Happy to share that the paperback version of my book is out. You can use the code 14FF20 for an additional discount on the Notre Dame Press website. It would be a good summer read on populism, polarization, and opposition politics in Turkey, Venezuela, Ecuador, and beyond.

University of Notre Dame Press@undpress.bsky.social · 2mo ago

New Paperback Release: “The Authoritarian Divide” by Orçun Selçuk #NDPBlog

Happy MPSA 2026! Interested in polarizing populist leaders and their opponents? Come to my Author Meets Critics panel today at 5.10 pm, where we will discuss The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization (University of Notre Dame Press).

Happy to be part of the IPSA Companion to Political Science: A Practical Introduction to the 200 Most Important Concepts. link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...

Authoritarianism

link.springer.com

It was premature for some political scientists to call the United States a competitive authoritarian regime after the first few months of the Trump presidency. Trump has authoritarian ambitions but the backlash and resistance against him remain robust.

Terrible results for the Republican Party in high-profile and down ballot races. This is what happens when the party brand depends too much on an unpopular incumbent who haven't delivered on his economic promises. Democrats are benefiting from the anti-incumbent mood right now.

Trump's right-wing populism breeds left-wing populism especially in Democratic strongholds like New York City. Zohran's brand of populism will not work in competitive House and Senate races next year, but Democrats need to double down on his focus on the cost of living issues.

The New York Times@nytimes.com · 9mo ago

Zohran Mamdani, whose triumphant campaign was built on progressive ideas and a relentless focus on affordability, will become the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century. Along the way, he energized South Asian and Muslim communities that rarely receive sustained attention from politicians.

Luther College professor warns against taking ‘democracy for granted’ stanforddaily.com/2025/10/21/l...

I had the pleasure of giving a book talk at Stanford University on Friday. You can watch the full event here: www.youtube.com/live/_kek0cx...

The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization in Latin America and Turkey

YouTube video by Stanford Center for Latin American Studies

youtube.com

María Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize is significant in the context of rising authoritarianism in the world. Although the opponents of autocrats in Venezuela and elsewhere have low rates of achieving turnover, their efforts and personal sacrifices deserve acknowledgement.

I'll be giving a book talk at Stanford University next month. You can find more information about it below.

📣📚 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚: 𝙋𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢, 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙇𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 & 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙮 with @orcunselcuk.bsky.social 🗓️ Fri, Oct. 17, 2025 ⏰ 1:30 - 2:50 PM 🏫 Bolivar House 582 Alvarado Row, Stanford, CA 94305 👉🎟️ RSVP: tinyurl.com/SelcukStanford

I'll be giving a book talk at Stanford University next month. You can find more information about it below.

#APSA2025 in Vancouver was a fine event but we need to rethink organizing political science conferences in Canada. It puts additional barriers for non-U.S. citizens and perpetuates inequalities in the field. No wonder many international students on F1 visas could not attend.

Heading to APSA in Vancouver tomorrow. I will be part of the following panels: Democratic Backsliding and Opposition Resistance on Thursday at 8 am Applying for a Job at a Teaching Institution on Thursday at 2 pm The First-Gen Handbook: Navigating the Hidden Curriculum on Friday at 10 am

You can find my book, The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization, at the #APSA2025 exhibition hall. Even if you are not attending the conference, you can still order it using the link below with a 40 percent discounted price. undpress.nd.edu/apsa-virtual...

APSA Virtual Exhibit 2025 - University of Notre Dame

Welcome to our virtual exhibit! We are extremely excited to bring our political science and theory books directly to your screen! Enjoy browsing our

undpress.nd.edu

Unless we acknowledge how much political violence already has a place in American politics, we won't be able to address it. Elites on both sides of the aisle need to take responsibility for fanning the flames of polarization and be intentional about toning down the divisiveness.

For those in Vancouver, the Democracy and Autocracy Section will be holding our business meeting tomorrow (9/11) from 6:30-7:30pm at the Convention Center (West) Room 115. Our reception will be right after from 7:30-9:30pm at Steamworks Brewpub (375 Water Street). Come join us!

