Sverrir Steinsson

If you want to read the academic version (by my colleague @sverrir.bsky.social): www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Trump's EO banning transgender people from military is latest example of exclusion based on prejudice (African-Americans, gays, women...). Argument is always the same: including such people undermines cohesion. That is incorrect. Read why here:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/trum...

This paper explores how democratization can reconstitute understandings of nationhood by empowering a new class of “storytelling elites”---those with the institutional and rhetorical resources to challenge the state’s narrative. In this critical juncture, storytelling elites may challenge (1) the bottom-line premise or (2) the sideline elements of the prevailing national narrative. Their narrative strategies, in turn, shape how the terms of the debates are redefined and structured under democracy. I develop this argument through a comparison of “One Korea” and “One China” narratives in postwar South Korea and Taiwan. Using interpretive process tracing of archival and other qualitative data, I find that democracy helped entrench “One Korea” narratives in South Korea but displace “One China” narratives in Taiwan, as new storytelling elites challenged dominant narratives of “oneness” to varying degrees. This resulted in increasingly divergent support for unification as a national objective, with enduring implications for peace.

I’m happy to share this paper in @cpsjournal.bsky.social on democracy and national narratives, with insights from South Korea and Taiwan. It is part of a special issue on postcolonial narratives with @paulschuler.bsky.social, @deandulay.bsky.social, + others.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

NOW OUT ON FIRSTVIEW!!

#Political #Entrepreneurs or #Bandits? The “Criminal” Origins of #Peripheral #Rebellions

By @janetilewis.bsky.social & Stephen Rangazas

doi.org/10.1017/S153...

Canada’s Trump-Fueled Brain Gain

Toronto has been on a hiring spree! Some context though: @uoft.bsky.social has long attracted int’l talent. I’m lucky to be on faculty at a world-class university in a diverse global city. Coming here is an incredible opportunity regardless of what happens down south: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/w...

My "AI as Governance" piece is now out at @annualreviews.bsky.social of Political Science. It should be free access to everyone and I'm very happy with how it worked out (the second half is an extended spin of Applied Gopnikism to political science @alisongopnik.bsky.social @cshalizi.bsky.social

85% of the value that social scientists have to offer (or at least, that _I_ have ), is not in presenting my own thoughts and research, but using the general insights of the field to organize things that are happening right now and explain connections that are obvious to pros, but not to others.

#OpenAccess from @poppublicsphere.bsky.social -

Institutional Change on Digital Platforms: Temporal Shifts in the Power of Users, Businesses, and States - cup.org/42EiCeo

- Sverrir Steinsson

#FirstView

NOW OUT ON FIRSTVIEW!!

Institutional Change on #Digital #Platforms: Temporal Shifts in the #Power of #Users, #Businesses, & #States

By @sverrir.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1017/S153...

Grateful to @eunajo.bsky.social for writing this so promptly after South Korean President Yoon’s impeachment.

There’s multiple parallels to the US (perils of presidentialism, polarized parties, citizens “nostalgic” for an authoritarian past) that it’s hard not to see them.

Super interesting

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

We found it surprising at how little was written on Emotions and Global Governance, so @jittipm.bsky.social and I wrote this essay for the Oxford Handbook on Emotions and IR (edited by @simonkoschut.bsky.social & @andrewagross.bsky.social) :)

Best of 2024 Playlist · Sverrir Steinsson · 100 items · 4 saves

2024 has been an incredible year of music. Definitely the greatest year of music of my adult life. My favorites: open.spotify.com/playlist/2Jq...

International impacts of historic French no-confidence vote | Watch News Videos Online Watch International impacts of historic French no-confidence vote Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

I joined @globalnews.ca this morning to discuss the crisis plaguing French politics & its implications for Europe. Will post the extended/full interview once it’s live, but here’s my condensed 5-minute takeaway! @uoft.bsky.social globalnews.ca/video/109146...

South Korea's president briefly declared martial law. President Yoon’s approval rating hit a record low, at just 19 percent, last week. So what's behind his declaration of martial law?

In an explainer for @goodauth.bsky.social, I share some historical and contemporary context to martial law in South Korea and Yoon's botched attempt yesterday.

goodauthority.org/news/martial...

South Korea's president briefly declared martial law. President Yoon’s approval rating hit a record low, at just 19 percent, last week. So what's behind his declaration of martial law?

🇰🇷 S. Korea's president invoked martial law—then revoked it just 6 hours later. What caused this unprecedented move? And what’s next for Yoon Suk Yeol? Read @eunajo.bsky.social's piece on @goodauth.bsky.social: goodauthority.org/news/martial... #SouthKorea #Polisky

Iceland's elections including shift to pro-European parties, made me re-check the book edited by Baldur Þórhallsson: Small States and Shelter Theory - Iceland's external affairs.

@danjdevine.bsky.social @stennikr.bsky.social @sverrir.bsky.social #iceland #international #eu #europe #microstate

2/ The starting point must be @sverrir.bsky.social article on the organization of Wikipedia.

The article shows how Wikipedia transformed from a dubious source of information to an increasingly reliable one, partly because the editors who supported fringe content left.

doi.org/10.1017/S000....

A Nordic Caucus at the ISA - Online petition Statement in Support of Establishing a Nordic Caucus at the International Studies Association (ISA) I support the establishment of a new Nordic Caucus (NOCA) at the International Studies Association (...

Dear academic friends and members of the ISA. Please take a minute to read and sign this!

www.openpetition.eu/petition/onl...

Action Intent Links | Bluesky Authors, websites, and apps can use action intent links to implement "Share on Bluesky" buttons, or similar in-app actions. Logged-in users will be directed to the corresponding action view in the Blu...

We strongly suggest that academic publishers and other platforms that host research rapidly implement a Share to Bluesky button for their articles. Here's how:

docs.bsky.app/docs/advance...

#AcademicSky #HigherEd #Altmetrics

In a sea of disinformation, why is Wikipedia so accurate? Wikipedia was once an unreliable source, used as a tool for advancing biased agendas. Today, it's extraordinarily accurate, a modern wonder in a world defined by disinformation. How did that happen?

I wrote about how Wikipedia has evolved into one of the more reliable sources on an internet awash with junk, AI-generated sludge, and toxic lies. www.forkingpaths.co/p/in-a-sea-o...

A few pictures from an open lecture I gave at Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in Kaohsiung a few weeks ago.

The talk was on Icelandic IR and the field of Small State Studies.