Political Attitudes Research Articles

Measuring Czech Armed Forces’ resilience to hybrid interference

ABSTRACT This paper delves into measuring the resilience of Czech armed forces to hybrid interference. The study operationalizes resilience across psychological, social, institutional, and national dimensions, employing a survey questionnaire distributed within the Czech Armed Forces, using a purposive sample of five different groups. Factors like subjective optimism, patriotism, and satisfaction with the armed forces as an employer were assessed, alongside soldiers’ political attitudes, morale, or cohesion. The data suggest high levels of resilience stemming from personal satisfaction, pro-democratic attitudes, trust in commanders, and, most importantly, resolve to fight and defend the country regardless of the actual capabilities of the armed forces. Belonging to the armed forces seems to predict one’s higher resilience despite individual-level differences such as age or education.

The Transformation of the Frontier Concept in Election Campaign Speeches and Inaugural Addresses of American Presidents (Based on Speeches by B. Obama, D. Trump, and J. Biden)

The American national identity was formed largely under the influence of the frontier phenomenon and, in particular, the harsh natural conditions in which the “first settlers” found themselves. Exploration of a new continent and “moving the frontier” in the historical perspective not only became geographical concepts, but transformed into mythologems that have taken root in the national consciousness and political rhetoric of the United States. The purpose of this article is to identify the evolution and transformation of the concept of “frontier” in the American political discourse of the 21st century. The subject of the study is the election campaign speeches and inaugural addresses of three US presidents – B. Obama, D. Trump, and J. Biden. As a result of the research, conclusions are drawn about the content of the concept of “frontier” in the 21st century and how its rhetorical potential is used. An analysis of the speeches of the last three US presidents made it possible to identify which components of the “frontier” mythologem become relevant in the framework of the political programs and attitudes of the country’s leaders, as well as the external and internal political situation. The author concludes that such an interpretation is one of the ways to evaluate the political message of the leader to the nation, and it might also allow determining the vector of future foreign and domestic policy at the pre-election and inaugural stages.

A study on the influence of youth's political inclination on political attitude

A study on the influence of youth's political inclination on political attitude

Political Elites and Attitudes Toward International Organizations in the Trump Era

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis study examines how political elites influence public opinion on international organizations (IOs), focusing on the impact of President Donald Trump's rhetoric on attitudes toward the World Health Organization (WHO), UN, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).MethodsUsing data from the 2020 American National Election Studies (ANES), we analyze the relationship between Trump support, political knowledge, and public evaluations of these IOs.ResultsWe find a significant “Trump effect” on attitudes toward all three IOs. Trump supporters exhibited significantly lower evaluations of the WHO, UN, and NATO. Moreover, highly knowledgeable Trump supporters were even more likely than their less knowledgeable counterparts to reduce their support for these organizations in response to Trump's rhetoric.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that highly knowledgeable Trump supporters are more attentive to his political messages and better equipped to process and absorb them, leading to much more reduced support for IOs. This highlights the role of political elites in shaping public opinion on international institutions, particularly among politically engaged individuals.

Overcoming Biases: Unlocking the Potential of Genetically Modified Crops to Transform Agriculture in Uganda

Genetically Modified (GM) crops possess the power to revolutionize agriculture by addressing food security challenges, driving economic growth, and promoting environmental sustainability. Yet, in Uganda, their adoption remains limited due to deep-rooted biases and misconceptions among farmers, policymakers, and the public. This study investigates the origins of these barriers, focusing on how misinformation, cultural beliefs, and political influences shape negative attitudes toward GM crops. Using the survey on farmers and qualitative interviews with policymakers, it was found that misinformation breeds fear, while cultural narratives reinforce scepticism, and political inertia amplifies resistance, collectively stalling progress. By confronting these challenges, GM technology’s immense potential can be unleashed, paving the way for transformative benefits such as higher crop yields, climate resilience, and improved livelihoods. Further, empowering farmers and stakeholders through targeted education can dispel myths, while transparent and inclusive policy frameworks can foster trust and collaboration. Stakeholder engagement that values diverse perspectives is essential to building consensus and driving acceptance of GM innovations. This study highlights the need for coordinated efforts to bridge knowledge gaps, address policy shortcomings, and foster trust among all actors in Uganda’s agricultural landscape. Overcoming these biases is crucial to unlocking GM crops’ ability to revolutionize farming, enhancing productivity and resilience in the face of climate change while securing economic and food security gains for future generations. With the right strategies, Uganda can embrace GM technology as a transformative tool, enabling its agricultural sector to thrive sustainably and empowering farmers to meet both current and future challenges

