Impacts of Authoritarian Legacies on Political Behavior:
My primary research interest is centered on understanding the how experiences from authoritarian periods shape political behavior after transition to democracy. My dissertation project, in particular, focuses on exploring how specific authoritarian experiences, such as party membership, protest mobilization, or repression, shape public opinion after transition. By exploring these enduring influences, my research aims to shed light on the underlying mechanisms through which historical authoritarianism continues to shape political dynamics, public attitudes, and democratic engagement in the in young, and often fragile, democracies.
Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals:
Repression, Party Ties, and Political Beliefs: Ideological Continuities Among Voters After Socialism, Party Politics, [2025]
Abstract: How are experiences from socialist rule reflected in support for the former regime and ideological stances after democratization? This study examines how varied experiences under socialism—whether as regime supporters or victims of repression—continue to be linked to political behavior decades after transition. Using three decades of intergenerational panel data from the former German Democratic Republic, the findings show that repression is associated with long-term opposition to the regime’s successor party, Die Linke, while former party membership corresponds with lasting support. These experiences also relate to ideological self-placement, with distinct left-right patterns persisting based on past affiliations. Within families, the extent to which these political legacies are passed down depends on political interest, highlighting that they are not uniformly inherited. By exploring how socialist-era experiences remain embedded in post-transition political attitudes, this study underscores the role of historical experiences in shaping political behavior in new democracies.
Behind the Wall: The Lack of Interaction Between East and West and the Rise of the Radical Right, Acta Politica, [2024]
Abstract: What explains the rise of radical right-wing parties in post-socialist Europe? Previous research attributes this phenomenon to the legacies of socialism, emphasizing the macro socialization processes in education and civil society. This study introduces a novel perspective by highlighting the significance of limited interaction with the non-socialist states, proposing that such interactions could have facilitated micro-socialization processes that counteracted the regime's indoctrination efforts. By analyzing the effect of cross-border traffic agreements between East and West Germany, it is found that areas with increased Western contact during the socialist era exhibit significantly less support for the radical right thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Moreover, employing entropy balancing to adjust for socioeconomic differences in the totalitarian period, this research demonstrates that individuals from these areas are half as likely to support the Alternative for Germany today, compared to a reweighted control group. This research offers a novel mechanism detailing how Western interactions could challenge entrenched socialist legacies, contributing significantly to the discourse on political socialization and the dynamics of political culture in post-socialist Europe.
Under review:
Persistent Breeze from the Winds of Change: Partisan Alignments of Protest Participants After Democratic Transition [R&R]
Work in progress:
Democratic Protests as a Catalyst for Long-term Electoral Participation: Insights from the German Democratic Republic
Beyond Borders: Local Elites, Rural Conflicts, and Diverging Political Behavior in Transferred Regions
From Repression to Participation - When Historical Political Repression Foster Long-term Electoral Participation
Political Behavior and Radical Right Wing Parties:
In addition to historical analysis, I am actively exploring contemporary political trends, particularly focusing on the rise of radical right-wing parties in Sweden. This line of research examines the dynamics of rural-urban polarization, aiming to provide insights into the factors driving support for such parties.
Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals:
Spirited Away: The Role of Alcohol in Radical Right-Wing Support, Electoral Studies, 2024.
Abstract: Does the availability of alcohol influence support for radical right-wing parties, and if so, why? Drawing parallels to the UK, where pub closures led to increased support for UKIP, this study investigates trends observed in Sweden. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset of over 50,000 alcohol permits and electoral data from 2002 to 2018, we find that a reduction in permits is associated with a 3.7% increase in support for the Sweden Democrats (SD). To explain this, we argue that bar closures politicize alcohol regulation and serve as a symbolic issue linked to the populist radical right. Survey data from over 20,000 respondents reveal that individuals in municipalities with a decreasing number of permits are more likely to support alcohol deregulation, and these voters become more likely to support SD. These findings underscore how perceptions of government overregulation drive support for radical right-wing parties.
Candidate Shortages and the Electoral Consequences for Radical Right-Wing Parties: Insights from Sweden, Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties, 2024.
Abstract: While much research has explored factors that increase support for radical right-wing parties, the role of their local candidates has received less attention. This study contends that parties, particularly those distancing themselves from extremist elements, often grapple with a shortage of candidates, leading to both premature resignations and a lack of suitable replacements. This shortage negatively affects voter support in elections following candidate resignation. To illustrate this issue, the study utilizes a novel dataset examining the Sweden Democrats (SD), a party frequently facing 'empty seats' in local assemblies—positions allocated to them after elections which remain unfilled or are prematurely vacated by local politicians. The analysis shows that these vacant seats reduce the party's support by approximately 1.7 percentage points in local elections. This effect is compounded by voter turnout; when turnout is low and SD has previously failed to maintain their seats, their support decreases by as much as 10 percentage points. These findings emphasize the significant impact of a robust pool of local candidates on party performance, highlighting the critical role of local candidate representation for the electoral success of radical right-wing parties.
Political Expectations and Electoral Responses to Wind Farm Development in Sweden [w/ Simon Gren] Energy Policy, 2024
Abstract: Wind energy expansion has influenced electoral behavior by decreasing support for incumbents, primarily explained by not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) arguments. However, how does the establishment of wind farms shape electoral behavior when municipal politicians can veto such establishments? Analyzing Sweden, this study shows that voters respond not only by retrospectively evaluating past constructions but also by evaluating parties differently based on their expectations. Our results indicate that parties more likely to approve turbine constructions are punished more than those less expected to do so. Additionally, we find no evidence that the construction of wind turbines influences support for either Green or radical right-wing parties. In conclusion, this study show that the political repercussions of wind farm expansion are multifaceted, influenced by a combination of past actions, future expectations, and the ideological stances of political parties.
Political Effects of Rural School Closures – Evidence from Sweden, Journal of Rural Studies, 2023
Abstract: In times of economic hardship, local governments often resort to school closures. These are often directed towards struggling rural communities, already experiencing substantial depopulation. The affected communities often react with fierce protests against responsible politicians. However, the political effects of school closures have mostly been overlooked in previous research. By using a novel geocoded dataset on all rural school closures in Sweden between 2013 and 2020, this study explores their political ramifications. The results show that school closures decrease the trust in municipal politicians and have negative effects on the support for the incumbent, an effect that is most pronounced for left-leaning parties. This study contributes to the literature on rural school closures and welfare retrenchments and expands previous research on social decommissioning in rural areas to include educational policies.
Under review:
How Car Culture Drives Political Preferences in Rural Regions: Evidence from Sweden [R&R]
Jumping on the Bandwagon or off the Sinking~Ship: Electoral Support and Candidate Supply [Under review]