LSE Blogs

AIs are designed and trained – by men – to be sexist towards women - LSE Business Review From submissive female virtual assistants to a CV-screening tool that downgraded female candidates, big tech has a sexism problem.

The dangers of in-built gender bias in AI systems.

From submissive female virtual assistants to a CV-screening tool that downgraded female candidates, big tech has a sexism problem, writes @drpragyaagarwal.bsky.social @lborouniversity.bsky.social for @lsebr.bsky.social

US strikes may have turned Iran from a state with latent nuclear capability into one with a nuclear grievance | LSE United States Politics and Policy The attacks may mean that the Iranian regime now sees gaining a nuclear weapon as integral to guaranteeing its own future survival.

US strikes may have turned Iran from a state with latent nuclear capability into one with a nuclear grievance.

@rupalmehta.bsky.social @unlincoln.bsky.social for @lseusablog.bsky.social

Under President Prabowo, Indonesia is pursuing high‑visibility, multi‑directional diplomacy deepening ties with China and Russia, joining BRICS, and engaging in a US-backed peace initiative – Zulfikar Rakhmat @lseideas.bsky.social

Read more 👉 blogs.lse.ac.uk/cff/2026/03/...

Image: Shutterstock

Why enlargement is now a strategic priority for the EU EU enlargement is back on the agenda again in Brussels, but strict democratic standards and internal reforms will be needed to sustain a widening Union.

The politics of belonging – why enlargement is now a strategic priority for the EU.

Vera Spyrakou @lse-ei.bsky.social @lseeuroppblog.bsky.social

Helping employees find “meaning” improves performance and narrows gender gaps - LSE Business Review Motivation which encourages employees to reassess their roles through the lens of purpose helped close gaps in what men and women prioritised at work.

Helping employees find “meaning” improves performance and narrows gender gaps – Oriana Bandiera on @lsebr.bsky.social

The Women’s Library at 100 – seven recommended reads for a new LSE exhibition - LSE Review of Books Heather Dawson's reading list for Women’s History Month 2026 & a new exhibition at LSE Library, The Women’s Library at 100: celebrating a century of collections.

For #InternationalWomensDay, @socialscience2.bsky.social recommends seven books based on a new exhibition celebrating the centenary of The Women's Library @lselibrary.bsky.social

@lsereviewofbooks.bsky.social @fotwl.bsky.social @gillianmurphy.bsky.social #IWD

Do women academics need to work 2.4 times harder to succeed? - LSE Impact What reproducing Wennerås & Wold's classic 1997 study on peer review bias reveals about policymaking and the use of evidence in research policy.

Do women academics need to work 2.4 times harder to succeed?

Ulf Sandström for @lseimpactblog.bsky.social

Donald Trump is changing how men understand masculinity | LSE United States Politics and Policy Between 2018 and 2025, Trump supporting men were more likely to feel even more masculine.

Donald Trump is changing how men understand masculinity.

New research by @dancassino.bsky.social on @lseusablog.bsky.social

The popularity of “new antiquarianism” challenges how we understand research impact - LSE Impact Research in the humanities is not confined to academic institutions. Particularly in history & archaeology where "new antiquarianism" creates public research.

The popularity of “new antiquarianism” (the study and interpretation of the past). challenges how we understand research impact.

@hugheshall.bsky.social for @lseimpactblog.bsky.social

Where will the US-Israeli war in Iran end?

Our latest newsletter is out now 📬 considering this question and the broader geopolitical history of the Middle East.

We also share posts to mark Women's History Month and International Women's Day.

Read more 👉 us21.campaign-archive.com?e=4a56edb876...

Emily Jackson: “We’ve gone from thinking the world is massively overpopulated to worrying about falling birth rates” - LSE European Politics Emily Jackson discusses how declining fertility will shape the societies of the future and what governments can – and can’t – do about it.

Should we be concerned at falling birth rates across the world?

In an interview taken from the latest LSE iQ podcast @lseeuroppblog.bsky.social Emily Jackson @lselaw.bsky.social discusses how declining fertility will shape future societies and what governments can – and can’t – do about it.

