The hottest Political Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Education Topics

At least five interesting things: The new conservative era (#53)

Noahpinion • 16764 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Science Education reform Consumer confidence
  1. There's a big shift happening in American politics. Many people who once protested against issues like police brutality are now showing support for a conservative viewpoint.
  2. The Democratic Party seems to be influenced too much by special interest groups and might need to listen more to regular voters to regain support.
  3. Science and politics are mixing too much, causing trust issues. There's a push for science to stand apart from political debates to restore confidence in its findings.

Academics Are Terrible at Politics

Unsafe Science • 42 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academia Public Policy Political Science Civics Political theory
  1. Academics often struggle with political issues due to a lack of practical experience. They can be great at research but may not know how to deal with the complexities of politics.
  2. Improving the relationship between academia and politics could benefit both sides. It's important for academics to engage more in public discussions and understand political contexts.
  3. A thriving academic environment could help tackle the failings seen today. Finding better ways for academics to connect with society can lead to improvements.

The Political Preferences of DeepSeek AI Models

Rozado’s Visual Analytics • 283 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Science AI Ethics Public Policy Data Analysis Technology Trends
  1. DeepSeek AI models show political preferences similar to those of American models. This suggests that AI might reflect human biases in their programming.
  2. The findings indicate that AI can carry the same ideologies as the people who create and train them. It's important to be aware of this influence.
  3. For those curious about how political preferences impact large language models, there are more detailed analyses available to explore.

We Looked at 78 Election Deepfakes. Political Misinformation is not an AI Problem.

AI Snake Oil • 1171 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Science Misinformation Media Studies AI Ethics
  1. Many uses of AI in political contexts aren't trying to deceive. In fact, about half of the deepfakes created in elections were used for legitimate purposes like enhancing campaigns or providing satire.
  2. Creating deceptive misinformation doesn't need AI. It can be done cheaply and easily with regular editing tools or even just by hiring people, meaning AI isn't the sole cause of these issues.
  3. The bigger problem isn’t the technology itself but the demand for misinformation. People’s preferences and existing beliefs drive them to seek out and accept false information, making structural changes more critical than just focusing on AI.

Dominic Cummings, An Underrated Precedent for DOGE

From the New World • 75 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Governance Bureaucracy Political Reform Civil Service Political Science
  1. The UK government’s quick adaptations in tech and services during crises show a more centralized political system. This makes it easier to change things than in the US.
  2. Bureaucratic hiring processes in America often lead to unqualified candidates, which slows down progress. A more efficient system is needed for better talent acquisition.
  3. Fundamental reforms in government agencies are essential for improving efficiency and competence in services. It's not just about ideology; it's about making systems work better.
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Qian Chengdan on Area Studies in China

Pekingnology • 67 implied HN points • 21 May 25
🚌 Education Interdisciplinary Political Science Cultural Studies History
  1. China has a strict system for classifying academic disciplines which includes a recent addition of 'area studies.' This means universities can't create new fields without government approval, keeping academic studies organized but also rigid.
  2. Area studies is important because it combines different fields like politics, economics, and culture to understand specific countries or regions better. This helps in making informed government strategies and improving international relations.
  3. Despite the rise in area studies, there are challenges due to traditional academic boundaries. China is trying to support this field by officially recognizing interdisciplinary studies, which allows for more collaboration and talent development.

The Unluckiness of Jimmy Carter

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 148 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidency History Political Science Current Events Public Policy
  1. Jimmy Carter faced a lot of challenges during his presidency, like high inflation and the Iran hostage crisis. These tough situations made his time in office very difficult.
  2. After leaving the presidency, Carter did many good things like building homes for people and helping to fight diseases. He even won a Nobel Prize for his work in promoting peace and democracy.
  3. Despite the struggles he faced, Carter also accomplished significant things, like making peace between Egypt and Israel and focusing on human rights. Many people believe he was just unlucky during his presidency.

It’s Harder to Hate the Other Side When You Come Face to Face

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3561 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Science
  1. Stereotypes of extreme political views are tired, and real people mostly fall in the middle or are less extreme than caricatures suggest.
  2. Engaging in face-to-face conversations reveals that many individuals are not as hyper-partisan as media portrays, and they often seek kindness and unity over division.
  3. The majority of Americans may not fit neatly into extreme political categories, showing that there is a common desire for greater understanding and less polarization.

Risers and Fallers

In My Tribe • 1032 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Intellectual history Cultural impact Psychology Political Science Sociology
  1. Some 20th-century thinkers, like John Kenneth Galbraith, have fallen in status, meaning fewer people today recognize their ideas or read their work.
  2. Others, like Rene Girard and John Maynard Keynes, have gained importance over time, with more people today acknowledging their contributions and theories.
  3. The relevance of intellectuals can vary by field; for example, figures in psychology like B.F. Skinner may be less noted now, while sociologists like Granovetter are gaining recognition.

