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Gary Rawnsley

@garydrawnsley.bsky.social

1.3K followers 510 following 870 posts

Head of the School of Social & Political Sciences, University of Lincoln. Research on propaganda, public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy & soft power. Lover of all things literary. Has Crohn’s Disease. Views expressed here are mine & mine alone.

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · Aug 29

Now available - the 2nd edition of my co-edited Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media. Covering the PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan, & Macao + impact of Covid on the media, communications, & information landscape. More details available here: www.routledge.com/Routledge-Ha...

Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media

The new, second edition of this successful Handbook explores the growing and evolving field of Chinese media, offering a window through which to observe multi-directional flows of information, culture...

www.routledge.com

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Reposted by Gary Rawnsley

Peter Smith @redpeter99.bsky.social · 4h

What Badenoch doesn't understand is that many so called rip off degrees are proudly displayed on the mantelpieces of parents and grandparents who were denied the opportunity to enjoy HE.
It's known as aspiration.

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 5h

My School of Social & Political Sciences colleague, Dr Luke Turnock, was interviewed by STV about illicit market weight-loss jabs. Luke is Programme Leader for our fabulous Criminology programme & engages in important research that influences drugs policies. See news.stv.tv/scotland/inf...

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 8h

I am as angry as @eve.gd. I am so tired of attacks on the arts, humanities & social sciences. I would point Badenoch to the research undertaken by colleagues in my school @Uni of Lincoln - in sociology & other areas - that is policy relevant & helping to transform lives of communities across the UK

Martin Paul Eve @eve.gd · 9h

This makes me so angry. These people view all life as training for lifelong servitude/work. There's no room for interest, enjoyment, and culture in their bleak vision of education. At least she'll never be in power to see it through. Though Reform are probably worse.

Badenoch: Curb students taking "rip-off" degrees such as English. The performing arts, sociology and anthropology are among the subjects the Conservatives would like to cut

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 1d

If these exchanges “reproduce ... one-dimensional images of Africa or over-celebrate #China ... they risk perpetuating unequal power dynamics rather than fostering genuine intercultural dialogue”. China's new online strategy in collaboration with African influencers www.scmp.com/news/china/m...

China targets Gen Z, millennials in new strategy to build its brand in Africa

Kenyan social media stars showcase China’s striking scenery, culture, history and cuisine in glitzy new promotional campaign.

www.scmp.com

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 1d

Oh, this is interesting! Previous Thai government criticised for spending too much on soft power & not defining measurable outcomes. "Soft power isn't just Lisa (Blackpink) eating grilled meatballs and posting about it -- that's marketing. What we're seeing now is just event planning." #Thailand

Last govt 'didn't understand' soft power

The previous government's soft power initiatives are facing calls to be cancelled on grounds of a lack of clear, measurable outcomes and misinterpretation of the concept entirely.

www.bangkokpost.com

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 2d

Great to see @uolconservation.bsky.social @uolhumanities.bsky.social students from the University of Lincoln on the BBC this morning - a report in their fascinating work in conserving an Egyptian mummy

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 3d

And so begins my annual read of the Booker Prize shortlisted novels. First up - Audition by Katie Kitamura. I am afraid that I struggled with this, even though it is a slim volume easily read in one sitting. #booksky

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 3d

Congratulations to my School of Social & Political Sciences (Uni of Lincoln)colleague Dr. Aideen O'Shaughnessy. Aideen's new book, Embodying Irish Abortion Reform is the subject of this terrific review by @thesociologicalreview.org
@aioshaug.bsky.social thesociologicalreview.org/reviews/embo...

Embodying Irish Abortion Reform by Aideen O’Shaughnessy

Women and the Eight Amendment: Charlotte Waltz reviews Embodying Irish Abortion Reform: Bodies, Emotions, and Feminist Activism by Aideen O’Shaughnessy.

thesociologicalreview.org

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 3d

Today, 4th October, is World Ostomy Day. Best wishes & positive energy to all fellow Crohn’s & Colitis IBD Warriors living life to the full with a stoma.

