Prof Aleks Szczerbiak

Biography

Aleks Szczerbiak is Professor of Politics and Contemporary European Studies and has, since 2006, has been Co-Director of the Sussex European Institute (SEI). He is also Director of Doctoral Studies for Law, Politics and Sociology and convenor of the doctoral studies programmes in Politics and Contemporary European Studies.

Aleks graduated from the University of Sheffield and, following a few years spent working as a political researcher and consultant, returned to take a Masters degree at Birkbeck College, University of London and PhD at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London. He started lecturing at Sussex in 1998.

Aleks is the co-convenor (with Prof Paul Taggart) of the ‘European Parties Elections and Referendums Network’ (EPERN) and Associate Editor of the ‘Party Politics’ journal. He is also on the Editorial Advisory Boards of the ‘Journal of Common Market Studies’, ‘Perspectives on European Politics and Society’ and ‘East European Politics’ journals. Aleks is a member of the European Union Democracy Observatory (EUDO) Observatory on Political Parties and Representation.

Previously, Aleks was Associate Director of the ESRC 'One Europe Or Several' Programme (2001-2003), convenor of the PSA Specialist Group on Communist and Post-Communist Politics (1999-2002), and Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of Institutional Affairs (RIIA) European Programme (2002-2007). Aleks was also the 2004 Main Prize Winner of the Political Studies Association Sir Bernard Crick Prize for Outstanding Teaching in Political Science.

Aleks has been interviewed by and appeared on various TV and radio programmes including: the BBC World Service, BBC News 24, China Radio International, Reuters, Croatian Radio, Croatian TV, and RTL. He publishes a research blog analysing the contemporary Polish political scene at: http://polishpoliticsblog.wordpress.com/.

Aleks’ main current research interests are:

•Central and East European politics

•Political parties and electoral politics

•Contemporary Polish politics and society

•The impact of European integration on domestic politics

•The politics of lustration and de-communisation

At the undergraduate level, Aleks convenes a second year option courses on the 'Politics of Governance: Eastern Europe', and offers a third year option on 'Political Change: Eastern Europe in Transition'.

At postgraduate level, Aleks teaches a Masters course on 'The Politics of Eastern Europe in Transition'. 

Aleks is currently supervising doctoral students researching the following topics:

• Parties and the State in post-communist Poland

• The Changing Nature of EU Democratic Conditionality: A Comparative Study

• The attitudes of political parties in Croatia and Serbia towards the EU in comparative perspective

• Political Catholicism and European Integration: The case of Poland in comparative perspective

• Change or business as usual? A comparative analysis of the interaction between political parties and the EU

• The electoral success of the Justice and Development Party: the role of populism

• Whither European integration: Partisan responses to the European Union in Ireland and Greece during the Eurozone crisis (2008-present)

Student Consultation

Wednesdays, 11am-1pm

Webb, Paul, Taggart, Paul, Lees, Charles and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2013) Party politics in contemporary Europe. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Taggart, Paul and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2012) Coming in from the cold? Euroscepticism and government participation and party positions on Europe. Journal of Common Market Studies, 51 (1). pp. 17-37. ISSN 0021-9886

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2011) Poland within the European Union: new awkward partner or new heart of Europe? Advances in European politics, 76 . Routledge, Oxon. ISBN 9780415380737

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2010) Election Briefing 55: Europe and the June/July 2010 Polish presidential election. Technical Report. European Parties Elections and Referendums Network (EPERN), Brighton.

Bale, Tim, Hanley, Seán and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2010) 'May Contain Nuts'? The Reality behind the Rhetoric Surrounding the British Conservatives' New Group in the European Parliament. Political Quarterly, 81 (1). pp. 85-98. ISSN 0032-3179

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Bil, Monika (2009) When in doubt, (re-)turn to domestic politics? The (non-)impact of the EU on party politics in Poland. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 25 (4). pp. 447-467. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Taggart, Paul (2009) EU enlargement and referendums. Routledge, London. ISBN 9780415568296

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2009) The European Parliament election in Poland, June 7 2009. SEI Working Papers (36). ISSN 1350-4649

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2008) The birth of a bi-polar party system or a referendum on a polarising government?: The October 2007 Polish parliamentary election. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 24 (3). pp. 415-443. ISSN 1352-3279

Bale, Tim and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2008) Why Is There No Christian Democracy in Poland - and Why Should We Care? Party Politics, 14 (4). pp. 479-500. ISSN 1354-0688

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Bil, Monika (2008) When in doubt, (re-)turn to domestic politics? The non-impact of the EU on Polish party politics. Sussex European Institute.

