Braeden Davis

PhD Candidate
Department of Political Science
University of California, Davis

CV

Bio

I am a PhD Candidate studying political science at the University of California Davis. I research the cleavage lines driving the growing contention, dislike, and distrust in western democracies. My research uses both observational and experimental methods to address this question, with a particular emphasis on populism and affective polarization in Europe.I have a secondary interest in monarchies in modern democracies and on whether they have any real effect on political outcomes.

I grew up in Everett, Washington, and have lived in Utah, Virginia, and now California.

Education

PhD in Political Science, 2026 (expected) | University of California Davis

BA in Political Science, 2021 | Brigham Young University

Research interests

Populism | Affective Polarization | Support for Democracy | Monarchy

Book

  • Adams, James, Josephine Andrews, Timea Balogh, Braeden Davis, Alexa Federice, Noam Gidron, and Will Horne. Who Attacks Whom? The Correlates of Media Reports of Inter-party Conflict and Cooperation Between European Elites. Cambridge University Press. Under Contract.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

  • Davis, Braeden, Jay Goodliffe, Kirk Hawkins. 2025. “The Two-Way Effects of Populism on Affective Polarization.” Comparative Political Science. Available Here
  • Davis, Braeden and Huang, Yu-Shiuan. 2025. “Happy and Glorious? Experimental Evidence on the Sometimes-Unifying Effects of the British Monarchy.” Electoral Studies. Available Here

Working Papers

  • “The Left Right Divide in Democratic Disappointment and Populism in Europe.” Braeden Davis. (R&R at Government and Opposition). Available Here
  • “Who Attacks Whom? The Determinants of Cross-National Conflict in the European Union: Populism and Euroscepticism.” James Adams, Josephine Andrews, Braeden Davis, and Alexa Federice. (Under Review) Available Here
  • “What Do Electoral Losers Worry About? Democracy, Policy, or Overall Well-Being?” Braeden Davis, Yu-Shiuan Huang. Available Here
  • “How to Treat Populists: Elite Conflict and Changes in European Parties’ Vote Shares.” Braeden Davis, Alexa Federice. Available Here