Research into the Politics of Diversity is crucial as it provides insights into the power dynamics and social structures that influence the inclusion or exclusion of diverse groups.

Dr. L.M. (Liza) Mügge
Associate Professor
Political Science Department, University of Amsterdam

Theme Migration & Race/Ethnicity

Research projects on migration & race/ethnicity study policy making that targets citizens with a migration background, as well as transnationalism and political exclusion of racialized and ethnically minoritized citizens.

Projects Migration & Race/Ethnicity

  • Barriers and opportunities of migrant representation Barriers and opportunities of (political) representation of migrants Europe

    Society is diverse and consists of people with multiple backgrounds so it could be assumed that political representation should also represent this diversity. But oftentimes parliaments are lacking that diversity and therefore the potential of bringing more diverse opinions and standpoints into the process of policy making. That is why it is all the more important to take a closer look at cases...

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    Themes
    Project lead
    dr. L.M. Mügge
    Porticus joint research project with REPCHANCE funded by Bosch foundation

  • Misrepresenting Diversity? How personal identities clash with ethnic pigeonholing in politics

    Ideal democracies should accommodate the full diversity of their citizenries. The follow-up assumption is that elected representatives should mirror the ethnic make-up of the population: if there are enough 'German-Turks' in the Bundestag, the Turkish minority is thought to be properly represented. But in fact, it is wrong to assume that citizens share interests and worldviews because their...

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    Themes
    Project lead
    dr. L.M. Mügge
    VIDI grant NWO
    2017–2024

  • Priority Categories in Asylum Policy Gender Mainstreaming in German Resettlement Programmes for Syrian Refugees

    Gender is central to the selection of refugees for asylum. The objective of this study is to understand how gender equality conceptions affect priority categories in asylum policies within transnational policy processes. Focusing on German resettlement programmes for Syrian refugees, it follows the selection process from category making to category implementation.

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    Themes
    Project lead
    dr. L.M. Mügge
    Research Talent grant NWO
    2016–2020

  • Politics at the Intersection Gender and Ethnicity in Parliamentary Representation

    Democratic societies view the representation of identifiable groups in parliament as a key means to give these groups political voice and to legitimize governance. While the parliamentary under-representation of both women and ethnic minorities has received considerable attention, much of this work has treated women and ethnic minorities as internally homogenous and conceptually separate groups.

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    Themes
    Project lead
    dr. L.M. Mügge
    VENI grant Dutch Research Council (NWO)
    2013–2017

Former Members Migration & Race/Ethnicity

  • Natalie Welfens

    PhD Candidate (2016–2021)
    Interests: Gender, intersectionality, migration, refugee governance, deservingness

  • Sanne van Oosten

    PhD Candidate (2018–2024)
    Interests: Descriptive representation, diversity, heuristics, Muslim politicians, substantive representation

  • Zahra Runderkamp

    PhD Candidate (2019–2025)
    Interests: Representation of women and ethnic minorities in politics and media in the Netherlands.

  • Judith de Jong

    PhD Candidate (2019–2025)
    Interests: Representation of citizens with immigrant histories, identity misrecognition, barriers to equality

    PhD joint with Germany Institute Amsterdam

  • Melanie Ihuoma

    Junior Researcher (2024–2025)
    Interests: Gender, sexuality, intersectionality, race, class

  • Ana Dorscheidt

    Research Master Student (2023–2024)
    Interests: Evidence-based policy, ethical policymaking, educational opportunities, social justice

  • Adriana Cassis

    Visiting scholar (2024)
    PhD Candidate (IMPRS-SPCE)
    Interests: Transnationalism, migrant political behaviour, post migrant societies

Team Migration & Race/Ethnicity

  • Liza Mügge

    Professor in Politics of Diversity
    Principal Investigator
    Political Science Department
    University of Amsterdam

    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News & Media Migration & Race/Ethnicity

Wouter Boonstra | Binnenlands Bestuur
16 April 2025

Politicus van kleur moet ‘harder knokken’

Politici met een migratieachtergrond krijgen disproportioneel veel weerstand en worden niet beoordeeld op prestaties, maar op achtergrond. Lees hier het volledige artikel.

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Not available in English
SPUI25
11 April 2025

Harder knokken. Politici met een migratieachtergrond in Nederland | 11 April 2025 | Event video

Tegen welke uitdagingen lopen politici met een migratieachtergrond anno 2025 aan in hun...

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Not available in English
Els Quaegebeur in 'Het Parool'
30 March 2019

Liza Mügge: 'Sylvana Simons is symbolisch van groot belang'

Opgevoed door een alleenstaande moeder had politicoloog Liza Mügge (43) al vroeg een rolmodel. Dat gebruikt ze in haar strijd voor meer vrouwen en minderheden in de politiek. 'We moeten al in de hoofdjes van vijfjarigen patronen doorbreken.' Liza Mügge: 'Sylvana Simons is symbolisch van groot belang' (Het Parool)

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Output Migration & Race/Ethnicity

  • Evaluations of female Muslim politicians in a populist era: Measuring intersectionality using interaction effects and conjoint experiments

    van Oosten, S. (2025). Evaluations of female Muslim politicians in a populist era: Measuring intersectionality using interaction effects and conjoint experiments. Journal of Populism Studies, 1, 1–31. ...

  • PhD summary: Minority voting and representation – The impact of religion, migration background and gender on voter preferences for in- and out-group politicians in France, Germany and the Netherlands.

    van Oosten, S. (2025). PhD summary: Minority voting and representation – The impact of religion, migration background and gender on voter preferences for in- and out-group politicians in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Politics of the Low...

  • Lokaal Onzichtbaar: Vrouwen met een migratieachtergrond in de politiek.

    Runderkamp, Z. and Mügge, L. (2026). Lokaal Onzichtbaar: Vrouwen met een migratieachtergrond in de politiek. In Alfons Fermin, Zeki Arslan and Peter Zwaga (red).Veertig jaar lokaal kiesrecht voor migranten. Ervaringen, inzichten en uitdagingen. Pp.67-72....

  • Super Politicians? Perspectives of Minoritized Citizens on Representation

    de Jong, J. C., & Mügge, L. (2023). Super Politicians? Perspectives of Minoritized Citizens on Representation. Political Studies Review, 21(3), 506-514....

  • The importance of in-group favouritism in explaining voting for PRRPs: A study of minority and majority groups in France, Germany and the Netherlands

    van Oosten, S. (2025). The importance of in-group favouritism in explaining voting for PRRPs: A study of minority and majority groups in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Populism & Politics (P&P). European Center for Populism Studies (ECPS)....

  • Diversiteit op het pluche. Memoires en autobiografieën van politici met een migratieachtergrond

    Ihuoma, Melanie, Liza Mügge & Zahra Runderkamp. 2024. "Diversiteit op het pluche. Memoires en autobiografieën van politici met een migratieachtergrond" in Machtswoorden: Over schrijverschap en politiek in Nederland, edited by Remieg Aears, Coen...

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