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Matthias Frey-Konrad

@matzefrey

#polisky Researcher & PhD-Student @tu-dortmund.bsky.social interested in Party politics, legislativ studies, religion & politics, text & network analysis | European citizen

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Latest posts by Matthias Frey-Konrad @matzefrey

Verhagelt. #ltwbw2026

08.03.2026 17:00 👍 73 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0
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Future Issues | Politics and Governance Politics and Governance is an innovative new offering to the world of online peer-reviewed open access publishing in the Political Sciences.

*Call for Abstracts*

The abstract submission is now open for our (w/ @asheinze.bsky.social) special issue:

Party Youth Wings Across Europe: Organisation, Influence, and the Future of Party Democracy

We still have a few spots open (e.g. several countries in Southern Europe and CEE or the UK) 😊

04.03.2026 08:44 👍 11 🔁 8 💬 1 📌 0
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The Radical Right Research Bot is leaving Twitter - kai arzheimer The bot had finally enough of the cesspit.

My friend @rrresrobot.bsky.social has officially retired from the Twitter, but it’s alive and well over here #farright

14.02.2026 18:00 👍 18 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 0
Startseite des Wahlhilfetools Party Check. Zu sehen sind zwei Buttons "Jetzt starten" für die Bundesländer Baden-Württemberg und Rheinland-Pfalz.

Startseite des Wahlhilfetools Party Check. Zu sehen sind zwei Buttons "Jetzt starten" für die Bundesländer Baden-Württemberg und Rheinland-Pfalz.

Welche Partei passt zu mir? Für die Landtagswahlen in Baden-Württemberg #ltwbw und Rheinland-Pfalz #ltwrlp könnt ihr im Tool Party Check ein paar Fragen beantworten und seht, wie eure Positionen zu den Parteien passen.
party-check.org

13.02.2026 18:34 👍 9 🔁 5 💬 1 📌 0
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Postdoctoral Position at the Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality” Deadline: 20 February 2026, 12:00 pm CET

🚨 Postdoctoral Position at the University of Konstanz 🚨

We’re hiring a post-doc for our @excinequality.bsky.social project on political elites and decision-making.

4-year position | Deadline: Feb. 20 | Start: Sept 2026

Please share widely 🙏

The ad is here stellen.uni-konstanz.de/jobposting/f...

23.01.2026 12:44 👍 51 🔁 54 💬 0 📌 1
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We are at the point this week where IR scholars are mentioning things like "WWIII"

14.01.2026 20:30 👍 276 🔁 59 💬 12 📌 6
Why Underachievers Dominate Secret Police Organizations: Evidence from Autocratic
Argentina

Adam Scharpf
Christian Gläßel

Abstract: Autocrats depend on a capable secret police. Anecdotal evidence, however, often characterizes agents as surprisingly mediocre in skill and intellect. To explain this puzzle, this article focuses on the career incentives underachieving individuals face in the regular security apparatus. Low-performing officials in hierarchical organizations have little chance of being promoted or filling lucrative positions. To salvage their careers, these officials are willing to undertake burdensome secret police work. Using data on all 4,287 officers who served in autocratic Argentina (1975-83), we study biographic differences between secret police agents and the entire recruitment pool. We find that low-achieving officers were stuck within the regime hierarchy, threatened with discharge, and thus more likely to join the secret police for future benefits. The study demonstrates how state bureaucracies breed mundane career concerns that produce willing enforcers and cement violent regimes. This has implications for the understanding of autocratic consolidation and democratic breakdown.

