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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · 5d

From political philosophy to political proposals via the social sciences. A lively debate, launching Tom Parr's new book. With Becky Clark (LSE), David Axelsen (Essex) and @brunoleipold.com .

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · 6d

Two of my doctoral students submitted their thesis in the last two days. Many congratulations! So much hard work, thinking, debating, presenting. All culminating in one short email.

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · 22d

On Thursday 2 October, we'll be kicking off our 2025-26 LSE poltiical theory seminar with a book launch of Tom Parr's "Empowering Workers in an Age of Automation". The event will be followed by a reception at the George IV pub. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/empowering...

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Sep 3

New seminar schedule for Autumn Term. All welcome!

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 23

Great essay by Meghan O'Rourke in the NYT about LLMs in academia and beyond. An extract on paper (!).

Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 21

LLMs are such a tricky challenge for Higher Ed. But sometimes they are genuinely useful for admin. I just managed to get Claude to write a timetable analysis tool to eliminate clashes in our MSc degree. It extracts data from a huge spreadsheet and turns it into a readable table. YES!

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 18

The good news is: if they do (despite their efforts), the cognitive gap between the groups shrinks. But what is going on? In-group solidarity, cognitive dissonance avoidance, self - deception? Sobering but fascinating work.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 18

In this remarkable study, Shayo and co-authors show that subjects from israel pay to avoid reading about Palestinian victims while subjects from Jordan pay to avoid reading about Israeli victims. This is bad news.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 17

Inspiring PPE Conference at KCL, and first, poignant keynote with Moses Shayo on 'News avoidance in times of war.'

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 3

Amazing workshop at the @csh.ac.at, thinking about collective learning, democracy, social media regulation, and LLMs. Thanks to Mirta Galesic and Henrik Olsson -- and the great interdisciplinary set of colleagues gathered in Vienna. No doubt some great work will emerge from this.

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Chad Van Schoelandt @chadvanschoelandt.bsky.social · Jul 1

Important insights from Chandran Kukathas:
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/o...

Opinion | Trump’s Deportation Program Is About Control. Even if You Are a U.S. Citizen.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · May 13

This week, Eric MacGilvray will give a paper called "What Is It to be a Realist about Democracy?" from his book in progress.
Thursday May 15 16:00 - 18:00. All welcome!
Please note NEW VENUE: OLD.4.10 (OId Building)!
Registration for non-LSE participants: forms.office.com/e/WBSQABK5yj

Microsoft Forms

forms.office.com

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Apr 25

I am an associate of the NSF collaboration grant "Augmenting Intelligence Through Collective Learning". The PIs were informed last week that the grant is now cancelled because it is "not in alignment with current NSF priorities". The outline mentions climate change and diversity. And intelligence.

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LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Apr 9

Our PhD student @janwasserziehr.bsky.social is organising an exciting conference on 10th June about AI, consiousness, and morality. Register here: www.eventbrite.de/e/lse-worksh...

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Apr 9

@jackwilkinson.bsky.social told me about this saying today. It will stay with me for a while.

Maxine Eichner @maxineeichner.bsky.social · Mar 7

Russian expression: “It’s a lot easier to turn an aquarium into fish soup than it is to turn fish soup into an aquarium.”

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Mar 29

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Mar 29

Breathtaking Händel operas in Shoreditch Town Hall. 'Tales of Apollo and Hercules'. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/m...

Tales of Apollo and Hercules review – Handel double bill channels Don Draper and Hollywood musicals

An imaginative melding of a 1710 Handel cantata and a 1751 oratorio results in a nifty two-act opera-ballet – and a dazzling cornucopia of images

www.theguardian.com

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Mar 28

What a great seminar this was! See you all soon again for more political theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social @lsegovernment.bsky.social

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Mar 27

Daniel Weinstock defending a mandate view of representation and being questioned by Anne Phillips and @leaypi.bsky.social

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LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Mar 26

This will now be in LAK.2.06 due to electrical problems with the CKK building.

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Mar 25

Our research seminar on Thursday is with Daniel Weinstock: "Compromise and the Ethics of Political Representation". 4pm. We're in CKK.2.06 -- but you need to register if you don't have an LSE ID: forms.office.com/e/WBSQABK5yj

PS: Our email distribution is down -- sorry, no email announcements.

Microsoft Forms

forms.office.com

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Mar 25

Our research seminar on Thursday is with Daniel Weinstock: "Compromise and the Ethics of Political Representation". 4pm. We're in CKK.2.06 -- but you need to register if you don't have an LSE ID: forms.office.com/e/WBSQABK5yj

PS: Our email distribution is down -- sorry, no email announcements.

Microsoft Forms

forms.office.com

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Feb 14

Am I interpreting too much into this? In any case, it's an incredibly speech.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Feb 14

'Nor can you win one [a mandate] by disregarding your basic electorate on questions like, who gets to be a part of our shared society.' My reading is that he says citizens are ignored and free speech curtailed. Thus, no mandate and no legitimacy, he insinuates, though not explicitly.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Feb 14

The most remarkable aspect of Vance's Munich speech is that he questions the legitimacy of European democracies. Vance says European leaders lost the right to rule because they do not deliver the outcomes he desires. Consequently, he is not wasting time meeting leaders (but does meet Weidel!)

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Feb 10

So that's how academic freedom ends.

Alessandro Rigolon @alerigolon.bsky.social · Feb 10

I was just told that I have to remove “climate” from the title of an ongoing grant if I want to keep it. And publications from that grant cannot include “climate” and other forbidden words. I can’t believe I’m writing this from the United States of America. #AcademicSky

Alessandro Rigolon @alerigolon.bsky.social · Feb 6

Just received an email saying that it's not advisable to include the following words in future applications for research funding to the US DOT. Here we are.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Feb 10

Our great Bruno @brunoleipold.com on tour! (We want him back after this, folks!)

Bruno Leipold @brunoleipold.com · Feb 10

Later this month, I'll be doing an American book tour for Citizen Marx:
- Tuesday 25 Feb - New School with Corey Robin
- Wednesday 26 Feb - Princeton with Alan Patten
- Thursday 27 Feb - Yale with Lucia Rubinelli and @samuelmoyn.bsky.social

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