Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Netherlands
fellow
Stefanie Reher
2023-2024
Home institution
University of Strathclyde
Country of origin (home institution)
United Kingdom
Discipline(s)
Political Sciences
Sociology
Theme(s)
Democracy, Citizenship, Governance
Human Rights
Inequalities, inclusion & Social Innovation
Fellowship dates
›
Biography
Stefanie is a NIAS Theme Group fellow (Future of Progressive Politics) during 2023-2024.
I am a Reader (Associate Professor) in the Department of Government & Public Policy at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Before moving to Scotland, I was a Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen. I received my DPhil from the University of Oxford (Nuffield College).
My research interests are at the intersection of comparative politics and political behaviour. My work centres around three main themes:
1) Access to politics and political representation of disabled people
2) Representation and citizens' perceptions of political institutions and processes
3) Policy representation in Europe and the influence of interest groups
Research Project
Public attitudes towards disabled politicians
How has European politics undergone transformation, particularly in relation to elections, political parties, and representation? Given the fundamental challenges faced by European democracies, such as climate change, immigration, and digitalization, it is crucial to seek solutions to these issues. This NIAS Theme Group focuses on exploring the dynamics of progressive politics within European democracies.
As a member of the theme group, Stefanie Reher investigates public attitudes towards disabled election candidates, particularly focusing on how candidates communicate their disabilities and how voters’ own experiences and relationships with disability and ableism influence their attitudes. Around 20% of our societies are disabled individuals. However, disabled people are underrepresented in politics, which may impact the representation of their interests in public policy and perpetuate their marginalisation.
Research Interests:
Disability and political representation; voter attitudes; ableism in politics; descriptive representation
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