Armin Schaefer
@arminschaefer.bsky.social
Professor for Comparative Politics @uni_mainz
| Democracy | Political Participation | Inequality | Responsiveness & Populism
| Democracy | Political Participation | Inequality | Responsiveness & Populism
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Members of the IPP gathered for the 11th consecutive retreat in Bodenheim close to Mainz on 13th and 14th November. The main purpose of the retreat was once again to foster the exchange of research ideas and collaboration and talk about the future of the IPP.
November 24, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Members of the IPP gathered for the 11th consecutive retreat in Bodenheim close to Mainz on 13th and 14th November. The main purpose of the retreat was once again to foster the exchange of research ideas and collaboration and talk about the future of the IPP.
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
There are very good reasons 𝘯𝘰𝘵 to panic about the #AfD's success in the #btw25 election, but their result is certainly historic. Want to know more? Or just can't go back to sleep? Tune in to my chat with Selcuk Gultasli
Professor Kai Arzheimer: AfD’s Surge is a Game-Changer in Post-War German Politics
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has doubled its vote share in the February 23 elections, marking what Professor Kai Arzheimer calls “a turning point in post-war German politics.” While expected, this surge solidifies the AfD as Germany’s second-strongest party, normalizing far-right rhetoric in mainstream discourse. Arzheimer highlights how economic anxiety, deindustrialization, and anti-immigration sentiment fuel AfD’s rise. He also warns that mainstream parties risk losing credibility by mimicking far-right policies rather than offering bold alternatives. Despite its growing influence, AfD’s radicalization presents both an opportunity and a challenge for German democracy. As political fragmentation deepens, the response of centrist parties will determine whether this shift is temporary—or part of a long-term realignment. Interview by Selcuk Gultasli The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has cemented itself as a formidable force in German politics, nearly doubling its vote share in the February 23 elections compared to 2021. According to Professor Kai Arzheimer, a...
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
🎉 New publication 🎉 Why do #youngpeople vote for the #AfD? This question has kept our research project busy for quite some time, so I'm beyond excited that our first article - co-authored with @timonscheuer.bsky.social - is now out in #GermanPolitics! 🤩 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 22, 2025 at 9:36 AM
🎉 New publication 🎉 Why do #youngpeople vote for the #AfD? This question has kept our research project busy for quite some time, so I'm beyond excited that our first article - co-authored with @timonscheuer.bsky.social - is now out in #GermanPolitics! 🤩 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
We look forward to welcoming @theresmatthiess.bsky.social to the Democracy Seminar today! 👇👇👇 What a treat!
🚂 On my way to the Democracy Seminar at @unimainz.bsky.social to pesent a joint paper with A. Ecker at the Democracy Seminar on "Citizens’ Preferences on Governing with Radical Right Parties and Flexible Majorities". Thank you for the invitation @arminschaefer.bsky.social @clandwehr.bsky.social
Aktuelles | Mainzer Zentrum für empirische Demokratieforschung
www.mzedf.uni-mainz.de
November 20, 2025 at 11:10 AM
We look forward to welcoming @theresmatthiess.bsky.social to the Democracy Seminar today! 👇👇👇 What a treat!
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Vorgezogene Bundestagswahlen sind außergewöhnlich - geschenkt. Aber 2025 war für junge Menschen doppelt ärgerlich. Wer im Sommer 2025 18 wurde, hätte im Sep 25 eigentlich wählen dürfen, im Feb 25 aber nicht. Ca. 400.000 junge Menschen, die jetzt (voraussichtlich...) erst 2029 erstmals wählen dürfen.
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Vorgezogene Bundestagswahlen sind außergewöhnlich - geschenkt. Aber 2025 war für junge Menschen doppelt ärgerlich. Wer im Sommer 2025 18 wurde, hätte im Sep 25 eigentlich wählen dürfen, im Feb 25 aber nicht. Ca. 400.000 junge Menschen, die jetzt (voraussichtlich...) erst 2029 erstmals wählen dürfen.
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Studienzeit - Fadenzeit. Erst gilt das angesichts der historischen Bedeutung des heutigen Tages, denn heute vor genau 53 Jahren fand die erste vorgezogene Bundestagswahl EVER statt. Noch dazu waren erstmals auch 18-, 19- u 20-Jährige dabei. Grund genug für eine Jugendwahlstudie zur BTW25.
