Benjamin Stanley

Benjamin Stanley is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Political Science at SWPS University's Faculty of Social Sciences in Warsaw, affiliated with the Department of Politics and Public Policy, Institute of Social Sciences, and Center for the Study of Democracy. He specializes in voting behavior, political parties, populism, and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. His research includes projects funded by the National Science Centre (NCN) and the Norwegian Research Council, such as studying democratic values in Poland and political dynamics of émigré communities. He teaches comparative politics and psychology of politics, emphasizing the interplay between political attitudes and institutional changes.

Dr. Stanley leads key projects like 'Partisan bias or a climate of indifference?' (NCN OPUS, 2021–2024), analyzing democratic values' impact on political preferences, and 'DIASPOlitic' (EUROPA, 2019–2020), exploring émigré communities' role in European democratic backsliding. His work bridges empirical research with theoretical contributions, focusing on how migration and transnational networks influence political identities and democratic quality.

His publications span academic journals like Perspectives on Politics and East European Politics, addressing topics such as illiberalism in Hungary and Poland, populist leadership, and electoral behavior. He collaborates internationally, appearing in media discussions on Brexit and Eastern European politics. His research highlights the societal and institutional challenges facing democracies undergoing political polarization and authoritarian pressures.