Economic Voting and Electoral Behavior in 2024 European Parliament Elections: A Quantitative Approach

This study evaluates the link between economic voting and electoral behavior in the 2024 European Parliament (EP) elections. This study is grounded in both selective perception and economic voting theories, examining how different independent factors could interact with electoral behavior. In this regard, the research aims to achieve several research directions: (i) the evaluation of the statistical differences in voters’ turnout in 2024 EP elections by geographical regions; (ii) the analysis of the interaction between voters’ perceptions of the current or future economic situations and voter turnout; (iii) the analysis of the interaction between objective economic conditions and electoral behavior. Using both multiple linear regression and logistic models, the study highlights that voter turnout and incumbent party reelection are significantly related to voters’ perceptions of the current or future state of the national economy. The results reveal that regional differences in voter turnout are largely explained by significant differences in voters’ economic perceptions, while the decision to vote for the incumbent party is driven by future economic expectations. The empirical findings underscore the pivotal role played by subjective perceptions in shaping electoral behavior, illustrating that political attitudes and behaviors are derived from personal interpretation of the national economic situations. Beyond theoretical perspectives that highlight the link between psychological processes and voting, the paper might have several practical implications for academics or decision makers interested in the field of electoral behavior.

The youth gender gap in support for the far right

ABSTRACT The 2024 European Parliament election showcased a surprising new trend. While progressive parties have traditionally done well among younger voters, it was far-right parties that enjoyed unprecedented electoral support among young voters in the 2024 EP elections. Analyzing data from the European Election Studies (EES) 2024, covering 27 countries and almost 25,000 voters, this paper shows that there is a sizable gender gap in voting for the far right. The electoral success of far-right parties among young voters is primarily driven by the support of young men, peaking at over 21% of all young men in 2024 compared to only about 14% among women of the same age cohort. Descriptive analyses from the EES shows that this gap can partially be explained by attitudinal differences, with young women holding more socially progressive views than young men. Age-Period-Cohort models based on EES data covering eight elections from 1989 to 2024 further reveal that this gender gap is greatest for Millennials and Generation Z. Since political attitudes and voting behaviour during the formative years may have a long-lasting effect on voting patterns and attitudes later in life, our findings have important implications for the future of European democracies.

The Paradox of Progress: Modernization, Shifting Values, and the Persistence of Authoritarianism in China

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis study examines the evolving relationship between modernization, shifting value orientations, and political attitudes in China, with a focus on generational differences.MethodsThe study employed data from the Asia Barometer Survey (2011–2019) and used Prof. Hu Fu's pro‐democratic value framework to analyze democratic values.ResultsThe findings reveal that although younger generations demonstrate increased support for certain liberal democratic values, their overall orientation remains more consistent with the modern authoritarian values endorsed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The study further shows that the CCP's control over public discourse and selective promotion of specific values significantly shapes political attitudes across generations.ConclusionDespite notable economic development and generational shifts, the CCP continues to dominate the narrative on value change in China. This persistent control has not only stabilized the current political system but also limited the country's potential transition toward a liberal democratic regime.

The heroism of the soviet people during the Great Patriotic War on the pages of school textbooks

Aim.The purpose is to study the peculiarities of representing the heroism of the Soviet people and the image of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War on the pages of school textbooks published in our country from the middle of the twentieth century to the present.Methodology. The research is based on the materials of a comparative analysis of the image of heroes and heroism of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War on the pages of school textbooks published in our country from the middle of the twentieth century to the present.Results.The transformations in the image of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War and the heroism of the Soviet people as a whole in school textbooks over the past half century have been revealed, and the special significance of this material for educating the younger generation in the spirit of love and devotion to the Fatherland is presented. The dependence of the content of a school textbook on the political situation and ideological attitudes of representatives of different trends in historiography is investigated.Research implications. The research materials can be used by specialists in the field of historiography.

