Blog Posts
Find blog posts shared by the Owlstown community.
What Did Stalinist Industrialization Accomplish?
Cross-posted from Broadstreet, a blog devoted to historical political economy.
The spring quarter at Chicago starts in a week. I will be teaching a course on the political economy of communism and the postcommunist transition. I love this class, ...
Post · January 01, 2026
The (Limited) Power of Persuasion
Cross-posted from Broadstreet, a new blog devoted to historical political economy.
Among the numerous consequences of COVID for everyday life, there is this: Many Americans will not venture beyond their own dining rooms for Thanksgiving this year...
Post · January 01, 2026
State Power and the Power Law
Cross-posted from Broadstreet, a blog devoted to historical political economy.
Pavi had a great post recently on the different ways that historical political economists have conceptualized and measured state capacity. I want to follow up with a s...
Post · January 01, 2026
The role of cellular interactions in biological systems
Biological systems function through coordinated interactions between cells. From early development to adult tissue maintenance, most physiological processes depend on cells communicating with and responding to one another. Individual cells carry o...
Post · January 01, 2026
Between the Sheets on New Year's Eve
I hope everyone is having a great end to 2025, or if necessary, a merciful end. Today’s cocktail is a New Year’s Eve special to toast the end of 2025 or welcome 2026. It’s appropriately boozy and will definitely dampen those inhibitions. Between t...
Post · December 31, 2025
A scholar’s guide to steering your PhD advisor
First, acknowledge that your PhD supervisor is not your employer. Instead, consider strategies to manage this relationship proactively and to derive maximal benefit from their expertise. Here, I share my perspective and recount my experience as a ...
Post · December 30, 2025
When 'You can do anything' shackles us
Positive psychology and new-age spiritualities have sold us a seductive fantasy: that desire alone can shape reality. "Visualize your goals", "believe in yourself", "the universe conspires in your favor". But this mantra of "you can do anything" i...
Post · December 30, 2025
Perseverance amidst familial criticism
Embarking on a journey of intellectual exploration, I wholeheartedly embraced the pursuit of a PhD, recognizing it as a pathway to personal growth and professional fulfilment. However, my decision to dedicate myself to this scholarly pursuit had n...
Post · December 30, 2025
The 'struggle' of being a PhD student
Being a PhD student is not for the faint of heart. The decision to do a postgraduate course implies a challenge in itself. It means a constant struggle to practice a profession that, despite being necessary for the common good, is not fairly value...
Post · December 30, 2025
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