Voting & Democracy Research Group - KU Leuven

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

08.10.2025 12:51 — 👍 4    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

Seminar Bjørn Høyland

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...

30.09.2025 08:41 — 👍 13    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 0

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

18.09.2025 15:30 — 👍 13    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

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

29.08.2025 14:29 — 👍 9    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 0

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

01.07.2025 09:42 — 👍 17    🔁 7    💬 1    📌 2

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.

01.07.2025 13:14 — 👍 8    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0

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!

29.06.2025 17:21 — 👍 29    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

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

23.06.2025 15:38 — 👍 8    🔁 3    💬 1    📌 0

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.

16.06.2025 16:01 — 👍 7    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

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!🌟

03.06.2025 13:44 — 👍 8    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

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...

03.06.2025 07:38 — 👍 6    🔁 5    💬 1    📌 0

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!

03.06.2025 07:35 — 👍 79    🔁 91    💬 1    📌 3