🏆 The 2025 ECPR Best Paper Prize from the Standing Group on Public Policy goes to @elifcan.bsky.social & @v-yilmaz.bsky.social for their work on narrative power in electoral autocracies — a fascinating study of the Turkish pension movement. Congratulations! 👏 ecpr.eu/News/News/De...

My paper w/ @elifcan.bsky.social has been selected as the Best Public Policy Paper Prize at the 2025 @ecpr.bsky.social European Consortium for Political Research Conference. "Narrative power in electoral autocracies" is published in @psjeditor.bsky.social: lnkd.in/daENh7B8 @ulsteruni.bsky.social

🎉 Our paper just won the 2025 Best Paper Prize at the ECPR General Conference (Public Policy Section)! Honoured to share this with @v-yilmaz.bsky.social The paper's core message: movements acting strategically under authoritarian pressure can still win social policy battles👇 doi.org/10.1111/psj....

<em>Policy Studies Journal</em> | PSO Public Policy Journal | Wiley Online Library

How did a pension movement construct its narrative around pension age, shaping its structure and content to influence policy change in an electoral autocracy? This article delves into the campaign of....

doi.org

Here is my new article (w/ Anıl Gürbüztürk), “Turkish distributive justice preferences across social policy areas: a case of distrustful egalitarianism?,” published in New Perspectives on Turkey. We examine preferences across education, health, pensions, and unemployment ins. doi.org/10.1017/npt....

Here is my new co-authored article (w/ Tuğba Z. Şen), “Digital health discourses in global health: Varieties of techno-optimist depoliticisation,” published in @jicsp.bsky.social. We examine how digital health is framed in global health governance in the first half of 2020s. doi.org/10.1017/ics....

I’ll be giving a talk in Dublin this Tuesday. Building on Dr Göçmen's early-2010s Türkiye research, we're tracking developments and extending the analysis to Hungary. The presentation will draw on a work in progress with @elifcan.bsky.social, Judit Keller, and Tünde Virag. Join us if interested.

At Ulster University, we’re keen to hear from strong international applicants for Master's in Social Policy (Full-time, 1 year, September start). Programme details: lnkd.in/er9fNHhp Eligible students from Bangladesh, China, and Kenya can apply for GREAT Scholarships, worth £10,000: lnkd.in/eztuHeXC

Sociology & Social Policy colleagues, join us in Warsaw (17th ESA Conference, 25 - 28 August)! Consider submitting your paper to the Sociology of Social Policy and Social Welfare stream (RN26). We are a constructive and engaged bunch. Abstract deadline: 30 January, via: www.conftool.com/esa2026

Social Policy colleagues, come and join us in Liverpool! social-policy.org.uk/what-we-do/c...

SPA Annual Conference 2026 - Social Policy Association

Liverpool Hope University, Creative Campus, Shaw Street, Liverpool, L6 1HP The Social Policy Association is pleased to announce that Liverpool will host the 2026 event, [...]

social-policy.org.uk

New on the Social Policy Blog: “Understanding the Disparities in Formal Childcare Uptake Among Migrants in Europe and Australia” by Jonas Wood. @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org @academiclee.bsky.social @v-yilmaz.bsky.social socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2025/11/25/u...

Why Migrant Families Use Less Formal Childcare in Europe and Australia

How labour markets, inequality and childcare system design contribute to migrant–native differences in formal childcare uptake across Europe and Australia.

socialpolicyblog.co.uk

Calling all Social Policy academics, students, graduates, and employers! Social Policy Subject Benchmark Statement Consultation is now open. The consultation is open until midday on 21 November 2025, and responses can be submitted through the link (Please fill out the form): lnkd.in/dBRJgeeB

Excited to share that a blogpost version of our journal article w/ @elifcan.bsky.social is now published! If you'd like to read on how a pension movement used strategic policy narratives to expand its base and achieve policy change in an electoral autocracy, here it is: psjblog.net/2025/09/24/t...

Our article with İpek Göçmen, “Turkish lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans persons’ perceptions of their own ageing: contesting the exclusionary care regime?”, has been awarded the European Journal of Politics and Gender (EJPG) 2024 Best Article Award. Grateful for the recognition. shorturl.at/Plrff

Attention Northern Ireland undergraduates! Applications are now open for Pivotal’s Policy Leadership Development Programme! Pivotal is NI's independent public policy think tank. Aged 18–25 8 weeks btw 30 Sept – 25 Nov Tuesday evenings, 6pm Apply by 5pm, 8 Sept Apply here: shorturl.at/MkPSM

PLDP 2025 applications open

Applications for the autumn cohort of Pivotal’s Policy Leadership Development Programme are now open.

