Research

The Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Twente is devoted to social science research on the conditions, mechanisms and effects of democracy at all levels of governance (local, regional, national, European, international, global). It is interdisciplinary and facilitates both theoretical and empirical contributions to the study of democracies. Its focus is on democratic governance in modern democracies in Western countries. The following themes are being addressed by its research agenda:

• Democracy, political participation and political representation
• Democracy and legislative decision-making
• Democracy and systems of governance

Since 2015 the research focuses especially on the broad relationship between democratic governance, society and technology.

Some key external activities

• Marcel Boogers is Chief Editor of Bestuurswetenschappen and Member of ROB
• Bas Denters is Editor of Bestuurswetenschappen, Editorial Secretary is Rik Reussing
• Claudio Matera is Member of the Editorial Board of QIL, Questions of International Law
• Ariana Need is Member of the Social Sciences Council (SWR) of the Young Academy of KNAW
• Martin Rosema is Co-editor of Political Psychology
• Jacques Thomassen is Member of the Dutch Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts KNAW
• René Torenvlied is Co-editor of the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory

Some key articles

• C. van Eijk, T. Steen & R. Torenvlied, Public Professionals' Engagement in Coproduction. The Impact of the Work Environment on Elderly Care Managers' Perceptions on Collaboration with Client Councils, in: American Review of Public Administration, 2019.         
• I. Lammers, M. van Gerven & O. Treib, Efficiency or Compensation? The Global Economic Crisis and the Development of the European Union's Social Policy, in: Global Social Policy, 2018.  
• R. Ossewaarde, 'Crises of Modernity' Discourses and the Rise of Financial Technologies in a Contested Mechanized World, in: Philosophy & Technology, 2017.
• R. Nieuwenhuis, H. van der Kolk & A. Need, Women's earnings and household inequalities in OECD countries, 1973-2013, in: Acta Sociologica, 2017.  
• I. Lammers & L. Diestelmeier, Experimenting with Law and Governance for Decentralized Electricity Systems. Adjusting Regulation to Reality?, in: Sustainability, 2017. 
• Q.Q. He, Issue cross-pressures and time of voting decision, in: Electoral Studies, 2016.
• K. Killermannn, Loose Ties or Strong Bonds? The Effect of a Commissioner's Nationality and Partisanship on Voting in the Council, in: Journal of Common Market Studies, 2016.  
• R. Deeg & S. Donnelly, Banking union and the future of alternative banks: revival, stagnation or decline?, in: West European Politics, 2016.     
• W. Jans, B. Denters, A. Need & M. van Gerven, Mandatory Innovation in a Decentralised System. The Adoption of an E-government Innovation in Dutch Municipalities, in: Acta Politica, 2016.
• R. Wessel, Resisting Legal Facts. Are CFSP Norms as Soft as They Seem?, in: European Foreign Affairs Review, 2015.
• V. Junjan, Strategic Planning in Local Governments in Europe: 'Where do We Go Now?', in: Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 2015.
• T. Louwerse & M. Rosema, The Design Effects of Voting Advice Applications. Comparing Methods of Calculating Matches, in: Acta Politica, 2014.
• L. Marin, Effective and Legitimate? Learning from the Lessons of 10 Years of Practice with the European Arrest Warrant, in: New Journal of European Criminal Law, 2014. 
• C. Matera & R. Wessel, Context or Content? A CFSP or AFSJ Legal Basis for EU International Agreements, in: Revista de Derecho Comunitario Europeo, 2014.
• A.J. Meijer & R. Torenvlied, Social Media and the New Organization of Government Communications: An Empirical Analysis of Twitter Usage by the Dutch Police, in: American Review of Public Administration, 2014.
• S. Turper, S. Iyengar, K. Aarts & M. van Gerven, Who is Less Welcome?: The Impact of Individuating Cues on Attitudes towards Immigrants, in: Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 2014.
