Sona Golder

@sonagolder.bsky.social

930 followers 870 following 160 posts

Political scientist, comparativist. Prof. at Penn State.
Co-PI on INSTAPARTY: Party Instability in Parliaments
(Norwegian Research Council)
https://instapartyproject.com
sonagolder.com

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Political science 54%

Economics 25%

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Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Dec 19

Looking for the lecture slides for the new (4th) edition of Principles of Comparative Politics (2024) that Matt and I used this past semester? See here: mattgolder.com/books/pocp/s... (2/3)

Reposted by Sona Golder

Department of Comparative Politics UiB @sampol.bsky.social · 4d

📣 New article
👥 @allansikk.bsky.social @sonagolder.bsky.social @ibenskasr.bsky.social @paulinasl.bsky.social
👉 Does switching pay off? The impact of parliamentary party instability on individual electoral performance
📗 Open access in Electoral Studies
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.el...

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · 5d

We find all types of party switchers less likely to run again vs non-switchers. If seeking reelection, switching is bad for all (newly independent, splits, etc.) except defectors to other parties who can benefit from high list positions w/ new party even if their personal popularity drops. See 👇

Allan Sikk @allansikk.bsky.social · 5d

Does party switching pay off for MPs? Not really, but... For details see our #instaparty paper w @sonagolder.bsky.social, @ibenskasr.bsky.social & @paulinasl.bsky.social just out in @electoralstudies.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1016/j.el...

Impact of switching on preference vote change

Reposted by Chris Hanretty, Sona Golder

Allan Sikk @allansikk.bsky.social · 5d

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · 10d

That's a good question. Komeito will want to emphasize a clear distinction, especially on corruption, and I'd expect leaving the coalition would prompt some voters to update their perceptions. But as you note, after 26 years, it's not clear how much of an immediate impact this will have on voters...

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · 10d

Diminishing electoral support + heightened policy conflict w/ the LDP over Komeito’s core issue – corruption – prompted the rupture. This illustrates general policy challenges faced by niche parties, as shown by @danbischof.bsky.social & @markuswagner.bsky.social (Bischof & Wagner BJPolS 2020) (3/3)

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · 10d

As a junior govt partner, Komeito had to navigate challenging policy differences with the LDP (Sukeui Sohn JEAS 2024), though @adampliff.bsky.social & Ko Maeda show that the parties had strong electoral incentives to cooperate (Liff & Maeda JJPS 2019) (2/3)

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · 10d

I have a piece in East Asia Forum w/ Charles Crabtree & Jinhyuk Jang on Komeito’s exit from Japan’s 26-year ruling coalition. We highlight polsci research by Sukeui Sohn; @adampliff.bsky.social & Ko Maeda; @danbischof.bsky.social & @markuswagner.bsky.social. (1/3) eastasiaforum.org/2025/12/30/j...

Japan’s Komeito exposes the logic of coalition survival

Japan’s long-standing coalition cracked when Komeito chose its identity over power, walking out rather than be tainted by the LDP’s corruption scandals

eastasiaforum.org

Reposted by David Darmofal

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Dec 1

Current Japanese politics highlight the importance of distinguishing ‘formal’ vs. ‘substantive’ minority cabinets. Our East Asia Forum article links to very useful work by @mariathurk.bsky.social and @svenjakrauss.bsky.social on this point. (Thürk LSQ 2022; Krauss & Thürk WEP 2022)

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Nov 29

I recently published a piece in East Asia Forum w/ Charles Crabtree about the challenges facing Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi as head of a minority govt (even with outside support from Ishin, the govt was just shy of a majority). eastasiaforum.org/2025/11/27/t... (1/3)

Takaichi’s Japan enters an era of fragile coalitions

Takaichi’s minority government must rely on constant bargaining and coalition-building to survive in a divided Diet.

eastasiaforum.org

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Nov 29

The minority LDP will only be able to muster a majority if Ishin continues to support from outside & every MP from both parties adheres to party discipline at all times… still a challenging situation for the PM over the long term. (3/3)

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Nov 29

Now – underscoring the perils of this kind of minority situation and the importance of party switching* – 3 independent MPs who’d been expelled from Ishin are joining the LDP! However… (2/3)
(*See doi.org/10.1111/lsq.... w/ @ibenskasr.bsky.social, @allansikk.bsky.social, @paulinasl.bsky.social)

doi.org

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Nov 29

Takaichi’s Japan enters an era of fragile coalitions

Takaichi’s minority government must rely on constant bargaining and coalition-building to survive in a divided Diet.

