Political Science Digest

Episode 18. Make Trade, Not War – How Commerce Curbs Conflict

Does trade between nations genuinely promote peace, or is this belief overly simplistic? In this episode, we dive into the influential study by Philippe Martin, Thierry Mayer, and Mathias Thoenig, exploring whether economic interdependence really helps prevent military conflicts or inadvertently escalates tensions.
Join us as we discuss surprising findings: countries with bilateral trade are less likely to engage in war, but multilateral trade openness might increase global tensions by reducing the opportunity cost of conflict with a single partner. Learn how trade shapes alliances, affects geopolitical stability, and what policymakers can take from these insights to avoid unintended consequences.
📖 Citation: Martin, Philippe, Mayer, Thierry, & Thoenig, Mathias. 2008. "Make Trade Not War?" The Review of Economic Studies 75(3): 865–900.
Have thoughts or questions? Reach out at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Let's unpack the complex dynamics between trade and peace together, one insightful episode at a time!

Episode 17. The Political Price of Trade Wars 🌐

Ever wondered about the real-world consequences of trade wars beyond economic headlines? In this episode, we dive into Edward Mansfield and Omer Solodoch's compelling research on how the escalating 2018 U.S.-China trade war reshaped American politics.
Discover how retaliatory tariffs announced by China impacted public support for President Trump and the Republican Party, uncovering that voters' reactions were driven more by national economic concerns than by personal or local interests. We explore how this economic clash influenced the 2018 midterm elections, reshuffling political preferences and voter decisions in real-time.
📖 Citation: Mansfield, Edward D., & Solodoch, Omer. 2024. "Political Costs of Trade War Tariffs." The Journal of Politics 86(3): 1098–1103.
Have thoughts or questions? Reach out at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Let's unpack the politics behind trade conflicts together, one insightful episode at a time!

Episode 16. Populism vs. Nationalism—Same or Different?

Ever wondered what really separates populism from nationalism? In this episode, we unpack Ashutosh Varshney's compelling analysis of the key similarities and critical differences between these two powerful political phenomena.
We'll explore why populism is often anti-elitist and thrives on relentless popular mobilization, whereas nationalism frequently operates within established institutions, sometimes quietly, sometimes fervently. When do these concepts overlap, and what are the real-world consequences?
📖 Citation: Varshney, Ashutosh. 2021. "Populism and Nationalism: An Overview of Similarities and Differences." Studies in Comparative International Development 56:131–147. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s12116-021-09332-x]
Thoughts or questions? Reach us at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Join us as we untangle the complexities of populism and nationalism, one digestible episode at a time!

Episode 15. Tariffs and Voters—How Trump's Trade Wars Shaped U.S. Politics

Ever wondered how trade wars shape domestic politics? In Episode 15, we explore Fetzer and Schwarz's insightful analysis of Trump's trade wars, revealing how countries like China and the EU strategically targeted retaliatory tariffs to impact U.S. politics directly. Were these tariffs designed purely for economic retaliation, or did they aim to pressure Trump's voter base?
Join us to unpack how international trade disputes become tools of political influence, merging economics, elections, and global power dynamics.
📖 Citation: Fetzer, Thiemo & Schwarz, Carlo. (2020). "Tariffs and Politics: Evidence from Trump’s Trade Wars." The Economic Journal, 131(636), 1717–1741. [https://doi.org/10.1093/ej/ueaa122]
Thoughts or questions? We’d love to hear from you—reach us at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Let's dive into political science, one digestible episode at a time!

Episode 14. Who Really Pays for Tariffs?

Ever wondered who actually bears the cost when tariffs rise? In this episode, we unpack groundbreaking research by Alberto Cavallo, Gita Gopinath, Brent Neiman, and Jenny Tang on how tariffs imposed during recent US-China trade disputes have impacted prices at the border—and in stores.
We explore how tariffs affect import prices, retail margins, and consumer costs. Do importers fully pass tariffs to consumers, or do retailers absorb some costs? Why are tariffs more readily passed to consumers than currency exchange fluctuations? Join us as we untangle the economic realities of tariffs in global trade.
📖 Citation: Cavallo, Alberto, Gopinath, Gita, Neiman, Brent, & Tang, Jenny. 2021. "Tariff Pass-Through at the Border and at the Store: Evidence from US Trade Policy." American Economic Review: Insights 3(1): 19-34. [https://doi.org/10.1257/aeri.20190536]
Have thoughts or questions? Reach us at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Let's uncover the hidden impacts of trade policies together, one digestible episode at a time!

