Sven Hegewald

Sven Hegewald is a Postdoctoral Researcher in European Politics at ETH Zürich's Center for Comparative and International Studies (CIS), affiliated with the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences. His research focuses on territorial divisions in political behavior, particularly how place-based identities shape urban-rural political conflicts in Europe. He employs interdisciplinary methods from social psychology, geography, and political science to explore themes such as political trust, nationalism, and institutional dynamics.

Key research interests include the urban-rural divide, affective polarization, and the impact of corruption scandals on institutional trust. His work has been published in prestigious journals like the European Journal of Political Research and European Union Politics. Recent studies analyze pandemic-era political trust, the implications of differentiated integration in the EU, and the effects of jurisdictional reforms on political disaffection.

No scientific awards are listed, though his contributions to comparative European politics are notable. His research often bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical evidence, addressing contemporary challenges such as nationalism resurgence and institutional legitimacy crises. Collaborations and affiliations with CIS highlight his engagement with transnational research networks.