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Marie Demker

Professor

Department of Political Science
Telephone
+46 31-786 12 42
Mail
marie.demker@gu.se
Fax
+46 31-786 45 99
Visiting address
Sprängkullsgatan 19
41123 Göteborg
Postal address
Box 711
40530 Göteborg

About Marie Demker

Short Biography

I am professor in Political Science at Gothenburg university since 2004.

For the past three decades, I have conducted research on political ideas, political philosophy, and political history, with a particular focus on how and why modern societies change and on the content and conditions of democracy. My research interests include European parties and party systems, nationalism, foreign policy, and migration. I am the author or editor of around twenty scholarly books. I have also published approximately 150 academic articles as well as over 200 opinion pieces and cultural articles.

Currently, I am working on a book about the French politician Pierre Mendès-France (forthcoming in 2025 from Daidalos) and is part of the FORTE-funded research project “A Sense of Justice? Attitudes to Punishment in Sweden.” I have participated in several large-scale research projects, including studies on shifts in Western European party systems and the role of Nordic party organizations. For many years, I have been affiliated with the SOM Institute at the University of Gothenburg, contributing to the development of datasets and analyses on Swedish public opinion concerning migration and refugee issues.

In terms of leadership roles, I served as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Gothenburg (2017–2022) and previously as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (2012–2016). I now serves as Vice Chair of the university’s Research Misconduct Review Board and is a representative on the University Board. I am also a member of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg (KVVS).

With a background in journalism, I have authored textbooks on social science, scientific communication, and research methodology. Beyond academia, I also frequently contributes to public debate through lectures, panels, and media commentary. And I am the co-author of crime novels with my colleague and spouse Ulf Bjereld.

The French Gaullist party was the object of my doctoral thesis and an overview is available in Changing Party Ideology. Gaullist Parties Facing Voters, Leaders and Competitors (Party Politics, 1997). Other relevant publications are Scandinavian right-wing parties: diversity more than convergence? (chapter, 2012 the book is available as electronic resource at the University Library, Gothenburg University), Racism, Xenophobia and Opposition to immigration in Sweden (chapter 2013), Room for relaignment. The working class sympathy for Sweden Democrats (article, 2014, with M Oskarson), Media and the power of naming: An experimental study of racist, xenophobic and nationalist party labels (article 2016, with H Friberg-Fernros and J Martinsson) and From governmental success to governmental breakdown: how a new dimension of conflict tore apart the politics of migration of the Swedish centre-right (article 2021 with P. Odmalm). My latest published article in english is Freedom of religion for immigrants. An ambiguous support. (2023).

I have, since my doctoral research, a special interest in French politics. My most significant publication in this field is a book on Pierre Mendès France and the wars in Indochina and Algeria: National Identity and Colonial Power. Pierre Mendès France and the French Decolonization (2008, available as electronic resource at the University Library, Gothenburg University).

For a list of my publications, research and teaching see the publication list and my CV at this site.