Paul Kindermann is a PhD candidate at the European Institute. In his doctoral research, Paul studies the role of (direct) citizens engagement in light of current sociopolitical challenges to democratic institutions in Europe. Focusing on the case of the EU, his project draws on public opinion and institutional scholarship to scrutinise the public resonance and impact of reforming EU decision-making with greater and novel forms of involvement: it combines original, qualitative research (elite interviews, (focus) group discussions), mixed methods, and democratic theory to scrutinise the potential of participatory and deliberative innovations – such as citizens’ assemblies – in the European Institutions. A political theorist and scientist by training, Paul’s broader research interests include the transformation of political participation and communication in European politics as well as European integration.

Before joining the European Institute, Paul was working for the research project REGIOPARL on the role of regional parliaments in the EU multilevel system. He holds an MA in Political Theory and an MA in Philosophy from Goethe University Frankfurt as well a as BA in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Hamburg. Paul was a Fulbright Student at Columbia University and a graduate visiting fellow at Northwestern University. 

Paul’s doctoral research is funded by an LSE Studentship. To conduct his empirical research in Germany, Ireland, Italy, and France, he receives further support from the LSE Data Collection Fund, a UACES scholarship, and a research grant from the Otto-Brenner-Foundation (OBS).

At LSE, Paul teaches seminars for the course GV251: Government, Politics and Public Policy in the European Union at the Department of Government.

Academic Supervisors

Professor Jonathan White 

Thesis

‘Innovating European democracy? Troubling promises of citizen participation in the EU‘