Kristian Frederiksen
@kristianvsf.bsky.social
Assistant professor at Aarhus University. Democratic erosion, citizens & elites. Webpage: https://sites.google.com/view/kristianfrederiksen
Pinned
NEW -
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
How do contemporary challenges of backsliding and war interact? We show that interstate conflict boosts support for undemocratic candidates, especially among Republicans who *do not prefer democratic Rs over undemocratic Rs* during interstate conflict.
Out in @bjpols.bsky.social with Lasse Laustsen
Out in @bjpols.bsky.social with Lasse Laustsen
Experimental evidence that *randomly varying the severity of democratic norm violations* is 1) as good as incrementally increasing severity (re subversion by stealth), and 2) better than incrementally decreasing severity (re reference point theory) for would-be authoritarians
NEW -
Dynamic Democratic Backsliding - https://cup.org/3X48Yzq
"I formulate and test predictions about how different sequences of backsliding shape accountability."
- Eddy S. F. Yeung
#OpenAccess
Dynamic Democratic Backsliding - https://cup.org/3X48Yzq
"I formulate and test predictions about how different sequences of backsliding shape accountability."
- Eddy S. F. Yeung
#OpenAccess
November 19, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Experimental evidence that *randomly varying the severity of democratic norm violations* is 1) as good as incrementally increasing severity (re subversion by stealth), and 2) better than incrementally decreasing severity (re reference point theory) for would-be authoritarians
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
Does ethnopolitical exclusion cause civil war onset via grievances? In a new article, @lleipziger.bsky.social, Lasse Lykke Rørbæk, and I reassess this relationship based on 15 case studies. Six of the cases followed the grievance/mobilization/rejection pathway proposed by the general theory.
#OpenAccess from @poppublicsphere.bsky.social -
Does Ethnopolitical Exclusion Cause Civil War Onset via Grievances? Evidence from 15 Case Studies - https://cup.org/4ozgHkU
- @lleipziger.bsky.social, Lasse Lykke Rørbæk & @skaaning.bsky.social
#FirstView
Does Ethnopolitical Exclusion Cause Civil War Onset via Grievances? Evidence from 15 Case Studies - https://cup.org/4ozgHkU
- @lleipziger.bsky.social, Lasse Lykke Rørbæk & @skaaning.bsky.social
#FirstView
November 15, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Does ethnopolitical exclusion cause civil war onset via grievances? In a new article, @lleipziger.bsky.social, Lasse Lykke Rørbæk, and I reassess this relationship based on 15 case studies. Six of the cases followed the grievance/mobilization/rejection pathway proposed by the general theory.
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
An expert survey I was contacted by exposed its recipient list and now I'm in a "remove me too please" snowball. Don't people ever learn not to "reply all"?
November 13, 2025 at 8:33 AM
An expert survey I was contacted by exposed its recipient list and now I'm in a "remove me too please" snowball. Don't people ever learn not to "reply all"?
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
Fascinating paper by @grattonecon.bsky.social, @bartonelee2.bsky.social, and Hasin Yousaf!
The paper addresses a fundamental question: Why do some democracies chronically avoid ambitious, long-term reforms even when they have decent institutions?
They argue that what matters is not only
The paper addresses a fundamental question: Why do some democracies chronically avoid ambitious, long-term reforms even when they have decent institutions?
They argue that what matters is not only
November 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Fascinating paper by @grattonecon.bsky.social, @bartonelee2.bsky.social, and Hasin Yousaf!
The paper addresses a fundamental question: Why do some democracies chronically avoid ambitious, long-term reforms even when they have decent institutions?
They argue that what matters is not only
The paper addresses a fundamental question: Why do some democracies chronically avoid ambitious, long-term reforms even when they have decent institutions?
They argue that what matters is not only
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
🚨 EPSS Belfast 2026 Call for Papers - One week to go! 🚨
Don't forget to submit your paper or panel proposal to the European Political Science Society @epssnet.bsky.social 2026 conference - just one week to go before the deadline: epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
Don't forget to submit your paper or panel proposal to the European Political Science Society @epssnet.bsky.social 2026 conference - just one week to go before the deadline: 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
October 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🚨 EPSS Belfast 2026 Call for Papers - One week to go! 🚨
Don't forget to submit your paper or panel proposal to the European Political Science Society @epssnet.bsky.social 2026 conference - just one week to go before the deadline: epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
Don't forget to submit your paper or panel proposal to the European Political Science Society @epssnet.bsky.social 2026 conference - just one week to go before the deadline: epssnet.org/belfast-2026...
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
"the increase in appeal of an undemocratic presidential candidate during interstate conflict is strongest among Republicans. Republicans’ preferences for a democratically compliant candidate are completely eroded during threats of interstate conflict."
