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Dr. R. (Rachid) Azrout

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
CW : Political Communication & Journalism
Area of expertise: Media effects, Public opinion, (Affective) polarisation, Attitudes about Immigration, Electoral behaviour, Attitudes towards the European Union
Photographer: Rachid Azrout

Visiting address
  • Nieuwe Achtergracht 166
  • Room number: C8.00
Postal address
  • Postbus 15791
    1001 NG Amsterdam
  • Profile

    Rachid Azrout is an Assistant Professor of Political Communication at the University of Amsterdam. His research interests mainly lie on the interplay of media exposure and public opinion, and studies this in relation to topics as immigration, the European Union, polarisation and party politics. In the past, he has participated in large collaborative projects such as PIREDEU (as member of the media analysis team) and the ASCoR 2014 European Election Study (coordinating both the voter survey and the media content analysis). Currently, he also participates in projects such as #NewNews, Digiworld and the ASCoR 25th Anniversary Survey. His work has been published in, among other journals, the European Journal of Political Research, Political Behavior, the Journal of Communication, and Public Opinion Quarterly.

  • Research

    Research methods

    • Surveys
    • Experiments
    • Quantitative Content Analyses

    Current research projects

    • “See it, say it, sorted!” – In this project we focus on how non-political identities are politicized and how this relates to (political) affective polarization.
    • ChatGPT from a social scientific perspective – With the ASCoR 25th Anniversary survey team we aim to increase our understanding of how people form perceptions around AI.
    • #NewNews – In this project we study the dynamics of new political parties, and focus on under which circumstances new parties are (electorally) successful.
    • DigiWorld – As the Dutch team of the larger DigiWorld project, we content analyze social media posts from politicians during the campaign of the Dutch general elections.
    • Environmental political behaviour – In varying collaborations, we investigate people’s environmental attitudes and behaviour, and how they relate to other political attitudes.
  • Teaching & PhD supervision

    Teaching

    Administrative roles

    • Chair committee Thesis Quality Bachelor (TQB)
    • Chair Programme Committee (bachelor, master and pre-master Communication Science)

    PhD supervision

    • Ivo Bosilkov (PhD obtained in October 2019)
    • Sjifra de Leeuw (PhD obtained in Feruary 2021)
  • Publications

    2024

    2023

    2022

    2021

    2020

    • de Leeuw, S. E., Azrout, R., Rekker, R. S. B., & Van Spanje, J. H. P. (2020). After all this time? The impact of media and authoritarian history on political news coverage in twelve western countries. Journal of Communication, 70(5), 744-767. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaa029 [details]
    • van Spanje, J. H. P., & Azrout, R. (2020). Bringing background back in: A new Dutch party and the revival of socio-economic background voting. Comparative European Politics, 18(3), 363-383. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41295-019-00189-y [details]

    2019

    • Adam, S., Eugster, B., Antl-Wittenberg, E., Azrout, R., Möller, J., de Vreese, C., Maier, M., & Kritzinger, S. (2019). News media’s position-taking regarding the European Union: The synchronization of mass media’s reporting and commentating in the 2014 European Parliament elections. Journal of European Public Policy, 26(1), 44-62. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2017.1375546 [details]
    • van Spanje, J., & Azrout, R. (2019). Tainted Love: How Stigmatization of a Political Party in News Media Reduces Its Electoral Support. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 31(2), 283–308. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edy009 [details]

    2018

    2017

    • Wojcieszak, M., Azrout, R., Boomgaarden, H., Paz Alencar, A., & Sheets, P. (2017). Integrating Muslim immigrant minorities: The effects of narrative and statistical messages. Communication Research, 44(4), 582-607. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650215600490 [details]
    • de Vreese, C., Azrout, R., & Moeller, J. (2017). Netherlands 2014 EP Voting Patterns: From Euphile to Eurosceptic. In J. Hassing Nielsen, & M. N. Franklin (Eds.), The Eurosceptic 2014 European Parliament Elections: Second Order or Second Rate? (pp. 149-169). (Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics). Palgrave Macmillan. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58696-4_8 [details]

