Tarik Abou-Chadi

Tarik Abou-Chadi

@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Professor of European Politics at Nuffield College, University of Oxford. Elections, parties, social democracy & the radical right. he/him. 🏳️‍🌈

22.5K followers844 following1.6K posts

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Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Very happy to share that I am going to be the new Director of the Democracy unit at the @wzb.bsky.social Berlin Social Science Center. I am excited to form a new research unit on democratic politics and to engage with people in Berlin and elsewhere to make liberal democracy more resilient.

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Many comments on the great election victories in Brazil and Serbia state that the authorian right is in decline or that voters have rejected far-right authoritarianism. That is a wrong interpretation of what happened. Progressive movements mobilized and beat the authoritarian right. That's different

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

We need to stop always making the far right the subject of political agency and the object of voter decisions in our analyses of contemporary politics. The success of the far right is not inevitable. But single elections do not signal the end of the far-right threat to our democracies.

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Instead we should focus on which messages, ideas, and visions beyond "we need to beat the far right" have mobilized large parts of society. We should understand the organizational structures behind these victories and acknowledge that they are about more than defending the status quo.

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Andrej Cvetić
@andrejcvetic.bsky.social

Replying to @tabouchadi.bsky.social

To add to this, the role of young people in #Serbia was that they also empowered other generations of rather apathetic voters! Perseverance of young people prompted many to re-evaluate their own engagement young people in #Serbia which made #democracy work in the end.

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

What a monumental success in Serbia. Young people coming together, believing in change and fighting for a better future. It should be a lesson for democracies around the globe. Our democracies can only work when young people are represented and empowered, when engagement goes beyond career politics.

Europe Elects@europeelects.bsky.social

Serbia: The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS-EPP) has admitted defeat in today's parliamentary elections. The Student List (SL-*) has won a majority of votes. #Serbia #Srbija #Izbori2026

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Throughout Europe, young people are demanding radical change. For a long time, the compromise offered by European social democracy read something like this: we provide incremental change to improve people's lives. Incrementalism equals realism and radicalism equals idealism. While we may believe ...

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Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Today, however, do we still believe that incrementalism is a realistic road to improvements in people's lives? In a world of climate crisis, wars, and genocide. Where billionaires use their fortunes to shape public opinion and election outcomes. Has radicalism become the more realistic option?

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

The far right has already tapped into people's insecurities and perceptions of threat. In response, the left has become a conservative defender of the status quo. There is no scenario of the future that includes radical change and is positive and progressive. But people desire exactly that.

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Throughout Europe, young people are demanding radical change. For a long time, the compromise offered by European social democracy read something like this: we provide incremental change to improve people's lives. Incrementalism equals realism and radicalism equals idealism. While we may believe ...

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

in more radical ideas, implementing them is not realistic. We focus on delivering improvements through incremental change. Since the 90s radicalism and ideology itself became less important for social democratic parties. They became "problem solvers". Electorally, their focus was on valence.

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Life in the UK is increasingly structured by segregationist policies against trans and queer people in its major institutions. Queer and especially trans people are being ostracized from public life. Driven by a Labour Party that is run by transphobes and those too spineless to stand up to them.

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Alexander Wuttke
@kunkakom.bsky.social

Wer kennt deutsche „Werbespots für die Demokratie“? Für eine Studie untersuchen wir die Wirkung solcher Spots und suchen noch Beispiele: kurze Videos unter 3 Minuten, die als TV- oder Kinowerbung funktionieren könnten und für die Demokratie und pro-demokratisches Wählen werben

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Für die @republik.ch, haben @lwestheuser.bsky.social und ich über den Mythos des Rechtsrucks der Arbeiterklasse geschrieben. Empirisch falsch und basierend auf einem Zerrbild hält er die Linke davon ab, Arbeiter:innen effektiv anzusprechen und zu mobilisieren. www.republik.ch/2026/10/19/d...

republik.chDie Arbeiterklasse ist nicht rechtsTrotz der AfD-Erfolge sind die Arbeiter nicht an den Rechts­radikalismus verloren. Was muss die Linke nun tun?

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Maximilian Pichl
@maxpichl.bsky.social

"Für linke Parteien ist dieser Perspektivwechsel von strategischer Relevanz, weil sich so erklärt, warum der Versuch, Arbeiter durch einen konservativen Turn 'zurückzuholen' nie funktioniert (...)", so @lwestheuser.bsky.social ergänzend bei LinkedIn. Danke dafür.

