In Event: Empires, States, and the Making of Power II. Building and Unbuilding the State: Elites, Bureaucracies, and the Foundations of Political Authority Thursday, April 23, 9:50 to 11:20 CDT Technocrats as Commitment Devices in Authoritarian Politics April 23-26, 2026 | #MPSA2026 Hanna Lee ISR NEXT GENERATION University of Michigan Center for Political Studies

🇰🇷 At #MPSA2026, #ISRNextGeneration scholar Hanna Lee presents her work examining whether technocratic institutions served as credible commitment devices -- enhancing cooperation in South Korea under Park Chung Hee.

In Event: Support for Democratic Norms Sat, April 25, 5:10 to 6:40 CDT Got Norms? The Instability of Democratic Norms and their Association with Vote Choice in the US Nicholas Valentino Avery Goods Center for Political Studies University of Michigan

Using ANES 2016-2020 panel data, @NickValentino.bsky.social and #ISRNextGeneration scholar Avery Goods find that democratic norms are largely unstable reflections of partisanship, and, with the exception of media trust, don’t affect vote choice. @electionstudies.bsky.social #MPSA2026

Especially Shameful? Naming and Shaming Gender-Based Violence In Event: Women’s Rights are Human Rights: Women and Violence Sun, April 26, 9:50 to 11:20 CDT Esmeralda López University of Michigan Center for Political Studies

It remains unclear when states name and shame gender-based violence and to what effect. Using computational text analysis and supervised machine learning, #ISRNextGeneration Scholar Esmeralda López identifies when the US shames other countries for gender-based violence. #MPSA2026

In Event: Campaigns and Elections in Comparative Perspective Friday, April 24, 1:30 to 3 CDT Gerrymandering in Russian urban centers complements electoral fraud in the countryside April 23-26, 2026 | #MPSA2026 Walter Mebane Fabricio Vasselai

CPS's Walter Mebane and #ISRNextGeneration scholar Fabricio Vasselai use a novel set of high-res GIS maps of the boundaries of Russian SMDs and new tests for fraud detection, showing strategic drawing of districts in Russian urban centers complements electoral fraud in the countryside. #MPSA2026

In Event: Patronage, Power and Autonomy in Bureaucratic Politics (Mara Ostfeld, Chair) Sat, April 25, 8:00 to 9:30 CDT Who Deserves a Second Chance? Prosecutorial Discretion and the Politics of Deservingness April 23-26, 2026 | #MPSA2026 Mara Ostfeld Brandon Romero Chelsea Waddell Charlotte Boucher University of Michigan Center for Political Studies

Who deserves a second chance? CPS's @maraceci.bsky.social and #ISRNextGeneration scholars @bromero15.bsky.social, @ch4rlotte.bsky.social and Chelsea Waddell survey prosecutors -- and argue prosecutorial discretion is a mechanism of democratic boundary-making. #MPSA2026

Center for Political Studies at MPSA 2026: In Session: AI, Politics, and Power Thursday, April 23, 11:40-1:10 CDT When Polarization Pays: The Returns to Political Positioning in AI-Mediated Attention Markets Jun Fang

Businesses increasingly embrace polarizing political messages. AI-driven algorithms reward emotional engagement and selectively amplify messages among sympathetic audiences—turning polarization into a profitable competitive strategy. #ISRNextGeneration scholar Jun Fang presents at #MPSA2026 #Polisky

In Event: Methodological Advances in the Study of Elections Sat, April 25, 11:40am to 1:10 CDT Election-Forensics: A R Package for Detecting Signs of Frauds in Election Results April 23-26, 2026 | #MPSA2026 Walter Mebane Fabricio Vasselai ISR NEXT GENERATION University of Michigan Center for Political Studies

Presenting methodological advances at #MPSA2026: elections forensics expert Walter Mebane and #ISRNextGeneration alum Fabricio Vasselai present an R package that implements nearly all proposed techniques to detect election fraud. Follow @umisr.bsky.social for leading research on democracy.

#ISRNextGeneration scholar Katie Nissen, an expert on framing, narratives, and environmental communication, presents at #MPSA2026 on the effect of optimism and pessimism on climate policy attitudes.

The Roy Pierce Scholars Fund The Roy Pierce Scholars Fund provides summer support for graduate students in the University of Michigan Political Science Department to work with a member of CPS faculty. The Pierce Fund honors Roy P...

