Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Aug 24

As Jess says, @sadiemdempsey.bsky.social’s incredible work on the social and emotional dimensions of political participation is going to be critical to rebuilding our movements going forward!

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · Aug 24

In an ethnographic study of youth political organizations, one of my PhD students found that the primary driver of engagement wasn't concern about particular issues but rather the chance to do something fun together with friends (eg, make posters for rallies, or go to meetings with free food).

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Reposted by Benny Witkovsky

Caroline Lee @carolinewlee.bsky.social · Aug 11

Fascinating work in the WWI era on the weaponization of this new nonpartisanship. Nonpartisanship is a "capacious category and can be exploited by different actors."

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Reposted by Benny Witkovsky

Caroline Lee @carolinewlee.bsky.social · Aug 11

@uwsoc.bsky.social team @bwitkovsky.bsky.social and Carter Burg present on the production of nonpartisanship in Prog Era Wisc. Benny's dissertation sheds even more light on how "nonpartisan local governance was always the product of political parties, partisan conflict, and partisan institutions."

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Reposted by Benny Witkovsky

Caroline Lee @carolinewlee.bsky.social · Aug 11

Another outstanding @asapolisoc.bsky.social panel on Electoral Politics. #asa2025

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Reposted by Benny Witkovsky

Just Security @justsecurity.org · Jun 18

In the aftermath of the Minnesota attacks, how can communities respond to the growing threat of political violence? @samajones.bsky.social and Roudabeh Kishi offer a range of ideas, from expanding access to security funding to collaborative threat monitoring

www.justsecurity.org/114944/minne...

How Communities Can Respond to Threats of Political Violence

Left unchecked, political violence will continue to pose a significant danger to community safety and the health of America’s democracy.

www.justsecurity.org

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Jun 13

"But I egress."

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Jun 3

Cooperation agreements between Wisconsin Counties and ICE have nearly doubled since Trump's second inauguration. (In other news, I'm learning how to use Tableau).

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Reposted by Benny Witkovsky

Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World @sociusjournal.bsky.social · May 5

💬 How do people think about #HumanRights?

New #Socius research by Drs. Jensen, Krause, and @bwitkovsky.bsky.social finds #freedom of speech as a cognitive prototype, with civil & political rights leading in the U.S.

Key insights for #CognitiveSociology: doi.org/10.1177/2378...

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Reposted by Benny Witkovsky

Danial Vahabli @danialvahabli.bsky.social · May 4

Interesting article on the perceptions of human rights. Studying the meanings of human rights for ordinary individuals is absolutely necessary for transnational advocacy.

Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · May 2

New publication out today in @sociusjournal.bsky.social! In " Human Rights as a Lay Category of Thought," Katherine Jensen, Monika Krause, and I map how the American public think about what counts as a human right. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

Human Rights as a Lay Category of Thought: Content and Structure in the United States - Katherine Jensen, Monika Krause, Benjamin Witkovsky, 2025

What are human rights? Although legal scholars point to a growing list of international entitlements, social scientists have highlighted underlying ideological ...

journals.sagepub.com

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · May 2

New publication out today in @sociusjournal.bsky.social! In " Human Rights as a Lay Category of Thought," Katherine Jensen, Monika Krause, and I map how the American public think about what counts as a human right. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

Human Rights as a Lay Category of Thought: Content and Structure in the United States - Katherine Jensen, Monika Krause, Benjamin Witkovsky, 2025

What are human rights? Although legal scholars point to a growing list of international entitlements, social scientists have highlighted underlying ideological ...

journals.sagepub.com

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Apr 29

Congratulations!

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Apr 7

Thanks! I can definitely share something as we get closer!

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Apr 7

So happy this paper accepted to ASA! Get ready to hear all about a 1912 special election for Racine City Council and Progressive Era conflicts over nonpartisanship!

Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Feb 27

Just submitted a paper to ASA co-authored with an undergrad and they were SO excited. Definitely the energy I needed this week.

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Apr 4

Working with Wisconsin Humanities the last few years has been such an honor. I don't know another organization with such deep commitments to serving, representing, and sharing the stories of every community in our state. Defunding humanities councils is such a self-destructive move.

NPR @npr.org · Apr 4

A majority of NEH employees received an email placing them on immediate leave. The news comes just days after many humanities councils across the country were told their grants would be terminated.

