Random thoughts on right-wing terrorism in Germany

Unless you spent the last couple of days under a rock, you will have heard about the terrible series of (at least) ten neo-Nazi murders that has stunned Germany. In my view, three things are particularly remarkable about this crime.

First, the mainstream media including the public broadcasters and the left-liberal press refer to the series as ‘Dönermorde’, i.e. ‘Kebab Killings’, because most of the victims were small businessmen of Turkish origin. This is impious at any rate, and not exactly sensitive in the context of ethnically motivated violence.

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Capitalism, Hobbes, students, and the state: three out of four ain’t bad

300px Thomas Hobbes by John Michael Wright Capitalism, Hobbes, students, and the state: three out of four aint bad
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You couldn’t make up this extract from a student’s essay a friend just sent me: Continue reading “Capitalism, Hobbes, students, and the state: three out of four ain’t bad” »

Turnout, Lakatos, and Case Studies

Lakatos 2 Turnout, Lakatos, and Case Studies
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A few months ago, I published an article on inequality, institutions and turnout in the British Journal of Politics and International Relations that criticised an earlier piece in the same journal. The journal has granted the original author the right to a reply, which seems only fair. I was, however, slightly surprised that I would have the right to respond to that reply. Where does it stop? Anyway, a very short article with the fancy title ‘Lakatos reloaded‘ has been submitted and accepted and will appear in one of the next issues of the BJPIR.

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