Roel Kuiper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader of theChristian Union in theSenate | |
| In office 7 June 2011 – 11 June 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Egbert Schuurman |
| Succeeded by | Mirjam Bikker |
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 12 June 2007 – 11 June 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Roelof Kuiper (1962-04-05)5 April 1962 (age 63) |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Political party | Christian Union |
| Alma mater | VU University Amsterdam (MA andPhD, history; MA, philosophy) |
| Occupation | Politician,historian,philosopher |
| Website | ChristianUnion biography |
Roelof (Roel) Kuiper (born 5 April 1962 inMariënberg) is a Dutch historian, philosopher, ideologue, politician and university professor. He was from 2007 to 2019 a member of the DutchSenate, and is professor ofReformational philosophy at theErasmus Universiteit Rotterdam in the name of the Association for Reformational philosophy, teaching Society Issues at the Christelijke Hogeschool Ede and Gereformeerde Hogeschool Zwolle and Political and social philosophy at theVrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).
Kuiper received his doctorate inHistory in 1986 at the VU. In 1992 he got his promotion at the same university on the subject:Zelfbeeld en wereldbeeld: antirevolutionairen en het buitenland 1848–1905. He received his doctorate inPhilosophy at the VU in 1998.
After his doctorate in History Kuiper had, besides what is written above, different other positions, such as teacher at the MO-teacherseducation History, at the Evangelische Hogeschool in Amersfoort, from 1991 until 1995 he was director of theAssociation for Reformational Philosophy in Utrecht and in 1995 he succeededAndré Rouvoet as director of theMarnix van Sint Aldegonde Stichting, the Scientific Institute of the Reformational Political Federation until 2002. From 2000 until 2002 he was director of the Scientific Institute of theChristian Union, theGroen van Prinsterer Stichting.
Kuiper was a member of "Nationale Conventie", a think tank for a revision of the national political system. This system consists presently of an executive government, abicameral parliament, the judiciary and the political parties. The central question was if changes in that system could contribute to recovery of faith between citizens and government. He has also served as a professor specialized in Christian identity at theTheological University of the Reformed Churches.[1]
The historical, political and philosophical publications by Kuiper are oftenapologetic by nature, defending the Christian faith in the Netherlands against ongoing secularization. Many of his ideas are inspired byGuillaume Groen van Prinsterer, the intellectual father of the Antirevolutionary Party; Kuiper wrote a biography of Groen in 2001.
Kuiper was aChristian Union member of theSenate from 12 June 2007 until 11 June 2019. He was also aSenate group leader from 7 June 2011 until 11 June 2019, succeedingEgbert Schuurman. Following the party losing two of its five seats in the2023 general election, Kuiper was tasked with reshaping its vision. His assignment included investigating the party's participation in thefourth Rutte cabinet and investigating whether the Christian Union had become too leftist.[1]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Leader of theChristian Union in theSenate 2011–2019 | Succeeded by |
Senate 9 June 2015 – 10 June 2019 | ||
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD: 13) |  | |
| Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA: 12) | ||
| Democrats 66 (D66: 10) | ||
| Party for Freedom (PVV: 9) | ||
| Socialist Party (SP: 9) | ||
| Labour Party (PvdA: 8) | ||
| GroenLinks (GL: 4) | ||
| Christian Union (CU: 3) | ||
| Party for the Animals (PvdD: 2) | ||
| Reformed Political Party (SGP: 2) | ||
| 50PLUS (50+: 2) | ||
| Independent Senate Group (OSF: 1) | ||
Bold indicates theparliamentary leader (first mentioned); ‹Guillemets› indicate a member who did not serve the full term | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
