iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

These US data are in line with my 7 waves of data from UK and NL since 2020. The "response on the left is to scold young people for making these sorts of investments... has left a clear opening for Republicans who are experimenting with new ways to appeal to the financial concerns of young people."

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Nina Zeelen @ninazeelen.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Rutte is the leader of VVD

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Zie ook: "Hoe kan een zo controversiële partij zoveel kiezers trekken? (..) veel kiezers stemden met immigratieproblemen in het achterhoofd. (..) [Zij zien] problemen die politici laten liggen – en zouden zelfs op de duivel stemmen om die problemen opgelost te krijgen." sargasso.nl/kroniek-aang...

sargasso.nl

Kroniek van een aangekondigde zelfmoord - Sargasso

Ondanks alle waarschuwingen koos de Duitse bondskanselier Angela Merkel niet voor de strategie van isoleren en imiteren tegen Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), in tegenstelling tot al haar voorganger...

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Will Allen @williamlallen.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

🗳️ Did my civic duty this morning and sent my absentee ballot for the Michigan primaries in this year’s midterm elections. Some very important races including the open Senate seat and ones for my district (MI-8) which is one of the swingiest in the country ⚖️ Get informed and go vote!

An envelope labelled ‘absent voter ballot’ being held in front of a postbox, marking the moment a vote is cast from
abroad.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

In 2017 and 2021, Dutch PM Mark Rutte seemed electorally successful with his tactic of isolating and imitating the PVV. In 2023, Rutte's successor stopped the 'isolation' part. She opened the door to political cooperation with the PVV. Our research suggests that that in fact helped PVV win votes.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Rutte did so in 2017 & 2021. This was the 'imitation' in his tactic of isolating & imitating the PVV. Our research suggests that, on average, this tactic costs the far right votes. In 2023, Rutte's successor stopped the 'isolation' part. Our research suggests *that* in fact helped PVV win votes.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Fascinating work. Crypto prevalent "among younger, male, financially engaged" citizens. Its conclusions are generally in line with ours, based on attitudes to, expectations & policy preferences about, & possession of cryptocurrency in 2 countries since 2020. See scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=n...

scholar.google.com

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

This weekend in Dutch newspaper @volkskrant.nl: @uva.nl (and @ascor.bsky.social) stars (and role models) @pmvalkenburg.bsky.social and @claesdevreese.bsky.social... on one page! The front page of the science supplement. Patti because of her valedictory lecture, Claes because of his Stevin award.

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Roman Senninger @rsenninger.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

The Department of Political Science at Aarhus University is hiring both Assistant Professors and Associate Professors. Assistant Professor: international.au.dk/about/profil... Associate Professor: international.au.dk/about/profil... Please share these opportunities with your networks!

international.au.dk

Assistant Professor in Political Science - Vacancy at Aarhus University

Vacancy at Department of Political Science, Aarhus University

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Today in Dutch newspaper @volkskrant.nl: Dutch Muslim organizations want to have PVV leader Geert #Wilders prosecuted for distributing a controversial image. What are the effects of such hate speech prosecution of politicians? See the 2025 book by Rachid Azrout & me for evidence from 9 countries.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Today in Dutch newspaper @volkskrant.nl, journalist Peter de Waard: "If hackers obtain private data from citizens, politicians scream bloody murder. But if banks do it, politicians encourage it. The BKR records every debt. Banks are going further, claiming to want to stay ahead of changing laws".

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Right now at the #politicologenetmaal in Gent, Belgium: Rachid Azrout presents a paper, co-authored by myself, on reactions to the PVV and their electoral effects 2017-2025. We analyse media and survey data to assess our theoretical model. @vpw-politicologie.bsky.social @gasparugent.bsky.social

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Studies on stigma suggest that such action normalizes extremism. Some of my studies indicate that isolating extremists costs them votes (if combined with imitation). Vice versa, a study by Rachid Azrout & me suggests that the VVD bringing in the PVV from the cold (2023) brought the PVV many votes.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The Louvain Penal Court has sentenced Dries Van Langenhove to a €4k fine for a lecture at KU Leuven. What are the effects of such cases? Read the book "Prosecuting Politicians for Hate Speech & the Consequences for Democracy" (Oxford UP, 2025) by Rachid Azrout & me on 51 such cases in 9 countries.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Today in Dutch newspaper @volkskrant.nl: Great article by @arnoutleclercq.bsky.social on Hungary, also starring @zsolt.bsky.social: "Particularly in smaller towns and within vulnerable groups, people did not dare to vote for another party for fear of losing their jobs or missing out on state aid."

