William Bain
@wbain.bsky.social
Professor of International Relations, National University of Singapore. International Relations | History of International Thought | Political Theology
Pinned
William Bain
@wbain.bsky.social
· Dec 4
Modern international order is a worldly application of a theological pattern
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Reposted by William Bain
This is one of the best books on the Enlightenment I’ve read in a good while, and it’s timely on the problem of people ruling empires to enrich themselves, national interest as a destructive mania, and revolutions that don’t deliver
April 30, 2026 at 6:36 PM
This is one of the best books on the Enlightenment I’ve read in a good while, and it’s timely on the problem of people ruling empires to enrich themselves, national interest as a destructive mania, and revolutions that don’t deliver
Reposted by William Bain
Since the beginning of the War in Iran, Pegah Banihashemi and I have argued that it is unlikely to end quickly. The dynamics we've highlighted (regime resiliency; incompatible interests between the belligerents) persist. That's why we argued a week ago in TIME that the ceasefire wouldn't last
Why the U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Won’t Last
"The ceasefire is barely a tactical pause between actors whose core objectives remain fundamentally unchanged," write Pegah Banihashemi and Paul Poast
time.com
April 19, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Since the beginning of the War in Iran, Pegah Banihashemi and I have argued that it is unlikely to end quickly. The dynamics we've highlighted (regime resiliency; incompatible interests between the belligerents) persist. That's why we argued a week ago in TIME that the ceasefire wouldn't last
Reposted by William Bain
"The History of Political Thought as Window on the World" - an interesting new autobiographical essay by John Dunn
@thecambridgeschool.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@thecambridgeschool.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The History of Political Thought as Window on the World
Everyone understands politics through their own life. The range of experiences that led me to spend mine thinking about politics preceded my experience of the challenges and opportunities of studyi...
www.tandfonline.com
April 16, 2026 at 2:14 PM
"The History of Political Thought as Window on the World" - an interesting new autobiographical essay by John Dunn
@thecambridgeschool.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@thecambridgeschool.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by William Bain
Really getting sick and tired of all the winning. www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
With gas prices on the rise, Trump officials discuss feared $150 oil
The White House braces for a potential oil spike to $150 or higher as the Iran war chokes supply.
www.politico.com
April 1, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Really getting sick and tired of all the winning. www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
Reposted by William Bain
Last lecture of SocSci H1F: Explanation in the Social Sciences, the class that @laurennross.bsky.social and I co-teach at UCI. The class brings together the philosophy of science on explanation with case studies from International Relations, illustrating how explanation matters for social science. 🧵
March 10, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Last lecture of SocSci H1F: Explanation in the Social Sciences, the class that @laurennross.bsky.social and I co-teach at UCI. The class brings together the philosophy of science on explanation with case studies from International Relations, illustrating how explanation matters for social science. 🧵
Reposted by William Bain
Reposted by William Bain
Now on Cranky: Nat Pieper Tackles the Tall Task of Fixing American’s Revenue Problems crankyflier.com/2026/02/09/n...
Nat Pieper Tackles the Tall Task of Fixing American’s Revenue Problems – Cranky Flier
Nat Pieper Tackles the Tall Task of Fixing American’s Revenue Problems
crankyflier.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Now on Cranky: Nat Pieper Tackles the Tall Task of Fixing American’s Revenue Problems crankyflier.com/2026/02/09/n...
Reposted by William Bain
This was a super fun episode of @theairshowpodcast.com. @briansumers.com and I went deep into aircraft design to explain the 787-10 and its recent surge in popularity with U.S. Alaska, United and Delta. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
The 787-10 is having a moment
Podcast Episode · The Air Show · 01/22/2026 · 24m
podcasts.apple.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:02 PM
This was a super fun episode of @theairshowpodcast.com. @briansumers.com and I went deep into aircraft design to explain the 787-10 and its recent surge in popularity with U.S. Alaska, United and Delta. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Reposted by William Bain
How have ideas of relational equality developed in the past 100 years? ⚖️
Don't miss this forthcoming #London #Lecture by TRIP President @jowolff.bsky.social, Social Equality: Then and Now.
🎟️ Get tickets here: buff.ly/WQ4gFXS
#politicalphilosophy #socialequality #philosophy
Don't miss this forthcoming #London #Lecture by TRIP President @jowolff.bsky.social, Social Equality: Then and Now.
🎟️ Get tickets here: buff.ly/WQ4gFXS
#politicalphilosophy #socialequality #philosophy
January 19, 2026 at 8:45 AM
How have ideas of relational equality developed in the past 100 years? ⚖️
Don't miss this forthcoming #London #Lecture by TRIP President @jowolff.bsky.social, Social Equality: Then and Now.
