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WEP Journal

@wepsocial.bsky.social

💥 OUT NOW: Volume 49, Issue 1 (2026)

Lots of exciting research on:
👉 Polarisation: climate change, immigration, democratic deficit
👉 EU politics & voters/citizens
👉 Working class politicians
👉 Political protest
👉 Housing policy
👉 Symposium 2024 EP Elections

🔗 www.tandfonline.com/toc/fwep20/c...

West European Politics

Volume 49, Issue 1 of West European Politics

www.tandfonline.com

November 13, 2025 at 10:18 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

How can we compare the size and structuring power of different cleavages over time? Check out @jacobgunderson.bsky.social 's great paper and dataset for scholars working on cleavages at the party system level!

The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.

WEP Journal @wepsocial.bsky.social · 20d

💥OUT NOW!

"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social

Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

Abstract of the article "Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by Jacob R. Gunderson. Published online first in West European Politics.

Figure 2, displaying the Loess curves showing trajectory of bloc-weighted cleavage salience index (WCS) over time for transnational (lower curve) and traditional (upper curve) cleavage types from 1951 to 2023 for 14 west european countries.

Figure 3, displaying the Loess curves of WCS pooled across 15 West European countries from 1951 to 2023.

Figure 4, displaying the effective number of bloc parties for the left and right camps in 15 west european countries from 1951 to 2023.

October 27, 2025 at 12:51 PM

Reposted by WEP Journal

Jacob Gunderson

@jacobgunderson.bsky.social

Really pleased to this out as part of special issues on "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies". Huge thanks to the SI editors, @dpzollinger.bsky.social and @davidattewell6.bsky.social for putting the special together and all of their support during the process.

WEP Journal @wepsocial.bsky.social · 20d

💥OUT NOW!

"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social

Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

October 26, 2025 at 9:28 AM

WEP Journal

@wepsocial.bsky.social

💥OUT NOW!

"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social

Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

October 25, 2025 at 7:35 PM

Reposted by WEP Journal

Paolo Chiocchetti

@pchiocchetti.bsky.social

It was great to be back at @eui-schuman.bsky.social
for a workshop on "The EU between differentiation, disintegration, and enlargement". Find most papers on @wepsocial.bsky.social (tinyurl.com/bdz7arw7) and @jeppjournal.bsky.social (tinyurl.com/4htxs4hk). Thanks to all organisers and participants!

October 21, 2025 at 7:30 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

Reto Mitteregger

@handle.invalid

2) "Overlooked de- and realignment? Cohort differences in consideration sets", Single-authored, published @wepsocial.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Overlooked de- and realignment? Cohort differences in consideration sets

While it is established that core values and voting behaviour persistently differ between birth cohorts, less is known about the consideration set stage that lies between those two points of the el...

www.tandfonline.com

October 15, 2025 at 8:15 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

Department of Political Science, Radboud University Nijmegen

@radboudpol.bsky.social

🚨 Publication Alert 🚨

WEP Journal @wepsocial.bsky.social · Oct 14

💥Online first:

"How populist citizens see the people and their place in representative democracy"

by Rosa Kindt @robert-a-huber.bsky.social & @kristofjacobs1.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

Abstract of the article "How populist citizens see the people and their place in representative democracy" by Rosa Kindt, Robert A. Huber and Kristof Jacobs. Published online first in West European Politics.

Figure 2, displaying the comparison of high and low populists' marginal means on whether politicians belong to the people.

Figure 3, displaying the comparison of marginal means per attribute on the economical dimension in relation to 'belonging to the people'.

Figure 4, displaying the comparison of marginal means per attribute on the cultural dimension in relation to 'belonging to the people'.

October 14, 2025 at 8:26 AM

WEP Journal

@wepsocial.bsky.social

💥Online first:

"How populist citizens see the people and their place in representative democracy"

by Rosa Kindt @robert-a-huber.bsky.social & @kristofjacobs1.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

October 14, 2025 at 7:23 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

Davide Vampa

@davidevampa.bsky.social

Publication 3, recently in @wepsocial.bsky.social

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

From nations to regions: electoral volatility in European multi-level politics

European politics has experienced increasing turbulence, with much focus on the volatility of national elections. However, it remains unclear whether such instability extends to the sub-national le...

www.tandfonline.com

October 7, 2025 at 6:42 PM

WEP Journal

@wepsocial.bsky.social

💥Out now: The introduction to the Special Issue "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies"

"Updating cleavage theory for the twenty-first century" by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

Abstract of the article "Updating cleavage theory for the twenty-first century" by Delia Zollinger and David Attewell. Published online first in West European Politics.

October 7, 2025 at 4:34 PM

WEP Journal

@wepsocial.bsky.social

Structural unemployment drives support for income redistribution in Europe, while cyclical unemployment shows no general effect.

👉 Discover how welfare state size moderates the effect of cyclical unemployment in the latest study by Ivan Petrúšek & Kristyna Basna

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

Abstract of the article "Structural and cyclical unemployment and redistribution support in Europe: the moderating role of welfare state size" by Ivan Petrúšek and Kristyna Basna. Published online first in West European Politics.

