Local democracy also plays a vital role—it engages citizens, prepares political elites, and serves as a testing ground for democratic innovation. It is pretty useful to understand how it works”.

It's hard to imagine a modern welfare state or effective public services without decentralization and the empowerment of local authorities.

📈 Why does my research matter?
“Because local government matters, and the local context is crucial for understanding political behavior. Local governments are responsible for many essential functions.

Additionally, being part of a community of fellow researchers is a significant motivator for me. I strongly believe that research is a collective endeavor“.

🔬 What drives me to be a researcher?
“Curiosity, of course—but also skepticism. I believe it's important to challenge “common wisdoms,” as they don’t always hold up to empirical scrutiny.

For decades, comparative politics has focused mainly on cross-national comparisons, often overlooking the diversity within local government systems. As a result, there is still much to explore, discover, and systematize in this field”.

🤔 Why am I interested in these topics?
“Because local politics is fascinating—and in many respects, quite different from national politics. It is also far more diverse.

I’m also interested in the political geography of administrative divisions. For local government scholars, this involves issues such as amalgamation reforms, municipal mergers, and territorial splits”.
#Elections #LocalGov #PoliticalGeography

📚 What is my research?
“I study local politics—primarily local elections, including electoral systems, voting behavior, the role of local parties, and independent local lists.