Jochem Vanagt
@jochemvanagt.bsky.social
PhD Candidate in Political Science | KU Leuven & University of Antwerp @m2p-antwerp.bsky.social | affective polarisation, radical-right voting & democratic support | https://jochemvanagt.github.io
Pinned
🚨 New publication out @jeppjournal.bsky.social w/ Katrin Praprotnik @luanarusso.bsky.social @markuswagner.bsky.social
We show that coalition signals from the mainstream right to the radical right shift, rather than reduce, existing political divisions.
Open-access article: doi.org/10.1080/1350...
We show that coalition signals from the mainstream right to the radical right shift, rather than reduce, existing political divisions.
Open-access article: doi.org/10.1080/1350...
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Can reflecting on past democratic backsliding episodes “inoculate” citizens into vigilant liberal democrats? Drawing on the Slovak case, @movadek.bsky.social & I will find out: our registered report is in-principle accepted @thejop.bsky.social & survey results forthcoming! See tinyurl.com/uv5wybhs
January 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Can reflecting on past democratic backsliding episodes “inoculate” citizens into vigilant liberal democrats? Drawing on the Slovak case, @movadek.bsky.social & I will find out: our registered report is in-principle accepted @thejop.bsky.social & survey results forthcoming! See tinyurl.com/uv5wybhs
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
New publication with @turnbulldugarte.com in @psrm.bsky.social! 🧵
We study whether citizens’ liberal values are selective: do people support policies based on who promotes them?
Short answer: Yes, and it's driven by ethnic out-group disidentification. (1/11) 👇
doi.org/10.1017/psrm...
We study whether citizens’ liberal values are selective: do people support policies based on who promotes them?
Short answer: Yes, and it's driven by ethnic out-group disidentification. (1/11) 👇
doi.org/10.1017/psrm...
December 19, 2025 at 12:47 PM
New publication with @turnbulldugarte.com in @psrm.bsky.social! 🧵
We study whether citizens’ liberal values are selective: do people support policies based on who promotes them?
Short answer: Yes, and it's driven by ethnic out-group disidentification. (1/11) 👇
doi.org/10.1017/psrm...
We study whether citizens’ liberal values are selective: do people support policies based on who promotes them?
Short answer: Yes, and it's driven by ethnic out-group disidentification. (1/11) 👇
doi.org/10.1017/psrm...
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
🇪🇺🇩🇪 Published Today in @bjpols.bsky.social 🇮🇹🇫🇷
How a voting advice application affected voting behavior in three large-scale field experiments:
shorturl.at/2ekBj
TLDR of our study (with @simonhix.bsky.social & @rlachat.bsky.social) below 👇 1/14
How a voting advice application affected voting behavior in three large-scale field experiments:
shorturl.at/2ekBj
TLDR of our study (with @simonhix.bsky.social & @rlachat.bsky.social) below 👇 1/14
December 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
🇪🇺🇩🇪 Published Today in @bjpols.bsky.social 🇮🇹🇫🇷
How a voting advice application affected voting behavior in three large-scale field experiments:
shorturl.at/2ekBj
TLDR of our study (with @simonhix.bsky.social & @rlachat.bsky.social) below 👇 1/14
How a voting advice application affected voting behavior in three large-scale field experiments:
shorturl.at/2ekBj
TLDR of our study (with @simonhix.bsky.social & @rlachat.bsky.social) below 👇 1/14
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
If the articles from my PhD were my children this article now published in @bjpols.bsky.social is my favorite. Written together with truly amazing supervisors and mentors, Pieter de Wilde, Oliver Treib, and Lene Aarøe, I had the support I needed in bringing this baby into the world. Summary below 👇
August 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
If the articles from my PhD were my children this article now published in @bjpols.bsky.social is my favorite. Written together with truly amazing supervisors and mentors, Pieter de Wilde, Oliver Treib, and Lene Aarøe, I had the support I needed in bringing this baby into the world. Summary below 👇
Join us on 23 January in Leuven for Rune Stubager’s keynote on the enduring impact of social class on political behaviour in Western democracies! You can register below 👇
The Voting and Democracy Research Group welcomes Professor Rune Stubager (Aarhus University) for a keynote presentation.