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 4d

Good to see my co-edited Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media (2nd edn) is featured here as part of the Routledge 20% discount sale. Also pleased we are next to Sarina They’s fascinating study of The Soft Power of Small Non-Western States

Reposted by Gary Rawnsley

Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 5d

Please join me in congratulating Woman on her appointment

Sky News @news.sky.com · 5d

Woman named as new Archbishop of Canterbury in historic first

Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally, a former nurse, has been named as the next Archbishop of Canterbury - the first time a woman has been appointed to the role in the Church of England's history.

news.sky.com

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 5d

Today the School of Social & Political Sciences hosted the inaugural session of its MA International Relations Public Lecture Series organised by Marianna Charountaki & moderated by @drnickcowen.bsky.social. Thanks to Alam Saleh, Christos Kourtelis, Nasasra Mansour & Lesley Masters for participating

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 5d

More on the important research undertaken by my School of Social & Political Sciences (University of Lincoln) colleague Paul Stretesky & his collaborators on the cost to schools of providing free school meals. schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-to-f...

Schools to fork out £310m to subsidise free meals

Research suggests schools raiding teaching and learning budgets to plug funding gap for free lunches

schoolsweek.co.uk

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 5d

Brilliant news from @uolconservation.bsky.social @uolhumanities.bsky.social: Mummified Makeover: Ancient Egyptian Fit for the Future After Conservation Work by Lincoln Students

Mummified Makeover: Ancient Egyptian Fit for the Future After Conservation Work by Lincoln Students | News and Press

Browse through a range of inspiring news stories from the University of Lincoln, featuring leading research, campus events, and student and alumni success stories.

news.lincoln.ac.uk

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 7d

#Taiwan’s dependence on Russian naphtha imports “undermines Taiwan’s credibility with democratic allies”. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Taiwan now biggest importer of Russian naphtha despite being Ukraine ally

Island imported $1.3bn of crude oil product in first half of 2025 despite joining sanctions against Moscow, report finds

www.theguardian.com

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 7d

Tonight I finished Kamala Harris’s personal & inspiring account of the 2024 US Presidential election. Highly recommended for anyone interested in US politics, leadership, & how to maintain dignity when the world is collapsing around you #booksky

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 8d

Sharing to increase understanding of #Crohn’s Disease & #Colitis #IBD. 41 years since my diagnosis I try to follow TE Lawrence’s advice: The trick is not minding that it hurts.

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 10d

The report 👇 on Free School Meals in England by School of Social & Political Sciences Prof Paul Stretesky affirms the continuing value and relevance of the social sciences to informed debate on life changing issues & policies
www.northumbria.ac.uk/-/media/b9cc...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Exclusive: how a flagship Labour policy put a £310m hole in school budgets

Expanding free school meals is a great policy, but the government does not seem to have accounted for the extra costs it imposes on schools

www.newstatesman.com

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 10d

Inspired by @adefty.bsky.social today I read James Watson’s personal account of how he & Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA. A fascinating insight into scientific method it is also a snapshot of British academic life that (in some ways thankfully) no longer exists #Booksky

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 11d

Lincoln University Open Day: a fantastic turnout by visitors from across the UK to hear about our Criminology, Sociology, Politics, & International Relations programmes - from colleagues undertaking transformative research in these areas.

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 11d

#Lincoln looking glorious in the summer. Autumn may have arrived but we are still looking forward to meeting all our visitors at today’s University of Lincoln Open Day. Come say hello to me & my colleagues in the School of Social & Political Sciences

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 11d

Since I have gained new followers I am sharing again this starter pack that includes some of my colleagues from the School of Social & Political Sciences. Providing world leading research & analysis in Criminology, Politics, IR, Sociology & Social Policy

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 12d

The Annual Welcome Week Lecture of School of Social & Political Sciences, Uni of Lincoln, this year is delivered by Dr Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social. His subject is Bridging Two Cultures: what’s scientific about the social sciences?

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Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 12d

Preparing for the University of Lincoln Open Day tomorrow. Good to see this reminder that our BA programme in Politics is ranked in the Top 10 by the Guardian University Guide 2026 (well, we are #7, actually ...)

Gary Rawnsley @garydrawnsley.bsky.social · 12d

It’s Welcome Week at the Uni of #Lincoln & today the School of Social & Political Sciences organised a quiz for staff & new students. Do you know in which county Chequers is located& which UK city was the first to install traffic lights? How about the prison population in England?

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