Karen Celis

“Strong institutions need a democratic society, and vice versa. Democratic universities that practise freedom and inclusion are indispensable in this regard.”

I like to think of myself as a ‘democratic designer’. I do not only study inequality and justice; I also design innovations to address them. Take quotas, for instance: they increased the number of politicians from disadvantaged groups, which is an important achievement. Yet in terms of content, little often changed, and many citizens still felt unrepresented. That is why my team and I are working on a new representation process that is more flexible in accommodating diverse perspectives and strengthens citizens’ connection with democratic institutions. We explore ways for politicians to listen better and to gain deeper insight into what matters to the people.

A pivotal moment in my career was my appointment as research professor at the VUB. It gave me the freedom to pursue innovative, agenda-setting research. At the end of that mandate, my book Feminist Democratic Design was published by Oxford University Press, for which I also received an award. This marked the starting point for attracting European funding and building a research team.

My ultimate dream is to establish a leading Centre for Systemic Democratisation: both an observatory to monitor democratic shortcomings and a workshop to design and test creative solutions. These solutions need to be institutional as well as societal. Strong institutions require a democratic society—and vice versa. Democratic universities that embody freedom and inclusion are an indispensable part of that ecosystem.

I often find inspiration in concrete acts and statements—sometimes large, sometimes small—that intrigue, surprise, or even challenge me. I have learned to pay attention to them. They are opportunities to improve yourself, both as a scholar and as a human being.”