Voting & Democracy Research Group - KU Leuven

De @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social ontvangt prof. @tomwgvdmeer.bsky.social (UvA) voor een publiekslezing rond over ‘Waardenloze politiek: hoe politici de democratie klem zetten tussen technocratie en populisme’!

🗓️ Donderdag 26 maart om 16u30
📍Parkstraat 47 3000 Leuven
📝Registreer: lnkd.in/eeazeQyX

PhD successfully defended!

"Beyond the Two-Party Divide" examines how affective polarization works in Europe, and when it matters for democracy.

Short answer: Europe's multiparty systems have particularly good "safeguards" to prevent polarization from spiraling out of control like in the U.S.

Politics of Envy? Meritocracy Beliefs, Not Envy, Drive Support for Redistribution - Jasper Neerdaels, Lisa Blatz, Jan Crusius, 2026 Support for redistribution is often dismissed as driven by a morally questionable motive: Malicious envy. Seemingly supporting this notion, in some studies, lib...

People who want redistribution are often dismissed as being driven by an ugly emotion: envy.

Our new paper in #PSPB challenges this widespread narrative.

We show that support for redistribution is less driven by envy and more by the belief that the rich do not deserve their advantage. 🧵⬇️

Had a great time presenting work with Richard Nadeau at the CPPE colloquium in Konstanz. Thanks @na-wehl.bsky.social et al for the invite and super helpful suggestions!

Sunrise over the lake in the morning was a nice bonus!

@excinequality.bsky.social | @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social

Glad to see our paper on religious cleavages in Western Europe (with @melff.bsky.social & Kamil Marcinkiewicz) out at the @ejprjournal.bsky.social ! 



cup.org/4qhTx3j

📢 New publication 📢

We are pleased to shine the spotlight on Toine Paulissen's PhD (‪@vd-researchgroup.bsky.social - KU Leuven)!

👉 The PhD summary by @toinepaulissen.bsky.social : doi.org/10.54195/plc...
👉A critical review by @theresareidy.bsky.social : doi.org/10.54195/plc...

#openaccess

📢 The Voting & Democracy Research Group is thrilled to invite you to a book talk by Professor Natasha Wunsch on her recent publication, “Democratic Commitment: Why Citizens Tolerate Democratic Backsliding”.

🗓️ 20 January 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in room FSW 03.155.
📝 Registration: lnkd.in/dQGFXSiJ

Economic Voting

❗Glad to share the entry on 'Economic voting' that Chloé De Grauwe and I contributed to the brand new @ipsa.org Companion to Political Science !

link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...

Why Some Want Something for Nothing: Three Explanations for Unfunded Spending Demand Several studies have documented ‘something for nothing’ (SFN) attitudes among citizens: preferences for increased government spending and lower taxes. Such a demand for unfunded public spending may g...

Starting the new year with a new #openaccess #publication!

In our article, we explore why citizens oppose taxes while simultaneously demanding more redistributive social policies, aka want "something for nothing".

@olivierjacques.bsky.social @staffankumlin.bsky.social @dweisstanner.bsky.social

The Voting and Democracy Research Group welcomes Professor Rune Stubager (Aarhus University) for a keynote presentation.

🗓️ Friday 23 January 2026, 11h00
📍 Aula Emma Vorlat (campus Faculty of Social Sciences KU Leuven)
ℹ️ Info: lnkd.in/dMvzG36U
📝 Registration (by 14 January 2026): lnkd.in/dZ3ZBSGh

Exploring the intricacies of citizens' economic inequality perceptions and their redistributive correlates: Ill-informed, attitudinally incoherent, or predictably irrational? European Consortium for Political Research

🚨Working on economic inequality perceptions and support for redistribution? Sonja Zmerli and I are coordinating a Section about perceived economic inequality at the next @ecpr.bsky.social's General Conference.

👉 Do consider submit your paper! ecpr.eu/Events/Event...

@vd-researchgroup.bsky.social

‼️ Onze onderzoeksgroep @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social verwelkomt dit academiejaar @bramwauters.bsky.social als Francqui leerstoelhouder!

📆 Het openingscollege gaat door op 2 dec om 17u30

Voor meer info en om in te schrijven voor dit *niet te missen* college, zie hier soc.kuleuven.be/afdeling-pol...

This is fun, our research on political trust and social policy was featured at the Portuguese national news 😎 www.rtp.pt/play/p14263/...

(less fun, they didn't cite us properly, but hey)
#Hiva @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social

With the start of the new academic year, we're planning more talks at @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social!

Looking forward to welcoming @bjornhoyland.bsky.social in Leuven on Monday 20 October. If you're around and would like to attend, more info is here 👇

soc.kuleuven.be/afdeling-pol...

Yes, the @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social has got merch!

Last panel of the #ecprgc25 #trust section! Just presented our work on how public service evaluations lead to political trust and distrust, and having fun while at it 😎

Joint work with Matthijs Gillissen & @ldeblok.bsky.social

@ecpr.bsky.social @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social
@HIVA

Political Trust and Electoral Behavior Among 16- and 17-Year-Old First-Time-Voters in Belgium Abstract. Citizens’ electoral behaviors tend to persist over time and are driven by long-standing political attitudes acquired during the formative years o

📢 New publication: we draw on unique data from 16- and 17-year-old Belgian adolescents who were eligible to vote in the 2024 European elections, and show that low trust in order and representative institutions is linked to protest and radical voting. @dieterstiers.bsky.social @annakern.bsky.social

Electoral input and political legitimacy Political legitimacy is of fundamental importance for democratic systems, as it ensures that citizens adhere to political rules and decisions peacefully and voluntarily. Recent research indicates a...

Can elections foster political legitimacy? In my new study @wepsocial.bsky.social I show that they can, depending on the level of participation, the congruence between the electorate and the parliament and government, and the reactiveness of the electoral result to past incumbent performance.

A great #EPSA2025 conference is in the books. Got to see amazing research, had great discussions, and met fantastic junior scholars. But the highlight was catching up with (former) members, visitors, and friends of the @sciencepo-udem.bsky.social Chair on Electoral Democracy!

A key function of the state is to ensure the #welfare of its citizens. But do more generous welfare policies also foster more #political #trust?

🎉 Our paper, co-authored with Matthijs Gillissen and Anna Ruelens, was accepted ‪@polstudies.bsky.social‬!

@vd-researchgroup.bsky.social‬ #HIVA

How the LA protests may boost appetite for authoritarianism – DW – 06/14/2025 Psychological research suggests far-right narratives about social breakdown could lead to more support for US President Trump and authoritarianism, not less.

I talked to @news.dw.com about the protests in Los Angeles and why authoritarian figures like Donald Trump like to spread the narrative of societal collapse.

We started June with a Research Seminar on Economic Evaluations and Political Sophistication by Chloé De Grauwe at the Faculty of Social Sciences, KU LEUVEN

Great discussion and collaborative participation!🌟

PhD Position –Polarization in Adolescence (UAPA Project) How can schools contribute to countering polarization among adolescents? Which social and political factors influence how young people perceive those with different political opinions or different vie...

And there are more vacancies at the @vd-researchgroup.bsky.social research group!

PhD position to work with Ellen Claes on a project studying polarization in adolescence www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...

2 PhD positions in Electoral behavior 2 PhD positions to research how social group memberships become connected to vote choices

I'm recruiting 2 PhD researchers to work with me on a project studying how social groups influence vote choices!

Info on the position and how to apply 👉 www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...

Please share with interested students who would like to move to beautiful Leuven!