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Studienzeit - Fadenzeit. Erst gilt das angesichts der historischen Bedeutung des heutigen Tages, denn heute vor genau 53 Jahren fand die erste vorgezogene Bundestagswahl EVER statt. Noch dazu waren erstmals auch 18-, 19- u 20-Jährige dabei. Grund genug für eine Jugendwahlstudie zur BTW25.
Interesting! 👇
🚨 New paper with Maria Grasso on generational shifts in political values. Despite talk of rising age polarisation, we show that gaps in attitudes are stable or even narrowing. Economic attitudes move in cycles, while social values have become more liberal – mainly due to generational replacement.
Political Socialisation in the UK: Describing Generational Changes of Values - International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society
A growing bulk of research examines intergenerational shifts in attitudes and the extent to which they are attributable to new cohorts of voters being socialised under different socioeconomic and cult...
link.springer.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Interesting! 👇
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Greatly looking forward to @breunig.bsky.social speaking in our research seminar @powimz.bsky.social on Wednesday!
November 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Greatly looking forward to @breunig.bsky.social speaking in our research seminar @powimz.bsky.social on Wednesday!
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Bartels did a study 20+ years ago looking at how much a member of Congress' record coincided with their constituents' views, broken down by income. MCs are a lot more responsive to their wealthier constituents. Think about whom SNAP and flight delays affect. www.russellsage.org/sites/defaul...
November 10, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Bartels did a study 20+ years ago looking at how much a member of Congress' record coincided with their constituents' views, broken down by income. MCs are a lot more responsive to their wealthier constituents. Think about whom SNAP and flight delays affect. www.russellsage.org/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Rechtsextreme, demokratiegefährdende Einstellungen, was ist wichtig, im Hinterkopf zu haben, wenn es um Ergebnisse wie die der Mitte-Studie geht? Einordnungen mit Politikwissenschaftler & Rechtsextremismusforscher @kai-arzheimer.com - 30min Vertiefung 🎧 www.deutschlandfunk.de/mitte-studie... 2/2
Politologe Arzheimer - Viele Menschen stehen fest auf dem Boden der Demokratie
AfD, Pegida, Neonazis - die Mitte-Studie macht den Machern Sorgen. Politiologe Arzheimer warnt, Einstellunge mit Politik gleichzusetzen.
www.deutschlandfunk.de
November 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Rechtsextreme, demokratiegefährdende Einstellungen, was ist wichtig, im Hinterkopf zu haben, wenn es um Ergebnisse wie die der Mitte-Studie geht? Einordnungen mit Politikwissenschaftler & Rechtsextremismusforscher @kai-arzheimer.com - 30min Vertiefung 🎧 www.deutschlandfunk.de/mitte-studie... 2/2
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Crazy support numbers for Zohran Mamdani among young women: 84% (!) of women aged 18-29 voted for Mamdani in the NYC Mayoral Election.
But also important: young men voted MUCH MORE STRONGLY (67%) for Mamdani than old men (37%).
But also important: young men voted MUCH MORE STRONGLY (67%) for Mamdani than old men (37%).
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Crazy support numbers for Zohran Mamdani among young women: 84% (!) of women aged 18-29 voted for Mamdani in the NYC Mayoral Election.
But also important: young men voted MUCH MORE STRONGLY (67%) for Mamdani than old men (37%).
But also important: young men voted MUCH MORE STRONGLY (67%) for Mamdani than old men (37%).
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Better get your paper submissions in for the @epssnet.bsky.social conference in June 2026, as the deadline is 7 November, and we have no intention of extended that (given the submission numbers)!
epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
Call for Papers | EPSS Belfast 2026 Conference
Submit your abstract or full paper for EPSS Belfast 2026. Share cutting‑edge political science research, network with peers & contribute to academic impact.
epssnet.org
November 1, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Better get your paper submissions in for the @epssnet.bsky.social conference in June 2026, as the deadline is 7 November, and we have no intention of extended that (given the submission numbers)!
epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
🚨New paper out in @jeppjournal.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1080/1350...
@manuelwagner.bsky.social & I re-conceptualize class representation to take into account social mobility between classes and variation in how individuals enter politics.
@manuelwagner.bsky.social & I re-conceptualize class representation to take into account social mobility between classes and variation in how individuals enter politics.
October 29, 2025 at 9:55 AM
🚨New paper out in @jeppjournal.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1080/1350...
@manuelwagner.bsky.social & I re-conceptualize class representation to take into account social mobility between classes and variation in how individuals enter politics.
@manuelwagner.bsky.social & I re-conceptualize class representation to take into account social mobility between classes and variation in how individuals enter politics.
