PhD defence
José Piquer defended his doctoral thesis Constrained partisanship: A comparative study of policy choices and party discourses in the British and Spanish crisis experiences (2008-2014) on 22 September 2021.
PhD project
In my research I analyse the varieties of political legitimation deployed by national governments to justify their policy choices during the financial crisis. In particular, I will present a comparative and in-depth examination of political discourses in Britain and Spain, two countries that experienced the financial crisis and a destabilising political backlash albeit in different form. The overarching question throughout my research is: how do governments legitimise policy choices when their autonomy to act is restricted? Methodologically, I combine several methods in a multi-stage research design. Theoretically, I aspire to explain some of the processes that may link constraints to policy choice with legitimation discourses as a way to improve our understanding of legitimacy crises that occur within democratic systems even beyond EU member states.
- Supervisor: Christopher Bickerton, POLIS, University of Cambridge
- Co-supervisor: Markus Jachtenfuchs, Berlin Graduate School for Transnational Studies
Secondment
- Clingendael - the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, The Hague
Background
Before joining the PLATO network, I worked in communications, advocacy, research and university program administration in different institutions (NGO, think tank, and university). I have studied and lived in Spain, the UK and Argentina, and I serve as a Member of NED Foundation, an NGO in the field of health care with projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. PLATO brings together everything I enjoy most about academic life, and I am pleased to be part of it. Nationality: Spanish.
- MA in International Relations, IE School of International Relations, IE University
- Postgraduate training in social research techniques and data analysis, Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS)
- Five-year degree in Political Science and Public Administration, University of Valencia
- Five-year degree in Journalism, University of Valencia
Publications
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The politics of legitimation in the EU: legitimacy recovered?
The overall conclusions of the PLATO project are available in a joint book with contributions by supervisors and PhD researchers. The book develops a better understanding of how the politics of legitimating the EU are actor-dependent, context-dependent and problem-dependent.
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In Europe, emergency politics has become unexceptional
Governments have accumulated extraordinary powers through emergency politics in crisis times. Although exceptional measures may be needed for exceptional times, José Piquer questions the notion of 'exceptionalism' and shows how such politics has become a persistent feature. The result is a weakening of democratic quality and a blurring of political party lines.
Post-Crisis Democracy in Europe blog, 16 December 2021
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After the cartel party: ‘extra-party’ and ‘intra-party’ techno-populism
José Piquer and Anton Jäger have published an article on the transition from cartel to techno-populist political parties of left-populist challengers in the UK and Spain in a special issue of Politics & Governance .
News
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‘PLATO helped me become confident in my skills and capabilities’
Four PLATO PhD researchers share their experiences – and provide top tips for future doctoral students.
Presentations
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PLATO kick-off conference
PLATO's kick-off conference brings together the project's partners in Oslo for academic discussions and networking.
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PLATO panel at the ECPR conference
PLATO coordinator Chris Lord is chairing a panel with papers by five PLATO PhD researchers as part of the ECPR General Conference in Wroclaw.
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Synthesising research findings (RTC4)
ESRs will be presenting their contribution to the PLATO anthology and their overall research results, with an emphasis on the first.
