Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · 16d

What to make of the Intervision song contest? See this excellent article by Joanna York for @france24.com, including comment from me. @uclssees.bsky.social

www.france24.com/en/europe/20...

Soft power: Russia revives the Intervision song contest, Cold War rival to Eurovision

Russia on Saturday hosts Intervision, an international song contest that was a regular fixture in Soviet states in the 1960s and ’70s. The revival follows Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision since its…

www.france24.com

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Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · Jul 10

Russian copycats of McDonald's and Starbucks are preparing to defend their turf.

Excellent article by Eleanor Thornber for @bloomberg.com on how Russian copycat brands are faring, with comment from me. @uclssees.bsky.social

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Russian Copycats of McDonald’s and Starbucks Are Preparing to Defend Their Turf

Sanctions have allowed some Russian consumer companies to thrive and they are digging in for a fight.

www.bloomberg.com

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Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · May 31

This made me guffaw.

Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · May 31

YES! my second sport column is online!

I went to watch some rugby in Twickenham: can you guess how it went?

observer.co.uk/news/columni... [free to read!]

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Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · May 29

Fascinating interviews with Russian journalists who never emigrated and stuck with the profession. Their harsh criticisms of the exiled independent press are profound — a real gut punch. Russian & Western audiences seem to have completely opposite demands & expectations. meduza.io/en/feature/2...

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Nataliya Vasilyeva @nataliyavasilyeva.bsky.social · Apr 1

With the war in Ukraine and war-related repression expanding in Russia, it's easy to overlook a major transformation in Russia right now: thanks to a new 'extremism' designation, gay people are virtually outlawed in Russia.
My piece with Alina Lobzina:
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/w...

A Prison Death Highlights Russia’s LGBTQ Crackdown

The Russian government has unleashed a wave of repression against L.G.B.T.Q. people, with the police raiding gay night clubs and investigators targeting people they suspect of being gay.

www.nytimes.com

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Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · Mar 26

The reason, of course, why this is so powerful is that it's an example of solidarity that we want to be more frequent – of colleagues calling out b******t, realising that, if they don't, the very foundations on which our institutions are built crumble.

Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · Mar 26

If the American journalist she calls to ask a question instead, who responds by saying yeah I’d like you to answer the Brit’s question, is ever in a London pub we’re definitely buying him a drink yes

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · Mar 26

Here's Marjorie Taylor Greene literally telling a British reporter to "go back to your country" and berating her for trying to ask a question.

"We don't give a CRAP about your opinion."

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Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · Mar 26

If the American journalist she calls to ask a question instead, who responds by saying yeah I’d like you to answer the Brit’s question, is ever in a London pub we’re definitely buying him a drink yes

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · Mar 26

Here's Marjorie Taylor Greene literally telling a British reporter to "go back to your country" and berating her for trying to ask a question.

"We don't give a CRAP about your opinion."

54 180 1.1K

Reposted by Ben Noble

Chatham House Russia and Eurasia Programme @chrussiaeurasia.bsky.social · Mar 18

💡 We've compiled the Bluesky accounts of the Russia and Eurasia Programme team and Associate Fellows - follow for even more analysis and comment on global affairs!

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Dr Diana T. Kudaibergen @dianakudaibergen.bsky.social · Mar 17

My latest book, What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani, is OUT now with Hurst publishers.

The art cover by my favourite Qazaq artist Kuanysh Bazargaliev is already a selling point for the physical copy <3

But there's a lot of interesting things inside:

www.hurstpublishers.com/book/what-do...

What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani? | Hurst Publishers

An in-depth study of this Central Asian nation’s evolution since 1991, exploring how ethnicity, war and internal unrest are shaping and reshaping Kazakh identity.

www.hurstpublishers.com

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Charles Hecker @charleshecker.bsky.social · Mar 4

Zero Sum's launch day in the US is accompanied by this wonderful review in the @nytimes.com by David Kortava of @foreignaffairs.com Zero Sum is available via @oxfordunipress.bsky.social and @hurstpublishers.bsky.social @benhnoble.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/b...

