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. Europa-Union, Kreisverband Hamburg-Harburg

    Friedrich, D. (Speaker)

    2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesTransfer

  2. Estland, ein wichtiger Partner in der EU: Sicherheitspolitische Aspekte im Rahmen der Ratspräsidentschaft

    van Hüllen, V. (Speaker)

    28.11.2017

    Activity: Talk or presentationtalk or presentation in privat or public eventsTransfer

  3. Erhalt und Zusammenbruch der legislativen Demokratie. Frankreich und Deutschland im Vergleich

    Koß, M. (Oral presentation)

    14.11.2019

    Activity: Talk or presentationtalk or presentation in privat or public eventsEducation

  4. Environmental governance research: Interdisciplinary, Policy-oriented - and Cumulative?

    Rose, M. (Speaker) & Newig, J. (Coauthor)

    25.08.2022

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  5. Environmental Governance of the Belt and Road Initiative

    Coenen, J. (Speaker), Newig, J. (Coauthor), Challies, E. (Coauthor), Bager, S. (Coauthor) & Meyfroidt, P. (Coauthor)

    05.09.2019

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  6. Environmental Governance of a Belt and Road Project in Montenegro – National Agency and External Influences

    Coenen, J. (Speaker), Newig, J. (Coauthor) & Meyfroidt, P. (Coauthor)

    07.09.2021

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  7. Entwicklung von Klimaanpassungsstrategien in föderalen Politiksystemen: der Fall Niedersachsen

    Ebermann, V. (Oral presentation)

    17.05.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch

  8. Entwicklung von Klimaanpassungsstrategien auf Länderebene: ein Fallstudienvergleich

    Ebermann, V. (Oral presentation)

    21.11.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch

  9. Entwicklung der niedersächsichen Strategie zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel

    Ebermann, V. (Oral presentation)

    30.10.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesTransfer

  10. Empirical Research Methods on Legitimacy: Repertory Grid as the Interface between „Measuring“ and „Evaluating“

    Osterberg-Kaufmann, N. (presenter)

    26.08.201529.08.2015

    Activity: Talk or presentationPresentations (poster etc.)Research