    2016

    2013

    • Azrout, R., van Spanje, J. H. P., & de Vreese, C. H. (2013). Focusing on differences? Contextual conditions and anti-immigrant attitudes' effects on support for Turkey's EU membership. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 25(4), 480-501. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edt016 [details]
    • Azrout, R., van Spanje, J., & de Vreese, C. (2013). A threat called Turkey: perceived religious threats and support for EU entry of Croatia, Switzerland and Turkey. Acta Politica, 48(1), 2-21. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1057/ap.2012.20 [details]
    • Boomgaarden, H. G., de Vreese, C. H., Schuck, A. R. T., Azrout, R., Elenbaas, M., van Spanje, J. H. P., & Vliegenthart, R. (2013). Across time and space: explaining variation in news coverage of the European Union. European Journal of Political Research, 52(5), 608-629. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12009 [details]
    • Schuck, A. R. T., Vliegenthart, R., Boomgaarden, H. G., Elenbaas, M., Azrout, R., van Spanje, J., & de Vreese, C. H. (2013). Explaining campaign news coverage: how medium, time, and context explain variation in the media framing of the 2009 European Parliamentary elections. Journal of Political Marketing, 12(1), 8-28. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15377857.2013.752192 [details]
    • van Spanje, J., Boomgaarden, H. G., Elenbaas, M., Vliegenthart, R., Azrout, R., Schuck, A. R. T., & de Vreese, C. H. (2013). Getting the message across: perceived effectiveness of political campaign communication. Journal of Political Marketing, 12(1), 100-120. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15377857.2013.752248 [details]

    2012

    2011

    2021

    • de Leeuw, S. E., Azrout, R., Rekker, R., & van Spanje, J. H. P. (2021). Mad men: Non-hostile relations with autocracies and mass presidential job approval. In S. de Leeuw (Ed.), The authoritarian virus between infection and immunity: An empirical investigation of authoritarian framing effects in 42 democracies (pp. 177-238). Universiteit van Amsterdam.

    2018

    • van Spanje, J., Kelsall, H., & Azrout, R. (2018). Isolated and Imitated? Voter Perceptions of Reactions to Anti-Immigration Parties in Three Countries. In B. Laffan, & L. Cicchi (Eds.), 2017: Europe’s Bumper Year of Elections (pp. 65-90). European University Institute. https://doi.org/10.2870/66375 [details]

    2011

    • Boomgaarden, H., de Vreese, C., Schuck, A., Azrout, R., Elenbaas, M., van Spanje, J., & Vliegenthart, R. (2011). Across time and space: explaining over-time and cross-country variations in the coverage of European elections. Conference papers: International Communication Association: annual meeting, 2011. http://citation.allacademic.com/meta/p490279_index.html [details]
    • Schuck, A., Vliegenthart, R., Boomgaarden, H., Elenbaas, M., Azrout, R., van Spanje, J., & de Vreese, C. (2011). Explaining campaign news coverage: how medium, time and context explain variation in the media framing of the 2009 European Parliamentary elections. Conference papers: International Communication Association: annual meeting, 2011. http://citation.allacademic.com/meta/p490198_index.html [details]

    2024

    • Bos, L., van der Goot, E. S., & Azrout, R. (2024). 'Mediagebruik en ontwikkeling van stemkeuze' in Voogd, R., Jacobs, K., & Spiering, N. 'De Verkiezingen van 2023. Van Onderstroom naar Doorbraak: Onvrede en Migratie.'.

