soccer and politics (despite the horrible subtitle, which goes against the arguments in the book) — particularly for soccer fans.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 3h

6. This is most striking with regard to “globalization”, where no “theory” (likely or unlikely) is ever presented or analyzed — despite the fact that the book is cited, even by academics, as thé source on how soccer “explains” globalization.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 4h

5. What frustrates (me) the most, is that the analyses are always extremely thin. While Foer throws around big academic names to make a point, the point itself is often fairly mundane or trivial (again, very much in line with columns in U.S. liberal media).

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 4h

4. I think it’s best quality is that, while it mostly follows the “usual suspects” and “usual narratives”, Foer is often (slightly) skeptical of the usual narrative, showing the limits.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 4h

3. As such, it is very well-written and has exceptional access to key “actors” in the various stories. Hence, it is an excellent easy read on soccer and politics for the uninitiated reader.

BUT, even in 2004, most of these stories were exactly the few stories already covered in the mainstream media

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 4h

2. After living almost 20 years in the U.S., I understand the success a lot better. This book is indeed exactly what you expect of a “liberal” establishment journalist writing about soccer and politics. It is as if you are reading a very long NYT column/article.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 4h

1. I guess my main annoyance was with how hyped the book was in the mainstream (U.S.) media, where many people really thought, and still seem to think, that Foer shows “how soccer explains the world” and, even more, provides “an (unlikely) theory of globalization”.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 4h

I re-read Frank Foer’s bestseller “How Soccer Explains the World” (2004), after some colleagues had recommended it, but mostly to see why I hated it so much the first time around.

Some quick reflections. 🧵

Cover of Frank Foer’s 2004 book “How Soccer Explains the World”

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Tom van der Meer

Calvin and Hobbes @calvin-and-hobbes.bsky.social · 5h

On December 31, 1995, Bill Watterson published the final 'Calvin & Hobbes' comic strip. #CalvinandHobbes

Reposted by Cas Mudde

Refugees @refugees.skyfleet.blue · 7h

Over 3,000 people died while trying to reach Spain in 2025 #Refugees

Over 3,000 people died while trying to reach Spain in 2025

www.infomigrants.net

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 18h

Sometimes Tik Tok does indeed provide art. ❤️

Magnanimous @johnxuandou.bsky.social · Aug 13

This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 22h

Good piece on the deafening silence from the increasingly Trumpified world of U.S. sports by @edgeofsports.bsky.social

Like the rest of the entertainment industry, sports is happy to play along with the “no-politics” normalization of the far right.

In a Year of Violent Tumult, the Sports World Was Silent

When the country needed them to speak out, most athletes kept mum—and a few openly embraced embraced Trumpism.

www.thenation.com

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 23h

If you replace “economist” for “political scientist” and “economics” for “politics”, you capture (most) U.S. political science graduate programs.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

This 💯% 👇

The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 1d

I agree with Never Trumpers on a lot, but split hard on this: I do not think the Democratic Party needs to convince swing voters that Democratic candidates aren't too liberal. I think the party needs to convince swing voters that they themselves are actually quite liberal. They just won't admit it.

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

But is any club more active on Bluesky than on X?

Many, including my @borussia.bsky.social 🤍🖤, only has an account to claim the handle. 😞

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

Had deze al langere tijd, maar nu pas gelezen. Wist eigenlijk best weinig van de PSV geschiedenis — althans van voor dat ik fan werd, in 1970. #EendrachtMaaktMacht 🤍❤️

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

Thought-provoking interview with @quinnslobodian.com

The “New Fusion” seems to have several key elements of the Pre-Old Fusion, including IQ over muscle and genetic base of capitalism.

Quinn Slobodian on New Fusionism, Libertarian Eugenics, and Far-Right Capitalism | illiberalism.org

Quinn Slobodian discusses the fusion between radical libertarians and the far-right, and the unique form of capitalism they have come to espouse.

www.illiberalism.org

Reposted by Cas Mudde, David Darmofal

The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 1d

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

Several of the college and lower division ⚽ games in Costa Rica and the U.S. were not on @futbologyapp.bsky.social

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

2025 was a shit year in most aspects, but not in terms of #groundhopping

⚽ 38
🏒 3
🏐 1
GAA 1

Most exciting was 7 games in 7 days in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 (also a new country point).

But it was also wonderful to be back at @wienersportclub.bsky.social (since 1986) and @bfcdublin.bsky.social (since 1997)

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

Helemaal eens met @guusvalk.bsky.social

De Antifa-motie was de belangrijkste motie van 2025, omdat zij een uiterst-rechts waanbeeld en een extreem-rechtse partij (her)normaliseerde.

Column | Geen ReArm Europe en antifa verbieden: de twee meest onthullende moties van 2025

Tijs van den Brink, sinds kort Tweede Kamerlid voor het CDA, legde onlangs in gesprek met NRC zijn overstap van de journalistiek kort en krachtig uit: „De volksvertegenwoordiging, dát is het hoogste w...

www.nrc.nl

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Carl Henrik Knutsen, Mark J. Brandt , and 10 more Cas Mudde, Carl Henrik Knutsen, Mark J. Brandt, Elizabeth Stokoe, Justin H. Kirkland, Lesley A. Hall, Guy Grossman, Robert Huber, Jane Green, Tom van der Meer, Jens Rydgren, Alexandra Cirone, David Darmofal

Sara Hobolt @sarahobolt.bsky.social · 1d

🚨 We’re hiring an Assistant Professor in Political Science

⏰ Deadline 4th January 2026

🙋‍♀️ Any questions, please reach out

👇

Sara Hobolt @sarahobolt.bsky.social · Nov 25

🚨 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/...

Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1d

Q.E.D.

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