Linus Westheuser@lwestheuser.bsky.social

@tabouchadi.bsky.social und ich schlagen einen neuen Blick auf das Verhältnis von Arbeiter:innen und AfD vor. Die Arbeiterklasse ist nicht nach rechts gerückt. Stattdessen wurde ihr rechter Flügel mobilisiert, ihr linker demobilisiert. Für linke Parteien birgt das strategische Potenziale. Mehr hier:

republik.chDie Arbeiterklasse ist nicht rechtsTrotz der AfD-Erfolge sind die Arbeiter nicht an den Rechts­radikalismus verloren. Was muss die Linke nun tun?

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Linus Westheuser
@lwestheuser.bsky.social

@tabouchadi.bsky.social und ich schlagen einen neuen Blick auf das Verhältnis von Arbeiter:innen und AfD vor. Die Arbeiterklasse ist nicht nach rechts gerückt. Stattdessen wurde ihr rechter Flügel mobilisiert, ihr linker demobilisiert. Für linke Parteien birgt das strategische Potenziale. Mehr hier:

republik.chDie Arbeiterklasse ist nicht rechtsTrotz der AfD-Erfolge sind die Arbeiter nicht an den Rechts­radikalismus verloren. Was muss die Linke nun tun?
Linus Westheuser@lwestheuser.bsky.social

Man sieht auch absolut keinen Rechtsruck unter Arbeiter:innen, wenn man Rechts-Links-Positionierungen anschaut. Der Teil der Arbeiterklasse, der vorher schon rechts war, hat in der AfD eine Partei gefunden. Linke Arbeiter wurden dagegen vergessen und demobilisiert.

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Steve Akehurst
@steveakehurst.bsky.social

NEW: How robust is opinion change on Brexit/Brexit @persuasionuk.bsky.social research properly stress tested it. We find a fair bit of softness. We think headline Rejoin support is more like 52 v 48% (!) rather than ~64-36% you see in polls. Not fatal for Rejoin but worth paying attention to🧵

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Wenn man sehen will woher die bizarrsten Diskurse und Argumente der Woche kommen, muss man nur 5 Minuten auf X verbringen. Im aufgeplusterten Machismo vorgetragen, selbstreferentiell undifferenziert angetrieben, von rechts beklatscht. X verdummt euch. Enttäuschend dass Wissenschaftler da mitmachen.

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

For my new research unit Politics of Democracy at the Berlin Social Science Center @wzb.bsky.social, we have 3 open research positions. 2 postdocs: 4 + 2 years (100%) 1 doc: 2 years (75%) Starting date: 1 March 2027 (negotiable) Application deadline: 1 November

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Jacobin Magazin
@jacobinmagazin.bsky.social

»Die Auflösung der Christdemokratie und ihr Aufgehen in dieser rechtsradikalen Ideologie – das ist wirklich der Tipping Point für die liberale Demokratie«, sagt @tabouchadi.bsky.social im Interview.

jacobin.deDie Fragmentierung der Sozialdemokratie bestärkt die radikale RechteDer Rückhalt für die traditionellen Volksparteien ist so schwach wie noch nie. Im Interview erklärt Politikwissenschaftler Tarik Abou-Chadi, warum die AfD von dieser Dynamik so stark profitiert und was linke Parteien seiner Meinung nach anders machen müssen, um den Trend aufzuhalten.
Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Mit @jacobinmagazin.bsky.social habe ich über die Krise der Volksparteien gesprochen, über die Spätfolgen von Third Way und Neuer Mitte und wie das alles zum erstarken der AfD und anderer radikal rechter Parteien beiträgt. (Überschrift nicht besonders passend) jacobin.de/spd-afd-frag...

jacobin.deDie Fragmentierung der Sozialdemokratie bestärkt die radikale RechteDer Rückhalt für die traditionellen Volksparteien ist so schwach wie noch nie. Im Interview erklärt Politikwissenschaftler Tarik Abou-Chadi, warum die AfD von dieser Dynamik so stark profitiert und wa...
Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

"Dann verspreche ich der fragwürdigen Sippschaft dahinten, dann brechen für euch andere Zeiten an." - mann muss sich mal einen Moment Zeit nehmen für diesen Satz. Und dann darüber nachdenken wie diese Leute gerade politisch ermächtigt und diskursiv verharmlost und verklärt werden.

