DFUTURE
@dfuturevub.bsky.social
This is the official Bluesky page of the Research Centre for Democratic Futures (DFUTURE) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). All information about our publications, events and milestones can be found back here.
Reposted by DFUTURE
🌍 When was the last time you were trained by three top-notch EU projects simultaneously?
👉 Learn more: www.pledgeproject.eu/joint-worksh...
🎟 Register now via the link or QR code and be part of this collaborative discussion!
#PolicyMaking #ResearchToPolicy #PLEDGE #PolicyInnovation
👉 Learn more: www.pledgeproject.eu/joint-worksh...
🎟 Register now via the link or QR code and be part of this collaborative discussion!
#PolicyMaking #ResearchToPolicy #PLEDGE #PolicyInnovation
October 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
🌍 When was the last time you were trained by three top-notch EU projects simultaneously?
👉 Learn more: www.pledgeproject.eu/joint-worksh...
🎟 Register now via the link or QR code and be part of this collaborative discussion!
#PolicyMaking #ResearchToPolicy #PLEDGE #PolicyInnovation
👉 Learn more: www.pledgeproject.eu/joint-worksh...
🎟 Register now via the link or QR code and be part of this collaborative discussion!
#PolicyMaking #ResearchToPolicy #PLEDGE #PolicyInnovation
Reposted by DFUTURE
Very happy that my contribution in the @ejcs-journal.bsky.social and the full special issue on "Space Invaders Revisited" is now out in print! Honoured to be amongs amazing scholars, to revisit the amazing and still timely work by Nirmal Puwar!
➡️Read my piece here: doi.org/10.1177/1367...
➡️Read my piece here: doi.org/10.1177/1367...
November 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Very happy that my contribution in the @ejcs-journal.bsky.social and the full special issue on "Space Invaders Revisited" is now out in print! Honoured to be amongs amazing scholars, to revisit the amazing and still timely work by Nirmal Puwar!
➡️Read my piece here: doi.org/10.1177/1367...
➡️Read my piece here: doi.org/10.1177/1367...
🎉 We are delighted to announce the release of our @dfuturevub.bsky.social colleague Ebru Akgün's book, “Sürdürülebilir Tarım Hayali: Gül Yetiştiriciliğinin Sosyal Ekolojisi” (A Dream for Sustainable Agriculture: The Social Ecology of Rose Cultivation), published by Bağlam Yayınları.
November 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
🎉 We are delighted to announce the release of our @dfuturevub.bsky.social colleague Ebru Akgün's book, “Sürdürülebilir Tarım Hayali: Gül Yetiştiriciliğinin Sosyal Ekolojisi” (A Dream for Sustainable Agriculture: The Social Ecology of Rose Cultivation), published by Bağlam Yayınları.
@dfuturevub.bsky.social researcher @thomlegein.bsky.social was interviewed by @brusselstimes.com for an article on the Brussels regional government formation.
www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/180...
www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/180...
500 days with no Brussels Government: 'I don't know why I even bothered voting'
The European capital's reputation for complexity is certainly getting worse, but the political deadlock is also felt on the ground.
www.brusselstimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:55 AM
@dfuturevub.bsky.social researcher @thomlegein.bsky.social was interviewed by @brusselstimes.com for an article on the Brussels regional government formation.
www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/180...
www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/180...
Congratulations to @marcozampieri.bsky.social for receiving a PhD Fellowship from @fwovlaanderen.bsky.social. We're over the moon to be able to continue to work with Marco and engage with his interesting, important and timely project.
October 7, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Congratulations to @marcozampieri.bsky.social for receiving a PhD Fellowship from @fwovlaanderen.bsky.social. We're over the moon to be able to continue to work with Marco and engage with his interesting, important and timely project.
Another festive week at @dfuturevub.bsky.social 🎉
Benjamin Blanckaert succesfully defended his dissertation "Holding Together or Falling Apart? Electoral Politics Across the Linguistic Divide in the Brussels-Capital Region."
Benjamin Blanckaert succesfully defended his dissertation "Holding Together or Falling Apart? Electoral Politics Across the Linguistic Divide in the Brussels-Capital Region."
September 24, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Another festive week at @dfuturevub.bsky.social 🎉
Benjamin Blanckaert succesfully defended his dissertation "Holding Together or Falling Apart? Electoral Politics Across the Linguistic Divide in the Brussels-Capital Region."
Benjamin Blanckaert succesfully defended his dissertation "Holding Together or Falling Apart? Electoral Politics Across the Linguistic Divide in the Brussels-Capital Region."