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Taggart, Paul, eds. (2008) Case Studies and Country Surveys. Opposing Europe? The Comparative Politics of Euroscepticism, 1 . Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York, p. 2. ISBN 9780199258307

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Taggart, Paul (2008) Theorising Party-Based Euroscepticism: Problems of Definition, Measurement and Causality. In: Comparative and Theoretical Perspectives. Opposing Europe? The Comparative Party Politics of Euroscepticism, 2 . Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 238-262. ISBN 9780199258352

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2008) The Birth of a Bipolar Party System or a Referendum on a Polarizing Government? The October 2007 Polish Parliamentary Election. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 24 (3). pp. 415-443. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2007) Election Briefing 37: Europe and the October 2007 Polish Parliamentary Election. European Parties Elections and Referendums Network, University of Sussex.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2007) Why do Poles love the EU and what do they love about it?: Polish attitudes towards European integration during the first three years of membership. SEI Working Papers (98). ISSN 1350-4649

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2007) State Party Funding and Patronage in Post-1989 Poland. In: Political Parties and the State in Post-Communist Europe. Routledge, London. ISBN 978-0415439596

Hanley, Seán, Szczerbiak, Aleks, Haughton, Tim and Fowler, Brigid (2007) Explaining the success of Centre-Right Parties in Post Communist East Central Europe: A Comparative Analysis. Sussex European Institute, University of Sussex.

Bale, Tim and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2006) Why is there no Christian Democracy in Poland (and why does this matter)? Working Paper. Sussex European Institute, University of Sussex, Falmer, UK.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2006) State party funding and patronage in post-1989 Poland. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 22 (3). pp. 298-319. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2006) 'Social Poland' defeats 'liberal Poland'?: The September - October 2005 Polish parliamentary and presidential elections. SEI Working Papers (86). ISSN 1350-4649

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2006) Power without love: patterns of party politics in post-1989 Poland. In: Post-communist EU member states: parties and party systems. Ashgate, Aldershot and Burligton, pp. 91-124. ISBN 9780754647126

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2005) Europe and the September/October 2005 Polish parliamentary and presidential elections, Election Briefing No. 22. European Parties Elections and Referendums Network (EPERN), Brighton.

Copsey, Nathaniel and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2005) The Future of Polish-Ukrainian Relations: Evidence from the June 2004 European Election Campaign in Poland. Sussex European Institute.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2005) Poland. In: The 2004 elections to the European Parliament. Palgrave Macmillan, London. ISBN 9781403935182

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Hanley, Seán, eds. (2005) Centre-right parties in post-communist East-Central Europe. Routledge, London. ISBN 9780415347815

Williams, Kieran, Fowler, Brigid and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2005) Explaining Lustration in Central Europe: a `post-communist politics? approach. Democratization, 12 (1). pp. 22-43. ISSN 1351-0347

Unset (2005) Understanding the politics of the Right in contemporary East-Central Europe. In: Szcerbiak, Aleks and Hanley, Sean, (eds.) Centre-right parties in post-communist East-Central Europe. Routledge, London. ISBN 9780415347815 (hbk.)

Taggart, Paul and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2004) Conclusions: Towards a model of (European) referendums. West European Politics, 27 (4). pp. 749-777. ISSN 0140-2382

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Taggart, Paul (2004) The Politics of European Referendum Outcomes and Turnout:Two Models. West European Politics, 27 (4). pp. 557-83. ISSN 0140-2382

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2004) The European Parliament election in Poland, June 13 2004. Working Paper. EPERN, University of Sussex.

Taggart, Paul and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2004) Contemporary Euroscepticism in the Party Systems of the EU Candidate States of Central and Eastern Europe. European Journal of Political Research, 43 (1). pp. 1-27. ISSN 0304-4130

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2004) History trumps government unpopularity: the June 2003 Polish EU accession referendum. West European Politics, 27 (4). pp. 671-690. ISSN 0140-2382

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2004) Polish euroscepticism in the run-up to EU accession. European Studies - An Interdisciplinary Series in European Culture, History and Politics (20). pp. 247-268. ISSN 1568-1858

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Taggart, Paul (2004) Choosing Union: The June 2003 EU Accession Referendums. West European Politics, 27 (4).

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2004) The Polish centre-right's (last?) best hope: the rise and fall of Solidarity Electoral Action. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 20 (3). pp. 55-79. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Taggart, Paul (2004) The Politics of European Referendum Outcomes and Turnout: Two Models. West European Politics, 4. pp. 557-83. ISSN 1040-2382

Taggart, Paul and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2004) Supporting the Union? Euroscepticism and domestic politics of European integration. In: Developments in the European Union 2. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke. ISBN 9780333961681

Szczerbiak, A and Hanley, S (2004) Understanding the politics of the Right in contemporary East-Central Europe. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 20 (4). pp. 1-17. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Taggart, Paul (2003) Theorising Party-Based Euroscepticism: Problems of Definition, Measurement and Causality. Sussex European Institute.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2003) Old and new divisions in Polish politics: Polish parties' electoral strategies and bases of support. Europe-Asia Studies, 55 (5). pp. 729-746. ISSN 0966-8136

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2003) The Polish EU accession referendum, 7-8 June 2003. EPERN Referendum Briefings, Brighton.

