John Sides
@johnsides.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University - https://johnsides.org/
Publisher of Good Authority - https://goodauthority.org/
Publisher of Good Authority - https://goodauthority.org/
Under Biden, there was no thermostatic shift in public opinion about the size of government. The public stayed relatively liberal. Take attitudes toward the government's role in health care:
October 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Under Biden, there was no thermostatic shift in public opinion about the size of government. The public stayed relatively liberal. Take attitudes toward the government's role in health care:
Imagine asking people two questions -- whether each of these is a good or bad way to run a govt:
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
September 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Imagine asking people two questions -- whether each of these is a good or bad way to run a govt:
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
Finally, Scott Abramson and Sharece Thrower. "The direct cost to voters of polling site closures and consolidation." Very cool study from here in Nashville!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
September 2, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Finally, Scott Abramson and Sharece Thrower. "The direct cost to voters of polling site closures and consolidation." Very cool study from here in Nashville!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Next, Cindy Kam and VU Ph.D. @amengel.bsky.social, "A racial reckoning? racial attitudes in the wake of the murder of George Floyd."
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
September 2, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Next, Cindy Kam and VU Ph.D. @amengel.bsky.social, "A racial reckoning? racial attitudes in the wake of the murder of George Floyd."
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Three new publications from Vanderbilt political science faculty! First up, Diana Lee and @yamilrvelez.bsky.social, "Measuring Descriptive Representation at Scale: Methods for Predicting the Race and Ethnicity of Public Officials."
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
September 2, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Three new publications from Vanderbilt political science faculty! First up, Diana Lee and @yamilrvelez.bsky.social, "Measuring Descriptive Representation at Scale: Methods for Predicting the Race and Ethnicity of Public Officials."
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Some more great new research from Vandy polisci faculty!
Peter Schram in International Organization, "Conflicts that Leave Something to Chance."
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Peter Schram in International Organization, "Conflicts that Leave Something to Chance."
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
July 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Some more great new research from Vandy polisci faculty!
Peter Schram in International Organization, "Conflicts that Leave Something to Chance."
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Peter Schram in International Organization, "Conflicts that Leave Something to Chance."
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
For @goodauth.bsky.social, I updated the affective polarization trend using the newly released 2024 ANES. Here's the graph.
A few important points...
A few important points...
July 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
For @goodauth.bsky.social, I updated the affective polarization trend using the newly released 2024 ANES. Here's the graph.
A few important points...
A few important points...
And while I'm at it, a THIRD piece in the AJPS from Vanderbilt polisci faculty came out yesterday -- this one by my colleagues @BradSmithUNC and Peter Bils:
"The Logic of Secret Alliances"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
"The Logic of Secret Alliances"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
June 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
And while I'm at it, a THIRD piece in the AJPS from Vanderbilt polisci faculty came out yesterday -- this one by my colleagues @BradSmithUNC and Peter Bils:
"The Logic of Secret Alliances"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
"The Logic of Secret Alliances"
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Somehow I neglected to mention a SIXTH APSR by Vanderbilt polisci faculty. This one, by Jorge Mangonnet et al., is now out and formally forthcoming in 2026!
"Family Ties, Social Control, and Authoritarian Distribution to Elites"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
"Family Ties, Social Control, and Authoritarian Distribution to Elites"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
June 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Somehow I neglected to mention a SIXTH APSR by Vanderbilt polisci faculty. This one, by Jorge Mangonnet et al., is now out and formally forthcoming in 2026!
"Family Ties, Social Control, and Authoritarian Distribution to Elites"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
"Family Ties, Social Control, and Authoritarian Distribution to Elites"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Then, finally, this *extremely* topical piece by @johnadearborn.bsky.social : “Contesting the Reach of the Rights Revolution: The Reagan Administration and the Unitary Executive”
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
June 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Then, finally, this *extremely* topical piece by @johnadearborn.bsky.social : “Contesting the Reach of the Rights Revolution: The Reagan Administration and the Unitary Executive”
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Erin York and Daniel Tavana have this piece in the BJPS: “Legislative Cooptation in Authoritarian Regimes: Policy Cooperation in the Kuwait National Assembly”
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
June 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Erin York and Daniel Tavana have this piece in the BJPS: “Legislative Cooptation in Authoritarian Regimes: Policy Cooperation in the Kuwait National Assembly”
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
And then Andres Gannon: “Complementarity in alliances: How strategic compatibility and hierarchy promote efficient cooperation in international security”
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
June 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
And then Andres Gannon: “Complementarity in alliances: How strategic compatibility and hierarchy promote efficient cooperation in international security”
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
There’s also 2 pieces in the American Journal of Political Science. Federica Izzo and colleagues are first with “Argumentation Strategies in Party Competition.”
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
June 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
There’s also 2 pieces in the American Journal of Political Science. Federica Izzo and colleagues are first with “Argumentation Strategies in Party Competition.”
