Podcast Unmachine yourself: #24 Martine Beijerman on unconscious bias, exclusion and becoming allies

Martine Beijerman is a Dutch author and legal scholar and currently lives in the USA. Her main research interests are democracy, rule of law and inclusion/exclusion. She has obtained her PhD on democratic legitimacy of international lawmaking. In her book Vreemde eenden (2021 Uitgeverij Podium) she explores the tension between our democratic ideals of equality and freedom and the harsh reality of exclusion, ranging from racism, homophobia, antisemitism and everything in between. She examines the role of group dynamics, the media, and unconscious biases and concepts such as power, fear, shame and status. By bundling scientific research and interviews with leading scholars and thinkers, Martine tries to find answers to the pressing questions: why do we exclude the other? Who benefits from exclusion? And why is there so much resistance to talk about it?

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Leiden University – ‘Equality and equality in a world full of others: society – group formation – exclusion’

On March 22, 2022, the lecture and discussion ‘Equality and equality in a world full of others: society – group formation – exclusion’ took place at the Law Faculty of Leiden University for the students of Honours College Law. In light of the various social crises in the Netherlands, and in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, students and Martine jointly discussed the fundamental challenges we face as a society, while safeguarding our democratic principles of equality and freedom for all.

Els Borst Network – Last session trilogy on Power & Integrity

The last session of the trilogy on Power & Integrity, organized by the Els Borst Network D66, will take place on 11 January. On March 23 we spoke with professor Martin van Hees and Elliaa Jutte (of Action Aid) about ten principles of feminine leadership and on July 7 Petra Hoogerwerf spoke about psychological safety in organizations in the public domain and Odette van Erken about dilemmas in the local politics. During this last lecture, we will have a conversation with Martine Beijerman, led by Jolijn Kouwenhoven. Martine did research and wrote the book ‘Vreemde eenden. Op zoek naar gelijkheid in een wereld vol anderen’.

Faculty of Law – UvA: Lunch meeting Diversity

The kick-off of a series of meetings on diversity in the curriculum took place on 9 December, 2021 at 12:00 noon. The series starts with alumna Martine Beijerman, who studied exclusion for her book Strange ducks. Martine will discuss the question of how exclusion comes about. Why do people exclude the other? How do the majority determine and monitor social norms? Why do we prefer to avoid the conversation about exclusion? And: how can we avoid exclusion? To answer these questions, Martine examines, among other things, the role of group dynamics, fear and the media. She will also reflect on the question of what knowledge and skills lawyers should have to recognize exclusion and promote inclusivity, and how the law school can best educate its students.

Link to book review

Crimmigratie & Recht: Book review ‘Vreemde eenden’

Eric Druijf wrote a book review in the legal academic journal Crimmigratie & Recht, issue 2, December 2021. A fragment (translated): “… with her book she makes a very useful contribution to that debate that has now erupted. The book cannot be read without confronting the reader with his or her own background and views, that force him or her to reflect. In response to her findings, there has been a lot of discussion at the dinner table of the undersigned in recent weeks. The book is designed as an ongoing reflection of Beijerman, based on interviews conducted with experts and activists. Beijerman has a pleasantly readable writing style and by ending quite a few chapters with a question, the reader is, as it were, automatically guided to the next chapter.”

Link to book review

Podcast WIIS-NL: In gesprek met Martine Beijerman

Just before Vreemde Eenden was released in June 2021, Fleur de Braaf interviewed me for the podcast WIIS Netherlands (women in international security). We talked about my book Vreemde Eenden (2021, Uitgeverij Podium), about my love for research, about gender and the role that it plays for me personally in the work for Join for Joy and in my role as a researcher and previously as a PhD candidate. Half an hour full of personal reflections with two not to be missed tips for a book + podcast.

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Spui25: Lecture and discussion on Vreemde Eenden.

In this lecture, I discuss what exclusion in our democratic constitutional state entails, together with lawyer Nawal Mustafa, political scientist Liza Mügge and lawyer and author Maurice Seleky (moderator). What is the relationship between minorities and democracy? What is the role of their political representation? Do European countries regulate along racial lines? And to what extent must a lawyer give a moral interpretation to legal practice to prevent exclusion?

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Interview: ‘How does exclusion come about?’ In: Alumni in the spotlight UvA rights

‘We often explicitly state that we stand for the principles of freedom and equality for everyone,’ says researcher Martine Beijerman. Yet we regularly seem to ‘forget’ these democratic ideals. How come? She explores this paradox in her book Vreemde Eenden.

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Book reading Martine Beijerman: Vreemde eenden In: The Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. Leiden University Martine BeijermanTahir Abbas

The Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs hosted the book reading ‘Vreemde eenden’ by Martine Beijerman on Wednesday 9 June. Modorator is Tahir Abbas, associate professor at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs and project leader of the FGGA Diversity & Inclusion Action Agenda.

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‘Vreemde Eenden’, how come we exclude groups of people in our society? In: Met het Oog op Morgen NPOradio1

We live in a democracy with freedom and equality as the most important values. Yet we cannot seem to get rid of different forms of exclusion, from racism to homophobia. How come? And what can we do about it? Constitutional law scholar Martine Beijerman decided to investigate it and wrote the book ‘Vreemde Eenden’.

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Te gast bij “Vrienden van Carolien” In: ‘T wordt nu laat. NPO Radio 2

In fragment “Vrienden van Carolien”, Martine Beijerman describes the political situation in the US after the murder of George Floyd. (0:20-0:28)

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