scholarly journals Responsiveness and Unelected Leaders: Lessons from the Catholic Church

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Ziegler
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Organizational Trust ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Survey Experiments ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Representative Samples ◽  
Over Time

Are leaders responsive to their members’ preferences over time, even when formal accountability mechanisms such as elections are weak or absent? Unelected leaders, especially religious leaders, typically influence their supporters’ preferences, yet I suggest they should also have strong incentives to be responsive because they rely on dedicated, core members for legitimacy, volunteerism, and financial support. I test this argument by first analyzing over 10,000 papal messages to confirm the papacy is responsive to Catholic public opinion. I then conduct survey experiments using nationally representative samples of Catholics in Brazil and Mexico (N=5,006) to show that members increase their organizational trust and participation as a function of their existing organizational commitment, and the anticipated cost of support. The evidence suggests that leaders have incentives to be responsive besides elections, although there may be limits to the benefits that members provide in return.

scholarly journals The Twilight of the Polls? A Review of Trends in Polling Accuracy and the Causes of Polling Misses

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 757-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Prosser ◽  
Jonathan Mellon
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Conventional Wisdom ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
High Profile ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
The Us ◽  
Vote Intention ◽  
Representative Samples ◽  
Over Time

Polls have had a number of high-profile misses in recent elections. We review the current polling environment, the performance of polls in a historical context, the mechanisms of polling error, and the causes of several recent misses in Britain and the US. Contrary to conventional wisdom, polling errors have been constant over time, although the level of error has always been substantially beyond that implied by stated margins of error. Generally, there is little evidence that voters lying about their vote intention (so-called ‘shy’ voters) is a substantial cause of polling error. Instead, polling errors have most commonly resulted from problems with representative samples and weighting, undecided voters breaking in one direction, and to a lesser extent late swings and turnout models. We conclude with a discussion of future directions for polling both in terms of fixing the problems identified and new approaches to understanding public opinion.

Ignoring the Messenger? Limits of Populist Rhetoric on Public Support for Foreign Development Aid

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Burcu Bayram ◽  
Catarina P Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Development Aid ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Survey Experiments ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Original Survey ◽  
Representative Samples

Abstract The negative impact of populist anti-aid rhetoric on public opinion has been based on anecdotal reports to date. Here, we take a systematic and empirical look at this inquiry. We hypothesize that even though populist rhetoric decreases support for foreign development aid in donor publics, this effect is conditioned by individuals’ preexisting beliefs about populist leaders. Using data from original survey experiments conducted with representative samples of American and British adults, we find that exposure to different variants of populist frames decreases individuals’ willingness to support their government providing development aid through an international organization. However, this effect is moderated by whether people think populist leaders stand up for the little guy or scapegoat out-groups. Connecting foreign aid and populism literatures, our results suggest that the future of global development might not be as bleak as previously feared in the age of populism.

Do cultures clash?

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irem Uz
Keyword(s):  
World Population ◽  
World Values Survey ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Representative Samples ◽  
Over Time

The consequences of globalization are a matter of debate. This study is an attempt to test the predictions of homogenization, polarization, and hybridization theorists with regard to the similarities and differences between and within societies. Utilizing four waves of the World Values Survey, from 1989 to 2007, this study covers 20 societies that represent 55% of the world population. The survey involved value statements in 72 areas by nationally representative samples. Results showed that differences between Western and non-Western countries’ cultures tended to increase slightly over time, but that these increases in disagreement were not due to cultures moving in opposite directions. In all instances, they were moving in the same direction, with one of the cultures moving faster. The direction of influence was mostly from Western toward non-Western, lending support to the idea that globalization leads to homogenization, rather than to polarization or hybridization.

More Than a Game: Football Fans and Marriage Equality

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (04) ◽  
pp. 782-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian F. Harrison ◽  
Melissa R. Michelson
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Marriage Equality ◽  
Football Fans ◽  
Survey Experiments ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Attitudes Toward Marriage ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Sports Fan

ABSTRACTPublic opinion tends to be stable. Once formed, attitudes are persistent and endure over time at both the individual and the aggregate levels. Attitudes toward marriage equality, however, have changed rapidly in recent years. This article posits that this is partly due to people learning that other members of their in-groups are supporters; they then alter their own opinions to be consistent with those of other in-group members. The authors tested this theory using a set of randomized survey experiments that shared identities as fans of professional football. When fans learn—sometimes unexpectedly—that other fans or athletes are supporters of marriage equality, they are motivated to agree in order to further normalize their membership in those sports-fan groups.

