Nicholas Marsh

On the left is the cover of The Journal of Global Security Studies. Along the bottom, the journal’s homepage (https://academic.oup.com/jogss) and Bluesky handle (@journalofgss.bsky.social) appear in white text on a navy-blue background. The main image depicts a soldier driving a military vehicle, overlaid with the article title and authors’ names: “Great Power Competition and China’s Security Assistance to Africa: Arms, Training, and Influence”, by Ilaria Carrozza and Nicholas J. Marsh.

As Christmas approaches, we’re spotlighting some of the most-cited articles in #JOGSS 🎄

➡️ Today’s feature: Read @ilariacarrozza.bsky.social and @nicholasmarsh.bsky.social’s work for the comprehensive overview of China’s provision of security force assistance to Africa.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jogs...

@prioresearch.bsky.social has announced 2 postdoc positions linked to the ERC-funded project Rituals in Combatant-to-Civilian Transformation (Com2Civ), led by brilliant colleague Júlia Palik. One is in Social Psychology and the other Anthropology. More info at: www.prio.org/about/careers

FYI @brunoomartins.bsky.social

It is plural in French and Spanish, les États-Unis and los Estados Unidos. It’s not a union of principalities as per the OPs definition.

I was very briefly characterising some of the arguments used against gun control and official ID. I don’t believe in either argument, and I agree that current events in the us are a good example of how an armed citizenry won’t prevent autocracy.

Official ID for Brits is like gun control in the US. Something that is normal in stable European democracies but will pave the way for tyranny at home.

The frothing about ID cards from people who think of themselves as progressive is another sad reminder that in many ways Britain really isn't a mainstream European country.

Yes, having lived in the rest of Europe for 25 years I agree with all of this. I'll add that not having a standardized official ID places marginalized people in a more difficult position as they can't easily establish their identity. Collecting gas bills etc isn't easy for some people.

You are of course correct. But this was lost long before either of were born. Back in 1944 Orwell noted that “the word ‘fascism’ has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies ‘something not desirable’”. When I was growing up in the 70s and 80s teachers were fascists for expecting homework.

Yes, the decisive role of a conventional weapon may be limited to those cases where the enemy is unable to adapt (in time). Otherwise its different varieties of attrition.

Similar here in Norway. Its reasonable to expect to be able to order a meal in your own language. But many are international students doing MAs, and if they need to work too then they don't have much time to attend language classes. Probably leave before they are able to hold a conversation.

Least #Europe forgets... #Africa is currently witnessing the fastest growing jihadist expansion in the world:

"Nearly half of the fatalities (10,685) in the past year have been in the #Sahel."

africacenter.org/spotlight/en...

Thanks. Doing detailed systemic research on something that large and complex is certainly a daunting prospect. But I think it may be possible.

This is great reading. It offers a very limited hope that European defence may ever work, but it does not rule it out entirely, so that's a relief. It's also slightly depressing research-wise. The complexity of it all almost prevents any meaningful understanding. In any case, go and read it!

📊 New dataset and paper alert!
We’re proud to launch the Opposition Movements and Groups (OMG) Dataset, 1789–2019: a global dataset covering 1,452 mass mobilization movements. It was just published in Comparative Political Studies. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Below follows a 🧵

Article title: The European Iron Network: the remaking of the political economy of European defence production following the Ukraine War

Effects of the Ukraine War, including the 2025 EU White Paper on European Defence, have transformed the political economy of European defence production are examined in a new @jei-publication.bsky.social article
written with @brunoomartins.bsky.social and
@jocelynmawdsley.bsky.social

Thanks!

The European Iron Network: the remaking of the political economy of European defence production following the Ukraine War In this article, we develop a conceptualisation of the relationship between European institutions, governments and defence industries as a European Iron Network. This network is characterized by a ...

Link to an open access copy of the article: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

May interest:
‪@danielfiott.bsky.social @aphclarkson.bsky.social @rikefranke.bsky.social ‬‪@jcaverley.bsky.social ‪ @laurachappell.bsky.social @salisbot.bsky.social @justin-br0nk.bsky.social @ncrenic.bsky.social @josephhdempsey.bsky.social @shashj.bsky.social

Contestation is the defining feature of the political economy of European defence, with positive and negative implications. When managing the network European leaders need to balance EU and NATO roles, integrate Ukraine, decide how much to import from the US, and mobilize sustainable financing.

The European Iron Network’s strength lies in its resilience: flexibility, multiple forms of capacity, and the ability to rapidly reconfigure. But it also has vulnerabilities: fragmented supply chains, EU/NATO rivalry, duplication of effort and reliance on US technology.

We argue this new reality is best understood as a European Iron Network, which is a web of states, EU institutions, NATO, and defence firms. Unlike the largely static US 'Iron Triangle', Europe’s network is dynamic, contested, and constantly renegotiated.

Article title: The European Iron Network: the remaking of the political economy of European defence production following the Ukraine War

Effects of the Ukraine War, including the 2025 EU White Paper on European Defence, have transformed the political economy of European defence production are examined in a new @jei-publication.bsky.social article
written with @brunoomartins.bsky.social and
@jocelynmawdsley.bsky.social

The European Iron Network: the remaking of the political economy of European defence production following the Ukraine War In this article, we develop a conceptualisation of the relationship between European institutions, governments and defence industries as a European Iron Network. This network is characterized by a ...

New article today in @jei-publication.bsky.social for @brunoomartins.bsky.social , @nicholasmarsh.bsky.social and I - "The European Iron Network: the remaking of the political economy of European defence production following the Ukraine War" www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

We're delighted to announce and welcome a diverse group of 30 #emergingexperts to the 2025-2026 English-language Emerging Expert program. See short bios on each at www.forumarmstrade.org/emerging-exp...

Swedish Defence University advertises two postdoc positions focused on narrative geopolitics, or how emotional and widely circulated narratives shape international security, great power relations & geostrategic rivalry.

fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...

fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...

Deadline: 31 Aug

Postdoc with a focus on quantitative narrative geopolitics Description The postdoctoral position is part of the interdisciplinary research environment on narrative geopolitics, established with funding from the Swedish Armed Forces. The role involves interdis

Postdoc in Narrative Geopolitics @forsvarshogskolan.bsky.social

We’re looking for a postdoc w expertise in machine learning, data mining, or related quantitative methods to explore how emotionally charged narratives shape international security & great power politics.

fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...

New report "Transparency in European Arms Exports: Access to information and accountability" by @tmcasser.bsky.social and University of Amsterdam Law Clinics

www.asser.nl/about-the-as...

Kenyan Weapons Linked to Sudan’s Civil War - bellingcat Bellingcat and our partners at Kenya’s Daily Nation have identified Kenyan-labelled crates of ammunition inside an alleged RSF depot close to the recently recaptured Sudanese capital Khartoum. Althoug...

Amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war, Bellingcat in partnership with Kenya’s Daily Nation was able to identify Kenyan-labelled ammunition crates in a suspected Rapid Support Forces (RSF) depot near the capital Khartoum. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/06...

New UCDP data release! In the 2024 update from the @ucdp.bsky.social, organised violence remained alarmingly high, with 61 state-based conflicts and nearly 160,000 recorded fatalities.