A REDIRECT research paper by Elisabetta Mannoni was presented at the 13th Biennial Conference of the ECPR Standing Group on the European Union (SGEU), hosted by the University of Catania, Italy. The conference brought together scholars working on European politics, democratic representation and the pressures affecting representative institutions across Europe.
The presentation, titled “Political Social Distance in Europe”, examined how forms of distance between citizens can shape the quality and perception of democratic representation. The paper contributed to ongoing debates on the relationship between citizens and elites, focusing on how political, social and representative divides may affect trust, responsiveness and democratic connection.
By addressing the role of political social distance in contemporary Europe, the study contributed to REDIRECT’s wider research agenda on democratic disconnect, representative relationships and the changing links between citizens and decision-makers. The discussion offered valuable insights into how distance and proximity are constructed, perceived and politically mobilised in European democracies.
Date: 1–3 July 2026
Location: Catania, Italy
Conference: 13th Biennial Conference of the ECPR Standing Group on the European Union
Panel: Representation in the European Union under Pressure: Elites, Citizens, and the Democratic Disconnect
Presenter: Elisabetta Mannoni, Università degli Studi di Siena
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