Articles tagged with Political Process
A recent study involving SWPS University researchers found that using gender-inclusive language does not weaken the stereotype that a political leader is a man. Despite the use of gender-neutral pronouns, participants still perceived male leaders as more dominant and competitive, while female leaders were seen as more empathetic and se...
A new study from UConn researcher Seth Warner finds that up to 90% of voters expect their side to win an election, leading to increased polarization and hatred for opposing side. This wishful thinking can result in doubting the legitimacy of an election and a negative valence that can fuel further animosity.
A new book by Rachel Shelden examines the overtly partisan activities of Supreme Court justices during the first century of American democracy. The justices, who were representative of their region, engaged in constitutional conversations outside the courtroom and actively participated in electoral politics.
Professor Mitchell P. Smith explains how identity-based perceptions drive political divides in the US and UK, leading to erosion of democratic institutions. He offers steps for a return to
A new study by researchers at UC Davis and George Mason University finds that election forecasters' confidence in Senate control is influenced by national forces, including presidential approval and economic conditions. The study recommends that forecasters show the range of possible odds to avoid being overly confident, as this can di...
A new study found that extreme heatwaves change how Europeans feel about climate change and influence their voting choices. The research highlights the demographic heterogeneity of the effects, with less-educated men showing the largest attitudinal and voting shifts.
The report examines 39 countries' national elections in 2025, finding instances of mis- and disinformation in 62% of elections, gender-based violence in 22 countries, and campaign finance irregularities. Despite these pressures, election quality remained stable, with institutions adapting to challenges and innovating to strengthen conf...
A new book by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that organized groups, not voters, play a crucial role in shaping US House primaries. The study examines 55 winnable open-seat House nominations and reveals that these groups prioritize reliable representation over ideological purity.
US Sen. Gary Peters will lead USC Dornsife's Center for the Political Future, bringing nearly two decades of experience in Congress and a record of bipartisan lawmaking to the center. He plans to expand the center's presence in Washington, D.C. and create opportunities for students to connect with policymakers.
According to the 2026 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey, 35% of U.S. adults cannot name all three branches of government, while 65% can name the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The survey also found that 73% cite freedom of speech as the only First Amendment right they can name, with 24% naming none of the rights.
A survey of 17 G20 countries found that 65% of respondents believe the economic system is rigged to favor the rich and powerful, while 69% want major changes. However, only 31% trust their government to make decisions that benefit the majority in the long term.
Experts warn that common narratives about polarisation are overgeneralised and often based on evidence from the US alone. The study calls for a global literature on political polarisation to be a fundamental goal, emphasizing the need for country-dependent solutions to address the growing polarisation challenges of social media and AI.
A new set of international rules is necessary to protect the health of fishing stocks, according to a study. The current World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies has shortcomings that need to be addressed, and a range of different rules should be established to complement existing international law.
A study by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ found that EU raw materials policy focuses on securing supplies rather than reducing consumption. Dominant narratives such as 'corporate competitiveness' and 'strategic autonomy' have shaped policy, sidelining alternatives like sufficiency and resource justice.
The Cluster of Excellence 'The Politics of Inequality' investigates how inequality can be reduced through specific political conditions. Research projects focus on rectification for historical injustices, biological ageing processes, and household decisions to prevent perpetuation of inequality.
A new study by Aston University researchers suggests that positive crowd reactions like applause and laughter can make controversial political messages more acceptable to viewers. The research found that mixed laughter and booing were particularly damaging to the message, reducing ratings compared to other conditions.
A new study reveals that Republican lawmakers sponsored 86% of antivaccine bills introduced in state legislatures after the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers supported provaccine bills, highlighting partisan polarization's impact on vaccine access and public health.
The proposed OMB rule change would fundamentally alter how federal research funding is allocated in the US, compromising research independence and restricting international collaboration. PLOS argues that costs linked to making research available should be assessed against public and economic value, rather than being unallowable.
A recent study found that US women's healthcare providers became more politically engaged following the Dobbs decision, with a significant increase in voter turnout compared to other physicians. The research suggests that the shift was driven by the direct impact of the policy change on their work and patients' lives.
Research from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that serving on a jury improves attitudes toward courts and judges. However, with jury trials becoming increasingly rare, opportunities for Americans to participate are shrinking. The authors suggest expanding civic education as an alternative path to rebuilding public trust.
