04.11.2026: Antrittsvorlesungen Prof. Dr. Balietti und Prof Dr. Leininger
Prof. Dr. Anca Balietti
Titel: "From Evidence to Action: The Role of Beliefs in Environmental and Social Behavior"
Governments often provide information about environmental and social risks to encourage individuals to make better-informed decisions and adjust their behavior. Yet individuals do not necessarily respond directly to the information provided. Their decisions are also shaped by their beliefs, which may be incomplete, inaccurate, or influenced by how information is interpreted. This lecture examines how gaps between evidence and beliefs can shape behavior, why information may not always have the intended effects, and what approaches may help bridge the gap between evidence and action.
Prof. Arndt Leininger, PhD
Titel: "Polarization and Direct Democracy: The 2026 Olympic Referendum in Hamburg"
Why do people come to dislike those who disagree with them? Political scientists call this affective polarization, which they usually study between supporters of rival parties. But can such divisions also emerge around an issue that was hardly discussed until recently? This lecture uses Hamburg's 2026 Olympic referendum to explore this question. First, it explains what polarization is, why it matters for democracy, and how surveys allow researchers to capture not only what people think but also how they feel about one another. Using a survey of Hamburg residents conducted before, during, and after the vote, the lecture then traces how feelings between supporters and opponents of the Olympic bid evolved. It also examines whether these feelings affected voter turnout and what this tells us about referendums as a democratic tool. The survey was conducted by the DFG-funded Emmy Noether research group, "Polarization in and through Referendums."