https://phys.org/science-news/political-science/ en-us The latest news on political science A large-scale analysis of Grokipedia, the world's first AI-written encyclopedia, has found that while many Grokipedia articles closely resemble their Wikipedia counterparts, a substantial subset diverged markedly in style, sourcing and political leaning. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-grokipedia-news-sources.html Social Sciences Tue, 19 May 2026 13:20:01 EDT news698410201 Artificial intelligence (AI) companies influence policy and regulation using similar techniques to Big Tobacco, Big Pharma and Big Oil, according to a new study. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-big-ai-laws-oversight.html Economics & Business Mon, 18 May 2026 20:00:01 EDT news698339732 Most Americans know what a real expert's credentials look like: relevant degree, years of experience, and respect from peers. The problem, according to a study recently published in Scientific Reports, is that none of it matters as much once we find out their politics. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-politics-picture-credentials-seat.html Social Sciences Sun, 17 May 2026 17:00:01 EDT news697822396 Researchers have found our emotions toward politics not only play on our minds, but shape how our bodies respond to political experiences, even driving political participation higher. The new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that political emotions are not simply experienced as everyday feelings directed at political topics, but are felt differently in the body, becoming a key driver of how we participate in democracy. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-political-emotions-bodies-democracy.html Social Sciences Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:10 EDT news697800121 TikTok's algorithm did not treat Democrats and Republicans equally during the 2024 US presidential election. According to a paper published in Nature, its recommendation system showed a Republican-leaning skew in three states. The journal's editors have also published a Research Briefing in the same issue covering the study. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-tiktok-algorithm-pro-republican-bias.html Political science Fri, 08 May 2026 10:50:01 EDT news697453295 How are ordinary people drawn into extremist circles—and what role can artificial intelligence play in that process? This question is addressed by a new study which, for the first time, combines psychological theories of radicalization with knowledge of modern AI technologies such as recommendation algorithms, generative AI and botnets. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-artificial-intelligence-path-radicalization.html Social Sciences Thu, 07 May 2026 10:20:04 EDT news697365853 A new study of online communities suggests that their interaction dynamics can amplify small, local imbalances in opinions, rapidly turning initially mixed-opinion communities into highly-polarized ones—even without the algorithms and homogeneity-seeking behaviors typically blamed for sculpting echo chambers. Petter Törnberg of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, presents these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-online-echo-chambers-algorithmic-nudges.html Social Sciences Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:10 EDT news697275001 If you're registered to vote in the United States and you're not among the richest of the rich, political scientist Peter K. Enns has a message for you: Your voice still matters. So does data analysis methodology. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-politicians-statistical-analysis.html Social Sciences Mon, 04 May 2026 18:40:01 EDT news697126082 A physics-inspired model calibrated on 40 years of US congressional data pinpoints a spending threshold of roughly 1.8 million USD at which campaigns stop influencing who wins and start fueling polarization instead. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-physics-explanation-elections-wont.html Mathematics Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:07 EDT news696764161 The idea that information should flow freely is deeply embedded in the design of social media. The assumption is that the more information is produced and shared, the better. However, simulations by a team of scientists including University of Groningen Professor of Artificial Intelligence Davide Grossi show that such an unrestricted flow of information can amplify incorrect ideas among like-minded people. The study is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-free-amplify-incorrect-ideas.html Social Sciences Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:10:01 EDT news696616741 The internet and social media platforms have given rise to a rising wave of misinformation, with many users now posting fake news, AI-generated photos or videos and other types of misleading content online. Over the past few years, this rise in misinformation has become a heated topic of debate, with some studies suggesting that it could influence voters during political elections. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-videos-blunt-misinformation-country.html Social Sciences Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:00:02 EDT news695900044 Past research has shown that even though science is commonly viewed as essential for effective policymaking, Democrats and Republicans cite different scientific research when creating policy—even when addressing the same topic. Now, a new Northwestern study analyzing congressional reports, hearings and think tank publications from around the country, has found that bipartisan citations, while rare, highlight papers of exceptional scientific influence. Policy documents citing these papers also receive more citations, amplifying their policy impact—and perhaps providing a pathway for future bipartisan successes. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bipartisan-cited-science-rarely-policymakers.html Political science Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:00:09 EDT news696253441 Over the past decades, the diffusion of fake news and other deceptive content on social media platforms has become a heated topic of debate. Some past studies have explored the broad impact of online misinformation, while others have tried to determine whether deceptive content influences voters during political elections. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-deceptive-content-millions-voters-elections.html Social Sciences Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:30:01 EDT news696162395 Natural resources—such as fossil fuels, water, and minerals—are materials found in the environment that are essential for life and highly utilized in production. Though these resources are viewed as essential to economic development and wealth, many resource-rich countries have paradoxically struggled with limited economic growth and unstable political institutions. This phenomenon, known as the "resource curse," challenges the notion that resource abundance automatically translates into economic prosperity and raises the question of how these regions fall into this trap while other less resource-rich countries manage to leverage their resources for sustainable development. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-resource-curse-natural-abundance-edged.html Economics & Business Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:40:01 EDT news696090858 If you were to ask democracy scholars what they consider the greatest threat to American democracy, you might assume it is voters who support undemocratic practices or policies. But the real answer may surprise you: These voters are not the main problem. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-america-democratic-limbo-silent-middle.html Political science Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:20:08 EDT news696003423 From refusing to doff hats in court to resisting hat-snatching highway robbers, England's relationship with hats goes far deeper than fashion, new research shows. