Delighted to have published a book chapter on Political Elites, Ideas and Public Policy! The chapter takes stock of how ideologies and ideational transmission shape policy stability and change, and forms part of the Routledge Handbook of Ideology Analysis. www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edi...

This Wednesday 29 April in London I'm discussing my new book as part of a panel looking at employment and welfare policy in Britain and internationally. The event is free, hosted at the Resolution Foundation and organised by the SPA Employment Policy Group. You can sign-up on EventBrite below:

Social Policy Association@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social · 4mo ago

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝? SPA Employment Policy Group Resolution Foundation Office, London Wednesday, 29 April, 2:30pm-5pm Attendance free: register via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-and-w...

📣New article out on which I'm a co-author together with other members of the @spaemploysocsec.bsky.social group. We analyse employment and social security reforms in UK Labour’s first year in office, finding it as been defined more by constraints than change. ⬇️ www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Do ideas or political demand drive welfare reform? @ewanrobo.bsky.social shows how ideational power, not voter pressure, shaped in-work benefits in the UK and France. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/D2DHwem @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com #polsky #polsci

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🎉I’m delighted to announce the publication of my book! 🎉 “𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐏𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧-𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦” link.springer.com/book/10.1007... This book is the final milestone from my PhD and I hope is useful to scholarly debate.

I greatly enjoyed presenting my work at the PSA Parliaments conference at the University of York last week. It was nice to make new contacts and learn about the latest research in the field. Thanks to @psa-parliaments.bsky.social for the organisation and the photo! ⬇️

PSA Parliaments@psa-parliaments.bsky.social · 8mo ago

➡️ @ewanrobo.bsky.social from @uoe-sps.bsky.social is now presenting his paper on stakeholder patterns in committees of the Spanish and Catalan parliaments 💥 Ewan works within the SPARK project: www.project-spark.net #PSAParl25

➡️ @ewanrobo.bsky.social from @uoe-sps.bsky.social is now presenting his paper on stakeholder patterns in committees of the Spanish and Catalan parliaments 💥 Ewan works within the SPARK project: www.project-spark.net #PSAParl25

Do ideas or political demand drive welfare reform? @ewanrobo.bsky.social shows how ideational power, not voter pressure, shaped in-work benefits in the UK and France. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/1IN07tN @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com #polsky #polsci

Nice little boost to my article published this year in @polstudies.bsky.social on the role of ideas and ideational power in driving working-age social security reform in the UK and France ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Political Studies@polstudies.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Do ideas or political demand drive welfare reform? @ewanrobo.bsky.social shows how ideational power, not voter pressure, shaped in-work benefits in the UK and France. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/1IN07tN @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com #polsky #polsci

I had a wonderful time at the Spanish Social Policy Network conference (REPS) at the Universidad de la Rioja. I was able to (re)connect with colleagues from the study of social policy in Spain, and share initial results from spark.net on committee witnesses in the Spanish and Catalan parliaments.

🚨 Job Opportunity! 🚨 Applications are now open for a new 2.5-year postdoc at @edinburghpir.bsky.social to examine how parliaments gather, analyse and use different types of knowledge - see the full job listing here: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

❗Job Opportunity❗ Postdoc on Studying Parliaments and the Role of Knowledge (SPARK), University of Edinburgh. 2.5 year post, examining your choice of parliaments between our UK and German country cases. Apply by 29th October: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

📣Call for Papers: Studying Parliaments and the Role of Knowledge. We are launching a CFP for an edited collection and/or special issue on the topic of parliaments and knowledge. Get in touch with any queries! Abstract deadline: 3 November 2025. ▶️ www.project-spark.net/post/call-fo...

Call for Papers: Studying Parliaments and the Role of Knowledge

Parliaments play fundamental democratic functions including political representation, legitimation of decision-making, and accountability of executive actors. Yet parliaments are also central in media...

project-spark.net

Highly recommend this excellent contribution to welfare politics by @ewanrobo.bsky.social! A timely reminder that elites and political organisations often decide on social policy — and rights — regardless of public opinion.

Political Studies@polstudies.bsky.social · last yr.

Do ideas or political demand drive welfare reform? @ewanrobo.bsky.social shows how ideational power, not voter pressure, shaped in-work benefits in the UK and France. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/EGt2uCw @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com #polsky #polsci

A reminder that Political Studies published my article explaining in-work benefit reforms in the UK and France. My argument on the role of policymakers' ideas and use of ideational power may be of interest to those who study the role of ideas in public policy. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Ideational Power or Political Demand? Tracing the Logics of In-Work Benefit Reforms in France and the United Kingdom - Ewan Robertson, 2025

In recent decades, numerous welfare states have implemented in-work benefits to ‘make work pay’ and tackle in-work poverty. To explain the adoption and institut...

journals.sagepub.com

Political Studies@polstudies.bsky.social · last yr.

Do ideas or political demand drive welfare reform? @ewanrobo.bsky.social shows how ideational power, not voter pressure, shaped in-work benefits in the UK and France. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/EGt2uCw @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com #polsky #polsci

It was wonderful to meet with Michele Goulart Massuchin and Eva Campos from the Mediaflows project while at the Complutense Madrid. Lots of potential to link studies of knowledge and communications in parliaments! Find out about SPARK: www.project-spark.net @marcgeddes.uk

Grupo Mediaflows@grupomediaflows.bsky.social · last yr.

