Nils Steiner
@nilssteiner.bsky.social
Political Scientist at JGU Mainz, Germany.
Research on public opinion, elections, parties, and democracy (more at: https://www.nilssteiner.com/).
Spokesperson of the AK Wahlen (@dvpw.bsky.social).
Associate editor at @pvs-journal.bsky.social.
Research on public opinion, elections, parties, and democracy (more at: https://www.nilssteiner.com/).
Spokesperson of the AK Wahlen (@dvpw.bsky.social).
Associate editor at @pvs-journal.bsky.social.
Reposted by Nils Steiner
IN NEW ISSUE: How do institutional parameters affect citizens’ evaluations of a political system as democratic? @clandwehr.bsky.social, C Ojeda & @stallbaum.bsky.social compare citizens’ design preferences in #Germany & #US: buff.ly/3Wx9YMl
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 10:02 PM
IN NEW ISSUE: How do institutional parameters affect citizens’ evaluations of a political system as democratic? @clandwehr.bsky.social, C Ojeda & @stallbaum.bsky.social compare citizens’ design preferences in #Germany & #US: buff.ly/3Wx9YMl
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social
Reposted by Nils Steiner
New Publication with @lhaffert.bsky.social in @ejprjournal.bsky.social!
We study the role of generations in the urban-rural divide, which is increasingly shaping the politics of many democracies.
Studying Switzerland, we show: The urban-rural divide is stronger among younger generations. (1/10) 🧵👇
We study the role of generations in the urban-rural divide, which is increasingly shaping the politics of many democracies.
Studying Switzerland, we show: The urban-rural divide is stronger among younger generations. (1/10) 🧵👇
November 24, 2025 at 9:48 AM
New Publication with @lhaffert.bsky.social in @ejprjournal.bsky.social!
We study the role of generations in the urban-rural divide, which is increasingly shaping the politics of many democracies.
Studying Switzerland, we show: The urban-rural divide is stronger among younger generations. (1/10) 🧵👇
We study the role of generations in the urban-rural divide, which is increasingly shaping the politics of many democracies.
Studying Switzerland, we show: The urban-rural divide is stronger among younger generations. (1/10) 🧵👇
Reposted by Nils Steiner
missed this. dems should do it regardless of the motivations. plurality single-winner primaries are dumb www.axios.com/2025/11/24/d...
Scoop: Democrats eye ranked-choice voting for 2028 primaries
It's a tool that drew national attention when it propelled New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to a decisive primary win.
www.axios.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
missed this. dems should do it regardless of the motivations. plurality single-winner primaries are dumb www.axios.com/2025/11/24/d...
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Mitglieder der DVPW sollten sich beteiligen. Das gilt für Menschen, die betroffen sind ebenso sehr wie für jene, die explizit nicht (!) betroffen sind.
Wir erhalten das bestmögliche Bild durch eine breite Beteiligung unserer Mitglieder.
Wir erhalten das bestmögliche Bild durch eine breite Beteiligung unserer Mitglieder.
‼️ #Mitglieder aufgepasst: Heute startet der Vorstand seine Mitgliederbefragung zu Erfahrungen mit #Anfeindungen und #Bedrohungen in der #Politikwissenschaft, die Zugangsdaten kommen per Mail. Bitte nehmt Euch 10 Minuten für die #Umfrage!
👉 www.dvpw.de/informatione...
👉 www.dvpw.de/informatione...
November 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Mitglieder der DVPW sollten sich beteiligen. Das gilt für Menschen, die betroffen sind ebenso sehr wie für jene, die explizit nicht (!) betroffen sind.
Wir erhalten das bestmögliche Bild durch eine breite Beteiligung unserer Mitglieder.
Wir erhalten das bestmögliche Bild durch eine breite Beteiligung unserer Mitglieder.
