How politicians learn about public opinion

Walgrave, Stefaan; Soontjens, Karolin

doi:10.1177/20531680231200692

Cited by 24 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Direct contact between constituents and legislators can have substantial effects on their respective perceptions of constituency public opinion ( 68 ) and influence support for bills ( 69 ). Thus, such mobilization during times that are often seen as policy windows for gun regulation might help explain why gun regulation remains elusive despite widespread public support.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

School shootings increase NRA donations

Roemer

2023

Sci. Adv.

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The United States has experienced a tragic increase in school shootings in recent years. Despite substantial media attention being paid to such incidents and widespread support for stricter gun control measures, substantial legislative action remains absent, however. To make sense of this puzzle, this paper focuses on the mobilizing responses of gun rights supporters in the aftermath of such events. Using granular data from 225,000 donations to the NRA’s political action committee in a difference-in-differences design, this study provides causal estimates showing substantial increases in both donation amounts and donor numbers after school shootings. These results provide insight into the counter-mobilizing responses of the pro-gun political right after shootings. In contrast to the typically transient nature of gun control movements, these counter-mobilizing responses are notably durable. The results of this study have important implications for our understanding of the complexities of, and obstacles to, gun regulation in the United States.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

School shootings increase NRA donations

Roemer

2023

Sci. Adv.

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“…sizes in the study of elite responsiveness to public opinion on foreign policy, we suggest that future research should primarily aim to systematically explore the context dependence of the responsiveness mechanism. rely on many other channels -including direct contact with citizens, news media, and interest groups -to inform themselves about public opinion, and that opinion polling may in fact not be an especially useful or important source of public opinion information to them (Walgrave and Soontjens 2023). Related research has shown that cues from social peers are relevant information in determining ordinary citizens' support for foreign policy (Kertzer and Zeitzoff 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Public Opinion on Foreign Policy Affect Elite Preferences? Evidence from the 2022 US Sanctions against Russia

Peez,

Bethke

2023

Preprint

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Does US public opinion on international affairs affect political elites’ policy preferences? Most research assumes that political elites do indeed consider public opinion in their decision-making process. However, this key assumption is difficult to test empirically given limited research access to political elites. We examine elite responsiveness to public opinion on sanctioning Russia during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. We fielded a pre-registered experiment within the 2022/23 TRIP survey of US foreign policy practitioners, offering a rare opportunity for a fairly large elite survey experiment (n = 253) with important policy actors who have not been studied in this context. We used current public polling highly supportive of increasing sanctions as an information treatment. Our research design, involving a highly salient real-world issue and treatment, substantially expands on previous work. Exposure to the treatment raises elite support for increasing sanctions from 68.0% to 76.3% (+8.3 percentage points). While sizable, this effect is smaller than those identified elsewhere. We argue that this difference is driven by pre-treatment dynamics, ceiling effects, and issue salience, and is therefore all the more notable. While our results support previous research, they also highlight issues of external validity and the context dependence of elite responsiveness.

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“…The literature highlights the vital need for policymakers to assess and respond to public perception, given its significant impact on governance and diplomatic relations. Walgrave and Soontjens (2023) highlight the significant influence of public opinion on policy decisions, while Walgrave, Soontjens, and Sevenans (2022) elaborate on its pervasive impact on agendas and communication strategies. Davison's contribution to the Encyclopedia Britannica (2024) extends this discussion to emphasize the diplomatic ramifications of a nation's global public opinion standing.…”

Section: Understanding Public Opinion and Policy Decisionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Albanian Public Opinion on US Role in the Israel-Gaza Conflict

Tomja,

Dumani

2024

Acad. J. Interdiscip. Stud.

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Against the Israel-Gaza conflict and the United States’ involvement, this study explores the complex dynamics of Albanian public opinion regarding these geopolitical events. Through a systematic examination of demographic variables including gender, age, educational attainment, and religious belief, the research aims to elucidate how these variables shape perceptions and attitudes among the Albanian populace. The objectives encompass assessing knowledge levels regarding the US role in the conflict, evaluating public opinion on this role, and examining pro/anti-American sentiments. Hypotheses are formulated to substantiate the influence of demographic factors on these perceptions. Employing structured questionnaires and statistical analysis, data was collected from Albanian citizens, revealing intriguing insights. While age emerges as a significant determinant of understanding and assessment, gender and religious faith notably influence pro/anti-American sentiments. The study underscores the intricate interplay between demographic factors and public perceptions, shedding light on the multifaceted dynamics shaping attitudes toward international affairs and the USA in Albania. These findings hold implications for policy-making, public discourse, and future research on global conflicts and public opinion. Received: 1 February 2024 / Accepted: 30 April 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024

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How politicians learn about public opinion

Cited by 24 publications

References 24 publications

School shootings increase NRA donations

School shootings increase NRA donations

Does Public Opinion on Foreign Policy Affect Elite Preferences? Evidence from the 2022 US Sanctions against Russia

Albanian Public Opinion on US Role in the Israel-Gaza Conflict

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