Our colleagues @ecamposd.bsky.social, from @ucmccinf.bsky.social, and Michele Goulart Massuchin, from @ufpr.bsky.social and INCT DSI, met this week with @ewanrobo.bsky.social, from the SPARK project at @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social (project-spark.net), to enhance our research collaboration🤝 #MediaFlows

New publication in Political Studies – the first based on my PhD research! Are policymakers more responsive to their own ideas or to external social demands when deciding upon policy action? I examine this question in relation to in-work benefits in the United Kingdom and France. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Political Studies@polstudies.bsky.social · last yr.

Do ideas or political demand drive welfare reform? @ewanrobo.bsky.social shows how ideational power, not voter pressure, shaped in-work benefits in the UK and France. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/EGt2uCw @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com #polsky #polsci

I had a wonderful time at the ECPR @sgparliaments.bsky.social conf at the University of Barcelona. It was great to make connections and present data on committee witnesses in the Spanish and Catalan legislatures. A highlight was also the opportunity to visit the Catalan parliament!

Conocer la hermosura de Segovia provincia y la Sierra de Guadarrama en invierno ha sido una experiencia muy bonita durante los últimos meses.

I enjoyed presenting the SPARK research project on parliaments and knowledge to Spanish Congress of Deputies’ science and technology advice office (Oficina C) yesterday. Also fascinating to learn about the work of Oficina C and legislative advice in Spain. About SPARK: www.project-spark.net

Get your nominations in for the Social Policy Association Awards! Check out categories and criteria below, deadline is 3rd March ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Social Policy Association@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social · 2y ago

The SPA Awards 2025 are open for nominations! We encourage nominations for: - Outstanding Achievement in Social Policy - Public Understanding of Social Policy - Policy Press Outstanding Teaching Award - Richard Titmuss Book Prize Deadline: 3rd March ⬇️⬇️ social-policy.org.uk/what-we-do/a...

This looks like a great event taking place next month in Edinburgh ⬇️

Dr Hayley Bennett@haylesben.bsky.social · 2y ago

Thurs 20th Feb, we are hosting in Edinburgh on spatial social policy, with numerous presentations & discussions on devolved and local policies and practices. Registration required, places limited. It's a collab event from @ccc-research.bsky.social, Safety Nets project and SPA Employment Policy Group

If anyone has a room going from March to May in Edinburgh, my friend Llorenç Soler is looking!

Llorenç Soler-Buades@solerbuades.bsky.social · 2y ago

Hi everyone! I’m a PhD fellow from @UABBarcelona looking for a room to rent in Edinburgh from March 1st to May 1st during my visiting fellowship at @Uni_Edinburgh (Social Policy). Any tips & RTs are appreciated! 🙏 @ewanrobo.bsky.social @davidevampa.bsky.social l @philiprathgeb.bsky.social

Abstract and symposia submissions are open for the SPA-EASP 2025 Joint Annual Conference!

Social Policy Association@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social · 2y ago

🚨Abstract and symposia submissions are open for the SPA-EASP 2025 Joint Annual Conference! 🚨 The abstract deadline is 17th March 2025. Our Annual Conference will be held at the University of York, 2-4 July 2025. All information on this page ⬇️⬇️⬇️ social-policy.org.uk/social-polic...

Se abre la convocatoria de contribuciones al Congreso de la Red Española de Política Social en Logroño, 22-24 de Octubre de 2025 ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Pau Marí Klose@pmklose.bsky.social · 2y ago

Se abre la convocatoria de contribuciones al Congreso de la Red Española de Política Social en Logroño. @albalanau.bsky.social, @aarcarons.bsky.social y servidor coordinamos la mesa sobre Pobreza, desigualdad y redistribución. Ánimate a compartir tu investigación reps2025.unirioja.es/es/pages/pan...

This useful list is up to 80 people now, but room for plenty more. For avoidance of doubt I’m applying no entrance criteria beyond ‘doesn’t look like a bot.’ Do please recommend other folk as well as letting me know if you’d like to be added. go.bsky.app/CDRvpoJ

The UK Social Policy Association is now on BlueSky - follow below or here: bsky.app/profile/soci...

Social Policy Association@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social · 2y ago

The Social Policy Association is now on BlueSky! Follow us here for information on social policy initiatives and events in the UK and internationally. The SPA executive plans to consult our members and decide on our future social media platforms early in the New Year.

I'd really recommend this workshop for ECRs and doctoral researchers working on comparative social and public policy (after attending last year's edition). Submit an abstract by 2 February and come to Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra University on 8-9 May 2025! ⬇️

Llorenç Soler-Buades@solerbuades.bsky.social · 2y ago

After a highly successful first edition at UAB, the second Doctoral Workshop on Comparative Social and Public Policy, which will take place at @PolitiquesUPF on 8-9 May 2025. Please share and don't miss out – submit your abstract by February 2nd, 2025!

Sad to hear the brilliant and great Walter Korpi passed. Korpi was on a very short list of my all time favorite political economic theorists. Almost all my work is fundamentally based on power resources theory. His work on the welfare state is pivotal and central to so many fields.

Magnus B Rasmussen@magnusrasmussen.bsky.social · 2y ago

RIP Walter Korpi…

👏I really enjoyed this workshop on Knowledge and Parliaments hosted by the SPARK project at the University of Edinburgh. A great learning process, opportunity to meet new researchers and hear about top studies in the field. Lots more to come! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ www.project-spark.net/post/spark-h...

SPARK Hosts International Workshop on Knowledge and Parliaments

On 14-15 October, SPARK welcomed 20 researchers from across Europe and hosted a workshop to address the theme of the relationship between knowledge and parliaments.The workshop, which coincided with t...

project-spark.net