Duncan McDonnell
@duncanmcdonnell.com
Professor of Politics | 🇮🇪🇦🇺| Australian Research Council Future Fellow | populism and party youth wings | https://duncanmcdonnell.com/
Happy New Year/Buon Anno/Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Daoibh!
If you're an academic, may your year be filled with journal acceptances, grant victories, and the least amount of interaction possible with deans.
If you're an academic, may your year be filled with journal acceptances, grant victories, and the least amount of interaction possible with deans.
December 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Happy New Year/Buon Anno/Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Daoibh!
If you're an academic, may your year be filled with journal acceptances, grant victories, and the least amount of interaction possible with deans.
If you're an academic, may your year be filled with journal acceptances, grant victories, and the least amount of interaction possible with deans.
Skipped it this year in favour of local calamari.
The bugs have come out well.
The bugs have come out well.
December 24, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Skipped it this year in favour of local calamari.
The bugs have come out well.
The bugs have come out well.
Christmas Eve dinner.
Oysters, Moreton Bay bugs (like lobster, but nicer), and calamari.
Washed down with a fine Pinot Grigio from Victoria.
Happy Christmas/Buon Natale!
Oysters, Moreton Bay bugs (like lobster, but nicer), and calamari.
Washed down with a fine Pinot Grigio from Victoria.
Happy Christmas/Buon Natale!
December 24, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Christmas Eve dinner.
Oysters, Moreton Bay bugs (like lobster, but nicer), and calamari.
Washed down with a fine Pinot Grigio from Victoria.
Happy Christmas/Buon Natale!
Oysters, Moreton Bay bugs (like lobster, but nicer), and calamari.
Washed down with a fine Pinot Grigio from Victoria.
Happy Christmas/Buon Natale!
And, if branches had a telephone, every year its number, along with the branch's exact address, would be listed in telephone directories.
This means we can find out not only *how many* functioning branches there were, but *where* they were across the country & *when* they were present.
This means we can find out not only *how many* functioning branches there were, but *where* they were across the country & *when* they were present.
December 8, 2025 at 1:13 AM
And, if branches had a telephone, every year its number, along with the branch's exact address, would be listed in telephone directories.
This means we can find out not only *how many* functioning branches there were, but *where* they were across the country & *when* they were present.
This means we can find out not only *how many* functioning branches there were, but *where* they were across the country & *when* they were present.
But... what if there was an unobtrusive method that you could use to map the territorial presence of local party branches in the late XX century? 🧐
Well, there is. Because there was something that well-functioning party branches (unlike those just existing on paper) had back then.
This:
Well, there is. Because there was something that well-functioning party branches (unlike those just existing on paper) had back then.
This:
December 8, 2025 at 1:13 AM
But... what if there was an unobtrusive method that you could use to map the territorial presence of local party branches in the late XX century? 🧐
Well, there is. Because there was something that well-functioning party branches (unlike those just existing on paper) had back then.
This:
Well, there is. Because there was something that well-functioning party branches (unlike those just existing on paper) had back then.
This:
I'm still jet-lagged from South America so getting on a plane was the last thing I wanted to do, but...once I arrived, it was good to be in Melbourne at the AusPSA conference and catch up with old friends.
And today I had the pleasure of presenting in front of living Australian legend Antony Green!
And today I had the pleasure of presenting in front of living Australian legend Antony Green!
November 27, 2025 at 6:54 AM
I'm still jet-lagged from South America so getting on a plane was the last thing I wanted to do, but...once I arrived, it was good to be in Melbourne at the AusPSA conference and catch up with old friends.
And today I had the pleasure of presenting in front of living Australian legend Antony Green!
And today I had the pleasure of presenting in front of living Australian legend Antony Green!
Also coming very soon (i.e. in 4 hours), I'll be speaking on this AusPSA panel on populism, with a star cast of @ammassarisofia.bsky.social, Rachel Busbridge, @benmoffitt.bsky.social (and me).
If I can somehow manage to have a nap before then, I'll be the happiest person in Melbourne.
If I can somehow manage to have a nap before then, I'll be the happiest person in Melbourne.
November 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Also coming very soon (i.e. in 4 hours), I'll be speaking on this AusPSA panel on populism, with a star cast of @ammassarisofia.bsky.social, Rachel Busbridge, @benmoffitt.bsky.social (and me).
If I can somehow manage to have a nap before then, I'll be the happiest person in Melbourne.
If I can somehow manage to have a nap before then, I'll be the happiest person in Melbourne.
A rare benefit of being awake in the middle of the night (day 10 of jetlag!): you get to see this drop into your mailbox.
Coming soon, by @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & me, in Political Geography.
Coming soon, by @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & me, in Political Geography.
November 26, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A rare benefit of being awake in the middle of the night (day 10 of jetlag!): you get to see this drop into your mailbox.
Coming soon, by @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & me, in Political Geography.
Coming soon, by @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & me, in Political Geography.
I didn't have “walking back from the supermarket into the middle of Kaiser’s rally” on my agenda for this evening in Santiago…
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I didn't have “walking back from the supermarket into the middle of Kaiser’s rally” on my agenda for this evening in Santiago…
It was a pleasure to present today at PUCP in Lima with @ammassarisofia.bsky.social about our research on the transnationalisation of the populist radical right.
Great audience participation & such impressive students too.
Now we have a couple of much needed days off and then move on to Bolivia!
Great audience participation & such impressive students too.
Now we have a couple of much needed days off and then move on to Bolivia!