NEW -
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
October 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
"the increase in appeal of an undemocratic presidential candidate during interstate conflict is strongest among Republicans. Republicans’ preferences for a democratically compliant candidate are completely eroded during threats of interstate conflict."
How do contemporary challenges of backsliding and war interact? We show that interstate conflict boosts support for undemocratic candidates, especially among Republicans who *do not prefer democratic Rs over undemocratic Rs* during interstate conflict.
Out in @bjpols.bsky.social with Lasse Laustsen
Out in @bjpols.bsky.social with Lasse Laustsen
NEW -
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
Interstate Conflict Increases the Appeal of Undemocratic Candidates - https://cup.org/3Lx7bjx
"undemocratic candidates are evaluated more positively under conflict compared to peace"
- @kristianvsf.bsky.social & Lasse Laustsen
#OpenAccess
October 28, 2025 at 9:46 AM
How do contemporary challenges of backsliding and war interact? We show that interstate conflict boosts support for undemocratic candidates, especially among Republicans who *do not prefer democratic Rs over undemocratic Rs* during interstate conflict.
Out in @bjpols.bsky.social with Lasse Laustsen
Out in @bjpols.bsky.social with Lasse Laustsen
Super excited to get started with this research!
Happy to announce that I, together with @kristianvsf.bsky.social, have received DKK 3,167,689 from Independent Research Fund Denmark to pursue the project Democratic Tradeoff Perceptions (DEMTRAP). We will explore citizen perceptions of possible tradeoffs between democracy and effective governance.
October 23, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Super excited to get started with this research!
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
When authoritarians tell you they like authoritarianism, over and over and over and over and over again, believe them
Trump on Egypt: "They have very little crime. Because they don't play games. That's why. Like we do in the United States with governors that have no idea what they're doing."
October 13, 2025 at 3:48 PM
When authoritarians tell you they like authoritarianism, over and over and over and over and over again, believe them
Arrived and all set for #APSA2025 with two papers:
Public Opinion and the Restoration of Democracy with @robbwiller.bsky.social and @m-b-petersen.bsky.social (Thur at 12)
What Elites Believe About Opposing Trump with @aarslew.bsky.social and Martin Bisgaard (Sun at 8)
See you at the conference!
Public Opinion and the Restoration of Democracy with @robbwiller.bsky.social and @m-b-petersen.bsky.social (Thur at 12)
What Elites Believe About Opposing Trump with @aarslew.bsky.social and Martin Bisgaard (Sun at 8)
See you at the conference!
September 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Arrived and all set for #APSA2025 with two papers:
Public Opinion and the Restoration of Democracy with @robbwiller.bsky.social and @m-b-petersen.bsky.social (Thur at 12)
What Elites Believe About Opposing Trump with @aarslew.bsky.social and Martin Bisgaard (Sun at 8)
See you at the conference!
Public Opinion and the Restoration of Democracy with @robbwiller.bsky.social and @m-b-petersen.bsky.social (Thur at 12)
What Elites Believe About Opposing Trump with @aarslew.bsky.social and Martin Bisgaard (Sun at 8)
See you at the conference!
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
I am honored to have been awarded an ERC Starting Grant towards my project "Governing elites since the dawn of modern democracy" (GETGOV).
It allows me to continue to advance this research agenda; the goal is to build a database on governing elites from 1789 and up to today + much more.
#ERCStG
It allows me to continue to advance this research agenda; the goal is to build a database on governing elites from 1789 and up to today + much more.
#ERCStG
Jacob Nyrup awarded EU funds to research political elites
- Department of Political Science
Jacob Nyrup from the Department of Political Science has been granted a substantial 18 million Norwegian kroner by the EU's research council to examine political elites in countries before and after d...
www.sv.uio.no
September 4, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I am honored to have been awarded an ERC Starting Grant towards my project "Governing elites since the dawn of modern democracy" (GETGOV).
It allows me to continue to advance this research agenda; the goal is to build a database on governing elites from 1789 and up to today + much more.
#ERCStG
It allows me to continue to advance this research agenda; the goal is to build a database on governing elites from 1789 and up to today + much more.
#ERCStG
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's WhoGov workshop on Political Elites! It is amazing to see so much great research presented on political elites and meet so many great people.
And thank you to @inalkristiansen.bsky.social and @jonaswschmid.bsky.social for co-organizing the event
And thank you to @inalkristiansen.bsky.social and @jonaswschmid.bsky.social for co-organizing the event
September 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's WhoGov workshop on Political Elites! It is amazing to see so much great research presented on political elites and meet so many great people.
And thank you to @inalkristiansen.bsky.social and @jonaswschmid.bsky.social for co-organizing the event
And thank you to @inalkristiansen.bsky.social and @jonaswschmid.bsky.social for co-organizing the event
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
Can banning political ideologies protect democracy? 🛡️🆚🗣️
Our (w. @valentimvicente.bsky.social) paper finds: punishing individuals might backfire. We study a West German policy banning "extreme left" individuals from working for the state.
