Dr. Gaard Kets

Biography

Gaard Kets is an assistant professor of Empirical Political Science at Radboud University. His research focuses on the historical and contemporary development of democratic practices and institutions, aiming to advance the understanding of workplaces often referred to as the 'last bastion of autocracy.' His interdisciplinary approach is firmly grounded in the history of political theory, integrating normative theoretical underpinnings of radical democracy with historical and empirical experiences of local self-rule. Kets' PhD thesis examined the development of political ideas surrounding council democracy during the German Revolution from 1918 to 1919. His subsequent research focused on the development of communalist ideas stemming from the legacy of the Paris Commune of 1871. He employs central analytical tools to bridge disciplinary boundaries, utilizing the concept of democratic repertoires to interpret how historical experiences of radical democracy inform contemporary theories and practices of democratic innovation. Kets is actively involved in the research group 'Vive la Commune! Communalism Democratic Repertoire,' exploring organizational ecology and the complex relationships within social movements.

Research Interests