Julian Schmitz@jschmitzleipzig.bsky.social

Der Vizepräsident des Landtags von Sachsen-Anhalt hat den Sound der 30er Jahre für sich entdeckt. 🤮

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Tausense Menschen die zusammengepfercht werden, gezielt ausgehungert, geschlagen, gefoltert, terrorisiert. Deutschland unterstützt diese Politik. Kritischer Diskurs wird unterdrückt. Wir haben kollektiv schlicht aufgehört Palästinenser als Menschen zu betrachten. Das ist unsere Staatsräson.

Yair Wallach@yairwallach.bsky.social

Haaretz's detailed story on the Israeli gulags, in which nearly 10,000 Palestinians are held, vast majority of them have not been charged or convicted. These are crimes against humanity. archive.ph/LdVXQ

archive.pharchive.ph

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Vorstellungsrunden 👻²
@andanotherguy.bsky.social

"Sie sind hier nicht erwünscht" Der Präsident der Jüdischen Studierendenunion Ron Dekel und andere Juden_Jüdinnen positionierten sich heute vor dem Eingang zur Synagoge in Halle um zu verhindern, dass ein weiterer Rechtsextremist diese betritt. #Halle

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Saul Staniforth
@saulstaniforth.bsky.social

"The last thing I did is the report on Gaza naming what is happening there as genocide. One of the main reactions to that report [was] paying tribute to me for my courage.. why would you need courage to speak the truth?" Navi Pillay upon winning the 2026 Nobel peace prize

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Yossi Bartal
@yossibartal.bsky.social

Die ehemalige UN-Menschenrechtskommissarin Navanethem Pillay bekommt den Friedensnobelpreis. Zur Erinnerung: Vor vier Jahren wurde die südafrikanische Juristin von der Bürgermeisterin von Berlin wegen Antisemitismus-Vorwürfen boykottiert und ein Event mit ihr in Räumen des Rathauses verboten.

zeit.deVerleihung: Friedensmedaille an Pillay: Giffey sagt Teilnahme abHier finden Sie Informationen zu dem Thema „Verleihung“. Lesen Sie jetzt „Friedensmedaille an Pillay: Giffey sagt Teilnahme ab“.
Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

This illustrates pretty well what an essential building block transphobia and anti-queerness have become in the contemporary far right. Unfortunately, in many countries (and especially in the UK) transphobia has been mainstreamed and legitimized even more than nativism. Including in academia.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Q: How do you define socialism personally? JD VANCE: I think in reality what it actually means in the American context is you want to replace American workers with foreigners workers, and you want boys to play in girls' sports

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Let me just say that anecdotally the mood of immigrants on the other side of academia is very much “get out of here, no matter what it takes.” A combination of nativist immigration policy and a complete disregard for higher education. Destroying a sector that this country could be proud of.

Times Higher Education (THE)@timeshighered.bsky.social

Visa applications to study in the UK fell by 10.3 per cent for the key recruitment month of September, new Home Office figures show. @jgro-the.bsky.social reports #highered #visas #internationalstudents #edusky https://ow.ly/3LSs50ZVPAE

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Wird ein Einzelfall gewesen sein. Bei der Polizei gibt es kein Rassismusproblem.

DER SPIEGEL@spiegel.de

Zur »Belustigung« seiner Kollegen soll ein Polizeibeamter in Frankfurt am Main einen Asylbewerber erniedrigt haben. Der Fall wurde angezeigt, blieb aber elf Monate lang praktisch unbearbeitet liegen.

spiegel.deFrankfurt am Main: Polizist ließ Geflüchteten wegen Abschiebung "betteln"Zur »Belustigung« seiner Kollegen soll ein Polizeibeamter in Frankfurt am Main einen Asylbewerber erniedrigt haben. Der Fall wurde angezeigt, blieb aber elf Monate lang praktisch unbearbeitet liegen.
Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Die SPD täte gut daran kritisch zu hinterfragen, wie sie selbst zum Aufstieg der AfD beigetragen hat („in großem Stile abschieben“). Nachdem man Fehler eingeräumt hat und es ein klares Bekenntnis zu einer anderen Politik gibt, kann man dann auch glaubwürdig Symbolaktionen machen.

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Warum kommen Medien nicht aus ohne diese unsägliche Unterscheidung von Gemäßigten und Hardlinern in der AfD? In der AfD gibt es keine Gemäßigten mehr. Schon gar nicht in Sachsen-Anhalt. Und Tillschneider ist kein Hardliner sondern ein Neonazi.