On Taiwan's Election Results and How to Promote "National Reunification" by Prof. Zheng Yongnian

Sinification • 825 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics China Taiwan Nationalism Cross-strait relations Political Science
  1. Prof. Zheng Yongnian suggests using new media platforms to influence young people in Taiwan.
  2. China's reaction to Taiwan's election results has been relatively subdued according to intellectuals.
  3. Scholars discussing cross-strait relations usually align closely with the party line.

What Are Survey Experiments For?

Never Met a Science • 33 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Science Public Opinion Research Methods Methodology
  1. Survey experiments help researchers understand how political choices are influenced by different factors. They combine theories from political science and public opinion to analyze voter behavior.
  2. The history of survey experiments shows a shift between theory and empirical data. Political science focused on testing theories with limited data, while public opinion research prioritized random sampling to gather accurate data about citizen views.
  3. Different academic traditions use survey experiments for different reasons. Understanding these differences can help avoid confusion and improve collaboration across fields.

New Models presents Kevin Munger on Vilem Flusser's Communicology

Do Not Research • 259 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Media theory Social Science Political Science
  1. Kevin Munger delves into Vilém Flusser's 'Communicology' thesis, published by Stanford University Press in 2022
  2. Flusser's work highlights a significant shift in communication methods seen in the 1970s, now accelerated by modern networked media
  3. The lecture on 'Communicology' was presented by Munger at Trauma Bar und Kino, Berlin, emphasizing the evolving landscape of human communication

Political Science

Life in the 21st Century • 176 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🌍 World Politics Political Science Democracy Science Technology History
  1. Science and politics are intertwined, and there is a need to integrate scientific understanding into political decision-making.
  2. Democracy is about taking action and beginning something new, with every citizen playing a role in decision-making and implementation.
  3. The power to act in modern politics has shifted towards scientists and technologists, highlighting the importance of understanding the influence of science and technology in political systems.

The Median Voter Theorem

An Interpersonal Journal • 59 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Political Science Voters Primary elections
  1. The Median Voter Theorem explains how politicians strategize to attract the median position of the voting base to secure a majority of votes.
  2. Understanding the Median Voter Theorem can help voters strategically choose candidates to align with their preferences, especially in elections with multiple candidates.
  3. The theorem's principles can be applied beyond politics, guiding strategic decision-making in various situations to steer outcomes towards preferred choices.

Wanna run 50,000 election sims in 2 seconds?

Matt’s Five Points • 19 implied HN points • 04 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Forecasting Political Science Data Analysis Public Opinion
  1. You can run a quick election simulation by using an Excel sheet. Just change the win probabilities for each state and the sim does the math for you in about 2 seconds.
  2. Basic election modeling isn't as hard as it sounds. You can easily create your own model with some data and a few calculations to forecast election outcomes.
  3. Strong, accurate models take more work and understanding, but anyone can start trying their hand at it. It can be enjoyable to explore different scenarios with the data.

Turn-out, tune-in, and roll-off in Fairfax County, VA

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Voter Turnout Political Science Local government Voting behavior
  1. Voter turnout in off-year elections, like local elections, tends to be low. People usually show less interest in state and local races compared to presidential elections.
  2. Roll-off means that voters often skip lower-profile races on the ballot. Many people vote for the main position but leave other options blank, showing a lack of interest or awareness for local issues.
  3. Non-partisan elections can harm democracy. Without party labels next to candidates' names, it's harder for voters to make informed choices about local officials.

Off-Year

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Policy Government Political Science Local Politics
  1. Local elections often happen in off-years, away from federal and state elections. This can change how people vote and participate.
  2. Sarah Anzia has researched how these off-year elections affect politics and voters' decisions. Her work provides useful insights.
  3. Understanding these local elections can help us see the bigger picture of how policies and interests play out in communities.

It doesn't matter. But in what way?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 21 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Campaigns Political Science Decision-making
  1. Not everything in politics affects the outcome. Some things, like debates or running mate choices, seem important but often don’t really change what happens.
  2. There are different reasons why something might not matter. Sometimes it’s because there’s no clear advantage to choosing one option over another.
  3. Campaigns tend to be cautious because avoiding mistakes is a smart strategy. They focus on minimizing errors to protect against losing advantages they don’t even have.

On the effectiveness of campaigns

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 17 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Campaigns Political Science Voter Turnout
  1. Most of the money spent on campaigning is wasted. It's hard to know what actually works, so campaigns often spend in a scattershot way.
  2. There are methods like running experiments to see what campaign strategies are effective and how much they really cost. Door-to-door contact, for example, is usually more effective than phone calls.
  3. While research is helping campaigns waste less money, it may still only cut down the waste to two-thirds instead of eliminating it completely. There's always going to be some level of uncertainty in what works.

