Sergiu Mișcoiu

Babes-Bolyai University, International Relations and European Studies, Faculty Member

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Sergiu MISCOIU is Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of European Studies, Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) where he chairs the Centre for International Cooperation. He holds one PhD in Political Science (University of Paris-East Marne-la-Vallée),another PhD in History (Babes-Bolyai University), and a habilitation in Political Science (University of Paris-East). His main research interests are the constructivist and the alternative theories applied to the nation building processes, to populism and to the political dynamics of the European and African public spaces.
Address: Cluj-Napoca, Judetul Cluj, Romania

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NATIONALISM AND XENOPHOBIA IN POST-SOVIET RUSSIA: SKINHEAD AND NASHI MOVEMENTS

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Recenzii - Book Reviews

Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai - Studia Europaea, 2005

Standing apart: party positions towards the European Union

Comparative European Politics, 2026

Political parties are often labelled as either favouring or opposing the EU, with very little roo... more Political parties are often labelled as either favouring or opposing the EU, with very little room to consider nuances. Under such circumstances, it remains unclear how parties position themselves towards the EU and what drives that positioning. This article explores the effects of ideology, incumbency, party age, and electoral competition on positioning towards the EU. We qualitatively map the content of party manifestos belonging to 102 political parties running in national elections in 12 EU member states between 2019 and 2024 to understand what EU support and opposition mean. The results illustrate that parties support the EU when they are ideologically moderate, in government, and when they face many competitors. Parties oppose the EU when their ideology is radical and when they are in opposition. The interaction between ideology and incumbency depresses negative rhetoric across the board, but also the positive rhetoric of radical parties.

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EUROPAEA STUDIA UNIVERSITATIS BABEŞ-BOLYAI

Unravelling a new romance: Why emigrants support radical right populists

Ethnicities, 2025

There is mixed evidence regarding the extent to which emigrants support radical right populists i... more There is mixed evidence regarding the extent to which emigrants support radical right populists in their home countries, and we also know very little about why that support happens. The present article seeks to address this puzzle and aims to explain why emigrants vote for radical right populist candidates and parties. Using semi-structured interviews with Romanian emigrants after the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, it reveals that their support was driven by a protest vote against the mainstream parties that they felt had underperformed in government and failed to introduce reforms for a while, along with a quest for national identity and spirituality in uncertain times, andto a significantly lower extentmild sovereigntist and Eurosceptic attitudes. These findings add nuance to, and complement, the burgeoning literature on non-resident citizens' electoral preferences.

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La perception des acteurs institutionnels des pays du Sud sur les institutions internationales. Etude de cas : l'OCDE en Afrique sub-saharienne

Actes de la 3ème édition du Symposium de la recherche scientifique francophone en Europe centrale et orientale de 2024, 2025

Depuis sa création en 1961 et notamment depuis l’effondrement du bloc des pays de l’Est en 1989, ... more Depuis sa création en 1961 et notamment depuis l’effondrement du bloc des pays de l’Est en 1989, l’Organisationpour la Coopération et le Développement en Europe a exercé une force d’attraction très importante sur nombre de pays de la planète, comme le démontre les efforts intenses et prolongés de la part de certains États comme le Costa Rica ou le Chili pour rejoindrel’organisation1. En même temps, l’OCDE a multiplié les initiatives et les interventions dans différentes régions de la planète, en faisant notamment des efforts pour le développement des pays du Sud et surtout d’Afrique par une série de programmes et de projets de soutien et d’évaluation des politiques économiques de ces pays. Mais a-t-elle pu se débarrasser de l’image d’un « club des riches », intéressé d’abord à une forme « soft » de projection des intérêts duNord2 ? Pour répondre à cette question, nous avons mené une enquête de terrain auprès des décideurs et des hauts fonctionnaires des pays de l’Afrique subsaharienne dont nous allons présenter les résultats dans les pages qui suivent.