Reposted by Nils Steiner
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Those claiming Dems should retreat on racial justice aren't hard-headed realists, they're pushing against the electoral tide rather than leaning into it. The story of Gen Z isn't about racist backlash or red-pilled young men. It's the most racially progressive generation in American history. 🧵
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Those claiming Dems should retreat on racial justice aren't hard-headed realists, they're pushing against the electoral tide rather than leaning into it. The story of Gen Z isn't about racist backlash or red-pilled young men. It's the most racially progressive generation in American history. 🧵
Reposted by Nils Steiner
The 2024 EU @chesdata.bsky.social has been added to both the trend file (1999-2024) and the Shiny app. Please take both for a spin!
www.chesdata.eu/ches-europe
chesdata.shinyapps.io/Shiny-CHES/
www.chesdata.eu/ches-europe
chesdata.shinyapps.io/Shiny-CHES/
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
The 2024 EU @chesdata.bsky.social has been added to both the trend file (1999-2024) and the Shiny app. Please take both for a spin!
www.chesdata.eu/ches-europe
chesdata.shinyapps.io/Shiny-CHES/
www.chesdata.eu/ches-europe
chesdata.shinyapps.io/Shiny-CHES/
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Finally, my new paper is out in Comparative Political Studies.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
It shows that anti-system politics often begins inside firms: when employers take the low road, offering poor job quality and unfair hierarchies, even well-off workers turn against the system.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
It shows that anti-system politics often begins inside firms: when employers take the low road, offering poor job quality and unfair hierarchies, even well-off workers turn against the system.
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Finally, my new paper is out in Comparative Political Studies.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
It shows that anti-system politics often begins inside firms: when employers take the low road, offering poor job quality and unfair hierarchies, even well-off workers turn against the system.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
It shows that anti-system politics often begins inside firms: when employers take the low road, offering poor job quality and unfair hierarchies, even well-off workers turn against the system.
Reposted by Nils Steiner
How are contemporary cleavage structures stabilized in times of declining mass social and political organizations?
In this new paper with @davidattewell6.bsky.social @bjpols.bsky.social, we suggest that homogeneous social (educational) networks provide part of the answer.
tinyurl.com/49cs8jwp
In this new paper with @davidattewell6.bsky.social @bjpols.bsky.social, we suggest that homogeneous social (educational) networks provide part of the answer.
tinyurl.com/49cs8jwp
Educational Networks, Social Closure, and Cleavage Stabilization | British Journal of Political Science | Cambridge Core
Educational Networks, Social Closure, and Cleavage Stabilization - Volume 55
tinyurl.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:28 AM
How are contemporary cleavage structures stabilized in times of declining mass social and political organizations?
In this new paper with @davidattewell6.bsky.social @bjpols.bsky.social, we suggest that homogeneous social (educational) networks provide part of the answer.
tinyurl.com/49cs8jwp
In this new paper with @davidattewell6.bsky.social @bjpols.bsky.social, we suggest that homogeneous social (educational) networks provide part of the answer.
tinyurl.com/49cs8jwp
Reposted by Nils Steiner
A new paper analyzes the “production-consumption gap” on social media, where a small subset of users produce most of the content, and considers its implications for the study of phenomena such as political polarization, and for the design of policy interventions. Prithvi Iyer considers the results:
What a New Study Reveals About the Production-Consumption Gap on Social Media | TechPolicy.Press
Prithvi Iyer considers new research on how online content reveals the tip of the iceberg, leading to incorrect inferences about online public opinion.
www.techpolicy.press
November 5, 2025 at 3:08 PM
A new paper analyzes the “production-consumption gap” on social media, where a small subset of users produce most of the content, and considers its implications for the study of phenomena such as political polarization, and for the design of policy interventions. Prithvi Iyer considers the results:
Reposted by Nils Steiner
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 Nils Steiner
ANES Data Release! electionstudies.org/data-center/...
The 3-wave ANES panel is now available. It merges data from 3 election studies (2016-2020-2024), the first time the ANES has collected interviews of the same respondents across 3 presidential elections.
The 3-wave ANES panel is now available. It merges data from 3 election studies (2016-2020-2024), the first time the ANES has collected interviews of the same respondents across 3 presidential elections.
2016-2020-2024-panel-merged-study - ANES | American National Election Studies
electionstudies.org
November 1, 2025 at 8:47 PM
ANES Data Release! electionstudies.org/data-center/...
The 3-wave ANES panel is now available. It merges data from 3 election studies (2016-2020-2024), the first time the ANES has collected interviews of the same respondents across 3 presidential elections.