Figure 3, displaying point estimates and confidence intervals for the effects of contextual variables.

Figure 4, displaying marginal effects of cyclical unemploymemt at different levels of average public social expenditure.

October 7, 2025 at 4:19 PM

Reposted by WEP Journal

Nessa Ní Chasaide

@nessanichasaide.bsky.social

New Special Issue on 'Cleavage Politics' @wepsocial.bsky.social. Lots of interesting articles, with helpful summary thread below by @davidattewell6.bsky.social

David Attewell @davidattewell6.bsky.social · Oct 7

@dpzollinger.bsky.social and I are thrilled "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies" is out as an SI at @wepsocial.bsky.social!

Its papers explore the foundations of the cleavage pitting new left against radical right parties, and how it compares to the classic cleavages of Lipset & Rokkan:

🧵⬇️

October 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM

Reposted by WEP Journal

Delia Zollinger

@dpzollinger.bsky.social

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.

David Attewell @davidattewell6.bsky.social · Oct 7

@dpzollinger.bsky.social and I are thrilled "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies" is out as an SI at @wepsocial.bsky.social!

Its papers explore the foundations of the cleavage pitting new left against radical right parties, and how it compares to the classic cleavages of Lipset & Rokkan:

🧵⬇️

October 7, 2025 at 12:11 PM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

10/ @annakurella.bsky.social & @milenarapp.bsky.social find party positions follow a 2D structure, but public opinion is far less structured. Voter attitudes on nationalism fit into the longstanding moral conflict dimension, but those on gender and environmentalism do not.

bsky.app/profile/weps...

WEP Journal @wepsocial.bsky.social · Feb 26

@annakurella.bsky.social & @milenarapp.bsky.social show that public opinion on new cultural policy issues is not strongly aligned with preferences on traditional economic & moral policies.

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

Part of forthc. SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies"

Abstract of the article "Unfolding GAL-TAN: the multi-dimensional nature of public opinion in Western Europe" by Anna-Sophie Kurella and Milena Rapp. Published online first in West European Politics.

Figure 1, displaying the average structuring strength of latent conflicts across regions (north, central west, south).

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

9/ @siljahausermann.bsky.social and co-authors analyze vote preferences within the broader Right electorate, showing the blurring of the divide between preferences for center-right and far-right parties- and the far right’s marked rise among the youngest cohort.

bsky.app/profile/silj...

Silja Häusermann @siljahausermann.bsky.social · Jul 7

❗The segmentation of the right field is eroding, especially among young voters❗

New article out by @simonbornschier.bsky.social @dpzollinger.bsky.social
@mrsteenbergen.bsky.social and myself
@ipz.bsky.social ‬ @wepsocial.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/ycxfx2aj

A short 🧵

1/7

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

8/ Education anchors contemporary cleavage politics, but what *kind* of education? @nspmartin.bsky.social @ralphscott.bsky.social ‬ and @rolandkappe.bsky.social show the specific subjects British adolescents take in secondary school shape their voting behavior as adults.

bsky.app/profile/ralp...

Ralph Scott @ralphscott.bsky.social · Jul 14

📣 NEW PAPER ALERT! 🚨

"School subject choices in adolescence affect political party support"

Just published in @wepsocial.bsky.social with @nspmartin.bsky.social and @rolandkappe.bsky.social.

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

🧵👇

Article abstract, which says:

The educational cleavage is restructuring electoral competition in many democracies, yet there has been insufficient attention on how variation in educational content affects this. In order to address this, this article combines English administrative school records with a unique representative panel of adolescents to estimate the within-individual effect of studying different subjects at school on political party preference. This analysis finds that studying arts and humanities subjects leads to greater support for socially liberal parties, whilst studying business and economics increases support for economically right-wing parties. Students who study technical subjects become more likely to support socially conservative and economically right-wing parties. These relationships between particular subjects and party support also persist into adulthood. As such, this article provides new evidence on the importance of subjects taken in secondary school for political socialisation, during the impressionable years of adolescence.

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

7/ @arminschaefer.bsky.social and @nilssteiner.bsky.social show how gender & generation condition the educational divide in green & radical right voting. Education divides widen among recent cohorts, and – for green voting- especially among younger women.

bsky.app/profile/nils...

Nils Steiner @nilssteiner.bsky.social · Mar 9

Very happy to see this out as part of a great special issue on cleavage politics: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10..... Building on studies on how (1) education, (2) generation and (3) gender structure voting on the GAL/TAN cleavage, we study how they interact.

Here’s a thread summarizing the paper👇

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

6/ @mierkezat.bsky.social, @eborbath.bsky.social, and @swenhutter.bsky.social argue that civil society still shapes contemporary cleavage formation, but with a more varied, volatile, and external pressure-based orientation to parties than the membership orgs of old.

bsky.app/profile/mier...