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Diesen Mittwoch in der Forschungswerkstatt Politikwissenschaft @powimz.bsky.social : Nathasha Wunsch stellt ihr neues Buch vor! 16 Uhr in P5 - wir freuen uns schon 🎉
October 27, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Diesen Mittwoch in der Forschungswerkstatt Politikwissenschaft @powimz.bsky.social : Nathasha Wunsch stellt ihr neues Buch vor! 16 Uhr in P5 - wir freuen uns schon 🎉
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Kickoff done! “Marburger Stadtgespräch” & Future of Democracy (Mon, 20 Oct). @leaelsaesser.bsky.social on working-class political careers, the role of trade unions, and contrasts with uni graduates. Thanks also to our engaged audience for a great discussion! More: tinyurl.com/e3pyhstd
October 24, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Kickoff done! “Marburger Stadtgespräch” & Future of Democracy (Mon, 20 Oct). @leaelsaesser.bsky.social on working-class political careers, the role of trade unions, and contrasts with uni graduates. Thanks also to our engaged audience for a great discussion! More: tinyurl.com/e3pyhstd
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
How can we compare the size and structuring power of different cleavages over time? Check out @jacobgunderson.bsky.social 's great paper and dataset for scholars working on cleavages at the party system level!
The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.
The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.
💥OUT NOW!
"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social
Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social
Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
October 27, 2025 at 12:51 PM
How can we compare the size and structuring power of different cleavages over time? Check out @jacobgunderson.bsky.social 's great paper and dataset for scholars working on cleavages at the party system level!
The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.
The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Happy to serve as the editor-in-chief of the Politische Vierteljahresschrift/German Political Science Quarterly (PVS/GPSQ) link.springer.com/journal/11615 @dvpw.bsky.social from January 2026 onwards. Thanks to Eric Linhart for his great work in the last six years! 1/3
October 23, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Happy to serve as the editor-in-chief of the Politische Vierteljahresschrift/German Political Science Quarterly (PVS/GPSQ) link.springer.com/journal/11615 @dvpw.bsky.social from January 2026 onwards. Thanks to Eric Linhart for his great work in the last six years! 1/3
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
💫💫💫 Great News: We are over the moon that our paper "Election Pledges in Multiparty Governments: When do Voters Accept Non-Fulfillment?" is now published in BJPS @bjpols.bsky.social 🍾 🤗
👉🏻 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
w/ Juha Ylisalo, Katrin Praprotnik & @laurenzennser.bsky.social
🧵1/5
👉🏻 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
w/ Juha Ylisalo, Katrin Praprotnik & @laurenzennser.bsky.social
🧵1/5
Election Pledges in Multiparty Governments: When do Voters Accept Non-Fulfillment? | British Journal of Political Science | Cambridge Core
Election Pledges in Multiparty Governments: When do Voters Accept Non-Fulfillment? - Volume 55
doi.org
October 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM
💫💫💫 Great News: We are over the moon that our paper "Election Pledges in Multiparty Governments: When do Voters Accept Non-Fulfillment?" is now published in BJPS @bjpols.bsky.social 🍾 🤗
👉🏻 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
w/ Juha Ylisalo, Katrin Praprotnik & @laurenzennser.bsky.social
🧵1/5
👉🏻 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
w/ Juha Ylisalo, Katrin Praprotnik & @laurenzennser.bsky.social
🧵1/5
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Kommt alle zum Projekttag!
Im Rahmen des Projekttages stellen Studierende im Master ‚Empirische
Demokratieforschung’ ihre eigenen, im Rahmen eines Projektmoduls erarbeiteten Forschungsprojekte vor
Eingeladen sind alle Studierenden und Mitglieder des Instituts.
Im Rahmen des Projekttages stellen Studierende im Master ‚Empirische
Demokratieforschung’ ihre eigenen, im Rahmen eines Projektmoduls erarbeiteten Forschungsprojekte vor
Eingeladen sind alle Studierenden und Mitglieder des Instituts.
October 23, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Kommt alle zum Projekttag!
Im Rahmen des Projekttages stellen Studierende im Master ‚Empirische
Demokratieforschung’ ihre eigenen, im Rahmen eines Projektmoduls erarbeiteten Forschungsprojekte vor
Eingeladen sind alle Studierenden und Mitglieder des Instituts.
Im Rahmen des Projekttages stellen Studierende im Master ‚Empirische
Demokratieforschung’ ihre eigenen, im Rahmen eines Projektmoduls erarbeiteten Forschungsprojekte vor
Eingeladen sind alle Studierenden und Mitglieder des Instituts.
