{{short description|Political scientist}} thumb|Heather Grabbe, 2011 '''Heather Grabbe''' (born 30 August 1970) is Senior Fellow at the think-tank Bruegel in Brussels, Belgium.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-26 |title=Heather Grabbe |url=https://www.bruegel.org/people/heather-grabbe |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Bruegel {{!}} The Brussels-based economic think tank |language=en}}</ref> Since 2021, she is Visiting Professor at University College London and at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.<ref>{{Cite web|last=UCL|date=2017-10-26|title=Visiting staff and Honorary Appointments|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/people/visiting-staff-and-honorary-appointments|access-date=2021-07-28|website=UCL Faculty of Laws|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KU Leuven organisational chart - Leuven International and European Studies (LINES)|url=https://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/en/unit/regional/50000256|access-date=2021-07-28|website=www.kuleuven.be}}</ref> She was previously the director of the Open Society European Policy Institute.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/people/heather-grabbe|title=Heather Grabbe|website=Open Society Foundations|access-date=2019-03-15|archive-date=2019-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408211154/https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/people/heather-grabbe|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Education and early career in the United Kingdom == Grabbe was born on 30 August 1970 in Pasadena, California, United States.<ref name="WW 25">{{cite web |title=Grabbe, Dr Heather Mary Claire, born Pasadena, Calif 30 Aug. 1970, Senior Fellow, Bruegel, since 2023 |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U255752 |website=Who's Who 2024 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=30 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250830121749/https://www.ukwhoswho.com/display/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-255752 |archive-date=30 August 2025 |date=1 December 2023}}</ref> She studied philosophy, politics and economics at Somerville College, Oxford University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1991.<ref name="WW 25" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Heather Grabbe|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-grabbe-1011263a/}}</ref> From 1993 to 1995, she worked as an editor for Oxford Analytica.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Heather GRABBE|url=https://www.alpbach.org/de/person/heather-grabbe/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=European Forum Alpbach|language=en-US}}</ref>

Between 1996 and 1998 she was a Research Fellow at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, where she co-authored the first major book on enlargement of the European Union to post-communist Europe, ''Enlarging the EU Eastwards'', with Kirsty Hughes''.''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Grabbe|first=Heather|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qPd06lyFVGIC|title=Enlarging the EU eastwards|date=1998|publisher=Royal Institute of International Affairs|others=Hughes, Kirsty.|isbn=1-85567-525-0|location=London|pages=}}</ref>

Grabbe went on to conduct academic research at the European University Institute in Florence, the European Union Institute for Security Studies in Paris, the Centre for International Relations in Warsaw, and Wolfson College, Oxford University.<ref name=":2" /> In 2002 she completed her PhD thesis - a study of EU influence in the post-communist countries seeking membership - at the University of Birmingham, UK.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2013-03-20|title=Getting through to the EU|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/getting-through-to-the-eu/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}}</ref>

Between 2000 and 2004, Grabbe was deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, where she published extensively on EU enlargement and its implications, as well as work on transition in Central and South-Eastern Europe; the development of the EU’s new policies on justice, liberty and security; the EU’s institutions and budget; and EU foreign and security policies.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In 2005, European Voice (forerunner of POLITICO Europe) described her as the most quotable analyst for EU affairs, adding that "she consistently offers accessible, but not over-simplistic, insights on a range of EU political questions."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-05-03|title=Heather grabs top spot in 'talking heads' hit parade|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/heather-grabs-top-spot-in-talking-heads-hit-parade/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}}</ref>

She lectured on the political economy of EU enlargement at the London School of Economics until 2005.<ref name=":1" />

Grabbe has authored several seminal studies of the EU enlargement process, including the 2006 book, ''The EU's transformative power: Europeanization through conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Grabbe, Heather.|url=https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781403949035|title=The EU's transformative power : Europeanization through conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe|date=2006|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-51030-2|location=New York|pages=|oclc=312463965}}</ref>

