Europe: Society, Politics and Global Order
Interdisciplinary research on Europe
Contact: Prof. Hylke Dijkstra (Director) and Dr. Toon van Overbeke (Academic Secretary)
Founded in 2003, Europe: Society, Politics and Global Order (ESPO) is an interdisciplinary research programme at Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Maastricht University. It brings together 50 political scientists, historians and philosophers. The process of European integration since 1945 and questions of European democracy, governance, and foreign policy are central to the ESPO research agenda. ESPO researchers study the European Union and Europeanisation, yet they also contribute to debates on multilateralism and the global order, and take an interest in transnational history. Methodologically rigorous, the emphasis of ESPO is on fundamental research with societal relevance.
View recent ESPO publications
Research clusters
ESPO works in four research clusters:
- European Policy and Governance
- Europe and the Crisis of Rule-Based Global Order
- Democracy in Europe: Past and Present
- Political attitudes and behaviour in Europe
European Policy and Governance
The cluster European Policy and Governance concentrates on the contemporary events, developments and debates related to the European public policy process.
For more information about this cluster, please visit the research clusters webpage.
Europe and the Crisis of Rule-Based Global Order
The cluster Europe and the Crisis of Rule-Based Global Order examines the ability of the EU to promote rules-based order in the European neighbourhood and global governance.
For more information about this cluster, please visit the research clusters webpage.
Democracy in Europe: Past and Present
The cluster Democracy in Europe: Past and Present focuses on the evolution, the dynamics, the institutional forms, and the contested nature of democracy across time and space.
For more information about this cluster, please visit the research clusters webpage.
Political attitudes and behaviour in Europe
The cluster Political attitudes and behaviour in Europe focuses on topics such as political attitudes, political behaviour, representation, responsiveness, policy preferences, legitimacy, citizenship, and emotions in politics.
For more information about this cluster, please visit the research clusters webpage.
ESPO research in the picture
Giselle Bosse about how the Hungarian EU presidency upsets Brussels
Hylke Dijkstra about multilateralism in Europe
Mariëlle Wijermars about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and growing far-right sentiment
Sophie Vanhoonacker about the shifting world order
Karin van Leeuwen about 'who calls the shots' in Europe
Christine Neuhold about the relationship between the Dutch parliament and the EU
Esther Versluis about our (in)tolerance for uncertainty
News
Francesca Colli awarded NWO XS grant
- Researchers
€50,000 for her project ‘Between Compromise and Impact: EU civil society organisations and corporate accountability’
Read all about our research achievements of 2024 in the newly published annual research report
- Researchers
In-depth interviews with colleagues who have been appointed via the sector plans, and highlights the key achievements
Disinformation and democracy: Rethinking truth in a digital age
- Researchers
Disinformation is not a new phenomenon. The assumption that democracy functions smoothly as long as we have facts is inaccurate.
Giselle Bosse appointed Professor of European Union External Democracy Support
- Researchers
Her chair focuses on the European Union's (EU) efforts to support democracy worldwide, particularly in the context of a changing gl
New "What drives our researchers" video with Giselle Bosse
- Researchers
In our latest video, Professor Giselle Bosse discusses the EU's pivotal role in promoting democracy globally, especial