From Peripheral Players to Game Changers: Regional States and States-to-be in International Relations - Middle East Centre For decades, IR was explained through a simple divide: powerful 'core' states and weaker 'peripheral' regions. That no longer holds, argues Charountaki.

Politics in the Middle East have shifted: alongside global powers, states like Turkey, Iran & influential non‑state actors now shape outcomes.

Sustainable political change requires frameworks that involve all key actors in the region’s future, writes Marianna Charountaki @lsemiddleeast.bsky.social

Who supports Reform and the Greens? | LSE British Politics Following the Gorton and Denton byelection results, Paul Whiteley breaks down the demographics of the supporters of Reform UK and the Greens.

In the UK, last week's Gorton & Denton byelection (where the Greens' Hannah Spencer won) confirmed that Labour, the Conservatives and the two-party system are in trouble.

Paul Whiteley @universityofessex.bsky.social unpacks the demographics of the Parties' supporters on @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social

Mediterranean dockworkers are striking to protest against war - LSE Business Review Action targeted the militarisation of commercial ports with dockworkers threatening action to prevent arms being shipped to be used in Gaza. How will they respond to the war in Iran?

Dockworkers are striking to protest against war, targeting militarisation and arms shipments through commercial ports.

Prateek Dhabhai on how this fits into the history of unionised labour, reveals vulnerabilities in supply chains & how critical infrastructure can be politicised @lsebr.bsky.social

The US war on Iran has vague deadlines, unclear victory goals and exit strategy, and no easy way to end | LSE United States Politics and Policy There are three ways Trump could bring the war to a close quickly and declare victory, though none are easy.

The US war on Iran has vague deadlines, unclear victory goals and exit strategy, and no easy way to end.

Christian Emery @uclssees.bsky.social for @lseusablog.bsky.social

How humanitarian aid agencies approach empowerment for refugee women - LSE Review of Books Zeynep Kilicoglu’s Deconstructing Refugee Women’s Empowerment looks at how humanitarian agencies in the UK and France approach empowerment for refugee women

How do efforts at empowering refugee women play out in landscapes of global hierarchies and local hostility?

Deconstructing Refugee Women’s Empowerment by Zeynep Kilicoglu @lsegender.bsky.social looks at case studies of humanitarian agencies in the UK & France.

Review @lsereviewofbooks.bsky.social

The Democrats’ disagreement over the US attacks on Iran means Republicans can set the terms of the debate | LSE United States Politics and Policy The Democratic Party’s ambiguous stance on the US’ actions is currently too focused on procedural interventions.

US military strikes against Iran have drawn criticism both abroad and at home.

The Democrats’ disagreement over the attacks means Republicans can set the terms of the debate, writes Jack Roush @lsehy.bsky.social on @lseusablog.bsky.social

The new critical minerals race: why the US-China rivalry will be decided in the global south - LSE Business Review Over the past few years, minerals that were once confined to specialist mining circles have moved to the centre of global strategy.

Hany Besada @africaatlse.bsky.social and Nancy Abdelhadi on the new critical minerals race:

Why the US-China rivalry will be decided in the Global South, and why what matters is not about who owns resources underground, but who controls what happens after extraction.

@lsebr.bsky.social

Is Donald Trump right about free-riding in NATO? - LSE European Politics Despite Donald Trump's claims about NATO free-riding, new research finds little evidence post-Cold War entrants to NATO have cut defence spending since joining.

Despite Donald Trump's claims about free-riding in NATO, new research finds little evidence that NATO accession causes states to reduce their defence spending.

✍ Ringailė Kuokštytė @denisivanov.bsky.social, Vainius Indilas & Vytautas Kuokštis blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...

Electric vehicles, and industrial policy, could transform African economies - LSE Business Review Africa is now at the helm of a global quest for critical minerals. Countries should follow China’s example of using a “guiding hand” in shaping its economy.

Electric vehicles, and industrial policy, could transform African economies if they follow China's example.

Kasper Vrolijk for @lsebr.bsky.social

How to detoxify the immigration debate | LSE British Politics Polling and focus groups can't tell us what people really want from immigration policy - public deliberation is the way out of this polarised debate.

