The three reform acts in the UK (in 1832, 1867, and 1884) are among the most consequential events in 19th century British politics: they expanded the franchise and reformed the electoral system – essential steps for the UK’s trajectory towards modern-day politics as we know it. Thanks to the Eggers-Spirling database of British Political Development, …
The emergence of modern-day careers in Westminster systems Read More »
Can states “shop” between international organizations to secure more favorable deals from them, and if so, when? These questions are central to understanding the role that these organizations play in world politics. If international organizations can constrain state behavior in meaningful ways, we ought to care a great deal about the sorts of policies they …
Can International Organizations Constrain States? Read More »
A defining feature of democracy is that voters reward or punish incumbents at the ballot box in response to the policies and general conditions that they observe. By doing so, they can encourage politicians to implement better policies. In times of crisis, this might not be that easy. Adopting adequate measures in response to an …
Accelerating the adoption of renewable energy is vital for the fight against climate change. But domestic political support for transitioning toward sustainable energy is far from guaranteed. Renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines, delivers broad socioeconomic benefits but the costs are often concentrated. These perceived local costs could create powerful interest groups and coalitions …
Not in My Backyard? Wind Power Benefits Pro-Renewables Democrats in Congress Read More »
Elections are cornerstones for societies transitioning from civil war to democracy. The success or failure of these elections is shaped by the strategies former rebels employ to mobilize voters. Of those strategies, clientelism is particularly important. Clientelism denotes a strategy in which political elites target potential voters with selective goods, such as vote buying or …
How wartime legacies can undermine democratic quality after civil war Read More »
The Black Lives Matter Movement is officially more than a decade old. In its longevity, it has proven itself an enduring force in American politics. It has certainly been an enduring force in the research trajectory that has led to our new Journal of Politics piece: “Contact and Context: How Municipal Traffic Stops Shape Citizen …
Effective lawmakers are the workhorses of the U.S. Congress, but does this legislative effort translate into electoral success? That is, are members of Congress rewarded at the ballot box for the work that they put into advancing their bills through the lawmaking process? In today’s polarized political climate, gridlock is pervasive and elected officials are …
The Primary Path for Turning Legislative Effectiveness into Electoral Success Read More »
When is policy made unilaterally rather than legislatively? Previous work focuses on the president’s so-called “first-mover advantage”, by which the president can issue an executive order and force other actors to respond. But in many notable cases, the president has moved second. Specifically, Congress often has had an opportunity to pass legislation first, after which …
Why doesn´t Congress preempt the president´s unilateral policies? Read More »
Political theorists have a number of different tools in their methodological toolkits. A great deal of political theorising is done with reference to empirical data, whereas others look to history to show how certain ideas were shaped by the historical contexts from which they emerged. Other theorists draw on tools like archival sources; however, one …
Are Intuitions Reliable Enough for Political Theorising? Read More »
States across the US have increased their minimum wage rates in the past few years, yielding pay increases for workers paid the minimum wage. Getting a raise because the minimum wage goes up can affect one’s economic outcomes; we wanted to know whether it could also shape political behavior. In a forthcoming article in the …
Increasing the minimum wage also increases voting by affected workers Read More »