#Democracy #PoliticalScience
🧵
url: osf.io/usqdb_v2
Our (w. @valentimvicente.bsky.social) paper finds: punishing individuals might backfire. We study a West German policy banning "extreme left" individuals from working for the state.
#Democracy #PoliticalScience
🧵
url: osf.io/usqdb_v2
July 10, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Can banning political ideologies protect democracy? 🛡️🆚🗣️
Our (w. @valentimvicente.bsky.social) paper finds: punishing individuals might backfire. We study a West German policy banning "extreme left" individuals from working for the state.
#Democracy #PoliticalScience
🧵
url: osf.io/usqdb_v2
Our (w. @valentimvicente.bsky.social) paper finds: punishing individuals might backfire. We study a West German policy banning "extreme left" individuals from working for the state.
#Democracy #PoliticalScience
🧵
url: osf.io/usqdb_v2
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
Do campaigns make voters less vulnerable to framing?
Our study of Denmark’s 2022 EU referendum suggests they can. Framing effects declined as voters became more informed and drew on their own EU attitudes.
Happy to share it's now accepted in the EJPR!
Pre-print: osf.io/preprints/os...
Our study of Denmark’s 2022 EU referendum suggests they can. Framing effects declined as voters became more informed and drew on their own EU attitudes.
Happy to share it's now accepted in the EJPR!
Pre-print: osf.io/preprints/os...
May 30, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Do campaigns make voters less vulnerable to framing?
Our study of Denmark’s 2022 EU referendum suggests they can. Framing effects declined as voters became more informed and drew on their own EU attitudes.
Happy to share it's now accepted in the EJPR!
Pre-print: osf.io/preprints/os...
Our study of Denmark’s 2022 EU referendum suggests they can. Framing effects declined as voters became more informed and drew on their own EU attitudes.
Happy to share it's now accepted in the EJPR!
Pre-print: osf.io/preprints/os...
Emphasizing that democracy itself is at risk is quite ineffective in reducing support for undemocratic behavior - experimental evidence from 10 countries now open access in @polbehavior.bsky.social
AND this adds a satisfying *The End* to my dissertation.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
AND this adds a satisfying *The End* to my dissertation.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Does Priming Democratic Vulnerability Make Citizens Punish Undemocratic Behavior? - Political Behavior
Recent instances of public support for democracy-violating political leaders have sparked an important stream of research suggesting that such leaders may gain support by representing citizens’ politi...
link.springer.com
May 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Emphasizing that democracy itself is at risk is quite ineffective in reducing support for undemocratic behavior - experimental evidence from 10 countries now open access in @polbehavior.bsky.social
AND this adds a satisfying *The End* to my dissertation.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
AND this adds a satisfying *The End* to my dissertation.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
🚨 working paper (w. @morganlcj.bsky.social @markuswagner.bsky.social): Protesters are not judged equally - even if tactics of groups are similar.
We ran an experiment in 🇩🇪 testing how people react to farmers vs. climate activists blocking roads.
What we find is disturbing:
osf.io/preprints/os...
We ran an experiment in 🇩🇪 testing how people react to farmers vs. climate activists blocking roads.
What we find is disturbing:
osf.io/preprints/os...
May 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
🚨 working paper (w. @morganlcj.bsky.social @markuswagner.bsky.social): Protesters are not judged equally - even if tactics of groups are similar.
We ran an experiment in 🇩🇪 testing how people react to farmers vs. climate activists blocking roads.
What we find is disturbing:
osf.io/preprints/os...
We ran an experiment in 🇩🇪 testing how people react to farmers vs. climate activists blocking roads.
What we find is disturbing:
osf.io/preprints/os...
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
Our new paper with team DEMNORM! We show that while using hypothetical scenarios helps us isolate causal effects, this may have led us to underestimate real world support for democratic transgressions, but also the efficiency of interventions against it! ▶️Check out Kristian's summary thread 👇👇
🛎️New WP with @morganlcj.bsky.social @timallinger.bsky.social and @danbischof.bsky.social
Against the surge of conjoints and other hypothetical experiments in relation to democratic backsliding, we study the consequences of using hypotheticals versus real-world scenarios.
osf.io/preprints/os...
Against the surge of conjoints and other hypothetical experiments in relation to democratic backsliding, we study the consequences of using hypotheticals versus real-world scenarios.
osf.io/preprints/os...