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Last push for the Social Policy Master's at Ulster before I give you all a break until next year! This time it’s my own video with the awkwardness of seeing myself on screen. Hope you enjoy it more than I did. Info session: Fri 15 Aug, 3pm Ireland/UK Register: lnkd.in/dSVQx4Qf tinyurl.com/4b4awrvk

Dr Volkan Yilmaz, Lecturer in Social Policy, Ulster University

YouTube video by Volkan Yilmaz

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The Social Policy Master’s at @ulsteruni.bsky.social is taught by a great team. Meet Dr Julie Harris, whose research looks at the impact of COVID-19 on service users: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGw3... Info session is next week — Friday 15 August at 3pm (IRL/UK). Please register: lnkd.in/dSVQx4Qf

Ulster University - Impacts of Covid-19 on People who use Services & Providers.

YouTube video by NIADA - Northern Ireland Alcohol and Drug Alliance

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The Americans with Disabilities Act — passed 35 years ago — was not a gift. It was the result of a powerful movement led by people who demanded to be seen, heard and treated with dignity. The fight for equality is far from over. In fact, it is more urgent now than ever.

Thinking about a master’s? Develop policy and research skills with our Social Policy programme. Join our online info session on 15 Aug, 3pm (Ireland/UK) to learn about the MSc Social Policy at @ulsteruni.bsky.social (Belfast). Please register if interested: www.ulster.ac.uk/study/postgr...

MSc Social Policy - Online Information Session

Join our upcoming webinar and find out more about our MSc Social Policy programme.

ulster.ac.uk

"In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. ... Don’t get bogged down with precise descriptions. Africa is big: fifty-four countries, 900 million people who are too busy starving and dying and warring and emigrating to read your book."by Binyavanga Wainaina, granta.com/how-to-write...

How to Write About Africa

‘Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.’

granta.com

I am honoured and delighted to join the Journal of Social Policy Editorial Board for a second term. @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social @academiclee.bsky.social @v-yilmaz.bsky.social @uofgussp.bsky.social @scadrdata.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social

Interested in studying Social Policy master's with us at Ulster University (Belfast campus)? I'm hosting an online information session on the programme (available full and part time) on 15 August (Friday) at 3pm (UK & Ireland time); please register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/976401...

We've launched a new format in Journal of Social Policy (@socialpolicyuk.bsky.social): Critical Reviews. Invited, in-depth critical reviews on key issues & debates. Topics so far: benefit sanctions, climate emergency, & Latin America. Latest by Armando Barrientos. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Explore this PSJ article revealing how Turkey’s EYT pension movement used Twitter to craft policy narratives in an electoral autocracy - analyzed through the Narrative Policy Framework. By @elifcan.bsky.social & @v-yilmaz.bsky.social Read here: doi.org/10.1111/psj.... #PSJ #PolicyStudiesJournal

At @ulsteruni.bsky.social, Master’s in Social Policy is taught by a fantastic team. Dr Fiona Bloomer (Senior Lecturer) shares her research focus in this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1SM... Interested? Send an email: v.yilmaz@ulster.ac.uk I’ll be hosting an online info session in early August.

Social Work and Social Policy - Dr Fiona Bloomer

YouTube video by Ulster University Research & Impact

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At @ulsteruni.bsky.social, Master’s in Social Policy is taught by a fantastic team. Professor Ann Marie Gray shares her research focus in this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IEL... Interested? Send an email: v.yilmaz@ulster.ac.uk. I’ll be hosting an online info session soon. @ark-ni.bsky.social

Social Work and Social Policy Interviews - Professor Anne Marie Gray

YouTube video by Ulster University Research & Impact

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I’m now Course Director for the MSc Social Policy at Ulster University. It’s a 1-year, full-time programme (part-time option avlb.) based in Belfast. We focus on social justice, health, social care, gender, and policy change in NI, Ireland, UK, & beyond. Email V.Yilmaz@ulster.ac.uk—happy to chat!

Today is #IDAHOBIT — a moment to confront homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. My chapter ‘What does “sexual orientation conversion therapy” signify?’ explores how medicine is pressured to uphold heterosexism. Backlash signals lost legitimacy and that’s why banning matters now more than ever.

Emeklilikte Yaşa Takılanlar (EYT) hareketini ve bu hareketin emeklilik yaşı düzenlemesinde değişimi mümkün kılan politika anlatısının yapısını ve içeriğini incelediğimiz Elifcan Çelebi (@elifcan.bsky.social) ile makalemiz Policy Studies Journal'da (@psjeditor.bsky.social) yayımlandı. rb.gy/43oee4

Our article, "Narrative power in electoral autocracies: The policy narrative behind the success of a pension movement", is out open access. I and @elifcan.bsky.social explore how a social movement influenced policy change in an electoral autocracy — especially on the difficult-to-change pension age.

Policy Studies Journal@psjeditor.bsky.social · last yr.

Discover this PSJ Early View article which unpacks how Turkey's EYT movement strategically crafted narratives to challenge the pension age policy in an electoral autocracy. By @elifcan.bsky.social and @v-yilmaz.bsky.social Read here: doi.org/10.1111/psj.... #PSJ #PolicyStudiesJournal

25 years of ARK. Established in 2000, ARK is Northern Ireland's social policy hub. ARK aims to increase the accessibility and use of academic data and research to inform policy making and provide the basis for critical policy debate. Find out more ➡️ ark.ac.uk/ARK/ARK25/