Workshop on the Initiative PIVOT: Political Insights & Views Over Time
PIVOT: Political Insights & Views Over Time is a new research initiative that aims to track the evolution of political opinions and public stances over time.
In this context, we are seeking collaborators who bring diverse perspectives from both academic and industry backgrounds and are interested in participating in a half-day workshop. This event will serve as a collaborative platform to better understand the needs and expectations of all involved parties, and align our project goals with these.
What is PIVOT?
The initiative PIVOT is designed to analyze and map out the shifts in the opinions of politicians and public figures, offering insights into why and how their positions on key issues evolve over time. With the power of modern AI methodologies, most notably Large Language Models, and access to comprehensive datasets (Swissdox, Curia Vista etc.), we are equipped to track and interpret long-term opinion shifts across different domains and formats, including PDFs, speeches, and public statements.
Why This Project Matters:
- Fighting Fake News: In today’s fast-paced digital world, misinformation can spread faster than facts. Political statements are often taken out of context, which can fuel fake news and disinformation. By analyzing long-term trends in political stances, PIVOT offers a more accurate, contextualized view of politicians’ opinions over time, helping both the public and media outlets verify the authenticity of statements and counteract misinformation.
- Democracy at Stake?: With democracy being challenged globally, understanding political accountability is more crucial than ever. The project aims to create transparency around political shifts, allowing voters, policymakers, and industry leaders to track how politicians’ views evolve over time, beyond the typical 4-5 year election cycles.
- Long-Term Political Analysis: Politicians often focus on short-term outcomes, usually up to the next election cycle. PIVOT, however, takes a broader view. By using longitudinal data analysis, we aim to uncover patterns of opinion changes over years or even decades and explore the key events or influences that drive these changes.
- Public Relations & Media: For media companies or public relations teams, PIVOT’s analysis offers valuable insights into how politicians’ public stances align with or deviate from historical positions. This can be leveraged to craft informed messaging, fact-check statements, and anticipate future shifts.
- Risk Management & Consulting: Political shifts often influence business strategies, regulatory frameworks,and market stability. Partnering on this project could offer data-driven insights for businesses seeking to navigate evolving political landscapes, particularly for industries like energy, finance, or healthcare.
Meet Fellow Experts
By joining PIVOT, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with leading experts in political science, data analytics, and AI. Together, we aim to generate actionable insights that can benefit not only academia but also industries that rely on understanding political risk, public sentiment, and long-term policy trends.
Next steps
To bring PIVOT to life, we will conduct the first half-day workshop that will take place on November 25th 2024 in Bern.
We aim to gather a diverse group of potential partners from academia, industry, media, and other relevant sectors to discuss the project’s concept in detail, exchange ideas, and explore how different organizations can contribute their expertise and resources. The workshop will help us refine the objectives and identify key areas of research where collaboration is essential. Additionally, it will provide an opportunity for participants to network and connect with others working in areas such as political data analysis, media fact-checking, and longitudinal political insights.
During the workshop we will also elaborate the next steps for continuing and supporting PIVOT as a long-term project.
What we need from you
If you are interested in the project and would like to take part in the mentioned workshop, please fill in and send us this feedback and contact Veton Matoshi (msv3@bfh.ch). We would like to know about your competencies and experiences relevant for the potential project.
Feedback Form – Send to Veton Matoshi (msv3@bfh.ch)
We value every expression of interest and potential contribution to this project. To ensure a productive and focused workshop, we’ll carefully review all submissions and send official invitations to participants whose expertise and experience align closely with the project’s current needs and direction. We appreciate your understanding as we strive to create a balanced and effective collaborative environment for this initial workshop.
If you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.