About last night...
🎉 Congratulations Dr. @kamilbernaerts.bsky.social ! 🎓
📖 Dr. Bernaerts defended his dissertation on polarisation and its complex, dynamic relationship with democracy and institutions.
Needless to say, it was fantastic!
Find out more about Kamil's work via kamilbernaerts.com
🎉 Congratulations Dr. @kamilbernaerts.bsky.social ! 🎓
📖 Dr. Bernaerts defended his dissertation on polarisation and its complex, dynamic relationship with democracy and institutions.
Needless to say, it was fantastic!
Find out more about Kamil's work via kamilbernaerts.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:31 PM
About last night...
🎉 Congratulations Dr. @kamilbernaerts.bsky.social ! 🎓
📖 Dr. Bernaerts defended his dissertation on polarisation and its complex, dynamic relationship with democracy and institutions.
Needless to say, it was fantastic!
Find out more about Kamil's work via kamilbernaerts.com
🎉 Congratulations Dr. @kamilbernaerts.bsky.social ! 🎓
📖 Dr. Bernaerts defended his dissertation on polarisation and its complex, dynamic relationship with democracy and institutions.
Needless to say, it was fantastic!
Find out more about Kamil's work via kamilbernaerts.com
New publication by DFuture’s Nino Junius et al.: “Why top politicians are pessimistic or optimistic about democracy and its evolution”.
What makes political leaders lean one way - optimism or pessimism - and how does that shape democracy’s direction?
Link: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
What makes political leaders lean one way - optimism or pessimism - and how does that shape democracy’s direction?
Link: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Why top politicians are pessimistic or optimistic about democracy and its evolution
Amid widespread concerns about the crisis of democracy, scant scholarly attention has been given to the views of elite politicians who are at the helm of democracy and, for instance, have the abili...
www.tandfonline.com
September 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
New publication by DFuture’s Nino Junius et al.: “Why top politicians are pessimistic or optimistic about democracy and its evolution”.
What makes political leaders lean one way - optimism or pessimism - and how does that shape democracy’s direction?
Link: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
What makes political leaders lean one way - optimism or pessimism - and how does that shape democracy’s direction?
Link: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by DFUTURE
Presented two papers at #ecpr25 in Thessaloniki:
1️⃣ Brussels youth & their perceptions of democracy: ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
2️⃣ Urban youth’s expectations of political representation (with prof. @elinesevers.bsky.social): ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
Thanks to discussants & chairs for the feedback.
1️⃣ Brussels youth & their perceptions of democracy: ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
2️⃣ Urban youth’s expectations of political representation (with prof. @elinesevers.bsky.social): ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
Thanks to discussants & chairs for the feedback.
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Presented two papers at #ecpr25 in Thessaloniki:
1️⃣ Brussels youth & their perceptions of democracy: ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
2️⃣ Urban youth’s expectations of political representation (with prof. @elinesevers.bsky.social): ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
Thanks to discussants & chairs for the feedback.
1️⃣ Brussels youth & their perceptions of democracy: ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
2️⃣ Urban youth’s expectations of political representation (with prof. @elinesevers.bsky.social): ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
Thanks to discussants & chairs for the feedback.
Reposted by DFUTURE
New publication in International Political Science Review! Together with Didier Caluwaerts, I found that the relationship between polarisation and violence was weaker in countries with a federal system and/or a rigid constitution. Important contribution regarding polarisation's impact on democracy.
New article by DFuture colleagues @kamilbernaerts.bsky.social & Didier Caluwaerts in International Political Science Review:
Fight or unite? Consensus institutions, polarization, and political violence in 113 democracies (1900–2023).
🔗 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Fight or unite? Consensus institutions, polarization, and political violence in 113 democracies (1900–2023).
🔗 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
August 18, 2025 at 10:02 AM
New publication in International Political Science Review! Together with Didier Caluwaerts, I found that the relationship between polarisation and violence was weaker in countries with a federal system and/or a rigid constitution. Important contribution regarding polarisation's impact on democracy.
New article by DFuture colleagues @kamilbernaerts.bsky.social & Didier Caluwaerts in International Political Science Review:
Fight or unite? Consensus institutions, polarization, and political violence in 113 democracies (1900–2023).
🔗 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Fight or unite? Consensus institutions, polarization, and political violence in 113 democracies (1900–2023).
