Ellen Van Stichel is assistant professor of Christian Social and Political Ethics at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies. She is a member of the Research Unit Theological and Comparative Ethics and of the Centre of Catholic Social Thought.
In 2010 she obtained her doctorate in Theology with a dissertation entitled ‘Out of Love for Justice: Moral Philosophy and Catholic Social Thought on Global Duties’. In 2012, this dissertation was awarded the five-yearly Mgr. Arthur Janssen Prize for Christian Ethics.
Focus of her research is how theology can contribute to social issues. Themes such as (global) inequality, poverty and social exclusion are investigated from the perspective of Christian social thought and the question of human flourishing. Key concepts are: relationality, vulnerability, solidarity, justice, common good, Catholic social thought.
Her current research aims to focus on political emotions. She is the promotor of a research project entitled Emotions and Religion in Times of Populism: A Sociological and Theological-Ethical Analysis, an interdisciplinary project with sociology containing empirical research on the emotions behind voting behaviour for right-wing parties in Flanders.
Crucial for her is the link between faith and praxis and, consequently, she connects with civil society to investigate and inspire a ‘faith-ful’ practical implementation in personal and social life.