🗓️ Friday 23 January 2026, 11h00
📍 Aula Emma Vorlat (campus Faculty of Social Sciences KU Leuven)
ℹ️ Info: lnkd.in/dMvzG36U
📝 Registration (by 14 January 2026): lnkd.in/dZ3ZBSGh
🗓️ Friday 23 January 2026, 11h00
📍 Aula Emma Vorlat (campus Faculty of Social Sciences KU Leuven)
ℹ️ Info: lnkd.in/dMvzG36U
📝 Registration (by 14 January 2026): lnkd.in/dZ3ZBSGh
December 11, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Join us on 23 January in Leuven for Rune Stubager’s keynote on the enduring impact of social class on political behaviour in Western democracies! You can register below 👇
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
🚨Publication Alert!
My first first-author publication with @msaeltzer.bsky.social and @pluggedchris.bsky.social is out in @polbehavior.bsky.social, which began as my bachelor's thesis. We study how party polarization shapes affective polarization—with a particularly important role of the AfD. (1/7)🧵
My first first-author publication with @msaeltzer.bsky.social and @pluggedchris.bsky.social is out in @polbehavior.bsky.social, which began as my bachelor's thesis. We study how party polarization shapes affective polarization—with a particularly important role of the AfD. (1/7)🧵
December 1, 2025 at 12:07 PM
🚨Publication Alert!
My first first-author publication with @msaeltzer.bsky.social and @pluggedchris.bsky.social is out in @polbehavior.bsky.social, which began as my bachelor's thesis. We study how party polarization shapes affective polarization—with a particularly important role of the AfD. (1/7)🧵
My first first-author publication with @msaeltzer.bsky.social and @pluggedchris.bsky.social is out in @polbehavior.bsky.social, which began as my bachelor's thesis. We study how party polarization shapes affective polarization—with a particularly important role of the AfD. (1/7)🧵
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Excited to share a new preprint with @bnbakker.bsky.social, @ylelkes.bsky.social & @gijsschumacher.bsky.social!
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Affective polarization research focuses almost exclusively on valence, despite affect having at least two core dimensions. We show that emotional arousal matters!
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Affective polarization research focuses almost exclusively on valence, despite affect having at least two core dimensions. We show that emotional arousal matters!
OSF
doi.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Excited to share a new preprint with @bnbakker.bsky.social, @ylelkes.bsky.social & @gijsschumacher.bsky.social!
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Affective polarization research focuses almost exclusively on valence, despite affect having at least two core dimensions. We show that emotional arousal matters!
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Affective polarization research focuses almost exclusively on valence, despite affect having at least two core dimensions. We show that emotional arousal matters!
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Happy that our paper with @bogatyrev.bsky.social, @tabouchadi.bsky.social, @heikekluever.bsky.social, and @lstoetze.bsky.social found a home at @thejop.bsky.social. You can read it here 👇
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Thanks to all the fantastic people giving feedback and supporting us
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Thanks to all the fantastic people giving feedback and supporting us
November 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Happy that our paper with @bogatyrev.bsky.social, @tabouchadi.bsky.social, @heikekluever.bsky.social, and @lstoetze.bsky.social found a home at @thejop.bsky.social. You can read it here 👇
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Thanks to all the fantastic people giving feedback and supporting us
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Thanks to all the fantastic people giving feedback and supporting us
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
AI presents a fundamental threat to our ability to use polls to assess public opinion. Bad actors who are able to infiltrate panels can flip close election polls for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee. Models will also infer and confirm hypotheses in experiments. Current quality checks fail
November 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
AI presents a fundamental threat to our ability to use polls to assess public opinion. Bad actors who are able to infiltrate panels can flip close election polls for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee. Models will also infer and confirm hypotheses in experiments. Current quality checks fail
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
‼️ Onze onderzoeksgroep @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social verwelkomt dit academiejaar @bramwauters.bsky.social als Francqui leerstoelhouder!
📆 Het openingscollege gaat door op 2 dec om 17u30
Voor meer info en om in te schrijven voor dit *niet te missen* college, zie hier soc.kuleuven.be/afdeling-pol...
📆 Het openingscollege gaat door op 2 dec om 17u30
Voor meer info en om in te schrijven voor dit *niet te missen* college, zie hier soc.kuleuven.be/afdeling-pol...
November 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
‼️ Onze onderzoeksgroep @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social verwelkomt dit academiejaar @bramwauters.bsky.social als Francqui leerstoelhouder!