May 15, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Our new paper with team DEMNORM! We show that while using hypothetical scenarios helps us isolate causal effects, this may have led us to underestimate real world support for democratic transgressions, but also the efficiency of interventions against it! ▶️Check out Kristian's summary thread 👇👇
🛎️New WP with @morganlcj.bsky.social @timallinger.bsky.social and @danbischof.bsky.social
Against the surge of conjoints and other hypothetical experiments in relation to democratic backsliding, we study the consequences of using hypotheticals versus real-world scenarios.
osf.io/preprints/os...
Against the surge of conjoints and other hypothetical experiments in relation to democratic backsliding, we study the consequences of using hypotheticals versus real-world scenarios.
osf.io/preprints/os...
May 14, 2025 at 10:06 AM
🛎️New WP with @morganlcj.bsky.social @timallinger.bsky.social and @danbischof.bsky.social
Against the surge of conjoints and other hypothetical experiments in relation to democratic backsliding, we study the consequences of using hypotheticals versus real-world scenarios.
osf.io/preprints/os...
Against the surge of conjoints and other hypothetical experiments in relation to democratic backsliding, we study the consequences of using hypotheticals versus real-world scenarios.
osf.io/preprints/os...
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
From February 2025 -
Educating for Democracy? Going to College Increases Political Participation - cup.org/4iapbva
- @andreasvijensen.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Educating for Democracy? Going to College Increases Political Participation - cup.org/4iapbva
- @andreasvijensen.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
April 28, 2025 at 11:30 AM
From February 2025 -
Educating for Democracy? Going to College Increases Political Participation - cup.org/4iapbva
- @andreasvijensen.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Educating for Democracy? Going to College Increases Political Participation - cup.org/4iapbva
- @andreasvijensen.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
This is the most incredible commentary on what is happening in the US, by one of the most eminent political scientists on the planet. You have to read this.
open.substack.com/pub/adamprze...
open.substack.com/pub/adamprze...
Diary
WEEK 8
open.substack.com
April 9, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This is the most incredible commentary on what is happening in the US, by one of the most eminent political scientists on the planet. You have to read this.
open.substack.com/pub/adamprze...
open.substack.com/pub/adamprze...
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
Who supports free speech, and how consistent is the support? Together with @suthank.bsky.social, I’ve conducted a survey of citizens in 33 countries for The Future of Free Speech. A lot of interesting findings (see 🧵 + link): futurefreespeech.org/wp-content/u...
futurefreespeech.org
April 8, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Who supports free speech, and how consistent is the support? Together with @suthank.bsky.social, I’ve conducted a survey of citizens in 33 countries for The Future of Free Speech. A lot of interesting findings (see 🧵 + link): futurefreespeech.org/wp-content/u...
En route to @ispsyale.bsky.social to present "The Power of Spectacle: What Political Elites Believe About Breaking with Donald J. Trump", which is joint work with Martin Bisgaard and @aarslew.bsky.social. Honored to be invited to present at this workshop on America's Contested Democratic Creed!
February 27, 2025 at 2:34 PM
En route to @ispsyale.bsky.social to present "The Power of Spectacle: What Political Elites Believe About Breaking with Donald J. Trump", which is joint work with Martin Bisgaard and @aarslew.bsky.social. Honored to be invited to present at this workshop on America's Contested Democratic Creed!
🛎️WP with @robbwiller.bsky.social and @m-b-petersen.bsky.social
While US democracy burns, we study public opinion dynamics during democratic restoration led by @donald-tusk.bsky.social in Poland with lessons for current (e.g Poland) & future (US, hopefully) democratic forces.
osf.io/preprints/os...
While US democracy burns, we study public opinion dynamics during democratic restoration led by @donald-tusk.bsky.social in Poland with lessons for current (e.g Poland) & future (US, hopefully) democratic forces.
osf.io/preprints/os...
February 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
🛎️WP with @robbwiller.bsky.social and @m-b-petersen.bsky.social
While US democracy burns, we study public opinion dynamics during democratic restoration led by @donald-tusk.bsky.social in Poland with lessons for current (e.g Poland) & future (US, hopefully) democratic forces.
osf.io/preprints/os...
While US democracy burns, we study public opinion dynamics during democratic restoration led by @donald-tusk.bsky.social in Poland with lessons for current (e.g Poland) & future (US, hopefully) democratic forces.
osf.io/preprints/os...
Reposted by Kristian Frederiksen
Thrilled that my article has just been published at @apsrjournal.bsky.social! 🎉 The article argues that low statistical power is a major impediment to acquiring cumulative knowledge on questions concerning cross-national differences: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
What Can We Learn about the Effects of Democracy Using Cross-National Data? | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
What Can We Learn about the Effects of Democracy Using Cross-National Data?
www.cambridge.org
December 10, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Thrilled that my article has just been published at @apsrjournal.bsky.social! 🎉 The article argues that low statistical power is a major impediment to acquiring cumulative knowledge on questions concerning cross-national differences: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...