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

„Wenn irgendjemand von uns die Hand hebt, um mit der AfD zusammenzuarbeiten, dann steht am nächsten Tag ein Parteiausschlussverfahren an.“ Der Test wie es Friedrich Merz hält mit der Demokratie ist jetzt www.zeit.de/politik/deut...

zeit.deCDU und AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt: Hinweise auf erste konkrete Absprache zwischen CDU und AfDDer AfD-Landtagspräsident bekam vier Stimmen mehr als erwartet. Nach Informationen der ZEIT beruht das Ergebnis auf einem Deal mit Vertretern der Union.

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Linus Westheuser
@lwestheuser.bsky.social

It was always clear that David Goodhart's fairy tale of a struggle between rootless cosmopolitans and down-to-earth conservatives ("Anywheres vs Somewheres") was not influential because it was accurate, but because it confirmed the prejudices of right-leaning commentators. Now we have the evidence:

onlinelibrary.wiley.comThe Road to Nowhere: Being Rooted in a Region Does Little to Predict Support for Populist Parties or Opposition to Migration and Social ChangeIn his influential book The road to somewhere David Goodhart claims that a split between a majority of people who are rooted in particular places or groups (the “Somewheres”) and a minority of people...
Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Es droht die Wahl eines rechtsextremen Ministerpräsidenten. Im DLF Interview geht es stattdessen um Enteignungen, Neukölln und Wahlpartys. Der ÖRR versagt seit Jahren in seiner Verantwortung für die Demokratie. Kritik perlt ab. Kein Diskurs, keine Reflexion. Einfach weiter so. Bis zur Abschaffung.

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Francesco Raffaelli
@fraraffaelli.bsky.social

I can only recommend working in this group, the WZB, and (to an extent, at least for some months of the year) Berlin. This is possibly the best job I’ve seen on the 🇪🇺 market in the last few years

Tarik Abou-Chadi@tabouchadi.bsky.social

For my new research unit Politics of Democracy at the Berlin Social Science Center @wzb.bsky.social, we have 3 open research positions. 2 postdocs: 4 + 2 years (100%) 1 doc: 2 years (75%) Starting date: 1 March 2027 (negotiable) Application deadline: 1 November

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

Man könnte das was links ist auch einfach weiterhin links nennen und dafür selbstbewusst eintreten und einstehen. Damit einen Wettbwerb um tatsächliche Ideen generieren wie man den notwendigen Umbau von Staat und Gesellschaft organisiert anstatt darum wer nun die eigentliche imaginierte Mitte ist.

Katharina Dröge, MdB@katharinadroege.bsky.social

Ist die Mitte links? Oder nennen die Konservativen etwas links, das immer schon Mitte war? Fest steht: Eine Mehrheit der Menschen wünscht sich eine sozialere Politik. www.zeit.de/politik/deut...

zeit.deKatharina Dröge: »Die Mitte in Deutschland tickt eigentlich links«Friedrich Merz regiere verheerend schlecht, sagt Katharina Dröge. Nur, was kommt danach? Warum die Fraktionschefin der Grünen Grün-Rot-Rot für eine gute Option hält.
Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

If you want to understand something about why East Germany is and remains different beyond the oversimplified explanations you often find, you should check out this thread by Jacob

Jacob Edenhofer@jacobedenhofer.bsky.social

German Reunification Day invites both gratitude and reflection. Gratitude, because the peaceful revolution of 1989 was nothing short of a miracle — a bloodless dismantling of a repressive regime. Reflection, because the wounds of the transition still mark the country —and because

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

For my new research unit Politics of Democracy at the Berlin Social Science Center @wzb.bsky.social, we have 3 open research positions. 2 postdocs: 4 + 2 years (100%) 1 doc: 2 years (75%) Starting date: 1 March 2027 (negotiable) Application deadline: 1 November

Tarik Abou-Chadi
@tabouchadi.bsky.social

In the position, you would conduct independent and collaborative research broadly in line with the research focus of the unit and help build the unit's research profile and public outreach program. There is no teaching obligation. Job ad postdocs: wzb.eu/de/node/91672

wzb.euTwo Postdoctoral Researchers (f/m/x) (ID 422)For its future department “Politics of Democracy” (Director: Professor Dr. Tarik Abou-Chadi), the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) is looking for  two Postdoctoral Researchers (f/m/x)...

Tarik Abou-Chadi reposted

Lily Mason
@lilymasonphd.bsky.social

My new JOD piece arguing against the “cure polarization” approach to saving democracy.

Journal of Democracy@jodemocracy.bsky.social

Americans have never been angrier with one another. But polarization is not the disease—it is the response to a revanchist movement seeking to roll back sixty years of social progress. 🆕 by @lilymasonphd.bsky.social muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...