Podcast - Political Science Matters

On 23 February 2025, German citizens voted in an early Bundestag election to renew the lower chamber's members, after the collapse of the 'traffic light' coalition led by Chancellor Scholz in late 2024. As polls had predicted, the conservative CDU-CSU won the election and the radical-right party AfD came second, both increasing the percentage of votes relative to the 2021 elections. Incumbent parties (SPD, Greens, and FDP), in contrast, lost support and the parliamentary majority; the FDP did not even receive enough votes to enter parliament. What explains this high electoral volatility, along with high turnout (84%)? How did support for conservative and progressive parties vary across the country? Will a new coalition between CDU-CSU and SPD change economic policy and Germany's stance in the international arena? In this episode, the ⁠Political Data Yearbook⁠ co-editor Michelangelo Vercesi (University of Naples Federico II) discusses these key issues with Thorsten Faas (Free University Berlin), Professor for Political Science and renowned expert of German politics. The podcast was recorded on 25 February 2025.

Donald Trump has won the 2024 US presidential race, gaining a historic second term. Republicans now have full control of Washington. What role did gender play in the elections? How did Trump break down the ‘blue wall’? What can we expect from the new administration in the next four years? In this episode, Thomas Mustillo, co-editor of the ⁠Political Data Yearbook⁠, discusses the results of the US presidential elections and the mood of the nation with Jay McCann (Purdue University) and Meredith Conroy (California State University, San Bernardino). This podcast was recorded on Wednesday 15 November 2024. RELATED LINKS ⁠Pewresearch.org⁠ will publish a voter validated exit survey in a couple months. The Center for American Women and Politics (⁠cawp.rutgers.edu⁠) tracks gender milestones for the 2024 election (and more!) ⁠CNN national exits⁠: edition.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls ⁠Don Moynihan's substack about Schedule F: donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-happens-next⁠ ⁠An overview of Trump's ‘bro podcast’ strategy by NPR: www.npr.org/2024/09/20/g-s1-23911/how-trump-and-vances-tour-of-dude-influencers-might-help-them-win

Following a disastrous result for his electoral alliance in the European Parliament elections, the French President, Emmanuelle Macron, called a snap legislative election for 30 June and 7 July 2024. While the election washed out the radical right’s hopes of determining the composition of the next government, it also produced a fragmented parliament where no political group can secure a majority on its own. What is next for France? In this episode, Raul Gomez, co-editor of the Political Data Yearbook, discusses the current political situation with Selma Bendjaballah and Nicolas Sauger (both from Sciences Po). This podcast was recorded on 18 July 2024.

The tenth European Parliament elections (6-9 June 2024) witnessed a surge in far-right support, as predicted by the polls. Moreover, parliamentary fragmentation increased. Now that a weaker majority supports the EU Commission, what effects might these changes have on the future institutional relations between the EP, the Commission itself, the Council of Ministers, and the European Council? What can we expect in terms of voting behaviour from members of the Conservative group (ECR)? Will EU policy on climate protection and democracy support change? In this episode, Michelangelo Vercesi, co-editor of the Political Data Yearbook, asks these questions to two international experts of EU politics: Professor Ariadna Ripoll Servent (University of Salzburg) and Professor Edoardo Bressanelli (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa). This podcast was recorded on 15 July 2024.

The UK is heading to the polls for the first time since its departure from the European Union. If forecasts are right, this election will be nothing short of an electoral disaster for the ruling Conservative party, which has given the country three prime ministers since 2019. How did the Tories end up in this situation? Did Rishi Sunak make a mistake by calling an early election? What issues are being discussed in the campaign? And what challenges will a Labour government face if they win the election? This podcast was recorded on 17 June 2024.

In the 50th anniversary of democracy, Portugal held snap legislative elections on March 10. The President of the Republic called the elections in response to the early termination of the Costa III cabinet in November 2023 and the corruption scandal surrounding it. Most noticeably, the election outcomes show a loss of support for the incumbent Socialist Party (-13%), the rise of the radical right-wing populist Enough! (+11%), and a 15% turnout increase. What explains these changes? What issues did political parties emphasize in the electoral campaign? How will the success of Enough! affect coalitional patterns and the Portuguese party system? Michelangelo Vercesi, ⁠Political Data Yearbook ⁠co-editor, poses these questions, and more, to experts José Magone (Berlin School of Economics and Law) and Sofia Serra-Silva (University of Lisbon). This episode was recorded four days after the elections.

Why do some presidents with authoritarian ambitions succeed while others fail? How can we resist democratic backsliding? Laura Gamboa (University of Utah) discusses the research and outcomes of her latest book ⁠Resisting Backsliding: Opposition Strategies against the Erosion of Democracy⁠⁠ with Benedicte Bull (University of Oslo). Chaired by Luis Ramiro, Reviews Editor of European Political Science.

The Netherlands goes to the polls on 22 November in what is set to be a nail-biting general election. Pieter Omtzigt’s New Social Contract, a challenger party created only last summer, is predicted to become one of the major political parties in the Dutch parliament - and probably, too, in the next Dutch government. What does the new party stand for? How will its emergence affect the Dutch party system? What are the other key contenders in this election? And why did former Prime Minister Rutte decide to call a snap election in the first place? In this episode, Raul Gomez, co-editor of the ⁠Political Data Yearbook⁠, discusses the upcoming Dutch general election with Léonie De Jonge (University of Groningen) and Simon Otjes (University of Leiden). This podcast was recorded on 24 October.

How do group-based cross-pressures lead to instability in voters' choices? What explains increased net electoral volatility in the democracies of advanced countries? Ruth Dassonneville (University of Montreal) discusses the research and outcomes of her latest book ⁠Voters under Pressure: Group-Based Cross-Pressure and Electoral Volatility⁠ with Nick Martin (University of Amsterdam). Chaired by Luis Ramiro, Reviews Editor of European Political Science.