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Posts by Thomas Kurer

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Austerity and Populism A large literature explains the rise of populist parties with the economic insecurities stemming from globalization and technological change. But despite the long-standing focus of the comparative and...

Very happy that our review article (with the @annualreviews.bsky.social) on „Austerity and Populism“ is now available as preprint: www.annualreviews.org/content/jour... - with @sattlersthomas.bsky.social

2 months ago 114 49 4 4
BJPolS abstract discussing the dynamic between knowledge economy migration and political shifts in Germany, specifically addressing urban versus rural opportunities and its implications on political perspectives and migration trends.

BJPolS abstract discussing the dynamic between knowledge economy migration and political shifts in Germany, specifically addressing urban versus rural opportunities and its implications on political perspectives and migration trends.

From October 2025 -

Seeking Opportunity in the Knowledge Economy: Moving Places, Moving Politics? - cup.org/3LgxVos

- @valentinaconsiglio.bsky.social & @thmskrr.bsky.social

#OpenAccess

4 months ago 6 2 0 0
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1/ Does growing up poor always lead to political apathy?

Very happy to share my first paper published (open access) in @electoralstudies.bsky.social, where I show that parents' influence mitigates the poverty gap in participation, while economic mobility does not.

🔗 shorturl.at/p5Bac

4 months ago 86 39 3 1
Abstract
It is widely accepted in political science – and remarkably established in public discourse – that status anxieties fuel a far right backlash against progressive politics. This narrative suggests that right-wing conservatives perceive the status of women, racial, or sexual minorities as threatening. Using open-ended survey questions fielded in Germany, we show that women and minorities indeed figure in people’s perceptions of status hierarchies, but in very specific ways: First, overall, people still perceive status as largely socioeconomically determined. Second, sociocultural groups figure in perceptions of who is gaining/losing status, less so in perceptions of the top/bottom of society. Third, more than conservative voters, it is social progressives who mention women and minorities as “winners”. While on race/ethnicity, we find evidence for a backlash, on gender and sexuality we find more evidence for a progressive momentum. This matters for progressive politics today and for how we empirically study status concerns.

Abstract It is widely accepted in political science – and remarkably established in public discourse – that status anxieties fuel a far right backlash against progressive politics. This narrative suggests that right-wing conservatives perceive the status of women, racial, or sexual minorities as threatening. Using open-ended survey questions fielded in Germany, we show that women and minorities indeed figure in people’s perceptions of status hierarchies, but in very specific ways: First, overall, people still perceive status as largely socioeconomically determined. Second, sociocultural groups figure in perceptions of who is gaining/losing status, less so in perceptions of the top/bottom of society. Third, more than conservative voters, it is social progressives who mention women and minorities as “winners”. While on race/ethnicity, we find evidence for a backlash, on gender and sexuality we find more evidence for a progressive momentum. This matters for progressive politics today and for how we empirically study status concerns.

New article out in @cpsjournal.bsky.social with Tabea Palmtag and @dpzollinger.bsky.social 📝
We use open-ended survey questions (in Germany) to assess how and among whom social status shifts are perceived. This tests cultural backlash narratives in voters' perceptions.

🔗 doi.org/10.1177/0010...

4 months ago 119 45 3 4
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Two inspiring days at the Nuffield Politics of AI workshop!

This was social science at its best, thanks to all involved! @benansell.bsky.social @jburnmurdoch.ft.com @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social

5 months ago 19 5 0 2

In a new paper, we show that "opportunity moves" foster political integration and shift political preferences to the left.

Please have a look at @valentinaconsiglio.bsky.social's excellent summary for some more details.

👉 tinyurl.com/46utjj65

5 months ago 15 4 0 0
Educational Networks, Social Closure, and Cleavage Stabilization | British Journal of Political Science | Cambridge Core Educational Networks, Social Closure, and Cleavage Stabilization - Volume 55

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

5 months ago 67 32 1 2
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BJPolS abstract discussing the dynamic between knowledge economy migration and political shifts in Germany, specifically addressing urban versus rural opportunities and its implications on political perspectives and migration trends.

BJPolS abstract discussing the dynamic between knowledge economy migration and political shifts in Germany, specifically addressing urban versus rural opportunities and its implications on political perspectives and migration trends.

NEW -

Seeking Opportunity in the Knowledge Economy: Moving Places, Moving Politics? - https://cup.org/3LgxVos

"moving to opportunity results in... more left-leaning self-identification, and lower support for far-right parties"

- @valentinaconsiglio.bsky.social & @thmskrr.bsky.social

#OpenAccess

5 months ago 30 26 1 0

New SI "Cleavage Politics in Western
Democracies" @wepsocial.bsky.social!

If you're interested in transforming social & political divides in advanced democracies, this is for you.

The intro by @davidattewell6.bsky.social & me maps contributions around 3 challenges for contemp. cleavage research.

6 months ago 46 17 0 1
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Threats to social status and support for far-right political parties How economic threats to social status in the form of unemployment risk and rental market risk affects support for the far right in Europe.

I wrote a longer essay on how social status matters for far-right support. Many still wrongly associate the far right with the economically left behind. Taking social status seriously also cautions against the idea that deliverism will win back far-right voters.

equitablegrowth.org/threats-to-s...

7 months ago 220 64 5 12
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Radical right accommodation really does not work.

New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk

doi.org/10.31235/osf...

7 months ago 2167 971 58 173
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Delighted to share that I have been awarded an ERC Starting Grant for my project “Lost in the Green Transition: Local Collective Greenloss Identity, Anti-Climate Attitudes and Radical Right Support.” #ERCStG
More soon on #GREENLOSS.
A huge thank you to friends and colleagues who made this possible!

