Simon Usherwood
@simonusherwood.bsky.social
12K followers 3.4K following 1.8K posts
Researcher of UK-EU relations, euroscepticism and learning & teaching. Open University and UK in a Changing Europe. Renowned for my bubbly personality, I imagine.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Simon Usherwood
patrickbijsmans.bsky.social
@simonusherwood.bsky.social and I are attempting to take initial discussions on research into #cycling and #Europe to a new level. So please join us for a first meeting of the new Cycling Europe Study Circle. Details below. Feel free to share in your networks 🙏🏼

@ecpr.bsky.social @uaces.bsky.social
simonusherwood.bsky.social
Interested in cycling and Europe?
Fancy talking with other researchers about how we might develop our work?

Then sign up for the launch webinar of a new network, Cycling Europe Study Circle, with me and @patrickbijsmans.bsky.social, on 24 October, 14-16 UK time

forms.office.com/e/SsXKNb1gvC
simonusherwood.bsky.social
Interested in cycling and Europe?
Fancy talking with other researchers about how we might develop our work?

Then sign up for the launch webinar of a new network, Cycling Europe Study Circle, with me and @patrickbijsmans.bsky.social, on 24 October, 14-16 UK time

forms.office.com/e/SsXKNb1gvC
Reposted by Simon Usherwood
heidimaurer.bsky.social
Call for Papers for @ecpr.bsky.social @ecprsgeu.bsky.social section “Teaching in EU Studies in the Digital Age”

to explore how AI, digitalisation & new pedagogies are reshaping #EU Studies

more info: ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
deadline: 10 December 2025
Teaching in EU studies in the digital age
European Consortium for Political Research
ecpr.eu
Reposted by Simon Usherwood
wepsocial.bsky.social
What explains the rising turnout in recent EP elections?

@filipkostelka.bsky.social & @evakrejcova.bsky.social find that it's the strength of Eurosceptic parties at the national level. The more seats they hold in national parliament, the more mobilizing the EP election is

doi.org/10.1080/0140...
Abstract of the article "Awakening the sleeping giant: rising Euroscepticism and turnout in European Parliament elections" by Filip Kostelka and Eva Krejcova. Published online first in West European Politics. Figure 1, displaying voter turnout in EP elections between 1979 and 2024. Figure 2, displaying Euroscepticism in national elections between 1974 and 2024. Figure 3, displaying predicted turnout at different levels of euroscepticism in national parliament.
simonusherwood.bsky.social
This is the kind of thing that makes deepening relations with the EU more difficult for any govt: unease among MS that previous commitments aren't going to be upheld

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
simonusherwood.bsky.social
Taking back control, while not increasing the capacity to take back control

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Reposted by Simon Usherwood
colinmurray.bsky.social
Today will see a flurry of speculative claims about the GFA & ECHR. Most significantly that rights weren't important/were late editions/didn't mean the whole ECHR in NI law. I'm begging journalists to push back. Civil Servants were planning for Labour's Rights Agenda for NI from the 1997 election:
simonusherwood.bsky.social
Useful thread
sundersays.bsky.social
Support for staying in the ECHR has been rising (probably a Farage effect of solidifying the majority who oppose him, maybe Trump osmosis effect). Media and political opinion on the right believes there is a strong public desire to quit. Badenoch has now committed the Conservatives to quitting.
simonusherwood.bsky.social
Delighted to see Helen Wallace recieve her Honarary Professorship of @collegeofeurope.bsky.social

A true stalwart of European Studies, as a scholar and a teacher, and an inspiration to many colleagues, me included

@uaces.bsky.social
simonusherwood.bsky.social
Great to see so many people having views about SPS deals

Somewhat unsure whether the actual questions posed capture all that involves though

www.politico.eu/article/uk-w...
Reposted by Simon Usherwood
politicalquarterly.bsky.social
There have likely been 10,000 or more university redundancies in the academic year 2024-25.

@gsoh31.bsky.social, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Oxford Brookes, argues that the Higher Education system as we know it is coming to an end.
Where now for Britain’s Universities?
UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.
politicalquarterly.org.uk