معرفی
Koen Slootmaeckers is a Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in International Politics at City, University of London, specializing in gender and sexuality politics within the European context. His research combines insights from sociology and political science to analyze hierarchies within the international system, with particular focus on LGBTQ+ rights and EU enlargement processes.
His research interests span gender and sexuality politics, transnational social movements, LGBTQ+ rights, and homophobia, with a geographic focus on Europe, particularly Eastern Europe. Slootmaeckers examines how EU accession processes affect LGBTQ+ politics and activism, as evidenced by his award-winning book on Serbia's EU accession and LGBTQ+ politics. His current research focuses on the transnational politics of Pride events and future work explores the role of emotions in politics to overcome polarization.
Slootmaeckers' publication record shows a consistent focus on the intersection of European integration, LGBTQ+ rights, and political sociology. His work frequently analyzes how legal frameworks interact with lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, challenging homonationalist discourses that position Western Europe as inherently more progressive. He has developed a critical approach to mapping LGBTQ+ rights, demonstrating how legal indicators can obscure complex social realities on the ground.
- 2025 EUSA Best Book Prize for 'Coming in: Sexual politics and EU accession in Serbia'
- Council for European Studies Gender and Sexuality Research Network Best Article Prize (2025)
- UACES Prize for Best PhD Thesis in Contemporary European Studies (2018)
Slootmaeckers serves as an External Examiner at Richmond, The American International University in London (2021-2026), holds a Senior Fellowship at the University of Graz (2024), and acts as EDI Officer for UACES (2023-2026). His work has significant policy relevance, with frequent media appearances discussing LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary, Serbia, and across Europe, and he has contributed to reports like 'Queering Peace and Security: Recommendations to the United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.'