🔗 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
August 18, 2025 at 7:59 AM
New article by DFuture colleagues @kamilbernaerts.bsky.social & Didier Caluwaerts in International Political Science Review:
Fight or unite? Consensus institutions, polarization, and political violence in 113 democracies (1900–2023).
🔗 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Fight or unite? Consensus institutions, polarization, and political violence in 113 democracies (1900–2023).
🔗 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
✨ Just out: “Ideas vs Interests: Explaining Party Elites’ Support for Party Democratic Innovations” by @thomlegein.bsky.social, David Talukder, Rangoni & @emilievh.bsky.social.
🗞️ Dive into the article: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🗞️ Dive into the article: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Ideas vs. interests: explaining party elites’ support for party democratic innovations
Over recent decades, political parties have experimented with organisational reforms aimed at enhancing more inclusive, direct models. More recently, one emerging model involves Party Democratic In...
www.tandfonline.com
July 23, 2025 at 7:54 AM
✨ Just out: “Ideas vs Interests: Explaining Party Elites’ Support for Party Democratic Innovations” by @thomlegein.bsky.social, David Talukder, Rangoni & @emilievh.bsky.social.
🗞️ Dive into the article: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🗞️ Dive into the article: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Political science blog @ecprtheloop.bsky.social published a piece by @yunuspoblome.bsky.social, intern at @dfuturevub.bsky.social and the REDIRECT Horizon Europe project 👏🚀
theloop.ecpr.eu/jd-vances-in...
theloop.ecpr.eu/jd-vances-in...
JD Vance’s international right-wing populism
Right-wing populism has gone beyond the nation state. Analysing JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, Yunus Poblome describes how US foreign policy under Trump depicts...
theloop.ecpr.eu
July 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Political science blog @ecprtheloop.bsky.social published a piece by @yunuspoblome.bsky.social, intern at @dfuturevub.bsky.social and the REDIRECT Horizon Europe project 👏🚀
theloop.ecpr.eu/jd-vances-in...
theloop.ecpr.eu/jd-vances-in...
Our colleague, Ebru Akgün, from VUB @dfuturevub.bsky.social and @uantwerpen.be, presented her doctoral research at the 6th DiscourseNet Congress, held at @ulbruxelles.bsky.social (ULB) from 7-10 July.
July 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Our colleague, Ebru Akgün, from VUB @dfuturevub.bsky.social and @uantwerpen.be, presented her doctoral research at the 6th DiscourseNet Congress, held at @ulbruxelles.bsky.social (ULB) from 7-10 July.
🚨 Reminder 🚨
🎉 Call for 2 postdoctoral research mandates (1 year) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) 🎉
🎯 Deadline: 20/6/2025
🎉 Call for 2 postdoctoral research mandates (1 year) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) 🎉
🎯 Deadline: 20/6/2025
🚨 Call for 2 postdocs!
The EDGE team at VUB is hiring! We’re looking for researchers to rethink democracy in Europe: climate, representation & inequality 🔍🌍
Start: Fall 2025
Location: Brussels 🇧🇪
Deadline: 20 June
Info & how to apply 👉 tinyurl.com/zpw3p6z7
The EDGE team at VUB is hiring! We’re looking for researchers to rethink democracy in Europe: climate, representation & inequality 🔍🌍
Start: Fall 2025
Location: Brussels 🇧🇪
Deadline: 20 June
Info & how to apply 👉 tinyurl.com/zpw3p6z7
June 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
🚨 Reminder 🚨
🎉 Call for 2 postdoctoral research mandates (1 year) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) 🎉
🎯 Deadline: 20/6/2025
🎉 Call for 2 postdoctoral research mandates (1 year) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) 🎉
🎯 Deadline: 20/6/2025
🌍 Hoe kan ecologisme méér mensen bereiken dan vandaag?
Nieuw stuk in SAMPOL van onze collega Ebru Akgün en @evaplatteau.bsky.social (Vlaams Parlement): over ecologie, klasse en inclusie.
👉 www.sampol.be/2025/06/hoe-...
#ecologisme #sampol #dfuture
Nieuw stuk in SAMPOL van onze collega Ebru Akgün en @evaplatteau.bsky.social (Vlaams Parlement): over ecologie, klasse en inclusie.
👉 www.sampol.be/2025/06/hoe-...
#ecologisme #sampol #dfuture
Hoe het ecologisme meer mensen kan aanspreken
Groene partijen staan vandaag vooral in de verdediging. Het is tijd om het klimaatverhaal te herschrijven, zodat meer mensen de noodzakelijke klimaattransitie steunen.
www.sampol.be
June 16, 2025 at 3:12 PM
🌍 Hoe kan ecologisme méér mensen bereiken dan vandaag?
