Michael Higham
@michaelhigham11.bsky.social
European Politics PhD at King's College London. Researching exceptionalism in the EU, political myths, and legitimacy.
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/michael-higham
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/michael-higham
Reposted by Michael Higham
'So many unhappy souls comprise the royal family - they're listless.'
@lewisgoodall.com approves of listener Lea's method on 'getting rid of' the monarchy.
@lewisgoodall.com approves of listener Lea's method on 'getting rid of' the monarchy.
December 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
'So many unhappy souls comprise the royal family - they're listless.'
@lewisgoodall.com approves of listener Lea's method on 'getting rid of' the monarchy.
@lewisgoodall.com approves of listener Lea's method on 'getting rid of' the monarchy.
Reposted by Michael Higham
Reflections on the European Council decision to borrow €90 billion and lend it to Ukraine. Tl; dr: Ukraine benefits, but not enough; Putin & Trump will be encouraged; the EU & individual member-states have shown that it’s still too easy to intimidate them. 🧵1/13
December 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reflections on the European Council decision to borrow €90 billion and lend it to Ukraine. Tl; dr: Ukraine benefits, but not enough; Putin & Trump will be encouraged; the EU & individual member-states have shown that it’s still too easy to intimidate them. 🧵1/13
Reposted by Michael Higham
If we can't even identify our enemies then how can we fight them?
Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
The Longest Suicide Note in American History
The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy targets liberal democracy itself.
www.theatlantic.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
If we can't even identify our enemies then how can we fight them?
Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump's National Security Strategy is the longest suicide note in American history
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Michael Higham
The Berlin meeting.
December 15, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The Berlin meeting.
Reposted by Michael Higham
🇪🇺🇺🇦 Kallas: The Donbas isn’t Putin’s end game. If he gets it, he will demand more. We know this from history and we should learn from history.
December 15, 2025 at 8:40 AM
🇪🇺🇺🇦 Kallas: The Donbas isn’t Putin’s end game. If he gets it, he will demand more. We know this from history and we should learn from history.
Reposted by Michael Higham
‘The 0.001%’: a quick visual breakdown of the world’s wealthiest people
‘The 0.001%’: a quick visual breakdown of the world’s wealthiest people
About 56,000 people control three times as much wealth as half of humanity. Here’s one way to illustrate that
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
‘The 0.001%’: a quick visual breakdown of the world’s wealthiest people
Reposted by Michael Higham
“AI is clearly sticking around so you have to get used to it” wrong. I don’t have to get used to shit. I am a practiced hater and I can keep this going for decades if I am required to
December 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
“AI is clearly sticking around so you have to get used to it” wrong. I don’t have to get used to shit. I am a practiced hater and I can keep this going for decades if I am required to
Reposted by Michael Higham
Persuasive letter on populism as a cognitive short-cut in the @financialtimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Persuasive letter on populism as a cognitive short-cut in the @financialtimes.com
Reposted by Michael Higham
A former UK prime minister held responsible for tens of thousands of deaths while the US president calls for elected politicians to be hanged.
A jolt of a reminder that law and policy are ultimately about life and death.
And politicians are often not up to dealing with such things.
A jolt of a reminder that law and policy are ultimately about life and death.
And politicians are often not up to dealing with such things.
November 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A former UK prime minister held responsible for tens of thousands of deaths while the US president calls for elected politicians to be hanged.
A jolt of a reminder that law and policy are ultimately about life and death.
And politicians are often not up to dealing with such things.
A jolt of a reminder that law and policy are ultimately about life and death.
And politicians are often not up to dealing with such things.
Reposted by Michael Higham
"To say 'Zelenskyy is no friend of the working class' is an insulting, facile distraction from the fact that Sultana refuses to support the Ukrainian people’s fight for existence."
Proper cold fury and moral clarity from @paulmason.bsky.social on Sultana.
open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/c...
Proper cold fury and moral clarity from @paulmason.bsky.social on Sultana.
open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/c...
Coventry South needs a by-election soon
Zarah Sultana has no mandate for disarming the people of Britain and betraying Ukraine
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
"To say 'Zelenskyy is no friend of the working class' is an insulting, facile distraction from the fact that Sultana refuses to support the Ukrainian people’s fight for existence."
Proper cold fury and moral clarity from @paulmason.bsky.social on Sultana.
open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/c...
Proper cold fury and moral clarity from @paulmason.bsky.social on Sultana.
open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/c...
Reposted by Michael Higham
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
September 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐
Reposted by Michael Higham
Read in full 👉
Commission President Von der Leyen’s 2025 State of the Union Address. A call to action, but is anybody listening? - UK in a changing Europe
Hussein Kassim reflects on Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union address on Wednesday 10 September and her terms as President of the European Commission.
ukandeu.ac.uk
September 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Read in full 👉
Reposted by Michael Higham
One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.
May 8, 2025 at 10:46 AM
One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.
Reposted by Michael Higham
This very much aligns with my view: eulogy for the transatlantic alliance has now to be written. Time for Europe to move on.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump or no Trump, Europe’s relationship with the US will never recover | Nathalie Tocci
Optimists cling to a faith in the old alliance, but the best we can achieve is an amicable divorce, says Guardian Europe columnist Nathalie Tocci
www.theguardian.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
This very much aligns with my view: eulogy for the transatlantic alliance has now to be written. Time for Europe to move on.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Michael Higham
Europe’s State of the Union address is becoming a political ritual, symbolizing the slow maturing of the EU as a political entity, writes columnist Caroline de Gruyter. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/09/e...
