Linus Westheuser
@lwestheuser.bsky.social
Political sociologist・Senior Researcher at a new Max Planck Institute for the study of politics and society in Göttingen・Class, morality, cleavage politics・🔗 linuswestheuser.com
Pinned
OK, a🧵: Our new paper studies workers' political consciousness in times of class demobilization.
We show there's more to workers' politics than right-wing resentment. Listening to workers, we reconstruct their moral critiques of money, power & recognition.
Link journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We show there's more to workers' politics than right-wing resentment. Listening to workers, we reconstruct their moral critiques of money, power & recognition.
Link journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
good 🧵; among other things, it is important to recognize that polarization, sorting, and dimensional alignment are more pronounced among elites and the most engaged segment of the mass public than the rest of the population -- we often generalize too much from the former to the latter.
The US is often seen as an extreme case where polarization erodes democracy bc partisanship now permeates all everyday sociability and affects. But this is now being contradicted by a whole number of studies. Besides the really interesting new work by @jonadejong.bsky.social, there is... (quick 🧵)
Do ordinary Republicans and Democrats really avoid each other in everyday life? In a new working paper with Delia Baldassarri, we present descriptive and experimental evidence to challenge the view that partisanship drives the formation of social relationships.
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/15
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/15
February 4, 2026 at 2:41 PM
good 🧵; among other things, it is important to recognize that polarization, sorting, and dimensional alignment are more pronounced among elites and the most engaged segment of the mass public than the rest of the population -- we often generalize too much from the former to the latter.
The US is often seen as an extreme case where polarization erodes democracy bc partisanship now permeates all everyday sociability and affects. But this is now being contradicted by a whole number of studies. Besides the really interesting new work by @jonadejong.bsky.social, there is... (quick 🧵)
Do ordinary Republicans and Democrats really avoid each other in everyday life? In a new working paper with Delia Baldassarri, we present descriptive and experimental evidence to challenge the view that partisanship drives the formation of social relationships.
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/15
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/15
February 4, 2026 at 1:54 PM
The US is often seen as an extreme case where polarization erodes democracy bc partisanship now permeates all everyday sociability and affects. But this is now being contradicted by a whole number of studies. Besides the really interesting new work by @jonadejong.bsky.social, there is... (quick 🧵)
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Do ordinary Republicans and Democrats really avoid each other in everyday life? In a new working paper with Delia Baldassarri, we present descriptive and experimental evidence to challenge the view that partisanship drives the formation of social relationships.
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/15
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/15
February 2, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Do ordinary Republicans and Democrats really avoid each other in everyday life? In a new working paper with Delia Baldassarri, we present descriptive and experimental evidence to challenge the view that partisanship drives the formation of social relationships.
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/15
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/15
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Founders of modern paleontology, and their contributions to systemic racism, classism and sexism (🧵)
Henry Osborn (1857–1935), responsible for naming of Tyrannosaurus & Velociraptor; president of ANHM.
Co-founder of the American Eugenics Society. Contributing to books later praised by Hitler.
Henry Osborn (1857–1935), responsible for naming of Tyrannosaurus & Velociraptor; president of ANHM.
Co-founder of the American Eugenics Society. Contributing to books later praised by Hitler.
February 2, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Founders of modern paleontology, and their contributions to systemic racism, classism and sexism (🧵)
Henry Osborn (1857–1935), responsible for naming of Tyrannosaurus & Velociraptor; president of ANHM.
Co-founder of the American Eugenics Society. Contributing to books later praised by Hitler.
Henry Osborn (1857–1935), responsible for naming of Tyrannosaurus & Velociraptor; president of ANHM.
Co-founder of the American Eugenics Society. Contributing to books later praised by Hitler.
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
ich habe mit alyssa battistoni über ihr tolles buch "free gifts: capitalism and the politics of nature" gesprochen und es hat sehr viel spaß gemacht (free link)
www.zeit.de/kultur/2026-...
www.zeit.de/kultur/2026-...