eastasiaforum.org

Reposted by Jürgen Maier, Hanna Bäck, Sona Golder , and 2 more Jürgen Maier, Hanna Bäck, Sona Golder, Thomas M. Meyer, Bonnie N. Field

Marc Debus @marcdebus.bsky.social · Nov 24

Interested in the theory and empirics of multi-party governments? Thomas Bräuninger and I edited a Handbook on Coalition Politics with Edward Elgar Publishing: lnkd.in/eis8Yc2y /1

Reposted by Sona Golder

Michael Nelson @mjnelson.bsky.social · Oct 26

Penn State Political Science is launching a new Semester in Washington program and we’re hiring a full-time on-site coordinator for the program, based permanently in Washington, D.C.

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Oct 17

Going to be teaching about electoral rules in European democracies next week, so thanks to everyone reacting to @simonhix.bsky.social's proposal to change NL's electoral system... Very interesting discussion of important tradeoffs.

Simon Hix @simonhix.bsky.social · Oct 17

NL needs an electoral threshold, eg. 4% (as in Sweden). It would encourage smaller parties to merge, voters to coordinate around medium and larger parties, and make coalition formation easier, governments more stable, and improve governability overall.

Come on guys, Europe needs you to do this!

Peilingwijzer @peilingwijzer.bsky.social · Oct 17

The Peilingwijzer poll of polls for the Netherlands has been updated to include the latest poll of Ipsos I&O.

📊 📈 All graphs & figures: https://peilingwijzer.tomlouwerse.nl/

Source Ipsos I&O: https://is.gd/35hl01

Reposted by Will Jennings, Albert Weale, Catherine E. De Vries , and 3 more Will Jennings, Albert Weale, Catherine E. De Vries, Sona Golder, Ben Crum, Nicolai von Ondarza

Simon Hix @simonhix.bsky.social · Oct 17

Peilingwijzer @peilingwijzer.bsky.social · Oct 17

Graph with most recent scores of Peilingwijzer poll of poll (Netherlands)

Reposted by Seema Jayachandran, Sona Golder, Stephen D. Murphy , and 2 more Seema Jayachandran, Sona Golder, Stephen D. Murphy, Samantha Brennan, Clark Gray

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · Sep 24

The US Administration is moving to severely restrict lawful, high-skill immigration.

First H-1B visas.

Next comes barring int'l students from staying to offer their talents to the US after graduation.

I wrote earlier on the economic harms Americans can expect—> www.piie.com/blogs/realti...

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Sep 23

Just began teaching about the economic determinants of democracy & dictatorship. A student's thoughtful question after class has prompted me to re-read this smart article by @jeanhong.bsky.social which is on my list of recommended materials for the week: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...

How Natural Resources Affect Authoritarian Leaders’ Provision of Public Services: Evidence from China | The Journal of Politics: Vol 80, No 1

This article examines the effects of natural resource extraction on authoritarian governments’ provision of public services, using subnational data from China. Facing no electoral constraint that woul...

www.journals.uchicago.edu

Reposted by Stephen P. Jenkins, Ruth Dassonneville, Stefan Müller , and 7 more Stephen P. Jenkins, Ruth Dassonneville, Stefan Müller, Jason Reifler, Sona Golder, Thomas M. Meyer, Martin Kreidl, Werner Krause, Florian Keusch, Claudia Landwehr

MZES Uni Mannheim @mzesunimannheim.bsky.social · Sep 22

📣 Attention, postdoctoral researchers!

❗ Apply now for our MZES Visiting Fellowships 😊

💡 Spend 2-4 weeks at the MZES to share ideas
💰 Funding for accommodation, travel, daily allowance
📆 Deadline: 28 November

Full information:
👉 www.mzes.uni-mannheim.de/en/news/deta...

Screenshot of the call for applications for MZES Visiting Fellowships, 22 September 2025. For the full text, please follow the link.

Reposted by Santiago Lago Peñas, Ignacio Lago

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Sep 21

It's official! Check out the new International Center for Decentralization and Governance, an interdisciplinary initiative for the study of decentralization, governance, and federalism. Wish I could attend the conference on Asymmetric Decentralization in Santiago de Compostela in early November...