    2024

    • Azrout, R., & van Spanje, J. (2024). Wind of change? Perceived party effectiveness, ideological voting and anti-immigrant party support.. Paper presented at Politicologenetmaal, Maastricht, Netherlands.
    • Wonneberger, A., Azrout, R., Sun, M., & Jonkman, J. G. F. (2024). Economic growth versus environment: How issue-related attitudes and media use shape public perceptions of compatibility. Abstract from Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap 2024, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
    • Wonneberger, A., Azrout, R., Sun, M., & Jonkman, J. G. F. (2024). Economic growth versus environment: How issue-related attitudes and media use shape public perceptions of compatibility. Paper presented at 74th International Communication Association Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

    2019

    • Altendorf, M. B., Smit, E. S., Azrout, R., Hoving, C., & van Weert, J. C. M. (2019). A smoker's choice? Identifying the most autonomy-supportive message frame in an online computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention. Paper presented at Paper presented at the EHPS conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
    • Meijers, M. H. C., Wonneberger, A., & Azrout, R. (2019). The effects of personal, collective, and governmental efficacy beliefs on pro-environmental behavior. Paper presented at Conference on Communication and Environment, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

    2018

    • Altendorf, M. B., van Weert, J. C. M., Hoving, C., Azrout, R., & Smit, E. S. (2018). Gezwungen werden oder besser nicht? Eine Studie über die optimale Formulierung von computergestützten, massgeschneiderten Ratschlägen zur Raucherentwöhnung im Online-Kontext. Abstract from DGPuK - Fachgruppentagung Gesundheitskommunikation 2018, Augsburg, Germany.
    • de Leeuw, S., Azrout, R., Rekker, R., & van Spanje, J. (2018). A matter of nostalgia: How authoritarian traditions shape the distribution of democratic support on the left-right dimension. Paper presented at European Political Science Association Conference, Vienna, Austria. [details]
    • de Leeuw, S., Rekker, R., Azrout, R., & van Spanje, J. (2018). A matter of nostalgia: How authoritarian traditions shape the distribution of democratic support on the left-right dimension. Paper presented at ECPR Joint Sessions, Nicosia, Cyprus. https://ecpr.eu/Filestore/PaperProposal/b6ef9691-0b9f-4810-97e7-292c7eaa77b8.pdf [details]
    • de Leeuw, S., Rekker, R., Azrout, R., & van Spanje, J. (2018). Today’s problems, yesterday’s solutions: The influence of authoritarian legacies on the alignment between left-right orientation and anti-democratic sentiments . Paper presented at Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap, Ghent, Belgium.
    • van Spanje, J. H. P., & Azrout, R. (2018). Bringing background back in: A new Dutch party Dutch new party and the revival of socio-economic background voting. Paper presented at CES Conference Chicago, .
    • van Spanje, J. H. P., & Azrout, R. (2018). Family portrait: The crucial role of news media coverage and perceived effectiveness of a new party. Paper presented at European Political Science Association Conference, Vienna, Austria.

    2017

    • van Spanje, J. H. P., & Azrout, R. (2017). How stigmatization of a political party in news media reduces its electoral support. Paper presented at ECPR General Conference, Oslo, .

    2015

    • Wojcieszak, M. E., & Azrout, R. (2015). I saw you in the news: Mediated contact with outgroup can improve outgroup attitudes above and beyond direct contact. Abstract from Paper presented at the Etmaal van de Communicatiewetenschap, Antwerp, Belgium, .
    • Wojcieszak, M. E., & Azrout, R. (2015). The effects of subtle visual similarity cues on evaluation of controversial sociopolitical messages. Abstract from Paper presented at the Political Psychology Conference, Amsterdam, .
    • Wojcieszak, M. E., Azrout, R., Boomgaarden, H. G., Alencar, A. P., & Sheets, P. (2015). The influence of narrative and numerical messages on integration-relevant attitudes among muslim immigrant minorities. Abstract from International Communication Association 2015, .

    2014

    • Azrout, R., & de Vreese, C. H. (2014). Identification with Europe? A matter of national interest. Abstract from Paper presented at the Etmaal voor de Communicatiewetenschap, Wageningen, .
    • Azrout, R., & de Vreese, C. H. (2014). The party and the public: Party cues, identification and exposure in 21 countries. Abstract from Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Seattle, USA, .

    2013

    • van Spanje, J. H. P., Azrout, R., & de Vreese, C. H. (2013). Why vote? An experimental test of the effect of election context on voter turnout. Abstract from Paper presented at the MPSA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, USA, .

