Orçun Selçuk

Authoritarianism

Happy to be part of the IPSA Companion to Political Science: A Practical Introduction to the 200 Most Important Concepts.

link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...

It was premature for some political scientists to call the United States a competitive authoritarian regime after the first few months of the Trump presidency. Trump has authoritarian ambitions but the backlash and resistance against him remain robust.

Terrible results for the Republican Party in high-profile and down ballot races. This is what happens when the party brand depends too much on an unpopular incumbent who haven't delivered on his economic promises. Democrats are benefiting from the anti-incumbent mood right now.

Trump's right-wing populism breeds left-wing populism especially in Democratic strongholds like New York City. Zohran's brand of populism will not work in competitive House and Senate races next year, but Democrats need to double down on his focus on the cost of living issues.

Luther College professor warns against taking ‘democracy for granted’

stanforddaily.com/2025/10/21/l...

The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization in Latin America and Turkey YouTube video by Stanford Center for Latin American Studies

I had the pleasure of giving a book talk at Stanford University on Friday. You can watch the full event here:

www.youtube.com/live/_kek0cx...

María Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize is significant in the context of rising authoritarianism in the world. Although the opponents of autocrats in Venezuela and elsewhere have low rates of achieving turnover, their efforts and personal sacrifices deserve acknowledgement.

I'll be giving a book talk at Stanford University next month. You can find more information about it below.

📣📚 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚: 𝙋𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢, 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙇𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 & 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙮 with @orcunselcuk.bsky.social

🗓️ Fri, Oct. 17, 2025
⏰ 1:30 - 2:50 PM
🏫 Bolivar House
582 Alvarado Row, Stanford, CA 94305

👉🎟️ RSVP: tinyurl.com/SelcukStanford

I'll be giving a book talk at Stanford University next month. You can find more information about it below.

I think APSA needs to decide primarily based on the geographic distribution of its membership. I am not sure about what you mean by DC or LA as dangerous places for organizing a conference.

#APSA2025 in Vancouver was a fine event but we need to rethink organizing political science conferences in Canada. It puts additional barriers for non-U.S. citizens and perpetuates inequalities in the field. No wonder many international students on F1 visas could not attend.

Heading to APSA in Vancouver tomorrow. I will be part of the following panels:

Democratic Backsliding and Opposition Resistance on Thursday at 8 am

Applying for a Job at a Teaching Institution on Thursday at 2 pm

The First-Gen Handbook: Navigating the Hidden Curriculum on Friday at 10 am

APSA Virtual Exhibit 2025 - University of Notre Dame Welcome to our virtual exhibit! We are extremely excited to bring our political science and theory books directly to your screen! Enjoy browsing our

You can find my book, The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization, at the #APSA2025 exhibition hall. Even if you are not attending the conference, you can still order it using the link below with a 40 percent discounted price.
undpress.nd.edu/apsa-virtual...

Unless we acknowledge how much political violence already has a place in American politics, we won't be able to address it. Elites on both sides of the aisle need to take responsibility for fanning the flames of polarization and be intentional about toning down the divisiveness.

For those in Vancouver, the Democracy and Autocracy Section will be holding our business meeting tomorrow (9/11) from 6:30-7:30pm at the Convention Center (West) Room 115. Our reception will be right after from 7:30-9:30pm at Steamworks Brewpub (375 Water Street). Come join us!

APSA Virtual Exhibit 2025 - University of Notre Dame Welcome to our virtual exhibit! We are extremely excited to bring our political science and theory books directly to your screen! Enjoy browsing our

You can find my book, The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization, at the #APSA2025 exhibition hall. Even if you are not attending the conference, you can still order it using the link below with a 40 percent discounted price.
undpress.nd.edu/apsa-virtual...

At 2 pm, I'll be joining several colleagues including @orcunselcuk.bsky.social to talk about landing positions at teaching focused institutions. And Thursday isn't even my busy day 😆 6/6

The new season of @apsgworkshop.bsky.social is starting soon!!
Save the dates!

Heading to APSA in Vancouver tomorrow. I will be part of the following panels:

Democratic Backsliding and Opposition Resistance on Thursday at 8 am

Applying for a Job at a Teaching Institution on Thursday at 2 pm

The First-Gen Handbook: Navigating the Hidden Curriculum on Friday at 10 am

Excited to share that The Authoritarian Divide was reviewed in Latin American Politics and Society. Many thanks to Alejandra López Villegas @alelov.bsky.social for the thoughtful and generous review. You can read it here:

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

This is our second journal article together. The collaboration started at Luther College and we presented earlier drafts at MPSA and LASA conferences. Thanks to everyone who offered their feedback and support. Check the article out and share it with others. It is open access.

New episode. @jlkucinskas.bsky.social @columbiaup.bsky.social #civilservices #federalemployees #constitution #DwightWaldo #HerbertSimon #trump #sociology Music by @musicandjustice.bsky.social
linktr.ee/ihppod @sunildasgupta.bsky.social

This is our second journal article together. The collaboration started at Luther College and we presented earlier drafts at MPSA and LASA conferences. Thanks to everyone who offered their feedback and support. Check the article out and share it with others. It is open access.

this is all horrible. alongside devastating blows to PBS and NPR, this bill totally ends US funding to key UN bodies that do frontline work, including UNICEF & OCHA, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Completely eliminates US contributions—previously the US was the key funder.

United States is openly trying to interfere into the internal affairs of Brazil. Kudos to Brazilian authorities for prosecuting Bolsonaro. In democracies, nobody is above the law, especially ex-presidents who attempted a coup. This is not 1964.

Yesterday, we launched the Spanish translation of my book at the Biblioteca Nacional in Quito. Thank you, Santiago Basabe for publishing the book and organizing the event. Also, special thanks to Paolo Moncagatta and Pablo Andrade for serving as wonderful discussants.

Yesterday, we launched the Spanish translation of my book at the Biblioteca Nacional in Quito. Thank you, Santiago Basabe for publishing the book and organizing the event. Also, special thanks to Paolo Moncagatta and Pablo Andrade for serving as wonderful discussants.

Thanks!

Book launch day! You can read the first chapter here (in Spanish): www.pescaditoeditoriales.com/pdf/fragment...