The 3-wave ANES panel is now available. It merges data from 3 election studies (2016-2020-2024), the first time the ANES has collected interviews of the same respondents across 3 presidential elections.
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Cool new working paper on why and how cable news threw gasoline on the culture war fire. The culture war isn't optimal for electoral candidates, but it's optimal for cable news companies.
ungated: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27v4x...
ungated: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27v4x...
November 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Cool new working paper on why and how cable news threw gasoline on the culture war fire. The culture war isn't optimal for electoral candidates, but it's optimal for cable news companies.
ungated: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27v4x...
ungated: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27v4x...
Reposted by Nils Steiner
There are three things everyone should know about youth and far-right voting:
1: There is (averaged all European countries) no correlation between being young and voting for the far right.
1: There is (averaged all European countries) no correlation between being young and voting for the far right.
@ipsosnl.bsky.social published an age breakdown of the results of the election polls regarding tomorrow's Dutch elections.
Young Dutch voters are leaning more towards the centre-left (D66, PvdA-GL, PvdD, Volt), and are less likely to vote for both the far-right and the center-right.
Young Dutch voters are leaning more towards the centre-left (D66, PvdA-GL, PvdD, Volt), and are less likely to vote for both the far-right and the center-right.
October 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
There are three things everyone should know about youth and far-right voting:
1: There is (averaged all European countries) no correlation between being young and voting for the far right.
1: There is (averaged all European countries) no correlation between being young and voting for the far right.
Reposted by Nils Steiner
📊 now in English @fesonline.bsky.social:
Gender gap in voting behavior in Germany📊
It's about the “big picture” since 1953 & current trends 2021-2025.
The gender gap keeps growing, especially among the young.
-> Longer trends are continuing & partly accelerating.
library.fes.de/pdf-files/a-...
Gender gap in voting behavior in Germany📊
It's about the “big picture” since 1953 & current trends 2021-2025.
The gender gap keeps growing, especially among the young.
-> Longer trends are continuing & partly accelerating.
library.fes.de/pdf-files/a-...
November 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
📊 now in English @fesonline.bsky.social:
Gender gap in voting behavior in Germany📊
It's about the “big picture” since 1953 & current trends 2021-2025.
The gender gap keeps growing, especially among the young.
-> Longer trends are continuing & partly accelerating.
library.fes.de/pdf-files/a-...
Gender gap in voting behavior in Germany📊
It's about the “big picture” since 1953 & current trends 2021-2025.
The gender gap keeps growing, especially among the young.
-> Longer trends are continuing & partly accelerating.
library.fes.de/pdf-files/a-...
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Steffen Wamsler and I have a new paper in @ejprjournal.bsky.social !
We show that citizens who perceive their in-group to be disadvantaged express lower support for democracy and higher openness towards authoritarian alternatives!
tinyurl.com/y78hj253 @espol-lab.bsky.social @lifbi.bsky.social
We show that citizens who perceive their in-group to be disadvantaged express lower support for democracy and higher openness towards authoritarian alternatives!
tinyurl.com/y78hj253 @espol-lab.bsky.social @lifbi.bsky.social
Democracy and disadvantage: How subjective group relative deprivation undermines democratic support | European Journal of Political Research | Cambridge Core
Democracy and disadvantage: How subjective group relative deprivation undermines democratic support
tinyurl.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Steffen Wamsler and I have a new paper in @ejprjournal.bsky.social !
We show that citizens who perceive their in-group to be disadvantaged express lower support for democracy and higher openness towards authoritarian alternatives!
tinyurl.com/y78hj253 @espol-lab.bsky.social @lifbi.bsky.social
We show that citizens who perceive their in-group to be disadvantaged express lower support for democracy and higher openness towards authoritarian alternatives!
tinyurl.com/y78hj253 @espol-lab.bsky.social @lifbi.bsky.social
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Is social media dying? How much has Twitter changed as it became X? Which party now dominates the conversation?
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
October 30, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Is social media dying? How much has Twitter changed as it became X? Which party now dominates the conversation?
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Das Wintersemester an der @unimainz.bsky.social geht los.
Ich freue mich besonders auf mein neues Seminar zu Generationenunterschieden in politischen Einstellungen und dem Wahlverhalten.