    2012

    • Azrout, R., van Spanje, J. H. P., & de Vreese, C. H. (2012). Why vote? An experimental test of politicians' competence and contestation on voter turnout.. Paper presented at Paper presented at the Politicologenetmaal, Amsterdam, .

    2011

    • Azrout, R., van Spanje, J. H. P., & de Vreese, C. H. (2011). Campaigning for Turkey? Potential Turkish accession in the media and moderated effects on public opinion.. Paper presented at Paper presented at the Etmaal voor de communicatiewetenschap, Enschede, The Netherlands, .
    • Azrout, R., van Spanje, J. H. P., & de Vreese, C. H. (2011). Focussing on differences? Contextual conditions and anti-immigrant attitudes’ effects on support for Turkey’s EU membership. Paper presented at Paper presented at the Politicologenetmaal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, .
    • Azrout, R., van Spanje, J. H. P., & de Vreese, C. H. (2011). When news matters: Media effects on public support for EU enlargement in 21 countries.. Paper presented at Paper presented at the WAPOR Annual Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, .
    • Boomgaarden, H. G., de Vreese, C. H., Schuck, A. R. T., Elenbaas, M., Azrout, R., Vliegenthart, R., & van Spanje, J. H. P. (2011). Across Time and Space. Explaining over-time and cross-country variations in the coverage of European Elections. Abstract from Paper presented at the Political Communication section conference of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA), Madrid, Spain, .

    2010

    • Azrout, R., van Spanje, J. H. P., & Vliegenthart, R. (2010). (2010, February) Framing mediation. Exploring the indirect effect of anti-immigrant attitudes on support for Turkish Membership in the EU.
    • Boomgaarden, H., de Vreese, C. H., Schuck, A. R. T., Azrout, R., Elenbaas, M., van Spanje, J., & Vliegenthart, R. (2010). (2010, October). Across Time and Space. Explaining over-time and cross-country variations in the coverage of European Elections..
    • Schuck, A. R. T., Vliegenthart, R., Boomgaarden, H., Elenbaas, M., Azrout, R., van Spanje, J., & de Vreese, C. H. (2010). (November, 2010). Explaining campaign news coverage: How medium, time and context explain variation in the media framing of the 2009 European Parliamentary elections.
    • Schuck, A. R. T., Vliegenthart, R., Elenbaas, M., Azrout, R., Boomgaarden, H., van Spanje, J., & de Vreese, C. H. (2010). (2010, October): Media visibility and framing of the European Parliamentary elections 2009: A media content analysis in 27 countries.
    • van Spanje, J. H. P., Azrout, R., & de Vreese, C. H. (2010). (2010) The Members and the Muslims. The role of religion in opinion formation on entrance to the EU: An experiment in four EU member states.

    2009

    • de Vreese, C. H., Boomgaarden, H. G., Schuck, A. R. T., van Spanje, J. H. P., Azrout, R., & Elenbaas, M. (2009). Campaign Dynamics in the 2009 European Elections: Designing a Dynamic Cross-national Study and first results..
    • de Vreese, C. H., Boomgaarden, H. G., Schuck, A. R. T., van Spanje, J. H. P., Vliegenthart, R., Azrout, R., & Elenbaas, M. (2009). Campaign Dynamics in the 2009 European elections: Designing a dynamic cross-national study.

    Prize / grant

    • Azrout, R. (2024). See it; say it; sorted. Affective polarization among social groups in the Netherlands..

    Media appearance

    2021

    • de Leeuw, S. E. (2021). The authoritarian virus: Between infection and immunity: An empirical investigation of authoritarian framing effects in 42 democracies. [Thesis, fully internal, Universiteit van Amsterdam]. [details]

    2019

    2023

    2018

    • Adam, S., Eugster, B., Antl-Wittenberg, E., Azrout, R., Möller, J., Maier, M., Kritzinger, S. & de Vreese, C. (2018). News media’s position-taking regarding the European Union: the synchronization of mass media’s reporting and commentating in the 2014 European Parliament elections. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7239950
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  • Ancillary activities
    • No ancillary activities