Why Underachievers Dominate Secret Police Organizations: Evidence from Autocratic Argentina Adam Scharpf Christian Gläßel Abstract: Autocrats depend on a capable secret police. Anecdotal evidence, however, often characterizes agents as surprisingly mediocre in skill and intellect. To explain this puzzle, this article focuses on the career incentives underachieving individuals face in the regular security apparatus. Low-performing officials in hierarchical organizations have little chance of being promoted or filling lucrative positions. To salvage their careers, these officials are willing to undertake burdensome secret police work. Using data on all 4,287 officers who served in autocratic Argentina (1975-83), we study biographic differences between secret police agents and the entire recruitment pool. We find that low-achieving officers were stuck within the regime hierarchy, threatened with discharge, and thus more likely to join the secret police for future benefits. The study demonstrates how state bureaucracies breed mundane career concerns that produce willing enforcers and cement violent regimes. This has implications for the understanding of autocratic consolidation and democratic breakdown.

Perennial reminder of this excellent paper about how secret police forces are swamped with underachievers

“We don’t want clever people. We want mediocrities.”

(Ungated summary here ajps.org/2019/10/08/w...)

14.01.2026 16:17 👍 905 🔁 383 💬 21 📌 34
Research fellow (m/f/d) in the field of “contentious politics/political violence/autocratic politics” - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

🚨Job alert! 🚨

I'm advertising a PhD position (66%) in Comparative Politics at HU Berlin. Ideal candidates combine a research interest in autocratic politics, conflict, and/or political violence with strong quantitative methods skills.

⏳ 4 (+2) years | 🗓 DL 16.01; Start March/April 26

More info:

06.01.2026 11:17 👍 46 🔁 48 💬 0 📌 3
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Four generations of my family have served our country. Service is in my blood. The President wouldn’t know anything about that.

05.01.2026 18:24 👍 38225 🔁 11688 💬 1879 📌 918

✨ Interested in conducting research on family policy and policy learning, in an international research environment?

▶️ 1 week left to apply for our open PhD position at Bielefeld University. 👇👇👇

05.01.2026 08:40 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
FB 02 – Innenpolitik und Politische Soziologie Wir forschen und lehren zu Themen der (deutschen) Innenpolitik und der Politischen Soziologie. Dazu gehören vor allem die Wahl-, Einstellungs- und Parteienforschung. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt unserer Abteilung sind die Gebiete Rechtsextremismus, Rechtsradikalismus und Rechtspopulismus.

Join us! Wir bieten eine volle Promotionsstelle für drei Jahre @powimz.bsky.social - Verlängerung um weitere drei Jahre möglich. Alle Details hier 👇

22.12.2025 13:17 👍 15 🔁 14 💬 1 📌 0
Release announcement image with some key highlights

Release announcement image with some key highlights

It's time! Today, Zettlr turns 8, and we are proud to deliver the next major update for the app on this special day! Today marks the release day for Zettlr 4.0, a wholly rewritten and revamped version!

Read our announcement post and download Zettlr 4.0 now: zettlr.com/post/zettlr-...

26.12.2025 10:54 👍 15 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 1
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Radical Right 'Radical Right' published in 'IPSA Companion to Political Science'

Because I have been such a good boy (once again), 🎅 has an early present for me: here's a brand-new (open access) article discussing the use of #radicalright as a concept in current scholarship.

And if that wasn't already great (it is), there's more 1/3

22.12.2025 12:35 👍 31 🔁 10 💬 2 📌 1
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Hebammen: Hochschwanger, und plötzlich ist die Hebamme weg Unsere Autorin hat nur noch wenige Wochen bis zur Geburt, als ihre Hebamme ihr kündigt. Hier versucht sie herauszufinden, warum. Und ob es mehr Fälle wie sie gibt.

Unsere Autorin hat nur noch wenige Wochen bis zur Geburt, als ihre Hebamme ihr kündigt. Hier versucht sie herauszufinden, warum. Und ob es mehr Fälle wie sie gibt.

16.12.2025 14:33 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
SSSR 2025 Student  Paper Award (Published) for ‘Sacred speech: Analyzing the influence of  congressional leadership on religious rhetoric,’ published in Politics and Religion.

SSSR 2025 Student Paper Award (Published) for ‘Sacred speech: Analyzing the influence of congressional leadership on religious rhetoric,’ published in Politics and Religion.