== Career in Brussels == Between 2004 and 2009, Grabbe worked as senior advisor to then European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. In an interview with POLITICO Europe, Grabbe reported that Rehn offered her the job in 2004 saying "You’ve done all this work on how the EU transformed Hungary, how about trying to do the same for Bosnia and Turkey?".<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-10-13|title=Heather grabbed to enlarge cabinet|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/heather-grabbed-to-enlarge-cabinet/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}}</ref> Grabbe was responsible in his cabinet for policy on Balkans countries and later Turkey.<ref name=":1" />

In 2009, the Hungarian-born American philanthropist George Soros invited Grabbe to work for his Open Society Foundations. Grabbe explained that she was attracted by the idea of working on a broad spectrum of issues and by Soros’ "willingness to champion unpopular causes."<ref name=":3" /> She was the director of the Open Society European Policy Institute, the EU policy and advocacy branch of the Open Society Foundations network based in Brussels<ref name=":0" /> from 2009-22. The Open Society European Policy Institute analyzed EU policies and decisions on a wide range of issues related to democracy, justice, human rights and accountability, and made recommendations on what EU decision-makers and legislators should do to maintain and promote open societies in Europe and elsewhere in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Open Society European Policy Institute|url=https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/who-we-are/programs/open-society-european-policy-institute|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.opensocietyfoundations.org|language=en}}</ref>

In her time at Open Society, Grabbe analyzed and commented widely on trends and challenges affecting Europe, particularly the impact of populist radical right parties, the digital transformation, and the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.

In 2014, when populist parties obtained unprecedented support in the European Parliament elections, Grabbe analyzed the negative influence that these parties’ agendas and rhetoric would have on Europe’s open society.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Grabbe|first1=Heather|last2=Groot|first2=Nadja|date=2014-10-02|title=Populism in the European Parliament: What Implications for the Open Society?|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2014.961768|journal=The International Spectator|volume=49|issue=4|pages=33–46|doi=10.1080/03932729.2014.961768|s2cid=153553775|issn=0393-2729|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Together with senior diplomat Stefan Lehne, she warned that radical right populism fundamentally undermines European integration. They recommended that EU leaders and institutions engage citizens directly to address real-world challenges, instead of giving disproportionate attention to issues that the populist rhetoric magnified, such as migration.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Grabbe|first1=Heather|last2=Lehne|first2=Stefan|date=2016-06-14|title=Can the EU Survive Populism?|url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/2016/06/14/can-eu-survive-populism-pub-63804|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Carnegie Europe|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Grabbe|first1=Heather|last2=Lehne|first2=Stefan|date=2017-03-17|title=The Closing of the European Mind—and How to Reopen It|url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/2017/03/17/closing-of-european-mind-and-how-to-reopen-it-pub-68317|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Carnegie Europe|language=en}}</ref> She argued that populism thrived because of the political instrumentalization of socio-economic inequalities, and because of insecurity due to globalization and digital transformations.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Fieschi|first1=Catherine|url=https://counterpoint.uk.com/the-tentacles-of-circumstance/|title=Tentacles of Circumstance: The political consequences of inequality|last2=Grabbe|first2=Heather|publisher=Counterpoint, Open Society European Policy Institute|year=2018|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> According to Grabbe, the key to address both the root causes of populism and citizens’ grievances is for the EU focus on the "Big 3 challenges" around planet, lifetime and technology.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Grabbe|first1=Heather|last2=Valášek|first2=Tomáš (Eds.)|date=2019|title=Refocus the European Union: Planet, Lifetime, Technology|url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/2019/04/30/refocus-european-union-planet-lifetime-technology-pub-79008|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Carnegie Europe|language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, she spoke at TEDx Brussels and in the Belgian Senate's ''Superdemocracy'' series on the importance of critical thinking and mindful engagement with post-truth politics, and how technology is affecting the openness of societies and quality of democracy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=March 2018|title=Heather Grabbe, open & happy society|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/heather_grabbe_open_happy_society|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=TEDxBrussels}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://superdemocratie.ensembles.org/menu_items/110?locale=en|title=SUPERDEMOCRACY|website=superdemocratie.ensembles.org|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref>

