Brian J. Phillips

Brian J. Phillips

@brianjphillips.bsky.social

Terrorism, conflict, crime. @uniessexgov.bsky.social. Via Ohio, Camp Lejeune, PGH, CDMX. Co-authored book: "Insurgent Terrorism." https://sites.google.com/site/brianjphillips/home

2.4K followers831 following673 posts

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Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

New article! "When Do Sanctions On Terrorist Groups Work?" with Hyeran Jo and Joshua Alley. A few key points: -Sanctions like the FTO list do not seem to reduce the violence of most FTOs -We look at group "financial adaptability." Only low- or medium-adaptability groups seem affected by sanctions

Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

!

Aron Lund@aronlund.bsky.social

Israeli media, apparently unencumbered by the usual military censorship on matters of national security, reports that IDF CoS Eyal Zamir is trying to block Netanyahu from launching “some kind of military action relating to Iran just before Tuesday’s election”. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

timesofisrael.comReport: In ‘unprecedented confrontation,’ IDF chief resisting carrying out military action ordered by Netanyahu relating to Iran* * *

Brian J. Phillips reposted

Middle East Eye (Unofficial)
@middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social

UK police assess Palestine Action post by security adviser’s wife - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/uk-police-assess-palestine-action-post-security-advisers-wife

middleeasteye.netUK police assess Palestine Action post by security adviser’s wife <article data-history-node-id="449482" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/uk-police-assess-palestine-action-post-security-advisers-wife" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/uk-police-assess-palestine-action-post-security-advisers-wife" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">UK police assess Palestine Action post by security adviser’s wife</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>British police said on Friday they were assessing a social media post after the wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/wife-british-pms-top-adviser-backs-sally-rooney-after-books-withdrawn-over-palestine-action">express support</a> for Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group which was banned as a "terrorist" organisation by the UK government in July 2025.</p> <p>Journalist and author Sarah Helm, who is married to Powell, responded on X to a post about the Irish novelist Sally Rooney, who this week <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/sally-rooneys-books-be-withdrawn-sale-uk-over-palestine-action-support">announced</a> her books would no longer be sold in Britain over her plans to use her royalties to support Palestine Action.</p> <p>Helm said in the post: "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action."</p> <p>In response, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the post was "being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required".</p> <p>Asked for comment, a government spokeswoman said: "These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity."</p> <p>The Labour government’s <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2d0j0ljdzko">proscription</a> of the Palestine Action group means that expressing support for it or being a member is a criminal offence carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years.</p> <p>Human rights organisations have widely denounced the ban as draconian.</p> <p>Thousands of people have been arrested since it came into effect for holding placards expressing support for the group.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action. Sounds like Adam would have all our books swept off the shelves in a jiffy.</p> — Sarah Helm (@SarahHelm1) <a href="https://x.com/SarahHelm1/status/2110676075831238816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> </div> </article>

Brian J. Phillips reposted

Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

Come work with us! The Department of Government at the University of Essex has 2 fully-funded PhD positions (to write a PhD) on democracy and violence starting January 2027. Deadline 11 November. Our broader network has more positions🧵 vacancies.essex.ac.uk/tlive_webrec...

vacancies.essex.ac.ukJob profileApplicants must comply with the MSCA Doctoral Networks mobility requirements: must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date; eligibility will be checked during recruitment.
Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

The two Essex-based positions are co-supervised by (1) Kristian Gleditsch and Simon Chauchard (Carlos III), or (2) me and Jessica Soedirgo (Amsterdam). There's also an Uppsala-based position supervised by Hanne Fjelde (Uppsala) and Ismene Gizelis (Essex). Tremendous team. There are other positions!

Brian J. Phillips reposted

Caileigh Glenn
@caileighglenn.bsky.social

Implications of US and UK sanctions. Palestine Action was designated a terrorist org. by the UK in June 2025 (its designation ruled unlawful in UK court but ban remains), sanctioned by the US in August. Rooney's publisher looks to avoid supporting someone supporting a US+UK sanctioned actor.

Ian Dunt@iandunt.bsky.social

This is all utterly mad and the responsibility lies squarely with the British government www.rte.ie/entertainmen...

rte.ieSally Rooney's books to be withdrawn from sale in the UKFaber has confirmed it will stop supplying Sally Rooney's books in the UK, saying it cannot pay the Irish author royalties because of her pledge to support the banned group Palestine Action.