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-hat-wars-early-modern-england.html Social Sciences Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:00:05 EDT news694950931 The brain? It has a flexible social perception. In interactions with people from different ethnic groups, it tends to respond more inclusively when a shared national identity is made salient. A study, by the University of Trento, Italy, and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds light on the underlying neural mechanisms. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-cohesion-diverse-societies-brain-scans.html Social Sciences Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:20:02 EDT news694174720 New research from the University of St Andrews has revealed that human readiness for intergroup violence is not a single or unified mindset. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the new study, spanning 58 countries and involving more than 100 researchers from various institutions around the world, demonstrates that violent extremist intentions are driven by two fundamentally different psychological motivations. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-violent-extremism-uncovered-global.html Social Sciences Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:20:05 EDT news693663362 A new study, led by the University of Nottingham and conducted by a team of 72 economists and psychologists across the world, has identified a potential "private solution trap" in problems requiring international cooperation such as climate change. Dr. Eugene Malthouse, Research Fellow in the university's School of Economics, led the international team of researchers, who invited participants from 34 countries to play a climate change game in small groups. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-private-solution-richer-countries-favor.html Economics & Business Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:00:01 EDT news693483062 Trying to persuade people to abandon deeply held views often backfires, leaving groups entrenched and unable to move forward. A new study by researchers at the University of Bath in the UK proposes a strategy that is both surprising and more effective: encourage neutrality. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-neutrality-stabilize-decisions.html Mathematics Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:01 EDT news693136514 A new University of Missouri study suggests mental health policies can play a significant role in how Americans choose political candidates. Past scholarly research has found that most Americans say they support mental health policies. Jake Haselswerdt, an associate professor of political science in Mizzou's College of Arts and Science, wanted to take the topic a step further by asking whether mental health policies actually matter when people choose to vote for a political candidate. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-mental-health-policy-emerging-key.html Political science Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:00:06 EDT news693053641 A new study on ancient societies from around the world is rewriting what we thought we knew about democracy. A team of researchers analyzed archaeological and historical evidence from 31 ancient societies across Europe, Asia, and the Americas and found that shared, inclusive governance was far more common than was once believed. The findings are published in the journal Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-democracy-deep-global-roots-greece.html Archaeology Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:00:04 EDT news693053822 American politics is increasingly characterized by high levels of polarization and divisive rhetoric, despite stated preferences among voters for civility and substantive debate. Sean J. Westwood and colleagues sought to understand what might incentivize a politician to use divisive rhetoric by analyzing 2.2 million public statements from the 118th U.S. Congress. The study is published in PNAS Nexus. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-conflict-entrepreneurs-divisive-political-rhetoric.html Political science Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:40:01 EDT news692970601 Why do widely supported solutions to major problems, such as climate change, so often struggle to gain real traction? A new study suggests that part of the answer lies in understanding why people resist change, and how the combination of their preferences and social networks can help overcome that resistance. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-personal-thresholds-popular-policies.html Social Sciences Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:30:06 EDT news692899561 Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and X, are accessed daily by millions of people worldwide. In the weeks or months leading up to elections, many political parties use social media platforms as part of their campaigns to promote candidates, raise funds, or disseminate their proposed policies. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-political-social-media-ads-outcome.html Social Sciences Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:20:06 EDT news692888916 In a new analysis, racial and ethnic disparities in fatal shootings of U.S. residents by police varied widely between states. Roland Neil of the RAND Corporation in California, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-racialethnic-disparities-people-fatally-shot.html Social Sciences Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:00:07 EDT news692354766 The news media is shaping reproductive narratives and stigma around childlessness, presenting it as a threat to national interests, a deviation from moral or cultural norms, as a risk and, sometimes, as a legitimate life path. In an article published in PLOS Global Public Health, Julia Schröders of Umeå University, Sweden, and colleagues, conclude that understanding these narratives will allow the development of media literacy initiatives to destigmatize and support more equitable health communication. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-news-media-representations-contribute-stigma.html Social Sciences Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:00:06 EDT news692354764 The climate measures currently in place are unlikely to meet Paris Climate Agreement targets. Whether further political measures can move us closer to the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees and combating climate change depends heavily on public opinion and political support. Researchers at ETH Zurich led by Keith Smith, Senior Researcher in Professor Thomas Bernauer's research group, conducted a large-scale survey across 13 EU countries to find out which measures are publicly and politically acceptable, and why. Their findings are published in Nature Climate Change. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-climate-policies-voters-fate.html Political science Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:20:03 EDT news692442241 Indigenous people in the United States are at higher risk of fatal police violence in and around American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) reservations, according to the first comprehensive national study on the subject from researchers at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health and the University of Washington. The study, using data on the 203 AIAN people killed by police from 2013 through 2024, is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The authors hope this work will inform policy action to better protect these communities. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-indigenous-peoples-higher-fatal-police.html Social Sciences Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:40:02 EDT news692291521 The growing use of AI-generated scientific and science-related content, especially on social media, raises important concerns: these texts may contain false or highly persuasive information that is difficult for users to detect, potentially shaping public opinion and decision-making. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ai-disclosure-good.html Social Sciences Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:01 EDT news691929421