In 2019-2021, as the EU committed itself to the "European Green Deal" to make the transition to a carbon-neutral economy,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-12-11|title=The European Green Deal sets out how to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, boosting the economy, improving people's health and quality of life, caring for nature, and leaving no one behind|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_6691|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=European Commission - Press corner|language=en}}</ref> Grabbe highlighted the importance of making it a "fair transition". She spoke about the importance of fairness towards the most vulnerable in society, towards the global South, and between the present and future generations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-12-02|title=The political economy of climate transition|url=https://www.bruegel.org/2020/12/the-political-economy-of-climate-transition/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Bruegel|language=en-US}}</ref> She also highlighted the urgency of deepening democratic engagement to demonstrate to citizens "that climate inaction will only deepen social and economic injustices, while pursuing a low-carbon transition will offer new jobs and opportunities."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-08|title=How to build lasting support for Europe's Green Deal|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-green-deal-public-support-plan-goals-reality/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}}</ref>

Grabbe’s work has been published in, among others, the Financial Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/stream/52ab43da-eec7-317f-bfb3-c70018c0cf8a|title=Heather Grabbe|work=Financial Times|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/10/31/dealing-with-secession-in-europe|title=Dealing With Secession in Europe|website=www.nytimes.com|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB105113270485107400|title=Europe's Power of Attraction|last=Grabbe|first=Heather|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=24 April 2003|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Grabbe|first=Heather|date=2001-12-16|title=Heather Grabbe: If Europe fails to enlarge, we will all lose|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/16/euro.eu|access-date=2021-01-08|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

In 2017, POLITICO Europe ranked her highly among "the women who shape Brussels".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-09|title=Heather Grabbe|url=https://www.politico.eu/list/women-who-shape-brussels-2017-ranking/heather-grabbe/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Bibliography == {{example farm|section|date=January 2021}} *Grabbe, Heather (2021). "Normative, Protective, Transformative Europe: Digital and Climate Meta-Policies''".'' In Chad Damro, Elke Heins, Drew Scott (Eds.), ''[https://www.routledge.com/European-Futures-Challenges-and-Crossroads-for-the-European-Union-of-2050/Damro-Heins-Scott/p/book/9780367444433 European Futures - Challenges and Crossroads for the European Union of 2050].'' Routledge. {{ISBN|978-0-367-44438-9}}. *Grabbe, Heather (2020). [http://publikacje.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/135171/edition/118169/content "Lessons from 1989 for the Forthcoming Climate Transition"]. In Joanna Fomina, Józef Niżnik (Eds.), ''Europe on test: the onus of the past'' (pp. 109-115). Polska Akademia Nauk. {{ISBN|978-83-63305-87-1}}. *Grabbe, Heather; Lehne, Stefan (2019-12-18). ''[https://carnegieeurope.eu/2019/12/18/climate-politics-in-fragmented-europe-pub-80616 Climate Politics in a Fragmented Europe]''. Carnegie Europe. *Grabbe, Heather; Valášek, Tomáš (Eds.) (2019). ''[https://carnegieeurope.eu/2019/04/30/refocus-european-union-planet-lifetime-technology-pub-79008 Refocus the European Union: Planer, Lifetime, Technology]''. Carnegie Europe. *Fieschi, Catherine; Grabbe, Heather (Eds.) (2019). ''[https://counterpoint.uk.com/the-european-way-of-digital/ The European Way of Digital: How to make tech work for open societies in Europe]''. Counterpoint. {{ISBN|978-1-9999611-2-1}}.

