Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University - https://johnsides.org/ Publisher of Good Authority - https://goodauthority.org/https://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3ml7zkfw7xs2vNeat new APSR paper by my Vanderbilt colleague Alan Wiseman along with Volden, Treul, and Thomsen: "Legislative Effectiveness, Progressive Ambition, and Electoral Success." https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/legislative-effectiveness-progressive-ambition-and-electoral-success/A4FD51F567B035D80D6173B6AF6D1CB407 May 2026 01:05 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7zkfw7xs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3mbukpf6bls2hThe Vanderbilt Dept of Political Science is looking for two post-doctoral scholars in national security for 2026-27. Please apply or encourage others to apply! apply.interfolio.com/179844 https://apply.interfolio.com/17984407 Jan 2026 22:53 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbukpf6bls2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3m76zclhkvs2aThis is a bad survey question that likely exaggerates any Holocaust skepticism. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/03/05/online-opt-in-polls-can-produce-misleading-results-especially-for-young-people-and-hispanic-adults/ https://www.jstor.org/stable/26952233?seq=1 [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Dec 2025 22:26 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m76zclhkvs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3m66rqygwac23I'm chairing the APSA Carey McWilliams Prize Committee. This prize goes to someone who has made "a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics." More information is here: https://apsanet.org/programs/apsa-awards/carey-mcwilliams-award/ We would be grateful for people to submit nominations!22 Nov 2025 02:45 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m66rqygwac23https://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3m5mvzqwywk2gThe Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions is now acceptable applications for the 2026-27 year. Please share and encourage people to apply! Post Doctoral application apply.interfolio.com/177609 Visiting Scholar application apply.interfolio.com/17761315 Nov 2025 00:14 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5mvzqwywk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3m2k33m4g422pUnder Biden, there was no thermostatic shift in public opinion about the size of government. The public stayed relatively liberal. Take attitudes toward the government's role in health care:06 Oct 2025 16:51 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2k33m4g422phttps://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3lxwsslmq6c22Imagine asking people two questions -- whether each of these is a good or bad way to run a govt: 1) having a democratic political system 2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections What percent says *both* are good? 44%!03 Sep 2025 14:12 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxwsslmq6c22https://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3lxswvdwxsc2sThree new publications from Vanderbilt political science faculty! First up, Diana Lee and @yamilrvelez.bsky.social, "Measuring Descriptive Representation at Scale: Methods for Predicting the Race and Ethnicity of Public Officials." https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-political-science/article/measuring-descriptive-representation-at-scale-methods-for-predicting-the-race-and-ethnicity-of-public-officials/3EBE7E4A05164AAE20A291D8924793E802 Sep 2025 01:14 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxswvdwxsc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3luxwlc3ai224Some more great new research from Vandy polisci faculty! Peter Schram in International Organization, "Conflicts that Leave Something to Chance." https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-organization/article/conflicts-that-leave-something-to-chance/3716020F5024144E9C2F817B4D949AC8#article27 Jul 2025 20:36 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3luxwlc3ai224https://bsky.app/profile/johnsides.bsky.social/post/3ltxxw2rk5s2yThe popularity of ICE is plunging. https://goodauthority.org/news/americans-view-ice-tactics-deportations-unfavorably/15 Jul 2025 03:35 +0000at://did:plc:csnvul44yarydqupis7ry2dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltxxw2rk5s2y