• M. Boogers, Pulling the Strings. An Analysis of Informal Local Power Structures in Three Dutch Cities, in: Local Government Studies, 2014.
• B. Denters & P.J. Klok, Citizen Democracy and the Responsiveness of Councillors: The Effects of Democratic Institutionalisation on the Role Orientations and Role Behaviour of Councillors, in: Local Government Studies, 2013.
• K. Smets & C. van Ham, The embarrassment of riches? A meta-analysis of individual-level research on voter turnout, in: Electoral Studies, 2013.
• S. Donnelly, Power Politics and the Undersupply of Financial Stability in Europe, in: Review of International Political Economy, 2013.
• B. Denters & P.J. Klok, Dorps- en wijkraden in Europa, in: Bestuurswetenschappen, 2013.
• M. Boogers, Hoe beoordelen inwoners hun gemeentebestuur en waar hangt dat oordeel van af?. in: Bestuurswetenschappen, 2013.
• N. Chowdhury & R. Wessel, Conceptualising Multilevel Regulation in the EU: A Legal Translation of Multilevel Governance?, in: European Law Journal, 2012.
• K. Gemenis, The 2010 Regional Elections in Greece: Voting for Regional Governance or Protesting the IMF?, in: Regional & Federal Studies, 2012.
• G. Jansen, N.D. de Graaf & A. Need, Explaining the Breakdown of the Religion–Vote Relationship in The Netherlands, 1971–2006, in: West European Politics, 2012.
• J. Bakker, B. Denters, M. Oude Vrielink & P.J. Klok, Citizens’ Initiatives: How Local Governments Fill their Facilitative Role, in: Local Government Studies, 2012.
• J. Thomassen, The Blind Corner of Political Representation, in: Representation, 2012.
• R. Nieuwenhuis, A. Need & H. van der Kolk, Institutional and Demographic Explanations of Women’s Employment in 18 OECD Countries: 1975–1999, in: Journal of Marriage and Family, 2012.
• D. Bannink & R. Ossewaarde, Decentralization: New Modes of Governance and Administrative Responsibility, in: Administration & Society, 2012.
• R. Costello, J. Thomassen & M. Rosema, European Parliament Elections and Political Representation: Policy Congruence between Voters and Parties, in: West European Politics, 2012.
• A. Warntjen, Measuring salience in EU legislative politics, in: European Union Politics, 2012.
• S. Stiller & M. van Gerven, The European Employment Strategy and National Core Executives: Impacts on activation reforms in the Netherlands and Germany, in: Journal of European Social Policy, 2012.
• P. van Broekhuizen & B. Dorbeck-Jung, Exposure Limit Values for Nanomaterials; Capacity and Willingness of Users to Apply a Precautionary Approach, in: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2012.
• T. Brandsen, M. Oude Vrielink & L. Collignon, Street-level bureaucrats tussen organisaties: De hernieuwde relevantie van Lipsky’s werk, in: Bestuurskunde, 2012.
• M. van Gerven & R. Ossewaarde, The Welfare State's making of Cosmopolitan Europe, in: European Societies, 2012.
• R. Wessel, The Legal Framework for the Participation of the European Union in International Institutions, in: European Integration, 2011.
• E. Kica & N. Groenendijk, The European patent system: dealing with emerging technologies, in: The European Journal of Social Science Research, 2011.
• B. Denters & P.J. Klok, Rebuilding Roombeek: Patterns of Citizen Participation in Urban Governance, in: Urban Affairs Review, 2011.
• M. Boogers, B. Denters & R. Reussing, Bestuur in beweging. Veranderingen in het lokale politiek-bestuurlijke landschap, in: Bestuurswetenschappen, 2010.
• M. Boogers & G. Voerman, Independent Local Political Parties in the Netherlands, in: Local Government Studies, 2010.
• K. Aarts & J. Thomassen, Satisfaction with democracy: Do institutions matter?, in: Electoral Studies, 2008.
• J. Svensson, W. Trommel & T. Lantink, Reemployment Services in the Netherlands: A Comparative Study of Bureaucratic, Market, and Netwok Forms of Governance, in: Public Administration Review, 2008.  
• S. Donnelly, The International Accounting Standards Board, in: New Political Economy, 2007.
• S. Donnelly, Explaining EMU Reform, in: Journal of Common Market Studies, 2005.