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Iskander De Bruycker

@iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social

2.4K followers 270 following 35 posts

Associate Professor at Maastricht University | Leading the NWO-funded VIDI project ACCESS4ALL | Program Director MA European Public Affairs | Researcher exploring the world of lobbying, EU politics, interest groups, and political communication

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Oct 24

🔥 New study from the #ACCESS4ALL project! I found that lobby teams with a balanced gender composition & shared national backgrounds with MEPs secure more access to the European Parliament🇪🇺But biases remain, especially against lobbyists from newer EU states👇 🧵 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Access for all? Socio-demographic biases and interest group access to the European Parliament

This article focuses on the access that interest groups secure to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). It examines whether and how interest group access is influenced by the socio-demographic...

www.tandfonline.com

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Political Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · 28d

IN NEW ISSUE: To praise or to pressure? Iskander De Bruycker (@iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social) examines the patterns of social media advocacy during #Covid19 across 9 countries. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/WSRXF5L

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com #polsci #polsky

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The Loop @ecprtheloop.bsky.social · Jul 16

Based on @wepsocial.bsky.social research, @evwillems.bsky.social, @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social & @marcelhanegraaff.bsky.social explore how #CivilSociety mobilisation reduces socioeconomic bias in #EUpolicy debate and reveal a promising path toward more inclusive EU policy-making.
👉 bit.ly/3GLTfjM

Civil society mobilisation in EU policy debates

Does civil society mobilisation reduce socioeconomic bias in EU policy debate? A study by Evelien Willems, Iskander De Bruycker, and Marcel Hanegraaff reveals that active engagement by civil society o...

bit.ly

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Britt Vande Walle @brittvandewalle.bsky.social · Jun 19

😍My first single-authored article just got published in @polstudies.bsky.social. I am so excited about this one! In this article, I discuss how Political Party Think Tanks (PPTTs) help parties to transcend daily political pressures, and focus on long-term political thinking and policy development

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Britt Vande Walle @brittvandewalle.bsky.social · Jun 11

Looking forward to continue working on this paper with the amazing ACCESS4ALL team @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social , @seiselt.bsky.social, @smartinez-bohme.bsky.social 🫶

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European Consortium for Political Research @ecpr.bsky.social · Apr 4

🚨 Deadline extended!
📣 Want to learn how #InterestGroups and #Advocacy work in a rapidly changing political climate?
👉 Join @ecprinterestgroups.bsky.social intensive course this July at @fasosmaastricht.bsky.social!

✅ Expert-led lectures
✅ Tailored feedback
✅ Real-world insights

🗓️ Apply by 16 Apr

Summer School of the Standing Group on Interest Groups, Maastricht University, Netherlands, 6 – 11 July 2025

Interest groups and advocacy in a changing political context

ecpr.eu

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Apr 4

An absolute delight to reunite with my former PhD supervisor, Caelesta Braun, for the defense of the brilliant new Dr. @frederikstevens.bsky.social! 🎉 Congrats to Frederik on a strong PhD defense! Your research on lobbying influence on EU agenda-setting paid off. A stellar career awaits you! ✨👏

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Wiebke Marie Junk @wmjunk.bsky.social · Mar 24

Which groups get what they want without having to lobby?

In this new article, we revisit theories about structural power & link them to patterns in preference attainment across 7 European countries & at EU level.

With @michelecrepaz.bsky.social & Marcel Hanegraaff #InterCov @psjeditor.bsky.social

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Anne Rasmussen @annerasmussen.bsky.social · Mar 20

🔥🔈Vacancy announcement

We invite applications for the co-editorship of the @ecpr.bsky.social @oxfordunipress.bsky.social book series

We’d appreciate your help in sharing the announcement to ensure our publications committee receives as many strong applications as possible 🤞

European Consortium for Political Research @ecpr.bsky.social · Mar 20

✨ NEW opportunity ✨
✒️ Co-edit our renowned Comparative Politics book series which has published some of the most influential works in #PolSci

📚 Source & evaluate manuscripts
📚 Select referees
📚 Support authors & junior scholars
📚 Develop & grow the series

⏳ Apply by 14 May
#AcademicSky #Polisky

Seeking Co-Editor of the ECPR-OUP Comparative Politics Series

Contribute your expertise to developing a leading outlet for high-impact research in comparative politics.

bit.ly

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WEP Journal @wepsocial.bsky.social · Mar 19

@iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social Marcel Hanegraff & @evwillems.bsky.social show that the civil society mobilization significantly influences the degree to which policymakers are congruent with the concerns of low educated & income citizens.

doi.org/10.1080/0140...

#polisky #academicsky

Abstract of the article "Socioeconomic (in)congruence in EU public policy: the role of civil society" by Iskander De Bruycker, Marcel Hanegraff and Evelien Willems. Published online first in West European Politics.

Figure 1, displaying the median congruence between elected politicians and different socioeconomic status groups.

Figure 3, displaying the median congruence between civil society organisations and different socioeconomic status groups.

Figure 4, displaying predictive margins of civil society organisation mobilisation on socioeconomic bias based on model 1.

