The 'sore loser effect': Rejecting election results can destabilize democracy and drive terrorism
- Written by James Piazza, Liberal Arts Professor of Political Science, Penn State
The Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol offers an example of how refusing to accept election results can lead to violence. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty ImagesAn attendee at an October 2021 political rally hosted by right-wing activist Charlie Kirk asked: “How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?&r...

