Democratic backsliding occurs incrementally, but the empirical study of how citizens respond to undemocratic politicians has been predominantly static. I formulate and test predictions about how different sequences of backsliding shape accountability.

(with Bryce Dietrich)

Why do some ethnic groups produce local political leaders while others do not? We argue that the spatial distribution of ethnic groups within cities -- particularly their concentration into ethnic enclaves -- shapes political candidate emergence. Ethnic enclaves facilitate leadership by reducing mobilization costs, enabling targeted public goods provision, and fostering dense social and economic networks. Using a novel approach that combines machine learning classification of candidates' ethnic ancestries with spatial measures of ethnic clustering, we analyze data from 638 U.S.

Why do some individuals choose to betray their country, engage in espionage, or commit acts of terrorism? From Kim Philby to Edward Snowden and from agencies to academia, history is full of figures who have willfully jeopardized national security. What compels people to “cross the line”—and can such dangers be detected in time? In Treason, Terrorism, and Betrayal: Why Individuals Cross the Line, William Costanza employs an interdisciplinary lens to explore the psychological, ideological, and situational factors behind acts of betrayal.

Beyond the headlines and the daily churn of crises, what is happening that escapes our notice? What risks are gathering in the corners of our vision? Which “elephants in the room” remain unspoken, and what blind spots may only become obvious to future generations?

Muzium Pahang and the Contemporary Islamic Studies programme at St Antony's College Oxford present a two-day workshop to explore the fascinating maritime history of the Malay world. The workshop, ‘Pahang and the Sea’ will explore the maritime history of Pahang, Malaysia and its connections with the Islamic world, China and Europe. We have a fantastic line up of experts in the field from the US, UK, Europe and Malaysia who will be sharing their knowledge and research with us. Join us for a unique opportunity to network, exchange and learn about the maritime history of Southeast Asia.

Science and technology have been recognized for more than a century as pervasive forces in modern life, profoundly shaping how we as individuals and societies understand the limits of our capacities and the horizons of what we can become. By contrast, law remains for most people the repository of the shared values and instruments with which we govern our lives. On this widely accepted account, facts and artifacts come first and norms afterwards. Whether formal or informal, law tells us how we should behave only in the light of what science makes known and how technologies enable us to act.