📆 Het openingscollege gaat door op 2 dec om 17u30
Voor meer info en om in te schrijven voor dit *niet te missen* college, zie hier soc.kuleuven.be/afdeling-pol...
📆 Het openingscollege gaat door op 2 dec om 17u30
Voor meer info en om in te schrijven voor dit *niet te missen* college, zie hier soc.kuleuven.be/afdeling-pol...
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Now out in Party Politics 🎉
Our study (@jbpilet.bsky.social)suggests that when a mainstream right-wing party signals willingness to rule with the radical right, support for the radical right rises — while the mainstream gains nothing.
👉 A legitimisation effect.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Our study (@jbpilet.bsky.social)suggests that when a mainstream right-wing party signals willingness to rule with the radical right, support for the radical right rises — while the mainstream gains nothing.
👉 A legitimisation effect.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
October 24, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Now out in Party Politics 🎉
Our study (@jbpilet.bsky.social)suggests that when a mainstream right-wing party signals willingness to rule with the radical right, support for the radical right rises — while the mainstream gains nothing.
👉 A legitimisation effect.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Our study (@jbpilet.bsky.social)suggests that when a mainstream right-wing party signals willingness to rule with the radical right, support for the radical right rises — while the mainstream gains nothing.
👉 A legitimisation effect.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
💡 Edwin Jans, @rensvliegenthart.bsky.social, @skruikemeier.bsky.social en ik schreven een opiniestuk over polarisatie in Nederland, vandaag in @parool.nl 👇📰
Opinie: ‘Zo gepolariseerd is Nederland helemaal niet – maar dit hardnekkige beeld heeft wél gevolgen’
Opinie: ‘Zo gepolariseerd is Nederland helemaal niet – maar dit hardnekkige beeld heeft wél gevolgen’
In politiek Den Haag en aan de talkshowtafels wordt veel gesproken over de ‘toegenomen polarisatie’ in Nederland, maar in werkelijkheid valt dat reuze mee, stellen vier onderzoekers van Wageningen University & Research. Het is volgens hen een hardnekkig verhaal, dat wél gevolgen kan hebben.
www.parool.nl
October 8, 2025 at 1:09 PM
💡 Edwin Jans, @rensvliegenthart.bsky.social, @skruikemeier.bsky.social en ik schreven een opiniestuk over polarisatie in Nederland, vandaag in @parool.nl 👇📰
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
🆕 Deservingness perceptions & candidate support 👥
#GroupAppeals help connect #VoterIdentity 🧩 to voting choices 🗳️ – @rdassonneville.bsky.social, Rune Stubager & Mads Thau want to know if this appeals to other social groups 📣
📖 #OA
#GroupAppeals help connect #VoterIdentity 🧩 to voting choices 🗳️ – @rdassonneville.bsky.social, Rune Stubager & Mads Thau want to know if this appeals to other social groups 📣
📖 #OA
How group appeals shape candidate support: The role of group membership, identity strength, and deservingness perceptions | European Journal of Political Research | Cambridge Core
How group appeals shape candidate support: The role of group membership, identity strength, and deservingness perceptions
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM
🆕 Deservingness perceptions & candidate support 👥
#GroupAppeals help connect #VoterIdentity 🧩 to voting choices 🗳️ – @rdassonneville.bsky.social, Rune Stubager & Mads Thau want to know if this appeals to other social groups 📣
📖 #OA
#GroupAppeals help connect #VoterIdentity 🧩 to voting choices 🗳️ – @rdassonneville.bsky.social, Rune Stubager & Mads Thau want to know if this appeals to other social groups 📣
📖 #OA
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Really excited that after several years of working on it, revising, and getting lots of rejections, our paper (w/ Rune Stubager & Mads Thau) on citizens’ responses to group appeals is *finally* out @ejprjournal.bsky.social
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
A 🧵 on our findings...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
A 🧵 on our findings...
How group appeals shape candidate support: The role of group membership, identity strength, and deservingness perceptions | European Journal of Political Research | Cambridge Core
How group appeals shape candidate support: The role of group membership, identity strength, and deservingness perceptions
www.cambridge.org
October 6, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Really excited that after several years of working on it, revising, and getting lots of rejections, our paper (w/ Rune Stubager & Mads Thau) on citizens’ responses to group appeals is *finally* out @ejprjournal.bsky.social
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
A 🧵 on our findings...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
A 🧵 on our findings...