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Varieties of dissensus over liberal democracy in the EU. National and transnational actors

European Politics and Society, 2025

This article introduces the special issue on the actors of dissensus over liberal democracy in th... more This article introduces the special issue on the actors of dissensus over liberal democracy in the European Union. While scholarly attention has primarily focused on radical right parties, institutional responses, and on civil society as either targets of illiberal policies or agents of resistance, we argue that this phenomenon is broader and involves a wide range of societal actors. Through a set of case studies across both Eastern and Western European democracies, we analyze whether and how think tanks, media organizations, religious institutions, intellectuals, and experts contribute to challenging liberal democratic principles at the national and supranational levels. The articles in this special issue investigate the nature of dissensus as well as the ways through which these actors disseminate their ideas, identifying which dimensions of liberal democracy they contest and how they interact with institutional and political actors. By examining diverse organizations across multiple European countries, this special issue provides a comprehensive analysis of how civil society actors contribute to dissensus over liberal democracy, moving beyond traditional narratives of civil society as exclusively democratic champions and offering new insights into democracy's contemporary challenges.

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Population Dynamic and Brokers' Credibility: Explaining the Limited Use of Electoral Clientelism in Poor Roma Communities

Problems of Post-Communism, 2025

Why is electoral clientelism used to such a limited extent in some poor communities? This article... more Why is electoral clientelism used to such a limited extent in some poor communities? This article examines which factors on the supply and demand sides affect the use of electoral clientelism in several Roma communities in Romania due to their economic vulnerability. The inductive thematic analysis uses semi-structured interviews conducted with activists from nongovernmental organizations specializing in defending Roma rights. We find that the limited use of electoral clientelism is the result of fewer people living in the community and brokers' limited credibility. These results add nuance more broadly to the relationship between clientelism and poverty.

format_quoteThe study reveals that various institutional and social factors restrict clientelistic practices in poor communities, challenging existing literature on clientelism.format_quote

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Ever distant union: the EU (In)action during COVID-19 as a source of disruptive dissensus

European Political Science, 2025

This article provides a new perspective on EU exit as an exemplary form of disruptive dissensus o... more This article provides a new perspective on EU exit as an exemplary form of disruptive dissensus or extreme Euroscepticism by examining how it is shaped by people's attitudes towards the Union's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We test how the dissatisfaction about how the EU handled the pandemic limited the trust in how it would manage it in the future, and influences a preference to exit the EU. We use a multi-level statistical model which combines individual-level data from a Eurobarometer survey and country-level characteristics from all 27 EU member states. The results indicate that disruptive dissensus is linked to both the retrospective and prospective attitudes towards the EU policy initiatives, even when controlling for the severity of the pandemic as well as the populists in government at the country level. We also find that the link between specific and diffuse support at the EU level holds during crises.

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The non-participation of ethnic minorities and migrants in representative and deliberative democracy

Identities, 2025

Ethnic minorities and migrants have been often studied in relation to their under-representation ... more Ethnic minorities and migrants have been often studied in relation to their under-representation and barriers raised against their political participation. However, the instances in which ethnic minorities and migrants abstain to engage in various modes of political participation have been far less investigated. This special issue aims to explain why ethnic minorities and migrants do not participate politically. The case studies covered by the articles identify causes that can be remedied by political adaptation, such as paying more attention to the needs of minorities, the distribution of sufficient information on ways to participate in the language of those concerned, and the adaptation of deliberative practices to the discursive traditions of different cultures. They also reflect that political participation depends to a high degree on people's feeling of belonging to a society.

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Simultaneously Leaders and Followers? Examining the Follower and Leader Role Switching: From Follett, Lewin, Fiedler, McGregor, Bass, Vroom, House, Hofstede, to Bennis, Schein, Avolio, ...., and Akande

Power, Politics and Influence. Springer Studies on Populism, Identity Politics and Social Justice

Contemporary research considers leadership as a dynamic relationship between three components: le... more Contemporary research considers leadership as a dynamic relationship between three components: leaders, followers, and the context, where the context encompasses complex interactions between organizational stakeholders and the outside environment (cultural, social, and political). Proficiency in social influence, power, and politics to navigate the context is essential, as it allows leaders and followers to effectively manage this symbiotic relationship, particularly during the organizational healing process. This chapter reflects on the new leadership of empowering employees and showing empathy, seemingly causing a reversal of who is leading whom. The remainder of the chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the book and its major themes that emphasize the importance of relational dynamics of leadership and followership: engaging stakeholders, fostering consensus, and driving change. It is time for business schools and leadership professionals to recognize interhuman respect, empowerment (coaching and mentoring), trust, fairness, openness, and empathy as fundamental qualities of leadership. This paradigm shift is vital, moving beyond the confines of the traditional “Type A” personality to a more evolved understanding of effective leadership and followership. It marks a departure from the antiquated “carrot-and-stick,” or Type X, approaches to managing subordinates through rewards or punishments. For instance, Donald Trump’s election victory in US Presidential 2024 hinges on a sophisticated understanding of the complex interplay between power, political strategies, and influential forces, (economic concerns, strategic political maneuvers, media influence, and cultural dynamics), all of which will shape the unfolding narrative leading up to the election.

Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor în alegerile din 2024

Alegerile europene din România 2024, 2024

O analiză a prestației AUR la alegerile europarlamentare din 2024

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„Anarhismul”, „Feminismul”, „Ecologismul”

Crisis of Democratic Political Legitimacy and Emerging Populism in Africa

This report provides an overview of the second regional panel organized by the ECPS titled “Crisi... more This report provides an overview of the second regional panel organized by the ECPS titled “Crisis of Democratic Political Legitimacy and Emerging Populism in Africa,” which took place online on May 9, 2024. Moderated skillfully by Dr. Chipo Dendere, the panel included experts from Southern Africa, Central Africa, and beyond. They offered a comprehensive examination of the largely overlooked phenomenon of populism in Africa. Through their insightful presentations, the panelists analyzed the various forms and behaviors of populism on the continent, tracing its historical role as a galvanizer during anti-colonial struggles for self-determination to its current impacts on social and political affairs. A common theme emerged: as both Africa and the globe witness a decline in democratic integrity despite the rise in populist movements, it is crucial to understand the complex roles populism plays—both beneficial and detrimental—in shaping local political landscapes.

Candidate withdrawal in the French 2024 national legislative elections

French Politics, 2024

In France's 2024 legislative elections, two-thirds of the candidates who qualified for the runoff... more In France's 2024 legislative elections, two-thirds of the candidates who qualified for the runoff withdrew from the competition. The media argued that this was a deliberate strategy to reduce the radical right's chances of winning an absolute majority of seats. This kind of strategic behavior is based on rationality and collective action that hardly covers the full range of possibilities. This article seeks to identify the reasons why candidates pulled out before the second round of the national legislative elections in France. Our analysis uses semi-structured interviews with candidates who withdrew and identifies several explanations for their decision: electoral tactics driven by coercion, the long-term prospects of profile-raising benefits, voter pressure, disaffection with the campaign content, and the personal examples of other candidates. These results indicate that the decision to leave the race involved rationality, responsiveness to public preferences, emotions, and a learning process.

format_quoteAlmost all respondents aimed to prevent a radical right victory, highlighting tactical withdrawal as a necessary action against RN's potential majority.format_quote

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Leadership. Decision-Making. Legitimacy. How deliberative are the labor unions in Romania?

Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai. Studia Europaea, Jun 27, 2024

Deliberative democracy theory highlighted democratic deliberation as a modus operandi for facilit... more Deliberative democracy theory highlighted democratic deliberation as a modus operandi for facilitating group decision-making. In 2023, members of Romanian labor unions in several sectors took to the streets in strikes and protests, demanding higher revenues and better work conditions. Nevertheless, misunderstandings and internal ruptures shadowed their noble ends and fueled mistrust amongst unionists. This dynamic reminds rather of interest party politics as it employs vertical power relations, influenced by social and professional background segmentation. One question that reasonably arises in this context is how deliberative the decisionmaking process is within the unions in Romania. We specifically analyze elements of deliberative organizational leadership and the power relations within labor unions through a qualitative study in the form of interviews.

Note critique sur Traian Sandu, Ceaușescu. Le dictateur ambigu, Paris, Perrin, 2023, 569 p

Histoire, Europe et relations internationales, Jun 10, 2024

Le livre de Traian Sandu, agrégé d’histoire, nous propose une analyse systématique du caractère e... more Le livre de Traian Sandu, agrégé d’histoire, nous propose une analyse systématique du caractère enchevêtré et du destin hors du commun que rien ne laissait présager de celui qui se voyait déjà vers la fin des années 1930 comme le futur « Staline de Roumanie ». Mariant la rigueur de l’historien rompu au travail dans les archives à la subtilité intellectuelle du politiste et du sociologue apte à pénétrer en détail les nuances idéologiques, les valeurs et les motivations sous-jacentes des comportements humains, Traian Sandu réussit à s’emparer du sujet avec, dirait-on, la facilité de celui qui a côtoyé le « Génie des Carpates » depuis son plus jeune âge

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