Book Review: ‘Zero Sum,’ by Charles Hecker

As the Trump administration pushes for renewed business ties with Russia, a new book looks back at the companies that helped prop up illiberalism in the country.

www.nytimes.com

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Charles Hecker @charleshecker.bsky.social · Mar 7

📖🎉 Big book news! Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business in Russia, is an Editors' Choice in the @nytimes.com this week. Zero Sum is out the US w/ @oxunipress.bsky.social. @hurstpublishers.bsky.social @benhnoble.bsky.social

6 New Books We Recommend This Week www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/b...

6 New Books We Recommend This Week

www.nytimes.com

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Charles Hecker @charleshecker.bsky.social · Mar 6

I am hugely grateful for this thoughtful and wonderfully written review of Zero Sum in The Tablet. As companies prepare to re-enter Russia, read what it was like when they entered 30 years ago - and evacuated 3 years ago. @hurstpublishers.bsky.social @oxunipress.bsky.social @benhnoble.bsky.social

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Charles Hecker @charleshecker.bsky.social · Mar 5

What an honour for Zero Sum
to be reviewed in @foreignaffairs.com and by none other than Maria Lipman, whose work I have always admired. www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/zero... @hurstpublishers.bsky.social @oxunipress.bsky.social @benhnoble.bsky.social

Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business in Russia

Hecker speaks with dozens of Western business executives, bankers, and financiers who reaped immense profits in the Russian market after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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CORUSCANT @coruscant-eu.bsky.social · Mar 3

Today @benhnoble.bsky.social and @mlallouet.bsky.social will discuss the legacy and impact of Alexei Navalny on Russian politics. St. Anthony's College, Oxford University, 17:00-19:00 BST, in person only! talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/9a8...

After Navalny: evaluating the impact of Alexei Navalny and his movement on Russian politics

Alexei Navalny was the leading Russian opposition figure – even when behind bars. One year on from his death, what can we say about the impact he, his team, and his movement made on Russian politics? ...

talks.ox.ac.uk

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Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · Feb 14

It's the one-year anniversary of Alexei Navalny's death on Sunday. What can we say about his legacy at this stage? My thoughts for @theconversation.com. @uclssees.bsky.social @chrussiaeurasia.bsky.social @hurstpublishers.bsky.social
theconversation.com/one-year-on-...

One year on from Alexei Navalny’s death, what will his legacy be for Russia?

Navalny battled for an alternative to Putin’s regime – and paid the ultimate price. The Kremlin has made sure there cannot be another opposition figure like him.

theconversation.com

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Authoritarian Political Systems Group @apsgworkshop.bsky.social · Jan 21

Polisky Dictatorsky
Join us next week for the first workshop of the season! Daniella Slabinski(@statsvitenskap.bsky.social) will present work on Illiberal legislation as a rent seeking tool in the Russian legislature. @benhnoble.bsky.social (UCL) and Erin York (Vanderbilt University) will discuss.

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Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · Jan 15

More info should be in the link in the first post of the thread.

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Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · Jan 15

Looking forward to this!

Authoritarian Political Systems Group @apsgworkshop.bsky.social · Jan 15

We start the season on January 28th with Daniella Slabinski(@statsvitenskap.bsky.social) presenting ""More Catholic than the Pope": Illiberal legislation as a rent seeking tool in the Russian legislature." @benhnoble.bsky.social (UCL) and Erin York (Vanderbilt University) will discuss.

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Mack Tubridy @macktubs.bsky.social · Nov 21

Moscow's Pushkin Institute revealed its word of the year as... "Pushkin."

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Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · Nov 20

State Duma deputy Vasily Piskarev saying the quiet part out loud, claiming that "the line between foreign agent and traitor is becoming less and less clear".

www.kommersant.ru/doc/7312496

Депутат Пискарев: грань между иноагентом и предателем все менее различима

Подробнее на сайте

www.kommersant.ru

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Ben Noble @benhnoble.bsky.social · Nov 19

Thanks for the welcome, @kevinrothrock.me!