Baobao Zhang

Syracuse University, Institute on Governance

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Baobao Zhang is a political scientist whose research sits at the intersection of technology, public opinion, and democratic governance. Her most cited work, including the widely discussed "No Rage Against the Machines" (2022, 19 citations) and its 2019 predecessor, investigates a pressing puzzle of the automation age: why do workers facing the threat of job displacement not demand more protective policies? Through a series of rigorous experimental studies, Zhang demonstrates that, contrary to popular expectation, the prospect of technological unemployment does not significantly shift policy preferences toward redistribution or social safety nets. This counterintuitive finding has shaped scholarly debates on the political consequences of AI and robotics, challenging assumptions about a looming populist backlash. Her work is notable for bridging behavioral political science with emerging technology studies, offering empirical clarity to speculative fears. With a growing citation footprint, Zhang is establishing herself as a leading voice on how citizens perceive and respond to transformative technologies, making her research essential reading for anyone interested in the democratic implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.