Thank you for replying so quickly. Yes it certainly is difficult. There are may of those that I have done. It is therefore sort of encouraging and discouraging at the same time that it has been so difficult. Thank you very much again for your advice.

Hi Glen, do you have particular advice for someone who finished their PhD last year in international relations, trying to get a job and career in IR/political science academia? I taught at multiple universities, giving lectures and tutoring seminars during the degree. Best wishes, Jack

His indecision and lack of views shouldn’t be mistaken for pragmatism, which despite being a “dirty” word to some in politics, should have a goal. Instead, despite seeing himself as a problem-solver, Starmer isn’t because he offers few ideas in how to do so. Hence, indecision, U-turns and emptiness.

The article’s quote “Pragmatism is necessary in pursuit of any policy. But for Starmer it is the policy. It is an end in itself” stood out to me but actually because in that correct description of Starmer’s governing, it shows that actually he’s not pragmatic but un-ideological and indecisive.

I agree. A mindset that in its prime helped drive it to be an economic/military top nation, but can undermine introspection to improve because it says it’s the best ‘leading democracy’ and therefore threats to the principles it says it has can be hubristically or willingly be overlooked.

It could be said that the US example of its sense of exceptionalism is more rooted in racial supremacy looking back at the 19th century manifest destiny, and the liberal idealism associated with it is a more recent development since post war/civil rights era that parts of the country never liked.