PERCEIVE is an innovative research project. Nicholas Charron, Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, department of Political Science, explains how the project will be a roadmap for future researches on EU Cohesion Policy. A project that matters not only to the academic community, but also to policy makers, media outlets and all European citizens.

What is your favorite part of the project?

The research topic Investigation of EU Cohesion policy and the link between EU practitioners and EU citizens is crucial in understanding legitimacy and the future of the EU.  As a political scientist interested in public opinion, the opportunity to write and conduct a large citizen based survey is something we are looking forward to.  The topic of citizen support for cohesion policy is much under-researched, and for us to provide a roadmap for how to investigate this is quite exciting.
Plus, the collaboration with international colleagues and the possibility for new co-authorships.

Do you have and specific expectations for the project?

As a researcher I am interested in doing rigorous empirical work and publishing.  To investigate and study a novel and highly relevant topic – citizen identity and support for Cohesion policy – and do serious comparative research on the topic.  I anticipate that with the novel data gathered here, we will be able to publish in highly ranked international journals, as well as disseminate to a wider more general audience.  I also expect that the partners will collaborate and eventually cross-discipline research can be conducted and published.  

Who do you think this project is useful for?

I believe that this topic is relevant for many different actors who are interested in Europe.  First, the academic community on EU research will find what we are doing fruitful and innovative.  Second, other general research institutes and stakeholders in Europe will also be able to make much use of the work.  Media outlets will also find the focus on the citizen attitudes and links and awareness with EU projects to be interesting for journalism stories.  EU bureaucrats and policy-makers in Brussels will also find the feedback from citizens and local policy-makers useful. Finally, I believe that this research will be of great interest for citizens, who are not necessarily experts or researchers.