Julian Erhardt
Biographic Data
| ID | 4044241 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Julian Erhardt |
| GIVEN NAMES | Julian |
| FAMILY NAME | Erhardt |
| SIGNATURE | ERHARDT J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Bern |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4705-8889 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 12 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 104 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 12 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2019 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
A spectre of democracy: Are Populist Citizens Less Supportive of Democracy
In academic and public debates, populism has been portrayed both as a threat and a corrective to democracy. In the article, this debate is approached from the perspective of citizens’ attitudes and it is asked whether more populist citizens are less supportive of democracy. Using data from an original 6-country panel, robust evidence is presented that populism is indeed negatively related to democratic regime preferences. By disentangling populis…
The democratic personality? The big five, authoritarianism and regime preference in consolidated democracies
Research frequently contends that support for democracy is a comparatively stable attitude. A previously neglected explanation for this finding is that regime preferences rest on deeply rooted psychological foundations. This article develops theoretical arguments about how the big five personality traits relate to democratic regime preferences in consolidated democracies, and presents empirical evidence using original survey data for six Western …
Rally around your fellows: Information and social trust in a real-world experiment during the corona crisis
In this paper, we claim that information about social cohesion during a crisis influences social trust. We maintain that it is key to distinguish between positive and negative information about social cohesion during the crisis as well as between different forms of social trust, namely particularized trust, identity-based trust, and trust in strangers. Using a real-world survey experiment, we show that positive information on social cohesion has …
Crafting Social Integration? Welfare State and Volunteering Across Social Groups and Policy Areas in 23 European Countries
The beneficial role of voluntary work for social integration makes it an important aspect of social cohesion. Thus, there is broad interest in understanding the individual and contextual foundations of volunteering. With regard to the latter, a particular focus is on the role of policies and institutions of the welfare state. They might set incentives for civic engagement and create new scope for voluntary work (crowding-in thesis), but they migh…
Leaving democracy? Pandemic threat, emotional accounts and regime support in comparative perspective
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments even in consolidated democracies have adopted drastic measures, temporarily constraining individual freedoms and expanding executive political decision making. In light of this trade-off between public health measures and democratic norms, it becomes crucial to assess the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on public support for democratic versus authoritarian regimes. Following insights of th…
The pandemic and the question of national belonging: Exposure to covid‐19 threat and conceptions of nationhood
Drawing on the behavioural immune system hypothesis, we argue that the prevalence of the Covid‐19 pandemic threat in an individual's respective environment relates to exclusive, ethnic conceptions of nationhood. Referring to the affective intelligence theory, we maintain that specific negative emotions are prompted by the perception of being exposed to a pandemic threat, and these emotional states in turn structure political preferences regarding…
Political support through representation by the government. Evidence from Dutch panel data
Research on political support demonstrates that satisfaction with democracy is higher among electoral winners than losers, and that it is higher for citizens who are ideologically more congruent with the government. In this paper, I analyze how support for the political system is affected by representation by the government. Expanding on previous studies, I leverage long‐run panel data from the Dutch LISS panel spanning over several electoral cyc…
What drives political support? Evidence from a survey experiment at the onset of the corona crisis
In times of severe crises, citizens are frequently found to rally-'round-the-flag – i.e. to increase trust in their government. Drawing on an original survey experiment with real-world information at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, we portray the saliency of rally-relevant issues of the crisis. Contrary to our expectation, this priming effect lowers governmental trust. Mediation analyses show that respondents are more trusting towards thei…
National identity and populism: The relationship between conceptions of nationhood and populist attitudes
Conventional wisdom argues that national identity and populism go hand in hand. We disentangle this relationship by examining how populist attitudes relate to two distinct conceptions of nationhood: civic and ethnic national identity. We argue that a civic conception of nationhood is negatively related to populism, while an ethnic conception of nationhood is positively related. Additionally, we expect these relationships to be moderated by socio‐…
The Emotional Foundations of Political Support: How Fear and Anger Affect Trust in the Government in Times of the Covid‐19 Pandemic
Crises like the current coronavirus pandemic evoke negative emotions in the general public. To date, however, little research has been conducted on the influence of these mental states on trust in the government – the uncontested key player in times of crises. Drawing on the appraisal and affective intelligence theories of emotions, we argue that fear and anger as the two crucial negative emotions in times of crises have divergent effects on trus…
National identity between democracy and autocracy: A Comparative Analysis of 24 Countries
Recognizing democratic backsliding and increasing support for authoritarianism, research on public preferences for democracy and its authoritarian alternatives has gained traction. Moving beyond the extant focus on economic determinants, our analysis examines the effect of national identity, demonstrating that it is a double-edged sword for regime preferences. Using recent European Values Survey data on 24 European countries from 2017 to 2018, we…
The Janus-Face of Digitalization: The Relation Between Internet Use and Civic Engagement Reconsidered
