About the Center for Politics and Communication (CPC)
The Center for Politics and Communication (CPC) is part of the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) at the University of Amsterdam. It brings together scholars, journalists, and political actors who share an interest in how politics is discussed, understood, and shaped in contemporary society. It offers a forum for dialogue, collaboration, and critical inquiry into a key question: how does communication shape democracy?
We examine the complex relationships between citizens, the media, and political institutions, with the goal of understanding and improving public discourse in democratic systems. From news framing and opinion formation to political messaging in digital environments, CPC investigates how communication practices influence democratic life.
Through research and public engagement, CPC seeks to advance knowledge, promote critical reflection, and strengthen the communicative foundations of democracy. Whether you are a researcher, journalist, policymaker, or simply curious about the role of communication in politics, CPC offers expertise, organizes events and provides a space for informed discussion, collaboration, and new perspectives.
CPC’s History
Topics such as propaganda, public opinion, news, and journalism have been integral to the University of Amsterdam (UvA) since the late 1940s. They were central to the pioneering work of Kurt Baschwitz, founder of the Persinstituut and the early days of Communication Science at the UvA. In the decades that followed, Denis McQuail further institutionalized the discipline at UvA, developing theoretical and normative frameworks and shaping scholarship that connected media, journalism, and democracy.
In the 1990s, scholars such as Holli A. Semetko, Klaus Schönbach, Kees Brants, and Cees van der Eijk expanded this tradition with comparative and empirical studies of news, elections, and political communication. From the establishment of the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) in 1997, these topics formed one of its defining programme groups.
Building on this foundation, Claes de Vreese became the first Chair of Political Communication in 2005 and in 2004 he founded the Center for Politics and Communication (CPC). De Vreese served as Program Group and CPC Director until 2021 when he was appointed University Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Society, with a special focus on Media and Democracy.
More information on the 25-year history of the Amsterdam School of Communication Research, of which the CPC is part, can be found here in an open access book.
