Peter Allen
@peterallen.bsky.social
Professor of Politics & Co-Director of the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath, U.K. / British politics, representation, public sphere / HOW TO THINK ABOUT POLITICS out Feb(US) March(UK) w/OUP / http://www.peter-allen.co.uk
Pinned
Peter Allen
@peterallen.bsky.social
· Feb 12
My book is now available to pre-order from OUP ahead of a March 27th UK release date. Use the code AUFLY30 to get it for £11.89 — global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Reposted by Peter Allen
V happy to see this paper out with @chrisclaassen.bsky.social at @bjpols.bsky.social .
We argue that nostalgia for Britain's past is an important, distinct opinion dimension which has meaningful consequences for party evaluations and vote choice.
We argue that nostalgia for Britain's past is an important, distinct opinion dimension which has meaningful consequences for party evaluations and vote choice.
NEWS -
The Politics of Imperial Nostalgia - https://cup.org/4p1QbRA
"right-wing opposition to criticism of the imperial past is stronger than left-wing support"
- Christopher Claassen & @danjdevine.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
The Politics of Imperial Nostalgia - https://cup.org/4p1QbRA
"right-wing opposition to criticism of the imperial past is stronger than left-wing support"
- Christopher Claassen & @danjdevine.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
V happy to see this paper out with @chrisclaassen.bsky.social at @bjpols.bsky.social .
We argue that nostalgia for Britain's past is an important, distinct opinion dimension which has meaningful consequences for party evaluations and vote choice.
We argue that nostalgia for Britain's past is an important, distinct opinion dimension which has meaningful consequences for party evaluations and vote choice.
Reposted by Peter Allen
BLOG POST: An attempt to put into words my *feelings* about generative AI and why (a) I don't like being tricked into consuming it and (b) I just don't care about things that are made using it.
precastreinforced.co.uk/2025/11/21/a...
precastreinforced.co.uk/2025/11/21/a...
AI farts stink up your art
Purely as a matter of aesthetics, on an emotional, instinctive level, I reject the use of generative AI in the creative arts. When people were playing with Craiyon a few years ago, I found somethin…
precastreinforced.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 6:06 AM
BLOG POST: An attempt to put into words my *feelings* about generative AI and why (a) I don't like being tricked into consuming it and (b) I just don't care about things that are made using it.
precastreinforced.co.uk/2025/11/21/a...
precastreinforced.co.uk/2025/11/21/a...
Reposted by Peter Allen
This is pathetic, really.
I don't see such an obvious swerve achieving anything politically. A ragtag of small taxes gobbles up attention and kneecaps purposiveness. It increases vulnerabilities, including a 2026 rerun. The leadership remains on borrowed time. Nobody becomes happier.
I don't see such an obvious swerve achieving anything politically. A ragtag of small taxes gobbles up attention and kneecaps purposiveness. It increases vulnerabilities, including a 2026 rerun. The leadership remains on borrowed time. Nobody becomes happier.
November 13, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This is pathetic, really.
I don't see such an obvious swerve achieving anything politically. A ragtag of small taxes gobbles up attention and kneecaps purposiveness. It increases vulnerabilities, including a 2026 rerun. The leadership remains on borrowed time. Nobody becomes happier.
I don't see such an obvious swerve achieving anything politically. A ragtag of small taxes gobbles up attention and kneecaps purposiveness. It increases vulnerabilities, including a 2026 rerun. The leadership remains on borrowed time. Nobody becomes happier.
‘However, avoiding and engaging with politics are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Often, both impulses coexist in people, especially when faced with something as simultaneously provocative and exhausting as hard-right populism’.
Great column by Andy Beckett. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Great column by Andy Beckett. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What would you do if democracy was being dismantled before your eyes? Whatever you’re doing right now | Andy Beckett
In California, daily life under Trump is marked by sporadic resistance and avoidance. Neither will defeat the autocrats, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:12 AM
‘However, avoiding and engaging with politics are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Often, both impulses coexist in people, especially when faced with something as simultaneously provocative and exhausting as hard-right populism’.
Great column by Andy Beckett. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Great column by Andy Beckett. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Peter Allen
We are seeing increased illiberalism, and anti-liberalism, in our politics. The Labour party has a responsibility, as a government and as a centre-left political tradition, to counter this illiberalism, which takes different forms.
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
Hearts and minds | Fabian Society
Fabian Society
fabians.org.uk
October 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
We are seeing increased illiberalism, and anti-liberalism, in our politics. The Labour party has a responsibility, as a government and as a centre-left political tradition, to counter this illiberalism, which takes different forms.
