Jan Willem Duyvendak

Jan Willem Duyvendak is Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Director of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (NIAS-KNAW) since 2018. He holds master's degrees in both sociology and philosophy from the University of Groningen. His academic career includes prestigious fellowships at the Advanced Research Collaborative at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (2013-2014) and the Paris Institute for Advanced Studies (Spring 2016).

Duyvendak's research primarily focuses on belonging, urban sociology, 'feeling at home,' and nativism. His work critically examines how concepts of the 'ordinary' and 'normal' function in society, particularly how they relate to exclusionary practices and nativist discourses. He has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between liberalism and nativism, arguing that even the most liberal societies remain vulnerable to nativist politics.

His recent publications show a clear trend toward analyzing the emotional dimensions of politics and the rise of nativism in Western democracies. Duyvendak's work spans both theoretical contributions and engagement with contemporary political debates, particularly in the Netherlands, where he frequently comments on issues like populism, migration, and the role of academia in democratic societies.

• Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW, 2021)
• Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2022)
• Member of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (KHMW, 2024)

Duyvendak has directed significant research initiatives at NIAS-KNAW, including the Conference on Studies of Belonging in 2021. He advocates for 'slow science' as a necessary counterbalance to the increasing pressure for immediate research outputs, emphasizing the importance of space for reflection, doubt, and deep inquiry. His work bridges academic research and public debate, particularly on issues of migration, belonging, and the challenges facing liberal democracies.