National Endowment for the Humanities staff put on immediate leave

A majority of NEH employees received an email placing them on immediate leave. The news comes just days after many humanities councils across the country were told their grants would be terminated.

www.npr.org

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Apr 2

Election data from WI Legislative Technology Services Bureau has demographic data in it. Not exactly sure how good it is, but its a good place to start: gis-ltsb.hub.arcgis.com/pages/downlo...

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Mar 28

I am thrilled to share that I’ve accepted a position as the Wisconsin State Lead/Senior Research Specialist at the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University. Feeling incredibly lucky to get to do this work while still living in and serving the state that I love!

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Mar 20

My recent paper provides a particular lens on the upcoming local elections in Wisconsin. Candidates for county office must contend with the increasing polarization between their rural and urban constituents.

UW-Madison Sociology @uwsoc.bsky.social · Mar 20

Benny Witkovsky (@bwitkovsky.bsky.social) published "Cities and Their Neighbors: Examining Rural-Urban Polarization on A Local Scale" in @urbanaffairsreview.bsky.social. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Cities and Their Neighbors: Examining the Rural–Urban Divide on a Local Scale - Benny Witkovsky, 2025

In recent years, the rural–urban divide has become one of the defining features of American partisan politics. Usually conceptualized as a regional phenomenon, ...

journals.sagepub.com

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Reposted by Benny Witkovsky

UW-Madison Sociology @uwsoc.bsky.social · Mar 20

Benny Witkovsky (@bwitkovsky.bsky.social) published "Cities and Their Neighbors: Examining Rural-Urban Polarization on A Local Scale" in @urbanaffairsreview.bsky.social. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Cities and Their Neighbors: Examining the Rural–Urban Divide on a Local Scale - Benny Witkovsky, 2025

In recent years, the rural–urban divide has become one of the defining features of American partisan politics. Usually conceptualized as a regional phenomenon, ...

journals.sagepub.com

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Mar 14

I start my Soc of Race classes asking students whether UW Madison "feels" diverse (a question I stole from @pamelaoliver.bsky.social). At 68% white, UW is by far the most racially mixed institution many in WI will encounter. That's why it can be the target of so much anti-DEI fear-mongering.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · Mar 14

or UW-Madison, where 68% of students are white?

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Mar 4

I have a paper with a whole section about backyard chickens and performative conservative politics! It checks so many boxes for the new conservative coalition: libertarianism (keep gov inspectors off my land), MAHA (don't trust store bought eggs), trad gender roles and self sufficiency.

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Mar 3

Every once in a while I end up at a hotel breakfast without the toddler and eat so many berries.

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Feb 27

Just submitted a paper to ASA co-authored with an undergrad and they were SO excited. Definitely the energy I needed this week.

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Feb 18

It's election day in Wisconsin! I'm thinking today about all of the races that won't be on the ballot. Only a small fraction of local elections require a primary because no one runs for local office. That is a real threat to the health of local government: bennywitkovsky.com/2025/02/17/w...

Wisconsin’s Primary Problem

Wisconsin’s nonpartisan primary is tomorrow. Like most February elections, it will be incredibly quiet. According to the Madison City Clerk, just 9,000 people have voted absentee in Madison s…

bennywitkovsky.com

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Feb 18

We lost my mom’s partner this weekend. The Cap Times wrote a bit today about the legacy he leaves for Wisconsin, law, and politics.

captimes.com @captimes.com · Feb 17

Williamson represented The Progressive when the U.S. government tried to block a nuclear weapons article and helped shape Wisconsin open records law.

Brady Williamson, Madison legal giant defending free speech, dies

Williamson represented The Progressive when the U.S. government tried to block a nuclear weapons article and helped shape Wisconsin open records law.

captimes.com

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Benny Witkovsky @bwitkovsky.bsky.social · Feb 17

Tomorrow are Wisconsin's nonpartisan primaries--sort of. Across Wisconsin cities, only 1 in 9 city council and mayors races require a primary. Check out my latest on how the lack of primaries threatens the nature of nonpartisanship: bennywitkovsky.com/2025/02/17/w...

Wisconsin’s Primary Problem

Wisconsin’s nonpartisan primary is tomorrow. Like most February elections, it will be incredibly quiet. According to the Madison City Clerk, just 9,000 people have voted absentee in Madison s…

bennywitkovsky.com

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