Knife crime! Pronouns! Meat bans! Some political issues lead to "hotter", more emotional and polarizing debates than others. We show how these "trigger points" reveal a contested structure of moral expectations and how they get weaponized by polarization entrepreneurs. OA @bjsociology.bsky.social 🧵
Escalating, emotionally charged, and moralized forms of controversy are a central feature of contemporary politics. Our study develops a framework for understanding how political debates between ordi...
...much greater affective power if framed as violations of a deep structure of popular moral expectations. At the moment, "polarization entrepreneurs" on the far right are particularly good at tapping into this type of energy, aided by certain incentives of media ecologies. But this could change.
Linus Westheuser
Observing group interviews (and daily reality) @thomaslux.bsky.social @steffenmau.bsky.social and I were puzzled to see how, even among fairly apolitical citizens, specific issues almost always lead to heated debates. Why do people get so much more worked up about bathrooms than about wealth taxes?
Linus Westheuser
"Kann sich die Sozialdemokratie noch retten?" 🥀
fragt @markuswagner.bsky.social im Kommentar der Anderen im @derstandard.bsky.social
Neben den Gründen für den Wählerverlust der Sozialdemokraten zeigt Prof. Wagner außerdem mögliche Wege aus der Krise auf:
www.derstandard.at/story/300000...
10-Millionen-Schweiz: Warum die Politmuffel den Ausschlag geben könnten – www.defacto.expert/2026/04/02/1...
Do apply to this six-year research and teaching position! Apart from teaching two classes a term, you should have ample time to focus on your research goals as part of an international department in a great (and affordable) city.
Pre-announcement: Call for questions, Selects 2027
Contribute your questions to the Swiss electoral study during the 2027 federal elections.
📅 Call: end of April 2026
🗓 Deadline: end of June 2026
Selects 2023, including datasets, questionnaires & documentation www.swissubase.ch/en/catalogue...
