Nicolas Baygert

Nicolas Baygert serves as Communications Lecturer at IHECS, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and Sciences Po Paris, while directing Protagoras – a Brussels-based political communication think tank. His cross-institutional role spans teaching, research leadership, and media commentary on digital-era political dynamics.

Educational background:

• PhD in Information and Communication Sciences, Paris-Sorbonne & UCLouvain (2014, highest distinction)
• Certificate of Pedagogical Aptitude (CAPAES), ULB (2021)
• MPhil in Political Sciences, UCLouvain (2005)
• MA in International Relations, University of Kent (2003)
• Licence in Communication Studies, UCLouvain (2002)

Baygert's research pioneers analysis of digital political transformation, with groundbreaking work on MAGA technopopulism and Alt-Right digital ecosystems. He examines how branding, lobbying, and consumerism reshape post-democratic engagement, particularly within EU institutions. His interdisciplinary approach bridges communication theory, political science, and digital sociology to decode leadership evolution in networked societies.

Through Protagoras, Baygert mentors emerging scholars while securing institutional partnerships for policy-relevant research. The think tank produces expert reports that directly influence EU communication strategies and publishes 'les Cahiers Protagoras' – establishing a vital conduit between academic insights and real-world political practice.

Protagoras operates as an international research nexus under Baygert's direction, coordinating conferences that dissect digital disinformation, political branding, and institutional communication failures. The laboratory's work on European public campaigns provides actionable frameworks for navigating the volatile intersection of technology, populism, and democratic processes.