Congratulations to @julthomson.bsky.social & @alenasmith13.bsky.social, winners of the SSSR’s 2025 Student PaperAward (Published) for ‘Sacred speech: Analyzing the influence of congressional leadership on religious rhetoric,’ published in Politics and Religion.

sssreligion.org/awards-grant...

11.12.2025 04:01 👍 6 🔁 5 💬 1 📌 0
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Release Release v4.0.0-beta.4 · Zettlr/Zettlr This fifth beta again includes a few improvements. These are mostly some cleanup, code refactoring, and a few additional fixes. Nothing major has changed. As always, see the changelog below for ful...

We have just released the possibly final beta release before we can move Zettlr 4.0 to stable! If you'd like to have a sneak peek to what we have in stock, take a look here 👇🏼

github.com/Zettlr/Zettl...

08.12.2025 09:42 👍 5 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Bar-Ilan University (Israel)
For International Graduate and Postdoctoral Students 2026
Are you interested in a short-term research experience in Israel?
Bar-Ilan University invites applications from international graduate
students (Master’s, PhD or Postdoctoral level) in all academic fields,
interested in a short-term research stay in Israel during the year
2026.
This initiative aims to foster academic collaboration and cross-cultural
exchange by hosting promising young researchers from around the
world. Participants will engage in joint research with Bar-Ilan faculty
and gain meaningful exposure to Israeli academia and society.
What Does the Program Offer?
•
•
•
•
A 1–4 month research stay working directly with a Bar-Ilan
University researcher
Participation in relevant academic courses (including those related
to Jewish Studies, History, or Political Science)
Cultural and social engagement with Israeli students
A unique opportunity to broaden your academic horizons while
building lasting scholarly connections
Financial Support:
•6,000 NIS (~1,850 USD) per month
•Priority will be given to applicants from Scandinavian countries
How to Apply?
Students must reach out directly to a Bar-Ilan University faculty
member in their field of interest to discuss potential collaboration and
request a nomination.
We recommend initiating contact as early as possible, as funding is
limited and awarded on a rolling basis.
Office of the VP: vp.internationaloffice@biu.ac.il

Bar-Ilan University (Israel) For International Graduate and Postdoctoral Students 2026 Are you interested in a short-term research experience in Israel? Bar-Ilan University invites applications from international graduate students (Master’s, PhD or Postdoctoral level) in all academic fields, interested in a short-term research stay in Israel during the year 2026. This initiative aims to foster academic collaboration and cross-cultural exchange by hosting promising young researchers from around the world. Participants will engage in joint research with Bar-Ilan faculty and gain meaningful exposure to Israeli academia and society. What Does the Program Offer? • • • • A 1–4 month research stay working directly with a Bar-Ilan University researcher Participation in relevant academic courses (including those related to Jewish Studies, History, or Political Science) Cultural and social engagement with Israeli students A unique opportunity to broaden your academic horizons while building lasting scholarly connections Financial Support: •6,000 NIS (~1,850 USD) per month •Priority will be given to applicants from Scandinavian countries How to Apply? Students must reach out directly to a Bar-Ilan University faculty member in their field of interest to discuss potential collaboration and request a nomination. We recommend initiating contact as early as possible, as funding is limited and awarded on a rolling basis. Office of the VP: vp.internationaloffice@biu.ac.il

#polisky #historysky #jewishstudies folks, opportunity for a fully funded 1-4 month research stay with us at #BarIlanU in 2026.
Inquiries to vp.internationaloffice@biu.ac.il

08.12.2025 10:10 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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I’m thrilled to share that I defended my dissertation on Monday! It examines how local elites help new parties attract voters and build local branches, using a unique dataset of ~450,000 local candidates in Germany.

It took not one but three villages to write this. A 🧵

1/6

04.12.2025 09:27 👍 99 🔁 4 💬 25 📌 1

Herzlichen Glückwunsch 🥳

04.12.2025 10:38 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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📢📢 Happy to announce a new update to the PPEG database!

