Open-rank positions in quantitative methods (indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/34175) and IR (indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/34176) at Indiana. Deadline for both is 10/1.
Steven W. Webster
@stevenwwebster.bsky.social
Political scientist and Director of the Center on American Politics at IU Bloomington.
"Political scientists have shown how rage undermines trust in government, reinforces polarisation and reduces voters’ commitment to democratic norms, even when the source of anger is detached from politics itself." Sounds familiar! :) www.economist.com/united-state...
Quantifying anger in American politics
The country is awash in indignation
economist.com
IU political science is hiring in two areas this year: 1. Quantitative methods 2. Security (interest in the relationship btwn emerging technologies and conflict) This is part of the University's "Faculty Strategic Hiring Initiative," so both positions should be well-resourced. Ads to come soon.
What do you mean, “the syllabus is due on Monday”?
Are you a grad student in American politics? Want to join a group of scholars for a conference in Bloomington this Fall? See below. 👇
Steven W. Webster@stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 5mo agoAnnouncing the 2026 IU Center on American Politics conference (10/2) lineup. 6 faculty + new this year: a graduate student panel! There are 3 open slots for any grad student in the US. The Center will cover travel and lodging expenses. See below: 1/2 www.iu-cap.com/conference.h...
TONIGHT -- join the IU Department of Political Science for a reception honoring the life and legacy of Ted Carmines. Wilson Room, 3rd floor, Palmer House, 7-8:30 PM.
Announcing the 2026 IU Center on American Politics conference (10/2) lineup. 6 faculty + new this year: a graduate student panel! There are 3 open slots for any grad student in the US. The Center will cover travel and lodging expenses. See below: 1/2 www.iu-cap.com/conference.h...
IU Center on American Politics
iu-cap.com
Just saw that this is online now! academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
You’re Making Us Look Bad: Can Partisan Embarrassment Dampen Partisanship and Polarization?
Abstract. Partisan elites and members of the public often have attitudes or engage in behavior that could embarrass copartisans. We examine this occurrence
academic.oup.com
So thrilled to have Betsy Sinclair on campus giving the annual Charles S. Hyneman lecture. Her talk is on how AI chatbots can “prebunk” election rumors.
Save the date! On Friday, 4/24, from 7-8:30, the IU Department of Political Science will host a reception at MPSA to honor the career and life of our late colleague, Ted Carmines. Room announcement to come. Earlier in the day (3:20), some of Ted’s former students will host a panel in his honor.
Anger, Negative Partisanship, and Joy in the Suffering of Political Others Forthcoming at JEPOP, w/ Mary Adams Plooster. Mary is a top-notch IU PhD candidate working on abstract mental representations and how they shape partisan animosity. stevenwwebster.com/research/ang...
Featuring some of my latest research, w/ @nickbichay.bsky.social and Mary Adams Plooster.
Brittany Wong@brittanywong.bsky.social · 8mo agoHow is it that Tucker Carlson is calling for a more measured response to the death of an American citizen than the president and vice president are? Wrote about “partisan dehumanization” and the unsettling response to Renee Good's death this week. www.huffpost.com/entry/charli...
New working paper w Mary Adams Plooster (a fantastic IU grad student) and @nickbichay.bsky.social. We draw on two survey experiments to investigate the effect of partisan anger on partisan dehumanization. We also examine heterogeneous f.x. by trait dogmatism. www.stevenwwebster.com/research/ang...
After 3 years and 5,322 emails (and counting) our Encyclopedia of Political Communication is finally out at @elgarpublishing.bsky.social 📚 Three volumes ⭐ 431 entries 🎓 581 wonderful authors from across the world A very short 🧵
‼️ New working paper ‼️ We find bipartisan appeals credibly signal policymaking intentions—on an issue-by-issue basis We show how and why bipartisan lawmaking persists amid congressional conflict: progress often comes through issue-specific pathways rather than broad consensus between Ds and Rs 🧵👇
Political inexperience in Congress has measurable effects on legislative outcomes. Our research finds that when districts elect political newcomers over career politicians, congressional dysfunction tends to increase. New explainer of our PNAS study: theconversation.com/amateur-hour...
Amateur hour in Congress: How political newcomers fuel gridlock and government shutdowns
The public’s frustration with ‘politics as usual’ has led more political newcomers to win office. But amateurs are more likely to view bipartisanship as a concession, not a tool for advancing policy.
theconversation.com
Calm before the storm! Today is the day: the inaugural IU Center on American Politics Conference. Speakers: Mike Wagner, Marc Hetherington, Josh McCrain, myself, Julia Azari, Rachel Lienesch, Rachel Porter, Sean Westwood. Follow this thread for key points from talks. 🧵
First ever IU Center on American Politics conference is this week! Since it’s on Halloween, everyone gets treats.
The fiercest squirrel hunter in all of Bloomington.
APSA panel 1: Affect and Emotions. First up is Fu and Lee, presenting on emotional reactions to foreign threats Three experiments from Taiwan, Lithuania, and Latvia. Threats elicit anxiety, anger, and fear. Can be attenuated by presence of allies and a shared sense of national identity.
