Center for the Study of Democracy

Organisational unit: Institute

Organisation profile

The interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Democracy was founded on 2 June 2004 on the recommendation of the Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony under the chairmanship of Professor Dr. Hans Dieter Klingemann. Founding Director and Head of the CSD from 2004 to 2018 was Professor Dr. Ferdinand Müller-Rommel. 

The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) brings together the research activities of the members of the Institute for Political Science (IPW) under one roof. The Center is primarily concerned with the analysis of democratic orders and processes. The research activities can be divided into three core areas:

  • The institutional, ideational and material foundations of democratic orders;
  • The drivers of political change in these orders;
  • And the impact of democratic policymaking on society, economy and the environment.

The Centre is also actively involved in promoting young scientists and fosters the international and regional networking of research institutions devoted to the study of democracy.

 

Main research areas

The activities of the CSD include:

  • Implementing research projects on the three core topics: foundations, transformation, and impact of democracy
  • Organization of international conferences and workshops on current issues of democracy research
  • Collection and coordination of international data sets, especially the World Values Survey, the Comparative Political Data Set, and the database on Central and Eastern European Political Systems and Governments
  • Promotion of research in the form of doctoral and post-doctoral scholarships at the Center
  • Hosting regular guest lectures by internationally renowned scientists and early career researchers
  • Active scientific promotion of young talent in the form of regular doctoral seminars on theories and methods of democracy research as well as in the form of summer schools for doctorate students and inter-university graduate networks
  • Establishing contacts between science and practice

Teaching

  • PHD-Summerschool
  • Politikberatung
  1. German Political Science Association e.V. (External organisation)

    Koß, M. (Member)

    2007 → …

    Activity: MembershipLearned societies and special interest organisationsResearch

  2. German Political Science Association e.V. (External organisation)

    Müller-Rommel, F. (Member)

    01.11.201630.10.2018

    Activity: MembershipAcademic councils, panels and committeesResearch

  3. German Political Science Association e.V. (External organisation)

    Koß, M. (Chair)

    01.11.202431.10.2027

    Activity: MembershipAcademic councils, panels and committeesResearch

  4. German National Academic Foundation (External organisation)

    Newig, J. (Office)

    20142022

    Activity: MembershipLeuphana academic councils and committeesLeuphana Academic Committees

  5. General Online Research Conference 2010

    Kunert, J. S. (Speaker)

    28.05.2010

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  6. Game Theory and Applications for Political Science

    Kronfeldt, M. (Speaker)

    01.02.201513.02.2015

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch

  7. Frühjahrstagung der Sektion Politische Theorie und Ideengeschichte der Deutschen Vereinigung für Politische Wissenschaft - DVPW PTI 2013

    Saretzki, T. (Speaker)

    21.03.2013

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  8. From Sacrificing Life to Living It: Moral Evolution and the Emerging Mass Basis of Global Peace

    Welzel, C. (Oral presentation)

    31.03.2014

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch

  9. From Local Politics to Europe: Political Careers on Different Levels

    Reiser, M. (Speaker)

    20.10.200522.10.2005

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  10. Freedom Rising: Human Empowerment and the Quest for Emancipation

    Welzel, C. (Speaker)

    16.12.201417.12.2014

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch