Projects

Immigration is one of the most contentious political issues in contemporary democracies, generating public backlash and policy instability. Explanations for immigration attitudes have traditionally emphasized two perspectives: group threat theory, which holds that dominant groups react defensively when immigration challenges cultural identity, national character, or established hierarchies; and economic competition theory, which views attitudes as shaped by perceived individual or national economic risks. Recent work introduces a third perspective: civic fairness, which claims that citizens assess immigration through moral principles of legal compliance and equal opportunity, potentially superseding both group-based concerns and economic calculations.

This project extends the civic fairness framework by testing whether perceptions of fairness override, complement, or contradict threat- and competition-based considerations across different democratic contexts. The project employs experimental surveys in the United States, Germany, South Korea, and Singapore.

Forthcoming

This project sits at the intersection of digital humanities and social science, using text analysis and survey methods to study how national identity is constructed and transmitted through education. Working with a corpus of South Korean national history textbooks spanning from 1948 through 2016, collected from the National Institute of Korean History and the Georg Eckert Institute, the project covers the post-liberation authoritarian regimes and the democratic era, each presenting different grand narratives of the Korean nation.

The project proceeds in two stages. First, we use AI-assisted text analysis to identify how the nation is narrated across different periods and what type of national identity is articulated in each era's textbooks. Second, we design a survey experiment that draws directly from these textbook-derived narratives, asking South Koreans to evaluate competing versions of the nation rather than respond to abstract hypotheticals. This design allows us to test whether individuals favor the version of the nation that reflects what they learned during their school years, as theories of long-run political socialization would predict.

Papers in Progress

• "Constructing the Nation: Identity and Historical Narratives in South Korean History Textbooks," with Aron van de Pol.
• "Variations in Nation-Building: Sorting National History Education in Transitional Regimes," with Myunghee Lee and Aron van de Pol.

Presentations

• 2025. "From OCR to Multimodal LLMs: Building a Textbook Corpus with ALICE," ALICE_SHARK User Meeting 2025, June 3.

This project lays the groundwork for an ongoing initiative to track AI's impacts and trends on Canada's workforce and economy. It addresses three core questions: What data and measures allow ongoing analysis of how AI is penetrating the Canadian economy? What methodologies can identify AI's impact on the labour market? And how can this intelligence be mobilized to support policymakers, industry, and education systems?

The project proceeds through three workstreams. The first develops an AI Workforce Intelligence Measurement Framework — an environmental scan identifying key measures of AI diffusion and impact, categorized by domain, frequency, and accessibility, with gap analysis aligned with Statistics Canada's TechStat initiatives. The second is a pilot study on GenAI's impact on young workers and entry-level jobs, combining GenAI usage indicators, occupational exposure measures, and comparative methodologies for isolating AI's labour market effects since ChatGPT's release. The third workstream develops an AI Workforce Monitor, a publicly accessible interactive data dashboard tracking key measures of AI adoption and disruption in Canada's workforce, modeled on the Dais Inclusive Innovation Monitor and Harvard's Generative AI Adoption Tracker.

Forthcoming

This project focuses on the relationship between political system change and preferences for national membership and belonging. Existing research suggests that preferences and institutions align and that citizens in democracies have national identities that are more open and inclusive than those in authoritarian countries, but it remains unclear how democratization affects national identity in newer democracies with authoritarian and ethnocultural legacies.

The project utilizes cross-sectional data that measures attitudes toward national identity, immigration, diversity, and related variables in (South) Korea, Germany, and Taiwan, supplemented by new survey experiments and other data sources.

Books

• Nationalism Under Democracy: Why Institutions Matter for National Identity and Belonging [in progress]

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Denney, S., Steinhardt, H. C., & Bhowmick, L. (2026). Identity conformity in Taiwan and South Korea: Why citizens in divided societies are pressured to overstate national pride. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. Advance online publication. DOI Replication materials
• Green, C., & Denney, S. (2024). Why do democratic societies tolerate undemocratic laws? Sorting public support for the National Security Act in South Korea. Democratization, 31(1), 113–131. DOI Replication materials

Working Papers

• Denney, S., & Steinhardt, H. C. Measuring national identity with conjoint experiments using the case of Taiwan. [Under review] — Working paper
• Denney, S., Fraser, N., & Steinhardt, H. C. Cues of commitment: Integration and naturalization support in South Korea and Taiwan. [Under review] — Working paper
• Denney, S., van Dam, I., & Green, C. Persuasion and prejudice: Are South Korean attitudes toward immigration open to change? [Under review] — Working paper
• Denney, S. Inference under constraint: The problem and potential of using North Korean (defector-)migrant surveys. [Preparing for submission] — Slides

Papers in Progress

• "The Resettlement of North Korean Migrants and Identity Change in Korea."

Presentations

• 2024. "Democracy and Nationalism: The Case of Taiwan," American Political Science Association (APSA) Conference, September 4-8.
• 2024. "Who Are 'We' and How Do We Know It? New Experimental Designs for Measuring National Identity," Consequences of Identity Politics Workshop, University of Southampton, July 24-25.
• 2024. "How Inclusive Are National Identities in East Asian Democracies? Exploring a New Conjoint Approach," East Asia Institute, National University of Singapore, July 19.
• 2024. "Public Attitudes Towards Immigrant Incorporation in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan," European Political Science Association (EPSA) Conference, July 4-6.
• 2024. "Public Support for Citizenship Expansion in East Asian Democracies," LIAS Talk Series, Leiden Institute for Asian Studies (LIAS), May 15.
• 2023. "Size or Speed? Public Attitudes toward Rising Immigration Levels in Historically Homogeneous Nations," American Political Science Association (APSA) Conference, August 31-September 3.
• 2023. "Measuring National Identity: A Choice-Based Conjoint Approach," Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) Conference, April 13-16.
• 2023. "Why Do Democratic Societies Tolerate Undemocratic Laws? Sorting Public Support for the National Security Act in South Korea," International Studies Association (ISA) Conference, March 15-18.
• 2022. "National Security Conservatism: Enduring Support for the National Security Act in South Korea," Generation Asia – 2022 Nordic NIAS Council Conference, August 22-26.

This project explores the challenges and opportunities associated with the social integration of people in divided nations, concentrating specifically on Germany's reunification experience and the present-day assimilation of North Korean defector-migrants into South Korea.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Ward, P., & Denney, S. (2025). Welfare chauvinism in divided societies: The role of national identity in social policy preferences. Policy and Society. Advance online publication. DOI Replication materials
• Denney, S., Zhou, T., & Brehm, R. (2025). From division to democracy: Integration of post-communist citizens in Germany and South Korea. Communist and Post-Communist Studies. Advance online publication. DOI Replication materials

Research Monograph

• Denney, S., Ward, P., Brehm, R., Frank, R., & Zhou, T. (2023). Integration challenges and opportunities in divided countries: A comparative analysis of Germany and South Korea. European Centre for North Korean Studies (ECNK), University of Vienna. PDF

Presentations

• 2025. "Persuasion and Prejudice: Are South Korean Attitudes toward Immigration Open to Change?," Recalibrating 'Skill' in Changing Immigration Regimes, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, January 16-17.
• 2024. "The Enduring Legacy of Forced Division: Welfare Nationalism in Germany and South Korea," Korean Studies Research Seminar, Leiden Institute for Asian Studies (LIAS), Leiden University, April 17.

A collaborative effort exploring the landscape of high-performing firms, known as "scale-ups," and their impact on key policy objectives, such as employment gains, technological innovation, and economic competitiveness. Uses administrative micro-files linked to financial and survey data.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Denney, S., Wolfe, D., & Southin, T. (2023). Do winners pick government? How scale-up experience shapes entrepreneurs' assessments of innovation policy mixes. Science and Public Policy, 50(5), 858–870. DOI
• Wolfe, D. A., DiFrancesco, R. J., & Denney, S. (2022). Localization of global networks: New mandates for MNEs in regional economies. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 15(2), 323–342. DOI

Working Papers

• Denney, S., Kelly, R., & Wolfe, D. Innovation policy in practice: Assessing Canada's Business Innovation and Growth Support framework. [Under review] — Working paper

Research Monograph

• Denney, S., Vu, V., & Kelly, R. (2021). Into the scale-up-verse: Exploring the landscape of Canada's high performing firms. Innovation Policy Lab and Brookfield Institute. Project page

Reports

• Denney, S., & Vu, V. (2021). "Great Canadian Survey of 2021: Insights for the Council of Canadian Innovators." Innovation Policy Lab and Brookfield Institute, July.
• Denney, S., & Vu, V. (2021). "Just Out of Reach: The Elusive Quest to Measure the Digital Economy." Brookfield Institute, June.
• Denney, S., & Vu, V. (2021). "Scale the Gap: The Impact of Growth Barriers on Women Entrepreneurs in Canadian High-Growth Firms." Brookfield Institute, April.