Klimawandel und Kapitalismus: "Niemand sagt: Ich zerstöre den Planeten, weil ich Lust dazu habe"
Alyssa Battistoni will Natur nicht länger als Gratisgeschenk betrachten. Aber lässt der Kapitalismus eine Wahl? Hier erklärt sie, ob wir seiner Logik entkommen können.
www.zeit.de
February 3, 2026 at 8:02 PM
ich habe mit alyssa battistoni über ihr tolles buch "free gifts: capitalism and the politics of nature" gesprochen und es hat sehr viel spaß gemacht (free link)
www.zeit.de/kultur/2026-...
www.zeit.de/kultur/2026-...
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Yeah I will say I spent a a lot of my life thinking I was being a sophisticated Marxist by condemning vulgar tendencies which saw particular capitalists and members of the ruling class as evil and the problem. No no, I would say, it is the system! Well, ok, maybe: but also they are evil turns out.
My favorite genre of Epstein emails are powerful people emailing WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN about how MeToo has gone too far and the woke mob must be stopped.
February 4, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Yeah I will say I spent a a lot of my life thinking I was being a sophisticated Marxist by condemning vulgar tendencies which saw particular capitalists and members of the ruling class as evil and the problem. No no, I would say, it is the system! Well, ok, maybe: but also they are evil turns out.
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
„We then tested whether increases in hip-hop penetration were linked to changes in crime—and whether people exposed to more hip hop in their formative years experienced worse outcomes in education, employment, earnings, teen births and single parenthood.“ 📻
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
The economics of hip hop - Marginal REVOLUTION
In a TED Talk released on Monday, I describe a decadelong effort to measure hip hop’s impact. My research team and I assembled a data set tracking the genre’s diffusion from the late 1980s onward. We ...
marginalrevolution.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:42 AM
„We then tested whether increases in hip-hop penetration were linked to changes in crime—and whether people exposed to more hip hop in their formative years experienced worse outcomes in education, employment, earnings, teen births and single parenthood.“ 📻
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Marcel Proust after eating a tiny little cake
December 27, 2024 at 9:50 PM
Marcel Proust after eating a tiny little cake
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
2025 war ein Wahnsinnsjahr für die deutschen Milliardäre:
Ihr Vermögen wuchs mit 30 % fast doppelt (!) so schnell, wie das Vermögen des Globalen Durchschnittsmilliardärs mit 16 %.
Dieses Wachstum ist absurd gefährlich, weil es die Ungleichheitskrise weiter verschärft.
Ihr Vermögen wuchs mit 30 % fast doppelt (!) so schnell, wie das Vermögen des Globalen Durchschnittsmilliardärs mit 16 %.
Dieses Wachstum ist absurd gefährlich, weil es die Ungleichheitskrise weiter verschärft.
January 19, 2026 at 7:43 AM
2025 war ein Wahnsinnsjahr für die deutschen Milliardäre:
Ihr Vermögen wuchs mit 30 % fast doppelt (!) so schnell, wie das Vermögen des Globalen Durchschnittsmilliardärs mit 16 %.
Dieses Wachstum ist absurd gefährlich, weil es die Ungleichheitskrise weiter verschärft.
Ihr Vermögen wuchs mit 30 % fast doppelt (!) so schnell, wie das Vermögen des Globalen Durchschnittsmilliardärs mit 16 %.
Dieses Wachstum ist absurd gefährlich, weil es die Ungleichheitskrise weiter verschärft.
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Spain's constitution promises democracy at work. Last year, @yolandadiaz.bsky.social convened an expert group to study how to make good on that promise.
Lead by @isabelleferreras.bsky.social, we have delivered what is, we think, the highest-level 400-page report on economic democracy out there. 1/2
Lead by @isabelleferreras.bsky.social, we have delivered what is, we think, the highest-level 400-page report on economic democracy out there. 1/2
February 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Spain's constitution promises democracy at work. Last year, @yolandadiaz.bsky.social convened an expert group to study how to make good on that promise.
