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.
Teaching Interests
My primary teaching interests lie in European politics, including both the European Union and the comparative study of European countries. I have also taught in the areas of political behaviour, research methods, and Irish politics.
PO5005 Graduate Research Methods
PO4015 Government and Politics of the EU
PO4023 Comparative European Politics
PO5081 Academic and Transferable Skills
PO5232 Representative Democracy in Europe
Professional Activities
Award
- 2015 - Irish Research Council New Horizons Research Project Award (44,373)
- 2013 - AHSS/ISKS Fellowship, 5,000
- 2008 - Best Article Award, Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties
- 2006 - Government of Ireland Postgraduate Research Scholarship
Employment
- 2010 London School of Economics (2010-11) - Fellow in European Politics
- 2008 University of Twente (2008-10) - Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Publications
Book Chapters
European elections gradually becoming less 'second-order' in Ireland
Costello, R
(2019)
European elections gradually becoming less 'second-order' in Ireland
In Euroflections: Leading academics on the European elections 2019;
Bolin, N; K Falasca; M Grussell; L Nord(Ed.)
Sundsvall :
Mittuniversitetet
Ireland
Thomson R.;Costello R.;Love E.
(2019)
Ireland
In Party Mandates and Democracy: Making, Breaking, and Keeping Election Pledges in Twelve Countries;
Naurin, E; T Royed, and R Thomson(Ed.)
Ann Arbor :
University of Michigan Press
pp. 189-204
Party identification in the wake of the crisis: a nascent realignment?
Costello, R
(2018)
Party identification in the wake of the crisis: a nascent realignment?
In The Post-Crisis Irish Voter: Voting Behaviour in the Irish 2016 General Election;
Manchester :
Manchester University Press
DOI: 10.7765/9781526122650.00010
[ULIR]
Bicameralism
Costello, R
(2017)
Bicameralism
In The Sage Encyclopedia of Political Behavior;
Thousand Oaks CA :
Sage Publications
pp. 58-59
DOI: 10.4135/9781483391144.n32
The Fulfilment of Election Pledges by the Outgoing Government
Costello, Rory; O'Neill, Paul; Thomson, Robert
(2016)
The Fulfilment of Election Pledges by the Outgoing Government
In How Ireland Voted 2016: The Election that Nobody Won;
London :
Palgrave Macmillan
pp. 27-45
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-40889-7_2
The fulfilment of election pledges
Costello, R; Thomson, R
(2008)
The fulfilment of election pledges
In How Ireland Voted 2007;
Basingstoke :
Palgrave Macmilan
pp. 19-32
DOI: 10.1057/9780230597990_2
Edited Books
Comparative European Politics: Distinctive Democracies, Common Challenges
(2020)
Comparative European Politics: Distinctive Democracies, Common Challenges
Costello, Rory; Robinson, Neil(Ed.)
Oxford :
Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Journals
Rally around the EU flag: Irish party positions on the EU in the wake of Brexit
Costello, R
(2020)
Rally around the EU flag: Irish party positions on the EU in the wake of Brexit
In Journal Of Contemporary European Studies;
DOI: 10.1080/14782804.2020.1825352
[ULIR]
Congruence between voters and parties: The role of party-level issue salience
Costello R.;Toshkov D.;Bos B.;Krouwel A.
(2020)
Congruence between voters and parties: The role of party-level issue salience
In European Journal Of Political Research;
DOI: 10.1111/1475-6765.12388
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
In American Journal Of Political Science;
pp. 527-542
DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12313
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
In Electoral Studies;
pp. 39-47
DOI: 10.1016/j.electstud.2017.01.003
The ideological space in Irish politics: comparing voters and parties
Costello, Rory
(2017)
The ideological space in Irish politics: comparing voters and parties
In Irish Political Studies;
pp. 404-431
DOI: 10.1080/07907184.2017.1328408
[ULIR]
Governing together in good and bad economic times: the fulfilment of election pledges in Ireland
Thomson, Robert; Costello, Rory
(2016)
Governing together in good and bad economic times: the fulfilment of election pledges in Ireland
In Irish Political Studies;
pp. 182-203
DOI: 10.1080/07907184.2016.1149066
Bicameralism, nationality and party cohesion in the European Parliament
Costello, Rory; Thomson, Robert
(2016)
Bicameralism, nationality and party cohesion in the European Parliament
In Party Politics;
pp. 773-783
DOI: 10.1177/1354068814563972
[ULIR]
The distribution of power among EU institutions: who wins under codecision and why?
Costello, R,Thomson, R
(2013)
The distribution of power among EU institutions: who wins under codecision and why?
In Journal Of European Public Policy;
pp. 1025-1039
DOI: 10.1080/13501763.2013.795393
[ULIR]
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)
In Journal Of European Public Policy;
pp. 604-622
DOI: 10.1080/13501763.2012.662028
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
In West European Politics;
pp. 1226-1248
DOI: 10.1080/01402382.2012.713744
[ULIR]
The nexus of bicameralism: Rapporteurs' impact on decision outcomes in the European Union
Costello, R; Thomson, R
(2011)
The nexus of bicameralism: Rapporteurs' impact on decision outcomes in the European Union
In European Union Politics;
pp. 337-357
DOI: 10.1177/1465116511410087
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
In West European Politics;
pp. 122-144
DOI: 10.1080/01402382.2011.523548
[ULIR]
The policy impact of leadership in committees: Rapporteurs' influence on the European Parliament's opinions
Costello, R; Thomson, R
(2010)
The policy impact of leadership in committees: Rapporteurs' influence on the European Parliament's opinions
In European Union Politics;
pp. 219-240
DOI: 10.1177/1465116510353459
Picking your party online - An investigation of Ireland's first online voting advice application
Wall, M; Sudulich, M.L.; Costello, R., Leon, E.
