Party research
Short description
Party research is a branch of political science that studies political parties and party systems.
Our research
Political parties are living organizations with a rich and complex inner life. They cooperate and compete with one another, seek support among voters, and influence how political decisions are made. Through parties, ideas are formulated, reforms are promoted, and ideologies are conveyed. They play a central role in democracy by channeling society’s political conflicts into an organized and legitimate decision-making process. At the same time, parties are constantly changing – adapting to new social conditions, technological developments, and shifting political dynamics.
Party researchers study both fundamental and practical questions about the role of parties in politics – how they function internally, evolve over time, and engage their members. The research also examines how parties compete for voters and how the design of the party system affects voter representation and the effectiveness of governments.
Ongoing research
Recently finalized projects
Professors, lecturers, and postdoctoral researchers
Jacob Gunderson, Associate Senior Lecturer.
Party conflict in advanced democracies, party systems, inequality, intra-party politics, and political behavior.
Ann-Kristin Kölln, Professor.
Political parties in Europe, public opinion, and representative democracy.
Leen Lingier, Postdoctoral researcher.
The impact of internal party processes - such as party leadership elections, coalition decisions, and faction formation - on political trust, legitimacy, and representation.
Rozemarijn van Dijk, Postdoctoral researcher.
Doctoral student
Felix Lehmann
Party competition, elections, and voting behavior, and European integration.