Research project
Networks and the Rule of Law: Uncovering Socio-Economic Outcomes (NET-ROL)
The NET-ROL project builds on the EU's definition of the rule of law to investigate the role of networks in law-making, executive decision-making, and the judiciary. It examines how these networks influence the weakening of the rule of law. Through an interdisciplinary perspective, the project explores the socio-economic consequences, such as economic growth, inequality, and trust.
- Duration
- 2025 - 2028
- Contact
- Antoaneta Dimitrova
- Funding
-
HORIZON
NET-ROL: ‘Networks and the Rule of Law: Uncovering Socio-Economic Outcomes’ is a three-year, collaborative research project funded by Horizon Europe and led by the Institute of Security and Global Affairs of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs at Leiden University.
Partners
The project involves eight partners, including:
- Universities:
- Leiden University (Netherlands)
- University of Hamburg (Germany)
- Central European University (Austria)
- Masaryk University (Czechia)
- University of Trento (Italy)
- University of Rennes (France)
- Think Tanks:
- European Policy Institute (North Macedonia)
- Institute of Public Affairs (Poland)
Research focus and approach
The approach to rule of law emphasizes the role of citizens, exploring networked coordination as a mechanism to halt weakening of rule of law. Building on EU’s definition of rule of law, NET-ROL analyzes networks in law-making, executive decision-making and the judiciary. Using state-of-the-art data techniques such as causal machine learning and multi-layer network analysis, the project generates original knowledge on causes of rule of law weakening and the impact on socio-economic outcomes such as growth, inequality, and trust.
Methodology
The project employs advanced data techniques to generate original knowledge on the causes of rule of law weakening and its impact on socio-economic outcomes. These techniques include:
- Causal machine learning
- Multi-layer network analysis
Innovative aspects
NET-ROL is distinguished by:
- A broad, interdisciplinary perspective on the rule of law.
- The integration of various approaches to studying the impact of networks on public goods.
- The collection and analysis of new, actionable datasets.
- The use of innovative data science, econometric, network, and text analysis techniques.
- The exploration of conditions under which citizens defend the rule of law.
- The design of interventions to support the rule of law, based on experimental data and input from stakeholders.
