Hello everyone. After 15.5 years, I will shortly be closing my Twitter account. It's a shame, I've mostly enjoyed using it, but I do not see a path back under the current ownership. I am on bluesky at @georgegilbert.bsky.social
Please drop me a DM if you wish to stay in touch.
Signing in for the first time in a while to promote an event @AndyWillimott is coming to @UosCeees on 16 October to talk about his very innovative and interesting research. Please share to all relevant networks, we have plenty of space for online sign-ups https://t.co/A5Ae5vbcPK
Taking a break for a while. Will be on Instagram and via email if you want to get hold of me! Thanks for the messages about book contract and promotion, cheers.
Been obvious for a long time what a divided and unhappy society the UK is. I worry it’s reaching its terminus as one that functions effectively. Why is this? It’s massively polarised with little unity. If a big riot kicked off in London I doubt the police or courts could cope.
Delighted to say I have signed a contract with @RoutledgeHist@routledgebooks for a textbook 'New directions in late imperial Russia' that I will co-write with my amazing colleague Jen Keating. Thanks to the five peer reviewers. Looking forward to getting started- due early 2027.
As someone who has worked on this in a markedly different context protest politics never draws on uniform support: crowds aren’t homogenous and contain numerous interlocking and sometimes contrasting ideas. Supporters and critics will pick and choose the bits they want to stress.
Any large instance of ‘contentious politics’ (riots, spikey protests, insurrection) will generally draw upon a wide cross-section of people and grievances. Supporters will say it’s ideologically homogenous. Critics will say it’s just criminals & reprobates. Both are wrong 1/4
@MMoffski That you can't find much is a good sign! There's a lot to say I think: conscientious objectors (I know they were about but on a smaller scale than in WW1). Pacifism/anti-war left. Far right opposition/BUF with Nazi sympathies and ties. No idea myself of numbers.
@MMoffski Thank you Michelle. Yes, everything I've written has been on late imperial Russia. I don't know anyone personally who works on SWW Britain though it's an interesting topic. My go-to 'general' work on contentious politics is work of Charles Tilly.
There are some interesting people on Twitter and there are pluses, but, in light of recent events, a case for engagement is becoming harder to sustain…