On 20 June 2023, Luca Verzichelli (University of Siena) presented the REDIRECT project at a conference hosted by the University of Kairouan in Tunisia. The presentation offered an overview of the project’s research agenda and introduced its conceptual approach to analysing contemporary challenges in political representation.
The talk focused on the notion of democratic disconnect – the growing gap between citizens and elected officials in terms of trust, responsiveness, and perceived legitimacy. Professor Verzichelli outlined how REDIRECT seeks to investigate this phenomenon across European democracies, using both survey data and elite interviews to map patterns of disaffection and misalignment.
The conference provided an opportunity to showcase REDIRECT’s project goals, and to situate its work in a broader international context. Engaging with a diverse audience of students, researchers, and educators, the session helped raise awareness of the project’s core themes and methods, while also strengthening academic links between European and North African institutions.
Date: 20 June 2023
Location: University of Kairouan, Tunisia
Partner: University of Siena (UNISI)
Participant: Luca Verzichelli
Type of event: Conference / Academic dissemination
#DemocraticDisconnect #Representation #Tunisia #REDIRECT #Kairouan