Political Economy

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Political science, policy, geopolitics, and the intersection of politics and economics. Sub-rubric of the former Social Sciences catch-all.

The Political Economy section of Mental Momentum Research explores the critical intersections of geopolitical strategy, economic forces, state power, and the psychological drivers of political behavior.

At the macro level, our research examines the shifting architecture of the global order. As the rivalry between the United States and China intensifies and the European Union navigates internal polarization and defense pressures, the international community faces starkly different future scenarios. These range from fragmented economic blocs and de-dollarization to new networks of competitive coexistence. This structural volatility is further reflected in modern conflict dynamics, where state-based proxy wars are surging even as transnational terrorism declines.

Domestically, the stability of democratic nations is increasingly challenged by economic anxiety. Pressures like inflation and housing costs are actively reshaping political behavior and fueling populist movements. At the same time, deep-seated ideological divides are widening, evidenced by growing political polarization between genders and biological traits—such as disgust sensitivity—that influence traditionalist social views. These contemporary divisions echo historical struggles, such as the women's suffrage movement, which secured landmark voting rights but left minority women to struggle for representation for decades.

Finally, this section investigates the fragile relationship between state authority, secrecy, and public trust. Historical records of covert government operations—from the unethical human experimentation of Project MKUltra to state investigations into unidentified aerial phenomena—demonstrate the historical realities of government secrecy. Although mathematical limits and bureaucratic failures inevitably expose genuine cover-ups, their historical confirmation has lasting consequences. Today, this eroded institutional trust, supercharged by algorithmic and psychological mechanisms, feeds conspiracy beliefs and theories like QAnon, driving radicalization and political violence.

15 published articles