Mari Miyamoto is a Professor at Keio University, and currently a guest researcher at the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Leiden University. Her research is based on extensive fieldwork in Bhutan and the Buddhist societies of the eastern Himalayas, exploring themes that…

Kristin Makszin is an Assistant Professor of Political Economy. Her research relates to the field of political economy and public policy in Europe, with a focus on social and monetary policy. The core of her research delves into the complex interaction of policy relevant actors to understand how they…

Sem Grootscholten researched the impact of civil servants on political decision-making and the change in relations between public and private parties in the educational material industry as a result of changing laws.

Emil Arvid Wolff’s research focuses on the comparative political economy of inequality. Their current research explores the symbolic and legal boundaries of social citizenship in post-war Europe. The research forms part of the project Borders of Equality, which analyzes the relationship between the…

Stefan Thewissen is a labour market economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Previously, he was a PhD candidate at the Department of Economics at Leiden University.

How do politics and play relate to each other? Six Leiden academics hope to find an answer to that question over the coming years. They have received an NWO grant of 750,000 euros. Professor Sybille Lammes and University Lecturer Bram tell us how they plan to spend the money.

On Tuesday 30 September 2025, PhD candidate Kathleen Brown will defend her dissertation 'Deception, Risk, and Evasion: The Politics of Sovereign Debt in Emerging Markets' in Leiden’s Academy Building. Her research sheds light on the hidden world of sovereign debt politics, revealing how governments…

‘Dutch politics are changing, but they also are characterised by stability; that tension fascinates me.’ Sarah de Lange studies, among other things, the Dutch party system, and specifically how the rise of extremist parties influences democracy. She will start as a professor in Leiden in mid-October…

The nominees for the IRO Thesis Prize 2024 and the Prof. Dr. J.Th.J. van den Berg-prijs 2024. Who authored the best thesis in Leiden University’s bachelor’s programme in Political Science?

In less than a week’s time, millions of Turkish people are going to decide who will govern their country for the next five years. These elections promise to be the most closely contested in years, with the opinion polls showing very small differences and everything at stake, including for Europe. Alp…

For the next couple of years, Joris van der Voet, Associate Professor and researcher at the Institute for Public Administration will be heading a research project on top-level bureaucrats and how they go about making choices and prioritizing issues. He has been awarded a Vidi grant by the Dutch Research…

The nominees for the Prof. Dr. J.Th.J. van den Berg-prijs 2022 and the IRO Thesis Prize 2022. Who wrote the best bachelor thesis in Political Science?

Matthew Frear is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of History. He teaches and supervises students on the BA International Studies, MA International Relations, BA Russian Studies, and MA Russian and Eurasian Studies programmes. His main fields of research are Russian and Eurasian politics and international…

The nominees for the IRO thesis prize 2023 and the Prof. Dr. J.Th.J. van den Berg-prijs 2023. Who wrote the best bachelor theses in Political Science?

With the Dutch general elections just around the corner, it’s not always easy when political differences exist within your circle of friends. How do you not lose sight of each other in political discussions? We asked best friends Jort Schaafsma and Michiel van der Velde, both students at Leiden Law…

Jeroen Duindam is Professor of Early Modern History at the Leiden University Institute for History.

Education, Organisation

Densua Mumford is Assistant Professor of International Relations. Her research explores African international relations, on the one hand, and the politics of the internet and digital technologies, on the other. Her work today contributes to decolonising perspectives on international relations.

Ingrid Samset is a political scientist who teaches at Leiden University College. Her research and teaching address questions related to peace and conflict dynamics, transitional justice, postcolonial studies, and memory studies.

Wouter Veenendaal, a political scientist at Leiden University, is an analyst for the Freedom House report. Freedom House is an American non-profit organisation dedicated to democracy, political freedom and human rights. In short, the report describes the degree of freedom and the state of democracy…

Katharina Natter of the Institute of Political Science has been awarded the 2025 IMR Book Review Award for her book on migration politics in Morocco and Tunisia.

Anahita Arian is an assistant professor at the Institute of Political Science.

Leiden Law Cast is a podcast made by Leiden Law School, Leiden University, for everyone who wants to learn more about current legal issues.

The democratic rule of law is under pressure due to a series of scandals and integrity issues, as seen in the recent parliamentary inquiries. Professor Ronald Kroeze explains: 'Public office holders are expected to show complete dedication, but that norm is quite absolute, and what we mean by it is…

Do political knowledge and democratic values encourage young people to participate in politics or not? Political Scientist Leila Demarest had a closer look at adolescents’ participation intentions in Nigeria and shared her findings with The Conversation.

The Executive Board of Leiden University has appointed Dr Tom Louwerse as Professor of Political Behaviour and Research Methods at the Institute of Political Science.

We are living through an age in which social media platforms have given way to entirely new forms of politics and politicking. It is no exaggeration to say: there is a before and after social media.

Five questions about the event ‘Germany after the Elections: implications for Foreign Policy and European Security’ answered by one of the experts at the event: Joachim Koops. Come by at the Spanish Steps in Wijnhaven on Friday 15 October or join the event online (link below).

Ramsey Albers wins Political Science Master’s Thesis Prize 2022

Three new ministries have been formed in the Netherlands: Asylum and Migration, Housing and Spatial Planning & Climate and Green Growth. Of course, this is not merely an administrative act. These ministries carry a strong and political charge and play a crucial role in shaping a government's political…

Nike van Helden is an external PhD and Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society. With a background in Latin American Studies, Nike has specialized in literary analysis, and Cuban literature in particular.