On candidates holding odd jobs

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 16 Aug 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Candidates Political Science Political History Campaigns
  1. It's very rare for someone who's currently in the House of Representatives to run for president. Only a few have even won significant votes in the past.
  2. Being a sitting Representative often means lacking enough political experience and stature that voters expect from presidential candidates.
  3. Representatives can have a lot to lose if they run for president because they might have to give up their powerful roles in Congress, and their long voting history can be used against them.

Matt's Five Points, October 24: Not Your Father's Divided Government

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 24 Oct 18
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Government Political Science Democracy Legislation
  1. Divided government in the U.S. can look different depending on which party controls the House or Senate. Each setup affects how laws get passed and how conflicts play out between the branches of government.
  2. Donald Trump is considered a weak president because he struggles to maintain political power and often backs down from his public statements. This makes it harder for him to lead effectively.
  3. The size of the Democratic majority in the House doesn't matter as much as just winning control of it. Whether they win by a few seats or a lot, they will have the same power to set the agenda and conduct investigations.

Negative Agenda Setting Rules Us All

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 28 Dec 18
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Congress Policy Political Science Elections
  1. Negative agenda setting is when lawmakers don't bring up popular bills for a vote, even if they would pass. This can keep issues that many people support off the table.
  2. The current government shutdown highlights a lack of urgency to resolve issues, with party leaders using their power to control what gets voted on, leading to inaction.
  3. On the first day of Congress, changes might happen in leadership roles and rules, as well as efforts to address the ongoing government shutdown, showing how politics continuously evolves.

The Second Face of Power

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 19
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Elections Political Science Congress Political strategy
  1. Agenda setting is a key part of politics. It's not just about how people vote, but also about what issues are put up for a vote.
  2. In the House, the Speaker has a lot of power to decide which bills are debated and voted on. This can keep popular legislation from even being considered.
  3. Packaging bills together, known as omnibus legislation, can help pass difficult measures by attaching them to more popular ones. This strategy can create complicated political situations.

Fine, I'll Talk About Impeachment

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 19
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Impeachment Political Science Legislation Polling Elections
  1. Many politicians publicly support impeachment, but that doesn't mean they're ready to turn that support into action. They want to be on record as in favor but aren't willing to risk their political power.
  2. Impeachment could divide the Democratic Party, especially if the votes are close. If most Democrats support impeachment but significant numbers don't, it could weaken their position overall.
  3. Just because a policy idea is popular doesn't mean it will help politicians get elected. They should think about how their stance will affect all their voters, not just those who agree with them.

The world is hard to change

Hypertext • 0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Social Science Political Science
  1. Social science has its limits when it comes to creating large, lasting changes through evidence-based policymaking.
  2. Social science is about learning from failures and adapting to the challenges of understanding and changing human behavior.
  3. Disappointment in evidence-based policymaking does not justify reverting to ideological assumptions; instead, it highlights the complexity of creating effective social change.

Progressives continue to sabotage themselves with inaccurate ideas about how democracy works

Demodexio • 0 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Progressives Political Science Political parties Reforms
  1. Populist theories of democracy have led to damaging reforms and should be reconsidered for progressive change.
  2. Progressives need to study political science and organizational theory for effective political movements.
  3. Building large organizations with efficient bureaucracy is crucial for progressive success in politics.

Matt's Five Points, November 2: Elecshun Dae 2018

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 02 Nov 18
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Voting Political Analysis Political Commentary Political Science
  1. Don't watch TV until the evening on election day; the morning coverage is not helpful and just filled with noise.
  2. Focus on key Senate races and important House districts to understand the election better. Knowing where to look can make the night more entertaining.
  3. Engage in conversations about voting with colleagues and friends; it can lead to interesting discussions and personal stories that enrich the experience.

So, I'm starting a newsletter

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 03 Aug 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress Presidency Political Science Current Events
  1. A new newsletter will focus on politics, offering insights free from employment-related writing restrictions. It's a move towards a more flexible style of sharing political analysis.
  2. The content will be non-partisan, primarily looking at political science and current events. It may also include a mix of other fun topics.
  3. The newsletter will be short and easy to read, designed to fit into a busy lifestyle. Readers should expect quick insights that can be consumed in just a few minutes.

On Warm Buckets of Piss***

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Political Science Campaign Strategy Political History
  1. Choosing a vice president usually doesn't change the election outcome much. It often matters more what the other side does than who you pick.
  2. A vice president can affect things significantly if the president dies. This is an important reason to think carefully about who to choose.
  3. Political parties often prioritize short-term gains from a VP selection over long-term party strength. It's better to choose someone who can lead well if needed.