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Ben Tonra

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H-index: 15
Political science 84%
Sociology 11%
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by James Ker‐Lindsay — Reposted by: Ben Tonra

jameskerlindsay.bsky.social
#Ireland has a truly fascinating, controversial, but often misunderstood, foreign policy history. From WWII to Ukraine, neutrality to peacekeeping, Good Friday to Brexit, Trump to Palestine. Really great to discuss all this with @bentonra.bsky.social
youtu.be/hv5ggSV2-vQ
Understanding Irish Foreign Policy | Ben Tonra
YouTube video by Prof James Ker-Lindsay
youtu.be
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by Ben Tonra — Reposted by: Nicolai von Ondarza

bentonra.bsky.social
If you’re ever in the mood for a 40min survey of Irish foreign policy you might enjoy this: youtu.be/hv5ggSV2-vQ?... Me in conversation with Prof James Jer-Lindsay. Bring a salt shaker. 😆
Understanding Irish Foreign Policy | Ben Tonra
YouTube video by Prof James Ker-Lindsay
youtu.be
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

anthonyzach.be
Listening to a radio story about a Belgian trade mission to the US which is buying US defence materiel and securing a big investment by Amazon in Belgium “which will support Belgian small business” - genuinely not sure which is the more strategically short-sighted.
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

maks23.bsky.social
▪️This project is one of the fastest industrial defense projects in the recent history of the Netherlands. Usually the creation of such facilities takes years, but at VDL the first production lines were put into operation after just a few months.
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by Ben Tonra

bentonra.bsky.social
I want a halt to all AI development until we’ve stitched in Azimov’s three laws of robotics into the algorithms
a robot sits on a couch with the words that makes perfect sense written below it
ALT: a robot sits on a couch with the words that makes perfect sense written below it
media.tenor.com
2

Reposted by: Ben Tonra

alexdukalskis.bsky.social
Authoritarians in the Academy: How the Internationalization of Higher Education and Borderless Censorship Threaten Free Speech

by @sarahemclaugh.bsky.social via @jhuartssciences.bsky.social press (2025)

#AutumnReading
Authoritarians in the Academy
How the Internationalization of Higher Education and Borderless Censorship Threaten Free Speech
www.press.jhu.edu
5 11

Reposted by: Ben Tonra

conorhogarty.bsky.social
The EU is preparing for war - are we?
Edward Burke is writing in todays @irishexaminer regarding the defence capabilities that 🇮🇪 should be focusing on.
Pick up a copy today.
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by Ben Tonra

bentonra.bsky.social
💯

The US is attacking Europe diplomatically, politically, economically and culturally - even as it withdraws from underpinning European security and defence.

This is the theme of a talk I’m giving next week @ucddublin.bsky.social University Club.
ecfr.eu
ECFR @ecfr.eu · 1d
The current EU and US relations go beyond policy debates or trade clashes. It's a culture war imposed on Europe by the current US administration.

Tune in to our European Compass 2025 launch debate to learn more about transatlantic relations 🔗 https://bit.ly/4ng3GMI
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by Ben Tonra

bentonra.bsky.social
What I’d characterise as another ‘whistling past the graveyard’ piece.
csis.org
CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies @csis.org · 1d
“There is presently an uneasy peace in transatlantic relations. Yet, this peace may not last, especially as new transatlantic policy collisions emerge,” writes @erep.csis.org expert @maxbergmann.bsky.social.

Read more about the current state of transatlantic relations: www.csis.org/analysis/tra...
Transatlantic Relations Under Trump: An Uneasy Peace
President Trump’s transactional stance and skepticism toward Europe has shocked transatlantic ties linking trade, security, and Ukraine. Europe has been cautious, but looming fights over defense, tech...
www.csis.org
1

Reposted by: Ben Tonra

keirgiles.bsky.social
Interesting article on Ireland's (hopefully) evolving defence posture.

If true that 75% of data cables carrying up to 95% of international traffic pass through or near Irish waters, then long past time Ireland took at least some interest in protecting them.

www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

csis.org
“There is presently an uneasy peace in transatlantic relations. Yet, this peace may not last, especially as new transatlantic policy collisions emerge,” writes @erep.csis.org expert @maxbergmann.bsky.social.

Read more about the current state of transatlantic relations: www.csis.org/analysis/tra...
Transatlantic Relations Under Trump: An Uneasy Peace
President Trump’s transactional stance and skepticism toward Europe has shocked transatlantic ties linking trade, security, and Ukraine. Europe has been cautious, but looming fights over defense, tech...
www.csis.org
2 3 4

Reposted by: Ben Tonra

ecfr.eu
The current EU and US relations go beyond policy debates or trade clashes. It's a culture war imposed on Europe by the current US administration.

Tune in to our European Compass 2025 launch debate to learn more about transatlantic relations 🔗 https://bit.ly/4ng3GMI
1 3

by Ben Tonra

bentonra.bsky.social
The politicisation of US armed forces is not just the how/when/why they are being deployed illegally by the Tr*mp regime. It also speaks to the delegitimisation of the armed forces in the eyes of a large part of the citizenry. Generals may wish to ponder the medium/longer term implications of that.
yasharali.bsky.social
Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 2d
Statement from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate. We must now start calling this what it is: Trump's Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state's military troops. I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation. The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

united24media.com
⚡️ Medvedev says that a spate of drone-related disruptions across Europe should serve as a warning of what war could look like on the continent.
Medvedev Says Drone Disruptions Show Europe What War Would Look Like
Former Russian leader Medvedev warns Europe of potential war conditions, dismissing accusations of Russian involvement in recent drone incidents.
united24media.com
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra, Kim L. Scheppele, Richard S.J. Tol , and 8 more

yasharali.bsky.social
Statement from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate. We must now start calling this what it is: Trump's Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state's military troops. I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation. The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra, Richard S.J. Tol, Erich Fromm , and 10 more

governor.ca.gov
This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.

