Project

ACCESS4ALL is a research project led by Dr. Iskander De Bruycker and funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Maastricht University. Our team includes Sandra Martinez Böhme and Susanna Eiselt (PhD Researchers), and Britt Vande Walle (Assistant Professor).

 

ACCESS4ALL investigates the issue, delving into the question:

“How do lobbyists’ socio-demographic backgrounds impact their access to policymakers, and why?”

 

Why Lobbying Access Matters

Interest groups, like NGOs and business associations, play a crucial role in representing diverse societal interests to policymakers. These groups act as bridges between the public and the state. However, concerns exist about equal access for all lobbyists. Current perceptions often portray lobbyists as a homogenous group, typically white, middle-aged, and well-educated men. Limited research suggests a concerning lack of diversity among lobbyists.

 

Consequences of Bias

If policymakers primarily interact with lobbyists from similar backgrounds, it can lead to skewed Policy Outcomes:

  • Policy decisions may favor specific societal segments, neglecting the needs of others.
  • Eroded Trust: Limited access for diverse voices can lead to citizen distrust and undermine the legitimacy of institutions.

 

Our Approach

Similarity Attraction Theory: We explore this psychological theory within the context of lobbying for the first time. Our hypothesis: policymakers are more likely to meet with lobbyists who share similar characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, education).

  • Focus on the EU: We have created a comprehensive database of EU lobbyists and their socio-demographic profiles.
  • Research Methods: We combine desk research, focus groups, surveys, and experiments to test our hypotheses.

 

The Goal: A More Inclusive EU Policy Landscape

ACCESS4ALL aims to cultivate a policy landscape where policymakers engage with lobbyists from all walks of life, promoting inclusivity and ensuring that policy outcomes reflect the diverse needs and perspectives of society. We strive to understand biases in access from a scientific perspective and produce cutting-edge research on the topic to inform positive change within the EU.

Team

Iskander De Bruycker

Iskander De Bruycker

Associate Professor of EU Politics and Policy
Maastricht University View profile
Iskander De Bruycker serves as Research Programme Director of Europe: Society, Politics and Global Order (ESPO). He is also the Principal Investigator of the NWO-funded VIDI project ACCESS4ALL, which examines inequalities in access to policymakers. His research focuses on European public affairs, EU lobbying, political communication, and interest group politics. His work has been published in leading journals, including the European Journal of Political Research, Journal of Common Market Studies, West European Politics, and Political Communication.
Britt Vande Walle

Britt Vande Walle

Assistant Professor in European Public Affairs
Maastricht University View profile
Britt Vande Walle is Assistant Professor in European Public Affairs at Maastricht University. Her research focuses on comparative politics and political organisations, particularly political parties, think tanks, and interest groups. She is especially interested in how these organisations perceive and respond to the rise and normalisation of the far right.
Before joining Maastricht University, she completed her PhD at KU Leuven as a Doctoral Fellow of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). She is currently involved in the ACCESS4ALL project. Her research has been published in leading political science journals, including West European Politics, Political Studies, Government & Opposition, and Acta Politica.
Susanna Eiselt

Susanna Eiselt

PhD Candidate in Political Science
Maastricht University View profile
Susanna is part of the ACCESS4ALL project. Her dissertation focuses on the knowledge, skills, and experience of EU public affairs professionals and how this informs their access to policymakers. She holds a Master’s degree in Socio-Ecological Economics and Policy from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Sandra Martinez-Böhme

Sandra Martinez-Böhme

PhD Candidate in Political Science
Maastricht University View profile
Sandra is part of the ACCESS4ALL project. Her dissertation focuses on the political ideology of EU public affairs professionals and how this informs their representative role and access to policymakers. She holds a Research Master degree in European Studies from Maastricht University where she specialised in democracy and representation as well as quantitative methods.
Sandra Martinez-Böhme

Stine Bartram

PhD Candidate in Political Science
Maastricht University View profile
Stine is part of the LobbyLies project, which is closely tied to the ACCESS4ALL project. Her dissertation focuses on the use of disinformation in EU Lobbying. She holds a Research Master degree in European Studies from Maastricht University where she specialised in EU and the world as well as quantitative methods.