Автономный политический климат и отношение к политической системе: как теория самодетерминации помогает понять политические взгляды

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective. </strong>In this study, we analyzed the relationship between political efficacy <em>(autonomy-supportive political climate) </em>and attitudes to the political system in Russia. <br><strong>Background.</strong> Self-determination theory posits that individuals express more positive attitudes toward those who create an autonomy-supportive climate than toward those who create a controlling climate. Some studies conducted in democratic political regimes have shown that political efficacy, as an indicator of perceived autonomous climate, is positively associated with attitudes towards the political system. However, the question arises: to what extent does the positive relationship between political efficacy and attitudes toward the political system persist in countries with authoritarian political systems, as well as among individuals with different socio-demographic and psychological characteristics? <br><strong>Study design.</strong> Respondents participated in an online survey conducted on the YandexToloka platform (samples 1, 3, 5) and on social media platforms (samples 2, 4, 6). The study involved six samples: the first and second samples were collected in May-June; the third and fourth samples were collected in August-September; the fifth and sixth samples were collected in November-December 2022. <br><strong>Participants.</strong> 16656 Russian citizens took part in this study (<em>N<sub>1</sub></em> = 2767, <em>N<sub>2</sub></em> = 2580, <em>N<sub>3</sub></em> = 3193, <em>N<sub>4</sub></em> = 2482, <em>N<sub>5</sub></em> = 3234, <em>N<sub>6</sub></em> = 2400). The data was collected in the spring-autumn of 2022. <br><strong>Measurements.</strong> Participants completed questionnaires that measure personal and collective political efficacy (perceived autonomy-supportive political climate), cognitive and emotional attitude towards the political system, as well as a range of psychological (political interest, internal political efficacy, psychological well-being, generalized trust, national identification) and socio-demographic (gender, age, education, income) control variables. <br><strong>Results.</strong> The study reveals that both personal political efficacy and collective political efficacy (perceived autonomy-supportive political climate) were positively associated with political trust and system justification. Results from YandexToloka demonstrate that the link between personal political efficacy and attitudes towards the political system is stronger among individuals who are more interested in politics and consider themselves more informed in this area. The association between collective political efficacy and attitudes towards the political system is stronger among individuals with higher psychological well-being and stronger national identification. However, in all samples, it is found that the positive link between political efficacy and attitudes towards the political system holds after controlling for psychological and socio-demographic variables.<br><strong>Conclusions.</strong> The perceived autonomy-supportive political climate is an important factor in predicting Russians' cognitive and emotional attitude towards the political system. It plays a significant role for people belonging to different socio-demographic groups and possessing various psychological characteristics. People with an active political life, with high psychological well-being and national identification value it the most. The fostering of the autonomy-supportive political climate, which allows people to voice their opinions on social problems and influence political decisions, improves their attitudes towards the political system including federal political institutions.</p>

The Growing Conservatism of White Veterans Since the 1970s

In this article, we assess how the political attitudes of veterans compared to those of nonveterans have changed historically. We draw hypotheses from research and theory suggesting that veterans are relatively conservative due to either selection or socialization. We use General Social Survey data from 1974-1985 and 2010s, which include questions about service length, conservative identity, party affiliation, and beliefs about government spending. The analyses show differences across eras, with data from more recent years showing that veterans are generally more conservative than nonveterans. These differences may stem from selection—specifically, the transition from the draft era, when between a quarter and more than half of eligible men served, to a volunteer force, when only a much smaller share do so. The article also presents evidence consistent with socialization: veterans who served for longer periods tend to be more conservative than both nonveterans and those who served for shorter periods.

Public Acceptance of Robots and Autonomous Crop Farming – A Cluster Analysis of German Citizens’ Attitudes and Concerns

Public acceptance is essential for technology innovation in agriculture. Due to the recent advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) could soon revolutionize crop farming landscapes. What is society's view on crops being produced with the help of autonomous machines and how do different groups accept the technologies? A sample of 567 German citizens was segmented into clusters using an unsupervised machine-learning technique. The analysis elaborated on heterogeneity in public attitudes concerning challenges and advances of RAS and investigated political attitudes in relation to RAS attitudes. A majority of the participants are in favor of the use of RAS. While 41% of the participants positioned themselves as positive (Proponents), about 19% even showed a strong positive attitude towards RAS use (Enthusiasts). The ease of farm work and environmental benefits drive RAS acceptance among Proponents and Enthusiasts. Nevertheless, 29% support RAS use overall but raise concerns regarding socio-economic impacts (Skeptical Proponents), and 11% (Skeptics) take a skeptical stance. Skeptical Proponents and Skeptics fear negative consequences for family farms and are doubtful about potential positive environmental contributions. A higher share of right-wing and non-voter participants is detected among the more skeptical clusters, while green (environmental) party voters are among the more positive participants. Potential concerns should be recognized and addressed by the farming sector on the development path to more automated agriculture. Food production is a sensitive topic affecting everyone, which should be considered in communication efforts. The advantages of RAS technologies need to be articulated through targeted scientific communication.

