— Does democracy open the corridors of power to the people, or do the same individuals remain in control, despite a formal change in governance? This is what I intend to explore in this project, explains Nyrup.
The project, titled "Governing elites since the dawn of modern democracy (GETGOV)," has received a Starting Grant worth 1.5 million euros (approximately 18 million Norwegian kroner) from the European Research Council (ERC).
The French Revolution
— To achieve this, my team and I will create a database of government members worldwide from 1789 to the present day.
— This means we can study political elites from the beginning of modern democracy to today, and see if they become more representative, diverse, and competent when a country becomes democratic.
He emphasises that they will also examine whether changes in political elite lead to newer, better policies by investigating factors such as redistribution and economic growth.
Signs of democratic fatigue
Nyrup highlights the global tendency for many to feel that democracy (or popular governance, as it's known in Norway) does not fulfil its promise.
— A core promise of democracy is that we have a government elected by the people. When a country becomes democratic, it is no longer ruled by those appointed by the king or those who bear arms. Instead, the population elects their own government.
— Survey results show that many feel their politicians do not represent them and that they are governed by an elite out of touch with the population.
Elites in decline
— My hope is that this project will provide us with crucial knowledge about who governs both today and historically, he continues.
According to Nyrup, surprisingly little information exists about who has participated in governments worldwide until now.
— I've tried to rectify this in my research thus far by systematically collecting data on government members in previous projects.
However, he admits it has often been an overwhelming task, and with limited resources, there is only so much one can achieve.
— The grant is a major step forward for me. It means I can truly focus on this research area and hire talented young researchers to assist in driving it forward.
— I am incredibly proud to have this opportunity and am eager to get started, says Nyrup.
Innovative project
— This is excellent news! Congratulations to Jacob Nyrup.
That's what Elin Haugsgjerd Allern, head of the Department of Political Science (ISV), says about the grant.
She stresses that the ERC Starting Grant is awarded to young research talents who have already distinguished themselves as outstanding and have the potential to become leaders in their field.
— We are thrilled that Jacob has this opportunity to establish his own team for pioneering elite research with us and to further develop his research agenda in this manner.
The grant is for a project that focuses on political elites, which is a classic field within political science, according to Allern.
— Simultaneously, it presents an innovative problem by addressing the connection between democracy and democratisation, the composition of political elites, and consequently, the distinctive features of national public policies.
She believes that the project's findings will be highly relevant to ongoing discussions about the state and challenges of democracy today.
— Securing an ERC Starting Grant demonstrates that ISV succeeds in recruiting young researchers with significant potential, who in turn can help recruit and develop new, outstanding research talents at UiO, concludes the Head of department.
Did you know
Jacob Nyrup's Starting Grant is the 16th Starting Grant from the ERC awarded to a researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the second for ISV.
Just before summer, Scott Gates, also from ISV, received the prestigious Advanced Grant from the ERC.
About ERC Starting Grant
Starting Grants from the European Research Council (ERC) are awarded to talented young researchers who have distinguished themselves and are ready to conduct independent research, showing potential to become leaders in their respective fields.