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
Reposted by Peter Allen
My write-up for The Conversation on how a strategy of "short-term pain for long-term gain" could be losing the government support from the more short-term-focused of its voters:
theconversation.com/keir-starmer...
Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)
theconversation.com/keir-starmer...
Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)
Keir Starmer needs to give voters short-term gain to persuade them he can deliver long-term renewal
Keir Starmer says painful decisions are needed now to fix the country for the future. But voters may not stick around to find out if he’s right.
theconversation.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
My write-up for The Conversation on how a strategy of "short-term pain for long-term gain" could be losing the government support from the more short-term-focused of its voters:
theconversation.com/keir-starmer...
Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)
theconversation.com/keir-starmer...
Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)
Reposted by Peter Allen
Latest from our politics of impatience project - some excellent analysis by @mbarnfield.bsky.social showing Labour is losing the jam today voters.
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
October 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Latest from our politics of impatience project - some excellent analysis by @mbarnfield.bsky.social showing Labour is losing the jam today voters.
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Reposted by Peter Allen
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Reposted by Peter Allen
I’ve written a response to @samuelmoyn.bsky.social’s recent essay in Democracy Project - agreeing with him about the problem of gerontocracy, but suggesting his advocacy of weighted votes for the young ignores an obvious egalitarian alternative: compulsory voting
An egalitarian answer to gerontocracy
Debates about gerontocracy often focus on the age of leaders, but the deeper issue lies in the age of electorates. Older citizens vote far more than the young, skewing democratic outcomes. This blo…
blogs.bath.ac.uk
October 15, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I’ve written a response to @samuelmoyn.bsky.social’s recent essay in Democracy Project - agreeing with him about the problem of gerontocracy, but suggesting his advocacy of weighted votes for the young ignores an obvious egalitarian alternative: compulsory voting
Reposted by Peter Allen
This was a lot of fun to do, and with a really engaged audience of students (and future young voters) who asked some great questions.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In this special live episode recorded in front of pupils from schools in Doncaster, David talks to political scientist @robfordmancs.bsky.social about whether Nigel Farage is really going to be the UK’s next Prime Minister.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In this special live episode recorded in front of pupils from schools in Doncaster, David talks to political scientist @robfordmancs.bsky.social about whether Nigel Farage is really going to be the UK’s next Prime Minister.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:18 AM
This was a lot of fun to do, and with a really engaged audience of students (and future young voters) who asked some great questions.
A delightful but poignant find in a second-hand copy of Ulysses that bought this weekend. I doubt that someone today would think that they could ‘make their life useful again’ after a divorce by getting more involved in politics.
October 13, 2025 at 8:24 AM
A delightful but poignant find in a second-hand copy of Ulysses that bought this weekend. I doubt that someone today would think that they could ‘make their life useful again’ after a divorce by getting more involved in politics.
Reposted by Peter Allen
📣 NEW PAPER ALERT! 🚨
"School subject choices in adolescence affect political party support"
Just published in @wepsocial.bsky.social with @nspmartin.bsky.social and @rolandkappe.bsky.social.
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
🧵👇
"School subject choices in adolescence affect political party support"
Just published in @wepsocial.bsky.social with @nspmartin.bsky.social and @rolandkappe.bsky.social.
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
🧵👇
July 14, 2025 at 1:13 PM
📣 NEW PAPER ALERT! 🚨
"School subject choices in adolescence affect political party support"
Just published in @wepsocial.bsky.social with @nspmartin.bsky.social and @rolandkappe.bsky.social.
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
🧵👇
"School subject choices in adolescence affect political party support"
Just published in @wepsocial.bsky.social with @nspmartin.bsky.social and @rolandkappe.bsky.social.
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
🧵👇
Reposted by Peter Allen
Following the success of our spring seminar series earlier this year, we @psapolpsychology.bsky.social are running an autumn/winter series, with four online presentations by great scholars.
Please do register and come along to hear about some really fascinating research!
Please do register and come along to hear about some really fascinating research!
This time in two weeks, we will launch our autumn/winter seminar series. We have an exciting line-up of four online talks covering a range of topics in political psychology.
All presentations are on Thursdays at 12:00 UK.
Sign up to attend here!: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
All presentations are on Thursdays at 12:00 UK.
Sign up to attend here!: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
Political Psychology | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
Political Psychology is a multi-disciplinary group established to provide a forum for collaboration, discussion and support for political psychology scholars and practitioners as well as to facilitate...
www.psa.ac.uk
October 2, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Following the success of our spring seminar series earlier this year, we @psapolpsychology.bsky.social are running an autumn/winter series, with four online presentations by great scholars.
Please do register and come along to hear about some really fascinating research!
Please do register and come along to hear about some really fascinating research!