We know immigration is a priority for the UK public. But what do they want from policymaking?

Polling & focus groups aren’t enough to answer this question: public deliberation is the way forward through this polarised debate @hanakappy.bsky.social @demos-uk.bsky.social @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social

The performance of power in politics - LSE Review of Books Performing Power by Marcus Morgan develops a comprehensive theory of social performance, showing how it shapes the exercise of power in politics and beyond.

How important is the art of performance to gaining political power?

Performing Power by Marcus Morgan @politybooks.bsky.social develops a comprehensive theory of social performance, showing how it shapes the exercise of power in politics.

Review by Milica Resanovic @lsereviewofbooks.bsky.social

The growing market for student academic misconduct services - LSE Impact A growing market for student academic misconduct services is increasingly outsourcing research ethics in higher education institutions.

The widespread availability of AI tools is creating a growing market for student academic misconduct services.

@gengyantang.bsky.social @saraheaton.bsky.social & Wei Cai for @lseimpactblog.bsky.social

A broader vision of open research is needed to include the arts, humanities and social sciences - LSE Impact Discussing the findings of a new report on open practices in the arts, humanities and social sciences, Jenni Adams, Miranda Barnes, Samuel Moore and Stephen Pinfield argue to support open research in…

A broader vision of open research is needed to include the arts, humanities and social sciences.

@jenniad.bsky.social @mirandab-oa.bsky.social @samuelmoore.org & @stephenpinfield.bsky.social for @lseimpactblog.bsky.social 👇

Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino are ruining FIFA and football - LSE Business Review Ahead of the football World Cup this summer the relationship between President Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino has been under the spotlight.

Ahead of the World Cup this summer the relationship between President Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino, the boss of FIFA, has been under the spotlight.

Alan Tomlinson @uniofbrighton.bsky.social describes how together the two men despoiled the beautiful game on @lsebr.bsky.social

The Greens, Your Party and Labour’s left challenge | LSE British Politics With the creation of Your Party and the Green's soaring popularity, Labour is facing a more serious challenge on its left than on its right.

Following the #GreenParty victory in the #GortonDenton #byelection, Labour is facing a more serious challenge on its left than on its right.

@lauraserra.bsky.social @lsegovernment.bsky.social and Jenevieve Treadwell trace the movement of voters to the Left on @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social

How Europe can resolve its Trump-China dilemma Acting as a middle power could help Europe engage with China while mitigating any hostile reaction from Donald Trump and the United States.

Europe faces a dilemma in its engagement with China. While closer relations with Beijing could reduce European dependence on the US, it would also annoy Washington.

@gesineweber.bsky.social & Zeno Leoni argue Europe should consider embracing its role as a middle power @lseeuroppblog.bsky.social

Britain is a middle power now. To win in Africa, it must move faster - Africa at LSE Britain is a middle power, and many African countries are emerging as middle powers in their own right. We must now work together to our mutual benefit, writes Mbelwa Kairuki, High Commissioner of…

Britain is a middle power, and many African countries are emerging as middle powers in their own right.

We must now work together to our mutual benefit, writes Mbelwa Kairuki, High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the UK @africaatlse.bsky.social

The rise of the strongman president has endangered US democracy - LSE Review of Books Trajectory of Power by Terry Moe and William Howell charts the expansion of US presidential power during the modern era and its consequences for democracy. This extract from the book's introduction…

"Conservative Republicans were seeking to upend the established system. To do so, they recognised, they needed a vastly more powerful presidency than the Democrats did."

The rise of the strongman presidency by Terry Moe and William Howell @princetonupress.bsky.social @lsereviewofbooks.bsky.social

How we built a platform to shape an environmentally sustainable future for Kuwait - LSE Impact Climate adaption is a “wicked” social problem that requires inputs from across society to be effectively met. Discussing, Kuwaitscapes, a new platform for digital participation in Kuwait, Alexandra…

Discussing Kuwaitscapes, a new platform for participation in Kuwait, Alexandra Gomes, Joao Peres, @asseelalragam.bsky.social and Sharifa Alshalfan outline how creating digital spaces for engagement can enable collective action for environmentally sustainable futures @lseimpactblog.bsky.social