7 months ago 222 15 43 1
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Do men see gender parity in representation as detrimental to their interests? What about when women’s representation exceeds parity? And how do such shifts affect men’s fairness perceptions? I address these questions in my article, now published in PRQ. 1/9


doi.org/10.1177/1065...

8 months ago 88 36 5 2

You can already submit your paper and panel proposal for EPSS next year. Looking forward to seeing many people in Belfast. I will be there.

8 months ago 33 12 1 0

We have a new WP on governments' capacity to deal with the political implications of structural change💥

Policy interventions *can* effectively mitigate political backlash when they address both material and non-material demands of voters. shorturl.at/zFbZE

Check Reto's great summary for details👇

10 months ago 7 0 0 0
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Can government policies moderate political backlash to structural change?

Yes, the effect operates through material benefits and social recognition.

🚨New WP by @retobuergisser.bsky.social, @siljahausermann.bsky.social, @thmskrr.bsky.social and @susanadptavares.bsky.social 🚨

shorturl.at/zFbZE

10 months ago 132 43 3 2
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🔥 One more week to apply for this postdoc position in Zurich (flexible start date)

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions

If you'd like to hear from someone who has been working closely with me, @valentinaconsiglio.bsky.social and @retobuergisser.bsky.social are happy to share insights

11 months ago 3 3 0 0

www.ipz.uzh.ch/dam/jcr:3284...

11 months ago 1 0 0 0

🚨3-Year Postdoc Position in Zurich @ipz.bsky.social

❓Political implications of labor market transformation

Plenty of flexibility, no teaching obligations, great research environment in an highly livable city.

Deadline: May 18, 2025.

tinyurl.com/postdoczurich

#polisky #poliscijobs #psjminfo

11 months ago 88 81 1 8
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Today marks the final day of the DISINTEGRATION project, a project on the mass politics of disintegration generously funded by the @erc.europa.eu .

We celebrate with a thread on all we have done and found:

1/20

11 months ago 29 10 1 3
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Explaining the emergence and consolidation of right-wing populism: Part I Stylised facts, or what has actually happened?

First instalment of my substack primer on right-wing populism in Europe is out.
jacobedenhofer.substack.com/p/explaining...

1 year ago 137 41 6 10
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PhD Fellowship in Politics & Social Sciences (266956) | University of Stavanger Job title: PhD Fellowship in Politics & Social Sciences (266956), Employer: University of Stavanger, Deadline: Sunday, May 4, 2025

My department is *hiring a PhD* student (3 years, fully funded) for a research project on the social and political effects of AI-related technological change. *Deadline: May 4, '25*. See here for more information & to apply: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available... #PoliSky #Sociology #AcademicSky

1 year ago 11 14 1 0
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Heißt das, es gibt keine ökonomischen oder sozialen Ursachen für die Wahl der AfD? Nein, natürlich nicht – aber sie sind deutlich komplexer und nuancierter als der im Video genannte „Frust“ über Mieten, Löhne, Bildung, Rente oder Infrastruktur.

1 year ago 21 3 1 2

Exzellente Übersicht, danke!

1 year ago 1 0 0 0
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📢Special issue and workshop on "The Politics of AI: Citizen Perceptions, Preferences, and Priorities" 📢

We aim to bring together cutting-edge research on the political ramifications of AI for a workshop in Oxford and a special issue in a leading political science journal.(1/2)

1 year ago 14 6 1 2
Deckblatt des Papers „Rental Market Risk and Radical Right Support“ von den Autoren Tarik Abou-Chadi, Denis Cohen, Thomas Kurer; erschienen in Comparative Political Studies; Dezember 2024.

Deckblatt des Papers „Rental Market Risk and Radical Right Support“ von den Autoren Tarik Abou-Chadi, Denis Cohen, Thomas Kurer; erschienen in Comparative Political Studies; Dezember 2024.

Mit jeder weiteren Wahl in Europa gewinnen radikal rechte Parteien an Zustimmung. Welche Auswirkungen persönliche Sorgen vor Mieterhöhung auf den Zuspruch für radikal rechte Parteien haben, behandelt das #PaperderWoche von @tabouchadi.bsky.social, @denis-cohen.bsky.social & @thmskrr.bsky.social. 1/

1 year ago 30 6 2 0
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We are very happy to have Thomas Kurer @thmskrr.bsky.social giving an IPERG Seminar today at @ub.edu. Looking forward to it!

1 year ago 4 2 0 0
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Experts Warn No Action on High Rents Could Drive Voters to Germany’s Far Right Leftist organizing on housing could be an important bulwark against the rise of Germany’s far right AfD party.

Ahead of Germany's snap election, I spoke to researchers about how rising rents are driving voters to the far right and organizers about how they're pushing back and bringing communities together around progressive solutions.

Read my reporting at @truthout.org:

truthout.org/articles/exp...

1 year ago 17 7 0 0
Positioning Political Texts with Large Language Models by Asking and Averaging | Political Analysis | Cambridge Core Positioning Political Texts with Large Language Models by Asking and Averaging

📢 Our new paper in Political Analysis explains how to use LLMs like GPT-4o, Llama or Mistral to estimate the ideological and policy position of political texts. Our approach is fast, reliable, cost-effective and reproducible and works with texts written in different languages 1/7 cup.org/4axBEXo

1 year ago 289 82 12 2
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‼️ Hiring ‼️

Two (!) positions in my group at @ipz.bsky.social in Zurich

📣 1 postdoc position (3+3 years)
📣 1 PhD position (3,5 years)

Application deadline in early March.

Job ads & details:
tinyurl.com/3p6yhptk

We are an international and friendly department with excellent working conditions

1 year ago 149 145 1 8