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
@ckreudersonnen.bsky.social and I are happy to announce two open research positions in our joint DFG-funded project VARICRIS (👉 bit.ly/varicris).
We are recruiting a #PostDoc and a #PhD candidate 🧵:
#PoliSky #PoliSkyJobs #polsci 🌐
We are recruiting a #PostDoc and a #PhD candidate 🧵:
#PoliSky #PoliSkyJobs #polsci 🌐
Welcome! – VARICRIS
VARICRIS research project
bit.ly
October 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
@ckreudersonnen.bsky.social and I are happy to announce two open research positions in our joint DFG-funded project VARICRIS (👉 bit.ly/varicris).
We are recruiting a #PostDoc and a #PhD candidate 🧵:
#PoliSky #PoliSkyJobs #polsci 🌐
We are recruiting a #PostDoc and a #PhD candidate 🧵:
#PoliSky #PoliSkyJobs #polsci 🌐
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
gender and the #RadicalRight A. Schäfer and N. D. Steiner. “How Education, Generation and Gender Jointly Structure Green And Radical Right Voting”. In: West European Politics online first (2025), pp. 1-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2025.2466122.
October 19, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
Why do rustbelts vote radical right? Studying the German Ruhr area, @nilsblossey.bsky.social, @lstoetze.bsky.social and I show: it’s not just about deindustrialization, but also about the original industrialization. Where coal is buried deeper and mining started later, the AfD is stronger today 1/12
October 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Why do rustbelts vote radical right? Studying the German Ruhr area, @nilsblossey.bsky.social, @lstoetze.bsky.social and I show: it’s not just about deindustrialization, but also about the original industrialization. Where coal is buried deeper and mining started later, the AfD is stronger today 1/12
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
I am really happy to share this year's prize for the best dissertation at the @ipz.bsky.social with @reidingerve.bsky.social!
This is an exciting end to an intense but also joyful dissertation journey.
This is an exciting end to an intense but also joyful dissertation journey.
Very proud of our @ipz.bsky.social students who celebrated their graduation tonight. Congratulations to all, especially our prize winners! The prizes for best dissertation go to @reidingerve.bsky.social and @indubioproreto.bsky.social - Congrats! 🎉🥂🍾
October 15, 2025 at 8:15 AM
I am really happy to share this year's prize for the best dissertation at the @ipz.bsky.social with @reidingerve.bsky.social!
This is an exciting end to an intense but also joyful dissertation journey.
This is an exciting end to an intense but also joyful dissertation journey.
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
JUST OUT: "Boundaries and Cleavages: Elements of a Cultural Sociology of Political Divides."
OA: direct.mit.edu/ecps/article...
It develops what the cultural sociology of group formation can contribute to research on political cleavages.
(And why "Somewheres vs Anywheres" really doesn't cut it.)
OA: direct.mit.edu/ecps/article...
It develops what the cultural sociology of group formation can contribute to research on political cleavages.
(And why "Somewheres vs Anywheres" really doesn't cut it.)
October 8, 2025 at 1:42 PM
JUST OUT: "Boundaries and Cleavages: Elements of a Cultural Sociology of Political Divides."
OA: direct.mit.edu/ecps/article...
It develops what the cultural sociology of group formation can contribute to research on political cleavages.
(And why "Somewheres vs Anywheres" really doesn't cut it.)
OA: direct.mit.edu/ecps/article...
It develops what the cultural sociology of group formation can contribute to research on political cleavages.
(And why "Somewheres vs Anywheres" really doesn't cut it.)
Reposted by Armin Schaefer
We are gearing up for the #ISIWealthConference2025.
It starts tomorrow and you can find the full program here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Thanks to this marvelous team 👇, we are ready to host a wonderful set of wealth inequality scholars from across the globe.
Watch the hashtag for updates!
It starts tomorrow and you can find the full program here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Thanks to this marvelous team 👇, we are ready to host a wonderful set of wealth inequality scholars from across the globe.
Watch the hashtag for updates!
October 8, 2025 at 6:17 AM
We are gearing up for the #ISIWealthConference2025.
It starts tomorrow and you can find the full program here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Thanks to this marvelous team 👇, we are ready to host a wonderful set of wealth inequality scholars from across the globe.
Watch the hashtag for updates!
It starts tomorrow and you can find the full program here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Thanks to this marvelous team 👇, we are ready to host a wonderful set of wealth inequality scholars from across the globe.
Watch the hashtag for updates!