Filip Kostelka
@filipkostelka.bsky.social
Chair in Political & Social Change at the European University Institute (@eui-eu.bsky.social). Political behaviour, parties, democratisation, Central and Eastern Europe. On leave from @universityofessex.bsky.social.
The EUI Department of Political and Social Sciences invites prospective PhD candidates to join the SPS Virtual Open Day 2025. Discover online our doctoral programme, meet faculty and researchers, and learn about life at the EUI. 📅 4 December 2025 | Online event
🔗 www.eui.eu/events?id=58...
🔗 www.eui.eu/events?id=58...
November 6, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The EUI Department of Political and Social Sciences invites prospective PhD candidates to join the SPS Virtual Open Day 2025. Discover online our doctoral programme, meet faculty and researchers, and learn about life at the EUI. 📅 4 December 2025 | Online event
🔗 www.eui.eu/events?id=58...
🔗 www.eui.eu/events?id=58...
Last week, I presented my research at the University of Rijeka (@unirijeka.bsky.social) during an event celebrating Croatia's accession to @eui-eu.bsky.social. I am grateful to the session's chair, Tena Prelec (@tenaprelec.bsky.social), & the audience for great questions & engagement.
November 3, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Last week, I presented my research at the University of Rijeka (@unirijeka.bsky.social) during an event celebrating Croatia's accession to @eui-eu.bsky.social. I am grateful to the session's chair, Tena Prelec (@tenaprelec.bsky.social), & the audience for great questions & engagement.
Bacteriologists cannot turn into bacteria, but political scientists can turn into voters. Today is one of those days. #volby2025 #VotingInRome #frecciarossa
October 4, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Bacteriologists cannot turn into bacteria, but political scientists can turn into voters. Today is one of those days. #volby2025 #VotingInRome #frecciarossa
Jan Rovny (@jrovny.bsky.social) meets an impressive lineup of critics (@annagbusse.bsky.social, @grigopop.bsky.social, @lenkabustikova.bsky.social, Johanna K. Birnir) of his fantastic book "Circumstantial Liberals: Ethnic Minorities, Political Competition and Democracy" at @apsa.bsky.social 2025
September 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Jan Rovny (@jrovny.bsky.social) meets an impressive lineup of critics (@annagbusse.bsky.social, @grigopop.bsky.social, @lenkabustikova.bsky.social, Johanna K. Birnir) of his fantastic book "Circumstantial Liberals: Ethnic Minorities, Political Competition and Democracy" at @apsa.bsky.social 2025
Key takeaways:
1. Elections help legitimize democracy for all citizens—not just winners.
2. Don’t use post-election surveys to infer pre-election attitudes or changes.
3. The satisfaction-participation nexus may be specific in CEE compared to the West.
Thank you for your attention.
1. Elections help legitimize democracy for all citizens—not just winners.
2. Don’t use post-election surveys to infer pre-election attitudes or changes.
3. The satisfaction-participation nexus may be specific in CEE compared to the West.
Thank you for your attention.
July 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Key takeaways:
1. Elections help legitimize democracy for all citizens—not just winners.
2. Don’t use post-election surveys to infer pre-election attitudes or changes.
3. The satisfaction-participation nexus may be specific in CEE compared to the West.
Thank you for your attention.
1. Elections help legitimize democracy for all citizens—not just winners.
2. Don’t use post-election surveys to infer pre-election attitudes or changes.
3. The satisfaction-participation nexus may be specific in CEE compared to the West.
Thank you for your attention.
We also study voting in two-round systems: Compared to abstainers (whose satisfaction also rises), only backing the final winner boosts satisfaction—regardless of when support began. Voting for the winner in R2 is as satisfying as backing the winner in both rounds. 7/n
July 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
We also study voting in two-round systems: Compared to abstainers (whose satisfaction also rises), only backing the final winner boosts satisfaction—regardless of when support began. Voting for the winner in R2 is as satisfying as backing the winner in both rounds. 7/n
We find that pre-election satisfaction is positively correlated with later (self-reported) participation. However, for many reasons discussed in the conclusion, we are reluctant to think that satisfaction drives participation in this region (or elsewhere). 6/n
July 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
We find that pre-election satisfaction is positively correlated with later (self-reported) participation. However, for many reasons discussed in the conclusion, we are reluctant to think that satisfaction drives participation in this region (or elsewhere). 6/n
Note that a satisfaction gap between winners and losers/abstainers existed before the election, which only magnify it! Post-election surveys can mislead: losers don’t get less satisfied after losing, they actually get slightly more satisfied most of the time. 5/n.
July 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Note that a satisfaction gap between winners and losers/abstainers existed before the election, which only magnify it! Post-election surveys can mislead: losers don’t get less satisfied after losing, they actually get slightly more satisfied most of the time. 5/n.