🚨FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE! @umisrcps.bsky.social has seven #ISRNextGeneration awards open to UM graduate students and postdocs advancing research on comparative politics, political opinion & behavior, and more. Explore, share with students, and apply by Feb 9! cps.isr.umich.edu/fellowships/

Shane Burns presents the poster: Provincial Functional Limitation Differences among Middle Aged and Older Adults: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

🇨🇦 To meet the needs of aging populations, we need data to show how risks and needs vary. PSC postdoc @shanedburns.bsky.social et al are using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging to identify provincial disparities in functional limitations among older adults. #ISRNextGeneration

At APSA 2025 Public Trust in News Media and Expertise Fri, September 12, 12:00 to 1:30pm PDT (3:00 to 4:30pm EDT), TBA Shayla Olson, University of Michigan, Chair ISR Next Generation Scholar

@shaylafolson chairs a timely political communication panel at #APSA2025 today, on Public Trust in News Media and Expertise. At noon PDT, 3 EDT. #ISRNextGeneration

Flag on the Play: Examining the NFL’s Role in Political Polarization In Event: Racial Discrimination, Equality, and Movements for Social Change Sun, September 14, 10:00 to 11:30am PDT Ciera Hammond, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar

🏈 Has the NFL played a role in America's political polarization? Don't miss #ISRNextGeneration scholar Ciera Hammond presenting at #APSA2025. #PoliSky

At APSA 2025: Maybe in My Backyard: Dynamics of Refugee-Host Cooperation In event: Drivers of Inter-Group Cooperation and Prejudice in Divided Societies Fri, September 12, 12:00 to 1:30pm PDT (3:00 to 4:30pm EDT), TBA Rebecca Wai, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar

@rebeccawai.bsky.social used the #ISRNextGeneration Tessler Fellowship to investigate cooperation between refugees and host communities in Uganda, through farmer groups. She presents findings and insights on refugee-host cooperation with papers both Friday and Saturday at #APSA2025.

At APSA 2025: Seeing Counterinsurgency: Propaganda and Witness in the Philippine Drug War Virtual paper In event: War, Violence, and State Legitimacy Sat, September 13, 10:00 to 11:30am PDT (1:00 to 2:30pm EDT) Patrick Peralta, University of Michigan Qian Qian Ng, University of Michigan

What binds violent spectacle and political legitimacy? A virtual #APSA2025 presentation Saturday with Qian Qian Ng and #ISRNextGeneration scholar Patrick Peralta explores why
images of brutality under Duterte's drug war "failed to impress a collective sense of horror among Filipinos."

Social Change by Decree: Autocratic Reforms and Social Norms iPoster in Event: Immigration Politics in a Changing World & Middle East Section Thu, September 11, 9:30 to 10:00am PDT Hood Ahmed, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar

At #APSA2025, #ISRNextGeneration scholar Hood Ahmed presents a poster with findings from a survey experiment exploring campaigns for social reform in Saudi Arabia. The findings contribute to debates about the effectiveness of elite strategies in reshaping mass attitudes and behaviors.

Misinformation without Borders: Transnational Ties, Online Communities, and Trump In Event: Information Environments, Cognition, and Affect Sat, September 13, 12:00 to 1:30pm PDT Francy Dayana Luna Diaz, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar AT APSA 2025

Misinformation expert and #ISRNextGeneration scholar @francy-lunadiaz.bsky.social presents at #APSA2025-- investigating Trumpism, online communities, and transnational ties.

At APSA 2025: "Public Opinion and Support for Democracy in the Shadow of Militarized Violence" In Event: Contentious Events and Public Opinion Fri, September 12, 8:00 to 9:30am PDT Evgenia Jane Kitaevich, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar

Garth Taylor #ISRNextGeneration scholar Jane Kitaevich presents her public opinion research at #APSA2025: Her dissertation examines the impact of militarized violence on individual support for democracy, with a focus on Armenia as a case study. #PoliSky

At APSA 2025: The Frequency and Context of Sermons on Racism from U.S. Christian Churches In event: The Role of Religion and Extremism in Current Political Debates Sat, September 13, 4:00 to 5:30pm PDT (7:00 to 8:30pm EDT) Shayla Olson, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar

@shaylafolson.bsky.social is an expert on how US Christian churches shape and contend with racial attitudes. Don't miss her research at #APSA2025 on the frequency and context of sermons on racism. #ISRNextGeneration

At APSA 2025: Revisiting the Power of Distributive Policy under Dictatorship In event: Authoritarianism and Redistribution Thu, September 11, 8:00 to 9:30am PDT (11:00am to 12:30pm EDT) Hanna Lee, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar

Does authoritarian legacy play into the calculus of when and why people abandon democratic values? Find #ISRNextGeneration @umisrcps.bsky.social scholar Hanna Lee at #APSA2025.

Enduring Wounds: The Legacy of Racially-Targetted Institutional Violence In Event: Racial Violence, History, and Contemporary US Politics Fri, September 12, 2:00 to 3:30pm PDT Franshelly Marie Martinez-Ortiz, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar

With an original survey, @fmortiz.bsky.social finds that conspiracy thinking is racially patterned, responsive to reminders of state violence, and consequential for democratic engagement. ⚡ Find @umisrcps.bsky.social #ISRNextGeneration scholars at #APSA2025.

At APSA Vancouver 2025: Homogeneous Cities? How Conflict and Politics Shape the Urban Topography In event: Urban Networks and the Evolving Dynamics of Mobilization in the Middle East Sun, September 14, 8:00 to 9:30am PDT (11:00am to 12:30pm EDT) Martin Macias Medellin, University of Michigan ISR Next Generation Scholar

@maciasm.bsky.social's research analyzes the dynamics of organized violence, including the relationship between conflict and urban topography, or the physical aspects of cities. Join and discuss at #APSA2025. #ISRNextGeneration

Doomed! How America’s Apocalyptic Mindset Shapes Political Disengagement - Center for Political Studies (CPS) Blog Apocalyptic thinking-- an increasingly widespread mindset of doom-- may cause Americans to withdraw from voting and politics.