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Het is natuurlijk prettig om te denken dat de stijging van JA21 en FvD de schuld zou zijn van de VVD. Probleem is: er zijn weinig aanwijzingen voor. Wel zijn er aanwijzingen voor een heel andere verklaring. Die geen likes op BlueSky genereert. En die @sanderschimmelp.bsky.social liever niet hoort.

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Claes de Vreese @claesdevreese.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The Dutch Media Regulatory Authority published a report calling for the government, the EU, civil society, and citizens to make full use of EU regulations attempting to limit democracy-undermining social media algorithms and feeds. I spoke to @nieuws.nos.nl about the report. nos.nl/artikel/2615...

nos.nl

Vier vragen over rapport gevaren sociale media: 'We staan op een keerpunt'

De informatiestroom op sociale media vormt volgens het Commissariaat voor de Media een risico voor de democratie.

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Eric Smit @esmit-thefirewall.eurosky.social · 17/05/2026

Goed Nieuws! Wij zijn gisterochtend met de crowdfunding voor The Firewall begonnen en inmiddels hebben zich meer dan 2.000 medestanders gemeld en beschikken we over meer dan 90 bondgenoten! #StaOpTegenBigTech en word ook medestander van @thefirewall.eurosky.social ! www.thefirewall.eu/doe-mee

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Today at Dutch news site @rtl.nl : "Celebrity Lawyer Spong thinks Markuszower can be prosecuted for public statement". In the book by Rachid & me, read about when Spong thought that another politician, Geert Wilders, could be prosecuted - and other cases in 9 countries. www.rtl.nl/nieuws/polit...

rtl.nl

Advocaat Spong denkt dat Markuszower kan worden vervolgd voor uitspraak over Palestijnen

De uitspraken van Tweede Kamerlid Gidi Markuszower over dat Nederland Palestijnse asielzoekers 'met geweld' bij de grens zou moeten tegenhouden, zijn volgens advocaat Gerard Spong te zien als opruiing...

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Big win for Dutch extreme right party FvD. A local branch reached a political agreement with a local branch of mainstream right party VVD. The local VVD even proudly announces it on its website! Sure, it's just an "outline agreement" at the local level. But...the FvD! www.vvd.nl/gemeente-lel...

vvd.nl

Hoofdlijnenakkoord 2026-2030 met PVV, FvD en Mooi Lelystad - LELYSTAD

Vandaag presenteren wij samen met de PVV, FvD en Mooi Lelystad een hoofdlijnenakkoord voor de raadsperiode 2026–2030. Deze vier partijen maken hiermee helder op welke onderwerpen zij elkaar hebben gev...

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Wissensnetzwerk Rechtsextremismusforschung @wi-rex.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Evalutating the extent to which right-wing parties are stigmatised as extremists and racists, Miku Matsunaga & @joostvanspanje.bsky.social depict that a communist legacy reduces the extent of stigmat. while a fascist legacy links to a weak correlation to racist stigma (OA): doi.org/10.1080/1350...

doi.org

The stigma on right-wing parties: perceptions and voting behaviour

Right-wing parties are often stigmatised as extremists and racists. However, the extent to which voters perceive a party as stigmatised and the impact of such perceptions on voting behaviour remain...

