Dr. Rory Costello
Biography
Rory Costello specialises in electoral and legislative politics in Europe, with a particular focus on Ireland and on the European Union. Before coming to UL in 2011, Rory worked at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has published on topics such as election pledge fulfilment, party politics in the European Parliament, the division of power among EU institutions, bicameralism, political representation, and coalition formation. His research has appeared in a variety of international journals including (among others) Party Politics, European Union Politics, Journal of European Public Policy, Electoral Studies, West European Politics, and American Journal of Political Science. He runs the WhichCandidate voting aid application (www.whichcandidate.ie)Research Interests
My research interests include EU politics, political representation, electoral behaviour, voter engagement and coalition government.Current projects include:
- Representation beyond political parties. This project, funded by the Irish Research Council, examines the consequences of the decline of political parties for the quality of representation, focusing on the 2016 Irish general election.
- The voting advice application WhichCandidate. This is an online tool designed to provide information to voters while at the same time collecting valuable data on the policy preferences of election candidates and their constituents. It was run on a nationwide basis for the 2015 General Election, in partnership with The Irish Times and a number of local media outlets, and used by over 100,000 voters during the election.
- Research into online political gambling markets and their use as measures of election campaign volatility and election forecasting (What are the Odds). With Matthew Wall and Stephen Lindsay of Swansea University.
- Analysis of election pledge fulfillment by political parties and the factors influencing pledge fulfillment, both in Ireland and cross-nationally. This research is carried out in collaboration with an international research network, the Comparative Party Pledge group. The first comparative publication from this project can be found here.
Peer Reviewed Journals
The Fulfillment of Parties' Election Pledges: A Comparative Study on the Impact of Power Sharing
Thomson, R; R Royed; E Naurin; J Artés; R Costello; L Ennser-Jedenastik; M Ferguson; P Kostandinova; C Moury; F Pétry; K Praprontnik (2017) The Fulfillment of Parties' Election Pledges: A Comparative Study on the Impact of Power Sharing. American Journal Of Political Science :527-542
Read more
The miracle of the markets: Identifying key campaign events in the Scottish independence referendum using betting odds
Wall, M; Costello, R; Lindsay, S (2017) The miracle of the markets: Identifying key campaign events in the Scottish independence referendum using betting odds. Electoral Studies :39-47
Read more
A new dataset on decision-making in the European Union before and after the 2004 and 2007 enlargements (DEUII)
Thomson, R,Arregui, J,Leuffen, D,Costello, R,Cross, J,Hertz, R,Jensen, T (2012) A new dataset on decision-making in the European Union before and after the 2004 and 2007 enlargements (DEUII). Journal Of European Public Policy :604-622
Read more
European Parliament Elections and Political Representation: Policy Congruence between Voters and Parties
Costello, R,Thomassen, J,Rosema, M (2012) European Parliament Elections and Political Representation: Policy Congruence between Voters and Parties. West European Politics :1226-1248
Read more
Does Bicameralism Promote Stability? Inter-institutional Relations and Coalition Formation in the European Parliament
Costello, R (2011) Does Bicameralism Promote Stability? Inter-institutional Relations and Coalition Formation in the European Parliament. West European Politics :122-144
Read more
Books
Book Chapters
European elections gradually becoming less 'second-order' in Ireland
Costello, R (2019) European elections gradually becoming less 'second-order' in Ireland. Sundsvall : Mittuniversitetet Euroflections: Leading academics on the European elections 2019
Read moreIreland
Thomson R.;Costello R.;Love E. (2019) Ireland. Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press Party Mandates and Democracy: Making, Breaking, and Keeping Election Pledges in Twelve Countries :189-204
Read moreEdited Books
Comparative European Politics: Distinctive Democracies, Common Challenges
(2020) Comparative European Politics: Distinctive Democracies, Common Challenges. Oxford : Oxford University Press
Read moreOther Journals
Conference Publications
Conference Contributions
European Consortium for Political Research General Conference
R. Costello, P. Dumont, R. Thomson, M. Kerby and E. O'Malley (2017) European Consortium for Political Research General Conference.
Read moreMid-West Political Science Association Annual Conference
R. Thomson, C. Moury, R. Costello, M. Ferguson and K. Praprotnik (2017) Mid-West Political Science Association Annual Conference.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
R Costello (2017) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read moreAmerican Political Science Association Annual Meeting
R. Thomson, T. Royed, E. Naurin, J. Artes, R. Costello, D. Duval, M. Ferguson, P. Kostadinova, C. Moury, F Petry and K Prapotnik (2016) American Political Science Association Annual Meeting.