*Grabbe, Heather; Lehne, Stefan (2018-12-11). [https://carnegieeurope.eu/2018/12/11/2019-european-parliament-elections-will-change-eu-s-political-dynamics-pub-77922 ''2019 European Parliament Elections Will Change the EU’s Political Dynamics'']. Carnegie Europe. * Grabbe, Heather; Lehne, Stefan (2018-10-11). [https://carnegieeurope.eu/2018/10/11/could-illiberal-europe-work-pub-77463 ''Could an Illiberal Europe Work?'']. Carnegie Europe. *Fieschi, Catherine; Grabbe, Heather (Eds.) (2018). ''[https://counterpoint.uk.com/the-tentacles-of-circumstance/ Tentacles of Circumstance: The political consequences of inequality]''. Counterpoint, Open Society European Policy Institute. * Grabbe, Heather; Lehne, Stefan (2017-09-04). [https://carnegieeurope.eu/2017/09/04/defending-eu-values-in-poland-and-hungary-pub-72988 ''Defending EU Values in Poland and Hungary'']. Carnegie Europe. * Grabbe, Heather; Lehne, Stefan (2017-03-17).[https://carnegieeurope.eu/2017/03/17/closing-of-european-mind-and-how-to-reopen-it-pub-68317 ''The Closing of the European Mind'']. Carnegie Europe. * Grabbe, Heather (2017). "Enlargement Policy Towards Central and Eastern Europe: What EU Policy-Makers Learned". In Haakon A. Ikonomou, Aurélie Andry, Rebekka Byberg (Eds.), ''[https://www.routledge.com/European-Enlargement-across-Rounds-and-Beyond-Borders/Ikonomou-Andry-Byberg/p/book/9781138208209 European Enlargement across Rounds and Beyond Borders]''. Routledge. {{ISBN|9781138208209}}. * Grabbe, Heather; Lehne, Stefan (2016-06-14). [https://carnegieeurope.eu/2016/06/14/can-eu-survive-populism-pub-63804 ''Can the EU Survive Populism?'']. Carnegie Europe. * Grabbe, Heather; Lehne, Stefan (2015-01-26). [https://carnegieeurope.eu/2015/01/26/emotional-intelligence-for-eu-democracy-pub-58819 ''Emotional Intelligence for EU Democracy'']. Carnegie Europe. *Bartlett, Jamie; Grabbe, Heather (2015). [https://cadmus.eui.eu//handle/1814/38765 ''E-democracy in the EU: the opportunities for digital politics to re-engage voters and the risks of disappointment'']. Demos. {{ISBN|9781909037984}}. *Grabbe, Heather; Groot, Nadja (2014). [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03932729.2014.961768?journalCode=rspe20 "Populism in the European Parliament: What implications for the open society?"]. ''The International Spectator, 49'' (4): 33–46. doi:10.1080/03932729.2014.961768. ISSN&nbsp;[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/890557861 0393-2729]. *Fieschi, Catherine; Grabbe, Heather (Eds.) (2014). ''[https://counterpoint.uk.com/the-bridges-project/ The Bridges Project: New expertise for policy in a world of uncertainty]''. Counterpoint. {{ISBN|978-1-909499-08-9}}. * Grabbe, Heather (2006). ''[https://www.palgrave.com/gb/book/9781403949035 The EU’s Transformative Power: Europeanization through Conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe].'' Palgrave Macmillan UK. doi:10.1057/9780230510302. {{ISBN|978-1-4039-4903-5}}. *Grabbe, Heather (2001). [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13501760110098323 "How does Europeanization affect CEE governance? Conditionality, diffusion and diversity"]. ''Journal of European Public Policy, 8'' (6): 1013-1031. doi:10.1080/13501760110098323.

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *{{google scholar id|nXGXofQAAAAJ}}

{{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Grabbe, Heather}} Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:European Union and European integration scholars Category:21st-century political scientists Category:Women political scientists Category:21st-century economists Category:Women economists Category:European University Institute Category:Bruegel (think tank) people Category:Chatham House people Category:Alumni of Somerville College, Oxford Category:Alumni of the University of Birmingham Category:Academics of the London School of Economics