We find that, at least in CEE, elections increase the satisfaction of all citizens (including abstainers unlike in the west!), although the change is stronger for winners than for losers and abstainers, and starts already during the election campaign. 4/n
July 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
We find that, at least in CEE, elections increase the satisfaction of all citizens (including abstainers unlike in the west!), although the change is stronger for winners than for losers and abstainers, and starts already during the election campaign. 4/n
In part, we replicate an earlier study that André Blais and I conducted exclusively in Western countries (24 election panels) in 2018 (tinyurl.com/mr44fyc3). Here is an overview of how the results compare between CEE and the West. 3/n
July 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
In part, we replicate an earlier study that André Blais and I conducted exclusively in Western countries (24 election panels) in 2018 (tinyurl.com/mr44fyc3). Here is an overview of how the results compare between CEE and the West. 3/n
We test pre-registered hypotheses on all (i.e. 7) electoral panels measuring satisfaction with democracy ever conducted in CEE. This includes the longest election panel (5-waves) collected in the region from the 2023 Czech presidential election. 2/n
July 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
We test pre-registered hypotheses on all (i.e. 7) electoral panels measuring satisfaction with democracy ever conducted in CEE. This includes the longest election panel (5-waves) collected in the region from the 2023 Czech presidential election. 2/n
Does democratic satisfaction drive voter turnout, or does voting increase dem. satisfaction? Using 7 election panels, Lukas Linek, @jrovny.bsky.social, @skvrnami.bsky.social, and I find that—unlike in the West—both mechanisms may operate in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). 1/n @eui-sps.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Does democratic satisfaction drive voter turnout, or does voting increase dem. satisfaction? Using 7 election panels, Lukas Linek, @jrovny.bsky.social, @skvrnami.bsky.social, and I find that—unlike in the West—both mechanisms may operate in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). 1/n @eui-sps.bsky.social
Heading to Madrid with many political scientists at the Florence airport #EPSA2025 @eui-sps.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Heading to Madrid with many political scientists at the Florence airport #EPSA2025 @eui-sps.bsky.social
Had a great time at Sciences Po, discussing @damienbol.bsky.social's impressive habilitation research, and now heading to Barcelona for a presentation at @transdem.bsky.social, equipped with an excellent read by @celytadeas.bsky.social
May 24, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Had a great time at Sciences Po, discussing @damienbol.bsky.social's impressive habilitation research, and now heading to Barcelona for a presentation at @transdem.bsky.social, equipped with an excellent read by @celytadeas.bsky.social
Great tribute to Hanspeter Kriesi's impressive research career now happening at the European University Institute. @eui-sps.bsky.social @eui-eu.bsky.social
May 16, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Great tribute to Hanspeter Kriesi's impressive research career now happening at the European University Institute. @eui-sps.bsky.social @eui-eu.bsky.social
Reflecting the current authoritarian Zeitgeist, Nations in Transit research project by @freedomhouse.bsky.social, evaluating the state of democracy in former post-communist countries, has been discontinued after twenty years due to a lack of funding. This is what civilizational decline looks like.
April 12, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Reflecting the current authoritarian Zeitgeist, Nations in Transit research project by @freedomhouse.bsky.social, evaluating the state of democracy in former post-communist countries, has been discontinued after twenty years due to a lack of funding. This is what civilizational decline looks like.
Call for scholars in political behavior (broadly understood) studying Central & Eastern Europe: workshop hosted by
@eui-eu.bsky.social, June 19-20. 2nd edition. Participants from the region can have their travel & accommodation fully covered. Apply by 28/3. More info: www.eui.eu/en/projects/...
@eui-eu.bsky.social, June 19-20. 2nd edition. Participants from the region can have their travel & accommodation fully covered. Apply by 28/3. More info: www.eui.eu/en/projects/...
March 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Call for scholars in political behavior (broadly understood) studying Central & Eastern Europe: workshop hosted by
@eui-eu.bsky.social, June 19-20. 2nd edition. Participants from the region can have their travel & accommodation fully covered. Apply by 28/3. More info: www.eui.eu/en/projects/...
@eui-eu.bsky.social, June 19-20. 2nd edition. Participants from the region can have their travel & accommodation fully covered. Apply by 28/3. More info: www.eui.eu/en/projects/...
Students from Widening countries (Central and Eastern Europe #CEE + a few others) and disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply. Generous financial support (covering accommodation and travel) is available for most participants! blogs.eui.eu/sps-summer-a...
April 10, 2024 at 9:22 PM
Students from Widening countries (Central and Eastern Europe #CEE + a few others) and disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply. Generous financial support (covering accommodation and travel) is available for most participants! blogs.eui.eu/sps-summer-a...
For master's students interested in social science research: Free (!) week-long summer school at the European University Institute in Florence, Tuscany in September 2024. Classes by scholars such as @simonhix.bsky.social @arnoutvanderijt.bsky.social
Apply by 15/5. Check: blogs.eui.eu/sps-summer-a...
Apply by 15/5. Check: blogs.eui.eu/sps-summer-a...
April 10, 2024 at 9:21 PM
For master's students interested in social science research: Free (!) week-long summer school at the European University Institute in Florence, Tuscany in September 2024. Classes by scholars such as @simonhix.bsky.social @arnoutvanderijt.bsky.social
Apply by 15/5. Check: blogs.eui.eu/sps-summer-a...
Apply by 15/5. Check: blogs.eui.eu/sps-summer-a...
Interesting opportunity for scholars in political behaviour (broadly understood) studying Central and Eastern Europe: workshop hosted at the European University Institute, June 27-28. Participants from the region can have their travel and accommodation costs fully reimbursed. #postcommunism #polsci
February 9, 2024 at 11:11 AM
Interesting opportunity for scholars in political behaviour (broadly understood) studying Central and Eastern Europe: workshop hosted at the European University Institute, June 27-28. Participants from the region can have their travel and accommodation costs fully reimbursed. #postcommunism #polsci