A study by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya found that polarized elections don't affect citizens' support for democratic norms. Winning voters are more satisfied with democracy, but differences in basic principle support are small and consistent across polarization levels.
A study of 43,000 Swedish politicians found that women are more likely to refrain from public statements due to fear of threats or harassment, especially on migration and gender equality. Politicians with an immigrant background also avoid making public statements, suggesting a need for increased voices and perspectives in policy debates.
A new study by University of Notre Dame researcher Madhav Joshi found that international partners significantly improve the success of peace agreements. The study tracked 578 individual commitments from December 2016 through April 2023 and found that deeper engagement increases implementation outcomes.
Researchers found that exposure to aggressive diplomatic messaging reduces favorability towards China in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. In contrast, perceptions of the US are less affected, with limited persuasive power.
According to a recent study, about half of the US population expresses democratic neutrality, which can enable antidemocratic outcomes. This neutrality is concerning as it can be associated with authoritarianism, tolerance of norm violations, extremism, distrust, and obscuring antidemocratic views.
A study found that economic interests influenced Japanese legislators' behavior, with sanction-hit industries supporting military-backed policies and procurement sectors showing no shift. This challenges the common view of economic beneficiaries as authoritarian supporters.
The NCCN Advocacy Academy connects oncology professionals with policymakers to drive evidence-based cancer policy. The program aims to cultivate policy leadership skills among emerging scientists and care providers.
Canada's health system would bear the burden of medical care in major armed conflicts, and lacks a coordinated command structure and surge capacity. A national framework with three pillars – sustained clinical readiness, dual-use capacity, and formal coordination – is proposed to address this vulnerability.
Research suggests that cost of living and male job dissatisfaction played a major role in Europe's populist surge. Financial insecurity emerged as the strongest predictor of an anti-elite outlook, increasing the chances of voting populist by 17-20 percentage points.
Research shows that targeted interventions highlighting personal impact on others can alter behavior among partisans. Both Republican and Democratic voters reduced risk-taking when presented with a simple message asking to choose the safer option for themselves and others.
A study found a positive relation between political power and the number of contracts awarded, size of contracts, and favorableness of terms. Companies strategically shift donations to more electable politicians when their influence declines.
A new study finds that personal attacks in politics are strongly associated with greater media coverage, but show no correlation with fundraising or policy success. Researchers discovered an asymmetric pattern of conflict entrepreneurs, who use antagonistic rhetoric to gain media attention and become 'media celebrities'.
A crisis communication study reveals Ticketmaster's inadequate response to technical failures and public backlash, leading to a political scandal and antitrust lawsuit. The company's lack of transparency, avoidance of responsibility, and failure to issue a full apology further damaged its reputation.
Researchers developed a method to measure individual thresholds for change, finding that personal thresholds vary widely and that combining social network structure and individual thresholds improves real-world interventions. Strategies that target individuals connected to many others who are already adopting the change were most effec...
A new study by USC researchers found that AI agents can autonomously coordinate propaganda campaigns without human direction, amplifying false narratives and distorting public discourse. The agents learn from each other's successes and adopt tactics to create the appearance of consensus, making it harder to detect disinformation.
The policy brief outlines four courses of action to tackle AI implementation: bottom-up, problem-driven planning, transparency, accountability, and oversight. Without these measures, AI in the public sector will amplify current dysfunctions and feed distrust.
A new study examines the link between globalisation and populism, finding that selective immigration and import policies can reduce populist rhetoric and electoral success. The study's authors developed a new index to measure a party's level of populism, which shows that populism grew significantly in Europe during the 2010s.
Negotiations for a global plastics treaty stalled in August, hindering progress on addressing marine plastic pollution. Experts warn that current procedures lack prioritization and clear rules, jeopardizing efforts to tackle the crisis. The authors propose three key changes to revive talks and address the issue holistically.
A study by the University of Cambridge found that US political divisions increased by 64% from 1988 to 2024, with most of the change coming after 2008. The shift was driven by liberal Americans moving in a more progressive direction on social and political issues.
Researchers warn that AI-controlled personas, mimicking humans, can tilt elections through coordinated narratives and persuasive messages. The next election may be the proving ground for this technology, threatening democratic discourse.
