Abstract We explore the relationship between populist attitudes and conspiratorial beliefs on individual level with two studies using American samples. First, we test whether what kinds of predict attitudes. Our results show that belief in conspiracies greedy, but not necessarily purely evil, elites are associated populism. Second, having a mentality is all separate sub‐dimensions – people‐centrism, anti‐elitism, good‐versus‐evil view politics. Results relation only first two, confirming...

With the recent upsurge of populism in developed and transition democracies, researchers have started measuring it as an attitude. Several scales been proposed for this purpose. However, there is little direct comparison between available alternatives. Scholars who wish to measure populist attitudes information help select best scale their purposes. In article, we directly compare seven from multiple perspectives: conceptual development, questionnaire design, dimensionality, information,...

Previous research has consistently found widespread attitudinal impacts of terrorist attacks. Using data from the European Social Survey, which was conducting interviews in 11 countries when Charlie Hebdo attacks happened January 2015, I compare respondents before and after shootings to test whether event shifted public opinion on several topics. There is no evidence average across a range issues, xenophobia ideological self-placement immigration policy preferences. Data collected Paris...

Abstract Twitter is a prominent communication tool for politicians with two potential uses: as “substitute” channel to circumvent constraints from other political arenas, or an “amplifier” that reinforces party messages. Using novel dataset containing tweets and parliamentary speeches by members of parliament (MPs) in seven countries, we estimate politicians’ positions intra-party dissent on European integration. We find MPs’ sentiment about Europe valid measure their party's position, while...

Abstract Much of the contemporary literature on populism focuses its status as a “thin” ideology comprising three key components: people-centrism, anti-elitism, and anti-pluralism. Populist politicians pair this with extreme positions policy issues such immigration or taxation (referred to “host” “thick” ideologies). A recent study using German samples leveraged conjoint experiments disentangle effects these appeals vote choice. The results not only showed that host-ideological mattered more...

Radical parties have been found to succeed under conditions of mass polarization. It is argued that their message resonates better with voters at the extremes an ideological spectrum. This paper investigates if reverse also holds, meaning radical may contribute polarization public. I test this claim in Netherlands, a country has experienced rise populist right since 2002, using synthetic control model built pool comparable countries and Eurobarometer survey data. Results show that, after Pim...

Abstract The rise of populist forces in Western democracies is often linked to representation failures. However, date we lack causally identified evidence for the effect parties’ on attitudes. We address this lacuna through a survey experiment conducted 12 European Union countries involving 23,257 subjects. Our manipulates citizens’ perceptions being represented by national parties 2019 elections campaign, and identifies perceived results reveal that poor increases attitudes respondents did...

As the share of women in parliaments rises, increased attention is paid to how they substantively represent women. Meanwhile, availability parliamentary speech data has enabled researchers dissect politicians’ rhetorical patterns. We combine these two literatures ask whether differences between men and parliament are connected style, policy, preferences voters. apply machine‐learning models speeches from five West European (2000–18) measure femininity rhetoric used each speech. Results show...

Expert evaluations about countries form the backbone of comparative political research. It is reasonable to assume that such respondents, no matter region they specialize in, will have a comparable understanding phenomena tapped by expert surveys. This necessary get results can be compared across countries, which fundamental goal these measurement activities. We empirically test this assumption using invariance techniques not been applied surveys before. Used most often cross-cultural...

Social media giants stand accused of facilitating illegitimate interference with democratic political processes around the world. Part this problem are malicious bots: automated fake accounts passing as humans. However, we lack a systematic understanding which politicians benefit most from them. We tackle question by leveraging Twitter purge bots in July 2018 and new dataset on activity all members national parliaments (MPs) EU 2018. Since users had no influence how when purged millions...

Abstract Across countries, young people vote less than older citizens. While a few explanations have been suggested, this paper proposes that one core reason lies in youth under‐representation partisan politics, particular as issues such climate change increase the salience of inter‐generational conflict. I argue are likely to elections if they do not feel their age represented by candidates. test with data from Comparative Study Electoral Systems spanning 223 national 58 countries between...

Populist discourse is conceptually antiestablishment. Extensive research has found that political dissatisfaction associated with populist support. However, most tests have been in cases parties opposition. This essay asks what happens to antiestablishment supporters once their candidate wins a national election. I argue, based on cognitive dissonance theory, these change view of which actors constitute the establishment so leader not part it. The hypothesis tested survey data from Bolivia...

Representation failures are one of the main reasons for emergence populism in contemporary politics. Mainstream parties' convergence towards centre left parts electorate to feel underrepresented. Populists successful when they engage apathetic voters. In this sense, is suggested be a potential corrective democracy as long it engages dissatisfied and disenfranchised citizens, helping close representation gap. We test proposition three experiments with samples from two different countries,...

Abstract It is well known that politicians speak differently when campaigning. The shadow of elections may affect candidates' change in tone during campaigns. However, to date, we lack a systematic study the changes communication patterns between campaign and non-campaign periods. In this study, examine sentiment expressed 4.3 million tweets posted by members national parliaments EU27 from 2018 2020. Our results show (1) opposition, even populists Eurosceptics, send more positive messages...

Abstract Women in male‐dominated organizations often must adopt more stereotypical masculine traits to advance within those hierarchies. While politics, historically male‐dominated, should induce women blend in, increasing numbers of parliaments may give the opportunity stand out by not adopting a style. This paper investigates how these contradictory incentives influence female Members Parliament (MPs) 24 democracies between 1987 and 2022, applying machine learning 6.8 million parliamentary...

Western powers have discussed and implemented several policies in response to the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine February 2022. One such possible answer was an immediate embargo on all energy exports EU. While seen as a strong measure against Russia's war effort, some EU governments were unenthusiastic, due potential negative economic impacts short run, by pressuring prices for consumers fueling inflation. Public opinion also seemed divided matter. We use framing survey experiment...

In spite of having been popularised in sociology by Durkheim at the end nineteenth century, it was not until 1980s that ‘social cohesion’ became a central point interest European p...