Benjamin De Cleen

Benjamin De Cleen serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), where he has established himself as a specialist in political discourse analysis.

His research program critically examines far right, populist and nationalist discourses, investigating how political ideologies are constructed, disseminated, and contested through media and communication channels. His scholarly approach combines discourse theory with contemporary political analysis to understand shifting democratic landscapes.

De Cleen holds significant leadership positions including co-director of the ECHO – Media, Culture & Politics Research Group, which fosters interdisciplinary scholarship on media's role in political processes, and serves as international chair of the Centre for Democracy, Signification and Resistance (DESIRE), focusing on democratic theory and resistance movements.

His editorial work includes the volume Communication and Discourse Theory, co-edited with Leen Van Brussel and Nico Carpentier, contributing to theoretical frameworks in communication studies.