America is on the brink of martial law.

Do not be silent.
govpritzker.illinois.gov
Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 2d
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
410 4.2K 13K

Reposted by: Ben Tonra, Ashish Arora, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 6 more

govpritzker.illinois.gov
We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra, François Heisbourg, Nicolai von Ondarza

sandertordoir.bsky.social
The SAFE instrument, whereby the EU level provides loans to member-states to ramp up defence, has been more of a success than I had anticipated. The uptake by member-states is huge.

And, of course, profoundly driven by the threat perception of Russia (see Baltics!).

Great chart from Daniel Kral.
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by Ben Tonra

bentonra.bsky.social
Terrific forthcoming event @ria.ie 4 November 1230-1430 "Irish Foreign Policy, the Troubles and EC membership 1969-1973" brought to you by the RIA's Committee for International Affairs and the Documents in Irish Foreign Policy project.

www.ria.ie/events/the-t...
The Troubles and the European Community: Exploring DIFP XIV (1969-73) - Royal Irish Academy
Witness seminar on the latest volume of Documents in Irish Foreign Policy, covering the years 1969-73. In this event co-hosted by The Standing Committee for International Affairs and Documents in Iris...
www.ria.ie
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by Ben Tonra

bentonra.bsky.social
Éirígí says Ursula Ní Shionnáin still member in 2018 when employed by Catherine Connolly in Leinster House

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Éirígí says Ursula Ní Shionnáin still member in 2018 when employed by Catherine Connolly in Leinster House
Socialist republican group says language activist was still member of the group in year she got out of jail
www.irishtimes.com
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

msf.ca
MSF strongly condemns the killing of Omar Hayek by Israeli forces this morning in #Gaza. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues.

Omar is our fourteenth colleague to be killed in Gaza since the war started. We call yet again for an end to the genocide.
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

kyivindependent.com
⚡️Germany's Merz lashes out at Orban during EU defense discussions, Bloomberg reports.

According to Bloomberg, the clash between the two leaders erupted on Oct. 1 during talks on the EU's strategy to defend itself against the Russian threat and support for Ukraine.
Germany's Merz lashes out at Orban during EU defense discussions, Bloomberg reports
According to Bloomberg, the clash between the two leaders erupted on Oct. 1 during talks on the EU's strategy to defend itself against the Russian threat and support for Ukraine.
kyivindependent.com
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

willsheehan.bsky.social
Yes, there is, and it's mainly in a government that will not invest appropriately in Defence.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
There is ‘naivety’ in Ireland over Russian threat, says Taoiseach
Micheál Martin says Moscow must pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction as deterrence against waging war
www.irishtimes.com
1 4

Reposted by: Ben Tonra

maxboot.bsky.social
Very good news for Ukraine--and very bad news for Putin. It means Ukraine will have the means to fight the war indefinitely even without any US support. www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Europe’s Emerging Plan: Give Ukraine $200 Billion in Russian Money
The loan—which likely wouldn’t be paid back—represents a creative way to tap Moscow’s frozen assets without legally confiscating them.
www.wsj.com
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

andyscollick.bsky.social
European Union leaders have backed plans for a new defence network against Russian drones following recent incursions into European airspace.
EU leaders back plan for 'drone wall' to counter Russia
European Union leaders have backed plans for a new defence network against Russian drones following recent incursions into European airspace.
www.rte.ie
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by Ben Tonra

bentonra.bsky.social
“The difficulty in managing workloads, for example, may (at least partly) be a consequence of the flexibility and freedom afforded to academics...(that) autonomy was...also attributed to work intensification – especially in relation to invisible labour and struggles to manage excessive workloads."
timeshighered.bsky.social
Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 6d
Workload is the major factor forcing academics to quit their roles, with some of the perceived benefits of working in universities actually adding to the strain, finds a new study. Juliette Rowsell reports https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/benefits-working-academia-can-add-workload-stress
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

thejournal.ie
Catherine Connolly has defended her attempt to hire a convicted criminal after the Taoiseach said her approach to the issue showed a "serious lack of judgement".
http://jrnl.ie/6832805t
Connolly defends trying to hire woman convicted of gun crimes after Taoiseach attacks judgement
As revealed by The Journal yesterday Catherine Connolly sought to hire a woman sentenced to six years in jail by the Special Criminal Court.
jrnl.ie
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

euwatch.live
Can Paris and Berlin rescue their joint fighter jet project?
Client Challenge
www.ft.com
1

Reposted by: Ben Tonra

rikefranke.bsky.social
First time I’ve seen this reported in the press after rumours among experts: BILD reports/confirms there was a “mothership drone” over Germany which sent out smaller drones.
Which a) really points to a capable actor and
b) is concerning because it increases possible reach of these drones
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Reposted by: Ben Tonra

maks23.bsky.social
🇪🇺🦅 First steps taken in building ‘drone wall’ on EU’s eastern flank, — Euronews

🇱🇻 Latvian Prime said her government had already started investing in sensors and sound systems for the project, following advice from Ukraine and removing some bureaucratic hurdles.
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