Personalia
Liza Mügge, born in Vlissingen, The Netherlands, in 1976. Ph.D. from University of Amsterdam. Assistant Professor of Political Science at University of Amsterdam.
Fellow (1 Sept 2016 – 30 June 2017)
Representing Diversity? Nebahat Albayrak, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Other Minorities in Dutch Parliament, 1986-2012
Research Question
Ethnic minorities are often portrayed as distinct social groups, needing dedicated political representation. But minority politicans frequently reject being pigeonholed as “Turkish” or “Surinamese” – just as women MPs resist being reduced to their gender. How does a minority background and/or being a woman influence the actual work of politicians? Do they “blend in”, or function as advocates of “their” group?
Project Description
Nebahat Albayrak, Ayaan Hirsi Ali – just two of the many well-known minority members of the Dutch Parliament. The politicial establishment is committed to fair representation. Worried about unequal representation of women and minorities, societies meticulouysly track politicians’ gender and ethnicity. At the same time, few minority politicians highlight their background. Political parties expect them to function as any other politician: they have to speak to society as a whole and not only a subgroup, such as Dutch-Turks. Diversity was widely celebrated in the 1990s; today, uneasiness reigns. Visible minorities have become citizens and voters, but their difference or samenes remains sensitive. Drawing on a combination of data, including in-depth interviews this book shows how minorities MPs have represented their identities since 1986.
Selected Publications
De Lange, S.L. & L.M. Mügge (2015) ‘Gender and Right-wing Populism in the Low Countries: Ideological Variations across Parties and Time’ Patterns of Prejudice, 49 (1/2): 61-80.
Mügge, L.M. & S. De Jong (2013). Dialogues: ‘Intersectionalizing European Politics: Bridging Gender and Ethnicity’ Politics, Groups & Identities 1(3): 380-389.