Soumi Banerjee
Soumi Banerjee describes how Hindu nationalists are using ‘othering’ and ‘identity signifiers’ to appeal to a broad section of India's fractured population. This, she argues, lies at the root of current religious tensions Read more
Elin Bjarnegård
Gender and authoritarianism are interconnected – but in different and unexpected ways. Elin Bjarnegård and Pär Zetterberg think the relationship between them deserves more attention in political science. Here, they expose the relationship in terms of two autocrat strategies: genderwashing and genderbashing Read more
Juliana Chueri
Juliana Chueri writes that radical right parties are transforming the welfare state, by creating a moral separation between the ‘deserving’ and the ‘undeserving’. This secures benefits to working nationals, while leaving unprotected immigrants and the long-term unemployed Read more
Nathan Pippenger
Do democracies have to choose between diversity and social cohesion? The African-American writer Ralph Ellison spent his career resisting this false choice, arguing that the idea of a 'common culture' did not have to amount to assimilation. Nathan Pippenger argues that Ellison’s distinctive perspective on these issues holds important lessons for democracies today Read more
Dragomir Stoyanov
In Bulgaria, the fifth parliamentary elections in the last two years were held on 2 April. These snap elections, just like their predecessors, juxtaposed parties of the status quo with reformists. This time, however, writes Dragomir Stoyanov, the status quo prevailed Read more
Justin Kempf
Many political scientists have analysed democratic backsliding. Justin Kempf shows how some are helping activists refine their strategies and tactics to challenge autocrats and the basis of their rule. This provides an example of how political science can do much more than just conducting analysis and providing simple diagnoses Read more
Tim Bale
Tim Bale, author of a new book on the Tories, argues they’ve been moving away from the mainstream for some time. It’s just that recent events have accelerated the process – and there are few, if any, signs of it stopping Read more
Marian Sawer
Since 1975, feminists have helped establish new international frameworks requiring national governments to promote gender equality. Success at this level, writes Marian Sawer, inadvertently sowed the seeds of populist campaigns against foreign interference with national values Read more
