Vicente Valentim, IE University researcher, awarded the 2025 Stein Rokkan Prize for his contribution to the study of how social norms affect contemporary political phenomena

Vicente Valentim, professor at IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, has received the 2025 Stein Rokkan Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in comparative social science research. His work shows that social norms are key to understanding political behavior and the normalization of extremist ideologies. Vicente Valentim demonstrates that the rise of anti-liberal behaviors is driven more by changes in these social norms than by shifts in citizens’ underlying ideological preferences.

The prize, awarded annually by the International Science Council (ISC), the University of Bergen, and the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), recognizes his book The Normalization of the Radical Right: A Norms Theory of Political Supply and Demand (Oxford University Press, 2024) as a "lucid, rigorous, and timely" contribution to the study of contemporary politics. 

In this work, Valentim analyzes the causes and mechanisms that allow radical‑right actors to gain acceptance in mainstream politics. His research reveals that the public expression of previously hidden opinions can intensify rapidly when perceived social sanctions diminish. This approach ­–which the Stein Rokkan 2025 jury describes as "a new benchmark for research on radical-right politics"– draws on innovative measurement methods and advanced causal inference techniques.

"I am thrilled to receive this award. Previous winners include many of the academics I deeply admire, and it is a great honor to join their ranks. I am profoundly grateful to the colleagues, mentors, and friends who inspired me and played a crucial role in shaping this book," says Vicente Valentim, professor at IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs. 

"This recognition confirms the global impact of the research we conduct at IE University. Vicente's work offers an innovative and empirically robust analysis of the normalization of the radical right. It is a source of great pride for our institution to have academics who help shape the international agenda in the social sciences," says Juan Santaló, Vice Rector of Faculty & Research at IE University.

Vicente Valentim has received numerous distinctions for this book, including the Robert A. Dahl Award and the Best Book Award in the Democracy & Autocracy section, both granted by the American Political Science Association (APSA). Professor Valentim has been recognized for his influence in the social sciences with the 2025 A.SK Bright Mind Award, the 2025 CES Moyer Young Scholar Award, the 2024 Joseph L. Bernd Award for the best article in The Journal of Politics, and the 2022 Jean Blondel PhD Prize. 

His work has been featured in leading publications such as Comparative Political Studies and the British Journal of Political Science. Vicente Valentim holds a Ph.D. from the European University Institute, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Oxford University, and has experience as a visiting researcher at Stanford University.