Reposted by Peter Allen
🚨 New article out today in @cpsjournal.bsky.social !
📄 “Strategic Inclusion Without Transformation: How Populist Radical Right Parties Engage With Women’s Interests”
With Bonnie Meguid, @hildecoffe.bsky.social & Miki Kittilson
🔗 doi.org/10.1177/0010...
📄 “Strategic Inclusion Without Transformation: How Populist Radical Right Parties Engage With Women’s Interests”
With Bonnie Meguid, @hildecoffe.bsky.social & Miki Kittilson
🔗 doi.org/10.1177/0010...
Strategic Inclusion Without Transformation: How Populist Radical Right Parties Engage With Women’s Interests - Bonnie M. Meguid, Hilde Coffé, Ana Catalano Weeks, Miki Caul Kittilson, 2025
Despite their Männerparteien reputation, populist radical right (PRR) parties have recently expanded their agendas to include women’s interests. When do they em...
doi.org
October 1, 2025 at 9:33 AM
🚨 New article out today in @cpsjournal.bsky.social !
📄 “Strategic Inclusion Without Transformation: How Populist Radical Right Parties Engage With Women’s Interests”
With Bonnie Meguid, @hildecoffe.bsky.social & Miki Kittilson
🔗 doi.org/10.1177/0010...
📄 “Strategic Inclusion Without Transformation: How Populist Radical Right Parties Engage With Women’s Interests”
With Bonnie Meguid, @hildecoffe.bsky.social & Miki Kittilson
🔗 doi.org/10.1177/0010...
Reposted by Peter Allen
Super excited to see the second paper from my PhD now published!
I find that making MPs' pay and expenses more salient significantly reduces political trust. Raising awareness of the regulator mitigates this effect when mentioning pay, but does not improve trust when expenses are mentioned.
I find that making MPs' pay and expenses more salient significantly reduces political trust. Raising awareness of the regulator mitigates this effect when mentioning pay, but does not improve trust when expenses are mentioned.
📣 New #openaccess #BJPIR article out now!
'Does independent regulation of MPs’ pay and expenses improve political trust? Evidence from a survey experiment' by Helen Bramah.
🔗 buff.ly/FPMxXzL
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
'Does independent regulation of MPs’ pay and expenses improve political trust? Evidence from a survey experiment' by Helen Bramah.
🔗 buff.ly/FPMxXzL
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Super excited to see the second paper from my PhD now published!
I find that making MPs' pay and expenses more salient significantly reduces political trust. Raising awareness of the regulator mitigates this effect when mentioning pay, but does not improve trust when expenses are mentioned.
I find that making MPs' pay and expenses more salient significantly reduces political trust. Raising awareness of the regulator mitigates this effect when mentioning pay, but does not improve trust when expenses are mentioned.
Reposted by Peter Allen
The UK’s voting system is under pressure – is reform possible?
A new APPG proposal for a National Commission could offer a fair, open path forward.
Read our latest IPR blog by @dmk1793.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/YMCsBFw
A new APPG proposal for a National Commission could offer a fair, open path forward.
Read our latest IPR blog by @dmk1793.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/YMCsBFw
Why a “National Commission” is the way forward for electoral reform
Electoral reform is back on the UK’s political agenda as First-Past-the-Post strains under the pressures of multi-party politics. The new APPG for Fair Elections proposes a National Commission to e…
blogs.bath.ac.uk
September 30, 2025 at 12:04 PM
The UK’s voting system is under pressure – is reform possible?
A new APPG proposal for a National Commission could offer a fair, open path forward.
Read our latest IPR blog by @dmk1793.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/YMCsBFw
A new APPG proposal for a National Commission could offer a fair, open path forward.
Read our latest IPR blog by @dmk1793.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/YMCsBFw
Reposted by Peter Allen
New article out in @bjpir.bsky.social that investigates the #WWE + Welsh Government 🏴 deal to host “Clash at the Castle 2002” in Cardiff.
Mixing nation branding & pro-wrestling literature it analyses how WWE fit the Cymru Wales Brand into its broadcasts. (1/?)
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Mixing nation branding & pro-wrestling literature it analyses how WWE fit the Cymru Wales Brand into its broadcasts. (1/?)
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
September 15, 2025 at 8:09 AM
New article out in @bjpir.bsky.social that investigates the #WWE + Welsh Government 🏴 deal to host “Clash at the Castle 2002” in Cardiff.
Mixing nation branding & pro-wrestling literature it analyses how WWE fit the Cymru Wales Brand into its broadcasts. (1/?)
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Mixing nation branding & pro-wrestling literature it analyses how WWE fit the Cymru Wales Brand into its broadcasts. (1/?)