🎟️ Get tickets here: buff.ly/WQ4gFXS
#politicalphilosophy #socialequality #philosophy
Don't miss this forthcoming #London #Lecture by TRIP President @jowolff.bsky.social, Social Equality: Then and Now.
🎟️ Get tickets here: buff.ly/WQ4gFXS
#politicalphilosophy #socialequality #philosophy
Reposted by William Bain
The UN80 Initiative, a plan to restructure the United Nations, aims to make it more agile in responding to global challenges—but its proposed budget cuts and agency consolidations have drawn scrutiny.
Here’s a rundown ⬇️
Here’s a rundown ⬇️
The UN80 Initiative: What to Know About the United Nations’ Reform Plan
As the UN General Assembly convenes for its eightieth session, one major topic of debate is the secretary-general’s internal reform plan, which proposes significant budget cuts and agency consolidati…
www.cfr.org
September 15, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The UN80 Initiative, a plan to restructure the United Nations, aims to make it more agile in responding to global challenges—but its proposed budget cuts and agency consolidations have drawn scrutiny.
Here’s a rundown ⬇️
Here’s a rundown ⬇️
Reposted by William Bain
Seizing the $300 billion in Russian assets immobilized in Western jurisdictions and allocating them to Ukraine would send a strong signal that there is little light at the end of the tunnel for Russia's economy.
The ‘Fortress Russia’ economy has adapted well to pressure. But stagflation presents an opportunity for the West
Now could be the time to ratchet up sanctions pressure on Putin and change Moscow’s risk analysis of prolonging the war.
www.chathamhouse.org
September 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Seizing the $300 billion in Russian assets immobilized in Western jurisdictions and allocating them to Ukraine would send a strong signal that there is little light at the end of the tunnel for Russia's economy.
Reposted by William Bain
The Tianjin summit shows that the Russia-China alliance is as strong as ever. Truly no-limits. If Trump thought he could "pull" Russia away from China, he was mistaken. As I explain in my latest for @wpr.bsky.social, you can't manipulate major powers.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com/us-trump-rus...
www.worldpoliticsreview.com/us-trump-rus...
The Myth of Great Power Manipulation
The idea that Trump is swaying Russia’s and India’s foreign policies misses a key point about great power politics.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
September 1, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The Tianjin summit shows that the Russia-China alliance is as strong as ever. Truly no-limits. If Trump thought he could "pull" Russia away from China, he was mistaken. As I explain in my latest for @wpr.bsky.social, you can't manipulate major powers.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com/us-trump-rus...
www.worldpoliticsreview.com/us-trump-rus...
Reposted by William Bain
1/9 Reminder, we do medieval history! "Violence and Order: Past and Present", a SI edited by Warren C. Brown (Caltech), @rorycox.bsky.social (St Andrews), & Jennifer Jahner (Caltech), explores medieval "meanings of and relationships between violence and order" www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
August 10, 2025 at 8:18 AM
1/9 Reminder, we do medieval history! "Violence and Order: Past and Present", a SI edited by Warren C. Brown (Caltech), @rorycox.bsky.social (St Andrews), & Jennifer Jahner (Caltech), explores medieval "meanings of and relationships between violence and order" www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The last pod from @fplgeneral.bsky.social before the launch of FPL!
Once you've finalised your Gw1 squad, listen to the 10 Tips for FPL Success section on this week's episode 👍 #FPL
pod.fo/e/310083
pod.fo/e/310083
The 59th Minute FPL Podcast: GW1: No Salah, No Haaland, No Problem
GW1: No Salah, No Haaland, No ProblemThe FPL General previews GW1!➡️ Sign up for FFScout in Pre-season and save 47%!⚽ https://bit.ly/FFScoutGeneral➡️ Support me on Patreon:...
pod.fo
August 15, 2025 at 8:27 AM
The last pod from @fplgeneral.bsky.social before the launch of FPL!
Latest pod from @fplgeneral.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Latest pod from @fplgeneral.bsky.social
Reposted by William Bain
Countries like Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Poland are openly reconsidering their nuclear postures in light of eroding US security guarantees.
Eighty years on from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world should not forget the devastation wrought by nuclear weapons
The breakdown of nuclear diplomacy, misleading talk of ‘limited’ nuclear war and a lack of public awareness have produced a dangerously heightened risk.
www.chathamhouse.org
August 7, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Countries like Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Poland are openly reconsidering their nuclear postures in light of eroding US security guarantees.
FPL is back!
August 5, 2025 at 12:51 AM
FPL is back!