Scrolling to Believe: Evaluating the Link between Perceived Credibility of Social Media as a Source of Political Information and the Political Attitudes of Young Adults in Malaysia

This study examines the dynamic interplay of the perceived credibility of social media as a source of political information and political attitudes among young adults in Malaysia, in the wake of the Undi-18 electoral policy. Conducted through a structured survey of 221 respondents aged 19 to 30, the respondents’ levels of perceived credibility of social media, their levels of political efficacy, and their levels of political cynicism were quantitatively measured. From the analysis, it was found that the respondents exhibited a moderate level of trust in social media as a source of political information, suggesting a cautious approach to its use. However, the more social media is perceived as a credible source of political information, the higher the likelihood of respondents having high political efficacy. The perceived credibility of social media was found to have a negative correlation with political cynicism, suggesting that young adults place greater trust in the reliability of social media as a source of political information, they are less likely to experience feelings of distrust and apathy toward politics. The study also found that political efficacy was inversely correlated with political cynicism, indicating that enhancing political efficacy among the young adults could diminish their cynical attitudes towards politics. Enhancing the regulations and coordination of social media platforms to ensure the dissemination of accurate and balanced political information can therefore foster greater trust in these platforms, strengthen users’ sense of political efficacy, and ultimately, reduce levels of political cynicism. Keywords: Social media credibility, political information, political efficacy, political cynicism, young adults.

Mapping Indonesian Women's Political Participation in the 2024 Presidential Election Based on Twitter Social Media Data Mining

Three presidential candidates contest the 2024 presidential election of the Republic of Indonesia. The number of Indonesian voters was 49.96% male and 50.04% female. The female group was one of the potential targets the presidential candidates chose to support. Although the number of female voters were more significant than male voters, women's participation in politics in Indonesia was still male. The low involvement of Indonesian women in politics is due to patriarchal culture. The presence of communication technology, such as social media platforms, has the potential to change the political behavior of Indonesian women in expressing their opinions and political attitudes. This is what prompted the researchers to conduct research. This study uses the Netnography method, supported by communication network analysis. Twitter social media data mining was carried out using NodeXL software. The study results show that women dare to express political discussions on social media rather than face-to-face. However, big cities in Java still dominate women's participation in political debates, such as in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, and Surabaya. Meanwhile, women outside Java still need to be more involved in political discussions. Female figures who received more responses from Twitter users include: Yurisa Agustina Samosir (account @Yurisa_Samosir) and Marlina (account @marlina_idha). Issues that women more widely discuss include education, economy, and online gaming policies. Based on the analysis of communication networks, women prefer the Prabowo-Gibran presidential pair over the Anis-Muhammin or Ganjar-Mahfud pairs. Keywords: Computer Mediated Communication Theory, political participation, women, big data, gender equality.

Black agency and Black political attitudes: examining major questions with contemporary data

ABSTRACT Mainstream studies in political science often ignore the agency within Black public opinion by neglecting variation within the Black community and focusing on how white Americans perceive Black Americans and race relations broadly. By examining variations in attitudes among Black people, we can better understand American politics. To do this, I revisit five prescriptions in Harris-Lacewell’s The Heart of the Politics of Race, published in the Journal of Black Studies in 2003. Using the 2020 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Study, I examine each prescription named by Harris-Lacewell. Examining the ideological nuances, such as variations in the perception of self-reliance and identity-based environmental context, gender, and class, have an outsized influence in explaining diversity in Black Americans’ political views. I broadly discuss the importance of accounting for multiple, intersecting, and overlapping identities relevant to Black public and American political opinions. Centering agency in the study of Black political attitudes honors the founders, who sought to write more accurately about Black political experiences.