Williams, Kieran, Szczerbiak, Aleks and Fowler, Brigid (2003) Explaining Lustration in Eastern Europe: 'A Post-communist politics approach'. Sussex European Institute.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2003) Approaching the endgame: Polish public opinion and the changing euro-debate in the run up to the 2003 EU accession referendum. In: European economic and political issues. Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp. 151-171. ISBN 9781590335819

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2003) Chaos Out of Order?: Polish Parties' Electoral Strategies and Bases of Support. In: Regional Issues in Polish Politics. SSEES Occasional Papers (60). SSEES, University College London, London. ISBN 9780903425711

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2003) Civilised lustration?: evaluating the Polish model. Studia Polityczne (Political Studies) (14). ISSN 1230-3135

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2003) Eastern Europe. In: Routledge encyclopedia of government and politics. Routledge, London. ISBN 9780415276221

Taggart, Paul and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2003) Europeanisation, Euroscepticism and Party Systems: Party-based Euroscepticism in the Candidate States of Central and Eastern Europe. In: Pan-European Perspectives on Party Politics. Leiden; Brill.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2003) Cartelisation in post-communist politics: state party funding in post-1989 Poland. In: Pan-European perspectives on party politics. Perspectives on European politics and society . Brill, Leiden, pp. 127-150. ISBN 9789004130142

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2002) The political context of EU accession in Poland. European Programme Briefing Paper.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2002) Poland's unexpected political earthquake: the September 2001 parliamentary election. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 18 (3). pp. 41-76. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2002) After the election, nearing the endgame: the Polish euro-debate in the run up to the 2003 EU accession referendum. SEI Working Papers (53). ISSN 1350-4649

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2002) Dealing with the communist past or politics of the present?: Lustration in post-communist Poland. Europe-Asia Studies, 54 (4). pp. 553-572. ISSN 0966-8136

Taggart, Paul and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2002) The party politics of euroscepticism in EU member and candidate states. SEI Working Papers (51). ISSN 1350-4649

Taggart, Paul and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2002) Europeanisation, Euroscepticism and Party Systems: Party-Based Euroscepticism in the Candidate States of Central and Eastern Europe. Perspectives on European Politics and Society, 3 . p. 19. ISSN 1570-5854

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Cartelisation in post‐communist politics: state party funding in post‐1989 Poland. Perspectives on European Politics and Society, 2 (3). pp. 431-451. ISSN 1570-5854

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Explaining Kwasniewski's landslide: the October 2000 Polish presidential election. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 17 (4). pp. 78-107. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) The Polish Peasant Party: A Mass Party in Post-Communist Eastern Europe. East European Politics & Societies, 15 (3). pp. 554-588. ISSN 0888-3254

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Polish politics in the new millennium. In: Poland into the New Millennium. Economies and Societies in Transition . Edward Elgar, Cheltenham. ISBN 9781840646399

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Europe as a re-aligning issue in Polish politics: evidence from the October 2000 presidential election. Sussex European Institute Working Paper (48). pp. 1-24. ISSN 1350-4649

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Party structure and organisation in post-communist Poland. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 17 (2). pp. 94-130. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) The 'professionalisation' of party campaigning in post-communist Poland. In: Party development and democratic change in post-communist Europe. Frank Class, London and Portland, pp. 78-92. ISBN 9780714681740

Taggart, Paul and Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Parties, Positions and Europe: Euroscepticism in the EU Candidate States of Central and Eastern Europe. Sussex European Institute.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Polish Public Opinion: Explaining Declining Support for EU Membership. Journal of Common Market Studies, 39 (1). pp. 105-122. ISSN 0021-9886

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) The new Polish political parties as membership organizations. Contemporary Politics, 7 (1). pp. 57-69. ISSN 1356-9775

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Poles together?: emergence and development of political parties in postcommunist Poland. Central European University Press, Budapest. ISBN 9639241237

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2001) Polish parties and the media: the politics of public broadcasting in post-communist Poland. Wrocławskie Studia Politologiczne, 1 (01). ISSN 1643-0328

Szczerbiak, Aleks and Taggart, Paul (2000) Opposing Europe: Party Systems and Opposition to the Union, the Euro and Europeanisation. Working Paper. Sussex European Institute.

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2000) Public opinion and eastward enlargement: explaining declining support for EU membership in Poland. SEI Working Papers (34). ISSN 1350-4649

Szczerbiak, Aleks (2000) Spadek i stabilizacja: Zmieniające się wzorce poparcia dla członkostwa Polski w Unii Europejskiej (Decline and Stabilisation: Changing Patterns of Support for EU membership in Poland). In: Konstytucja dla rozszerzającej się Europy (A Constitution for an Expanding Europe). Institute of Public Affairs, Warsow, pp. 405-428. ISBN 83-86917-84-9

Szczerbiak, Aleks (1999) Interests and values: Polish parties and their electorates. Europe-Asia Studies, 51 (8). 1401 -1432. ISSN 09668136

Szczerbiak, Aleks (1999) Testing party models in east-central Europe: local party organization in postcommunist Poland. Party Politics, 5 (4). 525 - 537. ISSN 1354-0688

Szczerbiak, Aleks (1999) The impact of the 1998 local elections on the emerging polish party system. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 15 (3). pp. 80-100. ISSN 1352-3279

Szczerbiak, Aleks (1998) Electoral politics in Poland: the parliamentary elections of 1997. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 143 (3). pp. 58-83. ISSN 13523279