folks who teach undergrad Middle East politics courses, what books do you assign? I had been using Lynch's Arab Uprisings Explained, but I worry the Arab Spring focus is out of date. Was also considering Milton-Edwards' textbook. Any thoughts welcome.

just wrote this for the Duck of Minerva, on the anniversary of Russia's invasion of #ukraine. Putin used religious appeals to build a transnational coalition, but this failed to undermine Western opposition to the invasion. I discuss why, drawing on my forthcoming book with Cornell UP
https://www.duckofminerva.com/2023/02/the-transnational-coalition-that-wasnt-russia-the-west-and-ukraine.html

one of the more annoying bad reviewer comments is when they complain that you "cited but did not engage w/" a scholar. Honestly not sure what that means, besides that I didn't base my theory on that work or amplified its conclusions instead of my own. #academicmastodon

we need to talk abt peer review. There are so many issues w/ it, and change can start w/ academics. Stop getting annoyed at disagreements. Stop expecting authors to write the paper you would have written. Respond to what they actually wrote. It all comes down to the Golden Rule. This can be a less painful process if we just change how we approach it. #academicmastodon

honest question- I just made some variables based on conditions statements (if X&Z=1, B=1, etc.) just using baser ifelse. Why would I ever use dplyr and mutate? #rstat

The #altac push depends on the idea PhDs can "just go into tech." But tech jobs are drying up, as seen here and w Microsoft. Instead we need better coaching of students before they go for a PhD #academicmastodon
Google Parent Alphabet to Cut 12,000 Jobs https://nyti.ms/3iTCoiY

When someone asks you to "consult" on a funded project, how do you politely ask to get paid? #academicmastodon

Got my copy edited manuscript for my forthcoming book with Cornell UP and am going through the editor queries. There's not a lot of issues to resolve. I'm proud of myself.

The hard thing about academia, to me, is the way it giveth&taketh away. Except for the rare superstar, good news is always balanced by bad. I recently received an exciting fellowship, and then got an article rejection soon afterwards. I remember my pre-academic careers being more consistently good or bad. #academicmastodon