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Your regular reminder that the far right has no incentive to solve problems. Only to make things worse. Just as Trump and Le Pen before, Wilders kills a strict immigration bill. Ignoring many who voted for him. For example, the 23.5% of 2023 voters, ~87% of whom voted PVV because of immigration.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Shocking, fascinating documentary. "The Propagandist" by @human.nl . About Jan Theunissen (1898-1975), the Dutch 'film czar' during the Nazi occupation. Interviewed about his films and personal life, contrasted with investigative research. Watched via @npostart.bsky.social . Highly recommended.

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Sarah de Lange @sldelange.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

🚨 VACATURE Het Instituut Politieke Wetenschap van Uni Leiden is op zoek naar twee UD2s met expertise in één of meer van de volgende gebieden: de Europese Unie-politiek, politieke economie, milieupolitiek, beleid en/of de Nederlandse politiek. careers.universiteitleiden.nl/job/Universi...

careers.universiteitleiden.nl

Universitair Docenten Politieke Wetenschap

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Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Incoming Hungarian PM Péter Magyar went on Orbán's state TV today for the first time in 18 months: "This factory of lies will end once the Tisza govt is formed... What has been going on here since 2010, which even Goebbels or the North Korean dictator would have been envious of, cannot continue."

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Reto Bürgisser @retobuergisser.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

🚨 Job Alert 🚨 We have an opening for a 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗰 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 @stawi-univie.bsky.social starting Aug/Sep 2026! Focus: political representation, party competition, political institutions, political economy, political behavior, or related fields 📅Apply by 29 April 2026 jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Universi...

Job vacancy announcement for a postdoctoral position at the University of Vienna Department of Government, starting August/September 2026. Research focus includes political representation, party competition, political institutions, political economy, political behavior, or related fields. Application deadline: 29 April 2026. Full details are also available through the shared link.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Today at @nieuws.nos.nl: In 2024, 25 of 66 inspected farmers violated pesticide rules. Excessive pesticide levels had been found in surface water in the inspected areas in 2022. NL is one of the EU countries where water quality is the worst, with further decline in recent years. nos.nl/l/2609532

nos.nl

Boeren overtreden regels bestrijdingsmiddelen, NVWA vindt dat zorgwekkend

Bijna twee op de vijf onderzochte telers overtraden de regels, blijkt uit een controle van de Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA).

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

This is exactly the opposite of what the EU must do. It must solve crises, not avoiding them. Watering down the ETS is hazardous longterm in many ways. If only because millions of Europeans worry about environmental issues. This only radicalizes many of these citizens. www.nu.nl/klimaat/6391...

nu.nl

Brussel stelt eerste versoepeling van belangrijkste klimaatmaatregel voor

De belangrijkste klimaatmaatregel van de EU gaat mogelijk op de schop. De Europese Commissie wil het zogeheten emissiehandelssysteem, dat bepaalt hoeveel CO2 grote bedrijven mogen uitstoten, versoepel...

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

nu.nl

Brussel stelt eerste versoepeling van belangrijkste klimaatmaatregel voor

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

"It actually frightens me that I consider [Reform / Le Pen / AfD / PVV / etc] as an option, but" Hmm, what theme would make voters nonetheless consider them as an option? This may be a current version of the early 20th-century "It actually frightens me that I consider socialists as an option, but"

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Recalculated results of the Dutch local elections are in. Yet another signal: opposition to immigration. It is a key reason voters support the 4 largest winners, especially FvD and PVV. Also some local parties successfully rallied on immigration. Moreover, the biggest loser has a different stance.

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Roderik Rekker @roderikrekker.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

👇🚨Just one week left to apply!🚨👇

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Fully agree with this piece about FvD (~4% of the vote in yesterday's local elections): "FvD downplays extremist statements and connections (..) As long as the party does not distance itself from such extremist organizations and ideas, and normalizes them, it is justified to label it as extremist."

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Important and clear contribution. Remarkably well written. Its key argument is elegant and forceful while evidently core to political science. Highly recommended.

