Research team
Expertise
I primarily conduct research on voting behavior, both in general and specifically on voting behavior for radical-right and populist parties, with a focus on Flanders and Belgium. I also have expertise in the cordon sanitaire, cordon médiatique, media coverage of Vlaams Belang, and how traditional parties relate to extremist parties (mainstreaming, imitation of positions). My focus also includes the participation of populist parties in government and its effects on voting behavior (not only in Flanders or Belgium, but also in the Netherlands and in comparative European contexts). I also investigate the effects of campaigns, elections, and the role of voting advice applications on voting behavior and public opinion. Furthermore, I research public opinion on immigration, media coverage of immigration, and diversity in the news, as well as media effects. More generally, I have expertise in political communication, such as the discourse of politicians on social media and its effects on public opinion. I have expertise in media effect theories and the relationship between media and politics, particularly in Flanders. Additionally, I study populism, support for populism, and public opinion on immigration. Finally, I also explore how young people acquire political knowledge, how they inform themselves about politics, and the role of campaigns for first-time voters.