Nieuw stuk in SAMPOL van onze collega Ebru Akgün en @evaplatteau.bsky.social (Vlaams Parlement): over ecologie, klasse en inclusie.
👉 www.sampol.be/2025/06/hoe-...
#ecologisme #sampol #dfuture
Nieuw stuk in SAMPOL van onze collega Ebru Akgün en @evaplatteau.bsky.social (Vlaams Parlement): over ecologie, klasse en inclusie.
👉 www.sampol.be/2025/06/hoe-...
#ecologisme #sampol #dfuture
🚨 Call for 2 postdocs!
The EDGE team at VUB is hiring! We’re looking for researchers to rethink democracy in Europe: climate, representation & inequality 🔍🌍
Start: Fall 2025
Location: Brussels 🇧🇪
Deadline: 20 June
Info & how to apply 👉 tinyurl.com/zpw3p6z7
The EDGE team at VUB is hiring! We’re looking for researchers to rethink democracy in Europe: climate, representation & inequality 🔍🌍
Start: Fall 2025
Location: Brussels 🇧🇪
Deadline: 20 June
Info & how to apply 👉 tinyurl.com/zpw3p6z7
May 30, 2025 at 2:55 PM
🚨 Call for 2 postdocs!
The EDGE team at VUB is hiring! We’re looking for researchers to rethink democracy in Europe: climate, representation & inequality 🔍🌍
Start: Fall 2025
Location: Brussels 🇧🇪
Deadline: 20 June
Info & how to apply 👉 tinyurl.com/zpw3p6z7
The EDGE team at VUB is hiring! We’re looking for researchers to rethink democracy in Europe: climate, representation & inequality 🔍🌍
Start: Fall 2025
Location: Brussels 🇧🇪
Deadline: 20 June
Info & how to apply 👉 tinyurl.com/zpw3p6z7
Reposted by DFUTURE
Had a packed week at #EUIA25: presented my work on EU (in)security in post-2020 Armenia (coming soon @jcms-eu.bsky.social -stay tuned!) & discussed brilliant papers by @dfuturevub.bsky.social colleagues. We also stood in solidarity with Gaza & against academic complicity in the ongoing genocide.
May 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Had a packed week at #EUIA25: presented my work on EU (in)security in post-2020 Armenia (coming soon @jcms-eu.bsky.social -stay tuned!) & discussed brilliant papers by @dfuturevub.bsky.social colleagues. We also stood in solidarity with Gaza & against academic complicity in the ongoing genocide.
Reposted by DFUTURE
😇 Want to get inspiration? Our latest PhD summary by Daan Vermassen is available #openaccess plc-journal.eu/article/view... and the review by Karen Celis plc-journal.eu/article/view...
@dfuturevub.bsky.social
@dfuturevub.bsky.social
May 28, 2025 at 9:32 AM
😇 Want to get inspiration? Our latest PhD summary by Daan Vermassen is available #openaccess plc-journal.eu/article/view... and the review by Karen Celis plc-journal.eu/article/view...
@dfuturevub.bsky.social
@dfuturevub.bsky.social
Reposted by DFUTURE
1/ My recently published article @ifjpglobal.bsky.social studies how feminist activists in #Armenia negotiate the European Union's interventions to combat domestic violence amidst competing pressures. A thread👇
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@giesugent.bsky.social @dfuturevub.bsky.social
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@giesugent.bsky.social @dfuturevub.bsky.social
European values, Eurasian family, or neither? A contrapuntal reading of the European Union’s agenda to combat domestic violence in Armenia
This article studies how feminist activists in Armenia negotiate the agenda of the European Union (EU) to combat domestic violence in a contested geopolitical environment. Drawing on post-socialist...
tandfonline.com
May 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
1/ My recently published article @ifjpglobal.bsky.social studies how feminist activists in #Armenia negotiate the European Union's interventions to combat domestic violence amidst competing pressures. A thread👇
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@giesugent.bsky.social @dfuturevub.bsky.social
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@giesugent.bsky.social @dfuturevub.bsky.social
Marie Curie Call for Postdoctoral Fellowship is still open:
‼️ DEADLINE 31/05 ‼️
‼️ DEADLINE 31/05 ‼️
🚨 Call for Postdocs! 🚨
VUB’s Democratic Futures Research Centre is looking for candidates for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025!
Want to boost your research career in Brussels with top training & international mobility?