Research on the influence of digital technology on civic engagement debates whether Internet use leads to the decline of civic engagement or enables new social contacts and exchanges. We argue that whether Internet use has positive or negative effects on our civic engagement depends on how we use the Internet: Social Internet use and Internet use for information strengthen civic engagement, while private Internet use and Internet use for entertai…
National identity between democracy and autocracy: A Comparative Analysis of 24 Countries
Recognizing democratic backsliding and increasing support for authoritarianism, research on public preferences for democracy and its authoritarian alternatives has gained traction. Moving beyond the extant focus on economic determinants, our analysis examines the effect of national identity, demonstrating that it is a double-edged sword for regime preferences. Using recent European Values Survey data on 24 European countries from 2017 to 2018, we…
The Emotional Foundations of Political Support: How Fear and Anger Affect Trust in the Government in Times of the Covid‐19 Pandemic
Crises like the current coronavirus pandemic evoke negative emotions in the general public. To date, however, little research has been conducted on the influence of these mental states on trust in the government – the uncontested key player in times of crises. Drawing on the appraisal and affective intelligence theories of emotions, we argue that fear and anger as the two crucial negative emotions in times of crises have divergent effects on trus…
Leaving democracy? Pandemic threat, emotional accounts and regime support in comparative perspective
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments even in consolidated democracies have adopted drastic measures, temporarily constraining individual freedoms and expanding executive political decision making. In light of this trade-off between public health measures and democratic norms, it becomes crucial to assess the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on public support for democratic versus authoritarian regimes. Following insights of th…
National identity and populism: The relationship between conceptions of nationhood and populist attitudes
Conventional wisdom argues that national identity and populism go hand in hand. We disentangle this relationship by examining how populist attitudes relate to two distinct conceptions of nationhood: civic and ethnic national identity. We argue that a civic conception of nationhood is negatively related to populism, while an ethnic conception of nationhood is positively related. Additionally, we expect these relationships to be moderated by socio‐…
The pandemic and the question of national belonging: Exposure to covid‐19 threat and conceptions of nationhood
Drawing on the behavioural immune system hypothesis, we argue that the prevalence of the Covid‐19 pandemic threat in an individual's respective environment relates to exclusive, ethnic conceptions of nationhood. Referring to the affective intelligence theory, we maintain that specific negative emotions are prompted by the perception of being exposed to a pandemic threat, and these emotional states in turn structure political preferences regarding…
The Janus-Face of Digitalization: The Relation Between Internet Use and Civic Engagement Reconsidered
Research on the influence of digital technology on civic engagement debates whether Internet use leads to the decline of civic engagement or enables new social contacts and exchanges. We argue that whether Internet use has positive or negative effects on our civic engagement depends on how we use the Internet: Social Internet use and Internet use for information strengthen civic engagement, while private Internet use and Internet use for entertai…
The democratic personality? The big five, authoritarianism and regime preference in consolidated democracies
Research frequently contends that support for democracy is a comparatively stable attitude. A previously neglected explanation for this finding is that regime preferences rest on deeply rooted psychological foundations. This article develops theoretical arguments about how the big five personality traits relate to democratic regime preferences in consolidated democracies, and presents empirical evidence using original survey data for six Western …
Rally around your fellows: Information and social trust in a real-world experiment during the corona crisis
In this paper, we claim that information about social cohesion during a crisis influences social trust. We maintain that it is key to distinguish between positive and negative information about social cohesion during the crisis as well as between different forms of social trust, namely particularized trust, identity-based trust, and trust in strangers. Using a real-world survey experiment, we show that positive information on social cohesion has …
Political support through representation by the government. Evidence from Dutch panel data
Research on political support demonstrates that satisfaction with democracy is higher among electoral winners than losers, and that it is higher for citizens who are ideologically more congruent with the government. In this paper, I analyze how support for the political system is affected by representation by the government. Expanding on previous studies, I leverage long‐run panel data from the Dutch LISS panel spanning over several electoral cyc…
Crafting Social Integration? Welfare State and Volunteering Across Social Groups and Policy Areas in 23 European Countries
The beneficial role of voluntary work for social integration makes it an important aspect of social cohesion. Thus, there is broad interest in understanding the individual and contextual foundations of volunteering. With regard to the latter, a particular focus is on the role of policies and institutions of the welfare state. They might set incentives for civic engagement and create new scope for voluntary work (crowding-in thesis), but they migh…
What drives political support? Evidence from a survey experiment at the onset of the corona crisis
In times of severe crises, citizens are frequently found to rally-'round-the-flag – i.e. to increase trust in their government. Drawing on an original survey experiment with real-world information at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, we portray the saliency of rally-relevant issues of the crisis. Contrary to our expectation, this priming effect lowers governmental trust. Mediation analyses show that respondents are more trusting towards thei…
A spectre of democracy: Are Populist Citizens Less Supportive of Democracy
In academic and public debates, populism has been portrayed both as a threat and a corrective to democracy. In the article, this debate is approached from the perspective of citizens’ attitudes and it is asked whether more populist citizens are less supportive of democracy. Using data from an original 6-country panel, robust evidence is presented that populism is indeed negatively related to democratic regime preferences. By disentangling populis…