Alex Mierke-Zatwarnicki @mierkezat.bsky.social · Aug 28

I’m very excited to share that my paper “Cleavage theory meets civil society: A framework and research agenda” with @eborbath.bsky.social & Swen Hutter has now been published online in ‪@wepsocial.bsky.social‬ (w/ open access funding thanks to @wzb.bsky.social‬!)

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

5/ @vincenzoemanuele.bsky.social & Bruno Marino test Lipset & Rokkan’s famous freezing hypothesis w fresh data, finding some conditions for freezing L&R hypothesize are *not* associated with cleavage structuring and other societal/institutional factors were overlooked.

bsky.app/profile/vinc...

Vincenzo Emanuele @vincenzoemanuele.bsky.social · Sep 18

🎯New publication out in @wepsocial.bsky.social
'Lipset and Rokkan meet data': a 🧵on our study (with Bruno Marino) on the electoral structuring of traditional cleavages (1870–1967) across 17 Western European countries 👇

Read the full article (open access):
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

www.tandfonline.com

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

4/How strong is the educational divide in historical context?

@liesbethooghe.bsky.social l & Gary Marks find new left and radical right parties are as strongly structured by education as socialist parties in Norway, Germany, and the UK were by class in the 1950s and 60s.

bsky.app/profile/lies...

Liesbet Hooghe @liesbethooghe.bsky.social · Feb 7

We find that (1) education structures voting for GAL and TAN parties in Western Europe; (2) social structuration is as high as for classic social democratic parties in the 1950s; (3) education structures also Republicans and Democrats. Open access, and on our homepages.

WEP Journal @wepsocial.bsky.social · Feb 6

@liesbethooghe.bsky.social & Gary Marks measure the extent to which political parties on the contemporary socio-cultural divide are cleavaged.

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

Part of the forthcoming Special Issue "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies".

#polisky #academicsky

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

3/ @garritzmannj.bsky.social analyzes the past, present & future of educational conflict, arguing the uniqueness of today’s divide is the breadth of the groups it sets in conflict, its links to group identities, and its spillover into almost all political conflicts.

bsky.app/profile/garr...

Julian Garritzmann @garritzmannj.bsky.social · Jun 23

I have a new paper out in @wepsocial.bsky.social: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The paper situates discussions about the Educational Cleavage in a longer temporal context (back to the Medieval time) to show that there have ALWAYS been conflicts between educational groups. (1/3)

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

2/@dpzollinger.bsky.social and I set out 3 puzzles: How does a new cleavage work without strong intermediary orgs? How to reconcile cleavage theory w fragmented party systems? How are structural divides (e.g. ed) mobilized indirectly in political conflict today?

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Updating cleavage theory for the twenty-first century

Contemporary cleavage research has linked ‘socio-cultural’ conflicts mobilised by new left and far right parties to structural divides in post-industrial knowledge societies. Contributions in this ...

www.tandfonline.com

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Reposted by WEP Journal

David Attewell

@davidattewell6.bsky.social

@dpzollinger.bsky.social and I are thrilled "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies" is out as an SI at @wepsocial.bsky.social!

Its papers explore the foundations of the cleavage pitting new left against radical right parties, and how it compares to the classic cleavages of Lipset & Rokkan:

🧵⬇️

October 7, 2025 at 11:28 AM

WEP Journal

@wepsocial.bsky.social

Online first:

"Women’s descriptive representation in multi-level political systems: (almost) no pyramids found"

The new research note by @adamgendzwill.bsky.social & Stanislaw Mazur

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

Abstract of the research note "Women's descriptive representation in multi-level political systems: (almost) no pyramids found" by Adam Gendzwill and Stanislaw Mazur. Published online first in West European Politics.

Figure 1, displaying different patterns of the descriptive representation of women at national, regional, and local levels.

Figure 2, displaying (a) levels of women's descriptive representation in two-tier countries (left panel), and (b) inter-level gaps in women's representation in three-tier countries (right panel).

Tables 1 (upper panel) and 2 (lower panel), presenting the assignment of countries with three or two levels of political representation to specific patterns of women's descriptive representation.

October 7, 2025 at 8:53 AM

WEP Journal

@wepsocial.bsky.social

What matters more to politicians: the quantity or quality of public opinion signals?

Find out in the new article by @bart-maes.bsky.social Stefaan Walgrave Emmi Verleyen Frédéric Varone @annerasmussen.bsky.social & @professormpersson.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

Abstract of the article "What matters more to politicians: the quantity or quality of public opinion signals?" by Bart Maes, Stefaan Walgrave, Emmi Verleyen, Frédéric Varone, Anne Rasmussen and Mikael Persson. Published online first in West European Politics.

Figure 1, displaying average (reversed) importance of each public opinion criterion aggregated across countries.

Figure 3, displaying the frequency distribution of the quantity vs. quality public opinion criteria scale.

Figure 4, displaying predicted values of politicians' ranking of the criteria.

October 6, 2025 at 1:43 PM

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