SPS Professor Filip Kostelka and Alexandros Kentikelenis, Associate Professor of Political Economy and Sociology at Bocconi University, are the recipients of the third edition of the Henrik Enderlein Prize. Additionally, digital governance scholar, Roxana Radu (Oxford University), received an honourable mention from the jury. The prize celebrates exceptional scholars whose research significantly impacts the future of Europe. The award commemorates Professor Henrik Enderlein, the late president of the Hertie School in Berlin and a Sciences Po alumnus.
The prize honours original, high-impact research that is esteemed by the scientific community and relevant to public affairs and social cohesion in Europe. The awardees were recognised for their contributions to democracy and social cohesion, as well as their civic engagement.
"I am honoured to join the rank of the Henrik Enderlein Prize awardees. It is a significant encouragement for my future work. I am indebted to my mentors, co-authors, and colleagues whose support made this possible," shared Professor Kostelka on receiving the award.
The Henrik Enderlein Prize was presented at the Hertie School’s 20th Anniversary event, entitled ‘Europe at a crossroads: Looking back to move forward’. The ceremony featured Cornelia Woll, President of the Hertie School and President of the Henrik Enderlein Prize Jury, as well as German State Minister for Europe and Climate, Anna Lührmann, and French Ambassador to Germany, François Delattre.
Jointly awarded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the EUI’s CIVICA partner institutions, Hertie School in Berlin and Sciences Po in Paris, the prize is also supported by the newspapers Handelsblatt and Les Echos. The prize winners were chosen by an international jury, who were impressed by both the scientific excellence of awardees' research and the commitment to translating their findings into actionable insights for policymakers.
"With their research on governance and society in Europe, this year’s winners contribute to academic discussions on pressing challenges for democratic societies. We were impressed by their engagement with questions of participation and social justice in Europe. On behalf of the entire jury, I warmly congratulate them for their important work at the interface between academia and political practice," shared Cornelia Woll.
Jeremy Perelman, Director of International Affairs at Sciences Po, added: "At a time when our continent must decide on its future, the Henrik Enderlein Prize demonstrates the major role of research and the humanities and social sciences in making a concrete contribution to the major issues of our time. This is also central to the ambition of Sciences Po, an international university open to the world, to make Europe one of the priorities of its teaching and research work. I would like to congratulate Alexandros Kentikelenis, Filip Kostelka and Roxana Radu on the excellence of their work."
Filip Kostelka holds the Chair in Political and Social Change at the EUI. His research interests cover the fields of political behaviour, party politics, and regime change. Among other topics, he studies why and when citizens (don't) vote or protest, and how different political and contextual factors affect citizens' behaviour and attitudes. His research has been published in journals such as the American Political Science Review, British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, and World Politics; and publicised in media outlets including Le Monde, The Washington Post, Radio Canada, France Inter, and Euractiv.