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Then, @brentonkenkel.bsky.social and Kristopher Ramsay: “The Effective Power of Military Coalitions: A Unified Theoretical and Empirical Model”
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
June 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Then, @brentonkenkel.bsky.social and Kristopher Ramsay: “The Effective Power of Military Coalitions: A Unified Theoretical and Empirical Model”
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Next up, the first of the 2 new pieces in the Journal of Politics by VU political science faculty. Peter Bils and colleagues with this excellent title: “Fanatical Peace: How Fundamental Disagreements Can Discourage Conflict.”
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
June 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Next up, the first of the 2 new pieces in the Journal of Politics by VU political science faculty. Peter Bils and colleagues with this excellent title: “Fanatical Peace: How Fundamental Disagreements Can Discourage Conflict.”
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
There’s so much interesting research coming from Vanderbilt political science faculty. As dept chair, it is a pleasure to highlight a bunch of it.
First, up, @trounstine.bsky.social and Sarah Anzia in the @apsrjournal.bsky.social on civil service adoption:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
First, up, @trounstine.bsky.social and Sarah Anzia in the @apsrjournal.bsky.social on civil service adoption:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
June 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
There’s so much interesting research coming from Vanderbilt political science faculty. As dept chair, it is a pleasure to highlight a bunch of it.
First, up, @trounstine.bsky.social and Sarah Anzia in the @apsrjournal.bsky.social on civil service adoption:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
First, up, @trounstine.bsky.social and Sarah Anzia in the @apsrjournal.bsky.social on civil service adoption:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Shifts to Trump from 2020-24 are not just a story about the youngest voters or about the youngest men.
They are a story about shifts among *men and women* who are *under 40*.
1,000 takes on the youngest men. Virtually zero on everyone else.
They are a story about shifts among *men and women* who are *under 40*.
1,000 takes on the youngest men. Virtually zero on everyone else.
April 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Shifts to Trump from 2020-24 are not just a story about the youngest voters or about the youngest men.
They are a story about shifts among *men and women* who are *under 40*.
1,000 takes on the youngest men. Virtually zero on everyone else.
They are a story about shifts among *men and women* who are *under 40*.
1,000 takes on the youngest men. Virtually zero on everyone else.
A new report on legislative effectiveness by my colleague Alan Wiseman and Craig Volden confirms, once again, that Eleanor Holmes Norton is the GOAT.
Vandy story: news.vanderbilt.edu/2025/03/27/l...
Report: thelawmakers.org/wp-content/upl
Vandy story: news.vanderbilt.edu/2025/03/27/l...
Report: thelawmakers.org/wp-content/upl
March 31, 2025 at 12:49 AM
A new report on legislative effectiveness by my colleague Alan Wiseman and Craig Volden confirms, once again, that Eleanor Holmes Norton is the GOAT.
Vandy story: news.vanderbilt.edu/2025/03/27/l...
Report: thelawmakers.org/wp-content/upl
Vandy story: news.vanderbilt.edu/2025/03/27/l...
Report: thelawmakers.org/wp-content/upl
Republican men and women are also increasingly likely to say that society is too "soft and feminine," according to @prripoll.bsky.social data.
The increase is particularly large among GOP women.
The increase is particularly large among GOP women.
February 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Republican men and women are also increasingly likely to say that society is too "soft and feminine," according to @prripoll.bsky.social data.
The increase is particularly large among GOP women.
The increase is particularly large among GOP women.
There used to be a bipartisan consensus that rejected traditional gender roles.
Not anymore. Republican men *and* women increasingly endorse traditional roles.
Here's a 🧵 based on a new New York Times
piece by @tesler.bsky.social, Colette Marcellin, and me.
Not anymore. Republican men *and* women increasingly endorse traditional roles.
Here's a 🧵 based on a new New York Times
piece by @tesler.bsky.social, Colette Marcellin, and me.
February 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
There used to be a bipartisan consensus that rejected traditional gender roles.
Not anymore. Republican men *and* women increasingly endorse traditional roles.
Here's a 🧵 based on a new New York Times
piece by @tesler.bsky.social, Colette Marcellin, and me.
Not anymore. Republican men *and* women increasingly endorse traditional roles.
Here's a 🧵 based on a new New York Times
piece by @tesler.bsky.social, Colette Marcellin, and me.
As a Proud Department Chair, I have to note that the new issue of the American Political Science Review has FOUR articles by Vanderbilt political science faculty!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...?
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...?
January 29, 2025 at 5:28 PM
As a Proud Department Chair, I have to note that the new issue of the American Political Science Review has FOUR articles by Vanderbilt political science faculty!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...?
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...?
Opposition to Brexit is increasing, and about a third of that increase is just anti-Brexit young voters joining the electorate.
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
December 9, 2024 at 9:43 PM
Opposition to Brexit is increasing, and about a third of that increase is just anti-Brexit young voters joining the electorate.
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Another day, another victory for academic public engagement.
November 19, 2024 at 3:10 PM
Another day, another victory for academic public engagement.
A great opportunity for scholars from former Monkey Cage and Good Authority editor @ejgraff.bsky.social!
October 29, 2024 at 3:00 PM
A great opportunity for scholars from former Monkey Cage and Good Authority editor @ejgraff.bsky.social!