1/4
VUB’s Democratic Futures Research Centre is looking for candidates for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025!
Want to boost your research career in Brussels with top training & international mobility?
1/4
May 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Marie Curie Call for Postdoctoral Fellowship is still open:
‼️ DEADLINE 31/05 ‼️
‼️ DEADLINE 31/05 ‼️
🎉 Big congrats to DFuture’s Nino Junius & David Talukder — both awarded a FWO Postdoc Fellowship! 🧠🎓
🗣️ Nino: Can political parties foster inclusive, reflective deliberation?
🗳️ David: What happens when citizens feel underrepresented in democracy?
We’re proud of this inspiring future research!
🗣️ Nino: Can political parties foster inclusive, reflective deliberation?
🗳️ David: What happens when citizens feel underrepresented in democracy?
We’re proud of this inspiring future research!
May 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
🎉 Big congrats to DFuture’s Nino Junius & David Talukder — both awarded a FWO Postdoc Fellowship! 🧠🎓
🗣️ Nino: Can political parties foster inclusive, reflective deliberation?
🗳️ David: What happens when citizens feel underrepresented in democracy?
We’re proud of this inspiring future research!
🗣️ Nino: Can political parties foster inclusive, reflective deliberation?
🗳️ David: What happens when citizens feel underrepresented in democracy?
We’re proud of this inspiring future research!
🗳️ What’s next for democracy?
📍 June 05 in Brussels → Join the BRIAS Public Forum on Democratic Governance – Challenges & Innovations.
👥 Free, open to all, packed with sharp minds & bold ideas.
🔗 brias.be/en/brias-pub...
📍 June 05 in Brussels → Join the BRIAS Public Forum on Democratic Governance – Challenges & Innovations.
👥 Free, open to all, packed with sharp minds & bold ideas.
🔗 brias.be/en/brias-pub...
May 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
🗳️ What’s next for democracy?
📍 June 05 in Brussels → Join the BRIAS Public Forum on Democratic Governance – Challenges & Innovations.
👥 Free, open to all, packed with sharp minds & bold ideas.
🔗 brias.be/en/brias-pub...
📍 June 05 in Brussels → Join the BRIAS Public Forum on Democratic Governance – Challenges & Innovations.
👥 Free, open to all, packed with sharp minds & bold ideas.
🔗 brias.be/en/brias-pub...
Reposted by DFUTURE
Take a look at this literature review by
Kevin Meyvaert @dfuturevub.bsky.social
"A Lower Voting Age in the Low Countries?
Potential Effects of Voting Age at 16 for the Low Countries".
Now available in #OpenAccess in Politics of the Low Countries (Vol. 6 No. 2) at: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Kevin Meyvaert @dfuturevub.bsky.social
"A Lower Voting Age in the Low Countries?
Potential Effects of Voting Age at 16 for the Low Countries".
Now available in #OpenAccess in Politics of the Low Countries (Vol. 6 No. 2) at: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
May 16, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Take a look at this literature review by
Kevin Meyvaert @dfuturevub.bsky.social
"A Lower Voting Age in the Low Countries?
Potential Effects of Voting Age at 16 for the Low Countries".
Now available in #OpenAccess in Politics of the Low Countries (Vol. 6 No. 2) at: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Kevin Meyvaert @dfuturevub.bsky.social
"A Lower Voting Age in the Low Countries?
Potential Effects of Voting Age at 16 for the Low Countries".
Now available in #OpenAccess in Politics of the Low Countries (Vol. 6 No. 2) at: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
🆕 New article by Nino Junius!
Can mini-publics resist elite capture? If elections struggle, what about citizen deliberation? 🗣️
His study of the Ostbelgien model shows: yes, capture is a risk—but smart institutional design can seriously limit it. 💡
🔗 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Can mini-publics resist elite capture? If elections struggle, what about citizen deliberation? 🗣️
His study of the Ostbelgien model shows: yes, capture is a risk—but smart institutional design can seriously limit it. 💡
🔗 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
May 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
🆕 New article by Nino Junius!
Can mini-publics resist elite capture? If elections struggle, what about citizen deliberation? 🗣️
His study of the Ostbelgien model shows: yes, capture is a risk—but smart institutional design can seriously limit it. 💡
🔗 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Can mini-publics resist elite capture? If elections struggle, what about citizen deliberation? 🗣️
His study of the Ostbelgien model shows: yes, capture is a risk—but smart institutional design can seriously limit it. 💡
🔗 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...