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Politicians don’t just care how many people hold an opinion — they care how good that opinion is. In our new (open-access) article in West European Politics, based on survey data from 900+ politicians across 11 countries, we show: quality > quantity. Read more: doi.org/10.1080/0140...
October 3, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Politicians don’t just care how many people hold an opinion — they care how good that opinion is. In our new (open-access) article in West European Politics, based on survey data from 900+ politicians across 11 countries, we show: quality > quantity. Read more: doi.org/10.1080/0140...
🚨 New publication out @jeppjournal.bsky.social w/ Katrin Praprotnik @luanarusso.bsky.social @markuswagner.bsky.social
We show that coalition signals from the mainstream right to the radical right shift, rather than reduce, existing political divisions.
Open-access article: doi.org/10.1080/1350...
We show that coalition signals from the mainstream right to the radical right shift, rather than reduce, existing political divisions.
Open-access article: doi.org/10.1080/1350...
October 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
🚨 New publication out @jeppjournal.bsky.social w/ Katrin Praprotnik @luanarusso.bsky.social @markuswagner.bsky.social
We show that coalition signals from the mainstream right to the radical right shift, rather than reduce, existing political divisions.
Open-access article: doi.org/10.1080/1350...
We show that coalition signals from the mainstream right to the radical right shift, rather than reduce, existing political divisions.
Open-access article: doi.org/10.1080/1350...
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Happy to see that my paper w\ @jochemvanagt.bsky.social now has issue- and page-numbers.
Also check-out our post @ecprtheloop.bsky.social to learn more about why unsuccessful coalitions - like those that we see across the EU right now - do not mitigate polarization!
theloop.ecpr.eu/coalition-go...
Also check-out our post @ecprtheloop.bsky.social to learn more about why unsuccessful coalitions - like those that we see across the EU right now - do not mitigate polarization!
theloop.ecpr.eu/coalition-go...
September 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Happy to see that my paper w\ @jochemvanagt.bsky.social now has issue- and page-numbers.
Also check-out our post @ecprtheloop.bsky.social to learn more about why unsuccessful coalitions - like those that we see across the EU right now - do not mitigate polarization!
theloop.ecpr.eu/coalition-go...
Also check-out our post @ecprtheloop.bsky.social to learn more about why unsuccessful coalitions - like those that we see across the EU right now - do not mitigate polarization!
theloop.ecpr.eu/coalition-go...
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
📘 64.4
✅ Coalition governments reduce affective #polarization when perceived as successful; ❌ when seen as failing, they increase polarization says @jochemvanagt.bsky.social & @markuskollberg.bsky.social
#OA #PoliSky
🔗
✅ Coalition governments reduce affective #polarization when perceived as successful; ❌ when seen as failing, they increase polarization says @jochemvanagt.bsky.social & @markuskollberg.bsky.social
#OA #PoliSky
🔗
United in success, fragmented in failure: The moderating effect of perceived government performance on affective polarization between coalition partners
JOCHEM VANAGT, MARKUS KOLLBERG
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM
📘 64.4
✅ Coalition governments reduce affective #polarization when perceived as successful; ❌ when seen as failing, they increase polarization says @jochemvanagt.bsky.social & @markuskollberg.bsky.social
#OA #PoliSky
🔗
✅ Coalition governments reduce affective #polarization when perceived as successful; ❌ when seen as failing, they increase polarization says @jochemvanagt.bsky.social & @markuskollberg.bsky.social
#OA #PoliSky
🔗
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
🚨 New working paper alert 🚨
Missing summer — and the Tour de France? Don’t worry, we got you covered. 🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️
In this paper, we show that being on the route of Tour de France reduces far-right voting. osf.io/preprints/so...
Missing summer — and the Tour de France? Don’t worry, we got you covered. 🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️
In this paper, we show that being on the route of Tour de France reduces far-right voting. osf.io/preprints/so...
September 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
🚨 New working paper alert 🚨
Missing summer — and the Tour de France? Don’t worry, we got you covered. 🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️
In this paper, we show that being on the route of Tour de France reduces far-right voting. osf.io/preprints/so...
Missing summer — and the Tour de France? Don’t worry, we got you covered. 🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️
In this paper, we show that being on the route of Tour de France reduces far-right voting. osf.io/preprints/so...