Episode 13:.The Ripple Effect—How Radical Right Success Shifts Mainstream Politics

Ever wondered how radical right parties influence mainstream political landscapes? In this episode, we unpack Tarik Abou-Chadi and Werner Krause's insightful research on how radical right successes drive mainstream parties to adopt tougher positions on immigration and cultural protectionism.
Using design-based quantitative techniques, the authors reveal a clear causal relationship: when radical right parties achieve parliamentary representation, mainstream left and right parties significantly shift toward more restrictive immigration policies. Are these shifts strategic adaptations or genuine ideological changes?
📖 Citation: Abou-Chadi, Tarik, and Werner Krause. 2018. "The Causal Effect of Radical Right Success on Mainstream Parties' Policy Positions: A Regression Discontinuity Approach." British Journal of Political Science 48:1–19. [https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123418000029]
Have thoughts or questions? Reach us at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Join us as we explore the political impact of radical right parties, one digestible episode at a time!

Episode 12. Importing Political Polarization – How Global Trade Reshapes US Elections

How does global trade influence local politics? In this insightful episode, we delve into groundbreaking research by David Autor, David Dorn, Gordon Hanson, and Kaveh Majlesi exploring the electoral impacts of rising international trade exposure in the United States.
We'll uncover how increased competition from imports affects voter behavior, contributing significantly to political polarization and shifts in voting patterns, particularly in areas most affected by trade disruptions. Could trade policy be indirectly reshaping party alignment and voter preferences?
📖 Citation: Autor, David, Dorn, David, Hanson, Gordon, & Majlesi, Kaveh. 2020. "Importing Political Polarization: The Electoral Consequences of Rising Trade Exposure." American Economic Review 110(10): 3139–3183. [https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20170011]
Questions or thoughts? Reach out at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Join us in exploring the intersection of global economics and domestic politics, one digestible episode at a time!
 

Episode 11. Do TV Ads Actually Win Votes?

Ever wondered if TV campaign ads genuinely sway elections? In this episode, we unpack a groundbreaking study by John Sides, Lynn Vavreck, and Christopher Warshaw on the real-world impact of televised political advertising across US elections from 2000 to 2018.
We explore how TV ads influence voting behavior, discovering they're especially powerful in down-ballot races compared to presidential elections. Are voters really persuaded, or do ads mainly drive partisan turnout? How do these dynamics shape election results across various offices?
📖 Citation: Sides, John, Vavreck, Lynn, & Warshaw, Christopher. 2022. "The Effect of Television Advertising in United States Elections." American Political Science Review 116(2): 702–718. [https://doi.org/10.1017/S000305542100112X]
Have questions or thoughts? Engage with us at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Let's decode the influence of media on politics together, one digestible episode at a time!
 

Episode 10. Rooting Out or Rooting For Corruption? Why Some Corrupt Politicians Keep Winning

Ever wondered why voters sometimes overlook corruption at the ballot box? In this episode, we explore the fascinating paper by Pablo Fernández-Vázquez, Pablo Barberá, and Gonzalo Rivero, "Rooting Out Corruption or Rooting for Corruption?" We dive deep into the varied electoral consequences of corruption scandals, uncovering why some corrupt officials remain popular.
We simplify complex findings into engaging discussions, revealing how voters might ignore corruption when it provides short-term economic benefits, while only punishing corruption when they don't benefit from it.
📖 Citation: Fernández-Vázquez, Pablo, Barberá, Pablo, and Rivero, Gonzalo. 2015. "Rooting Out Corruption or Rooting for Corruption? The Heterogeneous Electoral Consequences of Scandals." Political Science Research and Methods 4(2): 379–397. [doi:10.1017/psrm.2015.8]
Have questions or thoughts? We're eager to hear from you at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Join us as we dissect voter behavior on corruption, one digestible episode at a time!
 

Episode 9. Monumental Changes—Confederate Symbol Removals and Racial Attitudes in the U.S.

Ever wondered about the real impact of removing Confederate monuments on racial attitudes in America? In this episode, we explore Roxanne Rahnama's insightful study, "Monumental Changes," examining whether these symbolic actions influence public views on race and identity.
We break down complex academic findings into accessible discussions, uncovering surprising results: Confederate symbol removals significantly reduce racial resentment and pro-white sentiments among moderate white Americans, helping to ease racial tensions.
📖 Citation: Rahnama, Roxanne. 2025. "Monumental Changes: Confederate Symbol Removals and Racial Attitudes in the United States." The Journal of Politics 87(1): 000–000.
Thoughts or questions? Engage with us at 📩 contact@politicalsciencedigest.com.
Join us as we explore the power of symbolic actions, one digestible episode at a time!