Projects

 

Ambizione grant “Regional Inequality and the Political Geography of EU Support”

Budget: 860’000 CHF

Period: 2019-2023

Collaborators: Sven Hegewald

Funding agency: Swiss National Science Foundation

This research project investigates the relationship between regional inequalities within Europe and citizens’ support for European integration. While previous research mainly focused on the role of vertical inequality (e.g., income inequality between individuals), this research project investigates how spatial inequalities (horizontal inequality) shape public support for the European Union (EU).  In doing so, this project aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the interrelationship between European integration, regional inequality, and societal preferences towards integration. Specifically, this project sheds new light on how space shapes public opinion about the EU, emphasizing the role of location for socialization and horizontal learning processes. This is a highly relevant endeavor as current challengers of European integration – such as Eurosceptic parties and secessionist movements – capitalize strongly on regional inequalities in Europe.

 

Appealing to the local voter

Budget: 15’000 CHF

Period: 2021-2022

Collaborators: Lukas Haffert, Tabea Palmtag

Funding agency: Center for Comparative and International Studies, ETH Zürich & IPZ Inequality Research Fund, University of Zürich

While it is increasingly well understood how citizens in urban and rural areas differ in their political preferences, we know much less about how these preferences are mobilized in the political system. Can place-based appeals be a potentially successful strategy for politicians? Does the mobilization of urban or rural voters mainly work through economic or cultural appeals? And which parties are seen as most likely to make such appeals?