Feeling doomed? Americans have adopted future outlooks that are not just pessimistic, but apocalyptic. CPS #ISRNextGeneration scholar Avery Goods describes how this mindset shapes political disengagement: cpsblog.isr.umich.edu?p=3476

Hood Ahmed

Roy Pierce scholar Hood Ahmed: Mark Tessler has inspired multiple generations of scholars and is one of very few people who have had such a wide impact, not just in academia but beyond academia as well. #ISRNextGeneration

At PAA 2025: Session: Earnings Inequality, Jobs, and Unions Judiciary Square Saturday April 12th, 11:00AM - 12:15PM Junchao Tang Pablo Mitnik Men’s Earnings Inequality in the United States, 1970–2018: An Analysis Based on Dagum Regressions

🌸 Junchao Tang and Pablo Mitnik investigate the evolution of men's earnings inequality in the US, using a new class of Dagum regression models for the analysis of income years 1970-2018. Join us at #PAA2025: myumi.ch/A1dXJ @umichstonecid.bsky.social #ISRNextGeneration

In Michigan, conspiracy thinking can be rooted in real historic harm Conspiracy thinking may result from paranoia or misinformation -- but it's often rooted actual harms and well-earned mistrust in government.

Is government suspicion based on real lived experiences and historic harm? #ISRNextGeneration scholar Franshelly Martinez-Ortiz writes on the case of Michigan, where events like the Flint Water Crisis give rise to lasting mistrust. @maraceci.bsky.social #MPSA2025 ➡️
cpsblog.isr.umich.edu?p=3434

The Origins of Strong States or Missed Opportunities? Japanese Colonial Legacies and Extractive Institutions in South Korea Session: The Past is Never Dead: How History Shapes Today's Political Economy Sat, April 5, 10:30 am CDT (11:30 ET) Chicago | Hybrid Conference April 3-6, 2025 #MPSA2025 | Follow @umisrcps.bsky.social Hanna Lee, Tessler Fellow University of Michigan

At the #MPSA2025 session on how history shape's today's political economy, #ISRNextGeneration scholar Hanna Lee presents on the legacy of Japanese colonialism in South Korea-- suggesting a new framework of evaluating the impact of extractive institutions. buff.ly/TXqIo81

Public Support for Subsidizing Globalized Firms: Navigating Nationalism, Security Concerns, and Economic Interests Understanding Public Opinion on International Political Economy in the Age of Globalization Thu, April 3, 8:18 am CDT (9:18 ET) Chicago | Hybrid Conference April 3-6, 2025 #MPSA2025 | Follow @umisrcps.bsky.social Sujin Cha, Roy Pierce Scholar, University of Michigan Yehzee Ryoo, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Sujin Cha and Yehzee Ryoo: Public support for government subsidies to firms is shaped by nationalistic, security, and economic considerations in a globalized landscape. They present the mechanisms that shape attitudes toward the security-economy nexus at #MPSA2025: buff.ly/DbsRR0A #ISRNextGeneration

Does Disability Affect Political Ideology? Session: Public Opinion About Campaigns and Issues Fri, April 4, 3:30 pm CDT (4:30 ET) Chicago | Hybrid Conference April 3-6, 2025 #MPSA2025 | Follow @umisrcps.bsky.social Joshua Thorp, University of Michigan Jac Larner, Cardiff University

Does disability affect political ideology? At #MPSA2025, @joshuathorp.bsky.social and @jaclarner.bsky.social present panel data measuring the effect of acquiring an impairment on multiple political ideology outcomes. #ISRNextGeneration #PoliSky Hybrid, April 4: buff.ly/9POuqVr

Unable or unwilling? Institutional constraints on gender-based political violence reporting practices Session: Media, Technology, and Measuring Human Rights Sat, April 5, 8:33 am CDT (9:33 ET) Chicago | Hybrid Conference April 3-6, 2025 Esmeralda López, Roy Pierce Scholar University of Michigan

Why is conflict-related sexual violence and other gender-based violence (not) reported?
#ISRNextGeneration scholar Esmeralda López examines institutional-level constraints on reporting practices, presenting at the hybrid #MPSA2025: buff.ly/ask5aQP #PoliSky @rnordaas.bsky.social #UMichResearch

At PAA 2025: Junchao Tang and Xiaoguang Fan A Tale of Two Sectors: Financialization and Wealth Accumulation in China Dogwood Room Saturday April 12th, 9:30AM - 10:45AM

🌸 🇨🇳 At #PAA2025, Junchao Tang and Xiaoguang Fan examine the impact of financialization on household wealth accumulation in China, highlighting the role of the country’s socialist legacy. myumi.ch/3R3yP #ISRNextGeneration