Itai Siegel (born 1996) joined Leiden University in September 2022 as a PhD candidate in the Department of Jurisprudence. After receiving his bachelor's degree in law from Utrecht University, he completed the masters Law & Technology at Tilburg University and Encyclopedie en Filosofie van het Recht (Legal Philosophy & Jurisprudence) at Leiden University cum laude. In addition to his doctoral research, Itai teaches several courses at the Faculty of Law.
Itai's doctoral research focuses on the influence of conspiracy theories on Dutch constitutional democracy. Conspiracy theories are, worldwide and in the Netherlands, a well-known phenomenon in (social) media and in politics. How do conspiracy theories affect the actors, processes and institutions of the Dutch democratic constitutional state? Empirical research methods are combined with normative law research to answer this question. The empirical part examines whether, and if so, in what ways the dissemination of conspiracy theories affects the functioning of Dutch democracy. Based on the theory of militant democracy, Itai then analyzes the ways in which Dutch democracy may and can respond to the spread of conspiracy theories and what (new) legal instruments might be needed to do so. A specific part of Itai's doctoral research focuses on the rhetoric of so-called “sovereign citizens” or “autonomists,” individuals who are convinced that existing laws and regulations do not apply to them. What does this rhetoric entail? How do Dutch individuals who adhere to this rhetoric conceptualize the law? And how do these individuals interact with democratic processes and institutions? In addition, the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) is involved in the research as a knowledge partner: during the project, Itai presents his findings several times to a sounding board of relevant experts from the AIVD.