Time trends in schoolwork pressure among Dutch adolescents, 2001–2017: Gender and educational differences

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110183
Author(s):  
Alina Cosma ◽  
Gonneke W.J.M. Stevens ◽  
Wilma A.M. Vollebergh ◽  
Margreet De Looze
Keyword(s):  
Time Trends ◽  
Educational Levels ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Educational Differences ◽  
Dutch Health ◽  
Gender And Educational Differences ◽  
Higher Educational ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Representative Samples ◽  
Over Time

Aims: This study investigated gender and educational differences in trends in schoolwork pressure between 2001 and 2017 in nationally representative samples of Dutch adolescents in secondary education. Methods: Data from five surveys of the Dutch Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study were used. Results: Across the surveys, an increase in perceived schoolwork pressure was observed. Girls and adolescents enrolled in the higher educational levels reported higher levels of perceived schoolwork pressure and the strongest increase in schoolwork pressure over time. Especially for girls, there was a stronger increase in schoolwork pressure for those enrolled in higher educational tracks. Conclusions: Increases in schoolwork pressure over time were stronger among Dutch girls and students in the higher educational levels. Over time, schoolwork pressure increased most among girls in the highest educational levels. Explanations and implications for these results are discussed.

scholarly journals Human Rights Violations, Political Conditionality and Public Attitudes to Foreign Aid: Evidence from Survey Experiments

2021 ◽  
pp. 003232172098089
Author(s):  
Niheer Dasandi ◽  
Jonathan Fisher ◽  
David Hudson ◽  
Jennifer vanHeerde-Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Political Conditionality ◽  
Survey Experiments ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Government Responsiveness ◽  
Representative Samples

There has been much criticism of donor governments who give aid to states that violate human rights. This has fuelled concerns about how such coverage affects public support for foreign aid. In response, donors increasingly use aid suspensions to signal to domestic audiences that a regime has been sanctioned and aid is not misspent. This article examines how reports of rights violations affect attitudes to aid and what, if any, impact donor responses have on public perceptions. We conduct survey experiments using nationally representative samples of the British public. Our findings demonstrate that reports of rights abuses reduce public support for aid. However, contrary to conventional wisdom, any response from donors, whether it be to justify continuing aid or to cut aid, prevents a decline in support. In policy terms, the findings demonstrate the importance of government responsiveness in maintaining public support for a frequently contested aspect of foreign policy.

scholarly journals Do Public Consultations Reduce Blame Attribution? The Impact of Consultation Characteristics, Gender, and Gender Attitudes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Kevins ◽  
Barbara Vis
Keyword(s):  
Gender Attitudes ◽  
Blame Attribution ◽  
Clarity Of Responsibility ◽  
Survey Experiments ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Public Consultations ◽  
Elected Representatives ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Representative Samples

AbstractCan public consultations—gatherings organised to solicit constituent opinions—reduce the blame attributed to elected representatives whose decisions end up backfiring? Using two pre-registered survey experiments conducted on nationally representative samples of US respondents, we examine whether the effectiveness of consultations as a blame avoidance tool may be shaped by: (1) consultation characteristics, especially regarding whether or not representatives align their policies, either actively or passively, with constituent opinion; and (2) elected representative and constituent characteristics, especially regarding a representative’s gender and constituents’ gender attitudes. Results suggest that public consultations are indeed liable to decrease blame attribution, just so long as constituent opinion is not explicitly opposed to the representative’s decision. Active alignment with constituent opinion, however, does not appear to be a requirement for decreased blame attribution—and effects related to gender and gender attitudes are also largely absent. These findings are important for scholars seeking to better understand blame attribution, clarifying how public consultations might help politicians to pre-empt blame by reducing clarity of responsibility.

Non-ordained

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine Kraybill
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Women Religious ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Female Leadership ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Religious Congregations ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Institutional Church

The Catholic Church, constructed on an all-male clerical model, is a hierarchical and gendered institution, creating barriers to female leadership. In interviewing members of the clergy and women religious of the faith, this article examines how female non-ordained and male clerical religious leaders engage and influence social policy. It specifically addresses how women religious maneuver around the institutional constraints of the Church, in order to take action on social issues and effect change. In adding to the scholarship on this topic, I argue that part of the strategy of women religious in navigating barriers of the institutional Church is not only knowing when to act outside of the formal hierarchy, but realizing when it is in the benefit of their social policy objectives to collaborate with it. This maneuvering may not always safeguard women religious from institutional scrutiny, as seen by the 2012 Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, but instead captures the tension between female religious and the clergy. It also highlights how situations of institutional scrutiny can have positive implications for female religious leaders, their policy goals and congregations. Finally, this examination shows how even when women are appointed to leadership posts within the institutional Church, they can face limitations of acceptance and other constraints that are different from their female religious counterparts working within their own respective religious congregations or outside organizations.

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