Articles by Yida Zhai

March 3, 2026

🦋 Data, power, and the future of democratic theory

Yida Zhai
The Science of Democracy 2.0 challenges current uses of the term 'democracy'. Yida Zhai argues that these uses are not universal but culturally specific. This, he says, makes them inadequate for describing the political realities of the human species as a whole
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October 5, 2022

🦋 Understanding democracy without the ‘D-word’

Yida Zhai
Public perceptions of democracy are diverse, and some even see democracy in authoritarian regimes. So directly using ‘democracy’ in surveys is prone to elicit biased responses. Therefore, Yida Zhai argues, it is necessary to conceptualise and operationalise democracy in an alternative manner without using the ‘D-word’
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photograph of Yida Zhai
Yida Zhai
Associate Professor, University of Tsukuba

Yida received his PhD from the University of Tokyo.

His research interests include political psychology, public opinion, and East Asian comparative politics/sociology.

His peer-reviewed articles have appeared in Chinese, English, and Japanese journals.

ORCiD

The Loop

Cutting-edge analysis showcasing the work of the political science discipline at its best.
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THE EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM FOR POLITICAL RESEARCH
Advancing Political Science
© 2026 European Consortium for Political Research. The ECPR is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) number 1167403 ECPR, Harbour House, 6-8 Hythe Quay, Colchester, CO2 8JF, United Kingdom.
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