Personal profile
Research interests
Kamil Bernaerts is a post-doctoral researcher at the VUB. His research interests are greatly inspired by his worry about polarisation in our democracies. Specifically, he aims at disentangling the various sorts of polarisation existing in the literature today, and at empirically exploring how they are related to the health of democracy.
External positions
PhD researcher, University of Warwick
1 Oct 2021 → 1 Oct 2025
Keywords
- free keyword
- polarization
- emotions
- conflict
- democracy
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Finished
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OZRIFTM8: Unity in diversity? Exploring the effect of polarisation on social cohesion in Europe
Caluwaerts, D. (Administrative Promotor) & Bernaerts, K. (Mandate)
1/10/21 → 30/09/25
Project: Fundamental
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Affect or Emotions? Disaggregating Affective Polarisation to Explain Support for Liberal Democracy in Belgium and the United Kingdom
Bernaerts, K., 19 May 2026, In: Political Studies Review. p. 1-27 27 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile25 Downloads (Pure) -
PhD Summary: Friends or Foes, Does Polarisation Really Undermine Democracy? Understanding the Two-Way Relationship Between Polarisation Dynamics and the Processes and Institutions of Democratic Contestation
Bernaerts, K., 23 Mar 2026, In: Politics of the Low Countries. 8, 1, 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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Fight or unite? Exploring the link between consensus institutions, polarization and political violence in 113 democracies over time (1900-2023)
Bernaerts, K. & Caluwaerts, D., 15 Aug 2025, In: International Political Science Review. 47, 3, p. 403-420 18 p., 01925121251355894.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile53 Downloads (Pure) -
Friends or foes: does polarisation really undermine democracy?
Bernaerts, K., 2025, Brussels: ASP / VUBPRESS. 231 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research
Datasets
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State of the Unions: survey experiment on various forms of polarisation and democratic consequences in Belgium and the UK
Bernaerts, K. (Creator) & Caluwaerts, D. (Creator), VUB Institutional Data Repository, 20 Feb 2026
Dataset
Prizes
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Excellence Award 2020-2021
Bernaerts, K. (Recipient), 5 Oct 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Frank Cass Prize for Best Article in Democratization
Bernaerts, K. (Recipient), Blanckaert, B. (Recipient) & Caluwaerts, D. (Recipient), 14 Mar 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
File
Activities
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Keynote: de rol van polarisatie in hedendaagse democratie
Bernaerts, K. (Keynote speaker)
23 Oct 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk at a public lecture/debate
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Ondergraaft polarisatie de democratie?
Bernaerts, K. (Speaker)
25 Mar 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk at a school event
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Does polarisation really undermine democracy?
Bernaerts, K. (Invited speaker)
6 May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk at a public lecture/debate
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Ondergraaft polarisatie de democratie?
Bernaerts, K. (Speaker)
18 Mar 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk at a school event
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The Polarisation Paradox: Retheorizing Political Division in Democracy
Bernaerts, K. (Presenter)
16 Apr 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
Press/Media
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Duo-interview met Professor Bert Bakker over affectieve polarisatie en democratie
13/01/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Interview for talkshow Euronews on polarisation in Europe
27/09/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Research VUB: Belgian democracy less susceptible to polarisation
Bernaerts, K., Blanckaert, B. & Caluwaerts, D.
9/12/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Research VUB: Belgian democracy is less susceptible to polarisation
Bernaerts, K., Blanckaert, B. & Caluwaerts, D.
9/12/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Belgium's democracy less prone to polarisation
Bernaerts, K., Blanckaert, B. & Caluwaerts, D.
9/12/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Thesis
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A double-edged sword: the peculiar effects of polarisation on social cohesion in Antwerp
Bernaerts, K. ((PhD) Student), Davesa, F. (Promotor) & Bircan, T. (Jury), 17 May 2021Student thesis: Master's Thesis