Beyond changing minds

• Department of Political and Social Sciences

This session of the Political Behaviour Colloquium features a presentation by Alexander Kustov (Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina).

Can voters' issue priorities be changed in a pro-immigration direction? Recent studies suggest that those who support immigration care less about it than those who oppose it, which may explain why lawmakers don’t prioritise pro-immigration reforms even when most voters are positive. To address this, I conducted a representative US trial (N=3450) informing people about the substantial national benefits of expanding immigration and the costs of retaining restrictions. The results confirmed this information increased immigration's importance among pro-immigration voters but did not backfire by mobilising anti-immigration voters. Contrary to expectations, the information also significantly increased pro-immigration policy preferences among all respondents. The information did not change voters' sub-issue priorities within immigration or willingness to sign a petition. Overall, the information was effective beyond changing minds by shifting policy positions and priorities in a pro-immigration direction. It can thus be used as a non-targeted information campaign to promote meaningful pro-immigration reforms.

The Zoom link will be sent upon registration. If you would like to receive the paper, please contact PoliticalBehaviour.Colloquium@eui.eu.