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Mar 20

But there’s an important silver lining ✨:
The engagement of #civil #society groups 🤝 in EU policy discussions helps bridge this gap and reduce affluence bias, ensuring more inclusive policy representation. (3/3)

Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Mar 20

On average, elected representatives show 8% less alignment with citizens from lower socioeconomic classes compared to those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds on key EU policy issues. 📊 Interestingly, the percentage is higher for representatives from #Eurosceptic parties. (2/3)

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Mar 20

Are citizens from #underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds underrepresented in #EU politics❓
My latest study with Marcel Hanegraaff and @evwillems.bsky.social published in @wepsocial.bsky.social reveals that this is indeed the case 👇 (1/3)

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Socioeconomic (in)congruence in EU public policy: the role of civil society

A persistent challenge in democracies is unequal political representation, where citizens with higher socioeconomic status (SES) have a stronger voice than those with lower SES. While this disparit...

www.tandfonline.com

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Mar 6

@catherinedevries.bsky.social hits the nail on the head in this @theguardian.com opinion piece: Germany must step up to save Europe.👇 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The US embrace of Russia is an existential threat to the EU. Germany must step up to save it | Catherine De Vries

To counter the crisis caused by Trump, Friedrich Merz has little choice but to abandon decades of military and economic caution

www.theguardian.com

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Britt Vande Walle @brittvandewalle.bsky.social · Feb 26

@iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social and I are organising the ECPR Workshop of the Standing Group on Interest Groups at @fasosmaastricht.bsky.social in parallel with the ECPR Summer School on Interest Groups.

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Political Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · Feb 26

To praise or to pressure? Iskander De Bruycker (@iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social) examines the patterns of social media advocacy during #Covid19 across 9 countries. Read in @polstudies.bsky.social: https://buff.ly/429taUe (OPEN ACCESS)

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social #polsci

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Britt Vande Walle @brittvandewalle.bsky.social · Feb 26

‼️🔔📣Call for proposals 📣🔔‼️

Researching interest groups in these turbulent times? And do you want to discover the ‘Tuscany of the Low Countries’ this summer?🌞 Then this workshop is for you! ecpr.eu/Events/327

Standing Group on Interest Groups Workshop, Maastricht Universiteit, 7-9 July 2025

European Consortium for Political Research

ecpr.eu

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Feb 11

Far-right populists spread far more fake news than left-wing populists, shows a study of 32M MP tweets. One of the authors, @pettertornberg.bsky.social, warns in the Guardian it's urgent to address the link between misinformation and radical right populism. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

Far-right populists much more likely than the left to spread fake news – study

Amplifying misinformation is now part of radical right strategy, says Dutch study of tweets by MPs in 26 countries

www.theguardian.com

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Jan 16

Deeply concerning. Piercingly critical. A brave and bold opus by @marietjeschaake.bsky.social. Highly recommended for everyone who cares about democracy in the Western world and beyond. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

The Tech Coup

An insider offers a “forceful critique...of Big Tech's steady erosion of democracy” (The New Yorker) and describes what must be done to stop it

press.princeton.edu

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De Tijd @tijd.be · Jan 13

[OPINIE] Het heeft geen zin ons mateloos te ergeren aan Trump, Musk en Zuck

Het heeft geen zin ons mateloos te ergeren aan Trump, Musk en Zuck

De hele Amerikaanse big tech krijgt het op de heupen van de betweterige Europese houding. In het Witte Huis vindt de sector straks een schitterende bondgenoot.

www.tijd.be

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Political Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · Jan 11

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Jan 6

Consultancies in Brussels are an often overlooked force in shaping EU policy. This intriguing article by @stenholm.foljeton.dk sheds light on their pivotal role in assisting major corporations and influencing EU institutions. In Danish—Google Translate can help! www.foljeton.dk/post/mens-eu...

Mens EU’s lovgivning bliver mere kompleks, eksploderer udgifterne til eksterne konsulenter - Føljeton

www.foljeton.dk

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Jan 6

Brussels Playbook notes that if there’s a will, there’s a way to use the DSA to pressure Musk. Felix Kartte - Reset: “If Musk’s engineered prominence generates public risks, […] regulators could argue that X is failing its risk mitigation obligations under the DSA” www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...

Will Europe stand up to Elon Musk?

Presented by G42 By NICHOLAS VINOCUR with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Tweet @NicholasVinocur @swheaton @EddyWax | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser GREETINGS, welcome …

www.politico.eu

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Claes de Vreese @claesdevreese.bsky.social · Jan 5

The MAGA <-> Musk fights, the messages about politics in Britain and Germany, and today's 'dump Farage' spat ...it is all very interesting and relevant.

But we need to reflect on how much air is given by media companies to each new turn. The amplification effect is real.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Elon Musk calls for Nigel Farage to be replaced as Reform UK leader

Nigel Farage claims Musk's call is due to a disagreement support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

www.bbc.com

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Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Dec 29

Do you think social background and privilege influence EU policies? 🤔 I recently spoke with Emma Louise Stenholm from Føljeton about our research on diversity in EU lobbying. We explore if access to decision-makers is biased towards privileged groups. Article in 🇩🇰: www.foljeton.dk/post/flere-k...

Flere kvinder giver mere indflydelse - Føljeton

www.foljeton.dk

Iskander De Bruycker @iskanderdebruycker.bsky.social · Dec 4

Interesting read on leveraging influence as a key skill in the workplace, with a summary of Cialdini's principles of persuasion: reciprocity, liking, unity, authority, social proof, commitment, and scarcity. www.london.edu/think/influe...

Influence: The ultimate business skill | London Business School

Learn the seven universal principles of influence that, beyond evidence and economic self-interest, reliably influence people to say ‘yes’