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No bosses, no problem! Pre-Hispanic farmers built giant water system bottom-up, archaeologists reveal

Researchers argue that policymakers in Colombia can adopt a similar cooperative strategy to solve the country's current water management crisis. The pre-Hispanic field systems of La Mojana cover an astonishing 500,000 hectares and were likely built by local communities in a short period of time through cooperation.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalCommunications Sustainability·DateAug 11, 2026

Politics plays a role in finding a partner

A new study by University of Cologne researchers found that political orientation significantly impacts romantic interests, with young Americans showing reluctance towards dating across party lines. The study suggests that people use politics as a filter to determine compatibility and social circle approval.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalEuropean Sociological Review·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

International conference “Cultural Diversity and Funded Translations: Between Institutional Gatekeeping and the Market, Past and Present"

The conference discusses how funded literary translations represent cultural diversity and impact global circulation of texts, publishing market, and cultural policies. It is part of the research project Translating diversity: institutional agents and literary translation policies in Ibero-America.

Do political insults pay off? New research shows what politicians actually gain from divisive political rhetoric

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'.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 20, 2026

Promoting civic engagement

A new pilot study in Long Beach found that heightened federal immigration enforcement is undermining democratic participation, even among U.S. citizens who fear for undocumented family members. The study identified three critical barriers: climate of fear, knowledge gaps, and practical constraints.

“Autoplay got me there”: How YouTube’s algorithm built a following for fascist group Patriotic Alternative

A study by City St George's criminologist Dr Tony Karas found that social media, particularly YouTube, was crucial in the radicalization process for 40 PA activists. The platform's autoplay function nudged them towards more extreme content, often with ethnonationalist views.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalStudies in Conflict and Terrorism·TypeContent analysis·DateJan 20, 2026

Learning about public consensus on climate change does little to boost people’s support for action, study shows

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.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Environmental Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateJan 15, 2026

Small changes in turnout could substantially alter election results in the future, study warns

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.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalParliamentary Affairs·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 17, 2025

A sequence of human rights violations precedes mass atrocities, new research shows

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.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Comparative Policy Analysis Research and Practice·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 4, 2025

EU ambiguity on Western Sahara frozen conflict is a “glaring source” of vulnerability for Sahrawis, study shows

A new study by Dr Irene Fernández-Molina from the University of Exeter reveals that EU legal ambiguity on the Western Sahara conflict is a significant disadvantage for the Polisario Front and its Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The study highlights how lawfare has been successfully used to challenge these ambiguities, leading to accu...

States could be held accountable for private security actions

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...

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalJournal of African Law·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 12, 2025

Trump is the primary source of US disinformation in POC media, finds ICFJ study

A new study by the International Center for Journalists and US universities found that Trump was the main source and distributor of disinformation in ethnic and Indigenous press in the US. The research also linked the prevalence of political disinformation to a decline in trust in the news and an increase in violence against journalists.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·TypeContent analysis·DateOct 1, 2025

Your trust in government shapes where you get your news

Citizens' perceptions of government effectiveness play a crucial role in shaping media choices during times of conflict, according to new research. Exposure to violence alone doesn't significantly impact trust in non-regime media; instead, citizens turn to alternative sources when they believe the state has failed to protect them.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalMedia War & Conflict·TypeSurvey·DateSep 30, 2025

Political parties ignore existing economic inequality

A recent University of Konstanz study found that political parties in twelve democratic OECD countries neglect to address economic inequality in their manifestos. The issue plays a relatively small role in election platforms, with left-wing parties and governments being the exception, as they react only when income levels increase.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalAmerican Political Science Review·DateAug 27, 2025

Trump shooting and Biden exit flipped social media from hostility to solidarity – study

A new study by University of Cambridge researchers found that social media engagement flips from hostility to solidarity after a major crisis, such as the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and Joe Biden's suspension of his re-election campaign. This 'ingroup love' effect is seen in Republican and Democrat posts expressing unity a...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 25, 2025

International community must reverse cuts to Rohingya humanitarian aid, study says

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.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalThird World Quarterly·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 7, 2025

Staunch Anglican support for the Tory party acting as “buffer” against increasing political volatility, study shows

A new study by Dr. Ekaterina Kolpinskaya found that Anglicans are disproportionately stable in their affective and electoral support for the Conservative Party, acting as a 'pocket of resistance' to changes in partisan politics. This suggests that religion continues to be socially and politically influential in modern Britain.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalParliamentary Affairs·TypeSurvey·DateJul 21, 2025

New study finds civil servants’ reactions to democratic decline reflect deep political divides

A new study reveals that civil servants who support the ruling party are more likely to stay engaged, while others tend to leave or disengage, leading to a less diverse and politicized civil service. This shift threatens the competence, neutrality, and public trust of the civil service.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPerspectives on Politics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 7, 2025

Family ties and firm performance: How cousin marriage traditions shape informal businesses in Africa

A new study explores how cousin marriage traditions shape informal businesses in Africa, finding that firms operating in areas with a historical tradition of cousin marriage prioritize hiring relatives and experience greater employment increases but smaller gains in revenue.

SourceStrategic Management Society·JournalStrategic Entrepreneurship Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 1, 2025

Partial peace deals may facilitate comprehensive accords, offering roadmap for policymakers, practitioners

Researchers found that partial peace agreements play an important role in building trust and strengthening relationships between negotiators. These agreements offer strategic advantages, including consolidating incremental progress, serving as metrics, testing measures, and signaling a larger commitment to the peace process.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Peace Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 11, 2025