Semih Çakır
Political scientist at University of Ottawa. Previously at University of Montreal and University of Vienna - I study polarisation, partisanship and democratic citizenship.
www.semihcakir.com
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırAfter 3 years and 5,322 emails (and counting) our Encyclopedia of Political Communication is finally out at @elgarpublishing.bsky.social 📚 Three volumes ⭐ 431 entries 🎓 581 wonderful authors from across the world A very short 🧵
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırExcited to share a new preprint with @bnbakker.bsky.social, @ylelkes.bsky.social & @gijsschumacher.bsky.social! doi.org/10.31234/osf... Affective polarization research focuses almost exclusively on valence, despite affect having at least two core dimensions. We show that emotional arousal matters!
- Reposted by Semih Çakır🚨Publication Alert! My first first-author publication with @msaeltzer.bsky.social and @pluggedchris.bsky.social is out in @polbehavior.bsky.social, which began as my bachelor's thesis. We study how party polarization shapes affective polarization—with a particularly important role of the AfD. (1/7)🧵
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- Reposted by Semih ÇakırWith @elisadeisshelbig.bsky.social, @theresmatthiess.bsky.social, we are designing a survey experiment with low-income Germans 🇩🇪 Survey folks: any tips on reliable institutes, good practices, or any useful approach for harder-to-reach groups? We are really grateful for any hint or experience 🙏
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırWe have a new tenure-track job in @lsegovernment.bsky.social at AP level (empirical political science, open subfield): jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/... Please apply and share with colleagues who might be interested!
- Do policy preferences of voters and non-voters differ in European democracies? My new article in @ejprjournal.bsky.social finds: Yes, sometimes, but this is not the norm. Let's break it down. 🧵 1/10
- First, why do we care? Turnout has declined across democracies. If voters and non-voters have different policy preferences, then low turnout means elections may not accurately represent what the broader public wants. This would be problematic for representation. 2/10
- Reposted by Semih Çakır🚨New paper out in @jeppjournal.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1080/1350... @manuelwagner.bsky.social & I re-conceptualize class representation to take into account social mobility between classes and variation in how individuals enter politics.
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırStill confused about EPSA vs. EPSS? Which conference should you go to? Here is a link to clarify things: epssnet.org/uncategorize... TL;DR: "EPSA" community will be in Belfast. Same community, new organisation, bigger mission; slightly new name; and a very different foundation @epssnet.bsky.social

- Proof that political scientists do leave the conference center. Granville Island, Vancouver - APSA 2025 🇨🇦🍁
- Very happy to share that this paper from my PhD dissertation is now published in print. It tackles a question central to my research: How much can parties actually shape the opinions of their supporters? Results suggest their leeway might be more limited than often assumed!
- The lowest point of my research career? Not impostor syndrome. Not rejection letters. Not even Reviewer 2. It’s Qualtrics hiking fees, my uni pulling the plug… and QuestionPro.
- I strongly recommend this!👇🏻 Ruth is truly one of the most inspiring scholars I know and she is definitely a super supportive supervisor!
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırDoing important things at @epsanet.bsky.social …like locating the one veg canapé at the reception 👀 @stawi-univie.bsky.social @bseisl.bsky.social @mkaltenegger.bsky.social @alexanderdalheimer.bsky.social @marvins.bsky.social @elenaheinz.bsky.social @mascakir.bsky.social @thomasmmeyer.bsky.social
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırFrom 26 to 28 June 2025, the 15th Annual Conference of the European Political Science Association will take place in Madrid, Spain. Many of our colleagues will attend the conference and present their research. #EPSA2025. The presenters are: 🧵 1/3
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırRecs for #EPSA2025 schedule: THU, 1.10-2.50, in 0A.05: I’ll chair a panel on conceptual issues in affective polarization, feat. @luismremiro.bsky.social, @mascakir.bsky.social, Mickael Temporão, @fghjorth.bsky.social, plus present work w @katharinalawall.bsky.social + @mtsakiris.bsky.social
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırI'm recruiting 2 PhD researchers to work with me on a project studying how social groups influence vote choices! Info on the position and how to apply 👉 www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo... Please share with interested students who would like to move to beautiful Leuven!
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- Reposted by Semih ÇakırA Tinder Test of Democratic Norms💋 New paper in @thejop.bsky.social with @bertous.bsky.social We rely on a visual conjoint experiment, cross-sectional data, & panel data to show that affective polarization drives the normalisation of the far right among the centre-right 🇬🇧🇪🇸 doi.org/10.1086/736698
- First, I need every country jury to submit a 500-word essay, APA style, citing relevant music theory to justify their votes. Second, do we have access to raw audience vote count per country? Finally, I thought I'd never ditch my flat white, but it's espresso macchiato from now on. Loyalty is earned.
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- 🚨 “We just need to recognize that we’re all citizens of this country.” –– Politicians + citizens often stress a shared national identity when trying to bridge racial, partisan, or other group divides. @stysyropoulos.bsky.social & I show why such “shared” identities are doomed to fail. 🧵1/9
- I probably relate to this quote more than I should.
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırIncredibly happy to share that I received funding through the FWO Odysseus program for the SOCIOVOTE project! Over the next five years, I’ll be examining how social groups think politically, and study the processes through which groups and group identities become politicized.
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- Schnitzel and great company (@rdassonneville.bsky.social @zeynsom.bsky.social )—can’t go wrong! Always such a pleasure to catch up with these two amazing mentors 🍽️🍾
- Le discours de Trudeau sur la réponse du Canada aux tarifs américains est peut-être tout simplement son meilleur ! 🇨🇦 🍁
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- 🚨 Does elite ideological polarization lead to mass ideological polarization? My latest article in European Journal of Political Research provides **limited** evidence that it is the case. Let's break it down. 🧵
- Reposted by Semih ÇakırTime to share some big professional news! After 9 amazing years at @umontreal.ca, I am moving back home. From January onwards, I am taking up a professorship at @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social. I am excited and looking forward to the new challenge. But I’m also sad to leave an amazing department.
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