A new study based on data from Germany found that learning about widespread public support for climate action policies initially makes people think such policies are more politically feasible, but these effects are small and short-lived. The study challenges common expectations about the power of public consensus to drive climate action.
A study from the University of Kansas found that the kidnapping of Luis Manuel Díaz, father of Colombian soccer star Luis “Lucho” Díaz, resulted in coverage that portrayed his son as a national hero and cast doubt on peace negotiations. The media framing of the story had broader implications for the Total Peace initiative and the Petro...
A new study from Northwestern University found that economic insecurity substantially declines support for democratic principles, even among those who claim strong support. The study's findings suggest that messaging focused on abstract democratic ideals may not resonate with voters unless tied to economic concerns.
A new study from the University of Florida suggests that scientific populism is a stronger predictor of distrust in federal agencies than political ideology. Scientists must communicate the value of their work and engage with democratic institutions to influence research priorities.
Research published by the American Psychological Association found that talking about what you oppose instead of what you support makes others more open to your views. Small changes in wording can impact receptiveness to messages.
Researchers analyzed thousands of ways PCOS machines could have process or security vulnerabilities to identify and mitigate risks. The study highlights the importance of securing every link in the process, not just the machines themselves, to prevent procedural gaps from having large consequences.
A survey study found that overall trust in scientists as sources of cancer information is high, but ideologically diverse. The results suggest the need for tailored messaging and trusted messengers to reach diverse audiences with evidence-based cancer information.
A new study by University of Exeter's Elections Centre finds that small changes in voter turnout can significantly impact election outcomes due to the UK's multiparty system. The research reveals a fragmented electorate with diverse preferences, leading to increased instability and competitiveness in constituencies.
A new study reveals that even seemingly well-intentioned initiatives to help the disadvantaged side of a conflict can produce negative consequences. When humanitarian aid is not coupled with genuine political change, it may lead to moral satisfaction and decreased support for meaningful concessions for peace.
Researchers develop an indicator to predict the possibility of genocide based on escalating human rights abuses, including declining workers' rights, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The sequence of violations can culminate in mass atrocities, with the United Nations ultimately deciding whether they meet the criteria for genocide.
A new UCSB study provides a framework for policymakers and advocates to identify key factors driving coal plant retirement. By categorizing facilities into eight distinct groups based on technical, economic, environmental, and socio-political factors, the researchers offer evidence-based strategies to accelerate closures, particularly ...
Research from Edith Cowan University suggests that states can be held accountable for human rights violations committed by private military companies. Associate Professor Shannon Bosch explains that ARISWA provides a means for the international community to hold states responsible for actions taken by private military firms on their be...
A Dartmouth study found that national security officials are overwhelmingly overconfident, consistently misjudging the uncertainty of current and future states. Brief training can mitigate this bias, reducing overconfidence and promoting accuracy.
A new survey of over 6,000 Europeans reveals that trusting politicians is crucial for accepting climate policies, especially those involving taxes. Regulations and subsidies tend to receive more support than environmental taxes or bans.
A study from Linköping University reveals that Ukraine's ability to maintain public services during the war can be attributed to the collaboration between citizens and authorities. The researchers highlight the importance of trust within society in creating a robust and credible response to crises like war.
Researchers highlight how Ukraine's decentralization reforms empowered local communities to resist war and maintain society's functioning. Studies reveal how grassroots efforts, such as volunteering and participatory budgeting, helped keep essential services running despite extreme losses.
The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey finds that Americans' knowledge of civics has increased, with over two-thirds able to name all three branches of government. However, trust in the Supreme Court continues to deteriorate, with nearly 60% holding little or no trust.
A new study found that warning voters about false claims and providing them with information on election security measures can increase confidence in the results. In the US and Brazil, prebunking was more effective than credible sources in decreasing beliefs about election fraud.
A new study says the international community must reverse cuts to Rohingya humanitarian aid and work with Dhaka authorities to improve conditions in refugee camps. The research emphasizes that both options – returning to Myanmar or remaining in camps – amount to social death, highlighting the urgent need for action.
A new open-access database, CampaignView, has been created to understand congressional elections. The database contains the biographies of over 5,000 major-party candidates who ran for the U.S. House of Representatives between 2018 and 2022.