Stony Brook University recently hosted a significant conference on political behavior, organized by the Department of Political Science. The event, held from May 29 to 31 at the Alan S. deVries Center, marked the third such gathering sponsored by the Elections, Public Opinion and Voting section of the American Political Science Association.
The theme "Studying Political Behavior in Turbulent Times" brought together faculty and PhD students from various institutions to discuss topics like political polarization, misinformation spread, democratic backsliding, and potential political violence through plenary sessions, paper presentations, poster displays, and workshops.
David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University, emphasized higher education's role in promoting social mobility. "This institution facilitates social mobility for students better than any other university in the country," he stated during his welcome remarks. He also referenced American author John Steinbeck’s views on democracy: “Steinbeck’s definition of democracy rested on both individual rights and government responsibilities.”
Leonie Huddy, SUNY distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Stony Brook University said: “There couldn’t be more pressing problems...this conference will feature some very rigorous discussions about the public and its shortcomings when it comes to democracy.”
A notable panel focused on local news' impact revealed that declining local coverage has led to higher re-election rates for incumbents while reducing partisan polarization among voters. Professor Ryan Vander Wielen noted that “the erosion of local news has serious and lasting effects on political accountability and democratic engagement.”
Another plenary addressed new survey methods. Assistant Professor Drew Engelhardt highlighted innovations aimed at improving data quality: “We want the best quality data we can get.”
American democracy was another focal point with presenters examining citizens' roles alongside their leaders in addressing misinformation. Cultural divisions within America were also discussed as factors diminishing democratic support.
Partisanship experts participated in a panel chaired by Professor Eric Groenendyk which included Stony Brook alum Alexa Bankert. Groenendyk remarked on engaging discussions covering issues like polarization and immigration.
Workshops covered diverse subjects including communication effects on public opinion and gendered candidacy. Leonie Huddy concluded: “The conference was a vibrant intellectual experience...bringing participants up-to-date on findings in numerous key areas of public opinion research.”
– Robert Emproto