The selection committee considered ten excellent contestants. All ten theses touch on relevant
societal and political phenomena using distinct analytical approaches, thus illustrating diverse
and innovative approaches to the study of contemporary European politics and society. The
committee made sure its decision was not affected by the slightly different standards for theses
at partner universities, particularly regarding word count.
The winner of the 2025 EPS Best Thesis Award is:
Matilde Forno
with a thesis titled
A Woman, A Mother, A Populist: Giorgia Meloni and the Politics of Gender in Italy
Matilde Forno’s thesis tackles a highly topical and relevant issue: the political communication
strategies of contemporary leaders, focusing on Giorgia Meloni in Italy. Through an innovative
use of mixed methods and original data, the study offers valuable insights into how gender
discourse functions as a political tool within the far-right context. What makes Matilde Forno’s
thesis stand out is her using the topical case study to generate insights which may be of
relevance for the study of similar phenomena in other political settings.
The selection committee has also agreed that an honourable mention should be awarded to
Maria Ziaja for her thesis titled “From Sacred Land to Sovereignty: The Influence of the
Steppes on Ukrainian Identity” and to Clara Korsås for her thesis titled “Flexibility, Friendship
and Fast Response – Explaining Informality in the Case of the Nordic-Baltic Eight”. Maria
Ziaja’s thesis demonstrates the utility of considering unusual and easily neglected types of
sources to generate relevant novel insights in the social sciences. Clara Korsås’s thesis
delivers a theoretically informed thick analysis of an increasingly important phenomenon of
European politics.
