W.J. Berenschot

Prof. W.J. Berenschot is a Professor in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in political sociology and comparative governance. His expertise spans clientelism, local democracy, citizenship, informality, access to justice, land conflicts, and political finance with a regional focus on Southeast Asia and South Asia.

His research critically examines how informal institutions shape governance and democratic processes, particularly in Indonesia and India. Key themes include the impact of oligarchic networks on democracy, the role of cyber propaganda in undermining anti-corruption efforts, and the dynamics of land disputes involving corporate actors.

Recent work analyzes variations in village governance across Indonesia, the oligarchisation of political systems in Asia, and the interplay between legal formalism and land conflict resolution. He has contributed to debates on electoral reform, civil society resilience, and the socio-legal dimensions of palm oil expansion.