New from Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, one of the most perceptive scholars of religion and politics. A timely book on a crucially important issue
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Heaven Has a Wall
An urgent exploration of borders as sacred objects in American culture. Our national conversation about the border has taken a religious turn. When televangelists declare, “Heaven has a wall,” activ...
press.uchicago.edu
June 22, 2025 at 3:35 PM
New from Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, one of the most perceptive scholars of religion and politics. A timely book on a crucially important issue
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Come work with me at NUS Political Science. We are looking for an outstanding scholar and administrator to serve as head of department. The appointment is at the rank of full professor; research area is open. Please contact me directly for further information.
careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Professo...
careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Professo...
Professor & Head of Department (Political Science)
Professor & Head of Department (Political Science)
careers.nus.edu.sg
May 28, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Come work with me at NUS Political Science. We are looking for an outstanding scholar and administrator to serve as head of department. The appointment is at the rank of full professor; research area is open. Please contact me directly for further information.
careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Professo...
careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Professo...
The grand finale from @fplgeneral.bsky.social
May 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The grand finale from @fplgeneral.bsky.social
Reposted by William Bain
Why do we have such difficulty making sense of our current moment? I brainstorm some possible answers
www.theideasletter.org/essay/certai...
www.theideasletter.org/essay/certai...
Certainty and Strange Thoughts - The Ideas Letter
Zarakol reflects on the collapse of the post–Cold War liberal international order and contrasts today's disorientation with the bold, definitive visions offered by thinkers like Fukuyama, Huntington, ...
www.theideasletter.org
May 19, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Why do we have such difficulty making sense of our current moment? I brainstorm some possible answers
www.theideasletter.org/essay/certai...
www.theideasletter.org/essay/certai...
Reposted by William Bain
A new, free Europe Dispatch column by @alanderminna.bsky.social is out. She talks about the difficulty European states are facing balancing their commitment to Ukraine and their need not to have a rupture with the USA. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Playing Along in Trump’s Ceasefire Charade
In this week’s Europe Dispatch, Minna Ålander looks at the chaotic day in Istanbul from Europe’s perspective.
open.substack.com
May 16, 2025 at 9:34 AM
A new, free Europe Dispatch column by @alanderminna.bsky.social is out. She talks about the difficulty European states are facing balancing their commitment to Ukraine and their need not to have a rupture with the USA. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by William Bain
Read Professor Kimberly Hutchings 2023 EH Carr Memorial Lecture given @interpolaber.bsky.social online first:
Resisting the canon: critique, abolition and doing epistemic justice in reading the history of international thought
Authored by Kimberly Hutchings
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Resisting the canon: critique, abolition and doing epistemic justice in reading the history of international thought
Authored by Kimberly Hutchings
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Resisting the canon: critique, abolition and doing epistemic justice in reading the history of international thought - Kimberly Hutchings, 2025
The paper proceeds in two main sections. First, it sketches out the nature of critique as a de-canonising practice within IR theory and how critique has itself ...
journals.sagepub.com
May 15, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Read Professor Kimberly Hutchings 2023 EH Carr Memorial Lecture given @interpolaber.bsky.social online first:
Resisting the canon: critique, abolition and doing epistemic justice in reading the history of international thought
Authored by Kimberly Hutchings
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Resisting the canon: critique, abolition and doing epistemic justice in reading the history of international thought
Authored by Kimberly Hutchings
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by William Bain
📢 New Blog
Or Rosenboim (@orrosenboim.bsky.social) explores 'Planetary Orders and Global Divisions in the Political Thought of Barbara Ward'
intellectualhistory.web.ox.ac.uk/article/plan...
Or Rosenboim (@orrosenboim.bsky.social) explores 'Planetary Orders and Global Divisions in the Political Thought of Barbara Ward'
intellectualhistory.web.ox.ac.uk/article/plan...
Planetary Orders and Global Divisions in the Political Thought of Barbara Ward
intellectualhistory.web.ox.ac.uk
May 15, 2025 at 7:55 AM
📢 New Blog
Or Rosenboim (@orrosenboim.bsky.social) explores 'Planetary Orders and Global Divisions in the Political Thought of Barbara Ward'
intellectualhistory.web.ox.ac.uk/article/plan...
Or Rosenboim (@orrosenboim.bsky.social) explores 'Planetary Orders and Global Divisions in the Political Thought of Barbara Ward'
intellectualhistory.web.ox.ac.uk/article/plan...
A spicy title from @dandrezner.bsky.social along with characteristically good insight
I am, how you say, sorry not sorry for asking the question in this manner. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/why-is-don...
Why Is Donald Trump So Horny for Territory?
My latest for Reason, on Trump's ardent desire to expand U.S. borders.
danieldrezner.substack.com
May 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
A spicy title from @dandrezner.bsky.social along with characteristically good insight