Read moreThe Responsible Party Model in Times of Dealignment
Rory Costello and Achillefs Papageorgiou (2016) The Responsible Party Model in Times of Dealignment.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory (2016) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory; Papageorgiou, Achillefs (2016) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory (2015) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory; McInerney, Rita (2015) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read moreRoyal Irish Academy: Models of Bicameralism
Costello, R (2014) Royal Irish Academy: Models of Bicameralism.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Wall, Matthew; Costello, Rory; Lindsay, Stephen (2014) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory (2014) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read moreEuropean Parliament Information Office: conference on outcome of the European Parliament elections
Costello, R (2014) European Parliament Information Office: conference on outcome of the European Parliament elections.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Thomson, Robert and Costello, Rory (2013) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read moreEuropean Political Science Association Annual Conference
Costello, Rory (2013) European Political Science Association Annual Conference.
Read moreEuropean Political Science Association Annual Conference
Costello, Rory and Robert Thomson (2013) European Political Science Association Annual Conference.
Read moreMPSA Annual Conference, Chicago
Costello, Rory and Robert Thomson (2013) MPSA Annual Conference, Chicago.
Read moreSixth Pan-European Conference on EU Politics
Costello, R; Thomson, R (2012) Sixth Pan-European Conference on EU Politics.
Read moreMidwest Political Science Association Annual Conference
Thomassen, J; Costello, R; Rosema, M (2011) Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference.
Read moreFifth Pan-European Conference on EU Politics
Costello, R (2010) Fifth Pan-European Conference on EU Politics.
Read moreNetherlands Institute of Governance Annual Workshop
Costello, R (2009) Netherlands Institute of Governance Annual Workshop.
Read moreMidwest Political Science Association Annual Conference
Costello, R (2009) Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference.
Read moreNetherlands Institute of Governance Annual Workshop
Costello, R (2008) Netherlands Institute of Governance Annual Workshop.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, R; Thomson, R (2007) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read morePolitical Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, R; Thomson, R (2006) Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference.
Read morePublished Reports
Editorials
Book Reviews
Other Publications
How well do Irish political parties represent the views of voters?
Costello, R (2017) How well do Irish political parties represent the views of voters?. Irish Politics Forum
Read moreWhich government best reflects the will of the people'?
Costello, R (2016) Which government best reflects the will of the people'?. Irish Politics Forum
Read moreEconomic issues provide election's common ground
Costello, Rory (2016) Economic issues provide election's common ground. Limerick Leader
Read moreFine Gael and Labour differ on almost half of election issues - survey
Costello, Rory (2016) Fine Gael and Labour differ on almost half of election issues - survey. Irish Times
Read moreAbortion issue divides opinion in parties, suvery shows
Costello, Rory (2016) Abortion issue divides opinion in parties, suvery shows. Irish Times
Read moreHousing crisis emerges as single biggest election issue
Costello, Rory (2015) Housing crisis emerges as single biggest election issue. Irish Times
Read moreThe European Parliament's transnational party groups are surprisingly cohesive, but don't underestimate the potential for national divisions
Costello, Rory; Thomson, Robert (2015) The European Parliament's transnational party groups are surprisingly cohesive, but don't underestimate the potential for national divisions. The Democratic Audit UK
Read more
Outcome will be regarded as barometer of party strength
Costello, Rory (2015) Outcome will be regarded as barometer of party strength. Irish Times
Read moreThe rise of independents what does it mean for policy-making?
Costello, R (2014) The rise of independents what does it mean for policy-making?. TheJournal.ie
Read moreSinn Féin surge cannot be explained by anti-EU sentiment
Costello, R; Wall, M (2014) Sinn Féin surge cannot be explained by anti-EU sentiment. The Irish Times
Read moreAre parties in tune with their supporters on matters of policy?
Costello, R (2014) Are parties in tune with their supporters on matters of policy?. The Irish Times
Read moreOnline tool can help find party closest to your political views
Costello, R (2014) Online tool can help find party closest to your political views. The Irish Times
Read moreA surge in support for independents and fringe parties is leading to an increasingly fragmented Irish party system
Costello, Rory (2014) A surge in support for independents and fringe parties is leading to an increasingly fragmented Irish party system.
Read moreOnline tool helps byelection voters to assess candidates
Costello, Rory (2014) Online tool helps byelection voters to assess candidates.
Read moreThe Irish European Parliament elections will be fought on the basis of personalities rather than parties
Costello, R (2014) The Irish European Parliament elections will be fought on the basis of personalities rather than parties. LSE European Politics and Policy blog
Read moreWhy hasn't a far-right party like Golden Dawn emerged in Ireland?
Costello, R (2012) Why hasn't a far-right party like Golden Dawn emerged in Ireland?. TheJournal.ie
Read moreSharing power is bad for the health of junior coalition partners
Costello, R (2012) Sharing power is bad for the health of junior coalition partners. TheJournal.ie
Read more