Brian J. Phillips reposted

Jacob T. Levy
@jacobtlevy.bsky.social

I am way too online for my own good, and I had an unreasonably large twitter following, and I really *enjoyed* twitter for a lot of years, and yet leaving there and never looking back was maybe the easiest what-felt-like-a-big-ethical decision I've ever made.

Brian J. Phillips reposted

Hetan Shah
@hetanshah.bsky.social

Replying to @hetanshah.bsky.social

Overall visa applications in the crucial three-month July-to-September recruitment period are down by 24.7 per cent on 2022 levels, with 230,300 students applying in this window this year compared with 305,800 five years earlier… www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-stud...

timeshighereducation.comUK student visa applications fell sharply in SeptemberLatest Home Office statistics show student visa bids hit five-year low for pivotal recruitment month

Brian J. Phillips reposted

Taniel
@taniel.bsky.social

*so important*: if you’re voting by mail, assume the USPS will delay because it’s its policy. You can: —put it in drop box —go to counter to watch them postmark in front of you —if you’re dropping it in a mailbox, do it VERY EARLY.

Bolts@boltsmag.org

Many states require that mail ballots be postmarked by a specific day. But due to a USPS rule announced late last year, voters may need to put their ballot in a mailbox days in advance.

boltsmag.orgIn an Intense Election Year, New Post Office Rules Could Trip Up Voter Registration - BoltsA change in how mail is postmarked could lead some voters to miss key deadlines, including voter registration. Advocates worry the people most affected will be those already facing voting barriers.

Brian J. Phillips reposted

James Heale
@jaheale.bsky.social

Fun polling by More in Common Tories lead among M&S shoppers - but Reform most popular among Morrisons and Lidl Labour lead in Asda, Aldi and Waitrose (!)

Brian J. Phillips reposted

George Nixon
@georgenixon97.bsky.social

Replying to @samfr.bsky.social

Someone on a call today said the whole thing sounded quite “Four Lions-y” which I think sums it up well. You’d never get a film like that in the states

Brian J. Phillips reposted

nick
@unionnick.bsky.social

On the *same day* the Cornell Seven drugged and raped Jane Doe, Cornell banned four students (including the President of Cornell JVP) from campus for three years for nonviolent, pro-Palestine protests. The same Cornell officials let the rapists off with apology essays.

Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

If you are a US citizen abroad, like me, make a plan to vote! It can take time. Some states require you to snail-mail the ballot. But do it. "Many Americans live in the UK – but few vote back home. This year, that must change" by @kathrynsikkink.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comMany Americans live in the UK – but few vote back home. This year, that must change | Kathryn SikkinkThe rights of overseas voters are protected by US federal law. It’s not hard – but Americans should start planning now
Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

Check this out!

counster.bsky.social@counster.bsky.social

Pleased to share that @ulaserdogdu.bsky.social's article was shortlisted for the Cedric Smith Prize, which recognizes outstanding peace and conflict research by a PhD candidate 🎉 Ulaş's article, published in Review of International Studies, is available open access here doi.org/10.1017/S026...

doi.orgLeadership decapitation in civil war: Leadership arrest and the negotiations between the state and the insurgents | Review of International Studies | Cambridge CoreLeadership decapitation in civil war: Leadership arrest and the negotiations between the state and the insurgents
Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

In the old days, universities did this with Photoshop

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò@olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social

"Stanford University...is facing criticism for using generative AI to change the photo of a Hispanic male student into a non-existent Black woman for a campus banner." feels like a South Park episode. what are we doing here yall www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

sfchronicle.comStanford violated its AI policy by turning a Hispanic student into a fake Black woman in adStanford University is facing criticism for using generative AI to change the photo of a Hispanic male student into a non-existent Black woman for a dining hall advertisement.

Brian J. Phillips reposted

Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

Who could have predicted horrifying violence would emerge after the Sinaloa Cartel lost a high-ranking member? Important story, check it out. Thousands dead, kidnapped, or disappeared. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

giftarticle.ft.comThe cartel civil war tearing apart a Mexican stateThe Sinaloa cartel erupted into conflict in 2024 when the son of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán kidnapped his father’s co-founder and handed him to US authorities
Brian J. Phillips
@brianjphillips.bsky.social

Who could have predicted horrifying violence would emerge after the Sinaloa Cartel lost a high-ranking member? Important story, check it out. Thousands dead, kidnapped, or disappeared. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

giftarticle.ft.comThe cartel civil war tearing apart a Mexican stateThe Sinaloa cartel erupted into conflict in 2024 when the son of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán kidnapped his father’s co-founder and handed him to US authorities