Presentations

• 2023. "Scale-ups and Canada's Innovation Policy Suite: Usage and Impacts," Seminar, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, September 31.
• 2023. "Scale-ups and Canada's Innovation Policy Suite: Usage and Impacts," 57th Canadian Economics Association Conference, May 30-June 3.
• 2020. "Scale the Gap: Impact of Growth Barriers on Women Entrepreneurs in Canadian High-Growth Firms," Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (CCSBE) Annual Conference, October 16-17.

Media

• 2021. "Scale-ups drive productivity growth and R&D spending in Canada, study finds," The Logic, December 10.
• 2021. "What it takes for Canadian scale-ups to succeed in the knowledge economy," with Adam Froman, The Globe and Mail, April 28.
• 2021. "The Innovation Imperative: Why Canada needs to prioritize scale-ups in the face of Big Tech's dominance," with David Wolfe, Financial Post, March 24.

Identifies determinants of non-state information dissemination within North Korean society using experimental and observational surveys.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Denney, S., & Ward, P. (2023). How autocracies disrupt unsanctioned information flows: The role of state power and social capital in North Korea. Problems of Post-Communism, 71(2), 177–191. DOI Replication materials

Reports

• 2022. "Information Dissemination in North Korea: A Report for NGOs," with Peter Ward. Report for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), January.

Applications

• Determinants of Foreign Information Use in North Korea: Interactive app

Presentations

• 2024. "Quiet Changes in the Daily Life of North Koreans, Now in North Korea," Yonsei University, October 28.
• 2024. "Determinants of Foreign Information Use in North Korea: Research Findings and Implications," International North Korean Studies Networking Forum, Yonsei University, August 5.
• 2022. "Hackers and Social Networks: How North Koreans Are Accessing Foreign Information," Stimson Center, April 27.

Media

• 2023. "Friendship and family networks are key to getting outside info to North Koreans," NK News, March 13.

Investigates public attitudes and public policies regarding migrant entrepreneurship and integration, leveraging the case of North Korean migrant resettlement in South Korea.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Denney, S., Ward, P., & Green, C. (2024). 한국인의 남북통일방식에 대한 의식 결정요인 분석 [Analyzing the determinants of South Korean attitudes toward Korean unification: A conjoint analysis]. 국가전략 [National Strategy], 30(1), 137–163. DOI
• Denney, S., & Green, C. (2024). Public attitudes towards co-ethnic migrant integration: Evidence from South Korea. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 50(8), 1998–2022. DOI Replication materials
• Denney, S., Ward, P., & Green, C. (2024). Public support for migrant entrepreneurship: The case of North Koreans in the Republic of Korea. International Migration Review, 58(2), 781–805. DOI Replication materials
• Ward, P., & Denney, S. (2022). Welfare chauvinism among co-ethnics: Evidence from a conjoint experiment in South Korea. International Migration, 60(5), 74–90. DOI Replication materials
• Denney, S., & Green, C. (2021). North Korean patriotism: Assessing the success and failures of a nation. Korea Journal, 61(1), 154–185. DOI Replication materials

Reports

• 2023. "Because It Is Good for South Korea: Public Support for Defector Entrepreneurship," with Christopher Green. 38 North, January.
• 2022. "Improving North Korean Defector Integration in South Korea: Survey Findings and Recommendations," with Christopher Green. 38 North, May.
• 2018. "Unification in Action? The National Identity of North Korean Defector-Migrants: Insights and Implications," with Christopher Green. Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) Academic Paper Series, October 1.

Presentations

• 2023. "Public Attitudes Towards Co-Ethnic Migrant Integration: Evidence from South Korea," Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) Conference, April 13-16.
• 2022. "한국인의 남북통일방식에 대한 의식 결정요인 분석," 북한연구학회 [North Korean Research Institute], Seoul, December 12.
• 2022. "Determinants of Co-Ethnic Integration in South Korea: A Conjoint Experiment," East Asian Network (EAN), Institute for Asian Studies, Charles University, Prague, February 8.
• 2019. "Juche and the Everyday: Does Ideology Matter for People from North Korea?," Association of Asian Studies (AAS), March 21-24.