PSRW

PSRW | Political Science Research Workshops

Please join us on Fridays 1:30-2:30 PM for the Political Science Research Workshop (PSRW).

PSRW provides an opportunity for faculty and graduate students to present and receive feedback on their work. Article manuscripts, dissertation chapters, book proposals, job market papers, and dissertation proposal drafts comprise the bulk of our presentations. Students who are on the job market and anticipate interviews in the near future may also present a practice job talk.

Upcoming Talk:

Laia Balcells

Professor of Government (Georgetown University)

"The Public Opinion Impact of Concessions to Minority Groups in Multinational Conflicts: Evidence from Two Panels"

Friday, April 3rd 1:30-2:30 PM

Pfendler Hall 241

Abstract

In contexts of multinational conflict, what is the public opinion impact of concessions by majority groups to minority groups? We examine this question by looking at the 2021 pardons of nine incarcerated Catalan politicians and political activists in Spain. In particular, we causally estimate the effects of pardons on trust on the government and the PM who granted clemency to these individuals. We use two unique survey panels ---one conducted around the time of the pardons and the other covering a larger time span--- employing a difference-in-differences design with individual fixed-effects. The results from both panels are remarkably consistent in revealing negative effects on political trust, particularly among incumbent supporters. Furthermore, results from the short panel indicate that voters with a more salient Spanish identity and more authoritarian attitudes react more negatively to the pardons. Altogether, our findings thus suggest that ---unless accompanied by complementary measures--- members of the majority group react negatively to concessions made to the minority groups.