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Sofia Vasilopoulou

Professor Sofia Vasilopoulou

Professor of European Politics

Biography

Sofia Vasilopoulou joined the Department of European and International Studies in May 2022 as a Professor of European Politics. She is also an Honorary Professor at the University of York, where she previously worked (2011-2022). She is Editor in Chief of the European Journal of Political Research.

She has held a visiting research fellowship at the University of Zurich (2014). She has worked at University College London and Aston University (2010-2011). She received her PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2011.

Research

Sofia Vasilopoulou has published extensively in the fields of electoral politics, public opinion and party politics. She studies the causes and consequences of political dissatisfaction among the public and the ways in which this is channelled through party strategies and party competition. The findings of her research feed into debates about democratic legitimacy, accountability and representation in Europe and the European Union.

She has authored Far Right Parties and Euroscepticism: Patterns of Opposition (ECPR Press and Rowman & Littlefield 2018) and co-authored The Golden Dawn's Nationalist Solution: Explaining the rise of the far right in Greece (Palgrave Macmillan 2015 with Daphne Halikiopoulou). Both books have been translated into Greek by Epikedro Publishers.

For more info, see https://www.sofiavasilopoulou.com/

Google Scholar profile

Teaching

  • Introduction to politics
  • Far right politics in Europe and beyond
  • Democratic legitimacy of international co-operation. 

PhD supervision

Sofia has supervised eight PhD students to completion, one post-doctoral researcher and one visiting PhD student.

She welcomes PhD applications in the following areas:

  • Elections, voters and parties
  • Opposition to international cooperation, including Euroscepticism, anti-globalisation, and anti-trade politics.
  • Far right
  • Emotions in politics
  • Representation
  • Climate change scepticism
  • Brexit and the European Union

Publications

Books
Articles

Research

talk-at-kings-thumbnail
Comparative Politics Research Group

The Comparative Politics research group hosts a research agenda based on political institutions, representation and regimes.

News

Study highlights nuanced views on EU's freedom of movement

Public attitudes to the European Union’s principle of free movement are highly nuanced and show the challenge policy-makers face in creating a sense of...

migrate-airam-dato-on-ZcvJ2DqSp6k-unsplash

Trade 'unlikely to be key issue' at next general election

The importance of trade as an issue at the next general election in the UK is likely to remain low, according to a new report.

Strategic Trade Controls

Economic stagnation significant factor behind lower trust in European Union

A tendency among policymakers to overlook middle-income regions in the European Union (EU) has led to higher levels of distrust in the institution from those...

EU

Issues around EU integration driving success of far-right parties in western Europe

An increasing focus on European integration and Euroscepticism has allowed far right parties across the continent to expand their voter base in recent years,...

A torn EU flag

Ambassador shares Brexit insights at anniversary event

Brexit, the Northern Ireland protocol and the future of UK-EU relations were on the agenda at an event hosted at King’s College London.

UKEURelations

Study suggests anger drives voters to turn to far right parties

Anger and a lack of trust in traditional political institutions – rather than fear - are the key drivers of support for radical right and anti-immigration...

Voting

Events

29NovRelations

Spain-UK special relations: The EU and beyond

Spain-UK special relations: the EU and beyond

Please note: this event has passed.

10NovEISwar

War, Crisis and a Changing Europe

Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

Please note: this event has passed.

10Octeduard-delputte-soldier-unsplash

War, crisis and a changing Europe

Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

Please note: this event has passed.

Research

talk-at-kings-thumbnail
Comparative Politics Research Group

The Comparative Politics research group hosts a research agenda based on political institutions, representation and regimes.

News

Study highlights nuanced views on EU's freedom of movement

Public attitudes to the European Union’s principle of free movement are highly nuanced and show the challenge policy-makers face in creating a sense of...

migrate-airam-dato-on-ZcvJ2DqSp6k-unsplash

Trade 'unlikely to be key issue' at next general election

The importance of trade as an issue at the next general election in the UK is likely to remain low, according to a new report.

Strategic Trade Controls

Economic stagnation significant factor behind lower trust in European Union

A tendency among policymakers to overlook middle-income regions in the European Union (EU) has led to higher levels of distrust in the institution from those...

EU

Issues around EU integration driving success of far-right parties in western Europe

An increasing focus on European integration and Euroscepticism has allowed far right parties across the continent to expand their voter base in recent years,...

A torn EU flag

Ambassador shares Brexit insights at anniversary event

Brexit, the Northern Ireland protocol and the future of UK-EU relations were on the agenda at an event hosted at King’s College London.

UKEURelations

Study suggests anger drives voters to turn to far right parties

Anger and a lack of trust in traditional political institutions – rather than fear - are the key drivers of support for radical right and anti-immigration...

Voting

Events

29NovRelations

Spain-UK special relations: The EU and beyond

Spain-UK special relations: the EU and beyond

Please note: this event has passed.

10NovEISwar

War, Crisis and a Changing Europe

Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

Please note: this event has passed.

10Octeduard-delputte-soldier-unsplash

War, crisis and a changing Europe

Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

Please note: this event has passed.