My research lies at the intersection of political behaviour, public opinion, comparative politics, and political sociology. My research explores the conditions under which attitudes emerge and gain traction in contemporary societies. I investigate the socio-political and historical contexts that form and activate attitudes. I focus on how psychological predispositions interact with political institutions and processes of political socialization to shape support for civil liberties, minority rights, and democratic norms. This work contributes to broader debates on democratic backsliding, populism, and the resilience of liberal democracy.

Firstly, my work examines the development of illiberal and exclusionary attitudes — such as populism, nationalism, and xenophobia — from both the supply-side (elites, political discourse, institutional structures) and demand-side (public attitudes, identity, socialization). I focus in particular on the political and societal challenges these phenomena pose to liberal democracy. Much of my early work engaged with comparative populism and nationalism, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. For instance, I have analyzed the rise of populist and nationalist tendencies in the new EU Member States and their long-term implications for European integration and democratic norms. I have also published case studies exploring national identity, pride, and the dynamics of ethnic exclusionism, including the ways in which national attachments can foster both civic engagement and exclusionary attitudes.

Secondly, I focus on comparative political behavior and the formation of political and social attitudes, and how these are shaped by policy contexts, institutions, political actors, and cultural norms. A key question guiding this work is why people — and entire countries or regions — differ in their attitudes toward core democratic values, immigration, diversity, and social inclusion. This builds on my earlier book, Education and Tolerance, which examined how educational attainment shapes tolerance across different societal contexts. I pay particular attention to early-life political socialization, threat perception, and generational effects. For instance, I have recently published studies showing how the political climate during one’s formative years influences long-term attitudes toward immigration.

In parallel, I contribute to the study of migration attitudes through both original research and synthesis. Through large-scale meta-analyses I have investigated the key individual and contextual factors that explain variation in attitudes toward immigration. This includes attention to perceptions of fairness in asylum decision-making — with implications for both theory and policy.

Together, my work aims to connect macro-level political transformations with micro-level processes of attitude formation, helping to explain the resilience or erosion of democratic norms in increasingly diverse societies.

My research applies advanced statistical methods such as structural equation modelling, multilevel modelling and hierarchical multilevel cross-classified modelling and survey experiments. I have also written on the practical use of these advanced techniques (see Publications).