Research Area Participatory Democracy

Research in this field of study is guided by the matter of how the political challenges outlined above are perceived and dealt with by citizens and what ramifications this has for predominant value orientations. Are democratic societies evolving into ‚three-thirds democracies’ in which the lower classes no longer participate in politics while the majority of self-assertive democratic citizens endowed with emancipative values institutes new forms of political participation? Based on approaches in political culture research the empirical implications of this ‚self-assertive citizen model’ will be investigated. It will further be explored, how cultural traditions, an (un-)democratic past, and economic development affect the prevailing concept of democratic citizenship and thereby ensure democratic stability.