Lead by @isabelleferreras.bsky.social, we have delivered what is, we think, the highest-level 400-page report on economic democracy out there. 1/2
Lead by @isabelleferreras.bsky.social, we have delivered what is, we think, the highest-level 400-page report on economic democracy out there. 1/2
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
A war rages in the Democratic consulting class about whether Dems should go "moderate" or "progressive" in 26 and 28. @gelliottmorris.com argues that most voters are not ideologically moderate, they are disengaged. I found similar results from 2024, which he discusses in this post.
More evidence that a large share of "moderates" are non-ideologues
A reader replicated my analysis of political ideology using alternative data
www.gelliottmorris.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:26 PM
A war rages in the Democratic consulting class about whether Dems should go "moderate" or "progressive" in 26 and 28. @gelliottmorris.com argues that most voters are not ideologically moderate, they are disengaged. I found similar results from 2024, which he discusses in this post.
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
This is an excellent, accessible, if long, piece by @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social & @adambonica.bsky.social. Drawing on scientific evidence and ground-truth logic, they dismantle calls for Democratic moderation and prescribe a path that is pragmatic and courageous.
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism
Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.
www.bostonreview.net
February 3, 2026 at 3:14 PM
This is an excellent, accessible, if long, piece by @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social & @adambonica.bsky.social. Drawing on scientific evidence and ground-truth logic, they dismantle calls for Democratic moderation and prescribe a path that is pragmatic and courageous.
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Are you interested in the role of elites in disseminating ideas and framing policies? Then you should consider contributing to this Special Issue edited by me and Milka. You can email us an abstract if you want to know whether your paper idea is a good fit with the theme.
✨Call for Papers✨
Acta Sociologica is happy to publish the call for papers for a new special issue on moral elites which will be guest-edited by Anders Sevelsted and Milka Ivanovska Hadjievska!
Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2026.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Acta Sociologica is happy to publish the call for papers for a new special issue on moral elites which will be guest-edited by Anders Sevelsted and Milka Ivanovska Hadjievska!
Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2026.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Are you interested in the role of elites in disseminating ideas and framing policies? Then you should consider contributing to this Special Issue edited by me and Milka. You can email us an abstract if you want to know whether your paper idea is a good fit with the theme.
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
36.6% arm oder armutsgefährdet. Ist eine politische Entscheidung.
17,6 Millionen Menschen in Deutschland sind armutsgefährdet. Das teilt das Statistische Bundesamt mit. Mehr als 13 Millionen weitere Deutsche leben in Armut. Besonders gefährdet ist eine Bevölkerungsgruppe.
Armut: Rund jeder fünfte Deutsche ist gefährdet
17,6 Millionen Menschen in Deutschland sind armutsgefährdet. Das teilt das Statistische Bundesamt mit. Mehr als 13 Millionen weitere Deutsche leben in Armut. Besonders gefährdet ist eine Bevölkerungsgruppe.
www.spiegel.de
February 3, 2026 at 2:53 PM
36.6% arm oder armutsgefährdet. Ist eine politische Entscheidung.
"Centrism is not in and of itself illegitimate. But its defenders should ask themselves hard questions about what it can possibly mean in 2026. A reflexive position in the middle – for the middle must by definition be reasonable – makes little sense in a completely asymmetrical political landscape."
Beware of ‘anti-woke’ liberals: they attacked the left and helped Trump win | Jan-Werner Müller
So-called ‘reactionary centrist’ pundits proclaimed that there was a global ‘vibe shift’ in favor of the right. They were wrong
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:30 PM
"Centrism is not in and of itself illegitimate. But its defenders should ask themselves hard questions about what it can possibly mean in 2026. A reflexive position in the middle – for the middle must by definition be reasonable – makes little sense in a completely asymmetrical political landscape."
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
berger year
February 2, 2026 at 9:40 PM
berger year
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Warum dürfen wir eigentlich keinen Klassenkampf machen aber die CDU schon?
