Y. Goris (Yannicke)

PhD candidate - Empirical Political Science

Y. Goris (Yannicke)
Contact
Visiting address

Heyendaalseweg 141
6525 AJ NIJMEGEN

Postal address

Postbus 9108
6500 HK NIJMEGEN

Working days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Yannicke Goris is a PhD candidate in the political science department, supervised by Prof C. van Ham and Prof W. van Meurs. Her research examines the contestation over civic space in periods of democratic erosion.
It is generally assumed that civic space shrinks in times of democratic erosion; that freedoms of civil society (the supposed protector and engine of democracy) are curtailed. In her research, Yannicke shows that the story is more complex. Democratic erosion does not necessarily mean an overall shrinkage of civic space. Rather, it results in change and reconfiguration of that space. Whereas for some actors civic space does indeed shrink and their freedoms are drastically curtailed, for others new spaces and opportunities may emerge. Moreover, the struggle over the boundaries and configuration of civic space is not only fought between civil society and the state; contestation also takes place between civil society actors themselves.
The strategies and (inter)actions of civil society actors in the contestation over civic space provide insight into their position vis-à-vis democracy. Sometimes they indeed take on their assigned role of driver and protector of democracy. Sometimes, however, their actions may also undermine that democracy. Yannicke analyses this complex role of civil society actors by comparing historical and contemporary developments in 2 countries; Poland and Croatia.
This interdisciplinary project combines a historical and political science perspective. Moreover, great importance is attached to learning from and exchanging with practitioners, so that scientific insights can be put to use to support civil society in the promotion of democracy.

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