Jack Clayton

Thank you for replying so quickly. Yes it certainly is difficult. There are may of those that I have done. It is therefore sort of encouraging and discouraging at the same time that it has been so difficult. Thank you very much again for your advice.

Hi Glen, do you have particular advice for someone who finished their PhD last year in international relations, trying to get a job and career in IR/political science academia? I taught at multiple universities, giving lectures and tutoring seminars during the degree. Best wishes, Jack

Last weekend I had my first in studio interview discussing Trump, NATO and Starmer.

x.com/gbnews/statu...

His indecision and lack of views shouldn’t be mistaken for pragmatism, which despite being a “dirty” word to some in politics, should have a goal. Instead, despite seeing himself as a problem-solver, Starmer isn’t because he offers few ideas in how to do so. Hence, indecision, U-turns and emptiness.

The article’s quote “Pragmatism is necessary in pursuit of any policy. But for Starmer it is the policy. It is an end in itself” stood out to me but actually because in that correct description of Starmer’s governing, it shows that actually he’s not pragmatic but un-ideological and indecisive.

This is interesting, but I’d go even further than Behr and say that Starmer’s not even pragmatic, as it implies he has an idea of wanting to get to an A to B, just not dogmatically or rigidly. He’s indecisive and politically empty as a result.

What's really going on in Iran – and how Trump is trying to speed up unrest US intervention over Iranian protests could lead to 'chaos' in the region, experts and officials say

I have been quoted in
@theipaper.com discussing Trump’s recent comments on the protests in Iran and how me may respond, as well as what the UK government may do and the possible internal Labour Party divisions there may be on the issue.

inews.co.uk/news/world/w...

I agree. A mindset that in its prime helped drive it to be an economic/military top nation, but can undermine introspection to improve because it says it’s the best ‘leading democracy’ and therefore threats to the principles it says it has can be hubristically or willingly be overlooked.

It could be said that the US example of its sense of exceptionalism is more rooted in racial supremacy looking back at the 19th century manifest destiny, and the liberal idealism associated with it is a more recent development since post war/civil rights era that parts of the country never liked.