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Peter Allen
It was a very great pleasure to appear on one of my favourite podcasts, and to talk with David Runciman about the Past, Present, and Future (!) of electoral reform & proportional representation
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
For the first episode in a new series about the ideas that could help democracy work better David talks to @dmk1793.bsky.social of the Constitution Society about proportional representation. When will we get serious electoral reform in the UK?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
For the first episode in a new series about the ideas that could help democracy work better David talks to @dmk1793.bsky.social of the Constitution Society about proportional representation. When will we get serious electoral reform in the UK?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
September 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
It was a very great pleasure to appear on one of my favourite podcasts, and to talk with David Runciman about the Past, Present, and Future (!) of electoral reform & proportional representation
The persistence of New Labour ideas and people was something @ntmatthews.bsky.social and I discussed in our paper from last year titled “New Labour and Political Myth”, free to read www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
September 4, 2025 at 10:43 AM
The persistence of New Labour ideas and people was something @ntmatthews.bsky.social and I discussed in our paper from last year titled “New Labour and Political Myth”, free to read www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Peter Allen
New post out:
Today we have a guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social asking whether low turnout is harming growth as well as undermining democratic legitimacy.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Today we have a guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social asking whether low turnout is harming growth as well as undermining democratic legitimacy.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Is low turnout undermining growth?
A reminder that you can read Lawrence’s post on the Tump-Putin summit here, his next post will look at the outcome.
open.substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 8:20 AM
New post out:
Today we have a guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social asking whether low turnout is harming growth as well as undermining democratic legitimacy.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Today we have a guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social asking whether low turnout is harming growth as well as undermining democratic legitimacy.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Reposted by Peter Allen
This moment never ceases to excite. Out in shops on 9 Sept...
August 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This moment never ceases to excite. Out in shops on 9 Sept...
This article is refreshing not least because it starts from the point of thinking about voters as they actually are, not as we might wish them to be. The key idea — that voters aren’t pundits and political science shouldn’t expect them to be — is crucial.
I have a new article out at @polstudies.bsky.social. In "Electoral Hope", I make the case that supposedly irrational "wishful thinking" is actually a crucial part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies.
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
August 11, 2025 at 10:35 AM
This article is refreshing not least because it starts from the point of thinking about voters as they actually are, not as we might wish them to be. The key idea — that voters aren’t pundits and political science shouldn’t expect them to be — is crucial.
Reposted by Peter Allen
🚨New book alert!🚨
Thrilled to announce that my @britishacademy.bsky.social Monograph, 'Capital, Privilege, and Political Participation,' will be published via @livunipress.bsky.social later this month.
Find details and pre-order (with discount) here: liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
Thrilled to announce that my @britishacademy.bsky.social Monograph, 'Capital, Privilege, and Political Participation,' will be published via @livunipress.bsky.social later this month.
Find details and pre-order (with discount) here: liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
August 8, 2025 at 8:40 AM
🚨New book alert!🚨
Thrilled to announce that my @britishacademy.bsky.social Monograph, 'Capital, Privilege, and Political Participation,' will be published via @livunipress.bsky.social later this month.
Find details and pre-order (with discount) here: liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
Thrilled to announce that my @britishacademy.bsky.social Monograph, 'Capital, Privilege, and Political Participation,' will be published via @livunipress.bsky.social later this month.
Find details and pre-order (with discount) here: liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
Reposted by Peter Allen
I have a new article out at @polstudies.bsky.social. In "Electoral Hope", I make the case that supposedly irrational "wishful thinking" is actually a crucial part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies.
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
August 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I have a new article out at @polstudies.bsky.social. In "Electoral Hope", I make the case that supposedly irrational "wishful thinking" is actually a crucial part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies.
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
Reposted by Peter Allen
The UK government has announced the revival of the landmark Pensions Commission, with Professor @iprnickp.bsky.social (Director of the University of Bath’s Institute for Policy Research) as one of its three members.
Read more here 🔗 buff.ly/7tL3CN3
Read more here 🔗 buff.ly/7tL3CN3
Professor Nick Pearce appointed to Pensions Commission
Professor Nick Pearce has been appointed to the revived Pensions Commission, which will examine the barriers stopping people from saving enough for retirement.
www.bath.ac.uk
July 21, 2025 at 11:59 AM
The UK government has announced the revival of the landmark Pensions Commission, with Professor @iprnickp.bsky.social (Director of the University of Bath’s Institute for Policy Research) as one of its three members.
Read more here 🔗 buff.ly/7tL3CN3
Read more here 🔗 buff.ly/7tL3CN3