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
What do citizens imagine their political opponents to be like? Polarization is real, but it also lives in our heads, fueled by stereotypes. We asked people in 🇧🇷, 🇬🇧, 🇩🇪 & 🇵🇱 to describe opponents in their own words.
With @jnareal.bsky.social, @markuswagner.bsky.social & @piotrmarczynski.bsky.social 👇
With @jnareal.bsky.social, @markuswagner.bsky.social & @piotrmarczynski.bsky.social 👇
OSF
doi.org
September 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM
What do citizens imagine their political opponents to be like? Polarization is real, but it also lives in our heads, fueled by stereotypes. We asked people in 🇧🇷, 🇬🇧, 🇩🇪 & 🇵🇱 to describe opponents in their own words.
With @jnareal.bsky.social, @markuswagner.bsky.social & @piotrmarczynski.bsky.social 👇
With @jnareal.bsky.social, @markuswagner.bsky.social & @piotrmarczynski.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
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...
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...
September 5, 2025 at 6:50 AM
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...
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...
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Returning from vacation and looking for a late summer read? @ivobantel.bsky.social and I got you covered!
In our new @wepsocial.bsky.social paper, we assess how mainstream parties rhetorically create an affect-based "common front" against the radical right.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
In our new @wepsocial.bsky.social paper, we assess how mainstream parties rhetorically create an affect-based "common front" against the radical right.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
September 3, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Returning from vacation and looking for a late summer read? @ivobantel.bsky.social and I got you covered!
In our new @wepsocial.bsky.social paper, we assess how mainstream parties rhetorically create an affect-based "common front" against the radical right.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
In our new @wepsocial.bsky.social paper, we assess how mainstream parties rhetorically create an affect-based "common front" against the radical right.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
We have a new paper out in @jepsjournal.bsky.social, with @laiabalcells.bsky.social, @sergisme.bsky.social and Ethan vanderWilden.
We test a number of experimental treatments aimed at strengthening social norms against radical-right support, but find mostly null results.
1/3
We test a number of experimental treatments aimed at strengthening social norms against radical-right support, but find mostly null results.
1/3
#OpenAccess from @jepsjournal.bsky.social -
Re-Stigmatizing the Radical Right: A One-Way Street? - cup.org/45s4Huh
- @laiabalcells.bsky.social, @sergisme.bsky.social, @valentimvicente.bsky.social & Ethan vanderWilden
#FirstView
Re-Stigmatizing the Radical Right: A One-Way Street? - cup.org/45s4Huh
- @laiabalcells.bsky.social, @sergisme.bsky.social, @valentimvicente.bsky.social & Ethan vanderWilden
#FirstView
July 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We have a new paper out in @jepsjournal.bsky.social, with @laiabalcells.bsky.social, @sergisme.bsky.social and Ethan vanderWilden.
We test a number of experimental treatments aimed at strengthening social norms against radical-right support, but find mostly null results.
1/3
We test a number of experimental treatments aimed at strengthening social norms against radical-right support, but find mostly null results.
1/3
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
Online first: "Defending democracy: investigating the efficacy of elite democratic defence in a competitive information environment" by @jmvanlit.bsky.social & @mauritsmeijers.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
#Academicsky #Polisky
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
#Academicsky #Polisky
July 9, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Online first: "Defending democracy: investigating the efficacy of elite democratic defence in a competitive information environment" by @jmvanlit.bsky.social & @mauritsmeijers.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
#Academicsky #Polisky
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
#Academicsky #Polisky
Reposted by Jochem Vanagt
📢 New publication: we draw on unique data from 16- and 17-year-old Belgian adolescents who were eligible to vote in the 2024 European elections, and show that low trust in order and representative institutions is linked to protest and radical voting. @dieterstiers.bsky.social @annakern.bsky.social
Political Trust and Electoral Behavior Among 16- and 17-Year-Old First-Time-Voters in Belgium
Abstract. Citizens’ electoral behaviors tend to persist over time and are driven by long-standing political attitudes acquired during the formative years o
academic.oup.com
July 1, 2025 at 9:42 AM
📢 New publication: we draw on unique data from 16- and 17-year-old Belgian adolescents who were eligible to vote in the 2024 European elections, and show that low trust in order and representative institutions is linked to protest and radical voting. @dieterstiers.bsky.social @annakern.bsky.social