February 2, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Warum dürfen wir eigentlich keinen Klassenkampf machen aber die CDU schon?
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Zwischen „Blabla die hart Arbeitenden, die morgens früh aufstehen, sind was ganz anderes als diese Arbeitslosen“ und „was fällt den Busfahrern eigentlich ein, die schaden uns massiv“ liegt immer nur ein Warnstreik, merkt euch das.
February 2, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Zwischen „Blabla die hart Arbeitenden, die morgens früh aufstehen, sind was ganz anderes als diese Arbeitslosen“ und „was fällt den Busfahrern eigentlich ein, die schaden uns massiv“ liegt immer nur ein Warnstreik, merkt euch das.
Aus aktuellem Anlass nochmal: In Sachen Streikaktivität ist in Deutschland noch deutlich Luft nach oben.
February 2, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Aus aktuellem Anlass nochmal: In Sachen Streikaktivität ist in Deutschland noch deutlich Luft nach oben.
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
...beim CDU-Wirtschaftsflügel arbeitet man währenddessen schon auf Hochtouren an den nächsten Vorschlägen.
January 26, 2026 at 9:31 AM
...beim CDU-Wirtschaftsflügel arbeitet man währenddessen schon auf Hochtouren an den nächsten Vorschlägen.
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Monet’s studio boats let him float between water and sky.
He built them himself, turning rivers into moving studios—reflections becoming his horizon.
He built them himself, turning rivers into moving studios—reflections becoming his horizon.
February 2, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Monet’s studio boats let him float between water and sky.
He built them himself, turning rivers into moving studios—reflections becoming his horizon.
He built them himself, turning rivers into moving studios—reflections becoming his horizon.
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
An Injury To All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class will be published by Verso in October!
Today I submitted responses to last comments from my editor and worked on the blurb. It's getting closer and closer!
Today I submitted responses to last comments from my editor and worked on the blurb. It's getting closer and closer!
January 28, 2026 at 8:53 PM
An Injury To All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class will be published by Verso in October!
Today I submitted responses to last comments from my editor and worked on the blurb. It's getting closer and closer!
Today I submitted responses to last comments from my editor and worked on the blurb. It's getting closer and closer!
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Manchester capitalism rebranded as a lifestyle choice. It's what happens when the left withdraws from shaping identities around work, life, and politics. Individualism, conservatism ("marry early"), puritanism. They all shape how he will act politically. "Care for the sick? No, it's their own fault"
January 29, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Manchester capitalism rebranded as a lifestyle choice. It's what happens when the left withdraws from shaping identities around work, life, and politics. Individualism, conservatism ("marry early"), puritanism. They all shape how he will act politically. "Care for the sick? No, it's their own fault"
Reposted by Linus Westheuser
Martenstein, Mario Barth und die Armee der Amazon-Rezensenten
Nichts bringt das Bürgertum so in Wallung wie das befreite Wiehern über geschlechtergerechte Sprache.
Hier habe ich darüber geschrieben.
kulturundkontroverse859.substack.com/p/martenstei...
Nichts bringt das Bürgertum so in Wallung wie das befreite Wiehern über geschlechtergerechte Sprache.
Hier habe ich darüber geschrieben.
kulturundkontroverse859.substack.com/p/martenstei...
Martenstein, Mario Barth und die Armee der Amazon-Rezensenten
Über den Triggerpunkt geschlechtergerechter Sprache
kulturundkontroverse859.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:57 AM
Martenstein, Mario Barth und die Armee der Amazon-Rezensenten
Nichts bringt das Bürgertum so in Wallung wie das befreite Wiehern über geschlechtergerechte Sprache.
Hier habe ich darüber geschrieben.
kulturundkontroverse859.substack.com/p/martenstei...
Nichts bringt das Bürgertum so in Wallung wie das befreite Wiehern über geschlechtergerechte Sprache.
Hier habe ich darüber geschrieben.
kulturundkontroverse859.substack.com/p/martenstei...