The Janus-Face of Digitalization: The Relation Between Internet Use and Civic Engagement Reconsidered
Research on the influence of digital technology on civic engagement debates whether Internet use leads to the decline of civic engagement or enables new social contacts and exchanges. We argue that whether Internet use has positive or negative effects on our civic engagement depends on how we use the Internet: Social Internet use and Internet use for information strengthen civic engagement, while private Internet use and Internet use for entertai…
National identity between democracy and autocracy: A Comparative Analysis of 24 Countries
Recognizing democratic backsliding and increasing support for authoritarianism, research on public preferences for democracy and its authoritarian alternatives has gained traction. Moving beyond the extant focus on economic determinants, our analysis examines the effect of national identity, demonstrating that it is a double-edged sword for regime preferences. Using recent European Values Survey data on 24 European countries from 2017 to 2018, we…
National identity and populism: The relationship between conceptions of nationhood and populist attitudes
Conventional wisdom argues that national identity and populism go hand in hand. We disentangle this relationship by examining how populist attitudes relate to two distinct conceptions of nationhood: civic and ethnic national identity. We argue that a civic conception of nationhood is negatively related to populism, while an ethnic conception of nationhood is positively related. Additionally, we expect these relationships to be moderated by socio‐…
The Emotional Foundations of Political Support: How Fear and Anger Affect Trust in the Government in Times of the Covid‐19 Pandemic
Crises like the current coronavirus pandemic evoke negative emotions in the general public. To date, however, little research has been conducted on the influence of these mental states on trust in the government – the uncontested key player in times of crises. Drawing on the appraisal and affective intelligence theories of emotions, we argue that fear and anger as the two crucial negative emotions in times of crises have divergent effects on trus…
What drives political support? Evidence from a survey experiment at the onset of the corona crisis
In times of severe crises, citizens are frequently found to rally-'round-the-flag – i.e. to increase trust in their government. Drawing on an original survey experiment with real-world information at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, we portray the saliency of rally-relevant issues of the crisis. Contrary to our expectation, this priming effect lowers governmental trust. Mediation analyses show that respondents are more trusting towards thei…
Crafting Social Integration? Welfare State and Volunteering Across Social Groups and Policy Areas in 23 European Countries
The beneficial role of voluntary work for social integration makes it an important aspect of social cohesion. Thus, there is broad interest in understanding the individual and contextual foundations of volunteering. With regard to the latter, a particular focus is on the role of policies and institutions of the welfare state. They might set incentives for civic engagement and create new scope for voluntary work (crowding-in thesis), but they migh…
Leaving democracy? Pandemic threat, emotional accounts and regime support in comparative perspective
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments even in consolidated democracies have adopted drastic measures, temporarily constraining individual freedoms and expanding executive political decision making. In light of this trade-off between public health measures and democratic norms, it becomes crucial to assess the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on public support for democratic versus authoritarian regimes. Following insights of th…
The pandemic and the question of national belonging: Exposure to covid‐19 threat and conceptions of nationhood
Drawing on the behavioural immune system hypothesis, we argue that the prevalence of the Covid‐19 pandemic threat in an individual's respective environment relates to exclusive, ethnic conceptions of nationhood. Referring to the affective intelligence theory, we maintain that specific negative emotions are prompted by the perception of being exposed to a pandemic threat, and these emotional states in turn structure political preferences regarding…
Political support through representation by the government. Evidence from Dutch panel data
Research on political support demonstrates that satisfaction with democracy is higher among electoral winners than losers, and that it is higher for citizens who are ideologically more congruent with the government. In this paper, I analyze how support for the political system is affected by representation by the government. Expanding on previous studies, I leverage long‐run panel data from the Dutch LISS panel spanning over several electoral cyc…
A spectre of democracy: Are Populist Citizens Less Supportive of Democracy
In academic and public debates, populism has been portrayed both as a threat and a corrective to democracy. In the article, this debate is approached from the perspective of citizens’ attitudes and it is asked whether more populist citizens are less supportive of democracy. Using data from an original 6-country panel, robust evidence is presented that populism is indeed negatively related to democratic regime preferences. By disentangling populis…
The democratic personality? The big five, authoritarianism and regime preference in consolidated democracies
Research frequently contends that support for democracy is a comparatively stable attitude. A previously neglected explanation for this finding is that regime preferences rest on deeply rooted psychological foundations. This article develops theoretical arguments about how the big five personality traits relate to democratic regime preferences in consolidated democracies, and presents empirical evidence using original survey data for six Western …
Rally around your fellows: Information and social trust in a real-world experiment during the corona crisis
In this paper, we claim that information about social cohesion during a crisis influences social trust. We maintain that it is key to distinguish between positive and negative information about social cohesion during the crisis as well as between different forms of social trust, namely particularized trust, identity-based trust, and trust in strangers. Using a real-world survey experiment, we show that positive information on social cohesion has …
Political science (12 works) · Law (9 works) · Sociology (9 works) · Politics (8 works) · Psychology (7 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Democracy (6 works) · Economics (6 works) · Law (6 works) · Political economy (6 works)