The data now covers

- > 3.000 parties
- 1.100 parliamentary elections
- 402 presidential elections
- 2.044 cabinets

across 73 countries (1945 - 2025, Oct 31).

All info: ppeg.wzb.eu

We hope that data is helpful to the community!

03.12.2025 13:16 👍 93 🔁 32 💬 1 📌 2

Join us! Die Abteilung für Innenpolitik & Politische Soziologie sucht zum 01.04. eine*n neue*n Kollegin*en. Wir bieten: volle Promotionsstelle (EG13) für drei Jahre (Verlängerung um 3 Jahre möglich), flexible Arbeitszeitregelungen, kollegiales & forschungsstarkes Team. Mehr Informationen hier👇

02.12.2025 14:12 👍 28 🔁 30 💬 1 📌 0
Research Associate (Postdoc) Political Science § 28 Subsection 2 HmbHG

We're looking for a colleague (postdoc) 📢 @politikuhh.bsky.social
3+3 years
Doing your own research while teaching 2.5 courses per semester
Research agenda with links to our team (democracy, digital politics, political competition/behaviour)
DL 🗓️ 05/01
stellen.uni-hamburg.de/jobposting/6...

01.12.2025 08:56 👍 51 🔁 71 💬 0 📌 2
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🧑‍🎓 Im DFG-Projekt „Die Rolle von Religiosität für Delinquenz unter christlichen und muslimischen Jugendlichen“ suchen wir zum 01. Februar 2026 Unterstützung durch eine studentische Hilfskraft (m/w/d).

Weiterführende Informationen zum Projekt: lnkd.in/ezH34KgJ

PDF zur Ausschreibung: kfn.de/stellen/

01.12.2025 11:34 👍 5 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 1

Der Bundespräsident hat kürzlich die Zivilgesellschaft aufgerufen, sich den Rechtsextremen entgegenzustellen. Heute haben Tausende Menschen genau das gemacht, und diese Menschen sind nun also für den Bundeskanzler alle "ganz links". Puh.

29.11.2025 20:29 👍 3669 🔁 1091 💬 76 📌 25
Ein grauer Hintergrund, oben und unten sind schwarze Balken mit der Aufschrift "Black Friday". Mittig vier Ausgaben der schwarzen Hefte. Darüber steht: Die Schwarzen Hefte - Unser Black Friday Deal.

Ein grauer Hintergrund, oben und unten sind schwarze Balken mit der Aufschrift "Black Friday". Mittig vier Ausgaben der schwarzen Hefte. Darüber steht: Die Schwarzen Hefte - Unser Black Friday Deal.

📢 Gute Deals? Gibt es bei uns täglich!

Unsere schwarzen Hefte liefern seit über 70 Jahren solide Informationen für Schülerinnen und Schüler, Lehrkräfte, Studierende und alle, die politisch interessiert sind.

👉 Unser Shop, mit ganz vielen kostenlosen Materialien: www.bpb.de/shop

28.11.2025 06:53 👍 154 🔁 60 💬 4 📌 3

Our survey on research practices in Computational Communication Science is still open for participation!
#CommSky

25.11.2025 12:17 👍 6 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 0

Die @bpb.de hat sich von X verabschiedet und wird deswegen massiv von rechts kritisiert. Ich denke, da sollte man mal reinfolgen.

25.11.2025 10:38 👍 2535 🔁 865 💬 83 📌 37

Maybe @krausewe.bsky.social can give us some hints?

24.11.2025 20:25 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

@kai-arzheimer.com

24.11.2025 19:37 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Postdoctoral Research Position Deadline: 15.12.2025

📣 We're hiring a postdoc in political science for our ReJust project @uni-konstanz.de!

Project with Dirk Leuffen @leuffen.bsky.social and Urs Fischbacher

3-year position | Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025 | Start: April 2026

Please share widely 🙏

24.11.2025 05:39 👍 19 🔁 30 💬 0 📌 2