Nostalgia for what and to what end? Multi-dimensional national nostalgia and its relationship with national identification and political preferences

Research on group-based nostalgia has begun exploring how different ways of representing the pasts shapes our group belonging and political preferences. So far, this body of work has focused on measuring levels of nostalgia, at the expense of considering what people are nostalgic for. The present paper develops a bottom-up approach to examining how the content of national nostalgia links with specific social and political attitudes. Across two studies, drawing on open-ended and close-ended survey data from the UK (Study 1, N = 3,005, and Study 2, N = 318), USA (Study 2, N = 305), and Sweden (Study 2, N = 234), we develop and test a multi-dimensional national nostalgia (MDNN) scale which captures nostalgia for communality, achievements, and power/status. Across the three countries we find persistent evidence that nostalgia for power/status is associated with stronger national identification, right-wing ideology, and right-wing party favorability, while nostalgia for communality and achievements vary in their associations with political preferences. Our findings reveal the various forms that national nostalgia can take, its implications for linking longing with belonging, as well as the variations that can occur in different national and political contexts.

Evaluating the Role of Media in Shaping Political Opinions & Political Preferences: A Statistical Critical Research Analysis

We investigate the media effects on political opinions and political preferences using a steal at the statistical level. In the context of the political environment, this has been a topic of concern as media, particularly there in election era or major political events, has lasting effects on individuals’ minds affecting their opinions. The media, which includes print, television, and social media, is a significant source of information and often sets the agendas of political polarisation and shapes how people interpret political communications and candidates. These types of investigations aim to provide a quantifiable understanding of how media consumption correlates to the formation of political opinions, also suggesting links between these behaviours and demographics. The paper adopts a mixed-methods approach, using surveys to capture media consumption habits and political views, while also using statistical analysis to examine correlations and causations. Descriptive statistics, analyse correlation, regression analyse and analyse factor has been used to see how different types of media contribute to political preference shaping. Results show important associations between media consumption and political attitude change, with different types of media, as well as demographic factors, having differential powers in shaping preferences. Such teaching is only possible when democracy itself is entrenched, so this work also looks at unexpected democracies for the potential to teach us about late capital media. This highlights the need for media literacy programs to encourage informed political engagement and combats the threats of biased or manipulative media practices. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the interplay between media, politics, and public opinion, opening new directions for future scholarly inquiry in this dynamic area of study.

Ideological constraint and behavioral consistency—A person-centered approach to political attitudes and Public Goods Games behavior

A long-standing debate in research on the political attitudes of the mass public concerns the extent to which these attitudes are ideologically constrained. Another, more recent debate, asks whether these attitudes are indicative of more general social behavior. We investigated (1) how ideologically constrained the preferences of the mass public are and (2) whether ideological differences are associated with actual social behavior. To shed new light on these entrenched debates we employed a person-centered approach—latent profile analysis (LPA). A sample of German students (N = 659) responded to a questionnaire assessing attitudes toward currently contested topics (e.g., immigration, environmental policy) and played the Public Goods Game. By means of LPA, we identified four rather distinct groups. The Normative (46.0%) and the Anti-gay (16.4%) expressed the average opinion on all issues, with the exception that the latter were strongly against gay rights. The Progressive (28.9%) supported, across all issues, greater equality. This group also gave most in the Public Goods Game. The Right-Wing (7.0%) had strong views that were exactly the reverse image of those of the Progressive. Women were disproportionately progressive, and men Right-Wing or Anti-gay. Non-native speakers were disproportionately Anti-gay. We suggest that the Progressive and the Right-Wing were ideologically constrained in the customary sense—they were consistent from one issue to the next. We argue that the Normative and Anti-gay were also ideologically constrained—those believing themselves to have stepped out of ideology are in our interpretation the most enslaved by ideology.

პოლიტიკური თხრობის ძალა: ნარატივების ჩამოყალიბების თეორიები

The article explores the power of political narratives in shaping public opinion and political discourse. It analyzes the theoretical foundations of narratives and their practical applications, including emotional resonance, symbolism, and transmedia storytelling. Particular attention is given to the transformative role of narratives in the era of social media, where digital platforms democratize storytelling. Walter Fisher's "Narrative Paradigm" theory is described, emphasizing the universal influence of narratives across cultures and presenting humans as "storytellers." The article examines historical and contemporary examples, such as Obama’s election campaigns, the Brexit referendum, and the 2024 U.S. elections. It evaluates the constructive and manipulative potential of narratives, highlighting their significance in driving political and social change. Additionally, thearticle classifies key narratives that shape public political behavior and attitudes.

Representing political attitudes through recontextualizing the metaphor ‘Shuai Guo’ in English-translated Chinese diplomatic discourse

Representing political attitudes through recontextualizing the metaphor ‘Shuai Guo’ in English-translated Chinese diplomatic discourse