Santiago Lago-Peñas @santiagolagop.bsky.social · Sep 21

We are thrilled to announce the launch of IDEAGOV - International Center for Decentralization and Governance. Further information at ideagov.eu

Home | IDEAGOV

ideagov.eu

Reposted by Ruth Dassonneville, Ignacio Lago, Sona Golder , and 1 more Ruth Dassonneville, Ignacio Lago, Sona Golder, Bonnie N. Field

Santiago Lago-Peñas @santiagolagop.bsky.social · Sep 21

We are thrilled to announce the launch of IDEAGOV - International Center for Decentralization and Governance. Further information at ideagov.eu

Home | IDEAGOV

ideagov.eu

Reposted by Ruth Dassonneville, Efrén O. Pérez, Sona Golder , and 1 more Ruth Dassonneville, Efrén O. Pérez, Sona Golder, Miranda J. Lubbers

Charlotte Cavaille @ccavaille.bsky.social · Sep 18

It is the time of the year when I tell you about my favorite post-doc ever 👇 Unless you are allergic to the French, this one sits up there with the Nuffield postdoc (life style, productivity, interdisciplinary stimulation). Share widely! Apply! #poliscky

www.iast.fr/research-fel...

Research Fellowships

Each year, IAST invites applications for post-doctoral Research Fellowships, which offer candidates an opportunity to devote themselves full-time to their research at the start of their careers. Fello...

www.iast.fr

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Sep 17

The other Prof. Golder has an electoral systems data paper - and a couple of updates (w/ Nils Bormann) - that were published in Electoral Studies (in 2005, 2013, 2022). mattgolder.com/elections

Elections

DES Version 5.0 (1919-2020) Nils-Christian Bormann and I are releasing version 5.0 of the Democratic Electoral Systems (DES) dataset. The new dataset is the same as DES 4.2 but expands the time per…

mattgolder.com

Reposted by Sona Golder

Max Grömping @maxgroemping.bsky.social · Sep 16

Please share widely! Great #PostDoc opportunity at one of Australia's top #PoliticalScience departments, on a #FutureFellowship on electoral resilience. 3yrs, great pay, and a workplace practically next to the Great Barrier Reef!
Closing date is 1 Oct 2025
jobs.smartrecruiters.com/GriffithUniv...

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Grade 1

Company Description: Every institution values excellence. What matters most is why. Griffith was created to be a different type of university. You’ll find we’re about leading research, academic excel...

jobs.smartrecruiters.com

Reposted by Sona Golder

Allan Sikk @allansikk.bsky.social · Sep 9

If you are in Vancouver this week, do come along to Instaparty presentations @apsa.bsky.social 2025!
instapartyproject.com
@ibenskasr.bsky.social @sonagolder.bsky.social @paulinasl.bsky.social

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Sep 8

Thanks to @elizabethbitmeehan.com for the solution so that we can easily scroll through ALL the #APSA2025 panels...
[Note that panel locations might not be up to date]

apsanet.org/wp-content/u...

apsanet.org

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Sep 8

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for.

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Sep 8

For folks heading to #APSA soon - is there a version of the program that one can scroll though and see all the information about panels (without clicking though & back each time)? Not saying I miss those thick printed programs but wanted to check that I'm not overlooking an online version of them.

Reposted by Stephen P. Jenkins, Samuel Bentolila, Sona Golder

David Evans @daveevansphd.bsky.social · Sep 2

I'm putting together a talk on a new applied micro paper, and I'm reminded that (I believe) it's very hard to outperform the structure proposed in this piece by Jesse Shapiro. shapiro.scholars.harvard.edu/sites/g/file...

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Aug 28

Looks fascinating - and a great example to use for my European politics class (which begins with 6 weeks on 20th century history) about why history matters for understanding politics today...

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan

Sona Golder @sonagolder.bsky.social · Aug 26

Me, sitting at my desk after teaching two classes, get my (sad desk) sandwich out for a quick lunch, open Bluesky for a few minutes and...

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · Aug 26

LM Arena prompt: make an image of a political scientist bewildered and horrified at recent political events. in a faculty office. photorealistic. looking at a computer. realistic setting

The sad desk sandwich really nails it.

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