Europe Has Found Its True Language
The State of the Union has become a yearly ritual that breathes life into the EU.
foreignpolicy.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Europe’s State of the Union address is becoming a political ritual, symbolizing the slow maturing of the EU as a political entity, writes columnist Caroline de Gruyter. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/09/e...
Reposted by Michael Higham
Radical right accommodation really does not work.
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
September 5, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Radical right accommodation really does not work.
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
Reposted by Michael Higham
- 8/20 He stresses that while the EU's first decades could draw on memories of war and the goodwill of strong economic growth, those have both dried up (correct, but for my money this was the weakest part of his speech: as the experience in central and eastern Europe is very different).
August 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
- 8/20 He stresses that while the EU's first decades could draw on memories of war and the goodwill of strong economic growth, those have both dried up (correct, but for my money this was the weakest part of his speech: as the experience in central and eastern Europe is very different).
Reposted by Michael Higham
Just got round to watching Mario Draghi's speech in Rimini in the original Italian. It is easily the most important speech on Europe so far this year and I hope someone (@grandcontinent.bsky.social?) publishes it in English and other EU languages soon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMME...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMME...
Mario Draghi’s Full Speech: Europe’s Harsh Reality — Powerless on the Global Stage! -ITALIAN-
YouTube video by EU Debates | eudebates.tv
www.youtube.com
August 24, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Just got round to watching Mario Draghi's speech in Rimini in the original Italian. It is easily the most important speech on Europe so far this year and I hope someone (@grandcontinent.bsky.social?) publishes it in English and other EU languages soon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMME...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMME...
Reposted by Michael Higham
Meanwhile, UK politicians continue their race to the bottom as to who can talk the most nonsense about immigration...
www.ft.com/content/8bfd...
www.ft.com/content/8bfd...
Rich economies will need foreign workers to fuel growth, policymakers warn
Central bankers say low birth rates in world’s largest economies pose threat to productivity and prices
www.ft.com
August 24, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Meanwhile, UK politicians continue their race to the bottom as to who can talk the most nonsense about immigration...
www.ft.com/content/8bfd...
www.ft.com/content/8bfd...
Reposted by Michael Higham
President Zelenskyy:
When Russia raises the issue of security guarantees,I honestly don't know who is threatening them yet.They attacked us, they’re on our land.I don't quite understand what guarantees the aggressor needs.Guarantees of what?
When Russia raises the issue of security guarantees,I honestly don't know who is threatening them yet.They attacked us, they’re on our land.I don't quite understand what guarantees the aggressor needs.Guarantees of what?
August 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
President Zelenskyy:
When Russia raises the issue of security guarantees,I honestly don't know who is threatening them yet.They attacked us, they’re on our land.I don't quite understand what guarantees the aggressor needs.Guarantees of what?
When Russia raises the issue of security guarantees,I honestly don't know who is threatening them yet.They attacked us, they’re on our land.I don't quite understand what guarantees the aggressor needs.Guarantees of what?
Reposted by Michael Higham
Thoughts ahead of Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy & European leaders. First, Trump wants both sides to stop fighting, but is only prepared to put pressure on Ukraine. If Putin had any worries on that score, the Alaska summit will have reassured him. Sanctions are postponed, again. 1/16
August 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Thoughts ahead of Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy & European leaders. First, Trump wants both sides to stop fighting, but is only prepared to put pressure on Ukraine. If Putin had any worries on that score, the Alaska summit will have reassured him. Sanctions are postponed, again. 1/16
Reposted by Michael Higham
It is only sentimental American exceptionalism that makes what Trump is doing any different from "increasingly dictatorial president uses military to assert power in capital city".
August 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
It is only sentimental American exceptionalism that makes what Trump is doing any different from "increasingly dictatorial president uses military to assert power in capital city".
A pretty damning indictment of the EU's neighbourhood policy when Trump is having to broker peace deals for you. Ah the never-ending joy that is 'strategic autonomy'
I warmly welcome the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty today in Washington DC — an important move by President Aliyev and PM Pashinyan that paves the way to a lasting, sustainable peace.
Joint statement with @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
Joint statement with @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/pre...
Joint statement by President Costa of the European Council and President von der Leyen of the European Commission on the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty and on the declaration between President Aliyev and PM Pashinyan in Washington DC
European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcome today's meeting of President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia, hosted by US President Trump, to initialise an Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
www.consilium.europa.eu
August 8, 2025 at 9:09 PM
A pretty damning indictment of the EU's neighbourhood policy when Trump is having to broker peace deals for you. Ah the never-ending joy that is 'strategic autonomy'
Reposted by Michael Higham
Reposted by Michael Higham
By failing to sanction Israel, EU leaders are complicit in its crimes. They must act now | Josep Borrell
By failing to sanction Israel, EU leaders are complicit in its crimes. They must act now | Josep Borrell
Europe’s silence has allowed the genocide of Palestinians to continue unchecked – undermining all it stands for, says Josep Borrell, a former EU high representative
www.theguardian.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:34 AM
By failing to sanction Israel, EU leaders are complicit in its crimes. They must act now | Josep Borrell