Ewan Robertson

I greatly enjoyed presenting my work at the PSA Parliaments conference at the University of York last week.

It was nice to make new contacts and learn about the latest research in the field.

Thanks to @psa-parliaments.bsky.social for the organisation and the photo! ⬇️

➡️ @ewanrobo.bsky.social from @uoe-sps.bsky.social is now presenting his paper on stakeholder patterns in committees of the Spanish and Catalan parliaments

💥 Ewan works within the SPARK project: www.project-spark.net

#PSAParl25

Do ideas or political demand drive welfare reform? @ewanrobo.bsky.social shows how ideational power, not voter pressure, shaped in-work benefits in the UK and France. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/1IN07tN

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com #polsky #polsci

Nice little boost to my article published this year in @polstudies.bsky.social on the role of ideas and ideational power in driving working-age social security reform in the UK and France ⬇️⬇️⬇️

I had a wonderful time at the Spanish Social Policy Network conference (REPS) at the Universidad de la Rioja.

I was able to (re)connect with colleagues from the study of social policy in Spain, and share initial results from spark.net on committee witnesses in the Spanish and Catalan parliaments.

🚨 Job Opportunity! 🚨 Applications are now open for a new 2.5-year postdoc at @edinburghpir.bsky.social to examine how parliaments gather, analyse and use different types of knowledge - see the full job listing here: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

❗Job Opportunity❗ Postdoc on Studying Parliaments and the Role of Knowledge (SPARK), University of Edinburgh.

2.5 year post, examining your choice of parliaments between our UK and German country cases.

Apply by 29th October: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Call for Papers: Studying Parliaments and the Role of Knowledge Parliaments play fundamental democratic functions including political representation, legitimation of decision-making, and accountability of executive actors. Yet parliaments are also central in media...

📣Call for Papers: Studying Parliaments and the Role of Knowledge.

We are launching a CFP for an edited collection and/or special issue on the topic of parliaments and knowledge. Get in touch with any queries!

Abstract deadline: 3 November 2025.

▶️ www.project-spark.net/post/call-fo...

Highly recommend this excellent contribution to welfare politics by @ewanrobo.bsky.social! A timely reminder that elites and political organisations often decide on social policy — and rights — regardless of public opinion.

A reminder that Political Studies published my article explaining in-work benefit reforms in the UK and France.

My argument on the role of policymakers' ideas and use of ideational power may be of interest to those who study the role of ideas in public policy.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Thanks Llorenç!

Thanks Meryl!

It was wonderful to meet with Michele Goulart Massuchin and Eva Campos from the Mediaflows project while at the Complutense Madrid.

Lots of potential to link studies of knowledge and communications in parliaments!

Find out about SPARK: www.project-spark.net
@marcgeddes.uk

New publication in Political Studies – the first based on my PhD research!

Are policymakers more responsive to their own ideas or to external social demands when deciding upon policy action? I examine this question in relation to in-work benefits in the United Kingdom and France. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

I had a wonderful time at the ECPR @sgparliaments.bsky.social conf at the University of Barcelona.

It was great to make connections and present data on committee witnesses in the Spanish and Catalan legislatures.

A highlight was also the opportunity to visit the Catalan parliament!

Conocer la hermosura de Segovia provincia y la Sierra de Guadarrama en invierno ha sido una experiencia muy bonita durante los últimos meses.

I enjoyed presenting the SPARK research project on parliaments and knowledge to Spanish Congress of Deputies’ science and technology advice office (Oficina C) yesterday.

Also fascinating to learn about the work of Oficina C and legislative advice in Spain.

About SPARK: www.project-spark.net

Get your nominations in for the Social Policy Association Awards!

Check out categories and criteria below, deadline is 3rd March ⬇️⬇️⬇️

This looks like a great event taking place next month in Edinburgh ⬇️

If anyone has a room going from March to May in Edinburgh, my friend Llorenç Soler is looking!

Abstract and symposia submissions are open for the SPA-EASP 2025 Joint Annual Conference!

Congratulations!

Se abre la convocatoria de contribuciones al Congreso de la Red Española de Política Social en Logroño, 22-24 de Octubre de 2025 ⬇️⬇️⬇️

This useful list is up to 80 people now, but room for plenty more. For avoidance of doubt I’m applying no entrance criteria beyond ‘doesn’t look like a bot.’ Do please recommend other folk as well as letting me know if you’d like to be added.
go.bsky.app/CDRvpoJ

The UK Social Policy Association is now on BlueSky - follow below or here: bsky.app/profile/soci...

I'd really recommend this workshop for ECRs and doctoral researchers working on comparative social and public policy (after attending last year's edition).

Submit an abstract by 2 February and come to Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra University on 8-9 May 2025! ⬇️

Sad to hear the brilliant and great Walter Korpi passed. Korpi was on a very short list of my all time favorite political economic theorists. Almost all my work is fundamentally based on power resources theory. His work on the welfare state is pivotal and central to so many fields.

SPARK Hosts International Workshop on Knowledge and Parliaments On 14-15 October, SPARK welcomed 20 researchers from across Europe and hosted a workshop to address the theme of the relationship between knowledge and parliaments.The workshop, which coincided with t...

👏I really enjoyed this workshop on Knowledge and Parliaments hosted by the SPARK project at the University of Edinburgh.

A great learning process, opportunity to meet new researchers and hear about top studies in the field.
Lots more to come! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

www.project-spark.net/post/spark-h...

Likewise, a pleasure!

Dear Bonnie, I am a postdoctoral researcher based at the University of Edinburgh and focused on knowledge use in the Spanish and Catalan parliaments, in case you'd wish to add me. In any case, I've found your work on Spanish politics very helpful, many thanks!