Paul O’Connell

I've posted a new paper on SSRN - it argues that unless imperialism is central to our analysis of inequality and its impact on human rights, then our theory and practice remain in a blind alley - forthcoming in the Palestine Yearbook of International Law is.gd/igjgnI

I've posted a new paper on SSRN - it looks at the question of democratic forms (right to protest etc) via the principle of working class self-emancipation, and sets out an argument about how we should engage these forms in times of crisis and authoritarianism is.gd/1fxDIP

I've posted a new paper on SSRN - it looks at the fundamental challenge posed to socio-economic rights by the logic of commodification and how socio-economic rights might be reasserted on the basis of decommodification, human needs, and political struggle is.gd/jdVAiS

My new piece for @mondoweiss.net. Those who only recognize the genocide of the Palestinian people when they starve adopt a dehumanizing logic /n bsky.app/profile/harm...

In both Hebrew and Arabic, “Gaza” means strong and fierce. Etymologically, Gaza originates from the Persian “ganj” which means “treasure.” Ancient Egyptians called it the “prized city.” This is what Israel has done to this fierce, treasure of a prized place

My article on the Attlee government’s resistance of the ECHR and how this historical episode can inform contemporary Convention critical debates can be found in the April 2025 edn of Pubic Law

From Yemen to Gaza: How can we hold the UK accountable in 2025? Join us for an evening of short films and critical discussion about UK involvement in Yemen and Gaza.

🎞️ Tomorrow 🎞️

Join @john-mcevoy.bsky.social alongside speakers from @caatuk.bsky.social and @forceswatch.bsky.social to discuss how we can hold the UK accountable for its role in the ongoing devastation in Gaza and Yemen.

🎟️ 👇 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/from-yemen...

The British Labour Party - unrepentant apologists for genocide

Thinking of republishing this in zine format to at least try to combat some of the love-in that's planned for 6 August (250th anniversary of his birth) - the anti-socialist, anti-trade union, anti-working class, slum landlord, pro-monarchist and free marketeer, Daniel O'Connell

I shall be guest editor of Public Law’s Special Analysis section next spring: “The Public Order Act 1986 at Forty”

Really looking forward to curating pieces by:
@crwerren.bsky.social on policing public order
@deanknight.bsky.social on NZ recent proposals
@katrinanavickas.bsky.social looking at

🚩We're back on the picket line this morning.
🚩We'll also be out this Weds, Thurs, and Fri.
🚩Join us at our Gazebo HQ opposite the main UEA bus stop from 8am. #SaveUEA

With renewed interest in Blue Labour, I wrote a post that looks to develop its constitutionalism. More specifically, what does Blue Labour’s rejection of the “abstract ideal of the individual” in favour of “reciprocal obligations” and “solidarity” in society mean for rights?

"Organize and fight against all imperialism. Stop war profiteering. Lower the cost of living. Resist wage cuts. Peace and socialism is in the hearts of millions around the world. May First, the “sun of tomorrow”, shines upon us. The future is ours". - Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

When you find the words of Kneecap more offensive than the industrial murder of an entire people, then there’s something seriously wrong with you and how you relate to this world

“I feel more and more disheartened, depressed and stressed by working for UCU. I am trying to just get on and do my job in as professional a manner as I can. However, this is increasingly difficult... The current working ‘atmosphere’ is dire and makes me feel huge doubt and uncertainty. This has severely negatively impacted my motivation and my job satisfaction in addition to my levels of stress.”

“Whilst off work sick for a protracted period, dosed up with pain medications and immobile I was sent an email advising that my white colleague (also off sick) was to be sent flowers and well wishes in a card from our team. Nothing was sent to me from the team and it felt like as a black colleague you weren't seen, your pain wasn't seen and you weren’t cared for.”

“[I’m] Ashamed I work for an employer who has such double standards in the way they have treated employees compared to what they say to members… UCU has been very vocal about Trans and Non-Binary issues that affect UCU members and many UCU staff have worked really hard on policy and training – so why should UCU management be stalling over this for employees?”

When, some months ago,  we first posted our members’ testimonies - lived experiences of working for UCU - our employer’s only response was a demand they be removed. No contrition, shame or concern for their staff: just an anger we’d shared them.

#UniteVoices

uniteucu.wordpress.com/campaign-cam...

If you're a UCU member, please share this, post it to your branch mailing list, and get as many UCU members as possible out in support of our UCU staff

Lots of Unite strikers holding banners in front of the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in Manchester.

We might be on day 11 of our strike action, but we’re not letting up.

North West region members were out in force in Manchester this morning.

We are the people! We won't be silenced! Stop the bombing now, now, now!
#Palestine #Gaza #Ireland #Solidarity

Concerned/confused about Labour's direction on disability. Check out this event:

Social Murder in Labour’s Pathways to Work

Date: 10 apr • 17:30

Location: BR G.78 Brooks Building MMU & Online

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-mur...

UCU staff: on strike and needing your support Dear UCU members, Out-of-officeWe are not currently at work due to taking part in escalating strike action called by Unite, the trade union for UCU staff, over our Campaign for a Safe and Professio…

UCU staff: on strike and needing your support uniteucu.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/u...

Spread this far and wide - Unite UCU aren't allowed to note their strike action on their own OOO emails, so it's up to us to make clear to everyone what's going on.

It was bad enough when the LPE crowd remained silent in the face of Helyeh’s victimisation for speaking up against genocide, but it’s even worse to publish this statement filled with weasel words without mentioning Gaza, genocide, academic freedom or solidarity - abysmal really

When our union is in dispute and when we take action we ask for solidarity from across the movement and our communities because we are all connected in struggle. So it matters that we also practice solidarity with sibling unions in dispute and when taking action. Solidarity @uniteucu.bsky.social

Update: I have been terminated by Yale Law School and the LPE Project.

What we are witnessing unfold in the United States is not the failure of democracy—this *is* Western liberal democracy itself.

Can’t be having people like George Monbiot and others bemoaning the authoritarianism of Starmer and co when they did nothing of substance to support the alternatives to Starmer’s restoration politics - it was clear from the start what Starmer was, outrage now is nonsense

After our employer ended Acas talks last week, supported by Unite officials we tried to secure a last minute agreement to bring them back to the table. This could have led to action being paused. Sadly no written proposal was presented for consideration. Threats to our branch officers remain.

Unite UCU Unite branch (LE127) for employees of the University and College Union

We deeply regret our strike action which begins today in our Campaign for A Safe and Professional Workplace. With our dispute now a year old we remain resolute that the toxic bullying culture, racism and victimisation that our members and officers are experiencing must end.
uniteucu.wordpress.com

YouTube video by SOAS University of London Gaza: Empire, colonialism, genocide

The SOAS Centre for Palestine Studies event, "Gaza: Empire, Colonialism, Genocide", with Adam Hanieh, Rafeef Ziadah, Nate George, and Hamza Hamouchane is available here

youtu.be/vwMMeWk0zXA?...

PCHR Issues New Report: “Severed Bodies, Shattered Souls: Women in Gaza Victims of Genocide” Today, 26 March 2025, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a new report titled: “Severed Bodies, Shattered Souls: Women in Gaza Victims of Genocide”. The report highlights the widespr...

New report by PCHR "highlights the widespread cases of amputations among women due to the Israeli military aggression and highlights that these injuries have not only caused bodily harm but also led to profound psychological pain" pchrgaza.org/pchr-issues-...

Like their Tory predecessors, the British Labour Party are pursing social murder with gusto - a war on the working class that requires a response in kind from us