Ich freue mich besonders auf mein neues Seminar zu Generationenunterschieden in politischen Einstellungen und dem Wahlverhalten.
October 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Das Wintersemester an der @unimainz.bsky.social geht los.
Ich freue mich besonders auf mein neues Seminar zu Generationenunterschieden in politischen Einstellungen und dem Wahlverhalten.
Ich freue mich besonders auf mein neues Seminar zu Generationenunterschieden in politischen Einstellungen und dem Wahlverhalten.
Reposted by Nils Steiner
The Christian Democrats have always been the party that Germans are most likely to trust with the economy. After a setback in 2022, their reputation bounced back, while voters' worries about the economy brew. Which makes the CDU's pivot to immigration during the 24/25 campaign all the more puzzling
October 26, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The Christian Democrats have always been the party that Germans are most likely to trust with the economy. After a setback in 2022, their reputation bounced back, while voters' worries about the economy brew. Which makes the CDU's pivot to immigration during the 24/25 campaign all the more puzzling
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Im Rahmen unserer Forschungswerkstatt bieten wir im Wintersemester 2025/26 wieder ein spannendes Programm zu verschiedenen Themen an. Wie immer gilt: alle sind herzlich willkommen!
October 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Im Rahmen unserer Forschungswerkstatt bieten wir im Wintersemester 2025/26 wieder ein spannendes Programm zu verschiedenen Themen an. Wie immer gilt: alle sind herzlich willkommen!
Reposted by Nils Steiner
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 Nils Steiner
🚨 New article out!
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
October 22, 2025 at 3:14 PM
🚨 New article out!
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
“Right-Wing Terror, Media Backlash, and Voting Preferences for the Far Right” in @bjpols.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1017/S000...
We (Alex De Juan, @juvoss.bsky.social & I) examine how right-wing attacks shape support for the far-right in Germany.
Short summary thread below 👇
Reposted by Nils Steiner
Why do people turn to populist parties? 🤔
📣 Our new study just published at @ejprjournal.bsky.social shows it’s not just real inequality - it’s perceived inequality that drives populism.
📌 Blog: hu-govlab.de/en/perceived...
📊 Study: tinyurl.com/msnndnpn
🏛️ Funded by: @scripts-berlin.eu
📣 Our new study just published at @ejprjournal.bsky.social shows it’s not just real inequality - it’s perceived inequality that drives populism.
📌 Blog: hu-govlab.de/en/perceived...
📊 Study: tinyurl.com/msnndnpn
🏛️ Funded by: @scripts-berlin.eu
October 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Why do people turn to populist parties? 🤔
📣 Our new study just published at @ejprjournal.bsky.social shows it’s not just real inequality - it’s perceived inequality that drives populism.
📌 Blog: hu-govlab.de/en/perceived...
📊 Study: tinyurl.com/msnndnpn
🏛️ Funded by: @scripts-berlin.eu
📣 Our new study just published at @ejprjournal.bsky.social shows it’s not just real inequality - it’s perceived inequality that drives populism.
📌 Blog: hu-govlab.de/en/perceived...
📊 Study: tinyurl.com/msnndnpn
🏛️ Funded by: @scripts-berlin.eu
Reposted by Nils Steiner
New publication for everyone interested in climate politics, far-right climate obstruction, and the role of elite cues! 📚
"Climate action versus environmental protection?" now out in @environmentalpol.bsky.social (with Matthias Diermeier).
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... (open access!) (1/5)
"Climate action versus environmental protection?" now out in @environmentalpol.bsky.social (with Matthias Diermeier).
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... (open access!) (1/5)
Climate action versus environmental protection? How far-right and environmentalist messengers shape public attitudes towards renewable energy infrastructure in forests
This article examines how political messengers, and not the message, influence attitudes toward renewable energy infrastructure amid an increasingly polarized climate change debate. Focusing on win...
www.tandfonline.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:34 AM
New publication for everyone interested in climate politics, far-right climate obstruction, and the role of elite cues! 📚
"Climate action versus environmental protection?" now out in @environmentalpol.bsky.social (with Matthias Diermeier).
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... (open access!) (1/5)
"Climate action versus environmental protection?" now out in @environmentalpol.bsky.social (with Matthias Diermeier).
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... (open access!) (1/5)