Sociologist dr. Kjell Noordzij concludes that many less-educated citizens often perceive politicians to be culturally distant to them and revolt against the misrecognition they experience in politics. On November 8, 2024, Noordzij received the Erasmus Research Prize 2024 for outstanding research achievements. According to the jury, his research is of an exceptionally high level and very relevant to society.
Noordzij grew up in the Hoeksche Waard, where he still lives. He was the first in his family to attend university. 'I am not someone who only wants to live within the university bubble.' Noordzij has always been interested in understanding the perspectives of different groups of people. As a cultural sociologist, he wants to know how people view the world around them and what drives people in what they do. In his research into the social aspects of democracy, he looks at, for example, the role of political representation in political trust, how status differences shape political conflicts, and the distance that many less-educated citizens feel from the lifestyle of politicians.
Political discontent is related to education
Much of his research focuses on the role of education in political discontent. 'It is often argued that the discontent among less-educated citizens can be understood because they have less knowledge of politics. Or that they have a weaker economic position and, therefore, vote for populist parties.' In his research, Noordzij shows that these explanations can only partially explain the political discontent among less-educated citizens. The sociologist spoke to many less-educated citizens. He had long conversations about politics with them in focus groups. On this basis, he developed a questionnaire with statements such as "politicians live very different lives than people like me" or "politicians look down on people like me". Less-educated citizens agreed with these statements more often than more-educated citizens.
Diploma democracy
About 65 percent of the Dutch population is less educated, but more than 90 percent of the members of the House of Representatives have obtained a diploma from a university of applied sciences or university. This is called the diploma democracy. Education is strongly related to your lifestyle. 'Both groups have different friends, different preferences and different hobbies. As a result of the diploma democracy, less-educated citizens see few people like themselves in politics. They do not recognise themselves in many politicians.' Noordzij explains that this is an important explanation for the political discontent among many less-educated citizens. 'They not only feel less heard in politics but also less seen.'
Seen and recognised
The communication style of politicians also contributes to this perceived distance. According to many less-educated citizens, politicians have an indirect communication style; 'they often beat around the bush', Noordzij regularly hears from the less-educated citizens he spoke to. 'This is accompanied by a feeling that politicians are withholding something, which makes them doubt the integrity of politicians.' Furthermore, the research shows that many less-educated citizens feel looked down on. 'They feel that they are taken less seriously in politics because they have a different lifestyle than the majority of theoretically trained politicians.' The consequences of this can be that less-educated citizens distrust politics, vote for populist parties or even turn their backs on politics altogether.
Reducing political discontent
Noordzij's research shows that perceived cultural distance explains the educational gap in political discontent. It is difficult to close this gap 'because early signs of diploma democracy have been visible since the 1950s and the lifestyle differences between many politicians and less-educated citizens are deeply rooted and felt.' Nevertheless, closing the educational gap is not impossible. One of the most essential actions that political parties can take is to include more less-educated citizens on their electoral lists, so that they feel better represented. Noordzij also points to the role society can play. People could try to understand the perspectives and experiences of other people better. 'Practically educated people not only feel misrecognised in politics, but research also shows that they experience a low status in society.'
Next steps in research
Noordzij's research shows that practically educated people experience that their lifestyle has a lower status in politics and that this is related to their political discontent. Noordzij recently received a Rubicon grant with which he will investigate in what other ways different groups of citizens feel misunderstood in politics. In this, he will specifically investigate what role stigmatisation of political attitudes plays in the political discontent among citizens and how they deal with it. Do citizens who feel stigmatised in politics withdraw from the political debate, or do they speak out against their experienced stigmatisation? Noordzij will answer this question at the University of Stockholm, together with political sociologist Prof. Jens Rydgren.
Making positive societal impact
The jury was very impressed by the level of research of Kjell Noordzij on both an academic level and within social relevance. Furthermore, the jury appreciates the interdisciplinary approach of the study. Noordzij has already published extensively in his – just-starting – academic career and contributes to the educational and social debate on a wide range of political topics at the heart of contemporary liberal democracies. Noordzij’s research contributes to the academic community of Erasmus University Rotterdam because, among other reasons, he collaborates closely with colleagues from other faculties, such as ESHCC and Erasmus MC.
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The Research Prize of Erasmus University Rotterdam is awarded to a promising researcher who obtained her/his doctorate degree within the last three years, or a research group, that has performed exceptional research at our university.
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