The Team International Relations and European Studies addresses the interconnections and interdependence of contemporary global political, economic, security and culture from a multidisciplinary perspective rooted in the humanities. More specifically it is concerned with the study of international relations…

How can we understand the implementation of EU policy and what challenges are involved?

Research Network Institute for History 2026-2029.

The European Council and the European Commission have a similar role in agenda setting. Both place issues on the EU agenda. However, these institutions have distinct designs. They have different political attributes (the European Council has considerably more political authority) and information-processing…

What political factors affect the speed or duration of EU legislative decision-making?

Set up in 1991, this unique project aims to identify and describe the common lexical heritage of the most important Indo-European languages and language branches. The project has thus far resulted in twelve volumes published as The Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series (Brill, Leiden).

International Relations and European Politics is one of the three organisational clusters of the Institute of Political Science.

Our research deals with the deep history of Europe and Eurasia, from the inception of farming up until the beginning of the Roman Period. This was a period in which key developments took place that had a profound impact on European landscapes and society until the present day. Our research and teaching…

Does a shared idea of the ‘public servant’ exist in Europe? Sager, Overeem, and others explore.

Leiden’s Institute for History has an exceptionally strong expertise in premodern European history in its global context, with specialists whose interests cover virtually the whole continent. We have a strong track record in leading larger research teams and work together with colleagues across Europe…

This paper, written by Silvia D'Amato & Andrea Terlizzi, investigates the extent to which the European Union is strategically engaging against terrorism.

Akbik and Diessner expand the classic typology of police-patrol and fire-alarm oversight with two new categories: planning bureaus and ambulance chasers.

This paper explores whether multilateral surveillance and policy coordination under the ES was based on a path-changing or a path-dependent mechanism

European Law is a one-year Master’s specialisation at the internationally renowned Leiden Law School at Leiden University. The programme distinguishes itself by its broad intra-disciplinary approach, covering institutional, constitutional as well as internal market and competition law of the EU in addition…

This research concerns a network of labour law specialists in the EU. The growing internationalization of the economic market and the employment market has a major impact on legislation and research of labour law. Particularly within the European Union labour law is subject to constant development…

The Master’s in European Union Studies at Leiden University offers students an opportunity to study the EU from multiple disciplinary perspectives.

How to explain the apparent high success rates of the EU infringement procedures, which are the major tools for enforcing EU law, against the member states?

The European union, where we live, work and study, is the most ambitious and powerful regional organization for international cooperation in the world. A mystery to many and derided by some, the EU has weathered intense geopolitical and economic storms over the last two decades. In doing so, it has…

Do recent developments in the European security architecture signal the end of multilateral cooperation, or the beginning of a new era with emerging forms of international security collaboration?

How should European financial law best integrate considering the interaction of the relevant legal systems?

Leiden experts research ways in which European legislation is converted into national legislation. Knowing how this process works can inspire policy-makers trying to achieve their aims while abiding to Europan legislation.

Are you thinking about studying European Politics and Society? Learn more and watch the programme presentation.

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Are you thinking about studying European Law? Learn more and watch the videos.

European policy affects our lives: from air quality to the frequency of a bus service. Leiden researchers analyse how the European Union functions, how countries apply European policy and whether this policy actually provides solutions and delivers.

Dr. Gruni published an article on the impact on sustainable development in the EU Common Commercial Policy of recent Opinion 2/15 CJEU on the Global Trade and Customs Journal.

The master's programme in Modern European Philosophy at Leiden University focuses on continental philosophy ranging from German Idealism and Phenomenology via Deconstruction and Poststructuralism through 21st century developments in the field. It explores different approaches to thinking in a critical…

The Center participates in East European Politics, one of the major political science journals focusing on the contemporary post-communist space.

How do crises produce changes in specific European Union foreign policy areas, and how should we conceptualise these policy changes?

The Law of the European Union is a complete reference work on all aspects of the law of the European Union, including the institutional framework, the Internal Market, Economic and Monetary Union and external policy and action.

In this article, Madeleine O. Hosli and Wen Pan examine how intergovernmental dynamics shaped the European Stability Mechanism, using Liberal Intergovernmentalism to assess negotiation phases, the influence of major member states, and which theoretical assumptions hold or need qualification.

This thesis examines the complexity of legislative decisions within the EU, with a specific focus on the Council of the EU.

The European Homicide Monitor (EHM) offers a standardized framework for countries and regions to compare homicide characteristics, patterns and trends.

East European Politics is a refereed journal which publishes articles on the government, politics and international relations of the post-communist world.

The researchers examine the Council of the European Union's voting behaviour between 2010 and 2021 and the impact of different independent variables.

Reconstructing language history and prehistory in the context of the Indo-European language family.

Research on this theme concerns the legitimacy and effectiveness of Europe’s institutional order in the face of public alienation and normative contestation.

Study European politics, society, and international relations across four major European cities: Prague, Leiden, Krakow, and Barcelona. This two-year joint Master's programme offers a unique interdisciplinary experience.