October 30, 2025 at 9:43 PM
It was a pleasure to present today at PUCP in Lima with @ammassarisofia.bsky.social about our research on the transnationalisation of the populist radical right.
Great audience participation & such impressive students too.
Now we have a couple of much needed days off and then move on to Bolivia!
Great audience participation & such impressive students too.
Now we have a couple of much needed days off and then move on to Bolivia!
Coming up tomorrow, at PUCP in Lima:
October 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Coming up tomorrow, at PUCP in Lima:
I'm thrilled to see @ammassarisofia.bsky.social, Ferran Martinez i Coma & I have won over $825,000 in funding from the Australian Research Council for our Discovery Project "Generation-Z engagement with political parties".
(When you're recovering from drinking Lima tap water, this helps a lot).
(When you're recovering from drinking Lima tap water, this helps a lot).
October 28, 2025 at 12:50 AM
I'm thrilled to see @ammassarisofia.bsky.social, Ferran Martinez i Coma & I have won over $825,000 in funding from the Australian Research Council for our Discovery Project "Generation-Z engagement with political parties".
(When you're recovering from drinking Lima tap water, this helps a lot).
(When you're recovering from drinking Lima tap water, this helps a lot).
Coming up next Thursday at noon in Lima: @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & I will be presenting our research on the transnational populist right at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
I'm looking forward to good discussions and the local ceviche.
(states of emergency etc. permitting, of course).
I'm looking forward to good discussions and the local ceviche.
(states of emergency etc. permitting, of course).
October 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Coming up next Thursday at noon in Lima: @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & I will be presenting our research on the transnational populist right at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
I'm looking forward to good discussions and the local ceviche.
(states of emergency etc. permitting, of course).
I'm looking forward to good discussions and the local ceviche.
(states of emergency etc. permitting, of course).
La Bombonera yesterday evening.
I’ve been to lots of big games, including all 4 Italian derbies, but I’ve never seen a curva like that. Constant singing for 90 minutes, even when Boca conceded goals. Just amazing.
I’ve been to lots of big games, including all 4 Italian derbies, but I’ve never seen a curva like that. Constant singing for 90 minutes, even when Boca conceded goals. Just amazing.
October 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
La Bombonera yesterday evening.
I’ve been to lots of big games, including all 4 Italian derbies, but I’ve never seen a curva like that. Constant singing for 90 minutes, even when Boca conceded goals. Just amazing.
I’ve been to lots of big games, including all 4 Italian derbies, but I’ve never seen a curva like that. Constant singing for 90 minutes, even when Boca conceded goals. Just amazing.
What @ammassarisofia.bsky.social says ⬇️
Really impressive set-up & group of people at Torcuato Di Tella.
And they're right across the road from the Estadio Monumental!
Really impressive set-up & group of people at Torcuato Di Tella.
And they're right across the road from the Estadio Monumental!
October 16, 2025 at 12:07 AM
What @ammassarisofia.bsky.social says ⬇️
Really impressive set-up & group of people at Torcuato Di Tella.
And they're right across the road from the Estadio Monumental!
Really impressive set-up & group of people at Torcuato Di Tella.
And they're right across the road from the Estadio Monumental!
Buenos días Buenos Aires.
(view of Recoleta cemetery from the apartment balcony)
(view of Recoleta cemetery from the apartment balcony)
October 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Buenos días Buenos Aires.
(view of Recoleta cemetery from the apartment balcony)
(view of Recoleta cemetery from the apartment balcony)
I had a lot of fun yesterday evening presenting on the transnational populist radical right with @ammassarisofia.bsky.social at the University of São Paulo.
It has been so heartening on this trip to meet engaged graduate researchers who not only come to seminars, but ask really smart questions too!
It has been so heartening on this trip to meet engaged graduate researchers who not only come to seminars, but ask really smart questions too!
October 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I had a lot of fun yesterday evening presenting on the transnational populist radical right with @ammassarisofia.bsky.social at the University of São Paulo.
It has been so heartening on this trip to meet engaged graduate researchers who not only come to seminars, but ask really smart questions too!
It has been so heartening on this trip to meet engaged graduate researchers who not only come to seminars, but ask really smart questions too!
You mean something like this?
October 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
You mean something like this?
After an excellent couple of weeks of fieldwork and seminars in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, the South American tour continues on Thursday at 5.30 pm with this seminar by @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & me at the University of São Paulo.
October 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
After an excellent couple of weeks of fieldwork and seminars in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, the South American tour continues on Thursday at 5.30 pm with this seminar by @ammassarisofia.bsky.social & me at the University of São Paulo.
Post-seminar briefing in Little Africa, Rio.
October 7, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Post-seminar briefing in Little Africa, Rio.
With the absolute Godmother of Ipanema beach.
October 5, 2025 at 7:18 PM
With the absolute Godmother of Ipanema beach.
This weekend’s pre-seminar preparation in Rio is an Ipanema beach homage to Anthony Bourdain.
October 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
This weekend’s pre-seminar preparation in Rio is an Ipanema beach homage to Anthony Bourdain.
I celebrated last night with a beer at the Maracanã stadium in Rio, alongside 72,000 Flamengo fans.
October 3, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I celebrated last night with a beer at the Maracanã stadium in Rio, alongside 72,000 Flamengo fans.
In Brasilia today & tomorrow to do interviews in this stunning parliament.
September 30, 2025 at 9:31 PM
In Brasilia today & tomorrow to do interviews in this stunning parliament.