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Claes de Vreese @claesdevreese.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Meta claims to have banned political ads in the EU Ahead of the Hungarian elections, 457 political ads appeared in the first 6 weeks of 2026 from Orban’s Fidesz and 2 opposition parties. The no-political-ad policy is not well enforced. Source: Lakmusz www.linkedin.com/pulse/russia...

linkedin.com

Russian disinformation campaigns against Hungarian opposition figures, 457 political ads in 6 weeks and AI-generated videos once again

Until the elections in April, we closely monitor social media and traditional media, with a particular focus on disinformation related to the elections and false or misleading content spread by the ca...

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Ton Aarts @tonaarts.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

85% van ALLE (!) appels in EU bevat een pesticiden-cocktail "In 8 of 13 countries surveyed — including Germany, Poland, NL and Croatia — every single sample contained multiple pesticide residues" "Denmark: just 20%" www.euronews.com/culture/2026...

euronews.com

Eight out of ten apples in Spain have toxic pesticides in them

A study coordinated by PAN Europe across 13 countries has found that 85% of conventionally grown apples tested contained multiple pesticides at the same time. In Spain, the figure stands at 80%. The c...

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Update: As @robfordmancs.bsky.social said to @theguardian.com, zero net migration may offer Labour "the opportunity to steer the domestic political agenda away from" Reform's key topic. Other experts stress that Labour loses votes to Greens & LD. Yes, *for now*, but Labour may play the long game.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

@robfordmancs.bsky.social in @theguardian.com: "zero net migration would provide Starmer with the opportunity to steer the domestic political agenda away from" migration (..) will tumble down the list of voters’ concerns (..) “voters could peel away from” Reform www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.com

UK migration could be negative this year – how will that hit the economy?

Universities, builders and health trusts are feeling the squeeze, as thinktank says effect of zero net migration could be similar to Brexit

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Today in Dutch newspaper @parool.nl: "Who wants the CBDC?" For an answer to that question, I have carried out high-quality surveys among Dutch and UK citizens since 2024. Of course, the first answering option was "I do not know what CBDCs are". Those who know could indicate their position to it.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Yesterday in @volkskrant.nl: "Discriminatory statements by politicians about certain groups are strong predictors of discriminatory social media reactions" For such study of 9 countries by Rachid Azrout & me, see "Prosecuting Politicians for Hate Speech & the Consequences for Democracy" (OUP 2025)

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Vandaag in @volkskrant.nl, een interessant interview met voormalig directeur @leefomgeving.bsky.social Klaas van Egmond.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Ouch! The D66 communications crowd are having a bad day. Today in Dutch newspaper @volkskrant.nl: "D66 the PM, VVD the policies (..) Comparing the government coalition agreement with each of the three party manifestoes leads to the conclusion: the VVD receives a lot while D66 gets just a little".

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

De dag die je wist dat zou komen: De dag dat een Nederlandse bank "beleggen in cryptovaluta" zou gaan aanbieden.

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Today in Dutch newspaper @parool.nl: 2% of working people in the Netherlands live in poverty. Half of these 175,000 working poor live well below the poverty line. Even for people with average salaries, it can be difficult to make ends meet. And, it is often impossible to find affordable housing.

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John Bull @garius.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Smallbones died in 1976. He seems never to have talked about what he did. I suspect like others he felt guilt at not saving more. The British Government acknowledged the existence of the Smallbones Scheme in 2008. He was posthumously awarded the medal of a British Hero of the Holocaust in 2013 /22

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Joost van Spanje @joostvanspanje.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Today in Dutch newspaper @volkskrant.nl: Impeached South Korean President Yoon Sok Yeol sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. This is the first of several court cases surrounding his 2024 coup attempt. Just as, for instance, Jair Bolsonaro's plans in Brazil, this coup attempt will not go unpunished.

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Vicente Valentim @valentimvicente.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Portugal is having a presidential election tomorrow (Sunday). It is a fairly unusual one, which is representative of how much the political landscape has changed in the country. Here is some quick context about it, in case that is of interest: 1/9

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JEPP Journal @jeppjournal.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Miku Matsunaga & @joostvanspanje.bsky.social : The stigma on right-wing parties: perceptions and voting behaviour 🔗 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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