You can find my book, The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization, at the #APSA2025 exhibition hall. Even if you are not attending the conference, you can still order it using the link below with a 40 percent discounted price. undpress.nd.edu/apsa-virtual...

APSA Virtual Exhibit 2025 - University of Notre Dame

Welcome to our virtual exhibit! We are extremely excited to bring our political science and theory books directly to your screen! Enjoy browsing our

undpress.nd.edu

At 2 pm, I'll be joining several colleagues including @orcunselcuk.bsky.social to talk about landing positions at teaching focused institutions. And Thursday isn't even my busy day 😆 6/6

Heading to APSA in Vancouver tomorrow. I will be part of the following panels: Democratic Backsliding and Opposition Resistance on Thursday at 8 am Applying for a Job at a Teaching Institution on Thursday at 2 pm The First-Gen Handbook: Navigating the Hidden Curriculum on Friday at 10 am

Excited to share that The Authoritarian Divide was reviewed in Latin American Politics and Society. Many thanks to Alejandra López Villegas @alelov.bsky.social for the thoughtful and generous review. You can read it here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

This is our second journal article together. The collaboration started at Luther College and we presented earlier drafts at MPSA and LASA conferences. Thanks to everyone who offered their feedback and support. Check the article out and share it with others. It is open access.

JPLA@jplaeditor.bsky.social · last yr.

🆕 Online-first and #openaccess article on #Ecuador! By @orcunselcuk.bsky.social and S.Valdivieso. A contribution to literatures on #populism, #polarisation, #opposition, #democraticresilience Check it out ‼️ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

New episode. @jlkucinskas.bsky.social @columbiaup.bsky.social #civilservices #federalemployees #constitution #DwightWaldo #HerbertSimon #trump #sociology Music by @musicandjustice.bsky.social linktr.ee/ihppod @sunildasgupta.bsky.social

This is our second journal article together. The collaboration started at Luther College and we presented earlier drafts at MPSA and LASA conferences. Thanks to everyone who offered their feedback and support. Check the article out and share it with others. It is open access.

JPLA@jplaeditor.bsky.social · last yr.

🆕 Online-first and #openaccess article on #Ecuador! By @orcunselcuk.bsky.social and S.Valdivieso. A contribution to literatures on #populism, #polarisation, #opposition, #democraticresilience Check it out ‼️ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

this is all horrible. alongside devastating blows to PBS and NPR, this bill totally ends US funding to key UN bodies that do frontline work, including UNICEF & OCHA, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Completely eliminates US contributions—previously the US was the key funder.

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · last yr.

NEWS: Trump's cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid clear Congress House gives final passage by a vote of 216-213. The Senate passed it yesterday 51-48. With Republican votes only. Democrats all voted NO. This now goes to Trump for his signature. www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

United States is openly trying to interfere into the internal affairs of Brazil. Kudos to Brazilian authorities for prosecuting Bolsonaro. In democracies, nobody is above the law, especially ex-presidents who attempted a coup. This is not 1964.

The New York Times@nytimes.com · last yr.

Breaking News: Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and stay home most hours. The order, which defies President Trump’s demands to drop the case, comes before Bolsonaro’s trial on charges that he attempted a coup after losing the 2022 election.

Yesterday, we launched the Spanish translation of my book at the Biblioteca Nacional in Quito. Thank you, Santiago Basabe for publishing the book and organizing the event. Also, special thanks to Paolo Moncagatta and Pablo Andrade for serving as wonderful discussants.

Yesterday, we launched the Spanish translation of my book at the Biblioteca Nacional in Quito. Thank you, Santiago Basabe for publishing the book and organizing the event. Also, special thanks to Paolo Moncagatta and Pablo Andrade for serving as wonderful discussants.

Book launch day! You can read the first chapter here (in Spanish): www.pescaditoeditoriales.com/pdf/fragment...

Orçun Selçuk@orcunselcuk.bsky.social · last yr.

My book The Authoritarian Divide: Populism, Propaganda, and Polarization is now available in Spanish. If you are in Quito, come to the book launch event on July 16.