(2009)
Picking your party online - An investigation of Ireland's first online voting advice application
In Information Polity;
pp. 203-218
DOI: 10.3233/IP-2009-0179
Election Pledges and their Enactment in Coalition Governments: A Comparative Analysis of Ireland
Costello, R.; Thomson, R.
(2008)
Election Pledges and their Enactment in Coalition Governments: A Comparative Analysis of Ireland
In Journal Of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties;
pp. 239-256
DOI: 10.1080/17457280802227652
Conference Contributions
Mid-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
Chicago
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
R Costello
(2017)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Dublin
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
Oslo
American 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
Philadelphia
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory
(2016)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Belfast
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory; Papageorgiou, Achillefs
(2016)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Belfast
The Responsible Party Model in Times of Dealignment
Rory Costello and Achillefs Papageorgiou
(2016)
The Responsible Party Model in Times of Dealignment
Leuven, Belgium
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory
(2015)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Cork
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory; McInerney, Rita
(2015)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Cork
European 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
Royal Irish Academy, Dublin
MacGill Summer School
Costello, R
(2014)
MacGill Summer School
Glenties, Donegal
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Wall, Matthew; Costello, Rory; Lindsay, Stephen
(2014)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Galway
Royal Irish Academy: Models of Bicameralism
Costello, R
(2014)
Royal Irish Academy: Models of Bicameralism
Dublin
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, Rory
(2014)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Galway
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Thomson, Robert and Costello, Rory
(2013)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Dublin
European Political Science Association Annual Conference
Costello, Rory
(2013)
European Political Science Association Annual Conference
Barcelona
European Political Science Association Annual Conference
Costello, Rory and Robert Thomson
(2013)
European Political Science Association Annual Conference
Barcelona
MPSA Annual Conference, Chicago
Costello, Rory
(2013)
MPSA Annual Conference, Chicago
Chicago
MPSA Annual Conference, Chicago
Costello, Rory and Robert Thomson
(2013)
MPSA Annual Conference, Chicago
Chicago
Sixth Pan-European Conference on EU Politics
Costello, R; Thomson, R
(2012)
Sixth Pan-European Conference on EU Politics
Tampere, Finland
Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference
Thomassen, J; Costello, R; Rosema, M
(2011)
Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference
Chicago
Fifth Pan-European Conference on EU Politics
Costello, R
(2010)
Fifth Pan-European Conference on EU Politics
Porto, Portugal
Netherlands Institute of Governance Annual Workshop
Costello, R
(2009)
Netherlands Institute of Governance Annual Workshop
Leiden
Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference
Costello, R
(2009)
Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference
Chicago
Netherlands Institute of Governance Annual Workshop
Costello, R
(2008)
Netherlands Institute of Governance Annual Workshop
Enschede
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, R; Thomson, R
(2007)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Dublin
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Costello, R; Thomson, R
(2006)
Political Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Cork
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?
In Irish Politics Forum;
Which government best reflects the will of the people'?
Costello, R
(2016)
Which government best reflects the will of the people'?
In Irish Politics Forum;
Economic issues provide election's common ground
Costello, Rory
(2016)
Economic issues provide election's common ground
In Limerick Leader;
Fine 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
In Irish Times;
Abortion issue divides opinion in parties, suvery shows
Costello, Rory
(2016)
Abortion issue divides opinion in parties, suvery shows
In Irish Times;
The 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
In The Democratic Audit UK;
DOI: http://www.democraticaudit.com/?p=14094
Outcome will be regarded as barometer of party strength
Costello, Rory
(2015)
Outcome will be regarded as barometer of party strength
In Irish Times;
Housing crisis emerges as single biggest election issue
Costello, Rory
(2015)
Housing crisis emerges as single biggest election issue
In Irish Times;
The rise of independents
what does it mean for policy-making?
Costello, R
(2014)
The rise of independents
what does it mean for policy-making?
In TheJournal.ie;
Sinn Féin surge cannot be explained by anti-EU sentiment
Costello, R; Wall, M
(2014)
Sinn Féin surge cannot be explained by anti-EU sentiment
In The Irish Times;
Are parties in tune with their supporters on matters of policy?
Costello, R
(2014)
Are parties in tune with their supporters on matters of policy?
In The Irish Times;
The 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
In LSE European Politics and Policy blog;
A 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
Online tool can help find party closest to your political views
Costello, R
(2014)
Online tool can help find party closest to your political views
In The Irish Times;
Online tool helps byelection voters to assess candidates
Costello, Rory
(2014)
Online tool helps byelection voters to assess candidates
The Strain of Representation: How Parties Represent Diverse Voters in Western and Eastern Europe
Costello, R
(2013)
The Strain of Representation: How Parties Represent Diverse Voters in Western and Eastern Europe
In Parliaments and Estates;
DOI: 10.1080/02606755.2013.845355
Why 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?
In TheJournal.ie;
Sharing power is bad for the health of junior coalition partners
Costello, R
(2012)
Sharing power is bad for the health of junior coalition partners
In TheJournal.ie;