How do social divisions shape political parties and political systems in the Middle East and North Africa? How do they influence the way political parties represent and manage conflicts, and what can the region teach us about the relationship between party politics and political stability? These are among the central questions of CLOSER – “Party Systems and Social Cleavages in the Post-Ottoman Space of the MENA Region”, a six-year project funded by the European Research Council (ERC), which started in June, with the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences as the corresponding Host Institution.
CLOSER investigates how social conflicts shape party politics and party systems in both democratic and authoritarian contexts across the MENA region. It tests and extends cleavage theory beyond its traditional West-European focus by examining how divisions between social groups, known as social cleavages, shape politics in the region. In doing so, the project contributes to the understanding of contemporary political phenomena, such as the rise of populism and the success of environmentalist parties, drawing on empirical evidence from the post-Ottoman space (1839–1876).
The project brings together the Institute of Sociology and the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles, and the Institute of International Relations Prague (IIR). For the Institute of Sociology, the Oriental Institute, and the IIR, CLOSER marks their first ERC grant. The project, funded under the ERC Synergy Grants scheme, therefore represents an important milestone not only for research on party politics and the MENA region, but also a significant achievement for the Czech Academy of Sciences, and more generally speaking for social sciences in Czechia.
Understanding Divided Societies beyond the MENA Region
The project’s focus is particularly timely in an era when social and political divisions have become a defining feature of societies across the world. Polarisation, conflicts over identity and values, territorial inequalities, and tensions between different social and economic groups are not confined to any one region.
CLOSER will test the explanative power of the model of four social cleavages (Religious/Secular, Workers/Owners, Center/Periphery, and Urban/Rural) to understand how social divisions interact with both democratic and authoritarian political systems. The project will therefore contribute not only to the study of MENA politics, but also to wider debates about political representation and the capacity of political systems to manage social conflict.
A key strength of CLOSER is its interdisciplinary approach. Historians will trace the origins and development of political organisations and social cleavages, including their roots in the late Ottoman and colonial periods. Political scientists will examine party systems, political programmes and electoral competition, while geographers will investigate the territorial dimensions of political and electoral behaviours. The interdisciplinary research teams will examine six case studies across the post-Ottoman space: Tunisia, Egypt, the former British Mandate (today Israel, Palestine and Jordan), Lebanon, Türkiye, and Kuwait. These cases offer substantial variation in political systems, historical trajectories and social structures, allowing the researchers to investigate both common patterns and important differences.
From Research to Science Diplomacy
The project’s relevance extends beyond academic debates. Many of the countries examined by CLOSER are part of the European Union’s Southern Neighbourhood and have close political, economic and social connections with Europe. Understanding how political parties represent and mediate social demands can help policymakers better assess political developments and the conditions that contribute to stability or crisis, and to anticipate future challenges in the region. In this sense, CLOSER seeks to create a dialogue between science and policy perspectives by translating its findings into policy recommendations.
Supporting the Next Generation of Researchers
The project is built around three established researchers: the coordinating Principal Investigator Clément Steuer, Ph.D. (Institute of Sociology), and two other Principal Investigators, Jan Zouplna, Ph.D. (Oriental Institute), and Prof. Gilles Van Hamme (Université Libre de Bruxelles). However, CLOSER will also create new opportunities for PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, who will work in interdisciplinary teams across the project. The research design includes training and collaborative activities aimed at sharing skills and approaches across disciplines, with some research methods training sessions also open to interested researchers who are not part of the project.
News and updates about the project will be shared on the project’s website and on its LinkedIn profile.
Contacts: Clément Steuer (Principal Investigator),
Martina Miechová (Communication Manager),
CLOSER runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2032 and has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 101224232). 
Scientists
Within the project
CLOSER – Party Systems and Social Cleavages in the Post-Ottoman Space of the MENA Region
Project Duration: 2026 - 2032
